Chapter 6; I don't see you like I should you look so misunderstood I wish I could help
Diggle & Lyla:
"And how was it? How's Oliver?" Lyla looked expectantly at him after he stepped into the kitchen of their apartment. He just came back from Laurel's.
He took a deep breath before answering his wife, while taking their daughter from her arms to give her a proper hello.
"Honestly, would you believe me when I told you that was by far one of the strangest afternoons of my life." John still wasn't sure what to make of it all. He felt as if he had stepped into the twilight zone for the last couple of hours.
"What do you mean? Because of Sara? Laurel and Thea had mentioned that she was troubled." Lyla tried to clarify her husband's answer he tended to be easily bothered by things. It was a part of his black and white world view. Which was especially problematic when it came to people like Oliver and Sara that moved entirely in the grey areas, dark and ominous grey sometimes, but it was never black and white for them, or her. She would never have joined Argus if she saw the world in black and white like her husband. Argus lived by the words: "There are people in this world that only deal in extremes, and it would be naïve to think that anything less than extreme measures will stop them". Words Oliver used to live by too, or at least to some degree.
John let a fussy Sara down and watched her run away, taking another deep breath to try to gather his thoughts in order to explain everything to Lyla.
"There was something off about Oliver. I mean he pretended to be all right and did an excellent job but there was just something about him that seemed a bit off or wrong even. And Sara…" he exhaled loudly, "man," he shook his head and took another breath, "I don't know where to start when it comes to Sara. I told you that there was something wrong with her after the whole resurrection, returning of her soul thing but that was nothing compared to now… I swear if I hadn't known for a fact that it was Sara I would've sworn it was someone else, maybe a twin. I don't know what happened to her in the last eight months and she literally wasn't talking, not even a hello or goodbye. Oliver talked for her, he even told Laurel what drink her sister currently preferred. It was seriously weird. Sara used to be so straightforward and independent and now she's mum and glued to Oliver's side. I swear you could've sworn that she was permanently attached to his arm." Lyla looked at him, very intrigued and worried. He still didn't know what to make of Sara's behavior.
"And Oliver didn't really tell us anything about the five months he was gone either. I swear something happened to him too, but he was just talking about scenery and food, and some knew recipes he wants to try. Or sleeping under the stars in South Africa. How he never realized how much he had missed that and the quiet that came with being so far removed from civilization until that moment. And how great it was to watch the wildlife, that Sara especially enjoyed some strange, colorful birds. He personally prefered the wild cats over the birds. Seriously, it sounded as if they were on safari. But it was all superficial bullshit and he and we all knew it. He didn't even answer the simple question when he and Sara met up or how long they've been travelling together. Something's wrong here. And experience says nothing good ever comes out of Oliver or Sara keeping secrets." He suddenly felt exhausted and some dread spreading in his body. The secrets Oliver and Sara shared usually got people killed and led him to question his worldview.
"Another thing that felt off was the way he treated Felicity. He barely acknowledged her. He greeted her and answered some of her questions, and was friendly overall, but he was mostly ignoring her presence. That doesn't seem right or like Oliver. Felicity's usually the center of his attention. So, I'm not sure what he's playing. I mean, I don't know if he and Sara are back together… it rubs me the wrong way if they are. Oliver was engaged to Felicity less than six months ago… he would have moved on really fast if it were the case. And I don't think that's okay." Diggle was not amused about his friend's overall behavior and even less the way he acted towards Felicity.
"I don't think you're being fair to Oliver here, Johnny. Felicity is the one who ended their engagement and refused to give him another chance after he poured his heart out to her and explained the situation. If Oliver chooses that getting back together with one of his exes is what he wants to do, it's his right and Felicity or you have no say in it. Do I think it's a good idea? No. Jumping from one relationship into the next rarely ever is. Even less from what you just told me. It seems both Oliver and Sara have a lot of issues they're dealing with and being in a relationship doesn't seem to be smart given the circumstances. Then again, they've known each other forever and that might play into it and in their favor. But I told you this morning that I didn't think it's a great idea for Felicity to be there. She's the reason he left in the first place. So, it's understandable that she might not be someone he wants to see right away. I don't think he's playing anything, that's not Oliver's style. He has always been very open and honest with Felicity, when it came to his feelings." Lyla wondered how many similar conversations she's had with her husband over the last couple of months. Their sides had been clear from the beginning. Johnny had a soft and blind spot for Felicity and therefore judged Oliver especially hard when it came to the blonde and any wrong doing, real or perceived, on the other man's side. Lyla had no such blind spot for Team Arrow's IT genius, she did have a soft spot for her too though but seriously who didn't? That didn't change the fact that she tended to take Oliver's side in these arguments she has with her husband. And not simply because of fairness, but because she could see Oliver's side and he was usually right. Felicity had a tendency to let her emotions cloud her judgment and only saw her perspective and expected people to do the same and agree with her. Oliver was a soldier. He understood that it was important to take everything into account and that meant every possible outcome and viewpoint. He had lost some of his objectivity and the extreme measures he used to be willing to take to protect his city. She blamed most of it on Felicity, which didn't mean that she wasn't aware of the role Johnny and even Laurel and Thea played in it. Maybe having Sara around would give him his edge back. He needed it as the Green Arrow. And to survive. The scumbags of their city had never been more afraid than back when the Arrow and the Canary ruled the streets and ran the town.
"Dinner's almost ready. How about you go get Sara and wash up and we postpone the start of the oncoming argument about our friends to later?" She was so not up to have this conversation again, at least not before she had seen Oliver herself and found out what was going on with him and Sara.
Laurel:
Laurel walked up the stairs to Oliver's, and she guessed Sara's, apartment. Oliver's choice had surprised her. It was a nice place but not really what she expected him to pick. It was an old building. The apartment was on the top floor and had its own roof terrace additionally to a balcony that almost stretched the apartments entire lengths and was accessible through several rooms. It had very high ceilings and a lot of ebony-colored beams. It was beautiful, but she had expected Oliver to pick something more modern just like Thea had. It was the apartment with the best view, so why he picked it made sense now. Knowing that he would share it with Sara, who loved a grand view, just like a bird.
She reached the top floor, stepped in front of the only door on the floor and rang the doorbell. It only took a short amount of time until the door was opened.
"Hey Laurel, come in." Oliver stepped aside to let her enter.
"Why don't you go sit down and make yourself comfortable. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?" He smiled at her and gestured towards the living room.
"Yeah, sure coffee sounds wonderful. Thanks." She put her jacket on the coat rack and watched her friend walk into the kitchen. She took the time he was gone to look around, it was the first time that she had been to the apartment after Thea, Dig and her had looked at it for Oliver over two weeks ago. It looked nice. The furniture was interesting at first glance, but she had to admit, it was a perfect blend between Oliver and Sara. There were still boxes sitting around and smaller things that would make it more homey that seemed to be missing, for now. But it wasn't bad given the fact that they've only been living in it for two days. You'd never guess. She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch and wondered where her sister was. Oliver said that he would be out this afternoon and that was why he asked her to come. To spend time with Sara, so why was he here and Sara nowhere to be found? She hadn't even finished the thought when Oliver showed back up with a tray with two coffees, sugar and some cookies.
"Here you go." He handed her the coffee, put the tray on the coffee table and sat on the loveseat across from her.
"Thank you." Laurel added sugar and stirred her coffee. Looking at Oliver expectantly but he didn't seem to notice or care. She expected him to say something. But just nothing. He was just sitting there, coffee cup in hand, staring out the window behind her. She decided to give him a little more time to say something but after at least ten more minutes had passed with him doing a great imitation of a statue, she decided to break this really weird and awkward atmosphere. Not that she minded sitting in silence with him, but this was different. And strange. She felt she was intruding, and yet he had been the one asking her to come over.
"So…" she started, Oliver's head turned to her and he blinked for a moment his blue eyes looking confused but at least he seemed to be out of his trancelike state.
"Where's Sara? You said that you'd have some things to take care of and wanted me to keep her company. And now you're here and she's not. Not that I mind spending time with you, not at all. I'm just confused." She tried to get the situation and her confusion cleared up.
"I'm sorry, Laurel. I meant to call and tell you that you didn't need to come. I'll take care of those things another time. It was a terrible idea to do it today. I didn't think…" He ran his hand through his hair and the end of his explanation was very quiet and he almost appeared to be talking to himself.
She was just about to ask him why today was a terrible idea when he continued.
"Sara's asleep. She's probably going to be out for at least an hour. You're welcome to stay if you want, but you don't have to. I won't go anywhere today. So, there's really no need for you to be here. I've got her." She knew that his words meant to be reassuring, and he didn't mean to offend her, but he did. There was no need for her to be here? He's got Sara? So, what? He just assumed that he was the only person Sara needed? That what, she was only good when he needed someone to, what…, babysit her sister? Oliver had asked her to come over and spend the afternoon with her sister because he had things to take care of and didn't want to leave Sara alone. Part of her had scoffed at the idea, Sara was more than capable of taking care of herself and being alone, she seemed to actually prefer it and Oliver's request was highly overprotective. Yet, a part of her reminded her of her sister's behavior ever since she came back home something was wrong with her and leaving her alone did not seem like a smart decision. So, yeah maybe having her here with her sister made sense. But now that he changed his plans, he just assumed that she would leave, just like that. No questions asked. Sure, no problem. She was just about to give him a piece of her mind when she looked at him again and this time really looked. He looked terrible; worn down and exhausted.
"Ollie, are you okay? What's going on?" She was worried about him now and decided to shelf her anger for the moment.
"I'm okay, Laurel. Everything's fine." He tried to reassure her and gave her a weak smile that looked painful.
"Oliver… I kn… Is there something I can do to help? Unpack some boxes while you lie down too? You look tired." She just barely managed to stop herself from telling him she knew he was lying. This wasn't the right moment for it. Oliver was exhausted which meant he would blow up at her and they'd end up in a full-blown argument or even shouting match and that was not what he needed right now.
He smiled at her and this time it seemed genuine, still weak, but it was an actual smile.
"Thank you. You don't have to. We'll probably get to it later today. But I appreciate the offer."
"Okay, how about I leave you to it and you promise to call me if there is anything you or Sara need, or I can do to help the two of you… settle in." She gave him an encouraging smile and got off the couch.
"I will. Thank you, again." He walked her to the door and told her goodbye, she impulsively gave him a tight hug which he reciprocated just as thigh and she could swear she had heard him whisper another thank you.
Laurel found herself outside of the apartment less than thirty minutes after she had first stepped into it, faced with an empty hall and a whirlwind of feelings. This had been intense.
What was going on? And just when would she finally stop wondering that and get some answers instead of more questions whenever she saw Oliver and Sara?
She needed to go see her dad. She didn't have a chance to talk to him last night and she really needed to.
