Hope For Today

Disclaimer: I thought this up awhile ago but never did anything with it until now.

Summary: Disowned by his father and strongly made to believe he's unwanted by those around him, high school graduate Tommy Merlyn found himself on another path halfway across the world.

2012

Since 2000, Tommy Merlyn has been a part of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion. A decision he's never regretted since it gave him what his father had refused to give him ever since the murder of his mother. Hours after he had graduated high school, his so called dad had chosen to crap on him by declaring him disowned for being a supposed disappointment and further went on to strongly imply no one wanted him around. Not being able to handle the 'revelations' to the point he wasn't able to find out just how true they were from Oliver, his family, and their respective friends, Tommy had packed a bag and eventually found himself at a Foreign Legion recruitment center and decided to go for it. At first, wanting to prove something to his father until his training officer had a very strong word with him about the whole thing. It also helped that a horrified and angry Robert Queen had managed to track him down and explain a few things to the young Merlyn. Said explanation pissing him off greatly but he chose not to leave the Legion and continue on with his training.

Robert was understandably unhappy about it but none the less accepted his decision and promised not to say a word to Malcolm about it but would say to his family that Tommy was traveling the world incognito to find himself. Tommy excelled in his training and was essentially a brand new man because of it as he'd found a measure of self worth in himself. Self worth his father would never be able to take from him for that matter. Tommy would find himself being placed in the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment and its 3rd Combat Company and during his first assignment with them in a country he'd never heard of until then, had found himself uttering the words he'd become rather well known for for years after. 'Yesterday, I had no hope. Today, I have some hope.' This use of words had helped inspire courage in the men he'd been with at the time as at this point, they were up against a rather large army with in comparison to them. Luckily, fate would have it that back up would arrive just in time. By 2007, Tommy was well on his way into his second month of his course to become a Sergent when he received the devastating news that Robert and Oliver Queen, in addition to Sara Lance, had died while on their way to China on the 'Queen's Gambit'.

His reunion with the remaining Queens and Lances had been a somber affair while his reunion with his father was anything but. Malcolm had viewed his son's life in the Legion as some foolish attempt to impress him and that had infuriated Tommy something fierce to the point he hit the other older man right in the jaw and declared his being Legion had nothing to do with the man. And while Thea had practically begged him to stay, Tommy couldn't but had promised to send letters to her and the others since by that point, the Legion was his life by then. Thea hadn't necessarily been happy about it and nor had Moira but thankfully things between him and the Queen ladies hadn't gone sour over the whole thing. By 2012, Tommy would achieve the rank of Staff Sergeant, or otherwise known as 'Chef' and then learn the news of Oliver's being alive. And because of that, Tommy successfully got himself some leave so that he could go and see his best friend returned from the grave. "You know, I'm not sure if I should be impressed you managed to get kidnapped and rescued in the time it took me to get here. Or seriously worried about it." Tommy told the Blonde with a grin on his face.

Oliver rolled his eyes with a chuckle as the two embraced one another in a tight hug. "You know me, Tommy, always gotta go all in."

"Guess it wouldn't be you otherwise." Joked the dark haired man and Oliver grinned.

"So, how long are you in town for, buddy?"

"A week. Which I wager will give us plenty of time to catch up and maybe get into more trouble than we should."

"Hmm… I think I'd rather hear all the stories you have with the Legion, buddy. Because no offense, five years on that island has made me appreciate the quiet."

Tommy, seeing just how serious his best friend was being, easily agreed to that. Besides, he himself could definitely appreciate the quiet! "Well then, to appreciating the quiet!"

"Amen on that."

Hope... Its a wonderful thing to have. Tommy thought to himself happily.

Author's Notes: Glad to finally get this one out of my head!