[It was definitely a loaded question and Oliver had to think about it for a moment. Had he put Barry in a position where he had to ask him that, had to get security before they discussed something important? He hoped not.]
[he wants to pace, wants to run. right now, face to face with oliver, he isn't sure he even wants to ask. not when the answer could mean a need to get away from the other man entirely. oliver is the only person he really has that he can talk to about his abilities, about what it means for him on a personal level. so if he's been hiding the truth too...
he takes a deep breath, his free hand scrubbing over his face as he slowly exhales. he can do this.]
[This was definitely something that would be a serious conversation.
Oliver knew of Eobard Thawne but only as much as Barry had told him back
home. Was there something new that Oliver wasn't aware of? Was there danger
here, of all places?]
Only what you've told me. From what I understand, he killed your mother?
[he can only manage a sharp nod at that, his jaw set tight, even as he tries to force himself not to overreact. to breathe. there's another question that he needs to ask, but it's one he knows he can't take back once its aired. if oliver knew too...]
Did you know? [his voice croaks a little with the words, and he tries to force himself to swallow around the lump in his throat. he needs to ask before he jumps to conclusions, and he knows that oliver won't lie to him.]
Did you know that he was here?
[and that he looks like harrison wells. that he was going to use that to get close to him, back home.]
[That wasn't knowledge that Oliver had been privy to and the weight
of it hit him square in the chest. Eobard Thawne, someone who was a
murderer and a criminal, was here? In this place?]
I didn't know. Barry, you can't do anything crazy. I know that's something,
coming from me, but you can't do anything that's against the rules of this
place.
[his shoulders slump, but it's out of relief. oliver didn't know, which means he didn't lie to him here. didn't try to hide just who eobard was. it means that there's finally at least one more person from home that he can trust.]
It doesn't matter anyway. I can't touch him. He's too fast.
[he'd laughed, mocked him, each time that barry had attempted to hit him. the other speedster is too fast for him to ever lay a hand on him, and that's a reality that he isn't able to come to terms with.
he wants to kill eobard thawne.]
The others knew who he was, and they didn't tell me.
[That was knowledge that Oliver hadn't had and he wondered what their reasons had been. Was it to protect Barry? Was it to keep him from doing something stupid and getting kicked out of this place? He couldn't say.]
I don't know why they'd do that, Barry, but they had to have had a reason. I don't think they'd just do it out of spite.
That man killed my mom. I don't care what reason they thought they had. They should've told me.
[he gives up on keeping still with that response, his pacing being the only thing keeping him from running once again. from the moment he'd found out about who eobard really was, about what role the man had already played in his life, he'd felt the need to run. to put some distance between himself and the problem. but here, with oliver, he knows he has somewhere safe to unload. that he can trust the man to give him the right advice, not just what he wants to hear.]
I haven't spoken to any of them since I left. But if I stayed-- I don't really know what I would've said to them.
[or done. he doesn't really have any trouble containing his anger (yet), but that doesn't mean he's incapable of hurting someone in other ways when he's upset.]
Sometimes it's hard to know what to say in the moment, especially when faced with something like that. I know. I've had those bombs dropped on me before and I've been the one to drop them on others.
[He wanted to help Barry in any way he could. He didn't want to see his friend struggling, or in pain, and wanted to bridge the gap between him and his friends in some way.]
Maybe you need to just give it some time. Keep your distance, wrap your head around it. Right now, it's too emotional for you.
[there's a certain amount of guilt that accompanies the admission. he knows that he should have come to speak to oliver sooner. of all the people in this city, he's the only one who barry knows he can trust. oliver may not have been the most friendly person out there when they first met, but he'd like to believe that things had changed by the time he left starling city.]
I don't like having to avoid them. But I don't think I trust them anymore.
[which is what it all ultimately comes down to. somehow, after all this, he's managed to trust the rogues more than his supposed team. that, he doesn't know how to come to terms with.]
[perhaps not as much as he'll know in the future, but he still means it. oliver could have lied to him. could have used this information to try and push him back towards the members of star labs. but he hadn't. he'd offered up advice that made sense, and had left it at that. a suggestion, and not a command.
it helps.]
Can we just...hang out or something? Unless you're busy. I can go if you are.
[though it's likely more than obvious that he's really hoping that he isn't. even if the two of them just sit there in silence, it's a break from the gallery that he knows he needs right now.]
[though if he's honest, he'd take just being allowed to stay in the first place. as much as he may like where he's living right now, he knows that he needs to give the rogues some space every now and then. he isn't one of them, afterall. isn't criminally inclined in any way. so at least when he's out of the building, they can go back to being themselves.]
I can go pick up some breakfast, if you're hungry.
[Oliver paused for a moment and then gave Barry an open look, something pretty rare for him. Oliver normally kept his feelings pretty close to the chest but some heavy things had been exchanged today. It was time to be open.]
You know, you're welcome here whenever. You don't have to ask.
[oliver's agreement has him stepping back towards the door again. however, it's the rest, the sincerity behind it that has him pausing mid-step. his only response to the statement is a soft smile, a thank you there in expression alone. knowing that he has at least one person here that he can rely on helps more than he can ever hope to explain.]
I'll...be right back.
[a nod, more to himself than anything, and then he's off. give him ten minutes or so and he'll be back]
[Oliver waited for him to return and if he wanted time to think about the knowledge that had just been dropped on him, waiting for Barry wasn't the time to do it; he was, after all, the fastest guy alive.]
So, I don't know if you noticed or anything but Felicity left. I guess she's done with her incentive already.
lmao i just realised i had him arrive with waffles at the start let's ignore that
[when he turns back up again he doesn't waste any time in laying everything out on the table. it may look like he brought enough to feed an army, but he's learned the hard way that he needs to eat a lot more than he thought. and at least this way, oliver gets to pick and choose from...pretty much the entire contents of a diner breakfast menu.]
I...didn't know she was here.
[and only finding out now, after she's gone-- he doesn't know what to do with that information. she should have been one of the first people he spoke to when he arrived.]
I'm sorry. But at least she got whatever she came here for? [and then, because he has to ask--] Are you okay?
[Oliver sat down at the table and started putting together a plate as he worked out how to tackle that question. Was he okay?]
Enough. It's not okay, it would never be okay but...if she fulfilled her incentive and that's why she's gone home, I think I can be okay with that even if I still miss her.
You'll get to see her when you go back though, right?
[it's a less than subtle way of asking if everything is alright, back home. if she's going back to something dangerous or not. with all the time differences at play here, he knows he can't assume one way or the other. not when he hasn't lived through any of what the others from their world has.]
And you've still got us. I don't think anyone's planning on going anywhere.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Promise. Nothing but truth between the two of us.
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he takes a deep breath, his free hand scrubbing over his face as he slowly exhales. he can do this.]
Do you know a man called Eobard Thawne?
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[This was definitely something that would be a serious conversation. Oliver knew of Eobard Thawne but only as much as Barry had told him back home. Was there something new that Oliver wasn't aware of? Was there danger here, of all places?]
Only what you've told me. From what I understand, he killed your mother?
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Did you know? [his voice croaks a little with the words, and he tries to force himself to swallow around the lump in his throat. he needs to ask before he jumps to conclusions, and he knows that oliver won't lie to him.]
Did you know that he was here?
[and that he looks like harrison wells. that he was going to use that to get close to him, back home.]
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[That wasn't knowledge that Oliver had been privy to and the weight of it hit him square in the chest. Eobard Thawne, someone who was a murderer and a criminal, was here? In this place?]
I didn't know. Barry, you can't do anything crazy. I know that's something, coming from me, but you can't do anything that's against the rules of this place.
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It doesn't matter anyway. I can't touch him. He's too fast.
[he'd laughed, mocked him, each time that barry had attempted to hit him. the other speedster is too fast for him to ever lay a hand on him, and that's a reality that he isn't able to come to terms with.
he wants to kill eobard thawne.]
The others knew who he was, and they didn't tell me.
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I don't know why they'd do that, Barry, but they had to have had a reason. I don't think they'd just do it out of spite.
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[he gives up on keeping still with that response, his pacing being the only thing keeping him from running once again. from the moment he'd found out about who eobard really was, about what role the man had already played in his life, he'd felt the need to run. to put some distance between himself and the problem. but here, with oliver, he knows he has somewhere safe to unload. that he can trust the man to give him the right advice, not just what he wants to hear.]
I haven't spoken to any of them since I left. But if I stayed-- I don't really know what I would've said to them.
[or done. he doesn't really have any trouble containing his anger (yet), but that doesn't mean he's incapable of hurting someone in other ways when he's upset.]
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[He wanted to help Barry in any way he could. He didn't want to see his friend struggling, or in pain, and wanted to bridge the gap between him and his friends in some way.]
Maybe you need to just give it some time. Keep your distance, wrap your head around it. Right now, it's too emotional for you.
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[there's a certain amount of guilt that accompanies the admission. he knows that he should have come to speak to oliver sooner. of all the people in this city, he's the only one who barry knows he can trust. oliver may not have been the most friendly person out there when they first met, but he'd like to believe that things had changed by the time he left starling city.]
I don't like having to avoid them. But I don't think I trust them anymore.
[which is what it all ultimately comes down to. somehow, after all this, he's managed to trust the rogues more than his supposed team. that, he doesn't know how to come to terms with.]
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[Oliver paused for a moment and continued, his voice a little lower and warmer.]
You know you can always count on me, right? I might not say what you want to hear but I'm always looking out for you.
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[perhaps not as much as he'll know in the future, but he still means it. oliver could have lied to him. could have used this information to try and push him back towards the members of star labs. but he hadn't. he'd offered up advice that made sense, and had left it at that. a suggestion, and not a command.
it helps.]
Can we just...hang out or something? Unless you're busy. I can go if you are.
[though it's likely more than obvious that he's really hoping that he isn't. even if the two of them just sit there in silence, it's a break from the gallery that he knows he needs right now.]
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It's early and I don't have anything to do. If you want to hang for a while, maybe I can make us some coffee?
[Oliver suspected he was going to need it if he got any more surprises today. Maybe this would be the only one and easily handled.]
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[though if he's honest, he'd take just being allowed to stay in the first place. as much as he may like where he's living right now, he knows that he needs to give the rogues some space every now and then. he isn't one of them, afterall. isn't criminally inclined in any way. so at least when he's out of the building, they can go back to being themselves.]
I can go pick up some breakfast, if you're hungry.
[because it's not like it'd take long for him]
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[Oliver paused for a moment and then gave Barry an open look, something pretty rare for him. Oliver normally kept his feelings pretty close to the chest but some heavy things had been exchanged today. It was time to be open.]
You know, you're welcome here whenever. You don't have to ask.
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I'll...be right back.
[a nod, more to himself than anything, and then he's off. give him ten minutes or so and he'll be back]
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So, I don't know if you noticed or anything but Felicity left. I guess she's done with her incentive already.
lmao i just realised i had him arrive with waffles at the start let's ignore that
I...didn't know she was here.
[and only finding out now, after she's gone-- he doesn't know what to do with that information. she should have been one of the first people he spoke to when he arrived.]
I'm sorry. But at least she got whatever she came here for? [and then, because he has to ask--] Are you okay?
lol welp i missed it too /shrug
Enough. It's not okay, it would never be okay but...if she fulfilled her incentive and that's why she's gone home, I think I can be okay with that even if I still miss her.
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[it's a less than subtle way of asking if everything is alright, back home. if she's going back to something dangerous or not. with all the time differences at play here, he knows he can't assume one way or the other. not when he hasn't lived through any of what the others from their world has.]
And you've still got us. I don't think anyone's planning on going anywhere.
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I'll see her. She probably doesn't want to see me, though.