The Four Stages of Love

by BerriUsagi (ao3)

Chapter 1: Denial

If Dick was being honest with himself, he might have been willing to admit he didn't mind working alongside Slade. The man was competent; he knew what he was doing, and as much as Dick hated him, he could admit that his wealth of knowledge had proven to be useful. Another thing that was useful about the older man was the fact that he had plenty of space in his mansion. It wasn't anything like Wayne Manor; it was updated, with a more modern feel than the old-money atmosphere of the manor where he spent a decent chunk of his childhood.

Dick was standing in the kitchen of Slade's home, looking over the case file spread out over the dark marble island as he sipped the smoothie he had made in the too-expensive blender that Slade apparently needed to own. He was normally more observant, especially when he was in a space that wasn't his own, so when Slade settled himself behind him, looking over his shoulder to read the same files he was, he couldn't help the cold chill that ran down his back at the other man's proximity.

"Can I help you?" Dick asked, trying not to let on that Slade being pressed so close to his back was making his hackles rise.

"No, you're fine where you are," Slade hummed, grabbing the smoothie from Dick's hand to take a long drink from it as he looked over the papers. He hummed softly, setting the glass down as he squinted at something in the documents. The sight almost had Dick snorting at how comical the sight was. He looked fucking ancient, having to squint to read some tiny text.

Just as that thought entered Dick's mind, a realization slammed into the forefront of his mind. Slade was much older than he was, probably old enough to be his father if he were to be honest with himself. Slade was also big in comparison to himself, while Dick wasn't some waif; he was smaller than the other man. Suddenly, his mouth was dry, and as much as he wanted to pick up his smoothie and take another drink to take care of the dryness, he couldn't. Not after watching Slade drink from that straw.

He cleared his throat and muttered something about needing to head out for the night, and packed the files up. Slade didn't argue, just moved out of the way to give him space to finish packing up and make his leave. "Don't forget to lock up," Slade called after him as he finished grabbing his things and left.

Dick just needed some distance. He just needed to clear his head and not think about the other man for a while.

~.~.~.~

Distance did fucking nothing to help him clear his head. If anything, it just made his body grow bolder knowing that Slade wasn't there to catch him in the act. Dick wasn't new to having feelings for someone he shouldn't; he wasn't new to having to navigate the minefield that was having a crush on a coworker. Though he doesn't know if what he's feeling for Slade would constitute a crush or more like a temporary lapse in sanity.

That had to be it. He had spent too long in too close quarters with Slade, and now his mind was seeing him as a means to let out his sexual urges. That's why he's sitting in his bed with his hand slick with lube and stroking his cock with far more vigor than strictly necessary. That's why his other hand was plunging his fingers into his hole so hard and with such desperation that he thought for a second the Christian god truly did exist, and he was looking him directly in the eyes as he sobbed around a wholly unholy orgasm.

He just needed to get off with someone that isn't Slade fucking Wilson, and that will fix all his problems. It had to otherwise; he's going to regret some of those web searches he made. He fucking prayed that the club he found would be just what he needed to fix him. In the meantime, he had plenty of lube and an internet connection with access to specific sites that would feed more into his problem until he could properly handle it.

"Please let this fucking work," he groaned, watching as the very attractive older man in the video he found obliterated the poor twink trapped under his bulk, "Otherwise I'll need to be admitted to fucking Arkham."

He groaned deep in his chest as his cock throbbed in his fist before spilling over his knuckles and staining his abs. This had to work; he just needed to properly get his frustrations out, one night with some nameless man with a similar body to Slade's, and it would be out of his system. If Bruce ever found out about this, he'd have to disappear off the planet. Maybe he could convince Hal to give me a ring just so he never had to face the man again.

Breathing a deep sigh of relief, he reached over and hit the space bar on his laptop, pausing the video, and looked over to see it frozen on the older actor's torso, his hips pulled back enough to show off the intimidating weight of his cock. He wondered if Slade was that big. Just as the thought entered his mind, he had to shove it away; the less he thought about Slade, the better chance he had of keeping his sanity. "God, this better work."

The pinned address on his phone was his last hope of getting the older mercenary out of his mind for good. If it didn't, then Dick would just have to find a way to avoid his father because he was going to start making many decisions he would not approve of.

Chapter 2: Anger

The music of the club wasn't all that loud, all things considered. As Dick walked through the curtain, he looked over at the many bodies in varying degrees of pleasure. It wasn't a well-known club, one that was kept fairly hush-hush even online. It took him hours of searching to find a forum discussing it, and even then, he had to scroll for another hour just to find an address.

The place was classy, with dark leather couches around the room, circular beds in small nooks in the walls with curtains hung up to block out the rest of the club. It seemed like everyone already knew each other. Most people were either already partnered up or watching other couples enjoy themselves. Dick didn't know what to do, how to navigate this situation. He felt like he was far out of his depth and was about to turn and leave when he felt the solid weight of a hand close around the back of his neck, scruffing him and dragging him across the floor to one of the doors leading to a private lounge.

He might not know a lot about this particular club, but from what he was able to find on that forum, he knew the private lounges were expensive and needed to be reserved. No one got in without a key, which meant that no one would be able to see what happened to Dick in there. Dick raised his arm to fight off the man dragging him off when he caught sight of the white hair, the eye patch, the face that haunted his fucking dreams now.

Heat pooled in Dick's stomach as he was dragged the last few feet into the private room and heard the click of the lock as the door was shut behind him. Slade was just as imposing as before, standing over Dick and taking in his appearance. Maybe he should have put more effort into looking nice when his whole plan was to find someone to fuck him. He felt entirely underdressed compared to the suit Slade wore.

"This doesn't much look like your scene, baby bird," Slade chuckled, letting his eye trail down Dick's form, quickly taking notice of the problem beginning to swell within his jeans. "Anything I can do to help with that?" he asked, nodding down to the bulge in Dick's jeans.

Dick's skin burned as he grit his teeth and turned to leave the room. "This was a fucking mistake," he spat out, trying to force the door open as he tried to fiddle with the lock.

"I'm not an idiot, Richard," Slade chuckled, watching with great amusement as Dick froze, "I'm well aware of the thoughts you've been having about me. I've seen the porn you've watched, and I'm noticing you've gotten quite fond of a specific genre. How about you be honest with me and yourself and just let what you want happen," he said, stepping up until his chest was pressed to Dick's back and leaning down to press feather-light kisses along his neck, "Just be honest and you can have everything you want."

Rage should have been the dominant emotion for being toyed with like this, but just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, being replaced with something so much fucking worse.

~.~.~.~

Dick should really start asking questions about how and why Slade had latex clothes in his size at the ready. He should also question why he already had a collar at the ready with Baby Bird engraved on the round tag. The one thing he didn't question was the fact that Slade wore a leather harness under his suit jacket and had a cock ring already on when he decided to bring Dick over to kneel in front of him and bathe his cock with his tongue.

"Blue is such a beautiful color on you," Slade hummed, tilting his head as he looked over the deep blue latex of Dick's sleeveless crop top. He adjusted his position and brought one of his leather boots between Dick's thighs, pressing against the visible bulge trapped behind the matching latex boy shorts.

Dick wanted to be angry he pulled back, ready to voice as much when Slade clicked his tongue at him, "You already agreed to all of this," Slade said, his voice deep and filled with authority, "Unless the next words out of your mouth are your safe words to end this, then you know what I want to hear." he said, leaning back in his seat and brought his glass of whiskey to his lips.

It should not have felt as good as it did to be spoken to like that, to have Slade remind him of the fact that he chose to stay, to wear this latex outfit, and sit himself in front of the other man and service him with his tongue because he hadn't earned the right to use his mouth yet. He closed his mouth, swallowing hard before finally speaking, "Apologies, master," he grumbled.

Slade's grin should have been sinister, but Dick could see it lacked any malicious intent; it was one of pure pleasure, "Good boy," he said, his voice a low purr as he reached out and stroked his fingers through his hair, "Go ahead and use that pretty mouth now, you've earned it."

Dick trembled as he opened his mouth wide, licking from base to tip, gently wrapping his lips around the crown before slowly sinking down his cock. He groaned softly as he got further down his length. Slade was impressive in both length and girth; it was a wonder the man ever managed to bed another person if Dick was struggling to take him orally. He eventually did make it to the base; it felt like it took him an eternity, but he was finally at the base, his nose pressed snug against the short, neatly trimmed hairs on Slade's groin.

"Good boy," Slade groaned, leaning his head back as he threaded his fingers through Dick's hair and kept him in place. "Let's just sit like this for a while," he hummed, closing his eyes as he focused on the feeling of Dick's throat moving around him, unintentionally massaging his cock as the younger man fought against the urge to gag.

Dick didn't know how long he was trapped on Slade's cock, didn't know how much longer he would be, but the longer he was stuck there, being deprived of air and being forced just to take it. Dick's head felt like it was filled with cotton when Slade finally pulled his head back, allowing him to get one quick breath of air before forcing him back down. It was rough, it was meat, it was everything Dick needed.

Slade didn't care about Dick's pleasure in that moment, and somehow that made it all the hotter. Dick felt his eyes beginning to cross as his throat was abused. He felt his cock throbbing behind the latex it was trapped within. He felt the exact moment that any anger he felt for his attraction for the man before him evaporated as he came within his shorts.

He whimpered, moaned, and pawed at Slade's thighs almost as if to apologize for cumming without permission, but the grin that stretched across Slade's lips told him that was exactly what he wanted. His head was forced down again, his throat invaded, and his nose pressed against those soft hairs again. He whined as he felt Slade's cock throb, and then his eyes rolled back as he felt the warmth of his cum pour down his throat.

"Perfect lil bird for me," Slade sighed, slowly pulling Dick off his cock so he could coat his tongue with his cum, "Let me see before you swallow."

Dick panted, keeping his mouth open so Slade could get a good look at the cum coating his tongue before closing his lips and swallowing hard, opening his mouth once more to show his now clean tongue.

"What do you say?" Slade hummed, gently shaking Dick's head with his grip on his hair.

"T-Thank you, Master."

"Good boy, climb up here, it's time I show your other greedy hole some love."

Chapter 3: Rejection

Dick was lying in Slade's bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out how he ended up in this situation. He knew the steps that ultimately got him to this point, but at the same time, he was convinced he had missed a turn somewhere along the way. If Bruce ever found out how he and Slade had some kind of relationship, a sexual one at that, then the man might actually break his no-kill rule, or worse, decide it's just to torture a man.

Dick wasn't sure how, okay, no, he was fairly confident in how they ended up like this. Ever since that night at the club, he'd been coming around Slade's more often, even after their case was settled. He found himself more often than not waking up in the older man's bed, often alone, more often with his head on his chest or with Slade's chest pressed to his back. He wouldn't say they were dating; this was just them both helping each other out with a need, a desire.

They were at most colleagues with benefits, not even friends. That's why he woke up so many mornings to an empty bed, not because Slade was up making them breakfast and coffee, but because he didn't feel any strong romantic feelings for him. Just sexual.

He heard Slade's voice carrying from the kitchen, calling for him to come down to let him know the food was ready. Slade had just learned his sleep pattern so that he could more easily kick him out after a night together. That thought had something twisting in Dick's stomach. A heat that wasn't like the arousal that consumed just a few hours earlier when he woke up to Slade fucking another load into him. This heat had the tinge of spite.

In that moment, he decided to make today one of the hardest Slade has ever had to deal with. With his mind made up, he rolled over and grabbed his phone off the nightstand, and started scrolling through one of the many social media apps he was active on. He grinned, stretching his arm out, taking a selfie, and posting it, keeping the caption vague about where he was and just saying he had a hell of a night. He was allowed to be a slut on main. Sue him.

Slade's shouts for him to come down to breakfast kept getting met with silence. His voice grew more stern with each shout until finally Dick could hear him walking up the stairs to come and get him. "I know you heard me." He said, standing in the doorway, his robe open, showing his scarred chest and barely hiding the print of his cock against the thin fabric, "Breakfast is ready."

"Hmm," Dick hummed, continuing to scroll on his phone, not paying Slade any mind. That seemed to irritate the older man as he walked to the side of the bed, pulling the blankets off Dick, letting the cool air of his bedroom settle over his bare skin.

"Stop being a brat and get up," Slade said.

"Or what?" Dick chuckled, rolling his eyes and flipping over to put his back to the man, "Last I checked, you didn't have any say in what I did."

Slade felt a twitch in his eyebrow at the words. He knew they hadn't put anything official about their relationship in stone. Clearly, that was a mistake if Dick was going to be such a brat. He breathed deeply, feeling how his cock thickened at Dick's antics, the desire to put him in his place strong. He walked away, going to his closet and grabbing a little box he had stored in the same drawer he kept his watches. He wanted to wait to introduce this kind of play, but Dick certainly earned it.

~.~.~.~

Dick might not have thought things through when he decided to be a, well, a dick, to Slade that morning. He felt like every nerve in his body was alight as he stood at the kitchen island cutting into the steak Slade had prepared for dinner. He adjusted his stance, wincing slightly as the sturdy metal of the cage around his cock pressed harder into his skin, forcing him to be flaccid once more.

"How's the food?" Slade asked, taking a bite of his steak as he watched Dick from across the island, seated on one of the barstools. Normally, they would eat at the dining table, but today Slade hadn't let Dick sit unless it was on his cock and only for as long as it took for Slade to cum.

Dick's jaw twitched as he felt Slade's most recent load trickle down his leg. There were fucking tally marks on his bare ass for each time Slade filled him, and at this point, Dick was going to lose his mind if he didn't get to cum soon. He forced himself to take a bite of the steak, tried to focus on that and not how his balls were aching to cum and how his cock hurt being trapped within the cage.

He looked back up where Slade was sitting, poised to answer, but saw his seat empty. He dropped his hands down to the island counter, braced for the intrusion he knew was coming, and screamed as Slade snapped his hips forward, burying his cock in deep. "Suppose you're not too hungry, huh?" Slade chuckled, holding his hips tightly as Dick pushed his plate away and dropped his chest to the table.

"Please-" Dick sobbed, his cock trying to swell just to get forced to stay soft as his balls throbbed with the need to cum, "Please…"

Slade hummed, thinking it over as he adjusted his aim so he could bully his cock against Dick's prostate, "I don't know," he chuckled, reaching around to grab hold of Dick's balls and squeezed them, feeling how they tightened in his grip, "I never got an apology for your attitude."

"I'm sorry!" Dick sobbed, reaching back to grip Slade's shirt, tears streaking down his face, "I'm sorry I was a cunt this morning, please just let me cum I'll be better, please please please-"

Slade grinned, reaching up and pressing his thumb to the scanner on the cage. The moment it hit the ground with a soft clang, Dick's eyes rolled back as he screamed his pleasure, painting the dark cabinets in front of him with rope after rope of thick cum as Slade continued to fuck into his loose hole. "I think we should move this back to the bedroom," Slade chuckled, reaching down to grab Dick's thighs and pulling him up against his chest, pinning the younger man's thighs to his own chest and walking back up the stairs, keeping his cock buried deep inside, "The nights still young."

Chapter 4: Acceptance

The club was surprisingly quiet for how many people were milling around, talking, and indulging themselves with various partners for the night. Dick was surprised that Slade hadn't dragged him off to a private room like he'd done that first night. Instead, he was perched on the man's lap, lazily kissing him, letting his tongue wrap around his as he rolled his hips, driving his cock deeper into his overly slicked hole.

He could admit it was intoxicating knowing everyone could see him, fully bare and with his partner's cock bringing pleasured tears to his eyes with so little effort. Dick never took himself for an exhibitionist, but maybe that was just because he had terrible influence from his partner, who took great pleasure in cupping his ass and spreading his cheeks every time someone stopped to watch so they could see how his cock spread him.

"You're a terrible man," Dick whispered, breaking the kiss and licking the saliva off his lips as he felt Slade knead at the firm muscle of his backside, "With how you act I'd thought you'd want to keep me locked away from any prying eyes." he hummed, stroking his fingers through the silvery strands on his head.

"Oh, but you love it," Slade chuckled, pulling one hand back to land a solid slap on Dick's cheek, feeling how the firm muscle took it with ease, a loud clap echoing in their little spot, before squeezing the reddening skin with delight at Dick's soft grunt. "What's the point of having one of the most sought-after men in all of Gotham perched on my cock like some starved slut if I can't show it off?" he hummed, bucking his hips up, feeling how Dick tightened around him at the reminder of the various eyes on him.

"You seem to like it so much, maybe we should change locations to somewhere even more public? Could bend you over for all to see next time you go out for an appearance. Let the whole world know just how hungry for cock you are," he chuckled, spreading his legs wider as he gripped Dick's hips, beginning to lift him just to bring him back down roughly into his thrust.

The steady rhythmic clapping of Dick's ass landing on Slade's thighs filled the air as his voice grew louder with moans. They'd been at this since they first arrived, and Slade found the most public spot in the club to make sure they had plenty of people to see them. Dick wasn't sure how he felt about it at first, but now? Oh, he loved it; he loved knowing he was being watched. It was like being a performer again. So many eyes on him watching as he fell apart on Slade's cock.

"C'mon, I know you want to let go," Slade whispered, strengthening his thrusts, watching as Dick's eyes began to cross, felt how his cock throbbed as it stroked against the firm plains of his stomach. He was nearing the end, and Slade just needed a little bit more to get him there. He moved before Dick could react to what was happening, his eyes widening as he found himself on his back against the coffee table in front of them.

The shock of cold wood to his overheated skin startled him, arching off the table with a yelp as Slade pinned his thighs to his chest, folding him in half, and drew back his hips before snapping them forward. All it took was that one rough thrust for Dick to fall apart, his mouth dropping open in a silent scream of pleasure as his cock throbbed against his stomach, painting his own chest in thick ropes of cum.

Slade didn't relent, he fucked Dick through his high groaning low as he tightened around him and didn't stop even when Dick's eyes were filled with tears and he tried to push him away, begging for him to stop. Dick never uttered their safeword, so Slade didn't have to honor any of his pleading, grinning down at the tear-stained mess of his lover, "You're going to have to beg better than that," he chuckled, his cock throbbing at the sight below him.

Dick's eyes rolled back as his cock was forced to remain hard, never given a chance of rest as Slade's relentless pace pushed him over into a second climax so soon after. He trembled beneath the older man, digging his nails into shoulder as his cock pumped out thinner ropes of cum against his chest.

"Such a good fuckin boy," Slade groaned, snapping his hips forward, burying himself deep as he finally came, filling Dick with his warmth and carefully lifting him from the table and dropping back down onto the couch, keeping him perched on his cock. Dick whined as the drop seemed to drive Slade's cock in deeper as he went boneless against his chest, shaking through the pleasure consuming him.

"Did so well for me," Slade cooed, stroking Dick's back as he relaxed back against the leather of the couch they'd claimed for the night. "You've certainly earned your reward," he chuckled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small switchblade, presenting it to Dick. He smiled as the fog that seemed to be clouding Dick's mind vanished within an instant as he took the blade and forced himself to sit up.

"I can? Really?" he asked, his eyes practically sparkling as Slade nodded and motioned to his chest. Dick smiled widely as he flicked the blade out and picked a spot right over Slade's heart, carefully pressing the tip of the blade into his skin and etching his initials into it. Slade groaned, his cock throbbing in Dick as he took his time carving the letters into his skin.

"You really like this, huh?" Dick chuckled, feeling Slade's cock thicken inside him, ready for yet another round, "Wanted me to stake my claim, did you?" he chuckled, pulling the bloody tip of the knife away to examine his work, and was pleased to see the distinct letters of RG on his chest. He wiped the blade off on Slade's hip before closing it back up and padding the knife back to him.

"I'm just waiting for when you'll let me put my claim on you," Slade chuckled, taking the knife and tucking it back in his pocket before gripping Dick's hips once more. "Now I think it's time we continue," he grinned, snapping his hips up, delighting in the scream of pleasure he earned from his lover. He loved to see him lose his mind to the pleasure and planned to thoroughly destroy him that night.