You are the Vigilante

Chapter 2 - Roll call

Chapter 2 - Roll call 

"You are the Vigilante." 

Thea's words still hung in the air. Oliver continued to hold and look at Felicity despite the damning video evidence supporting Thea's words. Diggle stood slightly behind the pair, watching and supporting them. 

Roy was similarly positioned slightly behind Thea, some of his initial anger easing. Thea simply stood watching Oliver and Felicity, waiting on their response. 

Felicity finally raises her eyes to Oliver - he simply smiled at her and nodded before he spoke. "Anyone ready for lunch then?" 

Diggle suppressed a smile and accepted Felicity's arm as Oliver again sent her his way. He met Oliver's eyes with a nod and turned to start leading Felicity out of the office. 

Oliver reached for the tablet but as Felicity was still watching him she leapt forward to take it from him at the same time Thea does. Oliver allowed Felicity to take it but tucks away the observation of fear in her eyes. 

The group proceeded outside to their cars when suddenly Thea blocks Oliver's path. "No way Ollie - I'm not giving you time to get your stories straight." Thea stated as she started to move between him and Felicity. "I'll ride with you and Felicity can ride with Roy." 

"No." Oliver practically growled as he looked at his sister. 

Thea and Roy are both stunned by the vehemence of the single word; however, it took Diggle and Felicity only a moment to understand their reaction and that Arrow Oliver wasn't someone they knew. 

Felicity stepped forward and smiled at the pair as she spoke. "Don't worry, he has a tendency to go all growly and intense but he doesn't mean it, well, he means it but it's not a bad thing, he-" 

Oliver interrupted her with a push into the car and followed her in, leaving Thea and Roy to join them. Diggle flashed a quick grin at the surprised kids before getting in to drive. The trip was quiet - Oliver kept a hand on Felicity's arm but only Felicity herself wondered whether it was actually for support or to keep her from rambling - the small circles he was making with his thumb only served to distract her. No one other than Felicity gave it more than a passing thought though as each continued to think about just how badly this lunch could go. 

Big Belly Burgers in front of them - the group remained quiet as only Diggle and Roy seemed to enjoy the food. With Roy and Thea on one side of the table, Felicity and Oliver on the other and Diggle on the end, the sides are aligned and the tension palpable. 

"Ok, seriously, we have to talk about this Ollie." Thea interrupted with tense silence impatiently. She continued almost pleadingly. "What happened on that Island to make you the Vigilante?" 

"You told me once that I needed to open up to someone...and I did, I do. The Island was - I've moved on, Thea, but I can't be the Ollie you knew then. I'm sorry. I'm not sorry for not telling you about the Island. I want to protect you from this. Don't ask questions, Speedy, I won't answer them. I had to survive on the Island and that's what I did - discussion over. " 

"So where do we go from here? Do you expect us, me, to pretend that we don't know about your alter ego?" Thea asked in frustration. 

"Yes, that's exactly what I expect." Oliver's tone was harsh. 

"So you brought us here to tell us nothing? Ollie, you are the Vigilante!" Thea hissed angrily. 

"You've lost the drama of that revelation Speedy" Oliver teased with surprisingly lightness given the situation. He continued more softly and seriously though. "This isn't your fight Thea."