Title: We Could Be Immortals
Author: QueencestQueen
Pairings:Oliver/Thea (aka Queencest and/or Tholiver)
Rating: PG (or K+, depending on the rating system.)

Summary:Set Post "Nanda Parbat." Ra's raises the incentives of his offer and Oliver must make a choice that will change both his and Thea's lives forever.

Dedicated to:my Queencest soulmate, J, who suffers through my obsession with these two with a smile! I love you, girl!

Notes/Warnings:
- I NEED to know if I should expand on this by making it a full-fledged story or leave it as a one-shot so PLEASE tell me what you think in a review.
- Italicized words are thoughts and bold are direct quotes from the episode of ARROW. There are a few quotes from the 100 in here too (see if you spot them.)

Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of this author. This author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


"You have shown tremendous strength, fortitude, power. No, Mr. Queen, I don't want to kill you. I want you to take my place. I want you to become the next Ra's al Ghul."

Oliver blinked as Ra's' words hung in the air, awaiting an answer. The offer sounded oddly sincere and yet Oliver didn't trust it. How could he? Ra's had done nothing, but bring him pain, court his death. Why? Why is Ra's making this offer? He had a successor in place already: Nyssa. She'd only been in Oliver's cell for less than a day; there was no way that her father had written her off already. Why does he think I would even consider such a thing? Ra's had to know enough about him to know that Oliver wasn't the type of person to lead a league of assassins. I am not a killer, not anymore. Can I risk saying no?

"You did not kill Ta-er al-Sahfer," Ra's said, continuing his plea for Oliver to consider the offer, "and there is only a singular reason that one claims blame for something not done by their own hands." Oliver looked up at the man then, body freezing as a horrible thought occurred to him. He knows about Thea. Everything Oliver had done to protect her, to keep her hidden from Ra's' radar, had all been for nothing. "A man like you willingly sacrifices himself to my sword for only one purpose: to protect what is most important to him."

Ra's approached him then slowly, his ever present sword at his hip, sheathed now but easily put back into action if the need arose "Was she worth it, Mr. Queen?" He asked as he circled the younger man who remained knelt upon the floor. If he moved, Oliver feared what Ra's might take his actions to mean; Oliver didn't want to engage in a battle with the man if he did not have to do so. "Worth forfeiting your life? Worth the fight back from death? Worth all the efforts of protection?"

"Yes." Oliver said, unable to completely ignore the prodding any longer. He had to say something to defend his actions.

Ra's stopped in front of him again, eyes that were wizened by time scrutinizing him, as he asked a simple, "why?"

But it wasn't a simple question. Why Thea? A myriad of answers flooded his mind. Because she's my sister. Because she's innocent. Because Malcolm made her do it. Because she's my only family. But the truth was both simple and complicated at the same time. "Because she's my everything." He said without conscious thought. It felt good to say it aloud. It hadn't occurred to him until just now, but since he'd said so he felt lighter, relieved. He'd been living with that weighing on his soul for years now and finally someone else knew…even if it was just Ra's al Ghul.

"Ah," Ra's nodded as if he understood, but Oliver suspected he had no clue, "the heart will lead the greatest of men to the most selfless of actions." Oliver said nothing. He and Ra's were not anything resembling comrades and he was giving the man nothing more than was necessary to survive this conversation. Ra's, it seemed, didn't need Oliver to say anything to that; he simply continued to speak. "Then, for this everything woman, consider my proposal, Mr. Queen." That was not as convincing of an argument as Ra's thought. Thea would never approve of me taking the man up on his offer. She wouldn't approve of me sacrificing me soul, of me turning others into assassins, not when I am so determined to keep her from becoming a murderer. "If you are my heir, destined for my mantle then you and everyone you care about have nothing to fear from me or my people. And when the time comes that I am gone, then you will have the power to keep your people safe." At this, Ra's smiled and it made Oliver feel cold inside, "No one challenges the Demon, Mr. Queen."

Though he hated to admit it, Ra's did make a convincing argument with these points. All he'd ever wanted was to keep everyone he cared about safe and protect his city. Being the demon would ensure the safety of his team and maybe even help him keep Starling City safe. But just as he began to consider the offer, he heard Thea's voice in his mind pleading with him, '…but not you dying because of me,' and 'No, please. Please, don't go.' He couldn't ignore his gut, couldn't ignore her.

Just as he opened his mouth to decline the proposition, politely of course, Ra's interrupted him. "Before you say anything, may I introduce you to our newest member?" He gestured towards the door to the chamber and Oliver stood, turning to look just as Nyssa pushed open the double doors and was followed in by…

"Thea?" Oliver asked, but the question was unnecessary. It was very clearly his sister standing behind the Demon's heir.

She met his blue gaze and breathed a sigh of relief as she ran across the lengthy room. Her arms were around him as soon as she was close enough to do so, "Ollie." She said softly, burying her face in his shoulder in much the same way that she did when he first came home from the island.

After a second of taking comfort in her presence, Oliver pushed her back by her shoulders, "What are you doing here, Thea?"

Thea wilted a little then as if she knew he wouldn't like the answer and even he had to admit, he wasn't going to. "It's a long story." She said and he shot her a look that she knew well. She sighed, pulled herself to her full height, before filling Oliver in.


"He wanted her dead to put certain things in motion, but I am the one who fired those arrows into her chest, and when I made the deal to give up Malcolm, I promised you your vengeance." Thea said, typing into the keypad watching as the door swung open to let the woman inside loose, "So take it."

She proffered the sword to Nyssa. Whatever vengeance she would reap would never be enough for that which Thea had stolen from the world, but her life was all that she had to give. The elder woman snatched the weapon with a quickness that, in any other situation, would have impressed Thea. The younger girl stepped back instinctively as the captive stepped from the cell.

"You killed Sara?" Nyssa echoed, rage lacing her words as she weighed the sword in her hand.

Thea nodded solemnly, "I did." She resisted the urge to explain her actions away. Despite what Oliver told her, to Thea it didn't matter that she'd been drugged or that Malcolm made her do it. All that really mattered was that she held the bow; she'd fired the arrows.

Thea saw the flash of fury in Nyssa's eyes, but the elder woman didn't react emotionally. Instead, she simply held her sword and asked, "Why?" Before Thea could think of anything to say, Nyssa continued on, "Sara spoke of you, you know. Said that you were a wonderful girl, like a sister to her." Thea flinched at the words, needing no more reason to feel guilty then she already did. "Why would you kill her?"

There were no words Thea could offer that would ease the pain she caused so she said nothing. Nyssa didn't need an answer, it seemed. Suddenly, there was the cold brush of metal along her neck. Here I am again, but Thea didn't flinch. I am ready. I owe this to Sara.

Nyssa swung her arm back and froze as Laurel's earlier words echoed in her head, 'Having Merlyn to hate, it's... It's like a piece of Sara that I can still hold on to, but once he's gone... So is another part of her.' For a few seconds both women were stuck in a frozen tableau, Thea awaiting her penance and Nyssa about to hand out her sentence. Then, as suddenly as she'd raised her blade, the elder woman was lowering it. "No, I will not kill you, Thea Queen."

Tears that Thea could not explain blurred her vision as she asked in a wavering voice, "Why not?"

"Because you will not tell me why."

"Does that matter?"

"Yes," Nyssa said, "because there is a spirit in you, young and wild; a strength that is rare. It should be nurtured and trained."

"What?" Thea asked, shaking her head in confusion. All Laurel and Nyssa had spoken of was revenge or justice for Sara and now neither woman was taking it when it was offered to them. Why? She deserved their hatred, deserved her death for the loss of Sara and yet she was still breathing.

"I see much of Sara in you and I wish to help you as I helped her." She sheathed her sword as she walked around the room, observing the layout and intricacies of the team's lair. "You can be as strong as she was, a forced to be reckoned with."

Thea turned, as was necessary, in order to keep the assassin in her eye-line while Nyssa moved about the large basement room, "How?" She hated to admit it, but she was intrigued by the idea. She'd heard tell of the Canary and it wasn't that hard to put Sara in that black leather outfit after Oliver told her the truth. The possibility that Thea could be as strong, as fierce as the younger Lance was appealing. She didn't want to be this fragile, little girl, who needed protecting. If Sara could turn into the Canary after training with the League then I can too.

"Do you know what a second is?" Nyssa asked, turning back to look at her.

"An apprentice."

She smiled, as much as the woman could anyway, "I can make you a great warrior, Thea Queen, if you're willing to do what it takes."

"What's in it for you?" Thea narrowed her eyes as she asked the question. Training under Malcolm had taught her one thing: everyone wanted something; nothing was for free, everything had a cost. Malcolm had taught her to fight, but he'd also used her to put things in motion. What does Nyssa want in exchange for making me like Sara?

"First lesson, never question me." The elder woman snapped. "Do you want to be my second or not, Miss Queen?"

Ollie won't like this, Thea thought immediately, but then Ollie doesn't like me being trained by Malcolm either so… At least this way, maybe she could truly keep both herself and Oliver out of danger from the threat that was the League of Assassins. She suspected that she'd learn faster under Nyssa Al Ghul then Malcolm anyway. It is a win-win for everyone. "Yes, I'll be your second." Once more, Nyssa smiled and this time the expression was tinged with darkness that worried her, but it was far too late to back out now.

"You agreed to be in the League of Assassins?" Oliver asked in a harsh whisper, pulling her to the side. He was acutely aware of the two sets of eyes watching them from opposite sides of the room. "Are you crazy?" She had the decency to at least look slightly chastised under his disapproving gaze. She had known he wasn't going to like her decision, but she hated when he looked so disappointed in her. "Everything we've been working for, everything we've done, has been to keep the League from our door and now you've gone and joined them?"

"Ollie, I-"

"No," he said sternly, "I'm not letting you do this."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, "I'm sorry, 'let me?' You don't control me, Oliver. I can do what I want and Nyssa says she can train me here to be like Sara."

"Dead?" Oliver asked, his voice harsh, bitter and no longer a whisper, making Thea flinch.

Nyssa stepped up then, inserting herself between brother and sister. Oliver glared at her and Thea was kind of surprised the woman didn't melt like the Wicked Witch under the furious gaze. Instead, the woman simply stood her ground and spoke in a voice calmer then her demeanor, "Thea has already made her choice."

"Are you prepared to make yours, Mr. Queen?" Ra's asked, coming up behind Oliver so quietly that Thea jumped in surprise. She hadn't even seen him move. Up close, the man of legend was much more intimidating. It scared her to think that Oliver had met this man numerous times.

"You planned this." It wasn't a question; it was an accusation of fact. "You had Nyssa come to retrieve Malcolm, knowing what I would do." Oliver's angry blue gaze flickered from Thea then to Nyssa. "Did you know what he planned? Did he tell you to make this offer to my sister?"

Though Thea could not see her face, there was a telltale shift in the other woman's shoulder blades that told Thea that Nyssa had turned her attention to her leader. She said nothing aloud, but the tension of the room spoke truths all their own. After about a minute of intense staring, she looked once more at Oliver. "No, he did not tell me to make this offer."

"Did he tell you he was going to ask me to take your place, Nyssa?"

At this information, Nyssa moved from in between the siblings towards Ra's. "Is this true?"

The older man nodded as if he hadn't just betrayed the woman, "You sacrificed your place as Heir when you allowed your grief to swallow you whole."

"Why do you deny me my right to love? Deny me my grief? I am only human, father!" Nyssa shouted and suddenly things made sense in a way they had not before. Now, Thea knew why Nyssa was so loyal to her leader and why she felt so betrayed by the offer her father had apparently made to Oliver. It is kind of a low blow to try and replace his own daughter. Thea bridged the gap between herself and Oliver, feeling better in close proximity to him.

"Because you are meant to be stronger than those human weaknesses." Ra's said calmly in the face of his daughter. That's cold.Out of instinct, Thea reached out and took Oliver's arm. Oliver looked down at her, moving his head only slightly in order to do so. His eyes spoke to her in a way that only he could. She nodded minutely in agreement. If this father-daughter spat spun out of control, they'd need to stay close to each other in order to get away. "So, Mr. Queen," His cold eyes never straying from Nyssa. "I've given you everything," There was an odd stress on that word that Thea didn't understand, but she felt Oliver tense beside her, "make your choice now."

Thea was acutely aware of the slight muscle movement under her hand as he said, "I accept your offer."


A/N: I NEED to know if I should expand on this by making it a full-fledged story or leave it as a one-shot so PLEASE tell me what you think in a review.