Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow

Episode 12 tag - Paying it Forward

Episode 12 tag — Paying it forward (bonus scene)

AN — The last 2 installments have been all action/ drama so I needed to find a bit more levity but it's still not as funny as I had intended!

DISCLAIMER — Nope, still not mine!

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Considering Barry's revelations, it was a growling, tense Oliver that joined Diggle on patrol that night. The atmosphere in the basement wasn't much better though. Barry was still riding the high of using his powers and having Team Arrow accept his help. Roy remained suspicious and on alert as he tried to stay between Felicity and Barry. Felicity was tense herself as she found both her Team's aggression and Barry's energy exhausting especially as she'd had little sleep and even less caffeine. The silence stretched out for several minutes before Barry spoke.

"I really thought he might actually kill me this time." Barry admitted as he replayed Oliver tossing him across the room in his mind.

"This time?" Roy might not ask his Team about Barry or how he landed on the list, but he had no problem quizzing the other guy.

"Yeah, Felicity brought me in when he had been poisoned. He woke up and just started choking me. He was not happy that I was there, but it was Felicity he yelled at really. Have you seen him angry? Well, of course, you have." Barry could easily remember that night. It was the night he had met his hero and the night he realized that his hero was actually a team of heroes. He was still reliving those memories when Roy's words startled him back to the present.

"He put an arrow through me." Roy had been working on his poker face and he was pretty sure that his stoic expression and deadpan delivery would even have made Diggle proud.

"Roy! You deserved that one as you wouldn't listen to reason and were determined to put yourself in danger!" Felicity was still anxious and had no issue taking out her nerves on Roy. His answering smirk simply annoyed her further and had her glaring as she continued.

"Plus that's really not the story you want to share as Barry is already...well, um, concerned about Oliver." Felicity tried to backpedal away from saying outright that Barry was scared, but she had always known Oliver's effect on her friend.

Roy gave up on poker face when he busted out laughing; however, that laughter definitely contained no small amount of sympathy. He even clapped a hand on Barry's shoulder and grinned as he spoke.

"Don't worry! Most of us have a healthy concern when it comes to Oliver and it's even a Lesson that you can stand behind Felicity if necessary." Roy met Felicity's face and saw her blush which immediately encouraged him. "Have you seen the Lessons Barry? It's really my job to pay it forward—"

"Roy!" Felicity couldn't believe Roy would bring this up now and she felt her face heat even more. She just had to hope that he would show some restraint and not mention her initial training session with Oliver or their kiss. Groaning softly to herself, Felicity closed her eyes and tried to focus on her job instead of just how bad Roy could make this for her.

"Lessons? You have actual written Lessons from training with Mr. Queen, um, Oliver?" Barry had noticed Felicity's blush but couldn't resist asking. Before the accident, he had followed the Vigilante's activities closely and had always been impressed and intrigued. Meeting them all had only heightened his respect for Starling City's hero. He also wanted to join them so if these Lessons would help him then he needed the information.

"Oh yeah, Felicity even helped me write them—" Roy was still grinning as he watched and waited for Felicity to look his way again. It took only a moment and she immediately interrupted him.