A/N: Happy B-day Dante Reves (February 3)!

No warnings for this one, I don't think… ;) But an challenge! See the bottom A/N.

Trust in the Wicked

Nothing could have prepared Slade for the pain he felt when he plunged down into the molten lava after Terra's sudden change of heart. He had felt pain before, of course, more than most people experience during their lifetime, but that… mercifully it was short, before the darkness claimed him.

He never saw a bright light or waiting loved ones, not that he had really expected to. Not because he thought that he would go straight to hell, but because he didn't believe in those things. Heaven and hell were fairytales, dreamed up to comfort the living. Therefore he was slightly surprised when he, in the dark, saw a red, horned creature.

Trigon offered him life. Well. A chance of life. At a price. Servitude. Slade had worked for clients before, of course, and he tried to think of it like that when he considered the offer. His thirst for more life surprised him, he had always thought that he would accept it when the end finally came. He might have healing powers, but those were not limitless, after all, and sooner or later, in his line of business…

Maybe it was simply a matter of pride. Dying because you fell into some lava after a little fifteen-year old blond twat turned on you, was not exactly something he could retell with pride… if there would be any opportunity to compare ways of death, of course. Maybe there was something else as well… The look on Robin's face when he fell, for example… the way he called out… the sound might have been lost among the noise and battle-cries, but Slade heard it, and that alone might have been the deciding factor when he said yes.

When Trigon spoke to him he had still been dead, the moment frozen by the demon's powers. It was only when he accepted that he woke up and found himself in the body of a corpse. The damned creature had not returned his flesh, but pushed his soul back into the body as it were at the moment of death. Trigon had still demonstrated his powers by restoring his uniform, however, with the little addition of the symbol on his mask. The slave mark.

Even though Trigon had denied Slade his body, he hadn't taken away the pain. It wasn't as blinding, as excruciating as it had been at first, but every movement hurt, especially at the beginning. His Master had given him powers beyond his wildest dreams, but, Slade realized, they were also not what he had desired. The magic helped his mostly naked bones to move without muscles, filled out his uniform, created the mirage of life. In moments of paranoia Slade wondered if his mind, his brain, also consisted of magic and, if so, his Master could hear his thoughts.

When he started to doubt Trigon's words it got worse, every rebellious thought was followed by a bout of never before felt panic, and he tried to immerse himself in servitude, which was hard when it came to facing the Titans.

Finding out about Raven answered some questions the man had had for a long time, and he actually felt for the girl. Even though his life had taken paths he'd rather wished it hadn't in the past, he had at least never been bound by a prophesy. He had created, and lived, his own destiny, making his own choices. Raven, however, didn't stand a chance and Slade knew it. He was cruel to the girl, yes, but why should he give her any kind of hope? When it turned out that being the gem, the portal, didn't outright kill her, though… then even Slade quietly routed for her, if only because she might also be the key to destroying her father.

Robin was the hardest to face, however. Slade didn't want to kill him, after all, he only wanted the young man to be safe, to stay away… but when had that ever worked? When the teen, quickly, volunteered to follow him into the underground, Slade felt… elated. Of course he couldn't exactly show it, but he tried not to be too unpleasant… and if he read Robin right, the teen seemed to enjoy himself, even though worry about Raven was dominant.

And then Robin saw his face.

"AAAAH!"

"Hmm?" a sleepy voice mumbled as its owner turned around in the bed, towards the panicked gasp. "Did you dream you were a skeleton again?"

"Mock me and die," Slade growled.

"I'm not," Robin sighed and slid a hand over the man's bare chest. "It's just… it's been three years."

"Don't you think I know that?" the man muttered. "But when the nightmares come I remember exactly how it felt… the pain… the way my mind hovered between life and death…"

"Wanna sex a bit? Blowjob?" Robin offered. He had long since given up trying to help the man in any other way.

"I'm not in the mood."

The teen sat up straight.

"Wow… that dream must have been bad!"

"They always are."

"Yeah but… Slade, you know who could help-"

"Don't you ever get tired of suggesting that?"

"Well, Raven used to have some bad dreams herself, and when she had them, the Tower shook, so… she found a solution. She can help you too."

"Through hypnosis?" the man snorted derisively.

"Well, yeah, but it's laced with magic," Robin explained… "It's not a trick, she can really help!"

"I'm not keen on letting an enemy into my mind, even though she is a former enemy," Slade growled.

"She's a friend," Robin insisted. "Let her try?"

Slade muttered something and turned over on his side. Robin grinned. It might not be obvious to someone on the outside, but he had just won the discussion.

Robin was pacing nervously outside the room where Slade was being 'treated' by his team mate. They had been in there for three hours now and the teen was beginning to think that they were both dead.

Just as he considered kicking the door down, it opened. He flew into Slade's arms, not caring about the looks and giggles aimed at him from the rest of his team.

"How did it go?"

"Very well," Raven answered. "I managed to isolate the triggers for the dream and remove them. He might still have a random nightmare, but it shouldn't be as vivid by far."

"Well, we'll see," Slade grunted.

"Don't be like that," Robin scoffed. "Raven, thank you!"

"No problem. Just remember what we said, Slade; a month without the dream and you will owe us all pizza."

"Of course. I guess Robin has to sleep with me every night for the next thirty days," the man smirked.

"Hey! I have a life besides being your bed-warmer, you know…" the black haired teen objected. "Besides, why?"
"I need a witness," Slade said innocently. "It wouldn't be fair otherwise."

"Fine… things have to be fair…" Robin muttered as he gave in, but then grinned.

"Hey, Robin?" Raven whispered to him, taking him aside.

"Yes?" the young man asked, starting to worry.

"If you want to see something fun one day, say the words 'I'm afraid of rubber ducks'."

"Raven! What did you do?" Robin hissed, having to fight to keep his voice down.

"Well, we might be friends now, but he did put me through hell back then… most of my nightmares was about him," the woman smirked.

"He'll never trust you again."

"He'll never know if you don't say those words."

"What will happen?" the hero didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

"You'll find out if you say them."

"Sometimes," Robin growled, "I think it would have been better if you had stayed a little adorable girl…"

The End

A/N: the wish was literally: "I would like a fic with Slade having reoccurring nightmares about being a skeleton.", I could make it light or dark as I pleased, as long as the boys were in an established relationship. The prompt did have my plot-bunnies a bit stomped at first because I kept picturing those animated dancing skeletons from… wherever it was… can't remember, I just can see them in front of me… ;)

And this was a one-shot, you will have to think up what Slade might do if someone says those words on your own.. ;) or maybe it can be a challenge? Yes! Write a mini-drabble, like half a page (or 30 if you want), or draw a pic or something about what will happen when those words are said! Raven's mind can be pretty interesting, after all… and "funny" for her, might not mean clucking like a chicken… ;) Let me know where/when your contribution is posted! There won't be any time-limit nor prizes, but I'll promote your work!