How Not to Die (Arrow Fanfiction)

Chapter One "Haunted House"

"Sorry about your eye," Oliver said as the island faded in the distance.

Slade grunted a vague reply.

The fishing boat rocked from side to side, making Oliver wish he'd come up with another plan for getting off the island. One that didn't involve so much tossing and rolling across the ocean. He'd had enough of that.

"Are you sure this deception is strictly necessary?" Slade asked, though it was more of a critique than a question.

"Would you want to tell your family where you've been all this time?" Oliver replied.

"I'd want to tell my family anything."

Oliver should have expected that. In the past three years with all their comings and goings from the island, Slade still hadn't been able to discover the whereabouts of his wife and son. He suspected they had gone into hiding after his disappearance. From what Oliver could gather of how little Slade talked about them, his wife was some kind of super-spy too which would make finding them more difficult. Oliver had promised to help in any way he could, but his entanglements with ARGUS and the Russian mob had made that a bit difficult. But that was all over now. They were going back to Starling City. It was time to fulfill his father's last wish and his promise to Slade.

Oliver looked back at the shadow of Lian Yu as it disappeared into the fog. "I almost thought we'd never really leave," he said.

Slade looked at him with a bemused expression. "We won't," he said.

"Can you be positive about anything, ever?"

"Can you be realistic?" Slade shot back.

"In a non-metaphorical sense, yes."

"Physically leaving the island isn't leaving the island, kid. I've got a feeling you'll never really leave it behind, and I know I won't."

Oliver waved his hand dismissively. "But there will be showers and comfortable beds and food that doesn't come out of a can or the woods."

"Thought you liked my cooking." Slade smirked.

Oliver shook his head and stared out at the sea around them. He couldn't wait to be off the water and on solid land again. His detours to Hong Kong and Russia hadn't exactly been a relief from the nightmare of the last five years. But Slade was right; going home wouldn't be a picnic either. He was going to have to come up with a convincing story for his family and get started on his father's list. And then there was Laurel. Oliver didn't have the first idea how to talk to her or if she would even give him the chance. Probably not.

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From the high vantage point of the hospital window, Starling City looked deceptively similar to the way Oliver remembered it. He knew a lot must have changed in the past five years. His one visit back hadn't been pleasant, and he worried about what he might find even in his own family. He couldn't put it off any longer, though. His mother would be there any minute. He'd talked to her briefly on the boat, but this would be the real reunion.

Oliver heard her coming before she even opened the door. He had to remind himself not to react as if every noise were a threat. He turned slowly, trying to smile, to reassure her he was okay. He wasn't, but she couldn't know that. She hugged him and cried, and Oliver cried too. After all this time, he hadn't anticipated how good it would feel to be with his family again, even if everything was wrong.

"Mom," Oliver said pulling away so he could look her in the eye.

"What is it, Oliver?" She was still worried. As if he might disappear from her arms again.