Hello, I woke today wondering whether Slade and Dick sleep together in royal au and when they started sleeping in one bed at all 👀 Did it surprise Dick etc
Have a good day 💕
Hi, love!! Thank you for asking -3-
At this point of the story (the one on tumblr of course) they haven't shared a bed yet! As big of an asshole Slade is, he is anything but well prepared and so he knows Gotham customs pretty well - he just chooses to ignore them most of the time. He knows that Dick could actually start to hate him if he forced him to sleep in his bed before they got married and as tempting as it is, he gives Dick his own rooms.
Dick was meant to move into Slade's chamber after the wedding, where they'd consummate the marriage and then Dick would just stay there permanently. Buuut as you know, in the last part Dick got stabbed so he wasn't really in a shape to do anything of the sorts. After Villian allows Dick leave the hospital wing, Dick returns to his old rooms. They should be sharing bed at this point, yes, but Slade wants to make sure that Dick's wound is healed properly. Instead, Slade visits Dick in his room pretty much everyday :3
So, the short answer is: they haven't slept together yet and they start sleeping in one bed after Dick is completely healed 💕
A short scene because this just got into my head:
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Dick walked further into the garden, wrapping his cloak more tightly around himself. The snow was reaching his ankles even in the boots with thicker soles and he cursed Defiance's weather under his breath before quickening his step.
He wanted to talk with Slade and he had to do it now, before he lost his confidence.
Just as the guards told him, Slade was sitting by the now frozen fountain in the middle of the royal gardens, like he often did since their marriage celebration. No one really knew the reason for those outings but Dick suspected it had to do with him and the fact that they still didn't know who sent the man responsible for the stab wound in Dick's chest. The cold, biting air was a great way to clear one's head and help you think.
That is, as long as it wasn't turning you into an icicle, like it was happening to Dick right now.
Only, when Dick got closer to where his husband was, he noticed that Slade wasn't actually alone. Sir Wintergreen was sitting at the bench a few steps away from Slade, talking to him with a smile on his lips that was almost completely covered by his mustache.
Dick was about to turn away and go back inside the castle - he didn't want to interrupt them and it's not like his case couldn't wait - when Slade looked up. Their gazes met and Dick's breath left his lungs in a white puff.
"Richard?" Slade asked, visibly surprised to see him there.
Dick sharply inclined his head, "Your Majesty."
Wintergreen glanced at Dick with a knowing look in his eyes. He got up from the bench with a little groan of effort and patted his king on the shoulder with a smile.
"I'll leave you two to it then." He said.
"Oh no, sir Wintergreen, I didn't want to interrupt you." Dick said hurriedly. "Please, continue. I can come later-"
"Nonsense, Your Majesty." Billy waved his hand dismissively. "I was about to head back anyway."
"I'll see you later, Billy." Slade nodded at him and before Dick could try to protest again, Wintergreen disappeared behind the hedge.
"I apologize, Your Majesty." Dick said quietly, watching Slade stand up as well. "I wasn't aware you had company."
"Don't worry about it." Slade stopped before him to take his cheek in hand, stroke his thumb along the skin. Despite sitting outside in the snow for at least an hour now, his skin was still warmer than Dick's. "Did something happen? You don't usually seek me out like this."
"No, I just-" Dick started then stopped quickly and pressed his lips together. He searched for the right words in his mind because everything he wanted to say earlier suddenly disappeared from his head.
He could back out from this. Say something completely else and Slade would have no idea about what was going through his head in the first place. But Dick knew that he would never gather enough courage again if he didn't say it now.
Beside, Slade had an annoying habit of always knowing when Dick lied.
"You shouldn't stay out in the cold for so long." Slade scolded him, not unkindly, after another moment of silence. He adjusted Dick's cloak. "You're shaking, little bird."
"I'll be alright." Dick smiled. "I should be getting used to this kind of weather anyway."
Slade's lips twisted in a frown as he shook his head. "It's not good for your health. And specially now, when you're still healing. Let's go back inside."
"A-actually..." Dick stopped Slade when he tried to guide him back towards the castle. He took a deep breath and felt the cold air dance in his lungs. It was now or never. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm completely healed now. Villain said so himself. So now I'm... I'm finally good to move into your rooms, Your Majesty. The way it should be after the celebration."
For a moment Slade just looked at him. If he was surprised by Dick's words, he didn't show it in any way. He just looked at Dick without saying a word and if it weren't for the cold wind already biting at Dick's cheek, the young consort would surely blush.
"Your Majesty?" Dick breathed out.
In asnwer Slade took his own cloak off his shoulders and carefully wrapped it around Dick. He leaned down to press his lips to Dick's cheek. "Walk with me."
"B-but you... aren't you cold?"
Slade smiled. He reached for Dick's hand and intertwined their fingers together. "I'll be alright." He echoed Dick's words. "Walk with me. We'll worry about moving your things later."
And so, Dick allowed him to guide them through the garden.
