Oliver was happy that Clarke was out of Medical and on the mend. It would still be a while before she was fully recovered but things were looking up. He’d been spending a lot of time with her since she was still on crutches even though she insisted she could manage just fine and she could, but that didn’t stop Oliver. One thing that he hadn’t forgotten was that he had promised her the best cheeseburger ever when she was able to have one. He was planning to follow through on his promise tonight.
On his way home from work, he’d stopped and picked up what he needed before heading to the Tower where Clarke lived. This was actually going to be a very special meal and he was a little bit nervous about it but cooking would keep his mind off it. He knocked on the door and when Clarke answered he gave her a grin. “I always keep my promises and I promised you the world’s best cheeseburger so I am here to deliver it.”
“You look like you’re here to cook it,” Clarke teased as she leaned up to give him a quick kiss. Oliver had been hovering a lot the last few days, but she didn’t really mind it so much. She didn’t want to admit it, but didn’t really want to be alone. She felt safer when he was there.
“That’s because I am going to cook it,” he told her as he entered the apartment. “When I first got back from the island, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. My family’s housekeeper would usually get up in the night if she heard me roaming around and she taught me how to cook. I’m actually a pretty good cook. I like to experiment but I promise not to put anything gross in the cheeseburgers.” Oliver was being modest, he was practically a gourmet chef, it had been one thing that he had used to try and deal with his demons after he’d gotten home. Definitely safer than his former coping mechanisms of drinking and picking up women and other things.
She couldn’t help grinning at that. The concept of Oliver as a cook didn’t seem to match the rest of his personality, but somehow it still fit and she was looking forward to seeing how good he really was. Things like this were one of the things she loved about Atlantis. She wouldn’t be in the middle of a scene like this at home. Unexpected kidnappings and dangerous missions aside, life was a lot calmer here.
“I know I don’t look like a cook,” he had seen the smile on her face and had a pretty good idea what she was thinking. “I like doing it though, it relaxes me and that’s something I’m not all that good at.”
Clarke knew that about him and she grinned. “So... cheeseburgers. Is there anything I can do to help?” Recovery from some serious injuries or not, she couldn't just sit there and watch him do all the work. She wanted to give him a hand, too.
“You can slice the tomatoes and if you want lettuce, you can do that,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what you liked on your cheeseburger so I got the basics, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, I didn’t get onion because I personally don’t like it but if you want some, I can run out and get it.”
Clarke nodded and started to get to work, pulling a stool up to the counter so she could sit. It didn’t take long to get everything ready and they’d set the table for while the burgers cooked. Soon, they were sitting down to eat them. “This is really great, Oliver,” Clarke said as she got settled. “Thank you.”
He kissed her nose and grinned at her. “You’re welcome,” he said as he got to work. Dinner went quickly and Clarke seemed to enjoy his cooking which always made Oliver happy and after putting the dishes in the dishwasher, they settled on the couch. For a time, they just sat there snuggled together and then Oliver spoke.
“You wouldn’t believe how badly I wanted to come after you myself,” he said. “I thought it might be personal when I realized that you, Wanda, and Alicia were all missing even though I couldn’t figure out who would be after me and yes, I know I’m a little paranoid. Then I heard about the others and of course COS made themselves known soon enough. I was so afraid I was going to lose you and I don’t know what I’d have done if something had happened to you.”
He’d said as much in the hospital after she’d woken up and she nodded, shifting so she could look at him. “Nothing happened to me, Oliver,” she reassured him. “I’m here. I’m okay.” She’d been hurt, pretty badly, too, but she’d come out of it alive and her wounds would heal. That counted as okay in her book.
“I know,” he replied. “It’s just that while you were gone, I had a lot of time to think and I realized something. I love you, Clarke. I was afraid I’d never get the chance to say that.” Oliver didn’t use the words lightly even though once he had. Now he understood that real love was a lot more than just words and he would never say them unless her truly meant them.
Clarke’s face registered surprise before a small smile graced her lips. They’d never rally pit many labels on what they were doing together, never really defined much of anything, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t fallen deeply for him.
“I love you, too, Oliver,” she admitted before leaning in to kiss him.
He reached out to pulled her closer and kissed her back, happy to hear her say the words. Oliver hadn’t been expecting for anything like this to happen when he’d come here, he’d simply needed to escape but now he couldn’t imagine not being a part of Clarke’s life and vice versa.