#on the same level as sitting in silence after almost getting into a wreck l

[dindjrins]

most realistic (and human) scene from good omens 2 is crowley driving his car in silence as he cries. crying listening to sad music in your car is one thing but sitting in complete silence is a whole other level of heartbreak that’s how you KNOW your ass is devastated

[nthngbxtfanfics]

The MONSTA Office - Newbie

“Yah! Jooheon-ssi! Guess what” Minhyuk walked straight to the male with a big grin marked on his face, too excited to stand still.

“Hyung, honestly I already know that Kihyun-hyung got dumped on his last blind date! You don’t have to tell me that three times.” Jooheon whined turning to his approaching colleague. “Shh! Jooheonie-ssi, Kihyun isn’t aware that everyone knows about it and he shouldn’t, or we’ll be dead! I have something better and more interesting.” The male got more excited the closer he came to the younger man.  Jooheon raised his eyebrow, curious about the new information he’s about to get from the gossip-queen himself.  “Someone came in today for an interview. For the empty spot in our office. You remember where Junghos spot was before he left?” stated Minhyuk, his smirk not fading when Jooheon nodded in response for him to continue. “The person has applied for that spot.” “That spot? I thought we won’t take in someone new.” questioned Jooheon, the frown getting deeper as he became more curious. “ Who is applying for what spot?” asked someone from behind them. Both Minhyuk and Jooheon turned to look at the person. Wonho came back from his break with a cup of coffee in his hand. Minhyuk waved him over and explained everything to Wonho. “I haven’t seen this person yet, but I noticed that after I returned from my break, I saw Shownu coming back to his office extremely happy. A smile is literally glued on his face.” Continued Minhyuk.  Jooheon and Wonho exchanged looks and waited for Minhyuk to continue. “I tried to ask Shownu what happened, his only response was about me taking care of this new employee.”

” This person must be really interesting, since he’s been making Shownu-hyung all smiley.” He got a nod as response of the male in front of him.  “I just hope this dude is not as annoying as Kihyun.” Jooheon leaned back on his chair and turned slightly. “Poor Changkyun, has to deal with yet another new person.” Wonho was kind of amused about the thought of Changkyun constantly being annoyed by their new coworker. Since Changkyun isn’t the type to engage with new people. He only sticks with the same crowd. “But I do hope that this person can make good ramyun.” added Wonho while sipping at his coffee and gaining a side eye from Minhyuk. “Changkyun isn’t over Jungho yet and now he has to deal with a Kihyun 2.0!” Jooheon got concerned for the well-being of his best friend and maknae.

“Yah! What are you doing there? Don’t you have work to do? Minhyuk, Shownu-hyung has been searching for you!”  All three men got startled by the sudden outburst of Kihyun and went to their expected workspaces. Minhyuk’s smile becoming bigger while leaving to Shownu’s office. Kihyuns gaze followed Minhyuk, when he walked past him. Confused, Kihyun looked towards Jooheon, who avoided his gaze and pretended to work. Kihyun turned his head to Wonho who disappeared behind his desk. Standing there, the short male exhaled and walked over to his own desk, while questioning what they were talking about.

Were they talking about me? Minhyuk you are so dead!

You were excited and scared at the same time, anxiety rushed up your spine. You couldn’t imagine how your first day would be. 

Will I do something wrong? Will I break something? Will my coworkers like me? Would I make a fool of myself? Should I just quit now and search for another job? But the payment is too damn good, I can’t quit! All those thoughts were running through your mind. Lost in them, you didn’t even noticed your arrival at the entrance of the tall building. Snapping out of your thoughts and putting the best smile over your face, you walked through the giant glass doors straight to the receptionist at the counter. Your body was shaking to an extrem, that you might not be able to put even one decent sentence together. But with trembling lips and sweaty hands you managed it. “Hello, excuse me my name is Y/N Y/L/N and I’m a new employee and I was told to ask for Mr. Lee Minhyuk, he’s supposed to accompany throughout the day.” The woman at the counter opened her mouth to say something but stopped and placed a smile over her mouth when she noticed the person behind you. You followed her gaze and spotted a man with the brightest smile on his face. “So you are the new employee, my name is Lee Minhyuk I’m Mr. Sohn Hyunwoos secretary and assistant. It’s nice to meet you.” He introduced himself and held his hand in front of you, ready to be shaken. Still taken aback, you reached out to take his hand into yours. Shaking lightly, you introduced yourself to him. “Hello, my name is Y/N Y/L/N, it’s nice to meet you. I’m here to start my first day in this company.” you got addicted by his smile and couldn’t take your eyes off him. By your misfortune it did not go unnoticed by the man in front of you, a chuckle escaped his lips, he let go of your hand a gestured towards the elevators.

“Shall we go? Mr. Sohn would like to meet up with you before I show you around the office and introduce you to the coworkers.” You noticed how there was no air in your lungs as the knot in your chest got tighter and the room got hotter by the minute. Remembering your anxiety, your face started to heat up and you could swear sweat was building up on your forehead. But for some reason, you were able to move anyway and followed Minhyuk to the elevator. You were surprised by your little achievements, despite being a nervous wreck. A short minute later, you catched yourself staring holes into Minhyuks back, when both of you reached the doors of the elevators.  After the doors opened, Minhyuk gestured you to enter the elevator first, smile still plastered over his face. Inside the small space, Minhyuk punched the button of the floor you have to reach. Should I say something? How do I start? Do I look weird to him? You couldn’t tell if you should start a conversation with him or to just let the silence invade the space, being too frustrated with your own thoughts. Minhyuk actually catched onto your uneasiness and started a little conversation with you to ease your nerves. “ Mr Sohn is really happy that you applied for the job at our company.” ”Thank you Mr Lee, I really appreciate that, I’m actually kind of worried but I promise I’ll do my best.” assuring yourself rather then him. Minhyuk giggled to your response. “ You don’t have to be formal with me, call me Minhyuk and don’t worry, you’ll do great. Everyone’s nice here and no one will harm you. I’m actually pretty excited to work with you to be honest with you. You can always come up to me, if you need anything.” his assuring smile boosted your confident-level and you saw yourself smiling with your whole heart, for the first time this day. “ That’s really nice of you Minhyuk-ssi.” giving him a warm smile back and receiving an even bigger one from him.     A small signal ringed through your ears as you reached the top floor. Minhyuk stepped out the elevator first, only now you noticed, that his smile didn’t disappear not even for a single second.

He tried his best not to break out into a much bigger smile that has been plastered since the moment he spotted you in front of the counter, his excitement was too strong. He didn’t expect such a beautiful person, to be their new coworker.  Things are getting exciting!

The both of you rounded a corner towards the office space, you haven’t seen the office before, since your interview was in some kind of conference room at a different floor. Looking around, you noticed a really tall male almost falling forward. If he continues to swing his head around a little more, his head might collide with his computer screen. The imagination made you chuckle a little bit while refusing to let out a loud giggle. Minhyuk turned his head a little to have a small glance of you, a smirk replacing his smile as he turned his head back to the front. Walking past the working space, Minhyuk kept giving a few people a small nod until a pretty annoyed person approached him. “ Yah! Lee Minhyuk did you brought the folder to Shownu-hyung already? I have to redo it, since Jooheon messed it up.” The man noticed you hiding behind Minhyuks back, his facial expression changed rapidly and a greeting smile was formed with his lips. Showing a little of his bright teeth. He turned his attention to you, ignoring the person next to you completely “ Ah Kihyun-ssi, this is our new coworker Y/N Y/L/N. From bow on she’ll be working with us.” Kihyun ignored the male after he finished the introduction and gave all his attention to you. “Yoo Kihyun, it’s nice to meet you. I’ll look forward to work with you.” He held out his hand for you to shake it, without trembling hands, you were able to take it. “It’s really nice meeting you Mr Yoo.” giving him a confident smile. “Oh you can call me Kihyun, you don’t have to be formal with me. For what job did you actually applied for, if I may ask?” Kihyun tried to start a little small talk with you, but Minhyuk grew inpatient and started to tap his foot on the ground. You noticed his tense body and gave Kihyun a quick response. “I applied for the job as a programmer.” you don’t wanted to be too impolite towards him, but the feeling in you, don’t wanted to let your new boss wait for you too long. Kihyun parted his lips to say something but got interrupted by Minhyuk.

“I’m really sorry Kihyun-ssi, but we have to leave. Mr Sohn is waiting for us.” Minhyuk grabbed you by the arm and guided you to the office of Mr Sohn. Kihyun stepped aside, avoiding to collide with you.  “ Let’s talk later Y/N-ssi! Minhyuk! Don’t forget the damn folder!” Kihyun shouted towards you. You smiled at him and earned the same gesture in return.

Walking as fast as you could, you reached the doors of Mr Sohn. Minhyuk knocked on the door twice until you heard a muffled “come in”. The doors were immediately opened by the man in front of you, revealing the inside of the office. Looking around the room, you noticed the familiar man sitting in front of his desk with a folder in his hands. He laid the documents to the side, ready to give you all his attention. The moment you made eye contact, a smile appeared and his eyes disappeared into thin lines, as if they were smiling at you too. You couldn’t help but smile in return.  It’s funny how everyone around you started to smile, the moment they laid their eyes on you.  “Hello Ms Y/N Y/L/N it’s nice to see you again. I hope Mr Lee was able to show you little around on your way here.” He stood up from his desk and greeted you the same way as the last time you guys met.

“Please take a seat.” He gestured towards the chair next to you, obeying you sat down. “Hello Mr Sohn, I’m happy to be here. I did took a few glances to look around and was able to have small conversations.” You replied. 

“I’m glad, I actually wanted to go through your schedule for today. There won’t be much, since you’ll be accompanying someone, who has the same profession as you for the first few weeks.So you can get a routine for yourself.” Explained the man in front of you. You only nodded throughout his explanation not knowing what to say exactly and scared to impolitely interrupting him.

“You will work beside Lim Changkyun, I already informed him about your arrival, so he must be prepared. Mr Lee will help you if you have any other questions not related to your task or if you need anything.” continued Mr Sohn. After nodding for the final time. You and your boss stood up simultaneously, Minhyuk and you followed the man in lead towards your new working space.  As you made your way, you noticed how the people around you started to look at you. Your cheeks started to turn pink from embarrassment. Soon you stopped in front of a desk, near a giant window, with an amazing view outside. Looking towards the desk again, you noticed the top of the head from a certain person. 

That must be Lim Changykun. 

“ Changkyun-ssi, this is Y/N Y/L/N, she’ll be your new partner. Please be kind and take good care of her.” stated Mr Sohn. The male looked up, his eyes switched between you and the man beside you. He stood up and introduced himself to you.

“Hello, my name is Lim Changkyun.” he didn’t seem amused by the fact he had to deal with someone new. But you brushed it off immediately despite the quick pain in your chest. You forced a smile out and introduced yourself again for the 4th time this day. Changkyun flinched for a second after you noticed how Minhyuk glared down at him and mouthing a Be nice, you idiot or do you wanna die?

“ We’ll leave you both alone, so you can actually get to know each other.” after that the both of you stayed alone. Changkyun sat back down on his chair, continuing with his work. You stood there, not knowing what to do, until Changkyun started to speak up. 

“You don’t have to stand there and look stupid. Take that seat and sit down next to me.” You obeyed and sat down next to him, keeping a healthy personal distance.  Let the fun begin!

[exhaustedfander]

“What if I told you I love you?” Chapter Three

I know I initially said this was going to be a three-chapter work, but in writing this chapter I realized a fourth one is gonna be necessary. Enjoy, I'd love to hear what you think and have a wonderful day/night.

Word count: 2,143

a03 link

Writing Masterpost link

Previous Chapter 

Logan is woken suddenly by the sound of a door slamming against the wall. He shoots up in bed, fumbling for his glasses as he sees Virgil stand to face whoever’s opened the door so violently.

“Leave him the fuck alone, Deceit!” Ah, Janus is here. Wonderful.  

“Get out of the way, Virgil. This is no concern of you.”

“No concern of me? Logan’s in a shit mental state, all because of Remus.”

“And you aren’t worried for Remus at all? You two used to spend a lot of time together if I’m not mistaken. You don’t care that he’s hurting too?”

“S-shut up! He did this to himself; he didn’t have to confess to Logan, and not like that. He fucked himself over.”

Virgil guards the doorway protectively, not daring to let the deceitful side enter.

“So you don’t care that he’s crying his eyes out, then? I haven’t seen him so distraught since you left –.”

“Don’t you fucking dare, Janus. I know what you’re trying to do and – and it isn’t working. Leave Logan alone.”

“Let him in,” Logan says suddenly, his voice far hoarser than he’d assumed it would be. Virgil swivels to face his friend, concern burning in his eyes.

“But –.”

“It’s okay, Virgil,” he says, in an attempt to reassure the anxious side to the best of his ability in such a state, “Come in, Janus.”

Logan doesn’t miss the hiss Virgil sends Janus’s way as he steps aside and allows him to walk into the room. Logan shoves the blankets off, knowing he must look a fright considering the lack of tie, resemblance to a bird’s nest his hair bears, and his flushed cheeks. Looks like professionalism is out the window, all things considered.

“Logan, I know we’re not exactly on the firmest of footing,” Janus begins, but Logan is quick to interrupt.

“What's happening with Remus? That’s why you’ve come here, isn’t it?” Janus takes a step closer to the bed, ignoring the icy glare Virgil is sending him.

“Yes, it is. I can respect you cutting to the chase –.” “Get to the point, Janus,” Logan cuts in, exhaustion and fear mingling in his tone so that they are almost one entity.

“Virgil,” Janus says, turning to the anxious side, “Could you give us a moment?” Virgil sputters. 

“No way! Logan, you don’t seriously want to be in a room alone with this snake, do you?” Logan’s hesitation sparks something in Virgil, panic fluttering. “L, c’mon, man…”

“It’s alright,” he says as reassuringly as he’s able, “I promise, there’s nothing to fear. Janus and I will merely be having a conversation. I know you’re concerned, and I appreciate that, but it’s going to be okay.”

Virgil glowers at Janus, still visibly concerned with the idea of the two of them being alone in the same room. Logan can’t completely fault Virgil; he knows the history of their relationship is complicated, to say the least, and while Janus has gained acceptance into the group, that doesn’t stop Virgil from being wary of him.

“Fine,” Virgil sighs, his body still clearly wound up with tension, “But I won’t be far off. If you need anything, just –.”

“I will come and get you if the need arises,” Logan assures. Virgil nods uneasily, taking a final anxious moment to assess the fact that, perhaps, a conversation with Janus wouldn’t be incredibly dangerous. Once the door is shut, with quite a bit more force than necessary, Janus turns back to Logan, a look of utmost seriousness carved into his face.

“What’s happened with Remus?” Logan asks, despising the rawness to his voice. A look flickers in Janus’s eyes, one that Logan would dare call predatory if it isn't immediately replaced with concern. 

“To put it bluntly: he’s a wreck. After your little conversation and the way you so intelligently left the room, he is distraught to a point I haven’t seen in years.”

Logan can feel his heart rate escalating the moment the words leave Janus’s mouth. Remus had confessed his love for him, of all things, and Logan had simply left with no explanation. Even in his state of over-emotion, and so many damned feelings, he knows that was by no means the best course of action. Even so, that doesn’t distract from the fact that Logan’s so lost in his emotions, emotions he’s hesitant to so much as face, he’s drowning in feelings, feelings he was so sure he didn’t have, he’s drowning –

“Lying to yourself won’t help.” Janus’s voice cuts through the jumbled thoughts that crowd his mind. Logan notices that he’s begun to shudder again and wonders how close he is to another breakdown. Surely, Janus won’t be as adept at handling him in that state as Virgil, not that he would want the deceitful side to see him so undignified.

“I – I’m not –.”

“Oh, of course not,” Janus says, voice dripping with sarcasm, “You aren’t lying to yourself. You would never be so desperate to convince yourself that you don’t have feelings for Remus. Am I correct? “I-I…” Logan struggles to dislodge anything more intelligible than that.

“Listen,” Janus says as he sits beside Logan on the bed, “I know this can’t be easy for you. Lord knows feelings are never something that make too much sense. And being Logic, I’m sure you’re doing everything in your power to make sense of them. But that,” Janus says pointedly, “Is precisely your problem. You’re trying to make sense of something that for the most part lacks logic.” Logan casts his eyes down on the comforter, the ache in his chest increasing with each passing moment.

“But I’m Logic. How is it that I can be feeling a-anything of this nature? It-it isn’t right.”

“Yes, Logic is your base function,” Janus agrees, “But that doesn’t stray from the fact that you are far more than that. Surely you don’t think my only purpose is lying?”

“Well, you have impersonated me several times now,” Logan mutters, still not facing Janus. The deceitful side lets out a sigh, silence falling over them for a moment before he speaks up.

“I apologize for any strife I may have caused you,” he says, somewhat apprehensively, but Logan cannot detect any malice or deceit in his tone, “I stand by the fact that I was doing what I needed to do at the time… but I’m sorry, for impersonating you, and for impersonating Patton, and for anything else I’ve done in the past that might be considered malicious.”

“I -,” Logan falters, not having expected such an apology, before deciding on his next words carefully, “I do believe I will be able to accept that apology with time.”

“Then that’s all I can ask for,” Janus says, sounding satisfied on that front, at least for now. “Now, back to the matter at hand.”

“Remus,” Logan says simply, hesitation deeply imbedded in his tone. While Virgil calming him done had done a great deal of good, that didn’t make all this any less difficult. Someone had confessed their love for Logan, Remus had done so, and despite the fear that continues to well inside of him, it's something he's going to have to face sooner or later.

“I know he shouldn’t have done it the way he did,” Janus says tiredly, shutting his eyes as he pinches his temple before looking back at Logan, “God, do I know that. It was clumsy and incredibly overwhelming on your end, I’m sure. But I suppose I wouldn’t expect much else form him.”

“I didn’t mean to cause him emotional distress,” Logan blurts suddenly, more emotion bubbling in him than he realizes, “I would never intentionally – that is, I’m not proficient with issues of this matter. I… feel horrible, for what I must’ve done.” The last sentence is muttered, shame tinting every word. A jolt of shock runs through him as a gloved hand settles on his shoulder.

“I know you didn’t mean to, Logan,” Janus says in a tone that tells Logan he’s doing his best to be comforting, despite the fact that neither of them are really suited for such a thing, “You’re not the type to be so mindlessly cruel. And it’s not as though Remus hasn’t caused you a great deal of your own emotional distress. He didn’t mean to, though I’m sure you know that.

“He tries his best, really, he does, but he doesn’t always know how to conduct himself in the most constructive ways. I tried to stop him from professing to you in such a way, but he refused to listen.”

“How much damage have I done?” Logan asks, taking the first steps into accepting the fact that he needs to do something about this. Janus sighs.

“Nothing you can’t undo, I’m sure,” he says, pausing, “If you’re careful.”

“He… he loves me? He really loves me?”

“He does,” Janus replies, “I haven’t seen him so bright-eyed in such a long time. He speaks with such fondness of you. Talks of you constantly, it’s getting to be quite tiresome – yet, I can’t find it in myself to scold him for it. It’s strangely… sweet. Though, I must say, seeing him walking down the hall with a beating human heart in hand, of origins I cannot possibly say, was cause for alarm.” Logan feels a flush run up his neck.

“I… I was the one who asked for the heart, actually,” Logan admits, no small amount of embarrassment seeping in, “He brought it to me for dissection.” Janus let out a roaring laugh, holding a hand to his head.

“Of course you did,” he said, his chuckle dying down as Logan crossed his arms over his chest, “Why would I expect any different from the likes of you two?” Logan takes a deep breath, and then a few more, allowing himself a final moment to process all he’s been going through emotionally before speaking:

“I love Remus.” Janus claps slowly and dramatically, a level of sarcasm that Logan really isn't in the mood for.

“Congratulations, you’re officially the last one to know.”

“Have I been that obvious?”

“Logan, dear, sweet Logic, a blind man would be able to see how helpless you are for him. And goodness, with Remus following after you like a love-sick puppy (is puppy quite the right word? Rabid, deranged wolf, maybe? Ah, it doesn’t matter) and hanging off of your every word? It’s obvious he feels just the same.”

“It seems as though I’ve been rather foolish, haven’t I?” “You realize you saying that just agrees with what I’ve been saying, don’t you? You and Remus have been acting insufferably stupid, and Remus already acts that way on a regular basis, so I refuse to deal with it from you, too.”

“I – thank you, for this,” Logan says, “It seems I needed some sense talked into me.” Janus nods in agreement, ever one for drama.

“Oh, you most certainly did. But I’m happy to have obliged,” he says, “After all, someone has to look out for Remus.”

Logan can’t help but admire the friendship that Janus and Remus share. He hadn’t realized it was so strong until now, and he certainly hadn’t expected the likes of Janus to be the one to set him on the right path, and yet here he is.

“I’m frightened,” Logan admits, his voice achingly soft, “I’ve already made such a mess of things…”

“That doesn’t mean that they can’t be fixed,” Janus points out, “I trust you’ll be able to work things out just fine. A little misunderstanding doesn’t mean the end of things, and to think as much would be blowing things way out of proportions, I’m sure you realize.”

“Right,” Logan says, the thought of he and Remus no longer having any kind of a relationship disappearing from his mind, “You’re right.” “As much as I love being told I’m right,” Janus says, not skipping out on the sass, “I do believe you’ve got a conversation to attend to.” Logan worries his bottom lip, wringing his hands.

“Yes… I suppose I do. Has… has anyone been with Remus, in the time we’ve been talking?” The idea of Remus being alone now is suddenly very unappealing.

“Yes, Patton’s been sitting with him. It’s not as though I would leave him alone in such a state.”

Okay, that’s better than he might’ve thought. While Patton and Remus by no means always get along, Patton’s far better at handling issues of emotion than most, and he’s certainly in good hands. Logan stands from his bed, catching sight of himself in the mirror and the mess that he is. For a moment, he considers doing something to fix his appearance before deciding getting to Remus now is a time-sensitive issue.

“Best of luck, Logan,” Janus says, with no ounce of deceit. He really is hoping for the best of outcomes, which Logan is thankful for. He isn’t usually one to believe in luck, but he’s fairly sure he’s going to need it.

=+=

[raywritesthings]

Still Believing

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, Sebastian Blood, Slade Wilson Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen (Pre-Relationship) Summary: Oliver isn't quite as quick to dismiss Laurel's accusations against Sebastian Blood and learns the truth about the alderman's allegiances as a result, forcing him to change his approach towards the woman he loves. *Can be read on my AO3 or FFN, links are in bio*

Oliver sat on a roof, watching the front of Sebastian Blood’s campaign office, and thanked his luck that Digg had gone home early to watch AJ for Carly. He knew exactly what the other man would be saying about his choice to monitor his recently made friend in light of the revelation about Officer Daily only hours ago at the Starling City Cannery. But he wasn’t quite as ready as everyone else to give up Laurel’s hunch just yet.

There was too much that didn’t make sense. Blood’s missing file, the fact that the Man in the Skull Mask had kidnapped Laurel after her accusations against Blood and the fact that he’d abruptly gone so public after weeks of Oliver’s fruitless questions and searching.

Daily being the man underneath the mask was just convenient. Too convenient, and it answered nothing about where the mirakuru was and who had supplied the recipe. It smacked of a cover-up, a fall guy.

Hadn’t he and Diggle pulled the same move only last year? Suspicions got a little too close and he arranged for Digg to go out as the Hood. Their plan had gone off without the complication of Diggle dying from it, of course, but the principle was the same; make everyone including the person accusing him think they were wrong, even when they were right.

Laurel herself had compared Oliver and Sebastian only recently, saying how she wasn’t quite sure she knew the real them. And she wasn’t exactly wrong in Oliver’s case, so why would she feel the same about Sebastian unless it was true? Particularly when Oliver thought he knew what she’d been feeling regarding his newest friend.

“I will take care of Laurel,” the alderman had said, and Oliver had felt something off about it, hadn’t he? That wasn’t a blind spot. That was gut instinct, the kind he had honed on the island to warn him when he was in danger. Only it hadn’t been about him this time, it had been Laurel.

She’d been well and truly taken care of, hadn’t she? Discredited, fired, and forced to kill. If Daily had been the one behind it all, raiding her apartment for the drugs she’d taken would have been enough to silence her. Why even risk his life?

Oliver knew Laurel wasn’t in a good space right now, that most were willing to dismiss her as an unreliable witness. She needed help, but if Daily wasn’t really the Man in the Skull Mask then she and countless others were still in danger. He owed it to her and the people of this city to be certain beyond a doubt that Sebastian didn’t still have some role to play.

Down on the street, there was movement as Sebastian left his campaign office with three other men in tow. They got into a car driven by a fourth man that was parked out front and pulled away from the curb. Oliver quickly descended from the roof to his bike stowed in an alley and followed at a safe distance.

It would be easier if Felicity were on the comms to follow Sebastian’s car on CCTV, but she likely quietly agreed with Digg, so Oliver couldn’t involve either of them until he had proof. It was a good thing he was practiced at tailing the old fashioned way.

Sebastian’s car pulled up outside an otherwise unremarkable office building, and he and his entourage entered it. Almost all the lights were out in the building, so it was easy to see just where they might be headed for. Oliver made his way around the building, onto the roof, and rappelled down between windows, staying out of sight flush against the brick.

He stopped his descent when he was level with the office still lit with a single lamp and only managed to make out Sebastian’s voice because the man shouted with such clear relief.

“It's done! They think it was all Daily. He sacrificed himself for our cause.”

So it had been a setup after all. Laurel hadn’t been wrong. But then, was Sebastian truly the Man in the Skull Mask, or was he merely reporting back to the real one?

Oliver heard the low murmur of a voice he could not quite make out, yet something about its timbre sent a shiver down his spine. The next thing he heard was the unsheathing of a sword.

Several gasps and grunts of pain followed, bodies hitting the floor. Oliver chanced just the briefest look and nearly froze at the sight.

Slade.

It couldn’t be real. He flattened himself against the brick again, willing himself to stop seeing ghosts. It couldn’t be Slade in there mercilessly slaughtering the men Sebastian had brought along with him. Slade was dead. Had to be.

Yet his one-time friend’s voice continued to taunt him through the glass. “Your incompetence has now cost you four lives, alderman. Fail me again, and yours will be the fifth.”

It couldn’t be a hallucination. Hallucinations didn’t cause real damage, kill real people. Hallucinations didn’t provide a radical alderman with a sample of the mirakuru that he could turn into a new batch for a new legion of super soldiers. The pieces were all falling into place now, and he was left feeling frightened and a fool.

He should have snapped his old friend’s neck when he’d had the chance, even if the thought roiled his stomach now. How many lives had already been lost because he hadn’t?

Oliver heard heavy footfalls and no more because he fled. If it was Slade, and he caught Oliver here—

What did it matter? He was already caught. Slade had gotten into his city under his nose and begun an operation. One that included Sebastian Blood becoming mayor and Laurel being silenced.

His blood ran cold. Laurel. Slade knew better than any just how much she meant to Oliver. He could have had her killed at the cannery if he’d wanted. Which could only mean he had something worse planned.

Oliver stopped in another alley some streets away, struggling to draw breath. He didn’t know what to do, how to keep her safe. He needed to keep his distance and throw Slade off his game… unless that was what he wanted.

Sebastian had just put Laurel through the last forty-eight hours clearly on Slade’s orders. Slade wanted Oliver to not trust Laurel, to withdraw from her and leave her on her own. What better way to make sure she was unprotected?

Even at her best, Laurel was no match for Slade or a man enhanced with mirakuru. Oliver wasn’t always confident enough to say he was. And Laurel was nowhere near her best these days. He needed to keep her close.

He could visit her as the Arrow, let her know that she had been right, and then… what happened then? Would Laurel want to try and find more evidence? If he told her he would take care of the situation, would she even listen? She’d be more likely to go out there on her own than to just take his word for it. What was the word of a faceless man, a stranger?

Every instinct rebelled against the conclusion his mind was drawing. Laurel wasn’t supposed to be part of this side of things. She was supposed to be safe. Yet even thinking that, he could see that wasn’t the reality. The reality was Laurel was mired in all kinds of danger, from Slade to Sara’s League, and all he had succeeded in was keeping her ignorant of it.

Could he really do it? Change everything about his approach for over a year and try a new way? There was every chance she would never forgive him, but a greater chance that she would come out of this alive.

Oliver swallowed down his fear and nerves and changed directions, taking his bike further downtown instead of back towards the base.

---

Laurel dragged her feet as she entered her apartment, leaving all the lights off as she set her things down and settled on the couch. She did not have the desire to do anything but sit in the dark with her own thoughts and failures.

How could she have been so wrong? Everything had felt like it was pointing at Sebastian; his mother’s confession and subsequent death, the missing file, just the sense of unease she got around him, like there was so much more to his vision for the city he wasn’t sharing. Like Malcolm before him, she thought she could sense an undercurrent of rage to his passionate rhetoric.

Maybe she’d just wanted to be able to unmask the mastermind before it was too late, since none of them had managed it last year. Maybe she was just balking at anyone getting too close to her right now, and she’d made up some reason in her head for why she shouldn’t get close to Sebastian after all. Maybe she was just a useless addict like her father and everyone else thought she was.

How had it come to this? She’d just wanted the pain to dull a little, not to question her own perceptions of her life. Why had she been so… weak?

She wanted to tell herself that this was the wakeup call. Time to get back up and put an end to all this spiralling. But what did she have to really make an effort for anymore? No job, barely anything like friends, a disappointed father, a wreck of a love life… was there a point to get better, when there wasn’t much of a better she could expect in return?

Her lights already being off, just the slightest click of the latch on the window was the only warning she had. Laurel staggered up and back, reaching wildly for the desk drawer. Where was — had they taken her gun? “Damnit!”

“It’s just me,” the Hood’s modulated voice spoke, and Laurel felt her breath release as she slowly turned back around. He was standing there, bow strapped to his back and both hands held up. Her head slowly shook side to side.

“I didn’t think you’d come see me, after what I did.”

“You really think I can judge you for killing a man in a fight?”

If she were in a better mood, she might have smirked at that. He had a point. “No, but… I was wrong.”

“You weren’t.”

Laurel froze. “What do you mean?”

Slowly, he walked closer. “I took the liberty of following Sebastian Blood tonight. He met with an associate and told him that Daily played his part in their plan. He was just a decoy.”

Her fingers trembled. A part of her wanted to deny it — how could Daily be that fanatically loyal to a man or a cause that he would throw his own life down just to discredit one lone drunk? Just what could Sebastian be building? A part of her ran both hot and cold at once. How dare they take away what little she’d had to keep going for just to take away her voice!

“Who’s his associate?” If she knew that, she’d know more about what Sebastian was trying to do, how to stop it.

But the Arrow hesitated. “Someone dangerous.”

“Oh.” Laurel’s eyes closed. She should have seen this coming. “You’re saying goodbye again.” It was what everyone did, wasn’t it?

“No.”

She wondered if she had heard that right and opened her eyes. This close, she could see the Arrow’s mouth twist in a conflicted frown, one that seemed so achingly familiar if only she could just think straight for a minute.

“This man knows me. He knows who matters to me. No amount of removing myself from your life will change that.”

Laurel’s stomach did a strange sort of flip flop. She had always maintained there was nothing more to her relationship with the Arrow than a mutual desire to see justice done, at least whenever they were on good terms. To hear him say she mattered when she’d been doubting it herself… But she needed to keep focused.

“What are you saying?” She prompted him, hoping it sounded at least somewhat gentle. She didn’t want to spook him.

“I’m saying that I don’t know a better way to keep you safe than to tell you the truth. And I’m sorry.” There was the slightest beep of some kind of device, and then he reached up and pulled down his hood.

Even in the dark of her apartment, he was unmistakable. Laurel’s back hit the shelf behind her with a gasp, a trembling hand going to her temples.

“Ollie?”

He stared at her, his eyes still shadowed by the mask he wore. He said nothing, seeming to realize she needed a moment.

She needed more than that. She needed a drink or something because she- she’d hunted him. She’d blamed him for Tommy’s death no matter how much of a projection of her own guilt it had been. He’d probably thought he deserved it, too, and yet he’d still saved her from the Dollmaker. He’d still shown up when she’d called for help about her suspicions towards Sebastian. Because he still cared.

So much of the vigilante’s actions became clear to her in that moment with just that realization. All the times she had wondered why her, or what he really thought of her, why he seemed to want to work together and yet held her at arm’s length.

She reached out now, slowly, and he let her touch his shoulder. She needed to feel the leather of the suit he wore, the hard muscle underneath, to know he was solid and real. Before she knew it, she was hugging him.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, and wasn’t fully sure what she was even referring to. All the times he’d saved her? Everything he’d done for the city? Finally just telling her what was going on?

He brought his arms around her slowly, and his cheek rested on the top of her head for a moment that stretched between them. She wasn’t sure what happened when either of them moved, and a part of her didn’t really want to. She felt safe and warm in a way she hadn’t for all that time since the Undertaking, and she didn’t want it to go away.

“You’re really okay with this?” He wondered aloud.

She shrugged in his hold. “I always knew the Arrow was someone under that hood, and that he wasn’t choosing to share that with me. I guess now I can see why you had a reason.” He’d been unwilling to take risks with her safety last year after Vanch, not because he didn’t think she was cut out for it, but because she meant more to him than just being a good lawyer. She was important to somebody in this world.

Of course, her tired and dazed mind eventually remembered why he was even telling her this now. Laurel slowly tilted her head back to look at him. “Who is it that Sebastian’s working with and why does it worry you this much?”

She watched him swallow, eyes not quite meeting hers. “His name is Slade Wilson, and he’s… someone I knew on the island. Someone I thought was dead.”

Laurel shivered. “Was he one of the people who tortured you?” It was one of those things she couldn’t help recalling every so often, even though she hated thinking about it. About the pain he endured for all those years.

Oliver hesitated, then nodded. “For some of it. Before that, we were friends. And I… I showed him this.”

He let her go, and Laurel hugged her arms to herself at the loss of contact, watching as he withdrew something from one of the pockets of his suit. Her heart jumped into her throat.

It was the photograph. The silly little wallet-sized photograph her dad had gotten copies made of after her college graduation. He’d said it mattered more than high school anyway. Laurel had rolled her eyes at the time, but snuck a copy to take down with her to the docks, to give as a favor to the boy who’d captured her heart.

And he still had it. Had both, really. Through a shipwreck and five years of who knew what Hell, he had hung onto that photo. She’d never realized he would’ve wanted to keep it.

“Slade knows what you mean to me, Laurel, and what he’s here for is more than just to plot with Sebastian. He wants revenge, and he will use anything and anyone I care about to get to me. But most especially you. I’m so sorry.”

It was like something had snapped in her, the jagged broken bits of her fitting back into place, and she could breathe again. Could think and feel like a normal person again. Her lonely mess of a life had some sense to it at last, and she felt more like the woman she remembered herself to be. So Laurel shook her head.

“I haven’t been hurt yet, Ollie. Yes, I’ve lost my job, but that wasn’t because of you. It was because of what I was doing to uncover Sebastian’s secrets. It would’ve happened whether this Slade Wilson was in town or not.” She had to wonder just where and how Sebastian fit into this revenge scheme Oliver was talking about, but that was something they could figure out. “They probably think I’ve been taken care of, so I’m safe.”

“I don’t know for how long,” he insisted miserably. “Slade will come after you.”

“Then I’ll defend myself.”

He shook his head. “He’s stronger than anyone I know, Laurel. Including me. And…” he paused, looking uncomfortable, before saying, “you’re not well.”

She looked down at herself. The thin, frail arms. Her clothes that seemed to swallow up her slight form. Had she really let it get this far? Some of the fear and shame from before when her father had turned his back on her in the interrogation room welled back up within her, stinging her eyes, but she pushed it down.

“I can get better.”

“Really?” He sounded afraid to hope. She could relate to that feeling.

“Really. I- I thought I was alone, that you and my dad were just acting out of obligation or something. That I’d ruined everything with the Arrow… I didn’t think anyone could still believe in me.”

He’d followed Sebastian just to prove her right. He’d seen some kind of worth in pursuing it, no matter how messed up and irrational of a person she seemed to everyone else.

“I don’t want to let that down, and I don’t want to just lay down and die for some maniac with a grudge match against you. I’ll get better,” she promised.

His shoulders relaxed with a small smile, and he pulled her close again. “Thank God.” His lips pressed to her forehead for a breath.

“Ollie…”

“Yeah?”

Laurel didn’t speak. She wanted to ask just what she did mean to him that had him so worried about this Slade Wilson, but it didn’t feel like the right time. This was so new, and she had so much work to do to get back into a good place for herself. So she just held his forearms a little tighter.

“Thank you.”

She wasn’t sure how long they stood like that, just breathing in the quiet space between them. It was one of those rare moments in her life she didn’t want to end. But she was starting to have trouble keeping her eyes open.

“You should get some rest,” Oliver said, as if reading her thoughts.

“So should you. You’re the one with a job to go to in the morning.”

“You’re gonna find something,” he said immediately. “I’ll help.”

She actually believed him. The Oliver who had returned from the island seemingly full of good intentions but empty promises had only been half the story. Now that she knew what lengths he went to for this city, she thought she could start to trust him again.

They pulled away from each other, Laurel reaching out one last time to cup his cheek, her thumb rubbing the edge of the mask he was still wearing. “You’re okay now?”

“I don’t know if I’ll be okay until Slade’s been stopped,” he admitted. “But I feel much better than I did. Thank you.”

She smiled. It had been a while since she’d felt like she could actually help someone. It felt good. “Goodnight, Ollie.”

“Goodnight, Laurel.”

She walked to her hallway but paused there and watched as he put the hood back up and left through her apartment window, stealing across rooftops into the night. The vigilante; her oldest friend; the man she — despite telling herself she shouldn’t — loved. Life was starting to make sense again.

She would call her dad in the morning and ask him what she needed to do to get herself out of this path she’d gone down the same as him. Just picturing the relief it would give him had her smiling. She could be more than a burden or an annoyance to people. She was more than a bunch of failures.

Those thoughts echoing in her head like a mantra, Laurel turned in for the night, re-determined to take on the world come the morning.

[beamdolans]

Only Have Eyes For You [G.D]

SUMMARY: His dads insane, his mothers a disheartened wreck, his brother is a major junkie, and his bad boy facade is driving him mad. All the girls desire the secretive boy, but he only has eyes for her.

Words: 1.8k

Warnings: sorry a lot of depressing shit and smut I guess. possible triggers? also this is my first fanfic so get ready for some punctuation mistakes!

A/N: thanks recognizedolan on instagram for the manip. This is also part one of a many parted sieries!

[Y/n’s POV]

Tuesday, April 2nd, 4:11pm

"Can someone tell me again why the fuck we're here?" My long time, best friend Rachel exclaimed, quite loudly and very deliberately to Mr.White. I buried my head in my hand and shot her a look across two desks that screamed 'shut up'. Mr.White sauntered over to Rachel and placed his large hands on the gum covered desk that stood before her.

"Well, Miss.Smith." He paused, and locked his gaze on hers, making sure to draw out the uncomfortable silence. The only thing heard in the dimly lit room was the sound of the clock ticking and my uneasy, heavy breaths.

"You and Miss.y/l/n messed up pretty badly yesterday." He stopped and glared in my direction, eye balling me up and down, with the look of disgust plastered so blatantly on his face. He turned his balding head back over to Rachel and let out a sigh that started to sound like it was gonna go on forever. "You socked Mrs.Anderson in the head, she passed out, bless her soul. Then you snuck out of the school, came back with a giant jug of vodka, got hammered in 4th period with Miss.y/l/n, and basically started a riot throughout the 12th grade." Mr.White's voice was so calm and monotone, it was almost terrifying.

From the other side of the room by the window, you could hear deep chuckles coming from the boy that shot over a painfully perfect smile. It lit up the room. "If I were you, I'd keep my laughing to myself, Mr.Dolan." The old man said to Grayson, a boy who basically lives In this room 24/7.

Grayson licked his pink lips and looked down at the ground with a smirk still glued to his face. He picked up his right ear bud, popped it back in his ear and kept working on whatever he was working on.

"Please Rachel, humour me. Am I right?" Mr.White said, knowing damn well he was just being a huge smartass. Rachel crossed her arms and gave the gum in her mouth a loud smack. "That was a rhetorical question.” She sassed. "Well if you didn't want an answer, then you shouldn't have asked." Mr.White raised his hand and placed his pointer finger to her chest, and poked it hard. Rachel quickly grew a perplexed and outraged look on her face. She took her hand and grasped it around his wrist firmly, and stood up so the two were now eye to eye. "Don't fucking touch me, Gary." She said with gritted teeth and furrowed eyebrows.

Rachel wasn't really the type to keep to herself, or just leave a situation as is, a thing most people would do to not make matters worse, but I guess they come in all different types.

I hear Grayson let out a grunt, causing the two to jerk their attention to where he was sitting. "Is everything all right over there? It looks like you guys need some help." He was now standing to his full height and had his hand placed on the back of his neck, rubbing the tension out of it unbearably slow. He knew damn well things were not going over well, he's a bit to cocky for my liking. The room was filled with awkward silence and Mr.Whites eyes were now on Rachel's hand clasped around his wrist. He cleared his throat and pulled away, now leaning against his desk.

"No talking, no moving, and I would like all of your phones on my desk please and thank you."

We all didn't obey to his words right away and stayed in our seats. I saw Rachel look down and twiddle her thumbs, while Grayson rested his elbow on his desk and his head in his palm. I think we were all a little to scared to move. Well, I was at least. "C'mon I'm not getting any younger here." Mr.White said with his hand reached out in front of us, waiting for us to oblige. "Ya got that right." Rachel said under her breath. I got up out of my seat and placed my phone in his hand, and Grayson did the same. "Sorry, say that again Miss.Smith." He said obviously not amused. "How old are you again Mr.White?" Rachel tilted her head, looking actually intrigued by her question.

Damn that girl was a good actor. I get why she's the lead in almost every single school play.

Mr.White cleared his throat. "52." He said, hands in pockets. "Ahh, time has not been kind to you Gary." Rachel said while placing her legs atop her desk and her arms behind her head.

Me and Grayson both let out a laugh that would have been too troublesome to keep in. Gary, sorry, Mr.White cocked an eyebrow and stared hard at the three of us, making sure to let all of the uneasiness he had to offer seep into our heads. He grabbed his bags and headed for the classroom door. "I'll be back at 9:00." He exclaimed visibly hurt by the remake made earlier.

We watched the door lock behind him and the giggling started to subside.

"Damn back at 9:00? I got things to do!" Grayson said taking a look at his watch, and whining at it since it was only 5:00. "And by things to do I assume you mean go out and get in every single girl pants?" Rachel questioned, while popping the gum in her mouth a couple hundred times.

Grayson licked his teeth and bobbed his head a few times before strolling over to the side of the class we're both of us have been sitting. He pulled up a chair and rotated it so his hands were placed upon the back of it and his legs were hugged around the bottom. He shook his head and explained, "I'm not into that dumb shit."

I found that very hard to believe since the stories about Kelly Ransom, Lucy Adams and so many more girls I can't even remember the names of have been going around since 9th grade, and he's never opposed to them once.

"Mhmm." Rachel said clearly not convinced either. Grayson's smirk slowly faded. He looked to the ground and tapped his fingers on the top of his seat, looking uncomfortable.

"I'm not into some dumb shit." He raised both eyebrows, leaned back, and opened his arms wide, "What the fuck do you think? That I'm some pussy 18 year old virgin?" He scoffed, "If I'm in the mood, I could get some desperate preppy girl from the cheerleading team to drop to her knees instantly and suck me off, when ever I wanted. It's a blessing." He smiled, "I don't force girls on me, they just migrate to my dick."

Rachel choked on a laugh.

He's full of it. I could tell he was just trying to prove a point to the now two curious girls he found himself talking too. He was exaggerating. I hope. "Aren't all those girls you fucked with why your here?" I said needing some type of closure. Grayson looked in my eyes and smiled.

I've known him since grade 5 and ever since then I've thought that he was the most beautiful man to have walked the earth. When ever his gaze meets mine, my heart seems to skip a beat. I really don't have a thing for guys like him, so to me, he's just eye candy.

"Look who's talking. Y/n, never thought I'd see you in here." He shuffled closer to me. I rolled my eyes, "Well yea, I don't do stupid shit." Grayson smirked, then looked down, "Getting drunk at school and punching a teacher in the head isn't stupid enough?"

That boy thought he was so hilarious.

Rachel grabbed the gum out of her mouth and chucked it across the room.

'Boom!' She yelled after she shot it perfectly into the overfilled garbage can at the front of the class. "Yea she's not into the things that could even get her remotely in trouble." Rachel winked at me, then continued to try and shoot rolled up balls of whatever was in arms reach into the trash. "Shut up!" I said smiling, nudging her arm. "I was with you when all that shit went down!" Rachel scoffed, "Yea, but I did all the work." She stood her ground. "You're cute, you know that?" Grayson said beaming in my direction, playing with the cords of his ear buds.

Rachel raised her eyebrows and took her feet off the desk. She quickly turned in our direction and stood from the old chair she was sitting on, causing a agonizing squeaky noise. She crossed her arms and stared into Grayson's memorizing hazel eyes, for longer then what would keep a person sane. "Take a picture sweetheart, it last longer." He said smugly. She wound up her dainty, very surprisingly robust arm and whacked him right on the side of his cheek.

I jolted back and put my hands to my mouth, trying so hard to hold in a laugh. Rachel started to crack up from her actions while giving me a proud glance. "What the fuck was that for?!" Grayson said while rubbing the spot of contact. "She's too good for you." She said while signalling over to me. Grayson looked at her, then at me with shocked astonishment. "What!?" He said confused. "She's way out of your league. She's got a better personality than you'll ever have, she's basically a precious gem." Rachel said getting down to Grayson's level, giving him a pouty face.

Grayson peered up at me with a look that had embarrassment written all over it. "Ouch." He said, "I guess I'll have to step up my game then." He walked back over to his seat and placed his black ear buds back into his ear before closing his eyes, looking just a bit too comfortable. "There's no music playing dumb ass. You don't have your phone." Rachel said while taking a seat beside me. "Yea, I realized that after I put them in, I didn't want to ruin the moment." He said letting out a giggle. Rachel shrugged, sighed, then put her hand over top mine and rubbed circles onto it while humming to herself. I looked over at him, his face looking as content as ever.

Maybe Dolan wasn't such a bad guy, besides all his dick sucking bull shit.