"Hey," Oliver greeted Linda when she walked up to the counter at Jitters. "You're ten minutes early for lunch."
"Is that a problem?" Linda asked, her smile turned teasing. "I mean, I could just go."
"No," Oliver said quickly. "More time with you is a bonus."
"Yeah?" Linda smiled.
"Absolutely," he grinned. "Why don't you sit at our usual table and I'll bring your usual over to you, ASAP."
"Alright," Linda walked over to their usual table.
She pulled out her phone, playing a word game while she waited, seeing as Jitters was a little busy with the lunch hour.
Ten minutes later a cup of her favorite latte was placed in front of her followed by the feel of lips pressing against her cheek, a blush fanned across her cheek as Oliver slid in the seat across from her. She resisted the urge to reached up and touch her fingers to her skin where she could feel the warmth of his lips.
"How has your morning been?" Oliver asked.
"Good." At least it was now. "You?"
"The usual," Oliver answered. "Are you hungry? I can get you something."
"No, I'm okay," Linda assured him.
"Alright then." Oliver rolled his shoulders before stretching his arms above his head.
The movement caused his shirt to bunch on his arms and her eyes widened when she caught sight of an angry red burn scar searing his flesh. A gasp escaped her, thinking of the pain he must have felt.
Oliver lowered his arms catching her gaze and pulled on his sleeve-tugging it back down over the scar.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare." Linda apologized looking contrite.
"It's fine." Oliver dismissed. He was accustomed to people staring at his scars. It no longer bothered him like it used to.
Linda bit down on her lip to silence the question that was on the tip of her tongue.
"It's okay to ask?" he assured her.
Linda nodded after a moment. "What happened?"
"My father," he answered bluntly. "He hated when I would defend my mother from him and this was just one of his reactions."
"I'm sorry," Linda said sincerely, her heart aching for the pain he had to go through.
"Don't be. My father was an asshole. He's the only one who should be sorry." said Oliver.
"Still, doesn't it bother you? What he did to you?" Asked Linda.
"Of course, it did but I refuse to let it make me a victim. What I went through, it shaped who I am today." Oliver responded strongly.
Linda felt a warmth spread through her chest, the way he looked at his hardships it was inspiring and she really admired how strong he was and how he didn't let his terrible circumstances turn him into a bitter person but allowed it to make him an even better person. "For the record that person is amazing."
Oliver gave a grin. "So are you."
Linda gave a small grin and thought Oliver had offered something up from his difficult upbringing, his own abuse and thought maybe she should do the same.
"Adrian wasn't always abusive toward me. It started four months ago. We had been arguing about college. He wanted me to become a lawyer like him as you know I wanted to become a reporter." She began, encouraged by Oliver's attentive look to keep going. "He got so angry and his hand swung out and he backhanded me. I was so shocked. He had never struck me before but that soon changed. After that first time, it became like second nature to him whenever he got angry with me or we argued." her eyes fell to the table. "I learned to try and not make him angry and just do as he wanted. It doesn't always work but it helps in making my life with him a little easier."
"You shouldn't have to live a life like that," Oliver said sincerely. "Walking on eggshells too afraid to be yourself. Living always being afraid is no way to live. Don't you wanna feel safe?"
Linda had been unsure about opening up about the abuse she suffered through afraid of judgment and pity but that wasn't what she got from Oliver. What she got from him was compassion and concern and it made her like Oliver more than she already did.
She liked him enough to the point that she had started to dream and fantasize about him. She knew her feelings were going beyond their platonic friendship but she was with Adrian and while Oliver was an amazing friend to her she didn't think what he felt for her went beyond friendship.
She couldn't imagine what he could possibly see in her. He was handsome and kind, protective and sweet and caring, so caring any girl would be lucky to have him. He could literally have any girl he wanted.
"Of course, I want to feel safe." Linda murmured. "But it's not just me I have to think about. I have to think about my parents."
"Sometimes you have to look out for yourself first." Oliver countered.
Linda shook her head in disagreement. "My parents would never forgive me if I ruin this for them."
"I'm not going to try and tell you what to do but I think you should do what is best for you," Oliver told her. "It's your life. it's your choice."
"When you say it like that you make it sound so easy but it's not that simple for me," Linda said sadly.
"It could be." said Oliver. "look when you decide to make that choice. I'll be there for you. If you ever need anything I'm here."
Linda's chest warmed and she felt her feelings for him grow just that bit more, feeling even more connected to him then she had before.
"Hey, Ollie, Barry, and Iris are coming over to dinner and I thought we could go out to eat. You can even invite Linda since your always mentioning her."
It was the first thing his sister said to him when he walked through the door to their home.
"You're not going out tonight?" Oliver inquired in surprise.
Thea while she wasn't irresponsible, she still liked to go out to parties with her friends. Oliver didn't restrict her as long as she was being safe. No drinking and driving. And no drugs and she was always to let him know where she was and who she was going with just in case he needed to find her or if she just needed her big brother.
"No, I thought I spend the night hanging out with my brother and find out what exactly is going on with him and his pretty new friend," Thea responded a glint in her eye.
"There's nothing going on with me and Linda, Speedy," Oliver told her. "I've told you this more than once. When are you going to start believing me."
"RIght around the time you start believing it yourself." Thea responded. "because every time you say it, you get this look in your eye."
"What look?" asked Oliver defensively.
"Pining, Ollie," Thea said it like it should have been obvious.
"I do not make pining eyes when we talk about Linda," he stated.
Thea snorted. "You keep telling yourself that big brother."
Oliver rolled his eyes in response and walk past her, sitting on the couch.
Thea followed him. "So are you going to invite her?"
"No," Oliver was pretty sure even if he did invite her she wouldn't be able to go. Not with the tight leash Adrian kept on her in the evening.
"Why not?" Thea crossed her arms.
"It's complicated." he sighed.
Thea frowned, her look becoming sympathetic, she took a seat next to him on the couch. "I'm sorry and I hope one day it's not so complicated."
"Me too," he said, sending her a small smile. "But we can still go out with Barry and Iris tonight."
"Okay, cool." Thea smiled and Oliver returned it, reaching out and ruffling her brown hair, knowing it would annoy her.
"Ollie!" she smacked his hand away sending him an annoyed look and Oliver laughed.
Oliver was enjoying his night out with Thea, Barry, and Iris. They were at one of the higher scale restaurants. It was one of Thea's favorite places to go. They rarely went there since moving to Central city after their mother's passing.
But that changed when he caught sight of Linda with Adrian, they were seated with two older couples. From what Linda told him he assumed they were Adrian's parents and her own parents.
He found himself watching them. Watching her.
He watched as Mr. and Mrs. Chase and Mr. and Mrs. Parks laughed at something Adrian said and Linda forced a smile, her eyes downcast.
His stomach twisted in knots when Chase tugged her against him, his hand gripping her chin as he claimed her lips for his own.
Oliver's jaw clenched as jealousy simmered just beneath the surface. He wanted to be the one to claim her lips, he wanted to be the one she smiled and laughed with. He wanted to be the one she sought out. He wanted her. He wanted to be the one to show her she deserved more and that he could give her everything.
"Ollie, you okay?"
He turned to his sister seeing her looking at him in concern. "Yeah, I'm fine." he lied.
Thea frowned her eyes looking around until they landed on Linda. "Oh, Ollie," she said sympathetically. She hadn't known Linda was involved with someone else. She wouldn't have teased and pestered her brother if she had known.
"How is that friend of yours, Roy Harper?" he asked wanting to change the subject.
Thea blushed at the mention of Roy. "He's good." She left out the fact that she and Roy had been making out on occasion knowing how protective he could get.
Oliver nodded absentmindedly, his eyes following Linda as she excused herself from her table. He thought about approaching her but he didn't think she was aware he was there and furthermore Adrian wasn't far from her, having followed her to a secluded section of the restaurant
He watched as Adrian grabbed her arm roughly, jerking her around to face him, stepping into her space and looming over her.
Oliver clenched his fist seeing her shrink back in obvious fear as Adrian and she seemed to argue low whispers he couldn't pick up on.
God, he hated seeing the way Adrian treated her. He needed to get out of there preferably before he did something that would later come back to bite him in the ass.
"Let's go somewhere else." he stood up abruptly and walked out of the restaurant, the others followed behind him after leaving a tip, sharing confused glances at Oliver's strange behavior.
They barely made it to the parking lot before Oliver whirled back around. "Wait here. I'll be right back." He walked back inside the restaurant heading for the table where both Chase and Linda's parents were seated.
They looked up at his approach eyes curious but guarded.
"Can we help you, Mr. Queen?" asked Mr. Chase making it clear he remembered Oliver.
"You can't," Oliver focused in on Mr. and Mrs. Parks. "but you two can."
"I don't believe that we can," responded Mr. Parks. "Seeing as we don't know you."
"You don't need to know me. You just need to treat your daughter better. She's an amazing person and she doesn't need you tearing her down every chance you get. She certainly doesn't need you putting all your expectations on her."
"And just how do you know my daughter?" Mrs. Parks asked and Oliver could see the disdain in her gaze.
"I'm a friend," Oliver answered.
"Well, she needs to choose friends with more respect." Mrs. Park sneered. "I'm going asked you to leave before I have you removed from this establishment."
Oliver scoffed. "I'll treat you with respect when you have earned it. A little tip on how to do that is to let your daughter live her life and protect her from assholes who like to hit women."
He ignored the shocked looks on The Parks and The chases faces, he turned to look toward the bar, his eyes landing on Linda who was staring at him in surprise, her gaze full of unvoiced questions.
He smiled tightly ignoring Adrian's presence beside her, turning back to her parents. "She deserves better."
He turned to exit out of the restaurant, only stopping to look back at Linda to find her still watching him. He wanted to go to her and take her away from the awful people in her life. Instead, he forced a smile and nodded at her before turning back around leaving the restaurant and rejoining the others.
Linda pursed her lips as her parents ranted about Oliver.
He was rude. He was meddlesome. He was the worst person for her to be friends with. They wanted to know who the hell he thought was to approach him the way he did and telling them how they should treat their daughter.
It was safe to say they hated him along with Adrian's presence who claimed he was a criminal in the making and that it would only be a matter of time before he winded up in the same place as his father. Prison.
That had been the drawing point for Linda. Oliver was nothing like his father. "Enough. Oliver is not a bad person and he is nothing like his father. He's just trying to look out for me."
Chase's eyes narrowed. "I don't need anyone looking out for my girlfriend. Let alone, Queen." He grabbed her hand in his tightly and Linda fought off a wince. "I want you to stay away from him. He's bad news."
Linda stared at him. "Now you get a say on who I can and can't be friends with?"
He pulled on her hand, yanking her toward him roughly. "You see, that right there? That attitude? Backtalking that's all Queen's influence." he sneered, his other hand reached out cupping the side of her neck, the gesture look gentle but it wasn't, he pressed his thumb against her throat, sharply. A warning to her and she felt it as if he had his hand wrapped around her neck. "I won't have him turning you against me. Stay away from him."
Linda nodded, fear striking through her even as she doubted she would be able to do as he asked. She couldn't imagine staying away from Oliver no matter what the consequences may be.
She looked at her parents and Adrian's parents and they had pleased smiles on their faces with her agreement, not the least bit bothered by Adrian's treatment of her. It was like it was a natural part of a relationship to them.
Linda felt sick to her stomach, a dark weight weighing her down, making her feel less than what she was and she hated it.
Linda had managed to avoid Oliver for the next couple of days, skipping out on their regular lunch and avoiding places she knew he would be. She started getting her coffee at Starbucks instead of Jitters.
She was trying to put some distance between them. She didn't want to see him because when she did she would have to end their friendship or face Adrian's wrath if he found out otherwise.
But in the time she'd been avoiding him she really missed Oliver. She had come to look forward to and enjoy every second she spent with him.
When she met up with her friends at their local college hangout she immediately took in Oliver talking to Barry. She swore her heart jumped into her throat and this feeling she couldn't describe fluttered around in her stomach.
"Linda, hey, I was wondering when you were going to get here." Iris smiled.
Oliver's head turned at the sound of her name, his blue eyes focusing on her. His gaze so intense it was as if he was touching her skin. She swallowed, stepping forward hesitantly and taking the furthest seat from him.
She saw a look of hurt flicker across his face and she looked down in guilt.
As conversations between the group picked back up, she stayed quiet, avoiding looking at Oliver even though she could feel him looking at her.
"Where did you get that mark?" Caitlin asked and Linda looked up expecting to see her friend looking at her and her hand instinctively tugged at the sleeves of her shirt.
But no, Caitlin wasn't looking at her but at Oliver, glancing at the burn marks on his arms that was bared from the white short-sleeved shirt he wore.
Oliver glanced at his arm and then back at Caitlin. "My dad was an abusive bastard. I got in his way when he went after my mom and this was the consequence."
Barry was aware that Oliver had an abusive father growing up but the others including Iris were surprised.
"I didn't know that about your dad," Cisco said in surprise.
"It's not something my family's company PR wanted getting out." Oliver gave a sarcastic smile. "Nothing like the CEO beating on his wife and kids to bring company stocks down."
"That sucks," said Sara. "Sorry, your father is such a dick."
"It's fine." Oliver waved off. "I've put that part of my life behind me and moved on."
Felicity glanced at Linda her brow furrowing. It was no wonder Linda connected with Oliver so well with him having lived through a similar situation to her own.
Felicity liked Oliver for her friend. He seemed good for her and the best thing, he was nothing like Adrian. If only Linda wasn't with Adrian.
Still, she was here for her friend if she ever wanted to talk about it. Felicity hoped that the day would come when Linda refused to be pushed around by Adrian any longer and she put distance between herself and him or report him at least. Sara or Iris could help with that, both their fathers were detectives.
"Wow, I never would have guessed Robert Queen would hurt his son. I mean, I know he's in prison but I thought that was for embezzling money from his own company." Caitlin said with a frown.
"It was for both," Oliver gave a shrug of his shoulder. "The abuse was just kept quiet."
Caitlin looked at Linda. "That is usually the case when abuse is involved."
Linda looked away from her friends gaze. Neither Felicity nor Caitlin like that she kept her situation quiet but she didn't think they could truly understand because they've never been in her situation.
"I was thinking we should go to the movies or something this weekend as a way to wind down from everything," said Barry, effectively changing the subject.
"that sounds like a great idea." Iris intertwined her fingers with Barry's.
"We can do it Saturday. I can bring Thea." Oliver said, he looked at Linda. "She's been asking about you."
Linda looked at him in pleasant surprise. "She has?" she hadn't thought she left that much of an impression on Thea.
"Yeah, she really likes you," Oliver informed her, his lips pulling up into a small smile.
Linda's look softened, glad that Thea liked her.
"So you're going to be there on Saturday, right, Linda?" Iris asked her.
"Um," Linda looked away from Oliver to Iris. "I'm not sure."
She didn't know what Adrian's plans were but she knew she didn't want him around her friends, she wasn't even sure if Andrian would be okay with her going or if he had already made other plans for them for the weekend.
"Oh, C'mon, you have to go, we're all going to be there," Iris insisted.
"I'll try," said Linda. It wasn't a guarantee but it was the best she could do.
Linda could feel Oliver's eyes on her and chanced a look at him, his gaze still intense, she bit her lip and stood from her seat. "Excuse me a moment, I'll be right back."
Oliver watched Linda walked for the door, he hesitated only a moment. This was his chance to find out why she was suddenly avoiding him.
Linda turned when she heard the door open behind her only to see Oliver had followed her out.
"Are you alright?" he asked, stepping toward her.
"Yeah, why I wouldn't I be?" Linda responded avoiding his eyes, looking out toward the street.
"Because you've been skipping out on our lunches. I thought something might have happened to you. I thought Adrian did something." Oliver reached out, cupping her cheek gently, directing her gaze back to him.
Linda placed her hand over his and gently removed it. "Adrian, didn't do anything to me that's not par for the course, he's not the reason why I've been avoiding you." Okay, he was, however so were her parents.
"Than why have you?" Oliver asked, his brow pinching in confusion. "Is it me? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, it's not you. After the other night, my parents want me to stay away from you and so does Adrian." Linda told him.
"And you're just going to listen to them?" Oliver asked, disbelief clear in his voice. "They don't care about you. Not the way parents should and Adrian sure as hell doesn't."
"Their still my parents," Linda defended weakly.
"And I'm still your friend and I can promise you, I care about you a whole lot more than they do," Oliver responded, his hands reached out for hers, holding them in his. "You have to know that."
"I do." she looked down at their clasped hands. "Maybe that's the problem."
"What?" Oliver's brow pinched in confusion.
"There's this connection between us. I want to understand it, explore it but I can't take that risk. If Adrian ever found how close we've become, it wouldn't be pretty." Linda went to tug her hands-free but he tightened his grip.
"I would protect you," Oliver promised.
Linda felt warmth in her chest even as she smiled sadly. "I believe that but I have my parents to consider. I can't be selfish."
Oliver nodded slowly. "I don't believe that, you're parents don't deserve you and neither does Adrian, I'm not going to push because I want you to be able to make your own decisions about your life however I want you to know I will be waiting and if you need help all you have to do is ask."
Linda's eyes softened. "Thank you," she tugged her hands out of his and to Oliver's surprise, stepped into him, her arms coming around him in a hug. "I mean it, thank you for caring."
Oliver's arms came around her, wanting to shield her from every awful thing in her life that he could. "Always," he murmured into her hair, breathing her in.
He meant what he said. Linda may have not been able to truly accept the connection between them but it wasn't going anywhere.
As things were now nothing could come of the connection that tethered them together however like their connection he wasn't going anywhere.
He would be here waiting.
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