The following morning Felicity Smoak slowy made her way back to her computer system the young womans' heels noisly clicking with each step. Oliver whispered harshly "Felicity! Take off your shoes, Roy is sleeping." The blonde IT glanced back at a darker part of the lair and spotted a black tanktop and a pair of blue jeans curled up on Olivers' cot. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she did as she was told and removed her high heels. "Where did he come form?"

Diggle who had his arms crossed somewhat stubbornly glanced to Oliver. "Found him outside of Verdant, Oliver thought he was a goner, so he brought him here." Felicitys' eyes widened slightly. "And does he know where 'here' is?" She asked feeling slightly unsettled she could see Oliver fighting back a slight smile. "Oliver don't tell me someone else knows..who you are!" He gave a small nod "I've decided to take him on." "What do you mean exactly."

Diggle smirked slightly "Think Karate Kid Felicity." The Blondes' mouth gaped slightly "He's just a kid Oliver, you can't bring him into this.", but Oliver Queen had already made up his mind. "I'm going to adopt him." Now even Diggle was surprised. "You said you were going to train him, not...raise him!" Oliver chuckled "He's at least sixteen year old John, he's still a minor and if someone doesn't take him in then he's gonna wind up on the streets dead..or in a foster home, with people who can't understand the sort of trauma he'e been through, they won't be able to handle him."

John Diggle stepped closer lowering his voice slightly as he approached his friend his arms relaxing and coming to his sides. "And what makes you think you'll be able to handle him earlier, in case you forgot he attacked me earlier without any warning and I'm three times his size. He could do some real harm to somebody." Oliver sighed "He was scared, he's been through a lot these last twenty-four hours nearly being burned alive in a house fire, having his mother up and leave him, and on top of that some street thug named Brick wants him dead, because of something he didn't even do. You startled him he was just reacting."

John sighed and shook his head "Stop defending him like he's already your son." Oliver turned his head to linger on the distant shadowed form of Roy Harper. "I can't help it Dig, because I know what he's going through. I can understand his anger, hurt, and this wild, impulsive nature..you guys don't know this but, the night I came back..it was storming, and I was so used to the chaotic enviorment on the island..I opened the window, that night it was raining really hard and the wind was pushing it into my room. I was having a nightmare I guess..my mother heard me groaning and she came in to check on me, having just gotten back she was very anxious to make sure I was alrigh, and..as soon as she touched me I snapped awake and I slammed her to the floor with my hand around her throat."

Felicity and Diggle were speechless. "Oliver how come you never told us about this man?" Diggle asked feeling slightly foolish now and regretful of all the harsh things he had said about Roy. Oliver smiled half heartedly, it's not exactly a pleasant memory Dig..so now do you understand why I feel so driven to protect Roy?" Diggle gave a nod as Felicity spoke up. "The two of you are the same, but in very different ways." Oliver Queen gave a deep nod and turned his head focusing on the sound of Roys' breathing, when he heard a small whimper escape the boy.

Oliver smiled "Felicity let me know if anything Arrow worthy is happening I'm going to tend to Roy try and get to know him a little better. With all that happened yesterday he was pretty tired." She smiled lightly "How long do you think he'll sleep for?" Oliver shrugged "He's been out for almost twelve hours, I think I'm going to wake him up so he can maintain a normal sleeping cycle." Just as Oliver said the words Roy grunted loudly and he began to hack and cough rather hard. The sound instantly worried the team and Oliver quickly jogged over to the young man and firmly patted his back "Roy take deep breaths." The older male instructed as he somewhat loomed behind him. The young man was gasping frantically and grasping at his throat. "I-I c-can't-" He managed before his voice was lost into another rough coughing fit and his face tensed in pain. Diggles' medical training kicked in and he cautiously approached "Roy you were involved in a fire, how long were you in it?" The bruneete grunted "I don't know..the smoke..woke me up." Diggle nodded "Felicity bring me some oxygen and a mask, I think he inhaled some of the smoke."

Oliver looked up at Diggle "I've never seen this sort of inhilation reaction." "That's because he wasn't treated the smoke and possibly ash is still in his lungs, his body is trying to get it out." Roy panted "Well it's not doing a very good job of it." Diggle smiled lightly "Usually this sort of thing isn't a problem, but given your overall lack in muscle it's a lot more work for your body, and you'll tire much quicker, someone needs to help you knock the debris loose." Oliver nodded "Tell me what to do." Roy suddenly realized how readily these people were willing to help him. "Lets give him a few minutes of oxygen first, no wonder he slept for so long." Felicity wheeled over a small tank and handed Roy a mask "Put this on and breathe deeply."

Roy fumbled for the mask, but then he felt a burning sensation in his throat, it felt dry and scratchy. He coughed and felt something come up into the back of his mouth it tasted of smoke. He turned his head spitting a large black glob and groaned in disgust. "The fuck is that?" He asked quickly looking away from what had just come out of his body. Diggle glanced at it. "Exactly what caused your coughing fit, lets hope that was all of it." Roy groaned "That was disgusting." Oliver looked at the other two and cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Guys could you excuse us for a bit, I'd like to talk to Roy alone, if that's alright." Felicity nodded "No problem here I will just be listening in on radio frequencies and hacking into the locla police emergency telephone lies, to ease drop let you know if anything comes up arrow worthy." Oliver glanced at Diggle who gave a small nod. "I'll go get the k-Roy some grub, be back in a bit."

The two gave Oliver and Roy some space to speak privately and Roy glanced warily at Oliver. "Just what exactly was that about?" He asked giving a slight tilt of his head. Oliver studied the young man for a moment. "Tell me something how long do you think you slept, up until the coughing woke you up?" Roy shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck as he yawned, thenn balled his hands into fists as he reached above his head stretching. "I don't know...six maybe eight hours?" He asked a bit curiously. Oliver held his gaze and spoke calmly. "Try twelve, now that tell me from expereince that you are either extremely stressed, or you're having nightmares, so which is it?" Roy shrugged sheepishly for a moment. "Maybe both he muttered." Now lowering his gaze to avoid eye contact. Oliver reached forward and gently squeezed his shoulder. "Hey, you're with me now, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." Roy lifted his gaze. "Oliver I can't just stay here, you're not responsible for me." The Green eyed archer smiled lightly. "Not right now I'm not, but I could be." Roy was puzzled and slightly nervous at the words the other had spoken "What're you talking about?" He asked feeling his chest tighten slightly. Oliver took a small breath and pulled out his lighter, though he didn't smoke it was a nervous habit he had. "I'm saying..that if you would have me...I would like...to..adopt you."

Roys' eyes widened considerably as the other slowly spoke to him. "You...you want to be my guardian?" He asked rather surprised by Olivers' offer. "I had Felicity do some digging, and not only did I learn about you Roy, but I also learned you were named after your father..who was murdered when you were only five years old." Roy gave a solemn nod. "I barely remember him...and now since the fire..I don't have anything left of him. " Oliver felt bad for the young man, and he noted the slight quiver to Roys' bottom lip. "I'm sorry Roy I wasn't trying to upset you..I just think you should be with someone who can understand you..someone who has been through hell and back..someone..like me."

Roy shook his head "I can't. believe you're saying this to me..Oliver Queen the billionaire playboy wanting to play daddy to the abandoned street kid." Oliver chuckled "So, will you think about it?" Roy nodded and yawned "I will, but for now can I go back to sleep." Oliver smirked "Nope you have to keep a normal day to night ratio, by the way what were you dreaming about? It didn't seem very pleasant." Roy shrugged and returned his gaze to the floor "Just the usual brutal ass kicking I used to endure." Olivers eyes narrowed slightly "You dreampt you were being beaten?" Roy nodded "Beaten, shot, stabbed, see enough dead bodies and blood you start to dream about it happening to you." Roy tried to speak in a casual tone, but Oliver could spot the slight tremble in his arms as the young man recalled the dream, and the older archer felt a compulsion to shield the young man from such terrors. He couldn't explain this instinctive drive to come to his aid, but he knew one thing for sure, those misty blue eyes of Roys weren't helping matters.

Oliver Queen moved with purpose and embraced the young man in a tight hug and murmurred in his ear. "Roy I promise you I'll never lay a hand on you out of anger, or become physical with you, unless it's training, or just messing around." The young man merely nodded, but his next action was surprising. Roy nuzzled into the hug and sighed in content, craving the affection he had been starved of as a kid. "I already feel safer just being near you." He spoke softly as the hug ended and Oliver held him at arms reach studying the young mans' features. Oliver chuckled a bit and ruffled his hair "So how was your stomach through the night?" He asked suddenly recalling. "Were you able to keep your food down?" Roy nodded his head. "I've unfortunately got a lot of experience in that department, starving I mean and having to ease back into eating..do you have a jacket or something I can borrow?" He asked trembling slightly. "I'm f-freezing..wait where's my hoodie?"

Oliver pointed beside the cot "I washed it..a couple of times." Roy scowled at him "Are you dropping hints for me to go take a shower?" Oliver pursed his lips slightly "I was trying to be subtle about it." Roy snorted "You're about as subtle as an arrow old man." Oliver could see the playful gleam in Roys' eye and he had to resist putting him in a headlock "Go get cleaned up Roy I'll bring you some new clothes."

Roy finally relented and walked towards tha back of the lair, where he found a small room. Upon entering he stripped down and tossed his clothes out, so Oliver could wash them at some point in time. The shower was pretty straight forward, for which Roy was grateful, the young man got the water as hot as he could stand it, in order to help relax his aching muscles. Then he set to work scrubbing off all of the grime and oil out of his hair. When he was finally done Roy stepped out of the steamy shower, and found the new clothes by the sink. He put them on and was surprised with how well they fit, then the young man dried his short hair and found a bit of gel. He styled his hair and slowly exited the room.

The team looked up at him and Felicity smiled "Well, don't you clean up nice." She said "I wasn't sure if you wanted marshmallows in your cocoa." Roy shook his head. "No thanks." He walked over to her and picked up the cup taking a sip as he allowed the warm liquid to trickle down his throat. "Thanks Felicity." She smiled "No problem, just don't ever ask me to make you a coffee I stand very firm on that."