#sorry being sappy in this chilis tonight

[selvagebutch]

the way she holds me steady as we walk into the lake because i can’t take my cane in the water and the way she has me rest my hand on her back while we’re dancing at the club because my crutch isn’t enough to keep me upright while we’re doing all that and the way she so carefully gets my walker out of my trunk and brings it to me, calling it my chariot there’s just something about the way she loves me and my disabled body

[dadboyshiro]

Current mood: Shiro stirring awake late in the morning, face buried in Pidge’s chest and head tucked up under her chin while she hums and gently plays with his hair. His one arm wrapped tight around her, keeping her in place. Shiro blearily realizing the time and jumping to apologize, because--shit--there was something important she needed to do today, he remembers, and now she’s late because she was too nice to wake him up after she’d finally gotten him to fall back to sleep after that nightmare. Pidge shushing him and telling him to close his eyes and lay back down because “hey, no, this is what’s important, Takashi, don’t you ever be sorry for something like this, do you understand?” Shiro still feeling kind of bad but also god she’s so warm, and her fingers in his hair feel so good, and... maybe it’s okay for him to be a little selfish every now and then? He still has trouble believing it sometimes--even despite the weeks, months, and years Pidge has spent hammering it into his thick skull--but fears and modesty aside, deep down he knows he deserves this, deserves her. Shiro swallowing his apology, turning off their phones, and burrowing himself back into Pidge as close as he can possibly get without another word; and when Pidge laughs and kisses his forehead before returning to play with his hair, Shiro doesn’t hesitate to greedily demand at least two more.

[olicitysecretsanta]

Be Better

Hello all, so my secret santa assignment was for @bowsmoakandarrow , who wanted a fluffy fic with a dog. I hope I did her justice.

Just some background on some things. This takes place 2 years into the future, and so it has my predictions on some of the things that might happen during Crisis on Infinite Earths. It also alludes to one of my favorite GA story lines happening the year before (so next season) this fic takes place. Kudos to those who know which one. 

A gift by @bandanab310

>—> <—<

December 2020

Another year. another world ending crisis averted. Another Hanukkah missed. 

The yearly team ups with his other super friends (even though he will not admit that he calls them that to their faces) had become too regular and every once in awhile would interrupt more wanted festivities. Like this year. 

Oliver shouldn’t complain too much. At least this year’s fight didn’t cost him one of his good friends like the previous one did. 

He shakes the bad memories off. Barry’s been back for 7 months now. Iris is at least starting to forgive him for the deal that he made. And both along with the rest of team flash are coming in a few weeks for a Christmas dinner. Oh no he still need to figure out what he is going to make for that. So much food is going to be needed. Besides Barry, Kara (who has become even more of a good friend now that they are on the same earth) are going to eat him bankrupt, again. However suddenly a bright idea comes to him. He’ll make them his chili. Oliver smirks to himself as he walks into the grocery store remembering the last time that they ate his famous Queen chili. How Barry gave up after four bites and Kara lasted 7. 

“That’ll fill them up quick.” Oliver says out loud to himself, “Right, but not what I am shopping for tonight. Nope Hanukkah.” 

Oliver makes quick work gathering the ingredient for Latkes, sufganiyot, and other delicious Jewish treats. Every so often looking at the recipes that Donna has provided him with over the years. Oliver is determined to give his family a great holiday season. And even though it will be technically late, this Hanukkah dinner will be the perfect kick off. It’s been too long. Two years ago they were getting to know each other again, the newer versions of themselves, both with changed viewpoints of the world they lived in, due to his incarceration, that still needed to be realigned. Last year was spent in mourning. Of a friend. Dwelling in their contributions of what had happened. 

But that was behind them. Be better, be the light for those around you. It had become somewhat of a mantra to him since last year. Even though he was back, Oliver was still trying his best to keep his promise to Barry and be the hero that could inspire his city. He was not as serious as he once was. Tried to joke around and be playful in his attitude. And after a year of working on it, it was sticking. Not as much as Barry level of lightheartedness, he would never allow himself to be that sappy. His life and his city wouldn’t allow it. But he felt like he finally found a good balance of the carefree boy that left on the gambit and the experienced and ruthless vigilante that came home five years later. He felt like a hero and a good amount of his city believed it too. As was evident by his interaction with the older cashier women at the supermarket check out. 

“Oh why hello Mr Green Arrow”

“Lisa, I told you it’s Oliver.” 

“Three years ago it was Mr Mayor, last year Green Arrow. What’s next year The Flash.”

“Been there, done that.” Oliver jokes. 

“Ha, ha, Oliver. That’ll be $65.87”

“Thank You, till next time Lisa.” 

“Bye bye, Green Man, happy holidays”

Oliver walks around the building to the parking lot on the side, when suddenly a crash stops his movement, and trigger his senses to survey his surroundings. Another clash helps him locate the sounds coming from the small alley way to his right. Quietly lowering his bags, Oliver moves silently into the space. Another loud sound, this time of glass breaking, pulls him closer to the trash can at the far end of alley. On quickened, but still silent steps, Oliver rounds the other side of the dumpster to find…a dog. 

It was a yellow lab. Maybe a year or two old. Matted fur. And tired eyes. A stray. Once it see Oliver it starts to back away from the garbage bag it had been previously rifling through. Whimpering in cautionary fright. But it wasn’t getting too far too fast with it’s seemingly injured front paw that it was holding up while trying to hop backwards out of the alleyway on its three other legs. 

Oliver carefully moves closer to the animal  trying not to frighten it any more than it was. From his own personal experience oliver knows how it felt to be vulnerable and afraid of being helped. Believing the rest of the world existed to only to bring you harm and hurt. 

Oliver slowly extends his hand towards the dog staying crouched to make himself less intimidating. “Hey Buddy, I’m not going to hurt you.” His low calming voice starting to do the trick as the dog stops moving backwards but still whimpers, like it’s cautious but slightly intrigued, hoping that expectations wins over experiences. Oliver gets that. 

“Need help with the paw there?”

The dog probably sensing that the human in front of it is no immediate danger hobbles towards Oliver’s outreached hand. 

“Good dog” Oliver praises as he ruffles the dog’s fur with one hand reaching for the injured paw. 

After making a fairly quick assessment of the damage Oliver says to dog (or himself maybe) “Well, it’s not broken just a little sprain. Just needs…a…little…”

Looking around the alley Oliver sees a wooden pallet leaning on the side of the the trash bin. 

“Stay right here,” he says to the yellow lab. And as if it understands already what Oliver is planning, it thump it’s butt to the ground and waits, it’s injured paw still raised in front of it. 

Oliver revels in the cute image that this dog paints for a few moments before refocusing on the task at hand. He brakes off two thin pieces of wood and comes back toward the dog, who he noticed now was a girl, taking his the scarf he’d been wearing off. 

“Come here girl. Let’s get that paw fixed up”

Oliver makes quick work on fashioning a splint, having done this kinda things enough times on himself, his friends, enemies even, but never for a dog. It’s a nice change of pace. 

Once he’s done he gently places the paw back on the ground and both he and the dog look at each other.

“Well there you go, good as new” 

The dog looks down at it’s own now wrapped and splinted paw. once it seems to deem Oliver’s work sufficient, she gives him a lick of appreciation, it’s tail thumping on the ground behind it.

“Oh is that your way of saying thank you” Oliver chuckles “well your very welcome”

With one more quick lick of the face the dog gets up on all four of his legs, turn and starts to walk away 

“Well I guess that is that”

Oliver starts to walk out the opposite way when a thought comes to mind, something that he would have never had considered a year ago. 

“Hey, girl!” 

———-

As soon as the apartment door closes behind Oliver and his new companion, a loud crash followed by a very familiar huff of annoyance fills the open space. 

As Oliver moves further into the living, the yellow lab close on his heels, he catches sight of his beautiful glowing wife grumpily looking through one of the stacks of boxes that are scattered around. Unlike the stacks of boxes from years past these do not represent a dissolving of their family but instead the growth of it, as is evident by Felicity’s 6-month rounded belly that seemingly just knocked over a standing light which is now on the floor not shattered so therefore already forgotten by her.

Felicity still obvious to her husband and the 30-pounds furry creature, mumbles to herself “Where the heck did they go?”

“Hon” Oliver tries to get Felicity’s attention. It’s to no avail as Felicity moves from one box to the next before yelling

“William have you seen the menorah candles”

“No, Felicity sorry I haven’t” their son yells back from the shower as Oliver registers the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Huh kid’s been working on his heightened senses or are they just in-tuned to Felicity’s loud voice. 

“Hon” Oliver tries again a bit louder.

“Where’s a glowing green arrow of enlightenment when you need one”

“Felicity!” Oliver slightly yells at the same time as a bark fills the room.

Felicity startles at that. Quickly assessing that Oliver is there as well a four legged scruffy animal with what seems to be the scarf that Thea had given Oliver as a christmas gift last year around one of its front paws. 

“Who?” She questions as she points to the dog.

“Oh. Right. Um.” Oliver starts to babble “This is a friend that I found outside the supermarket. It needed help. So I helped. And then. Well, I kinda thought that maybe. If it’s ok with you. And William of course. Maybe we could keep. I mean I know with the baby. But I thought….” 

Before Oliver can continue with his best impression of Felicity, she’s kisses him. Wrapping her arms around him as much her bump allows her. After a few moments she breaks the kiss, much to the chagrin of her husband. 

“It’s completely ok. I think it’s a great idea. You know William has been begging for a dog for years. And hey we’re moving to a house anyway we’ll have plenty of room. And the studies say that having a companion pet allows a baby to further their spatial development. Not to mention the natural boost of immunity. 

“Thank you.” Oliver says before giving Felicity a quick peck on the lips “and you won’t find the menorah candles in any of these boxes” 

Felicity looks up with a quizzical look, “why not?”

“Because that was one of the things that I had to get, remember?”

“Frack” his wife mumbles as she rests her head on his chest in defeat as it rumbles with his low laugh. 

Their silent moment is short lived as a bark once again notifies of the new member of their family. 

“Right. Hey doggy.” Felicity address the dog as she, with the help of Oliver, lowers to sit across for the dog who immediately starts to lick her outstretched palm while the other begins to scratch behind it’s ear. 

“So what should your name be…hmmm….how about Apollo?”

“Hon, she’s a girl.” 

Felicity quickly raises and lowers the dog’s back leg. “Oh yes you certainly are. Excuse me. Well, Artemis is kinda a tainted name for us soooo…how…a…bout…Archer.” 

“Don’t you think it’s too much on the nose, Felicity?”

“What good is not having a secret identity when you can’t have a bit of fun.”

She’s got a point there, Oliver thinks. Have some fun. “Sure why not.”

“Yay Archer, welcome to the family girl. You’re going to fit right in. Us Queens are all survivors just like you but don’t worry we’re better for it.”

That they were. While he will never forget all of the things that have happened to him and his loved ones, Oliver’s doesn’t let it solely define him anymore. He doesn’t have to feed off his darkness as much nowadays. He has a light now inside to motivate him. It’s been slow going but maybe one day soon it will be the only thing that he needs. Be better. Be a Hero.