88A/N: I admit I shamelessly borrowed the title form the episode that is still to come. Plot bunny decided it wanted this on paper, so I obeyed… Feed-back welcome as always.
Disclaimer: I don't own Arrow or any of the characters here, only paper and pen. So please don't sue me...
« There's still one person who has to die before all this can end… »
Slade ep 2X20
Starling City, undefined location,
"NOOO!" The bow clattered to the ground forgotten as its owner launched himself towards the figure lying on the ground. He fell to his knees next to her frantically trying to stop the profuse bleeding. Cradling her head in his lap, he kept pressure on the wound as best as he could. For the very first time in his life he cursed his marksmanship.
"Why did you do this? Why?"
His voice had lost its deep menacing tone; it was strangled and filled with pain until finally sobs found their way past his lips. His hand traced from her curly blond hair to her cheek in a feather-light touch as if afraid to hurt her again. At the sensation her eyes fluttered open revealing a world of pain but also something far more disturbing … worry.
"Not … your fault … Oliver! Don't … you dare … feel guilty … about this…"
The effort had taken away the remnant of her strength. Her body went limp in his arms and an anguished cry left his lips as the feeling of powerlessness overtook his senses.
"No, please! Stay with me… I need you…" Despair ripped through his body. Tears pooled on his lashes and welled over. This was what he'd feared all along. That one day he would bring death to her instead of protecting her from the dangers clinging to him. He had vowed to protect her with everything he had and now he had been the one to bring death upon her.
"Now you know what it feels like when your world gets torn apart, kid."
A deep raspy voice rose from the dark and a figure stepped out of it. Squatting down in front of the Arrow he tried to catch his gaze to figuratively push the arrow deeper in the wound. The look that met his normally would have made cringe every villain in Starling City. But instead of the hate and rage he'd expected to see there all he could make out was regret and despair. Perhaps he would have to make a slight change of plans? He realized this had worked out far better than he had intended it to. The moment wasn't there yet to end this once and for all as he had thought. He would rag this out a little longer. After all he'd been suffering for years now.
"I won't release you from your pain. Not now. You deserve your punishment for what you did to Shado … your betrayal demands blood. Hers."
A finger pointed at Felicity still cradled in his arms. Instinctively his muscles clenched drawing her closer to his chest, to his heart.
"You deserve some time to fully savour the feelings you're discovering just now… And then, perhaps, one day… I'll feel some mercy and free you." A snort left his lips as he rose and left the two figures on the ground.
Somewhere in the distance sirens wailed, the sound coming constantly nearer. Oliver didn't know how long he'd been sitting there. Time seemed to have sopped inhis universe. Nothing made sense any more. Why bother? What happened to him now wasn't important. The one person that had been keeping him away from darkness was gone, because of him. Slade was right he was no hero.
At first he didn't even notice the hand on his shoulder. Someone was talking to him, but his brain couldn't process the words. He looked up, almost expecting to see Slade's sneer, but instead his gaze connected with Quentin Lance's. He could see worry there.
"You have to go! Now! The police will be here any minute."
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him, but the man in front of him didn't react. Had he even heard him? Quentin Lance wondered what had happened here. He couldn't fathom why the Arrow had shot Felicity. Heck by the looks of it the Arrow himself didn't comprehend what had happened. Of one thing he was sure. He'd to make him leave the scene. Like immediately, before his colleagues swarmed in. There would be time for confrontations later and he would have to explain how this could have happened…
"Go! Now! I'll take care of her!"
As he moved to take Felicity from Oliver's grip he crossed his line of sight. He recognized the look in the other man's eyes. It was the one that had stared back at him from the mirrors for years.
Suddenly the gaze became clearer, Lance wordlessly observed as the Arrow pressed his lips to Felicity's forehead and with a nod in his direction he gently lowered her to the ground. He moved to where his bow lay discarded. Taking it up he examined it closely as if seeing it for the first time and trying to decide what to do with it. Flashes of red and blue interrupted his musings and he rapidly disappeared into the shadows.
Lance had followed his every movement not sure if he could fully trust the man to do what was necessary. Speaking of which…
He turned his attention to the supine form in front of him examining her closer for the first time since he'd arrived. The green arrow would have to disappear… a bitter smirk crossed his grim expression briefly. His fingers clasped it tightly and jostled the wound when he more felt than heard a low moan. His eyebrows shot up and rapidly he checked for a pulse. There … very faint and low it throbbed under his fingers. A curse escaped his lips. There was no time to lose…
Requesting immediate support and medical assistance he started first aid. Then with the arrival of the EMT's everything became a blur. Later he wouldn't remember the ride to the hospital or the time spent waiting staring at the blood on his fingers. His mind was elsewhere replaying the events he'd witnessed. Well, partially…