No More Killing
Disclaimer: Since originally, Oliver wasn't supposed to fully stop killing and say that 'I'm happy' line of his until the end of season 5, so I'm gonna play with that a bit here. Also, I own nothing but what you see here.
Summary: Its taken him a long time, but Oliver Queen has finally put killing behind him.
As they drove away from Star City and out on the open road to wherever for a much needed vacation, Oliver Queen couldn't help but feel more relaxed then he'd ever been in a long time. And it felt damned good for the Emerald Archer for that matter too. As he had finally put killing behind him much to the immense happiness of more then one person in his life. It hadn't come easy for the man however. Especially in the last year alone when Adrian 'Prometheus' Chase had come after him for previously killing his father in the early days of his 'Hood' life. His supposed secret of actually liking the killing had been nothing more then a lie to fool Chase and get Evelyn the Hell out of that man's hands now that there was no longer a need for her to be acting as a double agent. As it was damned clear the man was a bit on the deranged side of things and the further she was away from him, the better. Having even made him regret even more letting her do it after she'd stepped up with the idea. None of the team had been real pleased by the whole doube agent bit either once the two had shown up at the Bunker and learned of everything.
Naomi Singh and Jax had both given the girl tight hugs and warnings to never ever do anything like that again. A sentiment that was shared by Laurel, Rene, Diggle, Curtis, Roy, Rory, Thea, Moira, Quentin, Mei, and Sin for that matter. His mother still being alive and even serving as the Mayor of Star City was something Oliver was still thankful as Hell about. As Slade stabbing her had very nearly caused him and Thea to lose her. Moira was also the reason Roy wasn't on the run as well nicely enough much to Thea and Sin's liking for one reason or another. Shortly after 'The Siege' had ended and it had been learned that Sebastian Blood had been killed during it, the City Council had approached Moira about taking the position of Mayor once she was fully recovered enough to do so. An offer she wasn't about to turn down for that matter! 'The Siege' funnily enough was how Oliver and the team had met Jax. Who would end up being their Weapons Specialist much like how Naomi is their Computer Hacker Specialist and helped run Comms with Sin along for the ride.
Tommy also helping run Comms too for awhile until his death during Oliver's second year back in Starling. Naomi being someone Oliver had met early on in his first year back in Starling once some research had shown she was a much better choice for the Mission then another he had been thinking of recruiting. Said Mission gradually changing as time went on, becoming less about his father's List and being more for helping the people of the city with a variety of things. Tommy's death had been one of the hardest things himself, Laurel, and Thea had dealt with. And it had happened during 'The Siege' as well thanks to one of Slade's men when Tommy had put himself in front of a young girl and one of the masked men. Giving her enough time to escape to somewhere possibly more safer. Tommy had been one of those who had issues with his killing, even if he did come to understand the reasons behind it. Thankfully however, their friendship wouldn't end up tearing apart over the whole thing. It helped that Oliver was also pretty damned stubborn where McKenna was concerned and managed to talk her into not giving up on their relationship following her hospitalization thanks to Helena Bertinelli.
Pretty much helping prevent any sort of reunions from occurring between Oliver and Laurel. His and McKenna's relationship would continue until shortly into his third year when he decided to reveal to her about his secret identity. Something she wasn't necessarily thrilled about and tried to be supportive of it but found herself unable to do so in the end much to his dismay. And because Moira never died, Thea didn't end up in the clutches of Malcolm Merlyn. Who ended up with several arrows in his body courtesy of both Oliver and Nyssa, along with a crushed windpipe thanks to a rather enraged Sara after the man had tried to go after her family during Oliver's third year back. Near the end of his fourth year back would see him and Laurel beginning to gravitate towards one another after years apart. And the Lawyer had certainly grown into a very formidable woman after Tommy's death as well. The Particle Accelerator's explosion while she'd been in Central visiting her mother at the time had only been a part of that formidableness of her's. Mei had certainly been a surprise to see shortly after things with Damien Darhk had been dealt with. But she had come to Star in order to find Oliver and get him to provide a little training for her thanks to the fact she had been chosen to become the new Ghost Fox Killer.
He'd been a little reluctant at first but Laurel, Sin, Mei, and Naomi had managed to win him over. Thea thought it would be funny if the girl would end up being able to kick his ass later on. Earning her an annoyed look from her big brother that just made her grin. She'd end up later on getting one Hell of a laugh when Mei would end up doing exactly that after Oliver had decided to test her to see how far she had come! By his fifth year back, the killing, despite the fact he'd been doing less of it in recent weeks and had resorted to using less lethal methods and more trick arrows, had started to weigh on him more and more. Prompting Waller to make a cutting remark about it while Anatoly was just pleased to see his old friend not be as willing to kill anymore. Especially in light of how things had started up where that was concerned during his time in Russia. The fight with Prometheus and Talia had effectively destroyed his suit, though thankfully the hood had survived it. And while Talia had ended up dead by Nyssa's hand since Ra's felt she was too dangerous to be allowed to continue to live, Prometheus hadn't been killed. As Oliver was finally done with killing as it had tainted his soul far too much.
Even declaring as much in the fight with the man in full view of the public. Allowing for many to catch his declaration on film for that matter as well. And he wanted whatever was left to be untouched by it. This decision would see Adrian become a lifelong citizen of the Lian Yu Prison alongside Slade Wilson and Digger Harkness. Both of whom were more then willing to give the man crap for his failure to destroy Oliver. Especially since his mission to do so had made him want to no longer kill. Cisco, along with some input from Jax, had both promised that a brand new suit would be awaiting Oliver when he got back from his vacation. A vacation that would see his expanded team willingly and happily protecting the city while he and Laurel were gone. As they all knew the man was in serious need of a vacation! Along with a full set of special trick arrows for his use so that causing bodily harm or killing would be avoided.
Something the weary archer was happy about. Not to mention his friends and family being happy about it as well! And as he and Laurel drove onwards into the open road towards Coast City and beyond it, he couldn't help but smile widely as he drove. Making Laurel to look at him with curiousity welling up in her and being rather damned happy at seeing that kind of smile from him. As it'd been too long since she'd seen him smile that happily. "What's got you smiling so much?" Asked Laurel with a smile of her own.
Her question caused him to look her way as they drove. "For the first time in years… I'm truly feeling happy again."
Hearing that made Laurel happy as can be. And would even lean over and kiss him. "I'm happy to hear that, Ollie. I really am." She told him softly.
As it was a long time in coming for that matter. The two shared a sweet kiss before he put his full attention back on to the road. "Love you, Pretty Bird."
"Love you too, Green Bean."
Author's Notes: Hope you all enjoyed this and special thanks to Stand With Ward And Queen for some mild inspiration of this one after a recent talk of ours regarding current events with the latest Arrow episode. Naomi and Jax are from the Green Arrow comics and are part of his support team.