I'm Fine (An Arrow Fanfiction)

Chapter Twelve

"Hello?" Oliver scanned the room, but it was too dark to see.

A light switched on and he heard Thea's voice. "Ollie, is that you?"

Oliver released the breath he had been holding. "Thea, what're you doing?"

"I could ask the same of you," she replied, looking him over. She took notice of the redness of his eyes and nose and the pale colour of the rest of his face. He looked much worse than he had the night before. "Are you okay? You look terrible."

Oliver was so sick of that question. "Yes, Thea, I am perfectly fine, would you just stop asking?" He spoke angrily through his teeth, glaring at her.

"Well, fine," Thea spat back. "I don't care anyway." What was wrong with him? She just wanted to know how he was feeling. He didn't need to yell at her like that. She spun around and strode away from Oliver.

Oliver was suddenly emptied of his anger. He hadn't meant to upset Thea. Guilt weighed on his shoulders as he realised how his words must have sounded to her.

"Thea, wait." She stopped and twisted her head around, wondering what kind of bullshit he was going to tell her now. "I didn't mean to be rude to you. I've just had a long day today."

Thea paused for a minute, stopping before she spat the rude comment she was thinking of. For a moment she considered just shouting out a quick "okay" and stomping off, but decided that she should give her brother a break. He wasn't feeling well, after all.

Thea swallowed. "Sorry," she apologised briefly and paused. Then words started to spill from her lips. "Really, though, Oliver, how are you? I'm not asking to annoy you, I really do care. If you're feeling bad, I should be able to be there for you right? I feel like I don't know anything about you. You used to tell me everything, now you won't even tell me if you're sick."

Oliver bowed his head and rubbed his forehead with his knuckles. He wasn't ready for this. He was so damn tired. He had a headache and his throat hurt like hell. He really just wanted to go to bed. But if he simply brushed Thea off, she would think he didn't care how she felt. He did care, but he could hardly keep his eyes open. Oliver closed his eyes for a minute, taking a long breath which lead to a short coughing fit.

"Ugh, sorry," Oliver apologised and raised his hands to his lips, deciding whether or not he needed to cough again. In a few seconds he felt like he could speak without his voice breaking. He looked up at Thea who was watching him with concern in her eyes.

"Thea, it's just harder for me to express what I feel, now. When I was on the island, feelings didn't matter, what mattered was strength and endurance. If you're sick, you just work past it.  I understand that it isn't the same here, that it's okay for me to admit my flaws, but it's not easy to change the way you think after five years. It's not easy for me to admit weakness. I'm sorry if I have been pushing you away, it's not my intention, but," Oliver swallowed and looked at his hands, "I'm not completely sure how to be close to people right now."

Thea didn't know how to respond. This was the most her brother had expressed to her the whole time he'd been back. She didn't know whether to smile or cry or run up and hug him.

"Ollie, I love you." She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You know I love you, right?"

Oliver was surprised by Thea's sudden movement. After a moment of processing, he returned Thea's hug. "I know," he said, taking another deep breath.

Thea let go after a few seconds, realising that he was uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"

"I just-" Oliver sneezed loudly into his cupped hands, making Thea jump. "Damn-"

"Oh my God, you scared me," Thea said, her heart skipping a beat.

"Sorry," Oliver said, sniffing. It was quiet for a second, then he started laughing quietly. He didn't really know why, it was probably just because he was so tired that everything was funny. Soon Thea was laughing, too.

"Oh, I love you too, Speedy," he said, playfully nudging her, before breaking into another thick cough.

Noticing Oliver's pain, her happy expression fell into one of concern. "Ollie, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," he replied automatically.

Thea raised her eyebrows at him. "Oliver!"

"Sorry. Well, to be honest, I feel like death. It's only a cold though." Oliver's throat and chest were sore from the cough.

"Will you see a doctor? I just want to make sure you're healthy." Seeing Oliver's exasperated expression, she added, "C'mon, Ollie. For your sister?"

Oliver did not want to go to the doctor. He'd only been once in the last five years; right after he got back from the island. They'd poked and shoved him and made him go through all sorts of tests. They'd run their fingers across his scars and talked about him like he was a failed science experiment. He understood why, but it didn't make him feel any better about it. He was not going back there for a stupid cold. But he didn't want to argue, either. If he didn't get to his bed soon, he was going to pass out right there.

"I don't need to go to the doctor." Oliver rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands. "I really just need to get some sleep right now," he sneezed, not reacting fast enough to cover. "Sorry."

"It's okay, I didn't realise how tired you were." Now that he'd mentioned it, Thea realised his sluggish movements and red eyes were not only signs of sickness, but of exhaustion. She immediately felt guilty for making him stay and talk to her. She was about to apologise, but then thought better of it; she knew he wouldn't accept an apology, but argue why she didn't have to be sorry. She settled for quick kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Oliver. I hope you feel better."

"You too," Oliver replied. Then his face flushed as he realised that that was not the appropriate response. "Sorry. God, I'm tired. I mean 'thanks.' Goodnight." With that, Oliver staggered up to his room. Once the door was closed and locked behind him, he literally fell into bed, asleep the second his face hit the pillow.