So staying up too late after episodes of Arrow seems to be something of a bad habit for me. But I really like this one-shot and I hope you will too. I just had too much unresolved...stuff after this episode. I thought the Olicity was brilliant (and I didn't feel the need to change anything about that). I'll warn that if you're a Laurel fan this one might not be for you. I don't outright bash her but I certainly undo some of the BS that was showcased in the episode (She knows him better than herself, she knows him in her very bones? Yeah effing right). Anyways I hope you all enjoy this. Any mistakes are because it's simply too late to edit as thoroughly as I normally would.
Enjoy! And as always I own nothing.
Laurel had kissed him.
Laurel had kissed him. And then his whole world had crumbled.
He had been fully willing to sacrifice himself to Slade. He had been willing to do just about anything to end this war before anyone else suffered. He had literally been waiting to die as he stood on the pier that started it all.
He should have known that Diggle and Felicity would never allow that to happen. He should not have been surprised when they found his second lair, the place he'd kept hidden from them. He should not have been surprised that they'd been willing to fight him for his soul.
And he shouldn't have been surprised that Felicity's words would cause him to stumble in his singular purpose. For the tiniest of moments he had felt hope flutter in the black hole that had once been his heart. As he had looked into her earnest blue eyes, he had believed her.
Her words and her close proximity caused him to feel warm for the first time since Slade had killed his mother. He had allowed himself to revel in it, to strengthen himself and bask in her light.
But the very thing that had caused him to pause was the reason that he walked away from them. Felicity who filled him with strength and love and sunlight, who would take anything Slade could dish out if only to save Oliver anymore pain. Felicity was his reason for walking to his death.
Without Felicity Smoak, there was no sunshine, no happiness and no respite. Without the blonde genius, there was no hope, no joy and no reason.
He fought a war within himself as her fingers slipped from his. He wanted to pull her into his arms and drown himself in her embrace. He wanted her to take all of the pain and banish his darkness.
As he slowly limped away from his team, and from his heart, he turned his back on the comfort that only she could give him. He chose to secure her future instead.
No one would die in his place.
The darts had of course been her idea, even if Dig had been the one to aim them. Waking up in the lair had been a surprise.
Laurel's presence had filled him with displeasure. He had known that she knew his secret for weeks and he simply hadn't cared enough to mention it to her. Laurel Lance was the ideal that he leant upon during his time on Lian Yu. It had taken him mere weeks after his return to find someone else, someone real to hope in. Felicity had become the beacon that he looked to whenever the darkness closed in around him.
Her dismissal of his team had irked him. Dig and Felicity had been too polite to say anything. It was clear that both of them were hoping she'd be able to get through to him, to save him.
The ridiculousness of the situation caused a bemused chuckle to catch itself in his throat. If Felicity's pleas had done little to deter him, then why the hell would they think that Laurel could change his mind? Dig, his brother, his best friend. Felicity, his conscience, his friend, his world.
Restlessness took hold as he listened to Laurel rant on and on about how she knew him better than she knew herself. She promised that she knew him in her bones.
But that wasn't true. Laurel had never known him. If she had known him, she'd have known he wouldn't commit to her enough to move in together. She would have known that he was a cheating bastard after the first and second time she caught him with someone else. She wouldn't have pressured him to be the man his father wanted him to be.
She wouldn't have asked him to be different when he came back but lash out when he wasn't familiar. She would have known immediately that he was the Arrow. She wouldn't have chosen him over Tommy for even a single night, not if she'd known him.
Laurel didn't know the first thing about him, she never had and she never would.
He had been prepared to walk away from her. He was already inventorying the lair and where everything he would need was.
The words 'Slade Wilson' and 'Sebastian Blood' were the only thing that kept him there.
He didn't miss the soft look of dejection that crossed Felicity's face ever so quickly when she realised that Laurel had done what she could not; she had gotten through to him and given him a reason to fight. Despite his injuries and his heartache, the urge to comfort her took over. He tangled his fingers through hers as the four of them talked over the plan. He ignored Laurel's narrowed eyes and Dig's smirk of amusement. His lips twitched as Felicity relaxed and smiled at the floor. She squeezed his hand in acknowledgment.
"But not them?" Laurel shouted at their backs.
The team turned in sync and stared at her. She wasn't wrong. He knew that both Dig and Felicity were in danger. He knew that once they split up he may never see them again.
But he also knew that Laurel had gotten one thing right. This was bigger than him and Slade. Handing himself over to Slade would not stop an army of super soldiers from attacking the city. Felicity and Dig would be in danger now, regardless of their relationship to him.
He would be lying if he said that he didn't want to put both of them on a plane or hide them in the most secure, most secret safe house in the world. But he owed both of them more than that. Felicity insisted that he was a hero. But so was she, and so was Dig. There was no Arrow without the two of them. Arrow was not one man, but two men and the incredible woman behind them. Their team had expanded since the beginning but in the end it came down to the three of them. With or without Roy and Sara, the three of them were Team Arrow.
And he wouldn't take away their right to fight for the city. He would grit his teeth and pray that they made it through this.
He didn't value their lives less than Laurel's. He simply trusted them more and loved them both too much to dictate their involvement anymore.
"This started with the three of us. It's time we got back to that." His words were simple, but carefully chosen.
He didn't know if there would be a Team Arrow after tonight. But he'd made a lot of bad decisions lately and he'd hurt the two people behind him with each and every one of those decisions.
His words were a promise. If they made it through this battle, if they won the war, it would be the three of them against the world. No complicated ex-girlfriends, no Mirakuru-ragings teenagers brought into the fold without their knowledge. They were a team.
He appreciated Laurel's support and her information, but the lack of secrets between the two of them now changed nothing. She would not be hanging out in the lair or training with himself and Diggle. She wouldn't be hovering over Felicity's shoulder or kicking ass in the field.
He turned his back and his team followed him out of the lair.
In hindsight he should have known that Laurel absolutely wouldn't listen to his words. He should have known that she would follow them.
He could even admit that her timing had been pretty good as he wasn't exactly in a position to complain about being saved.
But he was already impaired and limited by his leg injury and had it really been necessary for her to wear heels to take down an evil army of super soldiers?
And so they found themselves trapped. Trapped underground as he waited for Dig and Felicity to blow up the block. His only option had been to cut the two of them off from some of the devastation by creating a blast of his own.
He could hear Felicity's concern as he shoved at the large chunks of debris covering his injured leg. The sounds of Dig fighting Isabel were unwelcome.
"Somebody, help!" Laurel screamed and he hushed her with a muttered curse.
There were two dozen super-strengthened criminals within shouting distance. They did not need any help finding them.
"Oliver?" Felicity's voice pitched in fear and he realised he hadn't spoken since the explosion.
"We're okay. Just digging ourselves out."
He heard a low exhale on her side of the comms. "The cure is ready, Oliver. It's ready!"
He blinked.
"Oliver?"
A laugh bubbled within his chest and escaped on a cough. She had told him not to give up. She'd promised him that there was another way. One of these damn days he'd stop doubting her.
"They're multiplying it right now. We will have enough of it by the end of the night." Her words escaped in an excited rush and he could almost feel the curve of her lips as they tipped into a wide smile.
"Keep me updated."
He spent the next several minutes extricating himself and then Laurel from the rubble. He helped her scramble up the side of the debris and followed her up onto the street. His eyes widened in horror as he watched Slade's army march away from them and towards the Glades.
"Dear God." Laurel whispered.
Oliver's teeth clenched against the pain as he ran with Laurel stumbling along behind him. Felicity was mumbling directions in his ear, leading him to where Dig was fighting Isabel.
"Laurel, stay here!" He growled over his shoulder.
She ignored him and his jaw cracked under the strain.
They raced around the corner and Oliver threw himself into the fight. Both he and Dig were injured but even with her added strength, Isabel was no match for the two of them. After several tense moments she threw Dig to the ground and turned towards Oliver once more. They traded blows as John recovered quickly.
"You're a real bitch, you know that?" Dig quipped from the ground and Isabel spun to face him, hissing. "Survive this time."
Her eyes widened and she shrieked her fury as Dig raised his gun. He emptied the clip into her forehead and her body dropped. Oliver stepped forwards and yanked her onto her back. He shook his head for a moment before twisting her neck until it snapped, just in case.
"Do you have to be so, thorough?" Laurel asked in disgust.
Oliver helped Dig to his feet. "If I had time I'd burn the body and scatter the damn ashes, Laurel."
Oliver watched as Dig drove off in the boosted car. They needed to make sure that Lance was safe and able to help. Phone calls from Laurel had gone unanswered and Oliver knew that Slade had likely covered his bases.
He sat on the hood of a wrecked car as he waited for the cortisol to kick in. His knee was wrecked and he knew that he needed a minute to rest it.
Laurel was mumbling but he didn't have the energy to listen. He preferred the mumbling of the blonde who spent most evenings in his ear. Her mumbling tended to be more funny, cute and unintentionally sexual. Laurel's shoulders were hunched and her eyes were narrowed, neither improved his interest in paying attention.
"I'm sorry that I hunted you." She blurted suddenly, spinning to face him.
Oliver sighed and ran a hand over his hair. "Don't worry about it."
It wasn't that simple, he knew that. She had been so desperate to blame someone for Tommy's death that she had fixated on him. And yes, it hadn't been fair that she'd targeted the man who'd spent more time than necessary saving her life.
"It's ridiculous!" Felicity snapped, her eyebrows furrowing as she paced around the foundry. "You save her life all the God-damned time and now she's helping them hunt you down? You were like her freaking errand boy! Jesus, she's like the worst at saying thank you, isn't she?" She trailed off and he would swear he heard the words 'stupid' and 'gorgeous Laurel'.
His lips twitched at the memory.
"No, it's not fair. I just. I was always drawn to you and now I know why." Her eyes had lightened and discomfort flushed through him.
"Laurel, I-"
"No! Let me finish. I should have known. It was all right there." She paused and bit her lip. "Sara's gone, isn't she?"
His gaze dropped and he nodded. His relationship with her sister had been imperfect and strained from the beginning. But that didn't make her decision to leave any easier. She hadn't contacted him in any way since Moira's death and there was no way that she was unaware of it.
"I don't want to talk about Sara, Laurel." His gaze rose to meet hers just as she stepped to stand between his legs. His eyebrows shot up when he noticed her proximity but before he could speak, her lips were on his.
He had wondered several times what it would be like for Laurel to accept him, to choose him knowing who he really was. But even now, as she kissed him, he knew that wasn't really what this was.
Because Laurel didn't know him. She knew that he wore a mask and was pretty skilled at archery. She knew some of his bigger secrets. But she didn't know him.
And as her lips caressed his closed mouth, he realised that he didn't want this, he didn't want her. He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and pushed her back two steps.
Her face twisted in surprise and then hurt. "But, Ollie, I-"
"I'm sorry, Laurel." He shook his head and looked away.
He didn't have time to do this right now. And he wasn't entirely sure how to have this conversation anyways. He couldn't say that he loved her sister. He did, but not in a way that would prohibit him from rekindling things with Laurel. He couldn't say that he hadn't wished for this to happen again someday.
And he certainly couldn't tell her that at the end of the day, there was only one person he wanted to be with. Not when the other person was currently on the other side of the comm unit. And who had probably heard every moment of that exchange.
Shit.
"Felicity?" He called, voice unsteady.
Laurel's eyes snapped to meet his own with sharp focus and he realised that perhaps they didn't need to have a conversation after all. With just one word he'd communicated everything that needed to be said.
"Felicity?" He repeated after several long moments of silence.
His brows furrowed in concern. "Dig?"
"Yeah, man. I'm at the station. Lance is alright."
Oliver felt tendrils of fear begin to curl within his bloodstream. The comms were working. She wouldn't remain silent just because Laurel had kissed him. She wouldn't do that. She had only ever responded maturely and with class whenever he'd thrown other women in her face.
Something was wrong. He jumped to his feet when his cell phone rang. His thumb swiped at the screen without looking as he tested his weight on his knee.
"Mr. Diggle?" A young woman questioned nervously.
Oliver frowned and glanced at the screen. The call was from S.T.A.R Labs.
"Yes, this is John Diggle." He ignored Dig's question in his other ear.
"The serum is ready for pickup. We've been trying to get a hold of Felicity for a while. She gave me this number, just in case."
Oliver's jaw went slack as he took in the woman's words. "I'll be by right away to pick it up, Thanks."
"Dig! Something's wrong. Get to S.T.A.R labs and pick up that serum. I have to find her."
Oliver pushed past Laurel, ignoring her questions and sprinted on protesting knee through the night.
He crashed against the side of the van with an almighty bang, his knee unable to fully slow his momentum. He closed his eyes and prayed. The lack of a reaction from inside the van told him everything he needed to know. He exhaled slowly to fight his rising panic before opening his eyes and moving to the side door. He reached out and pulled the door open and was greeted by the sight of small blood spatters and a single piece of paper. His eyes blurred as he reached forward and picked up the letter, written on the stationary from his very own desk; stationary that she had bought for him.
"Oliver! You're the CEO now! You need stationary! You can't write official notes on a dollar store notepad!" She chided with a grin, handing him a box of personalise stationary.
He thought that his name is Arrow green ink was a particularly nice touch.
His hands shook as he read the letter.
I told you one more person would die. Did you think I was kidding? Did you really think that I meant you, Kid? You should have prepared for this. Ms. Rochev was hardly subtle in her disdain for your relationship, after all. Did you really think she wouldn't tell me?
Come and get her, Kid. If you can find her.
Oliver fought against the bile that was quickly rising up his throat. She needed him to find her, to fight for her. She needed him.
"Oliver?" Laurel's voice startled him and he spun on his heel to face her.
Laurel had kissed him.
Laurel had kissed him and Slade had taken Felicity.
Laurel had kissed him and his whole world had crumbled.
The pain of this knowledge tore through him and he turned from her and let the sickness take him.
Oliver sat in the doorway of the van and tried to focus. His vision had ceased to tunnel as his stomach had finally stopped heaving. Laurel wasn't looking at him as she spoke hurriedly into his phone. Diggle was chattering in his ear, letting him know that he'd picked up the cure and that he was headed back. Oliver closed his eyes and listened to the words as he fought to think where Slade would have taken her. A car swerved into the parking lot and Oliver was on his feet with an arrow notched before Laurel could blink. He watched through narrowed eyes as Lance jumped from his car and ran towards them. He threw his arms around Laurel and hugged her tightly before moving to speak with him.
"There was a super-powered goon in the precinct." He explained as Laurel worried over his facial wounds. "Doesn't matter. Your man told me that Felicity is missing. What's the plan, Queen?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow but lowered the hood even as Laurel gasped. "But-" she shook her head. "You said you didn't know! That you didn't want to know!" She accused.
"How long have you known?" Oliver asked quietly.
Lance shrugged. "I've always suspected. Too many coincidences. But then I realised there were too many people in common. Laurel, Sara and of course, Felicity. But then your bodyguard showed up to check on me and then I knew for sure." He shook his head. "None of this matters. Slade has her, doesn't he?"
Oliver's fists clenched as he fought to exhale the breath trapped in his chest. The knowing look on Lance's face soothed him as he took one breath and then another. "I should have known. She was quiet for too long. She doesn't do that. She always-"
Lance chuckled and held up a hand. "I'm aware, kid." Oliver's eye twitched at the nickname, and the lack of malice behind its delivery. "I've been on the receiving end of her rambling more than once." The smile slipped from his lips. "She's one of a kind and we're gonna find her."
Laurel's head swivelled between the two of them. "There's a lot going on, Dad. She's not the only one who needs saving."
Her words weren't meant to be cruel but they elicited a flinch from both men nonetheless.
"You're right. We have a bunch of steroid freaks running around ripping the City apart. We'll fight. Mr. Diggle is picking up the cure for the mirakuru right now. And Felicity, genius that she is, asked her friends to encase the serum in bullet casings. Meaning that I can hand out the cure to the police force." The pride was clear in his tone and a noise of pain ripped its way through Oliver's teeth.
Lance stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "We've got the super soldiers, Kid. Go get your girl."
Laurel seemed intent on arguing. But Lance, with Felicity's help, had everything under control. And even so, there was never any choice to make.
There was never a choice to make.
And like that, he knew where Slade had taken her.
The scene was much the same, even despite the differences. He was no longer CEO. He shouldn't have access to the private elevator or to his former office. But the security team was missing, and he could only hope that they were still alive. He didn't bother to raise his hood in the elevator or find a quieter way to approach the top floor.
He walked slowly through the offices, making no effort to hide himself. He watched as Slade ran his fingers through her hair but she refused to acknowledge the movements. She stared stonily ahead, ignoring the touch and the words that flowed from Slade's mouth. There was blood along her hairline and her nose and lip were cut, but she seemed okay. He stood in the doorway and waited for Slade to lift his head and acknowledge him.
"Recognize this, Kid?" Slade taunted.
Oliver ignored him and his eyes found Felicity's instead. There was nothing but belief and trust in her eyes. She wouldn't beg him to save her life, but she wouldn't ask him not to fight this time either. The fact that she was Slade's final target was not lost on her.
"This right here was the moment when I knew how I would destroy you. This was the moment where I found your weakness." Slade chuckled as he rested the blade of his sword on Felicity's shoulder. "The Hood became the Arrow, taking up a vow of non-fatal violence. He was a hero. And then some pesky little drug dealer threatened Miss Smoak and he got three arrows to the chest, pushing him out the window to fall fifty stories to his death."
Oliver remained silent. He knew the story. He'd lived it. He didn't regret killing the Count. He had lost exactly zero sleep over his death. He didn't feel the need to apologize to Tommy either. Because if Tommy had known Felicity, if he had spent even an hour with her, he'd have killed the Count too.
"You've only killed in self-defence since, I've noticed." Slade continued. "Are you willing to kill for her again, Kid?"
Felicity's eyes were wet as he stared at her. "I'd do anything for her, Slade. You already know that, or you would have picked Laurel or Sara." Felicity smiled tearfully at him and nodded slightly. He raised his gaze to look at his former friend. "But I don't want to kill you."
Slade laughed. "Even after I killed your mother?"
Oliver's jaw snapped shut and his eyes narrowed.
"Even after I kill her?" Slade wondered with another dark chuckle.
"The Slade Wilson I knew had courage and honour. Killing bound women is cowardly and sick. You're not a man, you're a monster." Oliver retorted with vitriol.
Slade's eye gleamed with dark amusement. "You want to go a few rounds before I make you watch her death? Fine with me, Kid."
The fight was different. Slade didn't fight with guns, Oliver doubted that he'd really used one since Shado's death. Instead Oliver found himself dodging knives and darting away from Slade. Slade hunted him throughout the executive floor and Oliver finally found his advantage. He may have been a shitty CEO but he was very good at sneaking away for Arrow business unseen.
He slipped back into his old office silently and moved towards Felicity in a crouch. He quickly unbound her hands and dropped a syringe in her lap. She covered it with her elbow as he covered her wrists once more with the broken bindings. He stared into her beautiful blue eyes and willed her to understand. She nodded once with a small smile and he pressed his lips against her forehead before he moved away from her. He snuck back out of the room and stepped onto a patch of broken glass. He stepped more firmly on it, knowing that Slade would hear the movement and ultimately follow him back to Felicity.
He moved back towards the room as Slade came barrelling down the hallway. Oliver sidestepped him back into the office. And Felicity called out a warning. Oliver allowed the blow to his cheek that threw his body backwards, away from Felicity. Slade cackled with malice before turning from him and heading back towards Felicity. Oliver jumped to his feet and loaded his bow as Slade held his sword to Felicity's throat.
"Do you think you can beat me, Kid? You think you can hit me before I kill her?"
Oliver growled. "The Count took three to the chest before the syringe hit her throat. And I was unarmed." He reminded him.
Slade raised an eyebrow and Oliver slowly lowered his bow. Slade hooked his elbow around her throat so that the hilt was on one side of her neck and the blade was on the other. Oliver nodded once, his eyes never leaving Slade. The needle was over her left shoulder and buried in Slade's chest before he realised that she was no longer bound. Slade choked as the serum rushed from his heart through his veins.
A bellow of rage ripped through the room but Oliver loosed an arrow before Slade could slice open her throat. The first arrow buried itself in Slade's right shoulder and the second inches above the first. The severed nerves in his arm caused Slade to drop the sword in Felicity's lap. She jumped up as he staggered backwards and ran towards Oliver with the sword in her shaking hand.
Blood pooled beneath Slade's eyes as his body shook furiously. "Aren't you going to use that third arrow, Kid?" He mocked through his pained gasps.
Oliver and Felicity watched as Slade dropped to the floor. He writhed around in agony for several moments before stilling almost completely.
"Oliver?" Slade panted, his voice tired and fearful. "Kid?"
A sob escaped from Felicity's lips and she covered her mouth with one hand and his arm with another. She placed gentle pressure on his bicep until he lowered his bow and dropped the arrow back in the quiver.
"Oliver?"
Tears were falling steadily down her cheeks as she pushed him towards the dying man at their feet. He felt his knees give out as he saw his friend staring up at him brokenly. Felicity's hands were on his shoulders as he covered one of Slade's hands with his own.
"Kid, you've got to stop them." Slade coughed and blood covered his lips. "I made an army. They're strong like me. I didn't know. I'm sorry, Kid."
Oliver shook his head and felt tears of his own begin to fall. "It wasn't you."
"Shado followed me, everywhere. Said you had to pay." Slade's fast twisted in pain. "But she wouldn't want that. Your mom, I'm sorry."
Felicity's hands tightened on his shoulders and he leaned into her touch.
"I should have given you the cure back then. I should have saved you." Oliver admitted.
"I'm dying, Kid. And you didn't even hurt me this time. I should have died on that island. With her." Tears pooled in Slade's eye and he gasped in pain. "Will you take me there? Bury me with her?"
Oliver choked on a sob and fought for words.
"Of course." Felicity promised, dropping to her knees beside Oliver. She reached forwards and place a hand over Slade's heart, rivers of tears flowing freely.
"You cry for me, I would have killed you." Slade's words were tender even as he struggled to force them out of his broken body.
"You kept Oliver alive on that island. There are a lot of people who owe you for that, Mr. Wilson. And we'll take care of the city." Felicity leaned against Oliver's side. "We'll take you back to the island."
Slade coughed and the blood sprayed upwards before settling all over his face. Oliver's shoulders shook as he prepared to lose his friend for a third time. He couldn't find a trace of hate for the man lying in front of him. This wasn't the man who'd killed his mother.
"I forgive you, Slade." He whispered finally. He and Slade shared a smile full of brotherhood. And then he was gone.
A sob broke free as he watched Felicity lean forward and brush Slade's eyelids closed. The dead man's lips were still lifted in a hopeful smile. Finally, he knew peace.
Oliver leaned heavily against Felicity as they stumbled into her condo. She dropped her keys in the dish and closed the door before leading him to her bedroom. He watched tiredly as she removed his clothes and tended to his various wounds. She stood patiently as he cleaned off the small cuts on her face from her initial struggle with Slade. He allowed her to carefully push him back onto her bed and sighed as her fluffy blankets covered him. He faded in and out of consciousness as she got ready for bed in the bathroom.
He roused as she climbed into bed next to him and placed an ice-pack on his knee. He hissed at the cold but quieted as she settled her head against his chest. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and she sighed contentedly into his neck.
Nothing had changed. Not really. There had been no conversation. No declarations or Facebook updates, although that kind of move was really more her than him.
But everything had changed. Sleeping in her bed, curled around each other should be strange. It should be unfamiliar, but it simply wasn't.
In the morning there would be fires to put out. They had defeated Slade, Isabel and Sebastian. They had taken down the super soldiers. And in the process they had learned that a cure also meant death. Because to accept the mirakuru, the body had to die first. And there was no undoing death. So Roy would need their help and their support to make it through this. There would be no miracle cure for him. Thea would need help moving on from all of this. Oliver needed to grieve. Reacquiring QC would need to happen and Oliver would need to allow his knee to heal. And they had a promise to keep, a body to bury on an island far away.
But tonight, Oliver had seen his friend again. He'd helped to save the city. And he'd gotten the girl.
Felicity mumbled his name against his bare skin. A smile crossed his lips and he dropped a kiss to her blond curls.
Against all odds they had won. Just like she had known they would. Slade had promised to take everything from him, and his mother's loss would remain an unhealed bruise on his heart. But Slade had also given him his heart.
Felicity had been his heart for a long time now. Having her curled across his chest felt right. It felt like coming home.
Well I hope you enjoyed it. I just...wish that Slade could be redeemed you know? I mean he killed Moira so I'm fairly sure that's not an option anymore. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know. Thanks!