Some Chili

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the general idea you see for the story. And well, I'd say the first chapter of this series of one shots was a rousing success if the amount of positive feedback I received is anything to go by! And now, let's do it to it!

Summary: Oliver's time away for 5 years has brought on quite a few noticable quirks that he hasn't exactly been able to hide. None more so then the way he liked to make his special chili. Could be set anytime during season 1 or afterwards but with Tommy still alive.

Oliver 'Ollie' Queen's 5 years away and presumed dead during it had instilled a few odd quirks in the young man. And for his family and friends, they wound up easily noticing them. But never really said anything to him about it. Especially since it wasn't really even meaning any kind of harm and they just figured it was his own special way of dealing with things. Although Walter had been the one to sensibly suggest that perhaps therapy was a good course of action as there was no telling of the amount of damage to his physche his time away had wrought on him. But as per usual it tended to be ignored in favor of pretending everything was okay even when it wasn't. Today however would blow that entire notion away, and it was all thanks to Thea when she went to find out where the Gregorian chants she kept hearing in the manor were coming from.

Her search eventually led her to the kitchen, thuogh why Raisa would be listening to that sort of thing is beyond her since she really didn't seem the type to do so. But when she took a look inside, what she found within shocked her a whole heck of a lot. For it was her big brother himself who had the chants playing. And playing rather loudly at that and waving his arms around in time to the music with a bit of a sway of his body along for the ride. Not to mention the cooking spoon that could be seen in one hand that looked to be covered in some kind of red sauce. Maybe he's finally snapped? Maybe Raisa got him to do this for some weird reason only she knows? Were just some of the things Thea had wondering about in her head.

Thinking quickly however, she began to record the scene with her phone to later send to everyone she knew. Including the bodyguard and the IT girl her brother had wound up becoming friends with and only had their numbers in case of an emergency. Something Oliver had been oddly insistent on, but she went with it anyway. The fact he wasn't sleeping with the blonde girl was something of a shock to Thea, but she chalked it up to him possibly taking his time. Or that the IT girl in question for whatever reason wasn't interested. She resolved however to get to the bottom of that when she could. For now though, she needed to get her brother's attention.

"Ollie!" Came and went try number 1.

Trying again for a second time produced the same results, same for the 3rd and 4th time which both included yelling. But the chants were pretty much keeping her from being heard. So finally getting the bright idea to shut it off. She was then met with a response she sure as heck wasn't expecting, but grateful as can be she was still recording the whole thing. She also placed her phone in a good place to able to capture the whole thing on its camera function.

Oliver paused in what he was doing, annoyed that his preparations and spiritual meditations were interrupted. "Whomsoever hath ended the healing balms of the Gregorians, I command thee! To bring them forth again to mine ears once more!" Thea was torn between shock and wanting to laugh.

Waiting a moment to see if the intruder would listen, and seeing that they had yet to do so. He turned around in annoyance to see who the interloper was. The fact it was his baby sister surprised him and had him feeling slightly embarrassed. And I thought I had the place to myself! He lamented to himself, a bit annoyed as well at having been caught.

"Ah, lovely sister of mine! W-what are you doing here?" He whispered, not wishing to disturb the chili.

Something his sister didn't seem to catch on too. And left her wondering how much longer he might keep on speaking to her like this despite her catching him in the act. "Well I wanted to know where the sounds were coming from and I found myself here. Where you are." Though it was likely pointless to point that out, she still felt the need too.

"SHHH! Your words must be but a whisper whilst the chili is being prepared!" He told her seriously with his own whispering and looking as serious as possible about it in the process.

Thea just raised her eyebrows at him at that, slightly baffled at how seriously he was taking things. But decided to play along for now as she figured it would be well worth the blackmail she would have on him later. After all, a sister has to have some kind of way to get a sibling to agree to something if they are being difficult about it. Like not having John Diggle tail her and Roy on dates anymore. Something she KNOWS Oliver has to be behind but he's kept silent on it no matter what she's tried so far. Hah, not anymore! No more tails! I have the upperhand big brother and you don't even realize it! She thought gleefully.

"Okay, so why the whispering?" Feeling slightly silly now herself for even doing any whispering.

"Because... Because my Master commanded it during the times the chili was sought to be made. The chants however, were my idea." He told her with a grin on his face. Though unknown to him, anytime Tatsu had made the chili she had only told him to stay quiet so that she could focus on making her special chili. Of course had she known what that would result in she would have made sure to explain why she wanted him to stay quiet in the first place. Course if she also knew that Oliver saw her as the mother he never realized he actually needed. She might have also hugged him. Or hit him, he wasn't entirely sure of that outcome.

"Oh... Okay... If you say so Ollie. So, can I have a taste?" Thea found herself very, very curious about this supposed 'master' of his and really hoped he hadn't been sexually messed with to a point he'd call anyone that. She had to repress the shudder at the idea.

"No, no tasting can be allowed at this time. For the chili is not yet ready and to taste it now would ruin it!" Was his firm response, and strongly believing every single bit of it.

Ohh yeah! Blackmail big time baby! The girl thought quite happily again.

"Aww, well if you say so Ollie. I guess I'll come back by later to see if its ready." She finally said, trying hard not to break into a fit of giggles right in front of him.

"Yes, that is very good! Perhaps when we next gather about for dinner hmm?" He nodded like it was a done deal. Making Thea want to laugh even more.

Smiling at him, she started to walk away and made sure to grab her phone from where left it. "Okay Ollie, see ya!" Not even bothering to whisper that time to see if she could get a rise out of him. But apparently didn't seem to work. And quickly took off.

Oliver harrumphed at the impudence of his sister before walking over to the music player and turning it on again. The sounds of the chants instantly making him tilt his head upwards with his arms spread and eyes closed. Basking in the radiance of its soothing sounds. Meanwhile Thea was already sending the video to those they knew with the tag line of 'You Have Got To Watch this!' The reactions soon led to all sorts of messages on Oliver's phone, but the music kept him from hearing it. One such text from Moira however read like this. Oh dear, perhaps Walter has been right this entire time...

One from Tommy however was a bit more on the positive side. Hey man, I definitely want some!

Author's Notes: And that concludes that! Heck I might even re-visit this later on to include more chili fun. Or to show another of his little quirks he might have likely gotten during his time away. R and R!