Slip Of

The Tongue

Disclaimer: This idea was something of a prompt request from Zannaria awhile back that I thought I would try my hand at and have been slowly writing off and on. And to Thunder, sorry but I have no intention of bashing Caitlin just to fill some kind of balance. Unlike Felicity, Caitlin doesn't exactly deserve it.

Japanese

It had been a complete accident when he did it but when asked about it years later, Oliver would think on it and say he likely did it on a subconscious level in order to help Laurel better understand a client of her's and to continue making up for past terrible choices. Said client's grasp on the English language wasn't that good and because of that, certain elements had been trying to take advantage of the old man. And before Oliver could even so much as stop himself while at CNRI where his burgeoning club was concerned, had immediately started to talk to the old man in his native Japanese. Easily seeing the surprised look on a somewhat frustrated Laurel's face but ignoring it for the time being as he focused on his conversation with the old man and thinking that perhaps he ought to pay a visit to a few people in his alter ego.

Minutes later, the conversation ended and Oliver gave a bow to the old man while promising that Laurel would do her absolute best to help him out once he explained things to her. "Since when do you know Japanese?" Questioned Laurel incredulously and wincing at her slip up of unprofessionalism in front of a client.

"Its a thing. A thing I picked up a long time ago. But here's what he told me so you can better understand and help with his situation. Do you guys need translators for CNRI? I'm sure we could do something about that with a donation?"

Thrown off a great deal by her ex and his apparent fluid skill with another language and his offering of a donation to provide translators, Laurel found herself out of sorts for a good minute. At least until a concerned Oliver captured her attention. "Umm… We can, we can talk about that some other time but for now, please tell me what my client was able to tell you." She requested. Even if it did likely violate confidentialities and all.

And Oliver quickly did so in a serious manner to show he wasn't taking what he'd been told in a light way.

Spanish

Annoyed was a feeling Oliver couldn't help but feel at that point in time. Now he wasn't getting shot at or any other harmful thing as his alter ego the Hood, or being guilt tripped and or lectured. No, it wasn't anything of the sort but Oliver was honestly starting to prefer either of those things over what he was being forced to deal with. Namely, one Carter Bowen. Whom he thought he wouldn't have to deal with again for a really long time after his mother had invited the Bowens back into their lives for a short time. But alas, that nugget of hope had been snuffed out faster than Amanda Waller's ability to be compassionate. As Carter had shown up for an event Oliver's family was hosting at City Hall and the man had managed to corner him and proceed to talk his ear off for nearly an hour.

It would finally become too much however when the motor mouth went off about something else he had no interest in that Oliver finally snapped and started ranting and raving in Spanish. A language he learned not from his Spanish class in high school, but from a girl he met back then that was all too willing to happily teach him the language in exchange for fun times with him. And horn dog he was, had been all too willing to take her up on that. His Spanish speaking rant managed to catch a great deal of attention as Carter looked at him in shock thanks to clearly not having expected that to happen at all. Not even having a damn clue as to what he was saying but feeling that perhaps he should listen to his gut and feel very offended. "OLIVER JONAS QUEEN!" Boomed his mother's voice.

Said voice instantly making him freeze up and remember where he was. "I don't know what you said, but I'm certain I am nothing like you implied, Oliver." Carter told him with a sniff and walked off with his head held high.

Moron.

Naturally, the lecture he'd get from his mother over his rudeness made the archer wish he was being shot at instead.

Mandarin

"You know, something tells me that if Ollie knew we were watching him talk in whatever language that is to those guys, he wouldn't be doing it." Voiced Thea as she, Tommy, and Laurel watched from a distance away as he discussed things with some workers for his upcoming club, Verdant.

"Yeah, he's surprisingly tight lipped on that kind of thing. Acts like I have no idea what I'm talking about when I bring it up." Tommy said in slight annoyance.

"I can see how that would be annoying." Mused Laurel.

She didn't think what he was speaking was Japanese but it was clear he was about as fluent in this language as he was in Japanese. Bet he learned it a long time ago too.

"I think we ought to tie him down and force him to tell us all the things he's been keeping to himself." Groused Thea.

Who still didn't like the fact her big brother kept things close to the vest like he did! The fact that both Tommy and Laurel actually considered that longer than they should have gave Thea a bit of hope. "Ehh…" Began Tommy.

"I don't think he'd be very happy with us if he did that." Laurel said right after him.

Plus, might bring up memories of his and Tommy's kidnapping. Or memories of how he got those damn scars on his body… And the last thing Laurel wanted was for him to go through that trauma again. "Damn it."

Once again a good idea was shot down the crapper much to Thea's dismay!

Russian

Everyone in Oliver's life, including a very much alive Tommy Merlyn, were witness to Oliver himself in a heated discussion with another man who he apparently knew from somewhere back in the day. How he knows a Russian who's also the head of the Russian Mob, none of them save for John Diggle, Felicity Smoak, and Sara Lance for the most part, had a clue on. This time, Oliver hadn't unintentionally been caught speaking in another language and had actually very much intentionally spoken in Russian to this man Sara had somehow known to be Anatoly Knyazev. Sparking a few wonderings in the process and how she knew Oliver was speaking Russian and this man as well. The name 'Slade Wilson' had come up a number of times in the conversation and Moira hadn't been too enthused due to her clear liking of the man.

"Anatoly, I am telling you, Slade is alive! He was in my house!" Yelled out Oliver in English all of a sudden.

"But you tell me he is dead. You put arrow in eye and he sink with Amazo! It not possible! Even with Mirakuru!" Protested Anatoly.

Who honestly didn't want to believe that mad man was alive and honestly? Sarah couldn't blame the man! "Why are you so worried about Mr. Wilson, Oliver!? He's very clearly a good man! And what's this talk of arrows in eyes and sinking!?" Demanded to know Moira and causing Anatoly to blanch and curse in his native tongue.

"Mom… Slade's a very bad man who used to be a good man. One I thought was dead…"

"So we met a ghost then?" Thea asked with raised eyebrows.

Oliver sighed heavily and cursed in a mix of Mandarin and Russian. "He might as well be as he's not the same man I used to know. Not anymore…"

"Sounds like a story." Muttered Quentin and gaining quite a few nods in agreement.

Anatoly sighed next. "I bring in all Brothers, Oleever. Its time Slade die for good."

"I… Don't you two think you're being a little… Over dramatic?" Laurel wondered worriedly and Sara shook her head in the negative.

Though she wasn't the only one was Diggle and Felicity were doing the same too considering what they had so far learned about Slade Wilson. "When it comes to Slade, nothing is over dramatic with him." Declared Sara firmly.

Laurel stared at her sister in a suspicious manner and swore she was gonna be pressing for answers with her as soon as she got her alone! "Everyone, be extremely careful, please." Oliver requested seriously and perhaps a little pleadingly too for that matter.

Reluctantly, they all nodded as Anatoly began to curse in Russian again. Clearly showing just how unhappy he was about this whole thing.

Author's Notes: What, did you all really think I had up and left for good? Nah, I'm still around but just more focused on the 'Chuck' fandom. Zannaria, I hope this was to your liking and if not, I apologize!