A/N: I was really touched by Oliver's reaction to Tommy's last act of selflessness. I'm just trying to capture that bit here. One Shot. 8belles
It Should Have Been Me
Felicity, in her tear-choked voice, just told him that the damage was on the east side of town: Laurel's office! Leaving Diggle, got to his bike as fast as his exhausted body would let him. Swerving around debris, he virtually vaulted off his motorcycle to crawl through narrow gaps in the wreckage to reach anyone still alive in the building. The dust was choking and lights flickered eerily on and off, as power was intermittent.
Expecting to find Laurel, instead he found his best friend lying on the ground amid a pile of concrete and bricks from the old building. With adrenaline pounding through his bloodstream, he flung debris back to expose the rebar embedded in Tommy's chest.
They were five years old. Tommy peeked behind his mom's skirt at the blond boy opposite him, his own mother's hands resting on his shoulders. The women exchanged pleasantries having been introduced by a common friend at the country club. Tommy wasn't sure about his kid but the other boy held out a hand to him, "Oliver Queen. You can call me Ollie."
Tommy shook the proffered hand, " Tommy Merlyn. You can call me Tommy."
Oliver kept digging, and Tommy asked if Laurel was ok, was she safe. Oliver had no clue, but assured his friend that she was safe. The light began to fade from Tommy's grey eyes. Oliver's heart began to break.
" Your momma is a loser!" the boy taunted the smaller, thinner Tommy. The schoolyard began to congregate as the teachers turned a blind eye.
" She is NOT!" Tommy shrieked at the larger boy, his black hair standing on end in fury. The blood trickled down his nose and his face began to hurt.
" She's down there in the GLADES with the rest of the hookers and pimps! No wonder someone offed her!" the boy sneered, crossing his arms over his chest.
" NO!" Tommy launched himself at the older boy who threw a casual punch at the other side of Tommy's face. He went down hard into the gravel and began to cough from the blood seeping into his mouth from his cut lip.
" LEAVE him ALONE." A voice cut through the grade school crowd. Heads turned.
The bully twisted to see a boy slightly bigger than Tommy, fists balled and sapphire eyes glinting.
" Look! The faggot has a friend!" the bully jeered and those were the last words he spoke that day.
" Mr. Queen, Oliver and Tommy have been fighting at school again." The Headmaster's voice was cool but accusing. The two boys sat next to him in leather high back chairs, feet not touching the ground, with ice packs on both cheeks. Tommy's face was puffy and Oliver had two black eyes but victory was theirs. Tommy looked over at Oliver and he knew this was someone he'd always be able to count on. Oliver returned the glance and gave a small smile.
" I see. Well let me explain…." Robert began with that same mischievous glint that the boys' had in theirs.
" Did you kill him?" Tommy asked, his voice a shadow.
Oliver looked at his dying friend in the eye and lied, "No."
" Thank you." Tommy said quietly and slipped away.
"Tommy?" Oliver whimpered, holding Tommy's head. Anger, pain and regret washed over his face as he clenched his teeth in anguish, " It should have been me. Open your eyes, Tommy!" he gasped as the grief clutched his chest taking his breath away, " Open your eyes."
Tommy laid still, his face a mask of peace. After all his suffering, he was finally there. Oliver only wished he could find the same. It should have been me, he said again in his head, hot tears cutting marks down the dust and grime on his cheeks, It should have been me.