AN: I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I wanted to include something from Roy - This seemed the only real opportunity as to follow will mostly be from Felicity, Diggle and possibly the DC character I spoke of earlier. I hope you enjoy and I hope to post the next chapter within the next 24hours. Thanks for all the favs and the reviews.
Roy Harper readied himself for the next attack raising his arms in a fighting stance, hands spread wide as Laurel circled him. "Better stop wasting time Lance and make a move."
"You're the one afraid to fight a woman"
"I prefer other activities" he waggled his eyebrows suggestively knowing it would get under her skin as she made a quick swings for his head which he manages to avoid, countering with a tap on her backside. She turns giving him an exasperated look. "Come on Roy. Take this seriously"
"We've been at this for hours. My backs hurting from the last time you knocked me over"
"Oooh diddums" He had to laugh at that. He'd been shocked at how quickly they had hit it off. Who knew Laurel Lance was actually fun under the tough exterior she put up. He grabbed a towel and bottle of water wiping his face and glanced briefly at his watch.
"Somewhere else to be?" She teased sliding up next to him.
"I was thinking of meeting Thea later…." He answers simply, shrugging. Laurel picks up her own water leaning against the wall evening out her breathing.
"How's she doing?" Roy gives her a half shrug before picking up the bamboo sticks they had discarded earlier.
"As well as expected. Its hard to tell these days…she's….kinda closed herself off. I can't really blame her. After everything that happened…. She doesn't seem to be able to catch a break." Laurel raises an eyebrow at that and he gives her a small smile "I guess I'm preaching to the choir"
"It just takes time." She places a hand on his shoulder giving it a light squeeze, before taking one of the bamboo sticks moving into a ready stance to begin again. "Just be there for her. She'll remember that in the long run." He nods and moves in front of her and begins his attack, a swift swing from the top which she quickly blocks and counters with her own. She manages to catch him across the cheek when felicity comes running down the stairs. "I got it! I got it!"
She races to her desk, slightly out of breath, not bothering to greet them, barely sparing a glance for Laurel. "Where's John?"
"Right here" He says moving down the steps, a couple of bags from Big belly burger in hand. "I've been trying to call you all day."
"I found it" Felicity announced, practically bouncing on her feet. Roy moves forward to take some of the bags from diggle and dish out the orders. He throws felicity a curious look, having not seen this energy in her for a long time and it makes him feel good to see her almost like her old self. Almost.
"The location of Luther Vandernought? " Felicity looks slightly guilty at Diggle's question, quickly turning back to her computer to check that the search is still running for there latest scumbag before she pulls up the data of her latest find and Roy feels his joy start to dissipate. The video is grainy but there is a clear sight of Oliver Queen. Felicity shows them the flight manifest and operations Log from the day of Oliver's departure talking animatedly but Roy can't help the unease he feels and shares a sad knowing look with Diggle.
"…..it's a private Jet - owned by the Russian Mafia - Bratva." She gives them a real Felicity smile and Roy feels a pang in his cheat that it might be the last time they see it. Once she accepts Oliver is really gone…He's not sure if she'll ever be the same again. Her smile falters when she notes the looks on their faces and he feels only slightly guilty. He waits for Diggle to say something. To finally get her to see reason. He would support Diggle's decision, he knew her better but a part of him felt that letting her carry on this charade would do more damage in the long run. He glances at Laurel and sees the same hesitation and sadness in her eyes.
"It's the flight he took - to get to whatever the neutral site was."
"So?" Felicity shoots a quick glare at Laurel but it doesn't seem to deter her at all. She turns her attention fully to Diggle obviously having decided Roy and Laurel are a lost cause to her crusade. Roy tries to plead with him over her head. "He must have been able to sort something with Anatoly which is funny after the whole drama Oliver had last time with the Bratva.. That didn't look like they were going to be too helpful in future. In fact pretty sure Oliver thought they'd" She makes a cutting motion against her throat. "But boy he can charm anyone right?" The hope in her voice doesn't go unnoticed and he can already see Diggle giving into her. "We could go there …get a drink you know like you guys said with Anatoly and-"
"You want to go to Russia?" Diggle cuts her off, a slight look of disbelief and confusion, matching Roy's who thinks Felicity is quickly falling off the deep end.
"I already worked it out with Ray so I could go to our offices in Russia sort out their networks system - which is actually pretty flawless since I already went over it all with their Internet security officer when it was queen consolidated but Ray seems to just believe any line these days…and…" she starts to sound a little defeated as she nears the end of her ramble, the earlier excitement trailing off slightly as Diggle shares another glance with Roy "…I could use a bodyguard Maybe?"
"Felicity…Even if this leads somewhere " He leaves the words unsaid in the air but its clear Felicity refuses to hear them and Roy tampers down the urge to grab her by the arms and shake her. Scream at her that he's gone. That she needs to accept it. To grieve. He feels Laurels hand on his arm and notices that he had moved a step closer to do just that. She gives a little shake of her head and motions for them to move a little further aside. To leave Diggle to speak with Felicity.
"We'll be closer to finding him then"
"I don't know if…" He can hear the pain in Diggle's tone torn between the loss of his friend and the one standing before him struggling to accept the inevitable.
"I can go on my own, but I figured since Roy has laurel helping out now" He sends Laurel a small look of apology at the dig which she shakes off "….Anatoly would probably prefer if you were there too but….Like I said I can go…"
"No. I'll come with you…" It takes everything in Roy not to scream. "We should see where it takes us."
"Great - we can leave tomorrow." That makes him turn back. She couldn't be serious.
"Sunday's Oliver's Memorial. Thea's been killing herself planning it. We have to be there. She needs our support." Felicity turns a little surprised almost as if she had forgotten they were there. He sees her shoulders sag and notes the tried look in her eyes as they narrow almost in confusion. Then she shakes her head, plastering on a smile. "We'll be back in time….Might not even need it"
He struggles to hide the disbelief but her phone rings before he can say another word, and she tells them she has to head back to the office to meet Ray about some….other project. She's pretty vague and looks a little guilty but then she's back off up the stairs disappearing in a rush of blond hair. Diggle drops himself into her chair, dropping his head in his hands.
"Are you out of your mind? You're going to go with her to Russia?" He can't hold back the anger any longer. Its all wrong. They should be helping her through this but instead they are just helping her keep up the delusion that Oliver is coming back. And he can't help but feel more angry with himself. He hadn't really taken any time to talk to her about everything, he'd been so wrapped in helping Thea that he had let one of his best friends spiral into a whole world of crazy.
"What else am I suppose to do?"
"This isn't good for her. When she finally realises…." Laurel trails off with a small sigh.
"We'll be here. We'll help her….but if she needs to do this. To prove it to herself….I'm going to be with her." Diggle settles down to eat then ignoring Roy's gaze.
Sunday comes sooner than he likes, with no word from Diggle or Felicity. Thea has yet to shed any tears over the loss of her brother, at least not in front of Roy and a part of him aches for the girl he knew. He still loves her and as every moment passes all he wants to do is take her in his arms and hide her away from the world. From the pain. And from Malcolm Merlyn.
But he soldiers on ever the good friend. Letting her know that he is there for her, touching her as much he can. Squeezing her shoulder, resting a hand on her elbow or across her back. He stays with her through out the morning as they ready everything for the service. There's not too many coming, now the Queens are just another name without a billionaire attachment people don't seem as interested and he's partly grateful. He's sure that Oliver would have preferred it. Just close friends and family.
Thea gives him a small smile when he rests his hand on her waist, pulling her into his side and he feels it tug at his heart, she moves her head to his shoulder. "Thanks for being here with me."
"I don't want to be anywhere else." As the guests arrive she moves to mingle but he ensure he's always only a few feet away. He's watching her talk with her step father when Diggle and Lyla arrive and he moves to greet them.
"Hey - How was Russia?" Diggle gives him a dark look, shaking his head.
"Dead end. I'm not sure we'll be welcome back either….Felicity wasn't exactly happy with the outcome." Roy raises his brow at that, hard to imagine how she may have reacted especially now. He takes a look around and then asks "Speaking of….Where is she?"
"I've been calling her all morning…Thought she might already be here."
"I haven't seen her. You think she'll come?" Diggle sighs and gives a light shrug as Lyla takes his hand.
"She said she would."
Laurel turns up with her dad in tow giving them a small wave before moving to speak with Thea. Not long after the priest motions to the start of the service and they move to their seats. Diggle and Roy still watching out for Felicity but seeing no sign. Roy takes his seat by Thea, slipping his hand in to hers and she squeezes back. He glances only once more behind him, before turning his attention to his mentor. His friend. He tries to remember when he first met Oliver both as Thea's big brother and as the arrow. He smiles at the training Oliver had put him though, of all the time in the foundry. He thinks of Oliver's proud words every time he told him he did a good job and he struggles to stop the tear from falling down his cheeks. He feels Thea's head resting against his shoulder once more and he presses a kiss into her hair, before moving an arm around to pull her closer. He sent a thought of peace and rest to Oliver and vowed to do everything he could to keep Thea Safe. Oliver will not have died in vain.
The service seems to flow smoothly and much of the rest is a blur of faces and words. He spends every moment with Thea and feels a slight pull back to who they were. Diggle promises to check in on Felicity before he leaves and they share a hug before heading there separate ways. He drives Thea home not much later with few words spoken. He chooses to stay and she lets him. They sit quietly in front of the Christmas tree she has yet to take down and after a while he breaks the silence to tell her he loves her. And that no matter what he will always be with her. He feels the wet patch on his chest and she wiggles closer and he holds her tight as she finally cries for her brother.
an: Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Thanks