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“Sladeeee. Look at meeee.” Slade resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Dick didn’t get wasted often, but today, he had drunk himself stupid and got hit with truth pollen by Ivy at a bar. Slade had picked up his husband before he could get himself behind the wheel of a moped and brought him back to one of their safehouses before he could compromise their identities. Dick had been sleepy for much of the drive, now he was awake and chatty. Slade was on the couch trying to get some work done, but Dick was laying upside down and talking.
“What is it, pretty bird?”
“My hands…they’re…have they always been like this?” Dick looked over his hands with some suspicion.
“...Dick, those are your hands. There is nothing wrong with them.” Yeah, Dick was definitely pretty drunk, and it was a little funny to see him act this way.
“Huh…something feels weird…huh? Is this my ring?” Dick moved his wedding ring around, looking at the details on it. “Was my wedding ring…always soooo pretty?” That made Slade chuckle; Dick had said many times about how pretty the wedding ring that Slade chose for him was. It had raised detailing of two birds sitting on a branch, two small gems as their eyes - a robin ring for the past Robin. Dick spun it on his finger several times.
After a moment of silence, Dick spoke again, “Y-You know…I was waiting for you to confess f-for years.”
That comment had Slade raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Dick shrugged and slurred out, “I-I know we decided…very last minute…to get married. I thought you’d have asked sooner…I would’ve said yes t-the moment I turned 18.” Slade pursed his lips. For a long time, he felt like Dick got married to him as a way to flip Bruce off - of course now they were very much in love, but sometimes it didn't feel that way. To hear that Dick had planned on accepting his proposal for years shocked him, though he kept it well hidden under his blank expression.
Slade decided to probe out of curiosity, “Well, why didn’t you say anything? I would’ve asked sooner had you expressed interest.”
Dick looked over at Slade, kicking his legs in the air and thinking it over for a moment. “Well, m-mostly for Joey…and Rose…I didn’t want to replace…replace their mom. Also, y-you flirted with me so…often that it felt f-fake. And It was kinda hard to tell ya…with Bruce, y’know?” Dick may have been hit with truth pollen, but he was letting these secrets flow out of his mouth freely.
Slade put his laptop aside and crossed his arms, saying, “What changed then? Joey and Rose are still around and my relationship with them is still complicated. I still flirt with you on patrol. Your dad still disapproves. What makes it different now?”
Dick crossed his hands over his chest and continued stretching his legs as he spoke, “They told me they were…were okay with it. Joey was fine with…us. Rose congratulated me…I felt like it was the right time…and, well, I l-love you. I love you so damn much…I don’t care who doesn’t agr-agree. You make…make me happy.” He smiled, his cheeks pinkened from the alcohol. Slade covered his mouth, intent on hiding his own blush - he was not the blushing type, not even with his husband.
Dick noticed though and quickly sat up on the couch, “Are you b-blushing?? Awwww, my Death Bird!” Dick got up and walked unevenly to Slade’s armchair, landing on his lap and nuzzling into Slade’s chest. Anyone else would be terrified of touching Slade, Dick leaned into his touch, feeling safe in his strong arms.
Slade pet Dick’s hair and kissed him on the forehead. He let Dick settle in before he asked, “I’ve asked you before, but why did you choose me, pretty bird? You’re young, athletic, attractive, and morally good. Why did you choose to be with me?”
Dick hummed and let the truth slip from his lip, “I like older men…and you’re hoooot!” He laughed before adding in, “You’ve always been…been in my life…during good and bad…I wanted no one *hic* n-no one else.” Dick looked up at him tearfully, “D-Do you regret me loving you?”
Slade smiled and kissed his forehead again, saying, “Never. On the other hand, I’m happy to hear it.”
Dick asked, “W-What do you like…*hic* about me then?”
Slade looked off into space, saying, “Where to start? You’re hot for one; you’re kind; you’re good with everyone you meet; you make me and everyone else fucking happy; you’re just a perfect human being, pretty bird. I feel lucky you wanted me over everyone else.”
Dick nuzzled against his chest, asking tearfully, “E-Even if *hic*...we need to stay apart when we’re heros…be-because of Bruce?”
Slade rolled his eye, reminding him, “You’re not the only one with family drama, birdie. You know my kids are on your side more than mine - doesn’t mean I’ll ever abandon them. Same with you - I don’t care if you and your family are vigilantes and I’m a mercenary. At the end of the day, our hero and villain personas are only a piece of who we are - outside of that, we’re happy together. Screw your father’s expectations for you, you deserve to be happy.”
Dick sniffled, “I love you…when are you…g-gonna marry me?”
Slade reminded him, “We’re married already, remember, Pretty Bird?”
Dick looked him in the eye and said, “Well, we got married at court…b-but we never had a ceremony…cuz of Bruce. I would…like a ceremony…at least with our families.”
Slade kissed him on the forehead and promised, “We can definitely do that. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Dick puffed his cheeks, “Sometimes I feel l-like I bother you…”
Slade shook his head, promising him, “Never. You don’t bother me, pretty bird - it’s okay to be selfish sometimes.”
Dick asked playfully, “Even w-when I eat nothing but cereal…and make a mess of our safehouses?”
Slade poked him on the nose, saying, “Watch it, birdie, being in love with me doesn’t give you an excuse to neglect your body and space.” Dick laughed and rested in the fetal position in Slade’s lap. As Dick fell asleep, Slade was looking up wedding venues online for them to invite their loved ones to for their upcoming first anniversary.