Chapter Text
“Master Richard, your audience is requested.”
“Can't you hold them off any longer, Alfred?”
“I'm afraid not. You are the Lord of this land in Master Bruce’s absence, and unfortunately, I can only keep potential suitors away from you and your brothers for so long.” With that, Alfred left his young masters alone in Bruce’s master bedroom that they were all hiding in for protection. The eldest among them closed the door and sat in the darkness, listening to the silent snoring of his younger siblings.
Dick Grayson, oldest son of Lord Bruce Wayne, had found himself without his father and with three younger brothers to protect all on his own for the first time. In the world of nobility, people would be eyeing all of them in the game of political chess that they all played. With noble blood and beautiful genetics, every available bachelor and bachelorette would be eyeing the opportunity to wed one of Wayne’s children.
Bruce had been a very protective father, keeping his sons away from the vultures of neighboring houses while simultaneously teaching them how to be great fighters, scholars, and leaders to pursue their dreams. However, Bruce had vanished under mysterious circumstances during a period of social unrest, leaving his sons in a dangerous social position. Dick had just turned 19, with his younger brothers Jason, 15, Tim, 12, and Damian, 8, all unbetrothed.
Now Dick was left with a difficult choice. To maintain his kingdom without Bruce’s influence, he'd either need to fight off the neighboring kingdoms wanting to take over his land or get married to a person of similar or higher standing. Dick may be a good leader, but even he knew that he couldn't control Bruce’s army like his father did. It was Bruce’s amazing warrior skills that got him the title of Lord to begin with.
Dick bit his lip and rubbed tears from his eyes before they could form. His options were limited - his duty was clear. He would need to marry one of the neighboring kingdom’s leaders. It would be his body for the protection of his brothers.
Dick heard Damian roll over and whine out in his sleep, noticing the lack of warmth from his elder brother. He lay back down with his other brothers on the large bed, holding his baby brother close and watching his other brothers sleep soundly in each other's hold. This would be one of the last times he'd be able to do this…
Dick kissed Damian’s forehead and allowed his mind to wander.
---
Of all the suitors who basically tried to worm their way into Dick’s good graces, one stood out as the most advantageous.
Duke Slade Wilson. He was two nobility ranks above Bruce’s family and he also had quite the reputation. Like Bruce, he was an experienced fighter and tactician, except that his methods were far bloodier and more ruthless. He also had a vast deal of wealth and status. As would have it, was also much older than Dick. Slade was old enough to be Dick’s father, and had children of his own from a past marriage that were close to Dick’s age.
Yet he seemed oddly interested in Dick’s hand in marriage. Very interested even.
To decide, Dick asked Alfred for a private meeting with the visiting suitor. Dick was enamored by the man’s rugged charm. The man towered at over 6 feet, his hair silver, one eye patched, and the demeanor of someone confident and calculating. Dick definitely did not exude such charm, he believed that he appeared as a child in comparison.
His voice was just as gruff and his smile immaculate as he addressed Dick for the first time. “Richard Grayson Wayne, an honor to meet you.” His deep voice sent shivers down Dick’s spine.
Dick felt terribly unprepared, but he took a bow as his father showed him how to do when approaching those of higher social standing. “Duke Wilson. I heard you were interested in my hand.”
To his surprise, Slade closed the gap between them and stood right in front of Dick as he stood up. “I am. You’re a pretty little thing, very handsome indeed.” Dick almost shivered as the older man cupped his cheek with a gloved hand, examining him. “You look a lot like your father. Those blue eyes of yours are so stark and clear.” Dick found himself looking at Slade’s eye, glittering like a gemstone, before he quickly lowered his gaze and pursed his lips. To his shock, the duke allowed his thumb to run over Dick’s plush lower lip in a flirtatious way.
Dick asked bluntly, “Are you marrying me for my body? I cannot give you children, I cannot give you status. You only gain to lose by marrying me, Duke Wilson.”
Slade smirked, correcting him, “Call me Slade, boy.” The man tilted Dick’s head up, “No, you cannot give me children or status. Of course, having more heirs at my disposal would be advantageous when it comes to expanding my land. But I don’t need those things. You’re the jewel I’ve had my eye on for some time.” Dick was aware of how close the man was, their bodies only fractions of an inch from the other.
Dick looked up at the taller man, meeting his gaze and asking, “Me? I’m no decorated warrior or of high noble birth.”
Slade chuckled, “It matters not. I have had my eye on you. You’re quite a beautiful man, Grayson. Your father introduced you to me some time ago, and I have been vying for his permission to wed you. Of course, he was hesitant for the same reasons you are, afraid I would be a brute to his child. Well, I can offer you something no one else can.” Slade’s other arm slowly wrapped around Dick’s waist, pulling him closer until they were pressed together. Dick felt small, weak…yet protected in the man’s tight grip.
Dick blushed wildly, stammering, “D-Duke- Slade…do…do tell me your offer.”
Slade hummed and then tiled Dick’s head to the side, leaning in to whisper, “I can ensure the safety and freedom of your brothers. Your brothers will be able to wed and study as they please, I will not force them to sacrifice their aspirations for me.” Dick swore he felt the scratch of the man’s beard on his jaw, and something that felt like the man’s lip on his ear, “I will also be gentle with you, boy. I will cherish every inch of your body and heart.”
At the sound of that, Dick’s eyes began to overflow, emotions that he had locked away spilling out. He had been terrified of all the lecherous looks that other suitors had been giving him, afraid of being forced on his wedding night. He was afraid of losing his brothers or having them forced to join armies against their will; he wanted them to follow their dreams.
Slade pulled away, smiling gently at Dick’s tears, “I thought you couldn’t get more beautiful, Grayson. Your tears are just as beautiful as I imagined.” Salaciously, the man leaned in and kissed below each of Dick’s eyes, kissing the tears away. The man untangled himself from Dick and gave him a slow bow, “I hope to hear from you soon.”
The man turned to leave and Dick found his voice, calling after him, “W-Wait…Slade! Um…did you mean that? You’ll take care of my brothers?”
The man stopped and turned to look at him, “Of course, and you as well. I do not break promises, blue bird.” Dick blushed once again, the nickname not lost on him. The man turned and left the room.
Dick sat down on the nearby couch. He rubbed his eyes and breathed deeply, bringing his heart rate back down.
A minute later, Dick heard another knock, followed by Alfred coming into the room, “Master Richard, I was tending to your brothers, but I noticed that Duke Wilson left just now. That was the fastest suitor meeting by far - is everything alright?”
Dick flashed a smile to his longtime butler, assuring him, “Everything is alright Alfred. In fact, I rather like Duke Wilson. In fact, I intend to talk about him with my brothers tonight.”
---
“No way! No fucking way! You can’t do this!”
“You cannot do this, Grayson. It’s lunacy to put your faith in him.”
“Don’t sacrifice yourself for us, Dick. Besides, who knows if he’s telling the truth?”
Dick expected this reaction from his brothers. He didn’t keep secrets from them. Just like Bruce would have, all his brothers were weary of Slade and his promises to Dick. His words were enough to swoon Dick’s heart, but he had learned to think with his mind, not his heart. “Guys, think about it. Slade is offering me more than any other suitor has. We’ll have more than enough wealth together to keep the BatCastle and farmlands. All of you will finally be able to pursue what you want, think about it. Jason, you wanted to join the local guild and be an adventurer. Tim, you can finally study and be a scholar like you've always wanted. Damian, you can join the Royal Infantry like Bruce had done…you following your dreams makes me happy.”
His brothers looked at each other, then at him again. Their faces did not seem confident in his words.
“Grayson, you speak to what we desire with our lives. Not once have you spoken as to what you desire.”
Dick shook his head and kept his mouth in a soft smile as he reclined on his favorite sitting room chair. “It ultimately doesn't matter. Right now, all I want is the three of you to follow your dreams, Damian.”
“Bullshit.” Jason clenched his fists, leaning forward on the couch. “It does matter what you want. You're not a fucking pawn, you don't need to be a martyr for us. Bruce would be fucking livid if he saw you sacrificing yourself for us.”
Dick bit his lip and told them, “What I want isn't going to happen. You know I'm going to need to get married, whether I like it or not…and what if- what if I want to marry Slade?” The look on his brothers’ faces were a mix of appall and confusion.
Dick clenched his fists and opened his heart to them, “The amount of suitors I've met that have looked at me like a piece of meat, like I'm just an object to fuck and manipulative…I can't count. Their stares haunt me. They disgust me. Their fingers pressed onto my skin…I want to burn where they held me. Slade didn't feel like that - he said that I was beautiful, that he'd love and cherish me. He'd…he'd never force me-” Dick’s voice broke and he began sobbing. “Not one suitor has ever thought of my pleasure. No one else asked if I was happy or if they could make me happy. Slade did…and it made me feel special.” Dick started wiping the tears away with the back of his hand, hiccuping as he cried.
The room was eerily still as Dick sobbed until Alfred spoke from behind the couch, “Perhaps a courting date would be advised. Master Richard can spend time with Duke Wilson and Masters Jason, Timothy, and Damian can judge his estate for red flags. This way, any fears about this arrangement can be put to rest.”
Tim put his thinking face on, saying, “We could talk to his children and poke around his estate while Dick spends time with Slade. If anything else, Bruce taught us to look for signs of distress and lies, so we can tell if they’re telling us the truth.”
Dick wiped his eyes, sniffing, “Please…Jay, Damian, Tim…give him a chance. If you find anything…I’ll give up on him, I promise.”
Damian crossed his arms, “I am willing for this courtship date, but I am still hesitant, Grayson.”
Jason huffed, but he agreed, “I guess…but if I notice anything off, you bet I’m gonna fucking confront him.”
Tim smiled at his older brother, “If you’re sure, we’ll let you get to know him better.”
Alfred chimed in, “I will send a message to Duke Wilson tonight. I hope you discover if he is the one, Master Grayson.”