Sladick where they each experience a moment with the other and have this reality crushing this can’t last forget thought
For Dick it’s in his safe house, flipping through regular cop case work, still in uniform but shirt unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up. Slade is in the kitchen washing and drying plates by hand, wearing sweats with an athletic tank, slightly damp from his run. And oh how Dick wishes this was how life was. No next week knowing he’ll be fighting the man he loves to safe a life. No stitching up wounds from his partner’s own blade. And later hiding the bruises as if he’s someone in a toxic relationship, because he’s not, it’s just…complicated. And his heart sinks a little more when it feels like he’s staring at this moment like a movie scene. It won’t last will it?
For Slade it’s an opposite moment, because with him and Dick, everything is. He’s on the roof top, being met blow for blow by his little bird. He has a sense of clarity when he has Nightwing pinned. The bird smiles like he’s the one pinning Slade and asks wouldn’t you like to do something more fun? While splaying a hand on his chest under a break in the armor. Once hot blood turns ice cold when it hits Slade that the one person he truly cares about, the one person he might think all of the suffering was worth it just to meet him. Slade made him think the only thing he wants is his body. And he can’t blame anyone but himself either. This won’t last and it’s all his fault.