Chapter twenty-five
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHing.
Author's note: this is where you'll discover if I plan to bring Dick back or not!
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Slade stretched his arms over his head and padded out of the bedroom and across the living room over to the kitchen to make himself some coffee.
Three months earlier had been Dick's funeral. Slade hadn't attended - more like he wasn't invited - but he had a feeling it was over the top considering the amount of money Bruce Wayne had at his disposal.
Slade was so lost in thought that he didn't even hear the footsteps until arms were thrown over his shoulders and legs wrapped around his waist.
"Good morning to you too, Richard," he mumbled, chuckling when the twenty-one year old buried his face in Slade's neck.
"My entire body aches," Dick grumbled as he released Slade from his hold and came around to sit on the other side of the table from the mercenary.
"Yes, well, you did break every bone in your body before coming back to life," Slade pointed out. "Not to mention the poison that had been running through your veins."
Dick gave a short nod, covering his yawn with his hand. "So how was my funeral?"
Slade cocked an eyebrow. "It was three months ago, Richard. How many more times are you going to ask?"
"As many as I like," Dick answered, smirking. "If you want me to stop-"
Dick was cut off by Slade leaning across the table and pressing their lips together in a short but sweet kiss.
"Are you ever planning to tell your family?" Slade asked as he got to his feet to make Dick a cup of coffee as well. The twenty-one year old pouted before straightening up and shrugging.
"I don't know," he answered quietly. "I mean...maybe. I want to but at the same time, they'll immediately target you, thinking you brought me back to life."
"I did bring you back to life," Slade pointed out, leaning against the counter and gazing at his lover.
Dick scoffed. "Yeah, but they'll assume by the Lazarus Pit. They'll also assume that we didn't talk about it beforehand and that I wasn't consenting."
"Then mention it was your idea," Slade said with a shrug. "And don't think I missed the smile on your face when you fell."
Dick laughed. The first real and true laugh since he had been brought back to life three months earlier.
"I was petrified," he admitted, grinning. "But I smiled because I knew I was going to be coming back."
"You felt the fall," Slade said calmly. "How are you still sane?"
"I'm not," Dick answered, sobering instantly. "I wake up every night either from a nightmare about my parents or about my own death. Every. Single. Night."
"Then why don't you wake me up?"
Dick shrugged. "I don't need to. I can feel you in bed, because damn, you put off a lot of heat, and I can hear you breathing. I calms me down."
Slade gave a short nod. "Good. That's good...you trust me then?"
"You did rape me," Dick reminded him. "And you've kinda been after me since I was little. But...in some twisted way, I suppose I do trust you."
Slade smiled and walked over to place a kiss on Dick's temple. "Good. Now, I have to work tonight."
"And by work-"
"Richard…"
Dick chuckled, getting up to jump on Slade's back, forcing the mercenary to carry him around the kitchen.
"I know, I know. I'm teasing you. Hey, is three months too short to wait to tell my family I'm alive?"
Slade shrugged. "It's your choice, really."
Dick nodded. "I have an idea of how...I want it to be kind of...dramatic but at the same time I want them to listen to me afterword so I can explain."
"Good luck then," Slade said with a short nod. "And do me a favor, please."
"Anything," Dick purred, placing a kiss on Slade's cheek before resting his head on the mercenary's shoulder. Slade sighed quietly as he carried Dick back to the bedroom.
"Don't get hurt," he said quietly after Dick had slid off his back. "Now, are you going to take a shower this morning?"
Dick grinned, taking Slade's hand in his own. "Why not take one together? Save water?"
Slade growled low in his throat. "Because we both know that would waste more water than it would save it."
Dick pouted. "True. But it would be more fun!"
Slade sighed as he stripped off his shirt, pants, and boxers and followed Dick into the bathroom.
"I swear, Richard, you're going to be the death of me."
"I'll be the death of both of us," Dick whispered, turning around and wrapping his arms around Slade's neck to press their lips together. When they pulled back for air, Dick grinned brightly. "I promise you that I will be the death of both of us."
"If we're taking a shower together, I hope you're ready for morning sex," Slade grumbled as the two of them stepped into the shower. "Because you're turning me on right now."
"No I'm not," Dick said calmly. "I'm turning the shower on."
"You little son of a bitch," Slade muttered though there was a smile to his words.
"Always," Dick said, grinning. "So are you going to kiss me or not?"
Slade sighed but walked forward to take Dick's face between his hands and pressed their lips together in a gentle kiss.
"We're going to run out of warm water," he mumbled when they broke apart for air. Dick grinned brightly.
"Then you'd better work hard if you want that morning sex. I've heard that cold water can be a real turn off."
It took Slade a brief moment to realize what Dick said before he was pressing their lips together once more. Dick melted into the kiss and threw his arms around Slade's neck when his legs threatened to buckle beneath him.
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I just love leaving you guys at awful parts.
No worries. Next chapter will pick up here!
I hope you enjoyed!
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