A/N: Thank you for the reviews everyone. :) There's only one more chapter left, so we're at the home stretch!
Five months later
The day is bright and warm – everyone seems to be outside and enjoying the day as well, despite it being a Monday. Oliver dodges a few construction workers before entering Verdant, giddy for his meeting with Isabel. Seeing Isabel is by no means the highlight of his day, but he's been working on something for the past few months and today is the day to show it off.
A few months ago when Oliver's world started falling apart – again – he vowed to destroy Isabel, but he hadn't had the faintest idea how. After Felicity left, Oliver focused his attention on Roy and Taiana, and tried to find a way to get them free.
The duffle bag is heavy and his grip tightens as he walks through the hospital's hallways, worried people will know what's inside. Once Oliver reaches Roy's room, he knocks and slowly enters, finding Roy wearing the clothes Oliver had fetched from the younger man's apartment and folding his hospital clothes in a bag. He looks good, better even, and Oliver's chest warms with relief.
"Hey Oliver," Roy greets with a tired smile. It seems after talking to a hospital psychiatrist Roy is in better spirits. Oliver hopes Roy will continue seeking help when he needs it, and wants him to start a brand new life away from Isabel's grasp.
"Hey." Stepping forward and shutting the door behind him, Oliver gently drops the bag on his bed and sternly looks at Roy. He sees so much of himself in Roy – a damaged, lonely soul searching for something that'll bring ease into his life. Oliver still feels extremely guilty for not being there for Roy, but he's doing all that he can to make up for it.
"Has Isabel called you?"
"About a hundred times, yeah." Scoffing, Roy finishes up folding his clothes and sits on the bed, his glum and terrified expression reminding Oliver why he needs to do what he set out to do.
"Listen closely, Roy." Roy's eyes widen slightly as Oliver points to the bag. "There's eighteen thousand dollars in here – all cash. I've already got you a one-way train ticket to Star City, and I've packed some of your stuff from your apartment."
Producing the ticket from his pocket, he hands it off to Roy who only gapes at it, unsure of what's going on. "What . . . why?"
A lump forms in Oliver's throat and he swallows it, his emotions getting the better of him. Oliver's never been good with expressing his feelings, and he needs to show Roy this is a dire situation. If Roy doesn't take this chance, he'll be stuck in Chicago forever under Isabel's grasp.
"Isabel's not going to stop. She'll . . . make things worse for you. And I can't let her do that to you."
Inhaling deeply, Oliver gently looks at Roy and hopes to convey how much he cares for him. "I should've been there for –"
"Oliver, stop it." Roy steps forward, his eyes shining as he does so. "You told me not to get involved with . . . that. I didn't listen. It's my fault. But what you've done for me – what you're doing for me now – I don't think I can repay you."
Shaking his head, Oliver smiles softly and puts a reassuring hand on Roy's shoulder. "You never have to thank me."
And he means it.
Nodding slowly, Roy takes a long look at his ticket then glances at the bag. "What should I do with all this money?"
He sounds so unsure of himself, and Oliver's powerless to stop himself from dropping a piece of information that can possibly blow Oliver's cover. But Roy needs his help, and Oliver will do whatever is necessary to get him to safety.
"First thing you do when you get off is go straight to a nightclub called Nightwing. When you get there, ask for the owner of the club – his name's Tommy Merlyn."
His throat tightens as he remembers how great of a friend Tommy was, and instead of saying thank you, Oliver stopped all contact with him due to shame. Oliver hopes Tommy won't hate him for dropping off the face of the earth and sending a former prostitute to him.
"He'll ask how you know him, so when he does say . . . Ollie sent you. He'll know what you're talking about."
Roy nods solemnly and for the first time in forever, Oliver feels like he's done the right thing.
It feels good.
Now that Roy's been long gone, Oliver set his sights on protecting Taiana any way he could. It was much easier to get Roy to safety, but Taiana was another matter altogether. Much to his surprise, she had connections with the Russian mob called Bratva, and after some digging, Oliver realized Isabel Rochev wasn't on the Bratva's list of favorite people. The information allowed Oliver to exploit the Bratva's hatred against Isabel to help Taiana leave Emerald.
But as Oliver began to do some digging, protecting Taiana became about protecting every escort under Isabel's thumb. He didn't realize how bad some of the conditions were, and as he began to uncover how horrible it was, Oliver decided he had to do something for them as well.
It was a daunting task considering Isabel knows Oliver's real identity, but he vowed to protect those he cares about. No one – not even Isabel – will get in the way.
And here he is, stepping into Verdant for the very last time as Isabel's pawn. Despite having everything set in place, Oliver's slightly nervous and he's worried the plan he set in place might not happen the way he wants it to. He's practically memorized every bit of it – if something goes wrong he doesn't know what he'll do.
As Oliver approaches Isabel, he can tell she's irritated as she flips her pen back and forth and keeps fidgeting as she writes inside her books. Once Oliver's near her, she looks up at him in frustration and huffs, "Why haven't any of the escorts shown up for their meeting?"
"Because I told them to stay at home."
Scoffing, Isabel sizes him and Oliver readies himself for the big showdown, making sure he shoves his hands inside his pockets to prevent himself from rubbing his fingers. He doesn't want Isabel to know under any circumstances he's nervous. He has to be strong.
"And why would you do that?"
An overwhelming feeling of glee courses through Oliver – seeing Isabel's shocked face has given him the confidence he's needed since this morning. "Did you know Taiana has connections to the Russian mob?"
He spots the exact moment all the blood drains from Isabel's face, but she quickly masks her expression by raising an eyebrow, silently challenging him. "And?"
"And it turns out you're not very popular with the Bratva."
It didn't take long for Oliver to find out Isabel was more or less kicked out of Russia and illegally moved to America in an effort to escape the Bratva's wrath. After changing her last name and settling in Chicago, she managed to throw the Bratva off her trail . . . until Oliver came along. And once the mob found out how Taiana was being treated by Isabel, they wanted nothing but revenge on Isabel, to which Oliver was happy to oblige.
Oliver has to give her credit where credit's due – Isabel's careful not to show him how affected she is by his knowledge. But that'll change soon enough.
"I learned a thing or two from them, like where you keep all the money you collect from us . . ."
"Liar!"
Isabel's on her feet and glaring at Oliver with such intensity he genuinely fears her for a moment. Her thin lips quiver and he just knows he's got her trapped in a corner. The knowledge makes Oliver giddy with joy and he smugly watches Isabel, his excitement increasing with every passing second.
Stepping forward, Oliver looks at Isabel square in the eyes and relishes every moment she loses control. "I have all the money you ever had until now. And I've erased every trace of Emerald's escorts having worked for you."
"I still have one master file that can easily destroy all of you." Believing she's finally bested him, Isabel crosses her arms and challenges Oliver.
Oliver shrugs nonchalantly. "But . . . I have that too."
Once Oliver realized he had an ally to take down Isabel, he immediately started researching and getting back on Isabel's good graces to throw her off his trail. Unbeknownst to Isabel, some days he would clear his schedule and spend his time following Isabel, watching her every move. In a few months, he found out Isabel's schedule and realized she never changed it. Every morning she would go to Verdant, spend the next three to four hours there, and do a variation of shopping and working her way up the social ladder. She had no friends, no family, and lived a relatively lonely existence.
Not that he pitied or cared for her.
But perhaps the best piece of information was when he found out where Isabel deposited her money. There was a bank on the west side of Chicago with an employee who was obviously in Isabel's pocket. After smooching up to the receptionist and getting some dirt on the employee, Oliver found out said employee helped Isabel funnel her money in no less than four other banks scattered in Northern Illinois.
So, once compiling the information, he told his fellow Bratva compatriots and they raided each one of Isabel's accounts – as of this morning, Isabel has absolutely nothing to her name, and every escort currently under Isabel's has a piece of her money. However, Oliver left just enough cash at the bank left in Chicago that would give prosecutors evidence to put her in jail.
There's one more bank left in the city that has all of Isabel's records, with appointments dating back from 2003. And in the entire pile, he found the Holy Grail of all record books – a master list of every escort Isabel hired and fired, with their real and escort names attached with a photo of them, and several USBs with Excel sheets of every transaction Isabel's received since she started Emerald.
Coupled with his newfound computer skills Oliver, with the help of a former KGB agent named Anatoly, hacked into Emerald's website last night and erased all trace of any escort having been associated with Emerald. He even burned the book with every escort's information, since he didn't want anyone to get sent to jail for Isabel's foolishness. All that's left are thousands of dollars in Isabel's bank accounts and record books detailing money transactions for every client – enough to send her ass to jail, and maybe start a political scandal.
Now it's Oliver's turn to smirk – staring straight into Isabel's eyes, Oliver says lowly, "I've already called the police. They'll be here any minute now."
Her face pales and Oliver sees her swallowing thickly, her eyes darting across the club. In a split second Isabel reaches for her books and almost makes a run for it, but Oliver grabs her arm, yanking her towards him.
"You don't get to escape this time. Not after everything you've done to those men and women," Oliver growls. "Some of them were practically children."
"Fuck. You." Isabel snatches her arm away from Oliver, her eyes shining with resentment and a hint of fear. "You don't know how hard I've struggled to get to this point. And you're taking it away because of what? Vengeance?"
Oliver shakes his head, annoyed that Isabel still doesn't get it. "It's because you're a piece of shit who only cares about herself."
There's a tense beat until Isabel whispers, "After all I did for you –"
"You did nothing." Stepping closer toward Isabel, Oliver makes sure his gaze burns a deep hole inside her cold, black heart.
"Accept it: you're done."
In an effort to have the last word, Isabel's mouth open and closes several times before she realizes Oliver's bested her. The sirens have gotten louder and Oliver hears the car doors open, the sound of several police officers marching into Verdant music to his ears. For a split second, Isabel's eyes glaze over with real fear – the kind that lingers, the one that causes someone to make irrational decisions.
As the doors open and several police officers enter Verdant, Oliver keeps an eye on Isabel and watches her bravado crumble in his presence. For so many years she thought herself to be god-like, yet she's just like them – human and prone to arrogance and greed.
Oliver savors every moment knowing he had a hand in her demise, and takes immense satisfaction from watching Isabel get handcuffed by officers. As they read her rights, her eyes harden and she spits out, "I'll get you for this."
Her threat rings empty to his ears, and as she's carted away into whatever darkness she deserves to be in, a sense of pure, unadulterated relief washes over Oliver. This is one chapter he's able to close on his own terms, and damn if it didn't feel good.
Now officially out of work, Oliver stares at his apartment as the sunlight coats every inch of his one-dimensional, bland apartment. It's filled with basic amenities but there's no personal touch – it's fit for short-term living arrangements, not a nearly eight-year stay.
Oliver's mind flashes to his home back in Star City, grand and luxurious, tasteful and classic. The gardens were nothing short of stunning, and unbeknownst to everyone, there was a hidden hallway that led straight out to the gardens. He remembers how lively Christmas time used to be, and when Raisa made her delicious Russian cookies for Oliver and Thea every day starting at the beginning of December till Christmas.
He had a happy family and a happy home, and God, what he would do to get it again.
Something stirs in Oliver – staring at his empty apartment only makes the feeling intensify. Standing up, Oliver paces his living room, his hand rubbing against his forehead as he digests everything that's happened in the past few hours.
It's really over – he's no longer Isabel's whore. He and every other escort under her thumb are finally free, and they're able to do whatever the hell they want. And yet Oliver's deathly afraid. It feels like he's back in Star City, unsure of the future and worried where he'll spend the next few nights. It's unsettling to be so . . . free.
He's spent the last few months using every waking minute of his day to ruin Isabel – it distracted him from thinking about what Felicity's doing with her new life in Star City, and made him focus on protecting young and fragile escorts like Taiana. Now that it's over, Oliver's at a loss and he's worried what will happen to him next.
But it's silly – he's made so much money these past few years, and coupled with the money he stole from Isabel, there's more than enough to start a new life elsewhere. He can actually go to college, and not just a lame city college. Oliver has real, tangible options and for some reason he has no idea what to do with them.
He wishes his mom and dad were here. He wishes they could guide him and tell him what to do with his life. He wishes he could go back to Star City and make up nearly eight year's worth of hugs to his sister. He wishes he never took advantage of his wealth, paid attention to school, and heeded his father's warnings. He wishes he didn't blow it with Felicity and had someone to talk to.
Making up every single mistake is his biggest wish of all but the most unattainable. And it wrecks him.
There's a tightness forming in his chest, and the sensation becomes too overwhelming for him to be standing up. Taking a seat on his barely used couch, Oliver inhales a few deep breaths although it does nothing to calm him. He can't stop feeling so agitated and nervous all at once, and unsure of how to control himself, Oliver stands right back up.
Balling up his fists, Oliver takes one glance out the window and can't suppress a strangled sob escaping his lips.
His vision blurs with tears that haven't shed in several years, and his body shakes with emotions he's forcibly buried deep inside. There's nothing going on in his mind – it's a blank space filled with sadness and a need for release. It hurts to cry. His chest can't handle it, pinching painfully in retaliation for suppressing it for so long. Oliver sinks back down on the couch, holding himself tight and letting his emotions escape to the surface.
Oliver doesn't think about anything or anyone. He . . . cries. He allows himself a moment of weakness, a moment to let his façade down to show the empty walls how lonely he is. There's no audience – just him and his past, sitting at a standstill, wondering where the hell he should go next.
As his sobs lessen, Oliver suddenly remembers the shame and humiliation he felt the first time he whored himself. He was so nervous and didn't have a single clue what to do, but during the appointment, Oliver felt so insignificant that it was a blessing. No one knew him and no one would remember him. He was a pretty face who fucked other nameless faces. Oliver Queen didn't matter anymore, and it was all he could ask for back then.
Being numb allowed him to barely survive, and yet, it led him nowhere. He ruined his one shot at happiness with Felicity. Instead of finding real work, Oliver continued to take the easy way out and rise up the ranks on Emerald's roster, all while getting paid thousands of dollars a day and doing absolutely nothing with his life. He was completely aimless.
This time is different. It has to be. Oliver's entire existence has been a combination of avoiding problems or becoming one, only to find an easy way out with zero consequences. Even as a prostitute he's managed to escape unharmed, and although Oliver wasn't able to get a job in corporate America, he didn't have to work very hard to get a job at Emerald.
Things just show up at his feet and he takes it without understanding the gravity of it. He took a job at Emerald without realizing how much of a toll it'll take on him and his personal life. He devoured Felicity's love and didn't realize it was the only thing making him breathe until it was too late.
But maybe it's not too late. Maybe Oliver can't patch up every mistake he's made, but he can start off this new chapter by not getting off on the wrong foot. Maybe, instead of letting others dictate what he can and can't do, he'll carve his own path.
It starts with going back home. Back to Star City.
The second Oliver steps out of the airport, he's hit with a whiff of the seaside mixed in with pollutants – it smells so familiar that a grin unconsciously forms on his lips. From afar he can see Star City's skyline, dotted with even more buildings than eight years ago. There's a cacophony of jackhammers and yelling from nearby construction workers, the sounds dulling his senses for a moment.
Oliver can already tell things are going to be different, but he's come to accept that part of life.
Hailing a cab, Oliver goes straight to the Holiday Inn near the airport, anxious and excited to visit Thea. On the plane ride, Oliver labored over whether to tell her the truth about his escort days or to keep quiet. It seems hypocritical and counterintuitive to keep such a secret – his experience with Felicity showed him the downside of not being honest. Unfortunately, he's already told Thea he worked as an independent consultant and knows she won't press him for more details. But he vows to tell her the truth as soon as they have time to themselves because he owes her that.
Oliver wants to surprise Thea, so he calls up the Merlyn's household, unsure if it's the same number from several years ago. To his surprise it ends up being the same, but the maid tells him she's not there. After pressing for more details, the maid asks, "Who's speaking?"
"It's her brother, Oliver . . . Queen." His original last name sounds foreign to his ears – he's spent the better part of seven years ignoring that part of himself, and now he has to come face to face with it.
"Ah, OK! She's with Mr. Merlyn at Nightwing."
Confused, Oliver wonders why Thea would be at a club this early on a Saturday.
"Oh, I see. Thank you for telling me that, I . . . wouldn't have known. And could you not tell Thea I called? I want this to be a surprise."
"Of course," the maid responds warmly. "Have a great day."
"You too."
Ending the phone call, Oliver swiftly gathers his coat and leaves his room, unsure of what to expect from his meeting with Thea. As he takes an Uber to Nightwing – he really needs to ask Tommy about the name, it's sounds vaguely comic book-y – he frets about what to say to Thea. He's FaceTimed with her several times and has noticed how much older she looks, to the way her dressing has turned out to be a little more mature than he's used to. She's even begun to sound like his mother, which causes Oliver to think fondly of his mother.
The ride is long so Oliver takes the opportunity to really soak in the sights. So much seems the same, but Oliver can spot the roads that were recently repaved, the bus system appears to be running a lot more efficient than before, and spots several new skyscrapers. People are everywhere – they're walking, running, or relaxing in one of Star City's several parks. It brings a smile to his face, because after the recession Oliver worried whether Star City would be able to recover. Apparently it did and then some.
Palmer Tech is a sore spot in Star City's skyline, but Oliver has to admit, his resentment towards Ray Palmer has lessened in these past few months. It wasn't Ray's fault he took over Queen Consolidated – it was his mother's bad decisions that ruined the company. He's come to accept the Queen family wasn't as honest about their business practices, and it was only a matter of time until it stabbed them in the back. Although Oliver can't speak like a businessman, he understands what "unethical" and "immoral" mean. Perhaps QC's downfall was meant to happen.
There's a still a twinge in his heart when he thinks about Felicity. He tries not to obsess over what she's doing at Palmer Tech, though he genuinely hopes she's happier there. For awhile he would read articles about her, but stopped when he realized he needed to give himself some distance. Oliver spent much of his time relying on Felicity to make him happy that he didn't focus on himself. Depending on another person to make things better for him only shifted the responsibility away from Oliver, and he needed to stop doing it. He has to accept the good and bad parts of himself in order to be with another.
It isn't long before Oliver realizes they're going towards the Glades, and he frowns at the thought. The area was known for it's high crime and poverty rate, and he wonders what the hell Tommy was thinking by putting a club there. But as they inch closer to the club, Oliver notices brand new buildings, several new restaurants and better infrastructure. It's obvious Star City is wanting to make the Glades a livable and trendy area, but he doesn't doubt gentrification is taking place. It's a bittersweet feeling – he wants the Glades to prosper but he can only imagine the pain of losing one's home to outside forces.
He would definitely know the feeling.
The car stops in front of the club, but Oliver hesitates to go inside. The club looms over him and he worries if this was a mistake. What if Thea doesn't want to see him? He made an effort to not allow Thea to come to Chicago in fear of her finding out about his job. There's a large chance she resents him from doing so. And if Tommy's there? What will he do then?
"Hey, uh, do you mind . . .?"
The Uber driver cranes his neck to the side and glares at Oliver, silently asking him to scram as fast as he can. Embarrassed the man caught him spacing out, Oliver quickly gets out of the car and watches it zoom past him, wishing he could call it back. Nervous, Oliver starts rubbing his fingers in an effort to calm him down, although it fails spectacularly. The giant Nightwing sign taunts him, and gathering as much courage as he can, Oliver steps finally inside the club.
Oliver's surprised to find it unlocked, but he's immediately in awe of how amazing it looks. It's got a very industrial look to it with a large dance floor, and an upstairs lounge for the elite. He can tell it's been much loved – there are plenty of scratches on the dance floor and he spots leftover confetti in a corner. The ceiling is an expansive glass one, flooding the space with much needed sunlight.
As Oliver continues to step inside, his heart warms in happiness – he's incredibly proud of Tommy. Over the years Oliver's kept tabs on Tommy and was ecstatic when he saw a positive article about Tommy and his club. Nightwing looks to be a labor of love and he's glad Tommy found something he's passionate about. For a time he worried Tommy wouldn't move past his partying phase, but that seems to have changed – somewhat.
Oliver distinctively remembers he and Tommy joking about opening a club together so they could continue their lifestyle of debauchery and indulgence, but Oliver didn't think Tommy would actually do it. Good for him (although he doubts Malcolm Merlyn is pleased with Tommy's business venture).
Rounding a corner, Oliver spots a large bar to the right and finds bottles upon bottles stacked on its shelves. Stepping closer, Oliver considers stealing one to mess with Tommy when he suddenly hears soft giggles coming from his right.
Taking one glance at the source is enough to make him vomit right there, but he manages to tamp it down for everyone's sake. Finding his baby sister suck the face of none other than Roy Harper was the last thing he expect to see, but it appears he was meant to see it.
His mind goes through various emotions: shock, disgust and anger with a hint of happiness. He's glad to see Roy working at Nightwing as a successful waiter, but he's more than pissed to know he's making out with Thea. And he certainly didn't expect to see Thea for the first time in almost eight years under these circumstances.
They're oblivious to Oliver loitering behind them, so he loudly clears his throat, hoping it'll get their attention. They immediately break apart, shocked and embarrassed for getting caught in such a situation. Averting his gaze, Oliver waits for them to straighten themselves out until he hears Thea gasp loudly.
"Ollie?"
Glancing up at her and unable to contain his excitement, Oliver smiles wide as he's about to explode in happiness. It feels so good to see Thea in person. She's taller than he remembers, her baby fat is gone and she looks so mature for her age. Gone is his baby sister – she's been long replaced by an elegant Queen.
"Hey," Oliver whispers, his throat tightening up with various emotions.
Clamping a hand over her mouth, Thea let's out a sob before running towards him and jumping into his arms. The wind gets knocked out of him, but after finally feeling Thea in his arms . . . he could die as a happy man.
Hugging her tight, Oliver lets out a sigh of relief and tries to soothe her as she cries. His own eyes well in up tears – he hadn't realized how hard it was for Thea to not see him. For a moment he's transported back before everything went to shit, when his mother and father were still alive. He hadn't felt whole in such a long time, but right now he's feels nothing but complete.
Detangling herself from Oliver, Thea laughs and wipes her tears away. Grinning, she takes his hand and firmly grasps it. "I missed you big brother."
"I missed you too, Thea."
There's so much to catch up on. Despite talking to her on the phone, he's missed a large chunk of her transition to adulthood. He wants to know who her friends are, what her favorite color is, and whether she still hates shrimp. Oliver may not be able to make up for his absence, but he wants to be there for Thea in every way he can.
"Um Roy, this is my brother, Ollie."
Oliver had forgotten Roy was standing there, but as Roy blankly stares at him, Oliver does his best to convey how much he needs to keep his mouth shut.
Groaning internally, Oliver can spot the exact moment it all comes together for Roy. "Ollie . . . Short for Oliver . . . Queen."
"Yeah."
Glaring at Roy, Oliver silently begs him to not say anything more. Thankfully he proves to be smarter than that, and doesn't say another word.
"Uh . . . do you two know each other?"
"Nope" he and Roy say in unison. It's awkward for a minute as Thea pointedly glances back and forth between the two, no doubt suspicious, though she keeps it to herself. Oliver spots Roy avoiding to look him in the eye, and he almost feels bad for the poor guy.
Clearing her throat, Thea hooks an arm around Oliver's and asks, "What are you doing here?"
Roy ostentatiously goes behind the bar to restock its dwindling alcohol supply, so Oliver takes it as an opportunity to focus his attention on Thea. "Actually, I left –"
"Roy, what's taking so long? I needed you downstairs five minutes ago."
Tommy.
Oliver could be half dead and he would recognize that voice anywhere. As his heart begins to thump loudly beneath his chest, excitement and nervousness coils at the pit of his stomach, The last time Oliver saw Tommy was when he dropped Thea off at the Merlyn's home, and in the following years, promptly ignored every phone call from Tommy. He owes Tommy so much, the first of which is a long and heartfelt apology.
"Holy shit . . . Ollie?"
It plays out exactly like a scene from a movie – Oliver slowly turns around and comes face to face with his past, no longer able to avoid it. Just looking at Tommy brings an overwhelming desire for the good old days that he doesn't know how to function.
"Tommy," he says a little breathlessly.
Although his former friend looks relatively the same, Oliver notices a few changes – there are permanent laugh lines around his mouth and he looks older, more mature. Owning a successful business has done wonders for Tommy, and Oliver's so proud of him for starting this venture.
"I can't believe it – you're actually here!"
It's as if no time has passed – Tommy immediately wraps Oliver in a hug, ignoring the fact that Oliver left Tommy in the dust without a moment's hesitation. A lump forms in his throat, since he doesn't know how to articulate how much Tommy means to him. He practically raised Thea when Oliver couldn't, and appears to not begrudge Oliver for dropping off the face of the earth. Oliver doesn't deserve Tommy's friendship, but he would be lying if he said he didn't miss it.
Removing himself from Tommy's embrace, Oliver laughs as Tommy joins with him. It feels good to hear Tommy laugh beside him, and for a moment he feels like he never left.
"It's good to see you."
"Yeah no kidding!" Clasping a hand on Oliver's shoulder, Tommy gently shakes it and exclaims, "Now that's what I call a surprise."
Over to the side Oliver spots Thea smiling warmly, no doubt happy they've reunited. He also sees a tall, bulky man over to the side, stoically watching the scene unfold. Oliver feels a little self-conscious in front of an audience – there are a lot of things he needs to individually say to Tommy and Thea, and doing it in front of Roy and some other man isn't how Oliver imagined apologizing.
Sensing his hesitation, Tommy looks at Oliver as he tries to ease his worries. "I need to check on something upstairs, but we obviously have a lot to catch up on. How about we grab lunch? You hungry?"
"Uh –"
"Great answer!"
Stepping away from Oliver, Tommy points to the unnamed man silently watching the exchange. "John, get the car ready because Oliver and I are gonna tear it up at Magic Kitchen!"
Chuckling to himself, Tommy runs up the stairs as John goes to bring the car around, leaving Oliver completely bewildered. He just met Tommy for the first time in almost eight years and they're already having plans to each lunch at their favorite Thai place.
He had hoped to spend the rest of the day with Thea, but he also needs to make amends with Tommy. Facing Thea he asks, "Is it OK if I go . . .?"
"Oh my God, of course Ollie!" Waving her hand dismissively she adds, "I have some errands to run anyway. Are you free to have dinner tonight?"
"I'm always free to have dinner with you, Speedy." He grins at the nickname – it never fails to remind him of little Thea chasing him whenever she got the chance.
Rolling her eyes, Thea tilts her head to the side and points a finger at him. "Don't call me that."
Instead he smiles, glad he's in Thea's good graces and excited to have dinner with his sister. Coming back to Star City is turning out to be much better than he thought.
"All right, I'll call you when I'm finished." Thea nods seriously, and taking a quick glance at Roy behind the bar, Oliver jokingly – albeit a tiny bit seriously – orders, "I hope your errands don't include making out with the waiter."
Thea blushes furiously and looks about ready to apologize before Oliver stops her. "Don't sweat it."
Visibly relaxing, Thea nods again and smiles shyly. "Well, have fun at lunch. I cannot wait to hear what happens."
Thea sounds so much like his mother that he could've sworn she was right there in front of him. After seeing her in person, Oliver has no doubt their parents would be proud of Thea. For so long he was afraid of dealing with the present that he forgot some good things could come out of it.
Waving a goodbye, Oliver exists the club and is greeted with a black Mercedes. John, Tommy's driver and possible bodyguard, nods his head and opens the passenger door for him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Queen."
He says it so seriously that Oliver forgot John was saying something nice to him.
"Thank you," he says as he sits inside the car. Oliver's immediately hit with a whiff of expensive leather, and it feels so foreign to him that he feels awkward sitting in the car.
The door doesn't shut, and when Oliver quizzically looks up at John, he's unabashedly staring at him. But it doesn't make Oliver uncomfortable – instead, Oliver can tell John's studying him, his eyes gazing into his soul with a certain kind of knowledge only a few possess.
"You'll never get used to it, Mr. Queen."
"To what?"
Smiling knowingly, John tips his head to Oliver. "Being home."
He doesn't know how to respond but as John shuts the door, Oliver can't help but wonder if he's right.
If he is, then perhaps chasing the unknown isn't such a bad thing.
Magic Kitchen is exactly as Oliver remembered – loud, small and filled with aromatic smells. He can't recall how many times he's been here, but he and Tommy mainly came when they needed drunk food. This restaurant has many great memories, and he's glad Tommy brought him someplace familiar.
During the entire ride Tommy talked incessantly, telling Oliver everything that happened in Star City since he left. He found out Carter Bowen was an accomplished doctor, one girl from their class married a prince from Dubai, and Laurel Lance is a civil rights lawyer at CNRI.
Hearing and thinking of Laurel's name used to bring a pang of sadness – mainly due to how he left things with her – but he's long moved on from being in love with Laurel. And besides, as evidenced by Tommy's desire to stop talking about Laurel, he has a suspicion they might be seeing each other. If that's the case he's happy for them.
Now that they've placed their orders, it's gotten a bit silent between them as Tommy's run out of ways to fill the void. Oliver gathers the courage to say what's next but finds it easier said than done.
Leaning forward, Oliver takes a deep breath and begins, "Tommy I have to . . . After the way I left things . . ."
Words get stuck in his throat, and he berates himself for not planning this out earlier. He needs to convey how much Tommy's promise – and keeping that promise – means to him. He honestly doesn't know what he would've done with Thea had the Merlyns not taken her in.
"Seriously Oliver, if you don't stop talking this lunch is over."
Clearing his throat, Tommy rubs his hand on the nape of his neck, no doubt feeling awkward. He always had a hard time admitting his feelings, but Oliver wants Tommy to know how much he means to him.
"I have to say it."
"I'd rather you not."
Sighing, Oliver leans back against his seat and eyes Tommy. He refuses to look at Oliver as a way to change the subject, but Oliver won't yield. When he came back to Star City he wanted to make amends, and he needs to start with Tommy.
"Look, I know you don't want to hear this, but I have to thank you for raising Thea and . . . protecting her from how bad it had gotten."
His throat tightens from the overflow of emotions, and he glances down at the table to compose himself. Oliver knows he and Thea would've been homeless had they both moved to Chicago. There's no way Oliver would've become an escort if Thea was there, and working menial jobs to make ends meet would put him on living paycheck to paycheck. And Thea deserved better. Despite not being blood related, Thea was given a top-notch education and is currently in college, fully funded by Malcolm Merlyn. Oliver couldn't have done that all those years ago.
It seems Tommy understands how much thanking him means to Oliver, since he leans forward and softly says, "Listen, I would do this all over again. You know that, right?"
This is why Tommy became his best friend. It was his selflessness, his loyalty, and unwavering belief in the goodness of others, which made him an amazing person. If Tommy were someone else, Oliver wouldn't be able to ask him of such a big favor all those years ago. He wishes he hadn't stopped taking his calls, but it was his cowardice that made him do so.
"I know, which is why I want to thank you. And apologize."
Trying to make light of the situation Tommy brushes his apology off. "Since when did you become a sap?"
His heart heavy and desperately wanting Tommy's forgiveness – even if he doesn't deserve it – Oliver sincerely says, "Since I owed you . . . everything."
It seems Tommy's finally willing to accept his apology and thank you as his eyes soften while he nods solemnly. Oliver waits with bated breath, but just like that Tommy's smiles wide, his happiness reaching every inch of him.
"It's OK, Oliver. Really. There's nothing to forgive."
He doesn't feel a weight get lifted off his shoulders, but instead feels . . . normal. Like forgiving and forgetting was the next, natural step in Oliver and Tommy's lives. There's no need for groveling or heavy words, just a simple acknowledgement that the past is in the past, and it's time to move on.
And for that Oliver's forever grateful.
It's evening now, and although Oliver's dead tired, he's willing to stay up if it means spending more time with Thea. Much to his surprise, Malcolm bought Thea a condo in the heart of downtown with no strings attached. Malcolm had always doted on Thea, but this is more than he's ever done for Tommy. Either way, Thea's ecstatic to have a place of her own, and Oliver can't blame her for doing so considering how nice the views are.
She had ordered Big Belly Burger for dinner – Oliver had honestly forgotten how much he missed it. The Midwest didn't have Big Belly so Oliver relied on other fast food joints to survive the day. It's as if Thea read Oliver's mind and knew exactly what he needed to feel right at home.
They've finished up dinner and have moved onto talking about menial things, but in the back of his mind Oliver knows now is the best time he to tell Thea the truth about his time in Chicago. He's afraid of what she'll say and worried she'll want to cut him out of her life. But he has to take this chance – he can't continue to start over with a lie. Thea deserves better.
"Thea, I have to tell you something."
Clearing his throat, Oliver turns to face Thea as he mentally prepares himself for this dreaded conversation. She looks at him with caution, no doubt worried what he'll say next.
"This sounds serious."
She sits cross-legged on the couch and focuses her attention on Oliver, and he's struck by how mature she's become. Sometimes he forgets how hard these past few years have been for her, too. Oliver can only imagine the teasing and bullying she received from her classmates, but it looks like she's come out on top.
Nervous, Oliver inhales deeply as he gathers his wits. "I haven't been honest with you. About my time in Chicago."
"OK . . ."
Thea's eyes have widened and his heart beats nervously, wondering how he can properly say what ne needs to. She's become a little closed off now – Oliver can see her shoulders have contracted and she folds her arms in front of her chest.
Sighing quietly, Oliver takes a moment to plan out what he wants to say. "You know how I said I was an independent consultant?"
"Yeah, whatever that means," she snorts.
"I was actually . . . I was doing something else."
She watches him carefully, her face devoid of any emotion that might betray her inner turmoil. This is it – this is the moment all hell will break loose. He's been anticipating this for so long, and Oliver can only imagine how it'll turn out to be.
"I was an escort. For almost eight years."
The shame and humiliation he's feeling right now knows no bounds. He can't bear to look at Thea. He always prized himself as Thea's protector, as someone who's strong and intelligent, yet he was nothing more than a common prostitute. What will she think of him now?
Glancing down at her lap, Thea purses her lips and takes a deep breath. Momentarily closing her eyes, she looks back up at Oliver and watches at him so softly that he questions what he's done to have a sister as wonderful as Thea.
"I know, Oliver."
He's aware he's going through shock – Oliver can't hear anything besides his heart beating thunderously, it's rhythmic pounding the only thing to bring him back to reality.
"I've known for . . . awhile."
She's known. She's known this whole time. Oliver thought he was being smart and calculated with his decisions by changing his name and keeping Thea away from Chicago, but it didn't help. He could've told her the truth so many years ago, and instead continued to craft a lie for no reason.
Placing his hand against his forehead, Oliver tries to make sense of Thea's reveal. "How?"
Smiling nervously, Thea shrugs and says, "Well, um, when you would send me money it would be a few hundred. Then it started moving up to the thousands."
Oliver always made sure to send Thea money – what she did with it wasn't his concern. He just wanted to let her know he was working, that he wasn't living out in the streets and he could take care of himself.
"And one time you gave me eight thousand dollars, which was . . . suspicious. So I hired a PI and . . . he followed you."
There's a part of him proud of Thea for being smart enough to figure it out, but he's undoubtedly ashamed for hiding his secret for so long. "How long have you known?"
Thea scrunches her nose in concentration before saying, "About . . . three years? Maybe four."
He's at a loss for words. He feels like an idiot for lying, but he also wonders why Thea didn't say anything before. It certainly would've saved them this long overdue conversation.
"Jesus. Why didn't you say anything?"
With a gentle smile, Thea places a hand over Oliver's and squeezes tightly. Her eyes shine and her chin trembles slightly. "Because it was obviously a hard choice for you to make. And I didn't want you to feel bad."
He's struck by the gravity of her words, and it takes every ounce of strength not to fall into her arms. She's so strong. She's become everything their parents, and Oliver, wanted her to be: intelligent, caring, and above all understanding. His baby sister wanted to spare Oliver the pain and humiliation, and shouldered his burden far more than she deserved. What more could he have asked for?
"I'm sorry I lied, Speedy."
Shaking her head, she squeezes his hand once more. "I know you did it to protect me. So thank you. And you don't have to apologize for what you did to survive."
Oliver throat closes due to his overwhelming emotions as he presses Thea's hand back in gratitude.
"Thank you. For not . . . hating me for what I've done."
Scoffing in disbelief, she removes her hand from his and promptly smacks his arm. "Ollie, I could never hate you."
He laughs as he's feeling truly weightless for the first time in . . . forever, really. Telling Thea the truth was always in the back of his mind, and there were times when he didn't want to talk to her knowing he was lying through his teeth. Coupled with his lunch with Tommy and a productive dinner with Thea, Oliver feels he's begun to really move on from his past.
He's become the Oliver Queen he was meant to be.
They fall into an easy silence and Oliver remembers the stupid, and frankly, ridiculous lies he told Thea. It came to a point where he would try to make a believable lie before he and Thea spoke, but when she would ask him about work, he would almost always forget.
"Do you and Roy know each other?"
Her abrupt question throws him off, and he almost groans aloud – Thea's too smart for her own good.
Sensing his hesitation Thea ventures, "He told me he was an escort in Chicago so . . ."
Huh. At least Roy's honest with Thea, something he can't say about himself. It feels weird being so frank about his time as an escort – for so long Oliver kept this to himself that it was almost second nature. But this is his opportunity to be as honest as possible with Thea, and he won't throw it away no matter how awkward it is.
"Well Roy was, uh . . . kind of my apprentice."
There's a pregnant pause until Thea throws her hands in the air, bewildered by the turn of events. "Are you kidding me?!"
"Sorry." Oliver honestly feels bad for telling her, but he'd rather she find out through him than Roy.
"No wonder you two looked like you knew each other," she says, defeated. Scrunching her nose once more, Thea looks away in contemplation. It's highly unusual for one's older brother to be a madam of sorts to their sister's current boyfriend, but Thea's taking it like a pro.
"Sorry. Again."
She waves him off. "It's OK. It's always been OK."
Smiling tiredly, they fall into another easy silence. For the first time in several years, Oliver isn't thinking about what client he has next, or how he's going to funnel his money. It still hasn't hit Oliver he's free from Isabel, his lies and the past.
"So what do you plan on doing now that you're back?"
His inclination is to shrug and tell Thea he doesn't have a plan but . . . He came to Star City for a reason. It wasn't just to go home and apologize – he wants to make a difference in his life. Oliver was never passionate about anything and took his wealth – or lack thereof – and his esteemed position at Emerald to his advantage. Oliver never truly worked hard for anything, and there's nothing he can say he's proud of for doing.
But that can change too.
"I'm . . . gonna open a café."
