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Tweak says, "What, and YOU'RE so smart?"

Oliver Queen (i_shotanarrow) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2012-03-19 19:50:00

Entry tags:

dinah lance, oliver queen, stand still

Oliver felt bad--well, maybe not bad, but not good--about walking out of the meeting a few days prior, but it didn't seem like they knew anything more than they'd known when he, and Hank, and Dinah had discussing things informally when they'd all been in for their physicals. Until they could tell him what sort of arrow he needed, and until they could actually work together, he didn't really feel the need to hear the same arguments repeated.

The truth was, he was worried about Dinah. She'd essentially just lost a child whom she had fought long and hard to keep, and come to the end of a relationship that--while rocky in patches--had seemed to make her genuinely happy. And to think that playboy Dean might be taking advantage of her vulnerability in any way...

Ollie shook his head. He'd know all about playboys, wouldn't he? Or maybe he was just prejudiced. Probably. Regardless, he picked up the phone to give Dinah a call, to see if she would mind him dropping in on her.

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i_shotanarrow
2012-03-22 03:34 am UTC (link)

"Thank you, Alfred," Oliver replied, nodding his head, "It's certainly a pleasure." He couldn't say he actually knew the man, but a home-cooked, gourmet meal was always a pleasure, and it did smell wonderful.

He noticed the arching for the brows the man gave Dinah, and wondered what that was about--though he wagered he could venture a guess.

"He's probably wondering what you're doing having dinner with your ex," he mused. "Not that I'm planning on giving him any reason to turn me out on my ear. You and Dean seem pretty close." Now it was Ollie's turn to arch a brow, as if he were wondering what her new boyfriend would think of her having dinner with said ex.

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i_crylikeabird
2012-03-22 01:02 pm UTC (link)

Dinah hadn't been expecting that question, or the look that he was giving her. Her eyes widened as she realized the assumptions that Oliver might be jumping to. She shook her head.

"Dean's a good friend. That's all." She sighed. "He's the one who told me about silver being a weakness for Eric, and he's the only one who's hurt the vampire at all that I know of. I thought it would be good to get him involved with our efforts against Eric."

And she hadn't counted on the severe personality clashes, though she should have. No wonder her team had lost interest.

She sort of shrugged.

"Dean's got interests elsewhere and I'm still recovering from my break-up as well as... well, you know."

Losing Jake. It was hard to even say the words.

She picked up her fork and absentmindedly pushed some of the pasta around her plate.

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i_shotanarrow
2012-03-22 03:51 pm UTC (link)

"Okay," Oliver said, accepting her answer. He knew she was still hurting, knew that the factor of the unknown that came with this kind of separation had to be a killer. "Given the dynamics between him hand half the women that we've worked with, I'd say he's got interests in plenty of other places--but you know if I started showing up with you, and acting that attentive, people would think the same thing about me."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I know it's really none of my business, and extenuating circumstances make it even more awkward, but from where I'm sitting, you're my friend, and I don't want to see you hurt. That being said, I am a total jackass, and you're more than welcome to tell me where to stick it."

He offered a self-deprecating smile as he put a forkful of pasta in his mouth as if to change the subject.

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i_crylikeabird
2012-03-22 10:26 pm UTC (link)

The reminder of Dean's other 'interests' wasn't exactly a pleasant one. Dinah never had been comfortable with his casual approach to relationships, and it bothered her a lot more than she'd let on that he'd slept with both Murphy and Jen.

But their friendship worked specifically because it was just that-a friendship. From what she knew, he'd been honest with the women he was seeing and wasn't leading anyone on, which meant that it wasn't any of her business. Which made it a lot easier to not think about that sort of thing while spending time with him.

He was a good friend. Always had been. He'd been there for her a few times when no one else had been able to, or just when she'd needed someone the most. And he'd risked his life for Jake. That meant something to her.

Of course, Oliver had risked his life for Jake too. And he had been a good friend. He'd been a better friend to her than she'd been to him when it came down to it.

She gave him a small smile.

"I'm not going to project my issues with the other Oliver onto you. So far as I've seen, you're the opposite of a jackass and I appreciate the concern."

She raised her glass to toast him and then took a few sips.

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	i_shotanarrow 2012-03-23 05:48 am UTC (link)
	"I wasn't always like this," he said, raising his glass. "So here's to good friends, and the occasional stranger, who will give you a kick in the head when you need it most. Hopefully not literally." He grinned, and returned to his meal. "You weren't kidding about the Alfredo. This is excellent." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_crylikeabird
2012-03-23 07:54 pm UTC (link)

Dinah returned the toast and leaned forward to clink her glass with his. At least they weren't seated at the ridiculously long dining room table, so she didn't have to lean very far forward and they weren't shouting across the table at each other.

She took a few bites of the pasta and grinned fondly.

"I'm not sure what I would have done without Alfred these past few weeks."

The grin faded just a bit, but she tried to hang onto a little bit of a smile. She was trying not to be all gloom and doom all the time when she had company, though there were reasons that she hadn't exactly sought out the company of others lately. Save for moving in here with Alfred, of course.

She sighed.

"I'm going to have to go back to the townhouse eventually though. I can't intrude on his and Bruce's kindness forever."

It still bothered her that she hadn't seen Bruce at the Manor at all during either stay in his house. It made her wonder if she really was overstaying her welcome or stepping too much on his toes, even if she know he would never say that.

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	i_shotanarrow 2012-03-25 06:32 pm UTC (link)
	"It's good to know you've had people to support you, anyway," Ollie said, not letting the brevity of the conversation dampen his enjoyment of the meal. It wasn't often you got to hang out at Wayne Manor--at least not in Ollie's case. "Do you see Bruce around much?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_crylikeabird
2012-03-25 06:55 pm UTC (link)

Dinah wasn't overly hungry, though Alfred's pasta was a near-divine experience so she ended up eating about half of what was on her plate. She did finish the first glass of wine but didn't pour herself another.

She frowned and looked up at the question about Bruce. She shook her head.

"I haven't seen Bruce at all. I get the feeling that either he's not sleeping here or he's deliberately avoiding me."

Which was part of the reason that she didn't want to continue to stay here. This was Bruce's house and if he didn't want her here or couldn't be at home while she was here, she didn't want to continue to intrude on him.

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i_shotanarrow
2012-03-25 07:01 pm UTC (link)

"Huh." Ollie just shrugged. "I suppose it's entirely possible he has more than one house in the City." He couldn't think why anyone would need more than one house in the same city, but stranger things, right? Ollie could have probably afforded a second home, himself, if he wanted one.

"Anyway, I'd hope if he'd at least tell you in person if he needed his space back."

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i_crylikeabird
2012-03-26 01:54 am UTC (link)

Dinah nodded slightly.

"Me too, but he's... Bruce." she shrugged. "He's not exactly forthcoming with his feelings."

That line of conversation was cut off by Alfred, who returned to collect their plates. The elderly butler directed a frown at the amount left on Dinah's plate. He was always pushing her to eat more.

He also brought out dessert, which was an overly decadent chocolate cheesecake. Dinah stood and kissed Alfred on the cheek.

"Thank you Alfred," she said quietly.

The butler gave them both a small smile and then exited the room again.

Dinah ate her dessert in silence. She felt bad for it, but there was a lot to think about it. Oliver's understanding about the possibility of her taking time off had jumpstarted the internal argument that had been waging itself ever since the meeting with the League.

Finally, she did break the silence.

"I think that you were right earlier-maybe I should step down from the team for now." She grimaced ever so slightly. "I hate to do it, but I don't think I'm thinking clearly enough to be in a position where lives might depend on me. Not lately."

She did her best to hide just how much it hurt to give up something that she felt so passionately about. And worse, one of the only things that she had left to focus on after losing Jake.

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	i_shotanarrow 2012-04-02 11:33 pm UTC (link)
	Oliver nodded, glad to hear she was at least considering some time to take care of herself. Goodness knew she needed it. "Have you thought about who you'd like to step up? Or is it just going to go to Batman by default?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	i_crylikeabird 2012-04-03 01:08 am UTC (link)
	Dinah appreciated that he had asked her. She really did. All the same, she shook her head. "No, I don't think it's my place to choose. I think you all need to decide for yourselves. And Batman's not really... at least, this Batman's not really a team player." She stepped forward and gave him a tentative, quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for understanding." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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