Disclaimer: I don't own anything Arrow or Batman related
Chapter 2
Her plane landed three hours after Alex woke up from her nap. She packed away her tablet and slowly walked from first class to the passenger shoots. She sighed when she stepped into the busy airport. This was too familiar for her tastes. She hurried to get her bags and moved to search for her driver. She spotted James holding a cardboard poster with her name on it and smiled as she approached the coloured man. When Alex had been old enough to start working on her party girl image, her father had found her a trusting man to escort and drive her around while she was in Starling, since she mostly only really partied with Oliver and Tommy. James had been her chauffeur ever since. She reached the man, "Good evening, Miss Alex." He greeted with a slight bow. Alex smiled,
"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need a board with my name on? I can recognize you without it." She said fondly. James' lips twitched,
"You know how we are, always sticking to the books." He said as he inclined his head to the various other drivers standing with their own card boards. Alex laughed, it was sweet and made the corners of her eyes crinkle, it was a laugh Alex didn't expect on a day like today. The man smiled and led her outside to the black Mercedes. The interior was designed with two seats facing each other in the back, a window that stretched behind the driver, which could be opened and closed with the push of a button, and dark tinted windows. Alex settled down into the leather and waited as James stuck her bags into the trunk. When he climbed into the driver seat and looked over his shoulder asking her where she wanted to head first, Alex paused and looked out the window in thought,
"Take me to the Merlyn's Mansion." James nodded and the Mercedes turned into airport traffic.
When the car pulled into the driveway, Alex stepped out of it and walked up to knock on the door. She was beyond surprised when Tommy's father answered the door. She blinked, "Mr Merlyn?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. Alex had only met the man a handful of times since the CEO of Merlyn Global was never really at home when she was hanging out with Tommy. Malcolm smiled,
"Alex? What a pleasant surprise, I didn't know you were in town." He said smiling warmly at her. Alex resisted the urge to narrow her eyes in suspicion. Something about Tommy's dad had always been off since the first day she had met him. Alex couldn't put her finger on it, but a certain darkness surrounded the eldest Merlyn. "I'm looking for Tommy. Is he home?" Something minor changed in the man's expression and if Alex wasn't as well trained as she was, she wouldn't have caught the disdain in his features.
"He's at the Bar." Malcolm said with a hint of distaste. Alex frowned, she knew where he was. When they were growing up and learning all the best stops and clubs in town, Alex, Oliver and Tommy had found a small Bar on the edge of the Glades and when the trio of friends weren't in the mood for the outrageous music and exuberant club parties (but wanted to get drunk anyway) they headed to Macy's. Alex's disappointment was mostly aimed at Malcolm though: they both knew today was the anniversary of Oliver's death and they both knew it was in Tommy's nature to drink himself into a stupor. Alex had always been thankful for her father, he might have been cold at times, but at least he didn't leave her when she needed him, unlike Malcolm Merlyn. Ever since Tommy's mom had died, Malcolm had basically shoved his son to the side and made him a second priority. Alex had always thought the man never really seemed to care unless it came to his son's image, so of course Tommy would be harassing cops just to piss off his father.
Alex faked a smile, "Thank you, Mr Merlyn," She paused and stopped the door before Malcolm could shut it, "I think Tommy will be spending the night with me." She said, her voice left no room for argument. Alex could see the man was resisting a disapproving scowl, but greeted her politely and left her to do what she wanted too. Alex scowled the second she turned away from Malcolm and started heading back to the car. She could see right past his charade and she hated the man for letting Tommy even leaving the house. She slams the door when she's inside the car. James sends her a disapproving look, but Alex doesn't care. Tommy was always the reckless drunk, getting into trouble and fights, without her or Oliver in the past, he would've been dead ten times over.
"Macy's Bar." She orders. The disapproving look is still there when James drops her off outside the Bar.
"Please stay close, I won't be long." She turns to walk away, but a thought comes to her and she stops and turns back to the driver, "Wait, Can you do me a favour and stop by the liquor store, buy me a bottle of Vodka and then stay close?" James grunts as Alex hands him a hundred dollar bill before driving off. She rolled her eyes, she would apologize to him later: she had a Merlyn to yell at.
She ducks just in time when Tommy throws his beer bottle at her. She mentally made a note to thank her father every day for the rest of her life. She holds her hand up to the two very big men in the corner who looked like they wanted to interfere, but Alex knew she had to face the consequences for leaving Tommy alone. "Don't worry fellas, I'll call when I need your help." She said to the two men, they only wanted to help. They both shared a look before nodding and sitting down again, both watching the scene with perceptive eyes. Alex turned her attention back to Tommy. He looked horrible with his hair sticking up in every direction, a stain of alcohol was on his wrinkled shirt, sweat stains marked his underarms, his face was unshaven and Alex hated the sight of the lit cigarette hanging between his teeth. This was Tommy Merlyn in his depression stage. Alex swallowed, she didn't want to know how bad it was after the funeral.
"Tommy it's me. Alex." Tommy scowled and picked up another random glass that he had been drinking from earlier. He threw it at her again, Alex spun out of the way and the shot glass shattered against the wall. She had to admit she was impressed that he had such good aim in his drunken state,
"I know who you are." He snarled, "You shouldn't have come back. You should've stayed away in your pretty little house with your pretty little family and your pretty little butler, I don't want you here!" He yelled and reached for another bottle, the cigarette had fallen in the middle of his outburst. Alex winced, when growing up they all had parents that did one little thing wrong and made them feel like second rate, even if it wasn't done on purpose. Oliver's problem was the freedom he had, he was never disciplined in the house he lived in and he sought attention from his busy father by causing mayhem. Tommy's father left him for two years and when he came back, the relationship wasn't the same. He had no one else except the Queen family and Alex, when she came to visit. Alex had the better family life out of the trio, her father might have been a little distant and cold, but because of her life as Tigra, Dick's life as Robin and Bruce being Batman, the Wayne's had developed a relationship that few had. Alex had always thought that just as much as she needed Tommy and Oliver, they needed her. Alex ducked yet again when the second beer bottle was thrown at her,
"Tommy, I know I've been a bitch and I'm sorry, but I'm here to fix things." She said as she took a step forward. Tommy's eyes were wild as he stared at her and Alex knew he had probably been here since the bar opened.
"I don't need your help! And I don't except your apology! Never picking up, never calling back, not even a fucking text. You call yourself a friend, I call you a traitor!" He yelled and reached for another glass, but it was closer to Alex then him, she lunged for the wine glass and held it above her head, tears stung her eyes at his hurtful words, but she was expecting this if she found him drunk,
"I know, I know I'm a horrible person. I was a coward, I locked anything related to Starling City away and I didn't stay in touch because it hurt too much." She pleaded. The wildness in his eyes started to dim and Alex knew she was breaking through to him, "I made a mistake, Tommy. I locked myself away in the library and I ruined my reputation of Gotham's princess. I left you alone where you would have never left me and Oliver would be so disappointed in me. Please, I'm begging for your forgiveness." Tommy stared at her, tears in his own eyes at the mention of Oliver's name. Alex continued nonetheless, "And I know I was the worst friend because you lost more than Oliver on that boat, you lost Mr Queen and he meant a lot more to you than he did to me. I was selfish and I'm so so so so sorry. We don't have to be the friends we once were, but I still care and love you. I want to make sure you're okay." Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she was standing right in front of him now. He looked up, he looked like shit and he smelled like a trashcan, but when he threw his arms around her waist and buried his head in her stomach Alex breathed right for the first time in a year.
"Come on, we'll head to my place and share terrible stories there." She pulled him out of his seat, wrapped an arm around his waist and led him out of the bar and into the back of the Mercedes. The start of their conversation was rocky and unpleasant, but as they sat together on Alex's hotel bed and drank an entire bottle of Vodka together, their friendship started to slowly mend through their combined grief and ancient horrible party stories.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tommy asked her. He had showered and shaven this morning, he looked better than he had yesterday, but the sadness in his eyes wasn't gone yet. Alex shrugged and rang the doorbell again, "No, but she wasn't just Ollie's girlfriend, she was my friend too." Tommy shot her a disbelieving look. Alex snorted, it was true, she and Laurel had really clicked when they met during those two months before the Gambit had gone down. The door swung open, but slammed right shut again when Laurel got a look at who it was. Alex raised an eyebrow and turned to Tommy,
"You've tried, haven't you?" She asked him. A look of shock crossed his face because, how the hell did she know?, before he shrugged and nodded, "Yeah, right after the funeral." Alex shot him an incredulous look, she had never known Tommy as the type to comfort others. Tommy scowled at where he knew her mind was going,
"She'd just lost her boyfriend and sister, and she found out that her boyfriend cheated, what was I supposed to do?" Alex snorted before turning back to the door and banging her fist against it,
"Laurel? It's Alex, let me in." No movement or sound came from the other side. Alex scowled and turned again to Tommy,
"Okay, why is she pissed?" Tommy grumbled something underneath his breath, Alex's scowl deepened, she didn't have time for this, she wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for her father's stupid mission. She took a deep breath to control her anger before leaning a little forward,
"I'm sorry, what?" She asked him. Tommy sighed loudly and Alex rolled her eyes at his dramatics, "She thinks I knew about the whole… Oliver… and Sara thing." Tommy's face turned sour at the mention of Oliver's name. Alex didn't blame him, she couldn't even walk by Jason's room after his death without stumbling. Alex pinched the bridge of her nose and turned back to the door. She leaned her forehead against it, maybe she didn't need Laurel? If she was lucky Moira would be too distraught to pay too close attention? Maybe Laurel wasn't needed for an extra distraction? Alex took a deep breath, maybe so, but she still wanted to make sure Laurel was okay. She knocked again,
"Laurel, please let us in? We're your friends, we didn't know about the affair and if we did I would have kicked his butt… Please let me in." She said her voice softening. She could see Tommy stifling a snort out of the corner of her eyes, but when the door clicked, he sent her an incredulous look, like he couldn't believe that that actually worked. Alex smirked and waited for Laurel to pull open the door. Alex smiled when she invited them in.
Alex greeted Moira with a warm hug. The blonde woman was still dressed in her nightgown and her hair was uncombed, but surprisingly she still looked good. "Alex, how wonderful it is to see you." The woman said with a smile. Alex knew Moira didn't want her pity, but she still felt sorry for her. Alex swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat when she looked around the grand foyer, it still looked the same, but this is where all the games had started. This is where she had sprained her wrist form falling over the top railing, this was where Tommy and Oliver had their first fist fight over who was going to safe her from the dragon. This is where the Starling Trio had met all those years ago.
Alex turned her eyes to Moira, she had a far-away look in her eyes. Alex realised that this was going to be easier than she thought. Tommy was standing uncomfortably behind her, Laurel wouldn't go anywhere near the Queen Mansion.
"So, Mrs Queen, how have you been?" Moira seemed to snap out of her reverie and smiled that same small smile as she replied,
"Very well thank you." Alex felt a shudder run down her spine, she turned to see little Thea poking her head over the staircase. Alex smirked and diverted her attention back to Moira. The woman had replied like she had said it a thousand times. Alex took a quick breath before she switched to spoiled-brat-mode.
"Moira, Could I have a cup of tea?" And just as anticipated, Moira blinked and vaguely nodded her head, turned around and headed for the kitchen. Alex felt another shudder, but this time it was because of Moira's out of character response,
"Okay, that is creepy." Tommy whispered behind her. Alex nodded. Moira was acting like a shell of herself. She wasn't this ghost that drifted around, she was a strong independent woman who could stare anyone down. Who else could raise someone like Oliver? Alex shook her head in sadness before shooting Thea a look, she turned to Tommy,
"Why don't you go and find Thea? I'll help Moira with tea." Alex shot her best grin when Tommy grumpily took to the stairs. Alex waited until he was halfway up before she dashed in the direction of the study. She pushed down the handle, but was surprised to find it locked. She scowled and knelt down, pulled a bobby pin from her hair and picked the lock in record time. Alex hurried through the routine of searching a room. She checked the bookshelves first, moved on to the desk and finally looked in all the different hiding places. Alex didn't find anything except old QC orders and records, a stash of chocolate and a black book with a bunch of names and numbers. Alex rolled her eyes at that, men. She sneaked out of the room just in time to see Moira bringing tea. Alex grinned and stealthily locked the door behind her before walking over to the matriarch.
The rest of the night was spent sharing pleasantries with Moira and playing hide and seek with Thea, who knew a 13 year old girl would crave playing hide and seek? Finally Tommy's phone rang and Malcolm wanted him to come home. Alex greeted Moira and put Thea to bed before leaving with Tommy in tow. James dropped Tommy off at the Merlyns' Mansion and dropped Alex off at her hotel. Alex immediately took to the showers before crawling into her hotel bed. She pulled out her laptop and sent a quick e-mail to her father, Couldn't find anything. She shut down the device and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. Her eyes shut within seconds, but dreams of a sinking boat, an island and a bloody knife plagued her mind that night.
A/N: I kinda liked writing this one and I hope you liked reading it. A Very happy New Year to you all and I hope you have a wonderful 2015! Review please.