How I Feel - An Olivarry Story

Luck with a Twist of Fate

"Tonight?" Oliver asked, a tint of hope in his voice.

"Tonight." Kara promised, a smile curving at the edges of her mouth. She took his hand and led him into her bedroom for the two to get dressed for the day.

Sometime during his stay, Oliver had brought a duffel bag of clothes to leave at Kara's place. He had been spending most of his time there, for the little time he's known her, and thought it was more convenient for him to leave a few things of his so he didn't have to resort to driving back out to the Queen's Manor whenever he needed an outfit to wear. Thea had recently moved in with Roy anyway, so it's not like he had anyone to come home to.

Being the city's mayor, he has the money to pay off his bills and keep the lights on. But lately, he's been thinking, what's the point? The only reason he's stayed there for so long was for Thea. She didn't want to leave the house she grew up in. But now, she's gone. She left. She's building her life with Roy. And maybe, in a way, he's building a life with Kara. Who knows? But what he did know was that... that house was haunted by the memories of the people he loved that have died- which was why he was ready to leave it behind.

"I've been thinking... Maybe it's time I sell the mansion." Oliver informs as he throws a shirt over his head. He then climbs into his jeans as he watches Kara dress herself from across the room. "Maybe find some place small. Just for me, you know?"

"Wow. That's a big step." Kara says. Her tone was rather pale. Clearly, it bothered her.

"Yeah," Oliver agrees. "Maybe somewhere closer?" He raises an eyebrow, pursing his lips. "It would sure as hell be a lot easier to get here."

"If that's what you want." Kara brushes off. She sat on her bed fully clothed. She began to fidget with her fingers, her eyes sinking towards along with it.

Oliver sits beside her. For a moment, he just stares at her, trying to figure out what was wrong. He used to do this a lot with Felicity, considering something was always wrong, but she wasn't like Felicity. Whatever it was, it was serious.

His heart sunk, possibly similar to the way her eyes just had after his announcement, afraid he had hurt her. Felicity may have had her fair share of guilt, but so had he. He'd blown up at her for seeming upset, due to being unsure of what to say or how to respond, and he didn't want to repeat that same mistake with Kara. "Is everything okay?" He asked with an apologetic tone.

"No," Kara responds almost immediately. "It's not."

"What is it? I want to help." Oliver offers with support.

"I know we aren't together, but I don't know. I just thought maybe one day you'd want to take me there."

"To the mansion?" Oliver asks, remaining his eyes locked on Kara.

"To your home, Oliver." Kara answers. We're always... here."

Oliver rests his hand on Kara's back, gently rubbing it. "I like it here. It's cozy."

In response, Kara finally looks at Oliver, but not with the light she harnessed. The look was dull. She wasn't amused.

"Sorry," Oliver says under his breath. "I didn't mean that. Well, I did, I do, but it's more than that. Kara, for so long, I didn't have a home. I mean, sure. A house, yeah. But ever since the Gambit, I didn't have a home. Not until..." Oliver trails off. He almost said the name Barry. Not until I met Barry, he was going to finish. But right now, it wasn't about Barry. It was about Kara. And if he was being honest with himself, it started to feel like Kara was beginning to feel like his home, too. But that wasn't the point he was trying to make, nor was it one to explain to Kara why he hasn't taken her to the mansion. He clears his throat, changing his coarse of words. "It's just... that mansion isn't my home. It's just a place I'm fortunate enough to live in," Oliver sighs. "Ever since I've lost my family, it's felt empty, even with Thea there... and now even she's gone. I have no one to come home to there. But here? Your place?" Oliver looks around the room, animating his words with a dopey smile on his face. He returns his eyes to Kara's. "I have you... and that's why we're always here. And why I've never taken you there or even asked. Because here... it feels whole. It feels real."