The Archer | T.D. ✔

Chapter Fifty-Five

The area was dead silent as Rory started down Tim with a steely glare. "I'm going and that's final." she snapped.

"No you aren't, I already almost lost you once tonight. I am not risking your life again," he answered, his gaze just as hard as hers. 

"That's not your decision to make Tim! It's like my life and I get to chose if I risk it or not, isn't that the point of this job? Risking our lives to protect the innocent?" she cried, looking at him.

"Yes, it is your choice Rory but you have no suit and no weapons. I am not stupid enough to let you come along because then I might actually lose you!" he pleaded.

Tim was angry, how could she not see that he was trying to protect her? He hated the idea of leaving her behind, but he knew that she would be safe in the cave if she stayed there. There was no way she could protect herself, her bow was gone and so were her arrows. 

"You won't lose me, Tim! I can take care of myself!" she yelled back, her own anger flaring. Rory knew he was worried about her, but there was no reason to. She always took care of herself, and she wasn't going to stop now.

"You don't know that!" he yelled. "Damn it, Rory, why can't you let me protect you for once? Is it so bad that I want to keep you safe?!" 

Rory's eyes widened as she looked stunned, Tim had never raised his voice at her before. She knew that she was pressing buttons, but if she wasn't there then who would make sure that he came back to her? They made a promise to protect each other, and she was not going to break it. Not now, and not ever.

It was a few moments before she spoke again, this time her voice was softer. "I know you want to keep me safe, don't you think that's all I want for you? I'm not perfect, far from it, but if I'm not there who is going to make sure you don't do something stupid and I lose you?" she asked.

Tim let out a sigh, "I love you Rory, but you are in no condition to go back out. Don't think I didn't notice your back was still hurting. Without your suit and bow, I would be too worried about you and I can't take that risk." He took her hand and held it tightly in how own. "I will fight to my dying breath if it meant that you stayed safe and out of harm's way."

Rory stepped closer and pressed her lips to his. "Let me help you, please?" she begged.

He held her waist and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry Songbird, but you're not going." Tim looked at Roy and gave him a nod. "Take her home."

Before she could protest, Roy had wrapped his arms around Rory and drug her to his bike as she thrashed in his arms. "Rory Harper, let me go now!" she yelled. he tightened his grip on her and pulled her onto the bike and took off while she screamed for him to take her back.

It didn't matter that they were out of sight, Rory still screamed. "Take me back now!" she cried. tears fell from her eyes as she tried to convince her friend to take her back. Tim and the others needed her, she knew they did but he was so stubborn that he wasn't going to let her fight.

Roy kept his hold on her tight, hoping that she didn't try something crazy and crash the bike so she could make a break for it and run back. The entrance to the cave came into view after a few minutes, Rory had stopped yelling and was crying silently. Even when they pulled into the cave, she just sat there with a defeated look on her face.

He stood there and watched her cry before he pulled her off and sat her on a chair. "What the hell is wrong with you Twinkle Toes?" he asked.

Rory sniffed and looked up at him. "What the fuck are you talking about Roy?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"I mean, all the risks you have been taking. If you even thought clearly, you would see that he was right. You are in no condition to fight, but what I want to know is why are you crying about it?" he crossed his arms.