To Embrace
Disclaimer: I don't own Arrow.
Chapter 6: Girl Talk
A knock at her bedroom door pulled Thea away from the chemical equation she had been working on and she glanced over at Sin who was sitting on the floor in front of her coffee table with a history text open and a notebook in hand. "Come in!" she called to whoever was at the door. She was expecting Raisa who promised late night snacks and some coffee but the door swung open to reveal her mom instead.
Moira Queen looked every bit the half of a power couple she is in a pressed pant suit that fits her perfectly. "Oh, I didn't know you had a guest over." Her mom tried to appear warm and friendly but there is a weight to her gaze that Thea knew wouldn't go unnoticed by her friend. "A moment dear?" With the politely worded order, Moira disappeared from the doorway no doubt down the hall to her study.
"That's your mom?" Sin asked incredulously, but with a hint of awe in her voice. "She is positively terrifying. I think I want to be her when I grow up."
The youngest Queen sighed and threw a look at her friend who raised her hands in surrender. Their unlikely friendship came as a surprise even to Thea. At the beginning of the new semester she was stunned to recognize a very disgruntled Sin clomping down the hallway of her school.
The teenager was apparently there on some sort of scholarship and just about to quit because she couldn't stand being in a school of "prissy rich bitches". It was not her idea of a good time, not to mention her feelings on wearing a skirt. Sin, paranoid and distrustful didn't accept Thea's offer of friendship until she witnessed the youngest Queen give the verbal thrashing of a lifetime to several of her more irritating peers.
"I'll be right back." The other girl acknowledged the statement with a chuckle and Thea rolled her eyes. During the short trip to her mother's study she scrambled her brain trying to think of what her mother could possibly need to speak to her about, but was coming up with nothing. It was the beginning of February and after the festivities of New Years and Thea's birthday, there wasn't anything much on the social calendar.
Her mother was seated behind the desk that used to belong to Robert Queen and for a moment Thea remembered sneaking into his office while he was working and begging for some time with her too busy father. She shook the image of her dad's smiling face and the smell of his cigar from her mind and focused on her mom who appeared quite displeased.
"What's going on?"
"Did you think I wouldn't find out? How long were you going to wait to tell me?" Thea blinked at the questions not quite sure where her mom was asking about. Moira was impatient and didn't leave her daughter in the dark for long. "I received a phone call from a Mr. Stanbarry today." The light bulb clicked on and she winced. "When exactly were you going to tell me that you are going to graduate high school come June?"
"It isn't a big deal." As soon as the words left her mouth she knew they were a mistake.
Moira narrowed her eyes. "I find my youngest child finishing secondary school, a year early, a very big deal!" When Thea didn't give any more of a reaction the matriarch stood and came around the desk. "I just don't understand how this all happened. One minute I was worried you were going to go down the same path as-" Thea sucked in a sharp breath as her mother stopped abruptly, suddenly realizing what she was about to say. The older woman brought a hand to her mouth and shook her head. "This is such a good thing and I'm so proud of you. Why didn't you say anything?"
Thea wondered why as well. It was just so easy not to say anything. She didn't remember ever really sitting down and having a real conversation with her mom since she came back. Her birthday dinner was the closest thing and that was filled with idle chit chat that meant nothing. There was still bitterness and anger in her over all the secrets Moira kept.
What was even worse was she was beginning to understand her mother's perspective. Sure she knew it was for the best that she kept her time traveling and knowledge of future events a secret. But that wasn't why she kept Tommy in the dark about their shared DNA. It was simply easier to not say anything. She liked what they had now and didn't want it to change.
"I don't know why," she finally replied not wanting to look too hard at her reasons and find them lacking.
Her mother's disappointed eyes turned away and she walked to the lit fireplace. "You've changed so much. You're so quiet and focused." She paused before coming to the conclusion, "I don't know you at all anymore."
Thea's feet moved before her brain knew where she was going and her arms wrapped tightly around her mom. She could tell her mother was surprised by the embrace but returned it. It was a sad truth that she honestly couldn't remember the last time they hugged. "I know," she said still holding on tight. "I know I'm different and I'm sorry I've been so distant, I just needed to figure some things out on my own."
Moira pulled back with a soft laugh. "I think you figured them out all right." Her blue eyes shone with unshed tears and something in Thea cracks. "My baby's all grown up." They both let out a watery laugh at that. "So what's next college? Have you been applying?"
The brunette repressed a groan before answering, "I really have no idea where I want to go or what I want to do, so I was thinking Starling City University until I figure it out." She could tell this didn't exactly thrill her mom, but tough shit.
"And this summer? Do you have any plans?"
"Drugs, alcohol and lots of sex," Thea quipped with a smile.
"Ha ha," Moira responded with a look that said she was less than amused.
"Actually I was thinking about an internship and I've done some research on some ones available for recent high school graduates." It wasn't a lie. "The application deadlines are in late March so I still have plenty of time."
Her mom's face brightened at the news. "Well if you need anything…" Her voice trailed off as Thea's face turned sour. She didn't want her mother butting in on this. "Alright, alright I get it. So who was your friend I didn't recognize her?" she asked changing the subject.
"That's Sin."
One perfectly sculpted brow rose. "Sin? That cannot be the name her parents gave her."
Thea winced at her mother's superior tone and was glad the two weren't introduced earlier. "No, they named her Cindy, but now they're dead."
Moira had the decency to look somewhat ashamed. "I'm sorry dear."
The younger woman shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Sin goes to my school on a scholarship but to keep it she has to stay with her current foster family who aren't the best of people." She gave her mother a pointed look.
The blonde matriarch nodded, understanding her daughter's unspoken request. "I'll look into it."
"Quietly please," she requested. "She is very proud." The comment was not meant to be a criticism. Sin was proud and Thea was glad for it because with that pride came strength that she knew she could always rely on.
Moira jotted down what Thea knew about the situation before the two said good night. When the brunette finally closed the door behind her she let out a sigh of relief. Of all the ways that confrontation could have gone that was probably the best. It was a small but very critical step towards being open with her mom.
Her sudden good mood came crashing down when she stepped back into her room and saw Sin looking at her sketch book. She bit her tongue so she didn't snap at the invasion of privacy. The other teenager looked up and instantly flushed red dropping the book like a hot brick. "I'm so sorry, I just, you know art is my thing and I was just curious. I shouldn't have, I know I shouldn't have."
Thea swallowed any anger and shrugged. She crossed the room quickly and scooped the book up, hugging it to her chest "I, well, you're kind of an artist and these are just sketches." While she tried to look embarrassed she mentally ran down every drawing that was in the book. Drawing was a habit she picked up in Corto Maltese after kind of befriending a street artist.
"They're not bad ya know," Sin said trying to break the awkward silence that had settled. Thea raised an eyebrow at her. "I mean they're pretty good," she fumbled for words. "I like your heavy lines and the dramatic shadowing." The not seventeen year old couldn't recall any pieces that could reveal anything substantial so with some trepidation she handed the book back to the obviously curious Sin. "This one in particular is gorgeous." The excited art enthusiast flipped to a page that Thea knew well.
It was Oliver. She remembered the day that inspired the drawing well. She found him asleep on the window seat with a book on his chest, head leaning against the glass and his breath fogging up the cold surface. It was their last Christmas together. They had attempted to cook for all of their friends and while they didn't fail it had exhausted them both. It was his face that had struck her. The frown lines that were nearly permanent on even his blank face while awake were smoothed over in slumber. He looked peaceful.
"Is that your brother?" The question was quiet and respectful. After Thea nodded Sin did something completely unexpected. She set the book aside and gently wrapped her arms around the other girl. It took Thea by surprise. Sin was always a hugger but they had yet to cross that line in their newly developing friendship. She returned the embrace tightly.
When the two let go Thea quickly wiped at her eyes and turned away. "Milkshakes."
"What?"
"Milkshakes," she repeated while plopping down in front of her vanity. Her face wasn't in bad shape, but she touched up her eyeliner and dabbed on a bit of bright pink eye shadow for a little color. After deeming the job acceptable she walked into her closet with purpose.
"I like this color!" Sin called from her room. She followed up the comment with a snort. "Girl Talk? Dumb name."
"Dumb name aside it goes very well with my outfit," Thea said while stepping out from around her closet door.
Sin whistled low. "Oh girl, we are so doing more tonight than just milkshakes with you dressed like that."
Flat black ankle boots gave way to black leather pants that hugged her butt in a way she knew looked fantastic. A long sleeved silvery mesh shirt gave a peak at the flesh that wasn't covered by a black bralette underneath. "Want to borrow something from my closet?"
"Borrow," Sin snorted as she made her way into Thea's lair. "Please, you are never going to see whatever I pick out again. Oh my god, yassssss. I mean a lot of it isn't me but it isn't possible to not appreciate this much amazing."
Once Sin was dressed, keeping her own pants but taking a deep red three quarter length sleeve top with had a criss cross back, Thea led her down to the garage. "So, do you have anything lower profile than the Bentley, cause the places I wanna take you, we're gonna stick out like a soar thumb.
The youngest Queen smirked and turned to a cabinet that held some of her brother's old riding gear. She knew her brother kept a few smaller jackets in here when he wanted to take someone for a ride. Holding out one for Sin who looked a bit confused she just grinned and went further down the line of cars until arriving at their destination.
"Oh Queen, you are full of surprises." Before them was her brother's old bike, tuned up and ready for a night out thanks to the request Thea had put in for just an occasion such as this. "Can you really drive this?" Sin asked with a bit of trepidation in her voice. "I mean, you are ridiculously ripped, but this is…a beast of a machine."
"Yep, have a license and everything." It wasn't a lie. She forged her mother's signature on the papers and payed some hush money to a few DMV employees so they wouldn't go to the press about the Queen wild child.
Sin let a hand run down the sleek lines of the bike. "And here I thought I was going to be corrupting you."
Thea laughed and tossed her a helmet before grabbing her own. "We're going out the side door and pushing it down the drive a bit before starting her up." Once they accomplished that Thea swung her leg over and balanced the bike as Sin climbed on. The hum of the engine between her thighs made Thea itch for a night out with a quiver and bow strapped to her back.
She opened up the throttle once they were on the road into the city and heard Sin cry out in delight from behind her. The lights of Starling came into view as they wove their way around cars to their first destination of the night. They pulled over near the best burger shack in the Glades.
After the most satisfying milkshake of her new life Sin dragged her down a few blocks to a seedy looking bar. As soon as they entered and ditched their gear in a dark corner, Thea knew it was going to be one of her favorite places in the city. A beat that you could dance to pumped through the air and many patrons were taking full advantage. It was crowded, dark, slightly dirty and absolutely perfect.
"I'm gonna get us some drinks, cause I don't dance without a little alcohol in me," Sin told her, raising her voice to be heard over the music.
"Remember I'm driving!" Thea called after her.
"That's responsible, not drinking and driving," a voice she knew well said from behind her.
She turned to see Roy, standing there, looking hotter than anybody had a right to with a busted lip. Or perhaps she found him bruised and bloody attractive in a twisted way. Her paranoia kicked in for a second, wondering how he found her but then she remembered, technically she was on his turf. "Well, hello thief."
He chuckled, his smile pulling at his wounded lip. "The name is Roy."
She tilted her head and shrugged. "Great, totally unwanted information, but great." Her eye caught Sin trying to make her back through the dancers and she stepped towards her direction. A hand landed on her arm to stop her.
She looked back at her once upon a time lover and simply raised an eyebrow with a glance at his offending appendage. "I think I illustrated why that so isn't a good idea."
"I need your help." There was a pleading tone in his voice that reminded her of times long past and it made her pause.
"Yo, hands off my girl Abercrombie." Sin's glare was fierce and she looked like she was about to throw down the drinks she just bought so her fist could acquaint itself with Roy's face. Thea wanted to laugh at the change in the way the three of them came together, but all that matters was that they did.
The boy who was her first love dropped her arm and took a step back. "Sin, this is Roy, he stole my laptop about a month ago, or should I say tried to steal it."
Sin handed off her drink. "Huh, and why is he bothering you now?"
Roy's cheeks flushed and he looked ready to flee. "He wants my help, probably with whoever decided to ruin his pretty face." She heard Sin mumble they didn't ruin anything under her breath and Thea chuckled. Roy opened his mouth to speak but she didn't let him. "Chen's Garden on 7th and Williamson tomorrow at one." She tipped her drink back and downed the whole thing.
Sin made a shooing motion at him. "That's a dismissal pretty boy." Roy left after a dramatic eye roll that made Thea nostalgic. "Come on Queen, you've been work work work and no play for too long."
The two girls dropped their empty cups off at a table and let themselves get lost in the small sea of bodies, keeping their hands entwined so as to not lose each other. All the worry and stress that was wrapped up in her muscles began to melt as the beat thudded through her chest. The need to do well, to push her body to its limit, to be a teenager when she just wasn't one and to not fall apart from the grief that still made her chest tight left her mind as her body moved. This release was what she'd been missing.
They danced till the early hours of the morning and by the time Thea came home her voice was gone and her thighs were stiff. They snuck into the manor as quietly as possible and kicked off their shoes before collapsing into her bed.
Sin rolled over next to her and Thea could see the grin she was sporting in the wintry morning light. "That was so much fucking fun."
"We totally need to make that a habit," Thea agreed. "Hey Sin."
"Hhhmmm?" Sin hummed, her eyes shut.
"Thanks for being my friend."
"Right back at you Queen."
A/N: So Sin's here! No they are not going to be a couple. …Or will they? I honestly don't know. One of my favorite points of season 2 was Sara's completely unquestioned sexuality and I kind of crushed hard on Sin.
This is officially the end of my rapid chapter updates. Sorry, but I cannot keep up the pace so I'm hoping to go for a chapter every week from now on.
Thank you to everyone who has been reviewing. Hope to hear some more. Let me know what you guys think of Sin and my attempt at Moira.
