Blank Space

~ Chapter 20 ~

"Hello, Laurel." Oliver breathed out into the night, looking at her with shielded eyes.

"You got a new mask. Nice." She nodded at him, clutching her purse to her due to the cold, he was hoping.

Laurel just continued to look at him, waiting for him to speak.

"So, why did you call me? And, how did you do that, by the way?"

"I have ways, Miss Lance. And, I just needed some advice." Oliver spoke raspily.

"From me? Why? We barely know one another. If you could even call it that." Laurel shook her head in disbelief.

"Does it matter?" Oliver growled at her.

"Well, I suppose not. What do you need, Arrow?" Laurel asked.

"Doing what you do... It puts you in danger sometimes, right?" He asked, not wanting to give himself away about knowing what she does.

"I mean, yeah I guess. But it's what I love to do, so the danger doesn't really bother me. But, it's also not the same danger as you, if that's what you're asking." She looked at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at her.

"I mean, danger is a part of my job. But danger is your job. You put yourself out there, knowing that danger is wherever you go. You blatanly do it. I don't purposefully put myself in danger, sometimes it just follows me." She shrugs.

Oliver's face fell, knowing that she was right, but not wanting to really admit it to himself.

"But, I'm not meaning that as a bad thing. I've seen what you do. I think it's needed in this city." Laurel said, trying to console him.

"I know. I was asking because I have loved ones I want to protect, but... I don't know how without staying away from them." Oliver admitted to her.

"So, you're asking how I have a relationship with someone knowing that they could be put in danger because of what I do?" Laurel asked, deducing what he was really trying to ask her.

He just nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He looked out among the night sky, and breathed in and out, wanting to just go away from here. Back to where Felicity didn't know he was alive, and back to where everyone was safe.

"Ahem, well, I guess its boils down to the fact that I trust myself."

Oliver looked back at her, his face etched with confusion.

"What?" He asked, not sure of what she meant.

"I mean, I um... I trust myself in knowing that I can keep them safe. And, they trust me and believe in me. Especially Tommy. He, um... He believes in me. He believes in what I do. And, he knows that it comes with danger... but, he doesn't care... and if we work together as a couple, then I believe things will be okay. And, so does he. Because we're, you know, together." Laurel smiles.

Oliver just nodded to her sudden explanaton, not really sure of how to respond, and turned away from her, once more looking at the darkness of the night sky. He knew all of those things, but he didn't want to put Felicity into any more danger that was necessary. Her working with the police was already enough danger for one person. And, beyond that, Felicity was working with him now... So, being together? Could he really put yet another danger on her plate?

"You love someone, don't you?"

Oliver looked back at her with surreal eyes.

"Yes." He breathed.

Laurel just looked at him, almost with sympathy. And, she just nodded at him.

"Good. That'll make you different from any vigilante. It'll keep you human." Laurel said, and began to turn away to walk away from him.