Chapter Text
Oliver has been struggling all his life to find his place. Not only in the world but also in his own family. Being born a Queen should have make his life easier but it just did not, at least not for him. From the day he was born, his future was already written by his parents. One day he will become CEO of Queen Consolidated. His path had been chosen and he had to follow it. No one ever asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Oliver always felt like his life was never really his. He couldn't connect with the Oliver Queen everyone expected him to be. So he started acting out. He was partying and drinking at a very young age and he didn't stop until he had already lost everything. Everything except hid bestfriend Tommy.
- Are you sure you want to do this, man?
- You go, I go, Oliver answered.
It has always been this way between them. Wherever one go, the other would stand by his side. Oliver followed Tommy through the darkness and now he was ready to follow him through hell. And Irak was going to be his Hell.
- You can't be spending your last night alone, Ollie.
The two men were sitting on the couch finishing their beers. Their party days were long gone now.
- It's okay, Tommy. I'll just go to sleep early.
Tommy looked at him then laughed. A big laugh that came from down his stomach.
- What's so funny? Asked Laurel sitting next to Tommy on the couch.
Laurel and Tommy have been together for 2 years now but Oliver and her have been dating for a few months before that. Months during which he cheated on her on a number of times. She was a nice girl, just not the right one for him. But she seemed to be Tommy's which made Oliver really happy, for both of them.
- Oliver Queen saying he'll go to sleep early, Tommy managed to say between laughs.
- Never thought I'd ever hear that, from the famous party boy Oliver Queen.
- Some things change, Oliver said, smiling.
- But some things never change, Laurel says.
She mooved on from Oliver a long time ago. They both realised that what they had was just an illusion of love. But the hurt was still there. He could see it in her eyes sometimes. And he hated it cause he could see the man, the douchebag, he used to be in her eyes.
- I'll leave you two alone, he said standing up.
Tommy followed him to the door.
- See you tomorrow, brother, Tommy said before hugging his friend.
Tommy knew that Oliver joined the army for him but he couldn't help being happy to know he'll have his bestfriend with him over there. Oliver hugged him back.
He didn't want to go back to Tommy's house. He has been staying there for the past three months and was still not calling it home. Not that Tommy didn't do his best to make it feel that way for his bestfriend. But it just wasn't home.
Oliver had not return home since that night. And he thought he will never go back but without really thinking about it, he ended up in front of the gates. He looked at the mansion he grew up in, the mansion he hated for so long. He felt like a prisonner in there but now, he missed it so bad. Not just the mansion of course, but his family. And his little sister, Thea, more than anything. He could see her bedroom's window from here. He pulled his phone out of his jean pocket and send her a text.
"Hey Speedy! Just wanted to tell you I love you."
He waited a few minutes but no answer. He didn't deserve one. Not after what he did. He turned around and was about to leave when his phone buzzed.
"Love you too, Ollie. Can't talk now. Call you soon."
She didn't know he was leaving. Nobody knew apart from Tommy and Laurel. Not that it was a secret, he just didn't have anyone to tell. He was all alone with no home.
Oliver ended up at his favorite coffee shop just a few blocks from Tommy's place. He loved this place at night cause it was very quiet. At this hour of the night, he was usually alone in there with Paul, the owner. Paul and him developped a certain relationship. They would not bother one an other. And that was pretty much it. But as he was just finishing his third coffee, he heard the door open. He turned around to see who was as crazy as him to come get coffee at 2 am in the morning. And that's when he saw her.
The girl. The same girl he saw a few times in the morning. The girl he couldn't stop thinking about for hours after seeing her. Her beautiful blonde hair, and her even more beautiful blue eyes that he could not admire properly through her glasses. She was always wearing beautiful dresses that made him believe she was some kind of corporate woman but tonight, she was only wearing a jean and a sweater. She wasn't wearing any make up and her hair was pulled into a ponytail. She looked more beautiful than ever.
She stopped when she noticed him in the corner. They looked at each other for a few second then she went straight to Paul and ordered an americano. She asked him about his family and chatted with him a bit. She told Paul more words in a few minutes than Oliver did in the past three months. He was really bad with people.
She sat just a few table from Oliver and he couldn't stop to look at her. She was typing on her phone, not even looking up when Paul put her order on the table. She took a sip of it and spit it out immediately.
- Hot! Hot! Hot! she said venting in front of her mouth like it was gonna do anything.
Oliver couldn't help but laugh.
- It's not funny! She frowned at him.
- Sorry! he said, handing her his glass of water. Here.
She hesitated but finally took it.
- Thank you. I should me more careful with what I put in my mouth.
Oliver chuckled.
- Not that I usually put things in my mouth. I mean, of course I put things in my mouth, like food or water, and I like to chew on my pen sometimes.
- I noticed, he murmured.
- But I didn't mean it like in a dirty way. Not that there is anything wrong with putting things in your mouth in a dirty way. Okay I'm babling, and I will stop in 3, 2, 1.
- Please don't, Oliver said, it's cute.
He smiled at her and she smiled back at him.
- I'm Felicity Smoak.
- Oliver Queen, he answered. You don't know who I am? he asked after a few seconds.
It had been such a long time since he met someone that didn't know who he was. She looked at him a little too long like she was trying to remember something but she just shooked her head.
- No. Should I know you? Are you someone important?
- No, I'm no one.
- You must be someone at least someone to somebody.
- No. I don't have anybody anymore, he said.
She could feel that there was more to that statement and she wanted to ask about it but she bite her tongue.
- Anyway, it won't matter tomorrow anyway.
- Why? Oh God, are you planning to kill yourself? Please don't, I couldn't handle being the last person you talked to before you …
- No! I'm not comitting suicide. Or maybe I am in a way, he added.
She looked at him puzzled.
- I'm in the army. I'm leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow.
Felicity didn't say anything. What could she say to a stranger leaving for war in a few hours. Nothing. She wished she could do something for him.
- You can't, he said.
- Oh, I said it out loud. Sorry, it happens to me all the time, she said sipping on her coffee, her cheeks turning red.
She put her mug down and looked straight at him.
- Nothing, really? I mean it. I really want to do something for you.
She seemed so sincere, like it was important for her.
- Really?
- Yes. Please, anything ... I mean, don't ask me anything dirty cause that would ruin the moment, for sure. And I'm pretty sure you can guess the answer.
- I would never, he said laughing. But there is something actually.
- Yes.
- You don't even know what I'm gonna ask.
- I trust you. So yes.
- How can you trust me? You don't even know who I am. And if you did, you wouldn't trust me. You shouldn't trust me.
- Telling me not to trust you only makes me trust you even more, Mr Queen.
He smiled at her.
- You are remarkable, Miss Smoak.
- Thank you for remarking on it, she said. Now tell me what I agreed to.
- I have no one to write to, no family, and my only friend is leaving with me so ...
She didn't even let him finish. She took a piece of paper from her bag and wrote down her home address, her phone number and her email.
- I don't know if you'll have access to a computer there so here is everything you need to contact me, she said handing him the paper.
Their hand touched for just a few seconds when he took the paper and he lingered a little bit too long. She had beautiful hands, small and perfect, just like her.
- Thank you, she said.
- I said that out loud, didn't I.
It was his turn to turn red.
- So what are your plans for your last night home? she asked him.
- I thought I could hang out in a cafe and meet the prettiest girl on the planet.
She laughed.
- That is so cheesy! she said . But sweet too. But seriously, what are your plans?
- I was serious even if the meeting was not intended. I have no plans.
- But, it's your last night! We have to do something! she said standing up fast. I have an idea!