Oliver was taking tonight off, since John had called him and asked to meet for drinks and since they haven't really hung out much since he got back from Lian Yu, Oliver had accepted it, since he was thinking that this might be a good time to consider bringing John into the fold, which was why they were currently sitting in a booth in a local bar, with the drinks of course being on Oliver, since he was the rich one, so he always paid, with John saying that he'll get the next round, though he never does.
"Thanks for meeting with me Oliver." John said.
"I know, I've been terrible about keeping in touch since I've been back." Oliver said.
"Hey, I'm just glad you came back at all." John said.
"Yeah, me too. And you're still up for being my best man right?" Oliver asked, since before the Gambit had gone down, Oliver had already asked John to serve that role for him at his wedding.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." John said and Oliver smiled.
"Thanks. And I am sorry to hear about Andy." Oliver said, since John's younger brother had been killed protecting a client, like John, he'd worked as a bodyguard and he'd given his life protecting a client.
"Thanks man. I'm just glad that Andy turned out to be a decent man in the end." John said, since his brother had been a troubled kid growing up, but like John had been hoping it seemed that joining the army had straightened him out.
"At least they got the guy responsible." Oliver said, since it had been all over the news about Deadshot's arrest following his release from the hospital, while Lawton had survived, he had lost an eye.
"Yeah, but it wasn't the cops who got him, it was the new vigilante I've heard rumors about. This Green Arrow. I have to admit, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd praise a vigilante, but he got me justice for Andy." John said and Oliver had to stop himself from smiling, it sounded like recruiting John might be easier than he'd expected.
"Anyways, John, there was something I wanted to talk to you about." Oliver said, only to be interrupted when another familiar face to both of them joined them.
"Well, well, look who it is. The deadman." Ted Gaynor said with a grin as he joined them at the bar.
"And this is no coincidence is it?" Oliver asked, raising an eyebrow at Dig, who shrugged.
"Ted wanted to see you and I figured we could all use some drinks, so win-win." John said.
"Fine, but the next round is on you and I mean that this time." Oliver said.
"Fair enough." John said as Oliver got up and shook Ted's hand, since while John had been Oliver's CO while they were in Afghanistan, Ted had been John's, which made him both of their superior officers.
"Good to see you again sir." Oliver said, though it was a bit forced, since while Oliver had been planning on seeing Ted again soon, it wasn't under these circumstances, since unfortunately, Ted's name was on the list. Oliver didn't know why he was on it, but he was. But because of their history together, Oliver wanted to give Ted the benefit of the doubt.
"Please, you don't need to call me sir anymore Oliver. But maybe you can again." Ted said.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked.
"Since I got back stateside, I started up a private security company called Blackhawk Security and I was hoping to recruit you both to join the cause." Ted said.
"Thanks for the offer, but I don't see myself following orders again and I've already got something else going on." Oliver said.
"Your community center." Ted said and Oliver nodded.
"I'm trying to help the city in a different way than you, since all the time I spent away from here, first in the army and then on the island, I realized just how lucky I was to grow up with the life I did, but the people of the Glades weren't that lucky. I'm trying to give something back." Oliver said.
"I can respect that. And you're definitely different from the kid who first joined the army all those years ago." Ted said.
"I grew up. I changed. Hopefully it's for the better." Oliver said, even though he knew that Gaynor had changed for the worse.
"What about you John?" Ted asked.
"I'll think about it. But maybe we could talk about Blackhawk running security for the center?" John asked.
"Maybe, but that can wait till tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to have drinks with friends. Something I haven't done in a long time." Oliver said.
"Agreed. And I hear congratulations are in order, since Dig here tells me that you're engaged to the girl you kept a photo of while you were overseas." Ted said and Oliver nodded.
"Laurel yeah. I actually proposed to her before the Gambit went down and she actually waited for me, without even knowing I was still alive. I'll make sure you're on the invite list once we set a date." Oliver said.
"I look forward to it and I'm happy for you son. Especially since you're the one who convinced this idiot not to ruin his own marriage obsessing over Andy's killer." Ted said.
"Yeah, I still owe him for that." John said as they continued to talk and have drinks, though only Oliver knew that this would be the last time the three of them met under such friendly circumstances.
YOU ARE READING
Lauriver Chronicles
FanfictionAfter 5 years in hell, Oliver Queen is finally returning home to his family, his friends, and the woman he loves, but he's no longer the man he used to be. Now that he's home, he has one mission, to save his city. As he learns to navigate his new do...
