A/N: These are unrelated one-shots for Heir to the Demon. I just didn't like Sara being the one to find Oliver at the end.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. The hits landed in rapid succession. The repetition was soothing to Oliver. For all the Island still haunted his dreams, at least there, things had been relatively simple. You knew who was trying to kill you and you knew better than to let your guard down. But here? Here in Starling City, Oliver just couldn't see the hits coming anymore. They always managed to sneak up on him. Just when he thought he had things figured out, the rug would be pulled out from under him again. What did it say about his life that the easy part was running around at night, jumping off buildings, and picking fights with thugs?
This is why he once again found himself in the foundry taking out his anger on something that could take a beating. This place had become his refuge; this was the one place where there were no secrets. He didn't have to wear a mask, or hide who he really was. Down here, he could just let his fists fly and there would be no real judgment. He could lose himself in his workout, and he planned on letting it be a long one.
At least, that had been the plan until he heard the clack of heels on steps, usually an indication that Felicity was making her way down. Not bothering to take his eyes off his stationary target, Oliver widened his focus. He caught the swish of colored fabric- Felicity's skirt- as she passed his focal point in the background. The slightest hint of lavender-her shampoo- reached his nose, due in large part to the industrial fans he used to keep the place on the cooler side. She was in no hurry; her steps were slow, measured, as if she was making every attempt to not disturb him, which she probably was.
He expected her to move to her usual perch, in front of the computer bank, to fire up her babies and begin searching for something. But she didn't. She paused a few feet away from him, facing him, watching. Not sure why, Oliver simply kept pummeling the dummy.
"You shouldn't take your anger out on the furniture, it's not very nice." Her voice was soft, but he heard it easily over the steady 'thunk' of his landing blows.
Despite being taught otherwise, he moved his gaze from his target to meet hers. "It wouldn't be very nice for me to take my anger out on the people responsible for it in this case, so the furniture will have to do for now."
She blinked, dropping her gaze."I am sorry, Oliver, I shouldn't have said anything." She crossed her arms, effectively hugging herself.
Oliver stopped mid strike. "Don't, Felicity." She looked up at the sound of his voice, at the steel in it. He took a deep breath and moved toward her, stepping around the wood he'd been pummeling. "This is not your fault; you have no reason to apologize."
The laugh that escaped her was slightly hysterical, "Oliver, I pretty much single handedly destroyed your relationship with your mother."
"No, you didn't, she did." He was right in front of her now, and he reached out, placing both hands on her upper arms. "You did nothing wrong"
"I went digging, Oliver. I could have left well enough alone, but I didn't. I started pulling at the threads, and now your life is unraveling. Again." She wanted to push away from him, didn't think she deserved his comfort. But a small part of her was still afraid that what Moira said was true, he would hate her for being the bearer of bad news.
Oliver's laugh was less hysterical than hers, grimmer. "Felicity, that's your job."
His words brought her up short, her slightly fearful gaze meeting his, "To ruin your life?"
He gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze, "To unravel the rug before it gets pulled out from under me." He dropped his hands and took a step back, reaching for the towel sitting on the nearby table. He ran it over his face, wishing he could wipe the weight from his shoulders as easily as he could the sweat. He turned sideways, perching on the table, looking toward his blonde assistant. "After the quake, I left, and you came after me. But you never asked why."
Sensing Oliver's need to talk, and knowing she wanted to hear whatever he was going to say, Felicity reached for her chair and sank into it. "It was kind of obvious, Oliver. I mean, the fight with Malcolm, and your mom, and Tommy…You just needed some time."
Oliver stared forward for a moment, reliving those moments- learning the truth from his mother, about Malcolm sabotaging the Gambit, Tommy lying in the rubble of Laurel's office. "Yeah, I needed time. But I could have easily holed up in the mansion for a few weeks, or actually gone to Europe like I told Thea. But I went back to Lian Yu."
"I figured you were trying to punish yourself, blaming yourself." The words were quiet. She didn't want him to think for a minute that she blamed him, or that he should be blamed at all. She knew exactly what he'd gone through to try and stop the Undertaking, there was no need for punishment.
Oliver nodded distractedly, she wasn't entirely wrong. Lian Yu's name was aptly fitting. Purgatory, certainly at least some of what he'd endured there was in payment for his many sins. "There's more to it. On the Island…"He hesitated, not knowing how to explain it. But he wanted to explain it to her, needed her to understand that she didn't have to worry about losing him, as she'd confessed she feared earlier. "The Island was dangerous, but I knew the dangers. I knew to avoid the paths west of the river because that's where most of the mines were planted. I knew to stay away from the caves toward the north because that's where the wolves stayed. I knew where to step, and when to take to the trees, and where to take refuge at night. I knew who I could trust, it was a short list, but I knew it."
He paused now, looking toward her to find her watching him. "Things aren't so black and white in Starling City. People I used to be able to trust as Oliver Queen, they betrayed me as the Hood, the Arrow. And the people who distrust me, or even hated me, as Oliver, they trust the Arrow. People I should be able to rely on completely, they keep letting me down, and every time I turn around I feel like there's a new blow waiting to land."
"I didn't mean to blow you, Oliver." Felicity dropped her forehead against her hand, once again getting her words all mixed up. "I mean, I didn't want to be another person to disappoint you." She kept her eyes down, embarrassment over her word choice warring with her guilt.
Oliver stood, turned to her, and dropped to his knees, effectively bringing them face to face. He reached forward and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "That's my point. You didn't." He let her read the sincerity in his eyes for a moment before continuing. "Things here aren't as simple as they were on the Island, and I've made my share of mistakes trying to stay afloat here, but the one thing I know, beyond a doubt wasn't a mistake, was trusting you."
Felicity was speechless. She held Oliver's gaze, her mouth slightly open as she tried to find anything to say, but she was at a loss for words. Oliver let a small smile curl his lips, and put the slightest pressure on Felicity's chin, closing her mouth. "I told you in the beginning, that you could always tell me about your day, about anything. Felicity, you've seen the worst of me, you know what I'm capable of doing, but you stay by my side. Why would you possibly think I'd ever turn my back on you?"
His words were beginning to sink in, and Felicity felt a slight weight lifting from her soul. "When I told your mother, she warned me that if I told you, you'd hold it against me."
He dropped his hand from her chin and fell back to sit on his heels. "When my psychotic ex girlfriend threatened you and made you hack the FBI database, did you hold that against me?" He paused, waiting for an answer and she shook her head. "When I promoted you, without your knowledge, or consent, and put you in a position for possible gossip and ridicule, did you hold that against me?" She hesitated that time, tilting her head to the side, she had been very mad, he amended his question, "for very long, anyway?" She shook her head. "When I took my anger for getting beat and having to face the Mirakuru again out on you, did you hold that against me?" Again, she shook her head. Yes, they'd been mad at each other, shouted at each other, but they'd still worked together, and eventually had gotten past it.
"My point, Felicity, is that I trust you, with my life. Every night I put on that hood and go out there, I do so believing that you have my back. When you tell me to turn right, I do. When you ask me to stop and think about something, I know it must be important. And when you make a choice, I know you have my best interests at heart. The same way, I figure, you trust me."
Not even sure why, she rushed to assure him, "Of course, I trust you, Oliver. You've saved my life a dozen times over."
Oliver nodded, deciding not to point out that most of the times he'd saved her, he'd also been the reason she was at risk. He pressed on, "My mother, on the other hand, has, in recent years, been complicit in any number of things, not the least of which seem to include the Gambit's sabotage and Walter's disappearance."
Felicity's response was quiet, "She's still your mother."
Not to be deterred, Oliver shrugged his shoulders, "So it seems I've inherited her ability to lie. And maybe, six years ago, when the worst things I'd done ended at adultery and secrets, maybe I could have forgiven her. But now? You and I both know that her crimes don't end there."
Shaking her head, Felicity raised her hand to adjust her glasses, "So what, you just write her off? Pretend everything's fine in front of the cameras, but secretly hate her? Oliver, you can't do that."
Another shrug, "I already spend most of my time acting, what's one more role?"
She felt the tears building in her eyes, and fought to keep them from falling. "I don't like to be the one responsible for hurting you. I prefer making your life easier." She failed in her battle, and a tear escaped, rolling slowly down her cheek.
Oliver reached out and stopped it in its tracks, using his thumb to wipe it away. "Do you want to know what makes my life easier? Knowing that Diggle isn't going to pat me on the back because he knows I dislocated my shoulder in a fight the night before. Having you throw tic-tacs at me from across the room if I happen to fall asleep, because you know better than to get too close. Not having to worry about watching what I say, or hiding my scars, or dulling my reactions. Having people that I can be one hundred percent honest with, that's what makes my life easier. I've been lying to my mother since the day I got off the Island; this is just one less lie I have to tell her."
He was being so honest with her; she felt it was only right to do the same, to let him know she'd had more than a moment of doubt. "I was so afraid she'd be right. If I'd kept my mouth closed, you might have never found out. And…"
Oliver's eyes hardened, ever so slightly. "I would have found out. You and I both know that the past doesn't like to stay buried. And then instead of just losing my mother, I would have lost my friend too."
Felicity nodded. She got it. He wasn't mad that she'd told him, but if she hadn't, that would have hurt him. And honestly, she knew he was right, he would have found out eventually, and until he did, the strain would have driven the two of them further apart.
Oliver watched her for a second, this bright, amazing woman that he'd somehow managed to find and convince to join his team. He studied her eyes for a moment, hoping to find the trust he'd spoken of earlier. It was there, shining through like a beacon. If this woman, so much less broken than the others who'd fought by his side, could put her faith in him, then maybe he wasn't as bad off as he'd come to believe. "How about we make a promise? Starting now, no secrets, no leaving. I swear, it doesn't matter what you have to tell me, or what happens, I will not abandon you, I won't leave, Felicity, you have my word."
Felicity heard the sincerity ringing in his words, and saw the truth in his eyes. Most people may not take Oliver Queen at his word, but most people didn't know him like she did. She had walked into baited traps believing that he would protect her. She had faced death relying on him alone to save her. She had broken laws for him, jumped out of a plane for him, and risked her life for him. She trusted him like she'd trusted no other man since her father left. If he hadn't proven worthy of that trust by now, he never would. "Okay. Me too." She paused a moment, slightly overwhelmed by just what he was promising. "I promise I won't keep things from you."
Again Oliver watched her, another internal debate waging. How honest should he be, how much should he reveal. But then again, wasn't this exactly what he was asking of her? "You know it goes both ways, right?" Her brows drew together in confusion. "I don't think I could stand to lose you either."
Another tear began to fall, this time Oliver didn't stop it. "I don't think you have to worry about that, Oliver. I'm not going anywhere."
Unsure if that's a good thing or not, Oliver nodded. He then slowly stood, pulling Felicity to her feet as well. Once they'd both reached their full height, he placed one hand on her neck, cradling her cheek. He leaned forward and placed a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you for watching my back, Felicity. It means a lot to me to have you by my side.
In part to hide her tears, and in part because she was just so glad he didn't hate her, Felicity wrapped her arms around his middle. She waited a beat before replying, "And as long as your feet stay on solid ground, I'm happy to be there. Otherwise, I'll stick to watching you from a far. I mean, your back. I mean…never mind."
This time Oliver's laugh was unfettered. Life here in Starling City wasn't always easy, but he didn't have to face it alone. There were people he could trust, wholly, so what if they weren't his blood? He was starting to think that mattered less and less these days.
