Surprises. With need2speed.

[olliequeen]

Oliver had taken the afternoon off from Queen Industries in order to spend some time at the Metropolis Community Center. The place was filled with activity: kids doing homework at some of the tables, some playing a game of pool, and others just sitting around talking and listening to music.

A smile touched his lips. It had taken months of planning to get the place built and finally opened, and the more time he spent there, the more time he wanted to spend there. He grinned as one of the kids played a game of tug-of-war with he and Chloe's collie-pup. It amazed him how much Mocha had grown over the last three months, but he'd never had a dog before, so he'd never given it much thought.

Shaking his head with amusement, he stirred the pot of chili he was fixing as he kept an eye on things.

Comments

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

Mia lingered just outside the doors to the center, trying to decide whether she wanted to go in or not. She sported an ugly bruise on her cheek that even she had a hard time hiding properly with her hairstyle and she didn't like people staring. But she'd gotten it because she'd told her pimp that she was quitting, so she figured she might as well visit the place she got a punch in the face for.

Decision made, Mia swung open the doors and stepped inside. She almost got her foot run over by a puppy.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver glanced up at Mocha's excited barking and saw someone new had stepped inside. He wiped his hands on a towel and walked out of the kitchen, a smile on his face as he approached the newcomer. When he got closer, his eyes widened in recognition. "Hey, I--uh. Welcome. I'm Oliver."

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"Hi," she said, distractedly as she watched the dog bound off, a laughing kid chasing after it. Nothing about Oliver's voice was familiar, but when she looked up at him her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Do I know you from some place?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He paused at that, suddenly glad that his face made frequent appearance in newspapers. "Oliver Queen," he told her with a small smile, hoping she'd buy that. His gaze locked on the bruise on her face. "That looks fairly fresh. Want some ice?" he offered.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

Mia didn't really buy it. He looked familiar in a 'I've met this guy' kind of way, not an 'I've seen this guy's mug on a magazine' kind of way. But she shrugged and tucked a lock of hair so it hid her cheek more. "Just this morning," she said. "It doesn't hurt."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He frowned a little, but reluctantly nodded, wondering if another creep like Councilman Doherty had been the one to hit her. "I don't think I've seen you here before. You want to check the place out? Or do you want something to eat? I'm making chili for lunch, but we've got snack stuff too, if you're hungry now."

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"I could eat." Mia shrugged, looking around and then back to Oliver, trying to figure out where she'd seen him before. "This is my first time here. A...someone gave me a card. Told me it was an okay place to stay."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

A small smile touched his lips. "It's safe here," he told her with a nod. "Do you like apples?" he asked, turning and heading toward the kitchen again. "We try to keep fresh fruit stocked." Which was really easy, especially thanks to some help from Bart.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"Apples are fine." Mia saw him smile and it hit her: he was that guy. The guy with the bow and arrows who saved her from Councilman Creepazoid. 'A 'friend' opened a community center. Yeah, right.' Mia followed him to the kitchen, a sly smile on her face now that she'd figured it out. "So, are you sure we haven't met before? 'Cause I could swear I recognize you like...from a party or something?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He paused at her words, considering them for a moment before turning around to face her, handing her an apple. "I do go to a lot parties because of work," he said carefully.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"Wearing green," she prompted, taking the apple from his fingers and biting into it. "Green leather."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oh, hell.

"Sorry?" He tried to stall for time, his brain fumbling to come up with an explanation so his cover wasn't blown.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

She laughed at his flummoxed expression, then took another bite of the apple. "Don't freak out," she said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I'm going to go around flapping my mouth about it. Who would I tell?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He blinked twice, staring at her open-mouthed for a moment. Then he sighed softly. "I don't know. But it would put a lot of people in danger," he said quietly, studying her. She seemed pretty sincere about not telling anyone.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

She gave him a slanted look. "In case you haven't noticed," she said, "I'm not exactly rolling in people who want to listen to what I have to say."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver held her gaze for a long moment, then walked over to the refrigerator, opened the freezer and pulled out a couple of ice cubes, wrapping them in a towel and handing it to her. "I'll listen," he told her sincerely.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"Trust me, you don't want to know." She frowned, holding the cold compress against her cheek and feeling it throb in response. "I don't want to know, sometimes."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He studied her. "But you still do," he said quietly. "Things out there are pretty bad."

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

She shrugged. "I've got it better than some. I can take care of myself pretty good."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver was silent for a moment. "Do you have any of that money from the other night left?"

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

She snorted and gestured to her face. "Of course not. Why do you think this is a bruise and not a bullet? I bought my way out."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"Right," he murmured, thinking for a moment. "How old are you, Mia?" he asked, recalling the name she'd given him.

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

"Twenty-four," she lied, watching to see if he'd buy it.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver gave her a look. "Right. And my favorite color's not green."

[need2speed.livejournal.com]

She returned his look with an innocent smile, then grinned. "Fiiiine. I'm seventeen, if you must know."