Chapter 1

When it came down to it Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne could work well together. Bruce was always on top of things, so all Oliver had to do was follow his instructions. Lab work could be completed with little difficulty as, although still lazy, Oliver did not need the concepts explained to him.

"I think I'll actually pass this Chem. class if things keep going like this." Oliver was sitting in the chair in Bruce's room. Somehow the younger boy had managed to retain his single room throughout his years at Sturbridge and had even added a few comforts – notably the television and satellite dish that Oliver was taking full advantage of as his friend continued to study.

"Well since you've been breaking in at night to work I assume that you have developed a love of chemicals." Bruce's statement was said evenly and without emotion but Oliver jumped and turned to stare at him in shock.

"How… how did you?" Oliver was speechless and Bruce had to actually hold back a smile, settling for a smug smirk and a raised brow. Oliver groaned at the look, "Of course, you're Bruce Wayne. You know everything." Bruce hid his smile by turning back to his work.

"What have you been working on anyway?"

'A new knock-out gas,' Oliver thought, but responded, "Oh you know trying to create the world's greatest love potion to attract me all the ladies." It was Bruce's turn to groan.

"Why can't you ever be serious about things?"

"I can be serious!" Oliver cried out indignantly.

Bruce scoffed lightly, "Yeah? Like when?"

"My parents… they had this party a few years ago you know?" Oliver spoke so softly that Bruce paused, understanding that there was something serious about to be said by his usually carefree friend, "It was a company party at Queen Industries, everyone who worked there was invited. Christmas and all that… the management and the workers toasting together… their families mingling without care of class or anything… But then these guys came. They were seriously whacked out… they blamed QI for something or another, I can't remember what, it wasn't all that important… They started ripping necklaces off the women and watches of the men… They… they shot anyone they didn't think had given them everything they had…" Oliver's eyes were glazed over as he retreated into the memory. His voice was still soft but took on a detached tone as he continued his tragic tale. "When they got to my dad… He pulled out his billfold and handed the robbers the whole thing and then… he told the men that if they left him and his wife alive that he would give them as much as they wanted…

"I just hid in the corner, shocked at what he'd done… and what he'd said… 'If you leave my wife and me alive I will give you whatever you want. Just don't kill us… I swear… Leave the two of us be!'" Oliver snorted harshly, "If he was gonna make a deal why not help his employees as well? Why not save the lives of his workers' children… why not save me?" Oliver jerked backward and slumped against his seat, rubbing the heel of his hands into his eyes to ward off the tears.

"What happened?" Bruce asked hoarsely, barely daring to breathe as he awaited the end of the story.

"The cops blasted in and shot the creeps dead." A cynical laugh escaped involuntarily, "Dad's little groveling scene managed to save the other company execs that were standing nearby… but the grunts… So many people died that could have been saved… All I did was watch, too scared to move. I knew from that day on that my father was a coward and that if I wanted to make a difference in the world I wouldn't do it by being the good little heir to the Queen Empire…

"So here I am," Oliver glanced over and locked eyes with his dark haired friend, "Class clown and resident trouble shooter. Everyone here on campus knows me, they like me, they come to me when they have problems that they can't solve on their own. I beat up the bullies for the small kids, I help the older kids who need class help by introducing them to those that'll get 'em better grades and shit. I help out those who are in need of a little cash, or a ride, or just a nonjudgmental ear to listen."

"The defender of the weak and abused?" Bruce asked with a small smirk.

"Yeah, like Robin Hood," Oliver's grin had returned, "Only hotter." Bruce snorted and rolled his eyes, returning to his studying. Oliver shook his head and returned to his channel surfing.

Sometimes it was nice to have a sympathetic ear to lay your problems out on, everyone needed one. For most of the school it was Oliver, for Oliver it was Bruce… but who was it that Bruce turned to with his problems? Something told Oliver that Bruce's problems ran far deeper then even he knew… and that no matter what Bruce Wayne would never let on about them. 'It's amazing how such a guy seems to be able to lighten a mood one minute and kill it another.' Both boys knew that their friendship was strange, different.

They had a lot in common, true. Both had rich upbringings, both had traumatic experiences. But personality wise they were polar opposites – though as the saying goes opposites attract. Bruce needed someone like Oliver in his life to keep him from being too serious, and Oliver needed Bruce to remind him that sometimes it's better to be serious.