Arrow Chapter 4
Despite having spent the last night perched on a roof top the Arrow was not tired at all. At least physically that is. Emotionally, Oliver Queen was completely drained. Pushing Felicity away from him had taken all he had left. There were times during his little performance that he thought that he could go no further. His face had remained impassive but inside he was struggling to contain a whirlwind of emotions that threatened drown him beneath their weight. He wanted nothing more than to grab her arm, turn around and envelope her. He wanted to tell her that he didn't want her to go to Central City. He needed her here. No needed was the wrong word. He wanted her here with him and not with Barry. He should have told her that a long time ago. He had refused to admit that he felt jealous when Felicity spent so much time in Central City while Barry was recovering from his coma. Diggle had been spot on then when he said that Oliver never had problems with Felicity's performance until she met Barry. Oliver could still remember the pang he felt when she had said that she had finally met a guy that was interested in her and he was struck by lightning. Oliver should have told her then just as he should have told her now. She was more than his employee, more than his partner, more than his friend even. It wasn't just that he relied on her. Without even realizing it, Felicity had worked her way into his heart until he couldn't imagine his life without her. He wanted to do all that, say all that but he didn't. Instead he let her run from his office. He let her draw her own conclusions about why he was pushing her away. Anything would be better than telling her the truth because that would devastate her beyond repair. She can never know what he gave in order to save her.
He didn't stay in his office for long. The large and luxurious office had suddenly become so confining that he knew he would go mad if he didn't get up and leave. On his way out, Oliver couldn't but help stop by Felicity's old desk. He ran his finger over the polished surface as he observed how neatly her things were arranged in. It was vastly different from his desk. Half of the time he couldn't find what he was looking for unless Felicity helped him. He looked at the chair she sat in every day, the outline of her body was still on the soft material. He never told her that he had splurged on her chair. It was specially made and was advertised to be more comfortable than anything out there. He had thought that if she was going to be his executive assistant then at least he was going to do what he can to make her a bit more comfortable. He didn't know how much longer he had left but he knew that while he was there Felicity's desk and chair would remain where they were. It was a reminder of how things had been. Whoever would take Felicity's place would have to be situated somewhere else. The thought had barely come out before he scoffed at it. No one could ever take Felicity's place.
He didn't know where it was he wanted to go once he left Queen Consolidated. Changing back into his vigilante outfit seemed appropriate given his mood. His foreboding appearance mirrored his grim mood. He set himself in a patrol grid but without even realizing it he ended up in the one place he wanted to go. The train station. The person he was looking for was enough to spot. Everything else was forgotten as he watched her pull her small suitcase as she made her way through the crowd. Even from this distance Oliver could tell that she was flustered. She would stop every now and then to bring something up to her face. Oliver suspected that she was wiping off some tears. From the shadows he continued to observe her as she bought a ticket that he hoped was two way. He continued to watch her as she made her way to the passenger car. She handed her ticket to the waiting conductor but instead of boarding Felicity stopped all of a sudden. She turned unexpectedly and looked around her as if she was searching for someone. Perhaps she was waiting for him to come after her. Oliver almost gave in to temptation right then and there. She wanted him to stop her from leaving. Even after all the hurtful things he had said to her she wanted him to come. His resolve was weakening quickly but after a few moments the conductor seemed to say something to her. Oliver could see her nod her head, look around one final time and then board the train. Then just like that she was gone. He stayed in his position, staring at nothing long after the train had sped away. Eventually he was able to pry himself away but not before pulling out his cell phone to send a quick message to the man who the woman he loved was running to.
Don't tell her.
Felicity was heart-broken. She wasted no time in rushing home after her little altercation with Oliver. More than anything else Felicity wanted some space from everything and everyone in Starling City. This seemed strange enough since just the day before it seemed like everything was falling into place in Starling City.
Up until the previous day Felicity had no concrete evidence that Oliver saw her as anything more than a friend. They had their moments to be sure. Stolen glances , hidden smiles, or a vague touch. For the longest time she was unsure if she what she was seeing or feeling was simply the productive of her imagination. She had all but admitted to him that she had fantasies about him when he had swung her over an elevator shaft while breaking into Malcolm Merlyn's server room. The very possibly that Oliver had feelings for her had been a barrier for every other relationship she could have had. Even Barry knew or at least felt like there was something going on between her and Oliver. Things came to a head when they were chasing down a bomber. He had told her then that her head wasn't in what they were doing and that she was spending way too much time in Central City. It was the first hurtful thing Oliver had ever said to her. She fired back until it came to the point that she had to leave the room.
It didn't take them long to mend the fences, however. Despite her snide comments Felicity had been terrified when the Arrow got caught in the bomb makers trap. The few seconds it took Oliver to respond seemed like a lifetime. She was reminded then and there that despite all of Oliver's strength it was still possible for her to lose him. The very thought was too gut wrenching to even contemplate. Later that night after the bomber had been arrested and Oliver said that he relied on her Felicity joked if there was a possibility of her getting employee of the month. He told her then she wasn't his employee but his partner. For some reason Felicity couldn't help but think that he meant something more.
Felicity had decided almost immediately that she needed to get out of the city. Back at her apartment she quickly put together a suitcase while at the same time ordered a ticket for the train heading to Central City. She actually had half a mind to order a one way ticket. If Oliver Queen wanted to push her out of his of his life then perhaps she should make it easier for him and just leave Starling altogether. She didn't knew why but still she booked a two way ticket.
The railway was packed. Like most large cities the subways, light rails, and larger trains all traversed through the main station. Even with a small suitcase Felicity had some difficulty navigating through the sea of people. Everyone was rushing, shoving, and pushing one another in an effort to get where they needed to be. Felicity stopped to wipe a tear of her cheek. It seemed appropriate. If Oliver can push her away then why not these people. Maybe it was her fault. Maybe she had deluded herself into thinking she was more than she actually was, that she was special or at the very least special to Oliver.
As she handed her ticket to the conductor and was about to board her train Felicity felt the sudden urge to look behind her. She hoped beyond hope that she would see Oliver racing towards her. She would have given almost anything to have him sweep her up in his arms and say that he was sorry for all the things he had said. All she wanted was for him to say that he needed and wanted her. But he wasn't there.
"Excuse me, ma'am. You have to board now." The conductor was clearly trying to usher in so he could get to the crowd waiting impatiently behind. With a final glance behind her and a sigh Felicity got on the train that would whisk her away from all her heartache.
Starling City had its fair share criminals and all of them had learned to fear the vigilante that stalked the city's rooftops. Unlike the police or the justice system the Hood had no qualms about breaking the law to do what was best for the city. That night the criminals that were out and about would wish that the Arrow had never left the train station. No matter how much they feared him, this night they did not fear him enough. For the first time since he injected himself with the mirakuri, Oliver let himself go completely. He surrendered to the blood rushing from his heart and through his veins. Gone was any semblance of control or even sanity. Like Slade before him, Oliver gave into his baser instincts. He was on a path of righteous fury and who stood in his way would be damned. If he only had a limited time left they he would make that time count. He would send a final message to everyone in the city that preying on the weak or helpless would not be tolerated.
It started off slowly enough. He caught a drug dealer trying to sell to some teenagers. Though the transaction may have ended quickly but Oliver was determined to ensure that the retribution for the transgression would not be as quick. This time, however, Oliver decided that it was time his fury extended to those buying the drugs. They may have been teenagers but lessons needed to be learned. Without those lessons their behavior would escalate. If those teenagers had no one in their lives show them a better path then it would be up to him to show them the consequences of the one they were on. With a few well-placed arrows he ensured that they stayed rooted to their positions while he worked on the drug dealer. Oliver was ruthless and by the time he was finished the drug dealer was laying on the ground with more than a few broken bones and dislocated joints. He didn't care what those teenagers saw. A dying man wasn't concerned with his image. Hero or vigilante, the choice no longer mattered. Those kids were in panicked tears by the time Oliver turned his attention to them. He had no intention of killing them, of course, but Oliver hoped fear would turn persuade them to make different choices. He strung them up a light pole and threatened to use them as target practice. He fired of an arrow just to prove his point. One of the teenagers screamed in fright as the arrow barely missed his skin and ripped through some clothing. He would remember them, Oliver warned and next time there would be no broken bones. There would only be an arrow through the heart.
That scene played itself over and over again throughout the night. Not just with drug dealers but with thieves, corrupt officials and cops, and even the Chinese mafia. They all felt his wrath that night. By 4 AM Oliver was exhausted. Apparently even the extended physical prowess that the mirakuru had endowed him with had its limits. He had actually decided to call it a night when he heard a scream coming from a nearby alley. He didn't even hesitate. He forgot about his aching muscles until he landed rather awkwardly in the alley the scream had originated from. Oliver suddenly felt nauseous and had to place his hand on one of the walls just to maintain his balance. Another ear piercing scream brought him back to his senses. He found the source soon enough. A young woman was being attacked. She was young and pretty. With her blonde hair and colorful, albeit, short clothing the attacker probably found the temptation too much to ignore.
"Someone help me, Please!" The young woman shouted again. Then for the briefest of moments the scene Oliver was witnessing changed. It wasn't some random woman that was being attacked but it was Felicity. Oliver could almost swear he saw her looking at past her glasses. Her beautiful blue eyes pleaded him to come to her aid. Even as a hallucination that look was more than Oliver could bear. With inhuman speed he closed the distance between himself and the attacker. He would teach this piece of garbage what the consequences were for attack those he cared about. With ease Oliver tossed him across the alley and into a brick wall. Oliver drew an arrow to finish him off but suddenly the man's face shifted. Oliver found himself facing down Slade Wilson over and over again. To say that Oliver was confused was understatement. Without thinking Oliver lowered his arrow as he tried to blink away the hallucination. It took a moment but soon the man's face returned to normal but then Oliver saw his mistake. His hesitation gave had given the man the opportunity draw a gun that had previously been hidden in his jacket. The bullet exploded from the barrel in a deafening blast and in an instant later Oliver could feel his shoulder explode in pain. The injury was just too much when added to the sudden onslaught of weakness. He staggered back and crashed into some empty boxes. Oliver could barely focus as he reached into his shoulder. He brought his hand closer to his face and saw his gloved stained with his blood. He watched as both the man and the woman ran from the alley in abject terror. Neither of them wanted anything to do with the Vigilante. Oliver knew that it would soon be daylight and he needed to get back to Verdant before he was discovered. He tried to get up but none of his muscles seemed to be acting right. He just couldn't find the strength to sit up. With no other choice left to him, Oliver reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
"Oliver? Oliver, where are you?" Diggle's voice rang out from the other end. That was the last thing he remembered before blacking out.
Oliver woke several hours later to the cold and familiar feel of a metal table. He was happy to find that his head was clear except for the massive pounding. He reached up to the gunshot wound to find it stitched and bandaged. His exposed upper body was covered in what seemed to an extraordinary amount of dried blood.
"Perhaps you have something to tell me, Oliver?" Diggle asked. Oliver turned to see his friend sitting atop a desk. His shirt was also covered in blood that Oliver assumed was also his.
"Nothing to tell whatsoever." With no trace of the weakness that had impaired him, Oliver easily leapt of the metal table and made his way to a cabinet filled with some spare clothing.
"Bullshit!' Dig said angrily. "I wake up this morning to a annoying little lawyer ringing my doorbell like there was no tomorrow. With no warning whatsoever he drops the bomb on me that I have to sign some papers to finish the transference of ownership of Verdant. I told him that there had to be some mistake and that I had no idea what was going on but the lawyer was insistent that he had explicit instructions to make sure that I received fifty percent ownership in Verdant. It made absolutely no sense so I spend the day unsuccessfully trying to reach you then out of the blue I get a call from you where I hear nothing coming from the other end except you coughing up some blood."
Diggle stood as well and walked in front of Oliver so that there was no way he could be ignored. "There was so much of it that I contemplated taking you to the hospital." Dig placed a finger on Oliver's chest. "But when we get hear, do you know what I find?"
"Ummm an empty cave?" Oliver aked weakly.
"The bullet wound had all but healed. I barely had to stich it up. That's impossible, of course." Diggle sounded angrier than ever.
"See? There you have it. It's impossible. The bullet must have just grazed me." Oliver tried unsuccessfully.
Diggle had enough of the lies his friend was spouting out. He pushed Oliver back and dropped something onto the floor. Oliver watched as the bullet hit the stone floor. "Impossible, unless you were full of mirakuru."
Oliver was trying to come up with another weak excuse when another wave nausea hit him. Without anything to hang onto, Oliver found himself falling onto the floor.
Diggle was beside him in a second. He kept his hands on Oliver's shoulders to prevent him standing. "Stay still. I'm your friend Oliver, let me help. What's going on?"
Oliver shook his head weakly and attempted to smile. "That lawyer is an idiot. He wasn't suppose to tell you until-" Oliver couldn't finish the sentence.
"Until what, Oliver?" Diggle kept pressing. He needed to know.
There was no getting out of it now. Diggle would never let this go. That was why he treid so hard to keep his friends from knowing. So Oliver told him. About the mirakuru, about the fight with Slade, about what was happening to him. Oliver told him everything.
It was a good thing Diggle was already crouched down near the ground. He didn't have far to go when he needed to sit. "And there's no chance?"
Oliver just shrugged. "I have some people working on it. I guess there's always a chance but given the time-"
Diggle could only nod a little in understanding. Time was their enemy now and unlike all their previous foes this one could not be stopped with an arrow. "We deserved to know, Oliver. Did you think about your friends and family at all?"
"Trust me that is all I could think about." Oliver picked up the bullet and ran it through his finger absent mindedly.
"So that's what this is all about? Felicity's promotion, you giving me half the club?' diggle asked.
Oliver let out a deep breath. "You are my friends. I wanted to make sure that you were taken care of."
Diggle was both saddened and touched at Oliver's notion. "But Felicity/ Did you have to tell her that she meant nothing to you? She was in tears when she called me to tell me that she would be in Central City if we needed her. Even after all the things you said to her, she was still thinking about you and what would happen if she wasn't here when you needed her. I had to promise that I would call her if any Vigilante business showed up."
Oliver placed the bullet in between his fingers. With ease he crushed it even more. "That's my point exactly, Dig. You know Felicity just as well as I do. She would never get over my injecting myself to save her. Hell, she didn't even want me to kill start killing for her. She may not think that she is worth it but she is. Don't you see, Dig? She's everything to me. That's why she can never know."
Diggle understood Oliver's point. He didn't like it but he understood. "You say she's everything to you Oliver?" When he saw Oliver nod he continued. "Then you should have respected her enough to allow her to make that decision on her own."
They sat there is silence after that. Neither of them knew what else there was to say. For now it was enough for the both of them that Oliver was not alone. No, Diggle promised himself. Whatever happens he would not allow Oliver Queen to suffer alone. They were more than friends, they were brothers and a brother never allows a brother to go into combat alone.
A/N Well I hope you guys are liking the story. Things are certainly coming towards a dramatic ending. I hope you guys look forward to reading it just as much as I look forward to writing it. Not many chapters left, maybe a few more. Thanks for letting my imagination run wild with this. keep the reviews coming. For those that reviewed, i really appreciate. Helps me to know that there are people reading this.