Author's Note: Okay, I don't really know where this plot came from but what if, when Yao Fai showed up at the plane right before Slade, Oliver, and Shado were captured, he came alone. What if he actually was a bad guy sent by Fyers to kill Slade and capture Oliver. (Why would he want to capture Oliver? I'll leave that up to you haha) So Yao Fai is going to do this by masquerading as Oliver's friend and get him to betray Slade. Slade doesn't trust Yao Fai and this drives a wedge between him and Oliver. For the purpose of this story, Shado doesn't exist. Characters are probably OOC but that is kinda the point of this type of story. No romance intended whatsoever. This is the first story I've done where I didn't use an episode as a guide so sorry if it sucks! Anyway, enough rambling, on to the story!
Slade and Oliver were hanging out in the plane trying to stay busy. The weather was rainy and cold, even Slade didn't feel like holding a training session.
Oliver was once again fiddling around with the radio but his thoughts were elsewhere. Lately, he couldn't stop thinking about Yao Fai. Even though the man had turned him over to Fyers, Oliver couldn't accept that he might actually be a bad guy. After all, he'd rescued Oliver twice and had taught him some survival skills before he was taken away to Fyers' camp. That was another thing. Why would Fyers need to capture Yao Fai if he was already employed by Fyers? No, Oliver figured, something else must be going on. That meant Yao Fai must be held there against his will and Oliver needed to help him. He owed Yao Fai his life. But how...this is where Oliver was having trouble. Ideally, he could get Slade to help. Oliver glanced over to where his partner/best friend was sitting and immediately dismissed that thought. Every time Oliver had brought up Yao Fai to Slade, it had not gone well. Slade flat out told Oliver that he didn't trust Yao Fai and didn't really care what happened to him. Oliver couldn't accept that though, he would just need to come up with his own plan.
Slade was sitting on his cot, sharpening his machetes. He didn't really want to hold training today but figured he should probably do something productive. Every now and then he glanced over to where Oliver was working on the radio. Slade knew the kid was thinking something over because he hadn't hardly said a word all morning. Slade wouldn't admit this but he was a little worried about him. Oliver had been somewhat...listless for a couple days now. He had been trying to act normal but Slade had been with Oliver long enough to be able to read between the lines. Oliver's smiles were more forced, his tone less cheerful, and today he hadn't engaged in the normal banter with Slade, despite Slade's attempts at baiting him. He was just about to ask the kid if he was alright when a noise outside caught his attention. He jumped to his feet, his machete in hand and alert for danger.
Although he hadn't heard anything, Slade's body language alerted Oliver to the possible danger. He stood, grabbing his own machete and getting ready to attack whatever was about to walk through their door. He couldn't believe who their impromptu visitor was. "Yao Fai!" Oliver exclaimed, immediately lowering his weapon.
Oliver's exclamation stopped Slade right before he attacked the man. He hadn't recognized him at first but looking closely, Slade realized it was indeed Yao Fai. He looked much different from when Slade had last seen him, but then Slade realized he himself had probably changed just as much. However, this knowledge did nothing to relax him, in fact, he felt even more threatened now that he knew who it was. He knew exactly how dangerous this man could be and had already been betrayed by him once. Slade noticed Oliver starting to walk closer and stepped over to him, blocking him slightly with his shoulder while still facing Yao Fai, machete still raised. Oliver kept his eyes on Yao Fai but stopped just behind Slade.
Yao Fai could see that while Slade would complicate his plan, the dumb kid was apparently still friendly with him. That would help immensely. He met Oliver's gaze, giving him a small smile and getting one in return.
"How did you escape?" Slade asked him suspiciously, still not moving from his position in front of Oliver.
Yao Fai looked at him. The warning in Slade's eyes was clear; Yao Fai wasn't going to get any farther until he earned Slade's approval. "It was not easy. But after Oliver almost lost his life trying to save me, I knew I must get out."
"Oh yeah? Then why'd you turn him over to Fyers?" Slade accused.
Yao Fai was ready for this and cast his eyes down to the ground, doing his best to look sorrowful. "Ah, I was hoping Fyers would allow me to handle the situation once again so I could help Oliver escape. However, when he turned matters over to your...partner," here Yao Fai gave Slade a hard stare, as if Billy's betrayal was Slade's fault, "I had to formulate a new plan. It was then that you showed up." He paused before saying with a smile at Oliver, "But I must thank you for keeping Oliver safe while I was unable to do so."
Slade tensed, not liking how Yao Fai made it sound like Oliver teaming up with Slade was temporary. He was about to say so when Oliver shoved past him, walking up to Yao Fai.
"You have no idea how happy I am that you're here!" Oliver told him, "I was trying to come up with a plan to get you out but I haven't really had the best of luck with Fyers," he continued with a grin.
Slade finally lowered his machete. "What?" he asked in surprise. "Is that what you've been preoccupied with lately? Him?" he asked in disgust. Slade did not want Yao Fai here. He didn't trust the man, never would. He couldn't understand Oliver's blind faith in him either.
Oliver glared at him, "He saved my life." As if that were explanation enough. Turning back to Yao Fai, he said, "Come on, I'll set up the extra cot for you. You hungry? We still have some food stored..." He started to lead Yao Fai farther into the plane but Slade grabbed his arm.
"I need to talk to you," he growled quietly. Still keeping a firm grip on Oliver's arm, he glared at Yao Fai, "Don't get comfortable." With that, he dragged Oliver outside and a little ways from the plane, for once happy that the containers where his weapons and mission documents were kept had automatic locks which only Slade had the key to. No way would Yao Fai be getting anything from those. He finally let go of Oliver, clenching his teeth as he stated, "No way in hell is he staying with us."
Oliver looked at him in surprise, "What? Why not?" At the look Slade gave him, Oliver continued, "Look, I get that you don't trust him but I do, alright? You don't know him like I do, he's a good person."
Slade gave an incredulous laugh, "I know him, kid. I know he's betrayed me, he's betrayed you, and he's the kind of guy that will stab you in the back after your usefulness for whatever hidden agenda he has is run out."
Oliver shook his head, "You're wrong. He saved my life. He's the only reason I'm alive today."
Slade looked at him, "The only reason, huh?" he asked quietly, keeping eye contact with the kid he considers not just his new partner but also his best friend.
That stopped Oliver for a moment, "That's not what I meant," he replied just as quietly, "It's just that he was the first one I met on this island. He did save my life and he's the reason I knew where to find you. I owe him."
Slade was silent for a minute before sighing, "Fine. He can stick around. But I don't trust him. That means he doesn't get a weapon, he doesn't get any info about the intel, he doesn't get left alone, and if he does anything that I consider the least bit suspicious, he's gone. Understood?" At Oliver's grin and nod, he added, "I mean it, kid. He tries anything, I'll kill him."
Oliver nodded again. He knew Slade was serious but he also knew his partner was overreacting. Oliver just figured that Slade had spent so much time on the island that he'd become paranoid of everybody. Well, he'd show that Yao Fai was only here to help. Turning around, he headed back to the plane.
Slade watched him go, still unsure of the decision to let Yao Fai stay. But he would keep his word and give him a chance, if only for Oliver's sake. After a moment, Slade followed him back to the plane.