D is for Destiny

Robin dragged himself backwards across the rain-washed roof, elbows stinging as they scraped against the harsh surface. Terror pounded him along with the rain as he pulled himself away from the edge, searching the skyline for the hulking figure that had stood there a moment ago.

He found only rain, lashing down from the sky.

He collapsed onto his back, weak with relief, as he realized what he had done. Slade was gone. There was no way anyone, even Slade, could survive a fall like that. Still giddy with the sudden alleviation of fear, Robin sat up and reached trembling hands behind him to steady himself.

One palm landed on something smooth and curved. He paused for a moment, then scrambled away as realization hit.

Slade's booted foot slammed into him, sending him rolling across the roof. That calm, cold voice sounded clearly over the driving rain as Slade strode after him.

"Did you think you could get rid of me that easily?"

Strong hands reached for him, fingers wrapping around his neck as he was hauled upright. Robin struggled weakly, but he was already bruised and torn, and those fingers were tightening slowly, choking the life from his gasping throat.

As the rain-soaked twilight around him began to spiral in dizzying corkscrews, Slade's voice crashed against him, carried on a rising tide of darkness.

"You can't escape me, Robin. You're mine." The grip around his throat tightened, and Slade's voice echoed through his dying mind like thunder.

"I am your destiny."

Robin sprang awake with a shudder, adrenaline and fear racing through him. The dream had come again, different in details but always the same in theme.

"Nightmares again, Robin?"

The voice came from directly beside him, and he slammed down hard on the urge to jump away. Instead, he rolled over and wrapped his arms around his bedmate, snuggling against him lovingly.

"Yeah."

"The same dream again?"

"Just like always. Someone was trying to take me away from you."

What he wouldn't tell him, couldn't tell him, was that every night he dreamed of murder. Slade had killed him a thousand times and a thousand ways in his dreams, each time whispering words of ownership as Robin's life slipped away.

Even worse were the nights he turned the tables. Then he dreamed of Slade's blood dripping down his hands, Slade screaming as Robin tore him apart.

And then he laughed.

He laughed over his adversary's body, face lifted triumphantly to the sky as the rising sun flooded the heavens with crimson.

Robin shivered, then forced himself to relax as his lover shifted, pulling him closer.

"Don't worry," he whispered, stroking Robin's hair. "I won't let anyone else have you. You're mine."

Slade kissed him gently, lips soft against his forehead.

"After all Robin, we're destined for each other."