Hello, lovely people.

I wasn't going to post this chapter if I'm being honest, but since I've already put it up on tumblr I thought that it'd be unfair to not put it up here too, so here you go. This drabble is one of the shortest I've written yet and, fair warning, it's angst-y and short (which is why I wasn't too keen on putting it up) but it's my first update in ages, so hallelujah.. I think.

Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing/reading those one-shots, you guys are awesome!

I own nothing. I should get that printed on a shirt.

"I want you off the team."

He knew that his voice was harsh, much harsher than she was used to hearing it; an echo of what he usually reserved for the monsters of Starling City. Except, this time it wasn't a criminal that Oliver growled at. It was Felicity Smoak, and in this scene, Oliver had to play the monster.

"There you go, boy." Slade encouraged through the device in Oliver's ear. His voice was laced with amusement and had he not feared for Felicity's safety, Oliver would have told Slade to shove his amusement where the sun doesn't shine. As it is, Oliver couldn't do much in his current position but receive and obey.

"Oliver I –" Felicity stared at him with wide eyes, confusion and anger battling for dominance in her expression and hurt lagging one step behind. "I don't understand. Why?"

Her voice broke at the last word, shoulders sagging in defeat as she hugged her arms close to her body. She looked, for the first time since Oliver knew her, like a lost child, vulnerable and heartbroken and Oliver wanted to do nothing but hug her. Promise her that the past months weren't a lie; that he loved her still and would do anything to have Slade not show up at Verdant that day and see them together. He would relive the island a thousand times if it meant that the sniper, currently with Felicity as his target, hadn't been too stealthy for Oliver to see before it was too late. Regardless, those were nothing but wistful thoughts that went through his head and faded away like tendrils of smoke. He had instructions to follow, and if those instructions meant that Felicity would hate him by the end of this, then so be it. He would rather have her alive and hating him than dead.

"Tick tock, Oliver." Slade rasped. "You have five minutes to rip the poor child's heart out, or I make sure my sniper does it himself. And don't try being smart either.. That sniper isn't the only one I have. The alley is crawling with them."

"Felicity," Oliver sighed her name then regretted it at once. He hated the way her eyes looked up at him with hope, that little part of her that haven't been deterred by the earlier words peeking out. He had to do better if he wanted her to leave here alive and intact.

"I don't love you. I do not. Never did. Never will." He kept his expression stony and tone cold. The way he would have spoken to someone he didn't care about. Except that he did care about her. He loved her and he felt his heart clench with every word he uttered. "I think that the past few months were a mistake, and that working together now will complicate matters. I'm sorry –" He made sure he sounded anything but. "I didn't want it to come to this, but I've talked it over with John and I'll ask Sara to take your place."

Felicity, whose eyes had turned glassy by now, jutted her chin out in what Oliver recognized as an attempt to keep the tears back. She frowned at him for a moment then shook her head.

"I thought we were doing good.." They had been doing great. He loved her. He really did. "But even i-if we weren't.. you have n-no right to do this." She tried to glare at him but the tears, now racing down her cheeks, took away the edge of it and for the hundredth time that day Oliver wished for Slade Wilson's head on a spike, Game Of Thrones style.

"Oh, now she's crying. Ivo's poor daughter. I wonder if she'd still cry if she found out what her daddy did to Shado." Slade snarled the last part. "I'm rethinking my offer. Maybe figuratively breaking her heart and yours won't cut it. I'm now thinking of killing you both instead of just you. Romeo and Juliet style. Much more dramatic than her hearing about your death in the news a day after you broke her heart.. What do you think, brother?"

"Leave." Oliver growled at Felicity. "Just leave and don't come back here." Please¸ he added silently. The alley where they stood seemed to shrink around them. Any moment Slade could give the order, get too bored, too vengeful to play out the game he planned so well. Any moment the gun could go off, and that thought alone made him shudder. "Pretend that you never met me, Felicity. All I ever did was make a mess out of your life, and I'm giving you a way out now. So take it."

"I trusted you." Felicity whispered as she took a step back. Oliver, if it weren't for his heart trying to leave his ribcage, would have danced in triumph at the movement.

"Go." He ordered. Felicity gave him a startled look, her eyes widening, possibly in understanding.

She knew.

She took another step back and turned to leave but not before she threw him one last look that held the promise to come back. He knew that she wouldn't waste time getting Diggle and that no matter how fast she is to get him, they'd be late anyway. He still loved her for understanding.

As Felicity finally turned away and ran, two things happened at once.

Slade Wilson laughed over the comm-link.

Two shots sliced the air.

A/N: I wrote this while listening to sad instrumentals on 8tracks and I completely blame that playlist for this. I'm sorry if it made you sad (I'm not gonna lie, I hope it did) and I'd really appreciate it if you review, regardless of how short the chapter is and tell me what you think happened at the end. I'd love to hear your takes on the ending.

Thank you for reading, you're awesome!

Review and tell me what you think.