BROKEN
An Olicity drabble.
She had been working with him for over two years now.
But there was still so much more to him she didn't know.
Sure, he shared some stories from the island from time to time, but she knew that the island was the monster that kept him up every night.
When she stayed some late nights in the Cave, updating the computers, late night research, or whatever it was, he was always there, still awake, working out his inner frustrations on the salmon ladder or shooting arrows through tennis balls.
He never really spoke about his feelings, anyway.
She wished he did – just to understand what was going on through his head.
After updating malware security on the computers, she begins to pack up and head out for the night, as he works on sharpening his arrows.
As she hoists her bag over her shoulder, she moves towards the steps that led up to Verdant.
"Hey, you got a minute?" his voice suddenly echoes in the Cave.
She turns around, walking in his direction. "Yeah, of course."
She sits down beside him as he cradles an arrow in his hand. He doesn't say anything at first, not until after she prompts him.
"Everything okay?"
He nods. "I just need some company. Hope you don't mind."
She shakes her head. "I don't mind at all. Anything on your mind?"
He looks up at her, the piercing blue eyes that reflect her own, and looks down again. "I know it's been two years since I came back from the island, but I can't let it go."
Furrowing her eyebrows, she says, "It's kind of a hard thing to let go. That's not your fault."
"I know," he lets out a heavy sigh that's coated with a thin layer of frustration, "I just…I'll never be able to get past it."
She had no idea how broken he really was.
"I know you don't like talking about it, but sometimes talking helps." She offers. "Not right now, obviously, I'm not trying to pressure you into telling me all your secrets or anything, but if you ever wanted to, you know Dig and I are here. We're friends; that's what friends do."
He cracks a small smile at her infamous rambling antics. "Thank you. I think I'll save that offer for a rainy day."
She smiles back. "You'll get through this. I know you will."