Arrowheart

Chapter Twenty

Oliver decided to take me home while Diggle called some buddies to get security guards for me and Hannah. When we arrive at my apartment, Oliver takes my hand momentarily, looking me in the eyes. I can tell he is as scared as I am.

Oliver: "Liz, whatever you do, please don't leave the apartment until I have Helena under control."

I put a hand on his cheek, trying to comfort him with a smile.

Elizabeth: "I promise. Make it fast because I won't let her destroy our lives."

He gives me a small smile. He examines my arm for me.

Oliver: "Are you sure you two will be okay by yourselves?"

Elizabeth: "We'll be fine, Ollie. I won't open the door for anyone. Mr. Diggle said he is giving the bodyguard for the balcony a key, so I don't have to open the door for anyone. I'm just worried about you. Are you sure you can handle Helena on your own?"

Oliver: "I know I can. I won't let her come anywhere near you or Hannah ever again."

He kisses my lips.

Elizabeth: "Just try not to get hurt."

Oliver: "I will."

I kiss him, and he leaves after saying good night to Hannah. Carly and AJ went home soon after I arrived, and I let Hannah stay in my bed for the night.

Hannah wanted to go to Moira's house the following evening, but I couldn't go. I had too many meetings all day, along with so much paperwork. I stayed at the office till 10 pm to catch up on everything. There was always a bodyguard around me as well. They would stand beside me, open doors, and survey the room before I stepped in, even in my office. It made me feel like the president.

When I finally get home, I immediately hop in the shower, letting my stress melt away as the hot water cascades. There's just one thing bothering me; Helena. Would she hurt Hannah to get to Oliver? Will Oliver have to kill someone?

I'm broken from my thoughts at the sound of someone knocking on my front door. I quickly shut off the water and put my bathrobe on before opening the front door to find Oliver. He looks so tired, as if he has the weight of the world resting on his shoulders.

He tries to say something, but I cut him off, pulling him in by his cheeks. His lips meet mine, and we move in sync. We fumble back toward my bedroom as we disrobe each other. It feels as if I haven't been able to breathe without him. Leaving our worries behind because all that matters is that he's okay and here by my side.

The following day, I wake up to find Oliver entering my room. He looks so tired. I immediately get up and walk over to him.

Elizabeth: "Oliver, what happened?"

Oliver: "Helena attacked Felicity. I had to save her and stop Helena from killing her father. I'm so sorry I had to leave you without a word."

I pull him into a hug.

Elizabeth: "It's okay, Ollie. You did what you had to."

He hesitantly returns my hug.

Oliver: "How can you forgive me so easily?"

Elizabeth: "It's simple. I've always considered the Hood, well, you, a hero. Also, you're not great at lying. I knew there had to be something else going on."

He chuckles as we separate and sit on the bed.

Oliver: "I've been told that a lot lately. However, Tommy called me a murderer. I thought for sure you would, too. I didn't want you to hate me."

Elizabeth: "Wait, Tommy knows?"

Oliver: "Yeah. I only told him, so he would listen to save your father's life that night you two got shot."

I nod, understanding why he told him.

Elizabeth: "Who else knows?"

Oliver: "Mr. Diggle and Felicity. That's it."

Elizabeth: "I already knew Diggle knows. Is that why Tommy hasn't been around you lately?"

Oliver: "Yeah. I really hope he can see past it."

Elizabeth: "He'll come around. You two have been best friends forever. He might need some time, but he won't be able to stay mad forever."

He manages to smile while I hold his hand to comfort him.

Elizabeth: "Promise me something, Ollie. If being the Hood ever gets in the way of being with Hannah and me at any time, just tell me. Don't lie to me."

Oliver: "I promise, Liz."

Watching Oliver work out doing a full-body pull-up is just so hypnotizing. I could do this all day with Felicity while Diggle plays the news on one of the monitors.

News: "Lawyers for John Nickel spoke to the press today. They say they're pleased the DA declined to indict their client on charges stemming from the recent fire in one of Nickel's buildings."

Oliver: "[groans] John Nickel is one of the wealthiest real estate developers in Starling City. He's also one of the dirtiest. That building that burnt down last night, the wiring was not up to code."

Felicity: "Maybe he didn't know that."

He looks down at us as he lets his body hang while only using one hand on the bar.

Oliver: "I guess he also didn't know about the seven people who have frozen to death in his other buildings over the past three years."

Elizabeth: "Not likely."

Diggle: "Yeah, he's a real man of the people."

Oliver drops down, landing in front of me.

Oliver: "Not for long. The DA ignores this, and the police can't do anything because all these slums are in the Glades.[he picks up his father's book] So tonight, we cross Mr. Nickel's name off the list.[he hands the book to Felicity] Are you two okay with that?"

He looks between me and Felicity.

Elizabeth: "Perfectly fine with me."

News: "The scene outside of the courtroom where Nickel was released this afternoon was, not surprisingly, tense."

Felicity: "100%"

Oliver nods and then goes to change into his Hood costume.

Elizabeth: "So we just wait here and hope he doesn't get harmed out there?"

Diggle: "That and we train ourselves to be prepared for anything that could happen."

Felicity: "Yeah, I'm still struggling with the training."

Elizabeth: "Well, I guess we get to train together. I do have some self-defense training already."

Felicity smiles, and we start training together before Oliver returns.

It's been half an hour, and Felicity is slightly out of breath.

Elizabeth: "I think you need a break, Felicity."

Felicity: "No...no, I'm...fine. Totally..."

Elizabeth: "Well, I was thinking we could take a water break for a minute."

Felicity: "Yeah...maybe we do... need a break."

I smile as I grab a water bottle and hand it to her. I get another for myself right as Oliver enters the room.

Oliver: "He wasn't there."

Elizabeth: "What do you mean?"

Felicity: "He was just gone?"

Oliver: "No, not gone. Taken."

Diggle: "Looks like Nickel was on somebody else's list too."

Oliver: "Well, after the fire last night, it's not entirely surprising.[He plops himself into a chair] Felicity, I need you to get me everything you can on Nickel. Focus on his tenants, anyone who might have filed a formal complaint against him, or...people who lost something in the fire."

Felicity: "Well, it's gonna be some list. I mean, slumlords aren't generally known for their popularity. Plus.."

She cuts herself off before she completes her sentence, and Oliver is getting impatient.

Oliver: "What?"

Felicity: "Nothing. It's just... You went over there to be all, 'Grr, stop being bad, or I'll arrow you.' And now you want to rescue him?"

Oliver: "I don't like the idea that somebody dangerous is out there.[The three of us give him a look] Somebody else. Because typically, they don't show my level of restraint."

Elizabeth: "[Sarcasm]Pot, Kettle, have you met?"

He gives me a look.

Oliver: "You know what I mean."

He gets up and walks away with his father's book in hand.

Diggle: "So you're gonna cross Nickel off anyway?"

Oliver: "No, I'm finding somebody else who needs a talking to."

Diggle: "Wait, wait, you're going out there again, Oliver? Why don't you go home and be with your family?"

Oliver: "That's when the work is done, Diggle."

Elizabeth: "Then why don't you and I go to dinner?"

He looks at me as I walk over to him.

Elizabeth: "You need to take a break sometimes. Relaxing will help you focus more later. Besides, you are basically fighting a never-ending battle."

Oliver: "There's just so much work to be done."

Elizabeth: "And there always will be. Give the bad guys a break for one night. That's all I'm asking."

He sighs.

Oliver: "Alright. Let's go get dinner together."

I kiss him before he changes out of his suit, and Diggle thanks me.

We end up going to Big Belly Burger.

Oliver: "You were right; I needed to get away from it for a night."

Elizabeth: "I know. It's amazing what a little time away can sometimes do for your mental health."

He chuckles at my comment.

Oliver: "It really is a never-ending battle, isn't it."

Elizabeth: "A noble one. But why have you been fixating on it so hard lately?"

Oliver: "I just want our city to be safer for us. For Hannah and any future children we may have."

I smile as I hold his hand.

Elizabeth: "As much as I love you for that, there will always be some type of danger no matter what we do. My father once told me he wanted to protect me from everything. Especially boys. You, of course, know that didn't really work out the way he wanted it to."

We laugh together.

Oliver: "I'm sure he hoped you would turn out to be a lesbian. That's what I hope for Hannah. But in all seriousness, I just want Hannah to be safe and happy."

Elizabeth: "I do, too."

Phones start ringing all around us. Eventually, Oliver's phone rings, too.

Oliver: "It's Felicity."

He answers the phone.

Oliver: "Yeah?"

I receive a text from her and open the link she sent me to see a live video feed of John Nickel. Oliver and I, along with everyone else in the place, watch the video.

Man: "If you make the Glades your home, you know who this man is. John Nickel. He owns your tenements, manages your slums. He provides the leaking roofs over your heads, the lead in your pipes, the asbestos in your walls. Basically, he makes money off of our suffering. But the police aren't interested in helping us. They may have let us down, but I won't. John, I want to give you the chance to state your case. Why shouldn't you be punished?"

The man rips the duct tape off of John's mouth.

John: "I knew there was bad stuff in my buildings.[Oliver ends the video on his phone while I keep it on mine and tells Felicity to track him.] Okay, yes, I made a little profit. At least they had a place to live. Without me, people like that would end up on the street."

The man puts the duct tape on his mouth again.

Man: "'People like that.' That's all we are to guys like this.[John screams through the duct tape, and I squeeze Oliver's hand, afraid of what is about to come.] John, I find you guilty."

We hear him getting the gun ready and watch him shoot John Nickel. I put my phone down immediately, not fully believing what just happened, while Oliver is being very quiet and seems pissed. He takes the phone and keeps watching the video.

Man: "There are plenty more people who need to answer for their crimes against us. So, who's next?"

Oliver: "Let's go."

I nod and follow him back to the club.