Description: A mission leaves Oliver physically beaten and unravelling. Y/N is the only person he allows close enough to see the cracks beneath his armour.
Rain pounded the bunker windows, making the glass shake. Outside, the city glowed with neon and thunder, but down here, everything was uncomfortably quiet.
You sat on the edge of the medical table, twisting your fingers in your lap while the elevator doors opened with a loud groan. Oliver stumbled out first. Your breath caught, and worry for Oliver quickly took over your nerves.
Blood stained his suit sleeve, bruises marked his jaw, and he looked exhausted. Diggle came in behind him, looking tired too, but you couldn’t take your eyes off Oliver. “Oliver-” “I’m fine,” he muttered automatically. His lie bothered you more than you expected. “You’re dripping blood on the floor.” “I said I’m fine.”
Diggle slipped upstairs before the argument could start.
Oliver took off his hood with a frustrated sigh and tossed it onto a chair. He gripped the table, his shoulders shaking a little. It wasn’t from anger. From pain. Your chest tightened. You grabbed the medical kit and moved closer without saying anything. “I can do it myself.” “And yet you haven’t.”
He looked like he might argue, frustration in his eyes, but then his expression changed. He just looked tired. He sat down heavily. It was quiet as you cleaned the cut near his ribs. Oliver hissed when the antiseptic touched his skin. “Sorry,” you whispered. “It’s not your fault.” The storm outside rumbled again.
You tried to focus on bandaging him, but your hands shook. It was hard to keep your mind from spiralling. Even as you pressed the gauze to his skin, you still saw flashes from just hours ago, the sickening moment you thought you’d lost him, the echo of a gunshot too close, that same, cold fear flooding your chest. Relief mingled with dread, turning your stomach inside out. You kept remembering all the times he’d barely made it back, every grim call, every fresh wound, every night where you counted the seconds until you heard the elevator and knew he was safe. Sometimes you pictured what life would be if he didn't come back at all, a wordless emptiness, his empty chair, his laugh gone from the room. The thought made your heart race, almost painful with how much you needed him. Lately, every mission felt like waiting for bad news, like the universe was just biding its time before it took him away. You wished for a future where he would always walk through those doors, where you could let go of fear long enough to hope that someday, this constant ache would fade.
Oliver noticed. His gaze softened immediately. “Hey.”You refused to look at him. “Don’t.” “Don’t what?” “Use that voice on me.” A small, tired smile appeared on his face. “What voice?” “The one that makes me forgive you.” His smile faded right away, replaced by guilt. “I didn’t mean for tonight to go sideways.” “That’s the problem, Oliver.” Your voice cracked despite your efforts. “You never mean for it to.” The words lingered in the air.
Oliver stared at the floor for several long seconds before speaking again. "When I was on the island..." he began quietly, "I got used to believing I was already dead." His jaw tightened. For a moment, you saw the memories flicker behind his eyes: building a fire with numb fingers in the pouring rain, burying the watch he took from Yao Fei, the taste of salt water as he dragged himself onto the sand after a firefight gone wrong. The biting sting of salt air in open wounds, the endless damp chill in his bones, the echo of distant gunfire. "Sometimes I still think that way."
You finally looked up. Seeing how vulnerable he was made your frustration fade, replaced by a deep compassion. “That doesn’t mean you get to scare me half to death every night.” His expression softened further. “You care about me that much?” You let out a shaky, disbelieving laugh. “You cannot seriously ask me that.” Oliver blinked, almost stunned by the answer. He could read his enemies so well, but he couldn’t see himself.
You finished wrapping the bandage carefully before murmuring, “I love you, you idiot.” You said it before fear could stop you. Time seemed to stop. Even the thunder felt quieter. Oliver stared at you like the world had stopped turning. Then, very gently, he reached for your hand.
"You shouldn’t," he said. He hesitated, then looked down, fidgeting with the edge of the bandage. For a heartbeat, something deeper flickered across his face—fear, not just for you, but of himself. Sometimes he wondered if he belonged anywhere outside the violence that kept finding him, haunted by mistakes and losses that clung to his conscience. "Every time you get close to me, you put yourself in danger. What I do, what follows me... I don't know if I can live with the thought of hurting you, too."
Your heart cracked a little. “That’s your response?” “No.” His thumb brushed over your knuckles. “That’s me trying to protect you.” “From what?” “Me.” His honest words hurt more than if he had yelled. You stepped closer until your knees touched his. “Oliver,” you whispered, “you don’t get to decide that for me.” He looked into your eyes, hoping to believe you. You leaned in and pressed your forehead to his. He finally let out a shaky breath.
For the first time that night, his body relaxed. "I love you too," he admitted quietly, like the confession terrified him. You felt warmth spread through your chest as you melted into his embrace, the press of his arms grounding you, his heartbeat steady beneath your cheek. The air around you was thick, carrying the scent of rain and antiseptic, mixed with the distant metallic tang of blood. Outside, the storm still raged, thunder rattling the glass and the rain drumming a wild rhythm against the bunker windows. But inside the bunker, wrapped up in Oliver’s arms, the world narrowed to the shelter of his body and the heat between you. Each breath you took was laced with the sound of water hitting concrete overhead, steady and relentless, a constant reminder that you were safe, here and now.
Requests are open but ONLY from this list! <3 Have a nice day/night
Oliver Queen x Fem!Reader
Word count: 867
Warnings: Being kidnapped, I think that’s it?
Y/N: Your Name
Summary: In a world where everyone has a soulmate, Y/N’s clock has been counting down for twelve years—until the moment she’s kidnapped by Damien Darhk’s men. With only minutes left, she’s saved by Star City’s elusive vigilante, the Green Arrow.
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Everyone has a soulmate. Some people pretended they didn’t care, but they did. They all did. A clock appeared on your wrist the day you turned sixteen- thin black numbers etched into your skin like a tattoo, counting down in days, hours, minutes, seconds. No one knew who made them. No one knew why some ran out early, and others dragged on for decades. All anyone knew was that when the clock hit zero, you would meet your soulmate.
Some people met theirs in grocery store aisles. Some in hospitals. Some in handcuffs. Some never did. Mine had been counting for twelve years now. I stopped checking it after year eight.
By the time Damien Darhk’s men shoved me into the back of a van, my clock read 00:02:41:09. I noticed because adrenaline does weird things to your brain. I remember thinking, huh, that’s ironic. I didn’t scream. Screaming didn’t help when a man had a gun pressed into your ribs and duct tape over your mouth. I fought hard enough to earn a bruised jaw and a warning blow to the side of my head, but eventually, survival instincts kicked in. Stay alive. Stay conscious. Remember details. They took my phone, my wallet, and my jacket. They didn’t care about the clock.
The warehouse smelled like oil, rust, and old water. I was zip-tied to a chair alone, for what felt like hours. My heart hammered so hard it hurt. I tried not to think about the headlines- LOCAL WOMAN MISSING, HOSTAGE SITUATION IN STAR CITY- tried not to imagine my clock hitting zero in a concrete room with no one there to see it. I glanced down again despite myself. 00:00:17:42. Seventeen minutes. I laughed under my breath, hysterical and sharp.
“Figures…” I muttered.
Damien Darhk showed up eventually, all smug smiles and casual menace.
“You’re not who I wanted, but you’ll do.” He said, circling me.
I swallowed. “You kidnap people for fun often, or am I special?”
He smiled wider. “Tonight? You’re bait.”
That’s when I knew. This wasn’t about me. It was about him.
The lights went out without warning. Gunfire echoed. Shouts. Chaos. And then, an arrow slammed into the wall inches from Darhk’s head. A voice cut through the darkness, rough and controlled.
“Let her go.”
I didn’t see him at first. Just a silhouette- leather, hood, bow drawn.
The Green Arrow.
I’ve seen him on the news. Everyone had. Star City’s boogeyman. Its guardian.
Darhk laughed. “You always did have a hero complex.”
The fight was brutal and fast. I barely tracked it, only knew when the ropes snapped, and strong hands steadied me.
“Can you walk?” The Green Arrow asked.
I nodded, dizzy.
He cut the ties and pulled me up, one arm firm around my back. And then, my wrist burned. I gasped and looked down.
00:00:00:00.
At the exact sam moment, he froze. Slowly, like he was afraid of what he saw, The Green Arrow looked down at his own wrist. Zero. For the first time, he looked stunned. Human.
“Are you seeing this too?” I whispered.
He swallowed. “Yeah.”
The building shook. We didn’t move. Fate had awful timing.
We got out minutes later, him guiding me through smoke and rubble, shielding me with his body like it was instinct. He didn’t leave. Instead, he stood there with me, hands flexing like he didn’t know what to do with them now that the clock was done. Finally, I cleared my throat.
“Hi.” I said awkwardly. “Uh, I’m Y/N.”
He hesitated, then reached up and pulled the hood back.
Oliver Queen.
I recognized him immediately- billionaire, playboy, presumed-dead-then-not, Star City royalty. He looked… different up close. Older than his pictures. Tired. Haunted.
“Hi.” He said quietly. “I’m Oliver.”
“So, uh, do you save all your soulmates from supervillains, or am I special?” I said, attempting a smile.
A corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re special.”
The words landed heavier than he probably intended.
Over the next few days, Star City moved on. I didn’t. Neither did Oliver. He checked in once, then twice. Then coffee. Then long conversations that stretched late into the night. He didn’t tell me everything, but he didn’t lie either. I learned he carried guilt like a second skin. That he believed love was something he destroyed. That he was terrified the clock had made a mistake.
“I’m not good at this.” He admitted one night, sitting across from me on my couch.
“People get hurt around me.”
I met his gaze. “I was kidnapped before I met you.”
That shut him up.
Weeks passed. We learned about each other slowly. Oliver liked his coffee too strong. I hated mornings. He trained obsessively. I called him out on it. He smiled more when he thought no one was looking.
One night, I finally asked the question that had been hovering between us since the warehouse.
● you had known Thea practically since birth through your older siblings Laurel and Oliver being childhood friends and eventually dating
● you were really close but grew apart at 12 when Oliver and your other sister Sara died in the Queens Gambit ship wreck
● it wasn't until you were 17 and Oliver (and later Sara too) came back that you reconnected
● it's a real slow burn relationship not getting together until you guys were 22 after the whole Damian Darhk fiasco
● by this point Thea has become speedy and you've become the blue canary following in your sister's footsteps
● you already knew your way around a gun thanks to your dad as well as being trained in hand to hand combat by Laurel and Sara
● but your weapon of choice are your blue shurikens
● Laurel and Sara are even more protective of Thea than Oliver is when you tell everyone you're dating
● you expected the whole typical older brother "if you hurt her I'll hurt you" speech from Oliver but instead he's just like "if you ever break her heart those two are the ones you need to be afraid of" he says pointing to Laurel and Sara
● Laurel "he's right you know"
● "Why are you threatening me?? I'm your brother??"
● Sara "yeah but we like Thea better"
● meanwhile there's Quentin "how is it that every single one of my kids has dated a Queen??"
●"it could be worse, I could be dating Oliver instead of Thea"
● Quentin "don't even joke like that Y/N"
● Oliver “Hey I'm right here”
● getting interrupted all the time by your siblings
● even at your apartment they let themselves in with keys you didn't know they had
● you and Thea are busy making out on the couch and Sara just pops in
● "Sara! Knock first!"
● "I come to see my little brother after being gone with the legends for 6 months and this is the welcome I get?"
● one time you joined the legends going back to the 1800's
● as fascinated with the waverider as Thea was she is perfectly fine not time traveling anymore
● "Hey babe, Sara invited me to go on another one of their missions you want to join?"
● "no thanks, I'll stay here in the present with electricity and proper plumbing"
● Thea is much better with a bow and arrow than she is with your shurikens
● she was trying to throw one at your target practice set up in the arrowcave when it flew completely past the target and nearly hit Oliver in the head which he ducked just in time
● "Okay no more shurikens for you speedy"
● "come on Ollie I was so close to actually hitting the target this time!"
● "were you??"
● date nights also getting interrupted when Felicity calls you in to stop ongoing crimes nearby
● “damn and I was really looking forward to dessert too”
● Felicity “please tell me by dessert you mean actual food”
● Thea “well there was definitely going to be whipped cream involved”
● you and Malcolm Merlyn do not get along at all
● “Thea do you really need to date this guy, I expected someone better for my daughter”
● “Merlyn if you don't shut up I'm going to cut off your other hand”
● Thea “do I need to separate you two??”
● it's still awkward doing any sort of PDA in front of Oliver
● you kissed her goodbye before heading out for a mission and Oliver is just glaring at you
● “Y/N and I have been together for two years, I really can't kiss my boyfriend in front of you yet?”
● “nope,” is all he says making a show of picking up his very sharp arrows
● Laurel whispering to you “you're lucky I'm the one who caught you guys in the med bay earlier, if it had been Oliver those arrows would be in your chest right now”
Requested by anon: maybe a imagine where the female reader and Dinah works together and are secretly dating, because Dinah isn’t out yet? And the reader get badly hurt, like really bad, and Dinah loses it in front of everyone, and she tells them she’s in love with the reader, and Dinah goes to the hospital to see the reader?
Words: 1812
Dinah Lance adjusted her black leather gloves, her sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit warehouse. Her Canary Cry wasn’t always necessary; her fists and strategy usually got the job done. Beside her, you moved in silence, mirroring her precision. The two of you had perfected this unspoken coordination over months of working together. What no one else knew, however, was that beneath this professional façade, there was something much deeper: a relationship kept in the shadows.
Dinah had her reasons for keeping things quiet. She wasn’t ready to come out—not yet. Her identity as Black Canary was complicated enough without adding her personal life to the mix. You understood, even if it hurt sometimes to keep your love hidden. The quick glances, the stolen moments, the way her hand would brush yours for just a second longer than necessary during debriefs—it all had to be subtle.
Tonight, though, something felt off. The warehouse was too quiet, too empty. The intel about an arms deal taking place here seemed solid, but now, as you both moved deeper into the building, unease prickled at the back of your neck.
“Stay sharp,” Dinah whispered, her voice barely audible. You nodded, your grip tightening on your weapon. The two of you reached the central room, and that’s when it happened.
The doors slammed shut, and armed men poured in from every direction. You and Dinah moved instinctively, your bodies a blur of motion as you fought side by side. But there were too many of them. Dinah unleashed her Canary Cry, sending a group flying, but more kept coming.
You didn’t see the one coming up behind you until it was too late. The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the air, and a fiery pain exploded in your side. You stumbled, barely able to stay upright as your vision blurred.
Dinah’s voice cut through the chaos. She was at your side in an instant, catching you as you collapsed. Her hands were warm and trembling as she pressed against the wound, trying to stem the bleeding.
“I’m fine,” you lied, your voice weak.
Dinah’s eyes were wild, her calm professionalism shattered. “No, you’re not.” Her voice broke, and you saw tears gathering in her eyes. “I’m getting you out of here.”
The fight wasn’t over, but Dinah didn’t care. She screamed, the Canary Cry bursting from her with a ferocity that left the remaining attackers incapacitated. Then, she scooped you into her arms, carrying you out of the warehouse with a determination you’d never seen before.
The emergency room was a blur of bright lights and frantic voices. Dinah stayed by your side, her hands stained with your blood as she refused to let go. When the doctors finally ushered her out, she stood in the hallway, her fists clenched and her jaw tight.
The rest of the team arrived shortly after, their expressions ranging from confusion to concern. Oliver approached her first.
“Dinah, what happened?” he asked, his voice steady but firm.
Dinah shook her head, her composure cracking. “It was supposed to be a simple mission. We didn’t see it coming.” Her voice trembled, and then she snapped. “They shot her, Ollie! She’s… she’s in there fighting for her life, and it’s all my fault.”
The room fell silent. No one had ever seen Dinah like this before. She was always the strong one, the unshakable Black Canary. But now, tears streamed down her face as she broke down in front of everyone.
“Dinah,” Oliver began, his tone softer now. “We’ll get through this. She’s tough.”
Dinah shook her head, her voice rising. “You don’t get it! She’s not just my partner out there. She’s my partner. I love her!”
Gasps rippled through the group. Dinah’s confession hung in the air, heavy and raw. No one knew what to say. Dinah didn’t care. She turned away from them, her only focus on you and whether you’d make it out alive.
Hours passed before a doctor finally approached. Dinah was on her feet immediately, her heart pounding.
“She’s stable,” the doctor said, and Dinah nearly collapsed with relief. “The bullet did some damage, but we managed to stop the bleeding. She’ll need time to recover, but she’ll be okay.”
Dinah didn’t wait for permission. She pushed past the doctor and into your room. Seeing you lying there, pale but alive, made her knees weak. She sank into the chair beside your bed, taking your hand in hers.
“Hey,” you croaked, your voice barely above a whisper.
Dinah’s laugh was watery, a mix of relief and lingering fear. “Don’t you ever do that to me again,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
You managed a weak smile. “Didn’t exactly plan on it.”
Dinah leaned closer, her forehead resting against your hand. “I thought I lost you. I couldn’t… I can’t lose you.”
You squeezed her hand as best you could. “You won’t.”
She lifted her head, her blue eyes locking onto yours. “I don’t care who knows anymore. I love you, and I’m done hiding it.”
Tears filled your eyes at her words. “I love you too, Dinah.”
She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. For the first time in hours, Dinah felt like she could breathe again. She didn’t care about the consequences of her confession. All that mattered was that you were alive, and she wasn’t going to waste another second hiding how much you meant to her.
The following days in the hospital were a mix of pain and healing, but Dinah rarely left your side. Her fierce determination extended beyond the battlefield; she took on the role of your protector and advocate during recovery with the same relentless energy. When the team came by to visit, Dinah’s demeanor softened but never wavered. She stood close, her presence a silent declaration that she was no longer hiding her feelings for you.
One afternoon, Oliver stopped by alone. He watched the two of you for a moment before clearing his throat. “You’ve always been strong, Dinah. I’m glad you’re letting yourself be strong for her now too.”
Dinah’s gaze didn’t leave your sleeping form as she responded, “She’s the strongest person I know. I’m just lucky she lets me stand beside her.”
Oliver nodded, a rare smile touching his lips. “You’ve got a good thing here. Don’t let it go.”
When you finally woke up fully, the first thing you saw was Dinah. Her expression was a mix of exhaustion and relief. “Morning,” you whispered.
“Morning, troublemaker,” she replied, her voice soft. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got shot,” you joked weakly, earning a small laugh from her.
Dinah leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “I’ve got you, okay? We’ll get through this together.”
The days turned into weeks, and as you healed, Dinah remained a constant presence. Her confession to the team had brought a new sense of freedom to your relationship. No longer confined to stolen moments, you found strength in being openly by each other’s side. Dinah’s protective instincts were tempered by her unwavering belief in your resilience, and together, you began planning your return to the field.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight next time,” Dinah teased one evening, her hand entwined with yours as you both sat watching the sunset from your hospital room.
“Good,” you replied, smiling. “I’d rather have you by my side anyway.”
In that moment, as the golden light bathed the room, it was clear that whatever challenges lay ahead, the two of you would face them together. For Dinah, the fear of losing you had solidified something she’d known all along: loving you wasn’t just a risk—it was the greatest strength she’d ever found.
The first night you returned home, the air between you and Dinah felt heavier, laden with unspoken emotions and relief. She hovered close as you settled onto the couch, the comfort of your shared space a welcome reprieve from the sterile hospital environment.
“You don’t have to watch me like a hawk,” you teased gently, trying to break the tension. “I’m not going to fall apart.”
Dinah crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway with a smirk that didn’t quite hide her lingering worry. “You scared the hell out of me. Give me a week or two to stop hovering.”
You patted the seat beside you. “Fine. Hover from here.”
She relented, sitting beside you and slipping an arm around your shoulders. The warmth of her presence was grounding, a silent promise that she wasn’t going anywhere. “You know,” Dinah started, her voice soft, “I didn’t just mean it in the heat of the moment. I meant what I said to Ollie and the others. I love you.”
You turned your head to look at her, finding her gaze already fixed on you. “I know,” you said, your own voice trembling with emotion. “And I meant it too. I love you.”
Her lips curved into a small smile, one that held equal parts relief and joy. She leaned in, pressing a kiss to your lips, gentle but filled with everything she couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t the first kiss you’d shared, but it felt like the first time you didn’t have to hold anything back.
The days that followed were filled with quiet moments of healing and rediscovery. Dinah took on most of the responsibilities at home, refusing to let you lift a finger despite your protests. “You’re supposed to be recovering,” she’d say firmly, but her tone always softened when you smiled at her.
One evening, as you sat on the balcony overlooking the city, Dinah joined you with two mugs of tea. The skyline was a sea of lights, a comforting reminder that life continued even after the darkest moments. She handed you a mug, sitting close enough that your shoulders touched.
“I’ve been thinking,” Dinah said, her voice tentative. “About us. About how close I came to losing you.”
You placed your hand over hers, your thumb brushing her knuckles. “But you didn’t. I’m here. We’re here.”
She nodded, her eyes glistening as she met your gaze. “I want to live like this—openly, without fear or hiding. You mean too much to me to keep pretending otherwise.”
A soft smile spread across your face. “I’ve wanted that too. For a long time.”
Dinah exhaled, the weight of her decision lifting as she leaned her forehead against yours. “Then it’s settled. We’re in this together.”
The city lights twinkled around you, but in that moment, the only thing that mattered was the warmth of her hand in yours and the unspoken promise of a future built on love, courage, and unwavering trust. Whatever battles lay ahead, you knew you’d face them side by side.
Welcome Home Baby Brother Pt. 2 (a Queen!Reader x Malcolm Merlyn verse One Shot....PT. 7)
IMAGINE...being the eldest child to Robert Queen, (Being in a relationship with Malcolm Merlyn,) and having dinner for the first time since your baby brother, Oliver, came back from the dead after five, long years.
Word Count: 2,437
Warning: Possible out-of-character canon characters! Spoilers for any readers who haven’t watched Arrow (I guess lol)
A/N: I hope you all enjoy it!
Previous Parts - 1 2 3 4 5 6
“So, do you plan on telling him about you and Mr. Merlyn?” The question from Thea as the two of you were seated in her room waiting for Oliver to get out of the shower and for dinner to be ready made you flinch and look up from your cell where you had been attempting to do some work for Queen Consolidated while you waited.
You knew that it was going to be brought up, but you had hoped that it would wait until tomorrow.
No. You had no intention of telling Oliver about you and Malcolm. Not only was it something you didn’t know how to bring up, but it was also something that maybe your baby brother didn’t need to know about just yet.
Your gaze fell to your left hand where the diamond ring sat. Malcolm had proposed only a few months earlier during a three-week business trip in France for a joint Queen Consolidated and Merlyn Global business deal. Since then, neither of you had spoken about setting a date or anything to do with a wedding ceremony. A part of you was nervous to bring it up; you didn’t want to make Malcolm feel pressured and didn’t want to somehow, accidentally, bring up memories that would sadden him or anger him by reminding him of Tommy’s mother. The other part of you was nervous to bring it up to Malcolm because…because you weren’t sure you wanted to be married to Malcolm Merlyn. Not right now. Not with Oliver being alive and home and all those suspicions about Malcolm being involved with the Gambit bringing up not anger but dread.
You couldn’t imagine what would happen if that box got opened. You weren’t sure you wanted an answer to whether Malcolm had a hand in your family’s yacht going down.
“Oliver doesn’t need to know about my love life, Thea. There is no reason he needs to be told. Besides, it is probably best that we don’t overwhelm him too much. It’s like…how Mom wants to not bother Oliver with her and Walter just yet. Oliver needs time to settle and adjust. No doubt, he’s hardly at any time to mourn dad or…or even Sara.”
Thea nodded as you spoke and then rolled her eyes saying, “So, you’re scared to tell him?”
“Terrified.”
How could you not be?
Oliver from five years ago had been an asshole, but he still tried to fight every boyfriend you had ever had.
The last thing you needed was Oliver trying to fight Malcolm the moment he got back to Starling City, not to mention the awkwardness that could pop up between Oliver and Tommy as a result.
Sighing, you stood and brushed a hand through your hair while saying, “Look, I promise that I will tell Oliver, but for tonight lets keep that between us.”
“Us and Tommy, mom and Walter, Raisa, most of Starling City, and…” Thea continued as the two of you walked out from her room and headed downstairs.
She wasn’t wrong. Too many people knew and too many people could let it slip to your brother. But if you were being honest, your biggest concern was Moira. She hadn’t budged even a little on her dissatisfaction toward your relationship with Malcolm, and Moira took every opportunity she could find to try and keep the two of you apart. Even with you now living in Malcolm’s home.
It had been amusing at first, then weird, and then frustrating. It was like there was something she was trying to tell you without telling you.
Like Moira knew something about Malcolm she wanted you to know but couldn’t bring herself to spell it out.
“Tommy!” Thea grinned as she bounded down the last few steps and practically skipped over to where Tommy and Oliver stood, reconnecting in the entryway.
You met the gaze of your brother’s best friend (who just happened to be your fiancé’s son as well) and forced an awkward smile as Tommy greeted Thea. The two of you were on good enough terms, but you also knew each other’s secrets – secrets that neither of you wanted Oliver to know about just yet. It made the situation uncomfortable, and you were kicking yourself for not having spoken openly about it with Tommy before this dinner.
“Well, this is a sight that I have missed.” You finally spoke up, plastering a smile on your lips as you closed the gap between yourself and the others. “And to think Starling City was only just beginning to heal from the terror of Oliver Queen and Thomas Merlyn.”
Most of Starling City probably didn’t care that Oliver had returned. Those who were excited were, of course, your family and Oliver’s party friends.
Still, the thought of having Oliver home meant that there was a chance for some semblance of the familiar. As close to the “good old times” that you could get to with your dad being gone.
“We will try not to do anything too crazy.” Oliver smiled. His voice soft. He sounded sincere, like he truly had zero intention of being his old self, and his eyes held a softness that younger Oliver would have never shown – it would have ruined his party boy persona.
“Make sure you don’t.” you laughed as Risa stepped into the hall announcing that dinner was about to be served.
Thea snorted, “Let’s not keep mom waiting.”
Oliver chuckled at your sister’s attitude and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, teasing Thea about “Making mom happy” as they followed after Risa.
You couldn’t help but chuckle knowing that your stepmother or Walter had sent Risa to “collect” the four of you; no doubt, Moira was having flashbacks from your childhood to when you, Oliver, and Thea would get so caught up in something the three of you had chosen to do together that it would take your father coming home and being “stern” for the three of you to finally come back to reality.
The thought was bittersweet, but you didn’t mind it. You appreciated that you could remember things like that. Over the past five years, there had been plenty of days where memories of your brother and father had been the only thing that helped you get out of bed and get on with your life.
“Hey Y/n,” Tommy hissed, grabbing your arm, and stopping you from following after your brother and sister. He waited for the two of them to be out of earshot before saying, “Listen I just…wanted to make sure we were on the same page about…things. Like, what gets told to Oliver and what can be saved for some other time.”
You knew what he was talking about, and it had nothing to do with you and Malcolm.
It was kind of sweet that Tommy was so concerned about telling Oliver certain things because he wasn’t sure how his lifelong friend would react. It spoke volumes on how much Tommy respected and cherished his friendship with your baby brother.
You whispered his name and offered a small smile as your gaze slipped to your left hand and the diamond engagement ring that sat there. The smart thing would be to remove the ring altogether. After all, if Oliver didn’t see the ring, then he couldn’t ask about it, but you didn’t want to give the impression that you were ashamed of Malcolm and that you wanted to hide your relationship with him.
“I promise that I won’t say anything to Oliver about what you’ve been up to the last five years as long as you don’t say anything about me and your father. I just...I haven’t figured out how to tell Oliver about us yet.”
Tommy stared at you for a long moment, taking in what you had said, and then breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. “Alright, alright. Thank you, Y/n. I…thank you.”
“Any time, Tommy.” And you moved into the dining room to join the others.
While Tommy and Thea sat to either side of Oliver, you chose to sit across from Walter placing Moira (and Oliver) at the head of the table. You didn’t mind as it gave you a chance to speak softly to your stepmother and Walter about Queen Consolidated and it gave Thea the chance to soak up as much of Oliver’s attention and closeness as she desired. Thea needed that. She had been only thirteen when the Gambit went down – life was hard enough for Thea with being in her early teens, the loss of your father and brother hadn’t helped things at all.
Besides, you would have plenty of time to catch up with Oliver.
It isn’t like he’s going anywhere any time soon.
“…I was hoping to swing by the office.” Oliver’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts and you quickly snapped your full attention in his direction.
“Queen Consolidated?” you laughed, interrupting whatever Walter had been saying as a response to your brother. “You want to go to…how hard did you hit your head while on that island?” you teased while lifting your glass of wine to your lips.
“I had a lot of time to think while I was away.” Oliver smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “I need something to do with my time, and I was thinking, why not make that something the family business?” his blue eyes looked from you to your mother and then back on you, “Unless this is your way of saying you want the company all to yourself?”
“Shut up, brat.” You laughed with a playful roll of your eyes, “I think it’s a brilliant idea for you to have a hand in Queen Consolidated. Dad would want it.”
“Then it’s settled.” Moira was beaming, clearly happy that Oliver had matured enough to show an interest in your family’s business.
You were proud of Oliver as well, but you couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had motivated your baby brother to want to take an active role in Queen Consolidated. Surely, most people who came back from the dead would want to take some time to rest and readjust to life. But Oliver didn’t seem to want to do that.
Actually, that look on his face…it’s determination. He’s home and he has a list of things he plans to do.
But what?
What has happened to you, Olive?
*
When you were younger, the thing you feared the most was that your baby brother and sister would hate you. That they would grow up and realize how lame you were, and they would then want nothing to do with you.
That morning when you got that call that the Queen’s Gambit had gone down, that your father and brother were lost at sea and presumed dead, you felt so silly for your childhood fears. You knew then that the worst thing imaginable was having those you loved ripped away from you in a moment, in the blink of an eye, without warning.
And now, standing outside with Oliver and avoiding going home to an empty house, you felt that fear in your stomach. Like this was all a dream and that you would wake up, having imagined Oliver being alive, and you would be back in that cold, dark world where your baby brother was gone. Taken from you by fate? A tragic accident at sea? Or…at the hands of unknown enemies.
“So,” Oliver sighed, turning to you with a smile, “When do I get to meet the person who gave you that?” he gestured toward crossed arms, at your engagement ring.
“The wedding?” you shrugged, trying to play it cool at first as you looked anywhere but at him. “It…the engagement is actually pretty new. We don’t have a set date yet.”
“Does mom disapprove?” Oliver asked the question softly, his gaze locked on you so tenderly.
You snorted, “Of course she does. Mom…doesn’t think he’s good enough or me. Which is crazy because he’s a businessman, he’s very successful, and his company actually has a lot of dealings with Queen Consolidated.” Your amusement turned to frustration as you spoke, frowning at your own words and the reminder that Moira could pop off and spill the beans about you and Malcolm at any moment.
“Do I know him?”
Your cheeks flushed at his question, and you found yourself chewing on your bottom lip instead of answering.
Humming, Oliver nodded and leaned toward you, placing a kiss to the side of your head as a sleek, black limo pulled up. “I know that I don’t have to worry about you, Y/n. You’re the smartest out of us all. If you’re sure enough about this guy to marry him, then I will trust you and try to wait patiently for you to introduce me to him.”
“Ollie.” You murmured, eyes filling with tears as you wrapped your arms around him, tucking your face into his shoulder as he returned the hug. “I fucking missed you, Oliver.”
He nodded in agreement, saying “I missed you too, Y/n.”
It took all you had to pull away from him, and it was only after the two of you had agreed to see each other again tomorrow that you finally forced yourself to move away from your baby brother and walk to the limo and Malcolm’s driver.
“Jude.” You nodded, refusing to show your surprise as you stepped past him.
“Miss Queen.” He greeted you with a tilt of his head and a small smile.
Smiling in return, you waved goodbye to Oliver once more before climbing into the limo and letting the door shut behind you.
It was only after you were off your family’s property and Oliver was out of sight that you looked beside you at the man who was supposed to be overseas.
“Darling.” Malcolm hummed, his lips turning upward into that ridiculously charming, crooked smile of his.
“You said…”
Leaning toward you, Malcolm placed a kiss to your lips while murmuring, “You needed me here more.”
Tears prickling in the corner of your eyes, you forced a breathless laugh and pulled away, settling back into the seat. “Thank you, Malcolm.”
“Of course.” He took your hand, placing a kiss to your knuckles, and set it in his lap – seemingly mindlessly playing with the band on your ring finger as he turned to stare out the window, watching the world fly by.
Content and exhausted from the day, you rested your head on his shoulder and let yourself drift off to sleep listening to whatever jazz number Malcolm had chosen for the drive.
*
I hope you all enjoyed it! And I hope you’re all a sucker for sister!reader x Oliver content as I am lol (Oliver being a brother is so lovely to me 😉 )
The next installment will be reader x Malcolm! Probably a gentle day for them! It won’t be out in the next two weeks as I have other one shots (non-Arrowverse) that I want to finish writing/editing/etcetera.
As always, if you want to show some love, feel free to sent me things through my inbox and I also have a Kofi if you would like to support me in that way!
Please be safe and I hope you are having a good day!
Sara has become a frequent flyer of the time realm, jumping from place to place. She has been on dangerous adventures, heart warming journeys and has heard the occasional heart breaking story. However nothing prepared her for her next mission, a mission that would test her strength entirely.
The year was classified for reasons unknown, but the mission stayed the same. A big evil has threatened innocent people to gain more power. The team was quick to gear up, no questions asked. When they emerged from the wave rider, they surveyed the familiar surroundings. They were home, they looked at each other in confusion, waiting for an explanation from Hunter. He walked down the ramp, oblivious to the stares that were directed his way.
He fixed his coat and looked up to see the confused team. "What?" he asked, shrugging off the obvious.
"What do you mean, what?" Jefferson raised his hand, sarcastically quoting the word 'what'. "Why are we home?"
"This may be home but it is not your time, we are a few years behind the life that you all know and love" Hunter picked at his nails, unfazed by the questions
Sara stepped forward, placing her hands on her hips. "Okay then, next question, what are we doing here?" She motioned towards the city, grasping the big picture
"We are here to save a very important person from walking into a death trap, that's all you need to know" Hunter put his best foot forward and began to make his way to the desired destination. Ray poked his head out from the group, puzzled by the recent statement.
"Isn't that against the rules?" Ray stood still with his features scrunched while he figured out the repercussions of their future actions
"Not if it has already happened" Hunter made another attempt to walk away, this time succeeding, leaving the group to soak in what he just said. The group watched in confusion as Hunter walked away, they were left with little answers and a load of more questions.
They trailed behind him, looking over their shoulders for their past selves. As time went on Sara developed a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she couldn't quite pin point why. When they reached their destination, the team looked around for clues. Anything would be helpful to piece together this puzzle Hunter had created. They watched on with curiosity as a hooded figure walks into their eye line. There was no doubt this person was shady, but were they the one they needed to save?
The feeling in Sara's stomach grew stronger as she observed the hooded figure. There was a sense of familiarity that surrounded the person in front of her. Ray looked over his shoulder to find a large group of people heading towards the hooded figure. He tapped Hunter's shoulder, causing him to look behind him.
"Just in time" he quietly stated, grabbing the attention of the other team members. They followed the group carefully, grabbing their weapons, just in case.
"All this talk and there's only one of you?" Their laughs echoed through the empty parking lot
"All I need is one" the dark figures voice was distorted but Sara knew something was wrong
"Show yourself so we all know who we're burying tonight" they stepped forward in a way to intimidate. They followed their lead and slowly pushed off the hood to reveal a young woman. A loud gasp was heard throughout the car park. Heads all turned in that direction, focusing their sights on the noise.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" Jackson angrily whispered, pulling Sara down
"You have to keep your emotions in check" Hunter's eyes trained on Sara, sending a message through his harsh stare. Sara grew silent, only to continue the mission, Hunter will get more of what he deserves afterwards. When the onlookers agreed there was no threat, they turned their focus back to their target.
“So who will be the first to test their luck?” The woman was confident, provoking the group of men. One man bellowed the loudest, pushing through the huddle. He was burly, tall and looked like he had buried a few bodies in his day. However this didn’t stop the woman from assuming a defensive position, in preparation for a fight. The team watched on in suspense, waiting for Hunter to order them to intervene but he never did. In a split second the burly man lunged for the woman, who easily ducked under his grasp. He grunted in frustration, before he charged at her. In one swift movement, she was able to manoeuvre herself up and over his head, landing feet first behind him.
“That’s it, no more taking it easy” he commanded, his voice reaching the depths of the empty lot. This elicited a laugh from the woman, who clearly was amused by his display.
“I didn’t know you had other settings” now this is what truly set him off, he roared at the woman, throwing all his weight into his punches. She ducked and weaved through each hit, never once colliding with his fist. This angered the man more as he signalled to his men to join, who surrounded the woman with ease.
“She doesn’t look like she needs our help” Jackson commented, his eyes trained on the battle like it was an old kung fu film.
“This is not the help she requires” was all Hunter would say as he patiently waited for the right moment, whenever that was.
One by one the men fell to the floor, some unconscious, some barely alive, some ran the moment they saw they were outnumbered. Either way, the woman was left standing over a pile of worn out men who simply couldn’t pull their punches. That was until one runner decided to be brave, face the threat head on. This created a domino effect and soon enough, the men remerged and attacked.
“We need to do something” Sara couldn’t bear to see them hurting you, bringing pain to your beautiful features. Sara went to stand up when a hand held her tightly by the shoulder.
“Not yet” Hunter intervened, holding her in place. Sara was fuming at how calm he was, knowing full well who you were and what you meant to Sara.
“She is going to get beaten to death”
“This is not why we’re here”
“I will not stand here and watch”
“I thought you would have had more faith in her”
“I do”
“Then wait”
The men piled on, pushing you further into the ground. Each man producing blow after blow as payback for making them look like fools. Blood could be seen grouping underneath their feet and judging by their satisfied smiles, it would have to be yours. “Fuck this” Sara grabbed her weapons and was in the process of standing up when a bright blast was delivered. Suddenly the men were thrown across the lot in all different directions. All that was left was a beacon of light, radiating from the epicentre. The team collectivity had their jaws on the floor, undecided on whether to be amazed or fearful. Sara was simply shocked by the power you possessed. For all the years she had known you, she had never seen you express such light. You only ever gave her little increments for show and tell, even in battle you stuck to hand to hand combat.
The longer you radiated, the more unstable you became. The floor began to rumble, like the earth underneath it was about to cave in. The lonesome cars scattered around the parking lot started to sound their alarms, all at staggered times and decibels. Then suddenly the street lamps burst, leaving the area pitch black except for your shaking body.
“Now we help her. You have the net I told you to bring?”
“Of course”
“Better find a way to toss it on her and quick before she does more damage”
As a team they improvised a plan, which nearly singed the eyebrows of most of them. The closer they got, the hotter it became. Some of the suits began to malfunction due to the rise in temperature. It was quickly decided that only firestorm would be the only being that could get close to you. This was how they successfully caught you in the net which suppressed your powers. When the afterglow wore off, your body was left cold, shaking and burnt in some places. It took all of her being to not run to you and wrap you up in her arms.
“Are you okay?” Sara offered you a hand, pulling you into uncertain legs. She held on to you to keep your body balanced and the action didn’t go unnoticed.
The feeling of her warm skin, the sight of her worried eyes was enough to render you useless. The words just seemed to stutter on their own accord. “I..I’m okay, thanks”. Looking away from Sara, you turned your attention to those that seemed to stare. “What happened?”
“You went all nuclear and nearly created a hole to the centre of the Earth. No big deal” Jackson shrugged his shoulders, trying not show how excited he was to find another enhanced human.
“So glad that you found time for sarcasm”
“There is always time for sarcasm” In sync, both you and Sara rolled your eyes which earned a laugh from Kendra who could already see the significance.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” The vulnerability flowed through Sara as she quietly checked your body for injuries. She knew it like the back of her hand which means she would know very quickly if something was wrong.
“I’m okay, the burns seem to be healing”
“Well we best be off” Hunter as always interrupts the pleasantries, already on to the next mission.
“That’s it?” The team was in utter disbelief, they spent all that lead up just to wrap someone in a net and then leave? This seemed to be a joke.
“Yep, we have a busy day tomorrow and we mustn’t be late for it” By now Hunter is already half way to the wave rider, without even sparing a glance.
“Do you know how silly that sounds?” Kendra called out to him, following his lead to further tease him for his chose of words. The rest of the team were hit on her heels, confused by how quick the mission was.
“It was nice to meet you…”
“Y/N”
“Sara”
“I’ll remember that”
“Make sure that you do”
As a parting gift, Sara left a gentle kiss on your forehead that tingled where her lips had touched. She walked off into the dark night, only offering you a wink before she disappeared. You had hoped to see her again, you just didn’t expect it to be a couple of years later. You had bumped into her on a walk around the city. This time it was your turn to remember and for her to meet you for the first time.
