3777/So I Took The Shot

So I Took The Shot
Date of Scene:	11 October 2020
Location:	Oliver's Room
Synopsis:	Vanessa is finally ready to open up to Oliver about having attempted a kill shot while defending the Turtles from the Rat King.
Cast of Characters:	Oliver Queen, Vanessa Carlysle

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Oliver Queen has posed:
The trip to visit his sister at the Verdant had been a mixed blessing, for one that semblance of return to a 'normality' after Lian Yu, seeing both women in his life together and discussing the future but there was still a large shadow hanging over the team. That tension he had seen when one of them had turned to killing without remorse. Very much like he had in the past. And of course that the return of an old enemy just made him be a touch more on edge..

It's a tension that's noticeable as they return home even if he doesn't verbally share such, and eventually they were back at the mansion and able to share some alone time up on the bedroom some time before sleep. It was his turn now to be by the window, hands resting on it and looking out into the night, thoughtful, almost as if he was lost in his own thoughts.. Yet when his voice comes it's clear he is very much in the present still.

"Do you want to talk about it?" That injury hadn't sounded normal, at least not what surrounded it. Something unsaid. He knew better than to press too much about it but he still worried, wanting to know what had happened. And more importantly, how he could help.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa emerges from the bathroom, face freshly washed and teeth brushed before bed. She pauses there at the question from Oliver. When Vanessa lets out a little sigh, it doesn't sound direct at Oliver. More like someone facing something they'd been putting off.

She reaches down and unbuttons her jeans and then slides them off, leaving her in her top and underwear, and revealing the bandages. "Should probably change these anyway," she says. She's also due for the third rabies shot tomorrow.

She walks over to where he stands though. Moving to take a seat on the padded window seat beside it and reaching over to rest her hand on Oliver's hip.

"Sorry I wasn't very sharing about this," she says. "I needed a little time to work things out. And I still haven't, honestly. But it's time to talk to you about it," she says with a nod of acceptance.

Vanessa clears her throat. "April asked if I could help. Some friends of hers, mutants I think, in a bad way. I took a bow and arrows, just in a bag, not in costume. And, well, they were staying down in the sewers, her friends. And we had barely arrived when they got attacked. By someone who could control rats. Mutated rats," she says. "They were big. My leg... it was like, this big," she says, holding her hand to indicate about the height of a good-sized dog. "It got through while I was saving April from another of them. But there were thousands of them, of all different sizes," she says. "That's, not the part I need to tell you though."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver was still very much dressed the same he had been when going to the Verdant, just not the shoes. Instead he had just his shirt and jeans on and having yet to do the sleep preparations for sleep. His deep blue gaze shifts to Vanessa when she returns back in, eyes sliding to the bandage and immediately that assessing look coming to his gaze. He couldn't help it!

"It felt it had been more than a simple wound against some larger rodent." He says, resting one large hand on her shoulder momentarily, "Something has been gnawing at your mind." he had his own way of mind reading apparently! Or maybe it was simply knowing someone after spending so much time together, getting to know their partner in a more deep manner. The power of empathy!

"Mutants living in sewers." He takes in a breath. "It doesn't sound too different from what Roy and AJ found down the Verdant's undercellars a while back.." but his brows then furrow as he listens further. He inclines his head understandingly and gets up. "We will get those changed while you tell me." always the practical type of man. He gets up, taking a quick trip to the bathroom to get the bandages and alcohol then back in, setting the box on the ground.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle reaches up to rest her hand atop Oliver's when it's on her shoulder. Touching and squeezing softly as she lets her eyes fill with the emotions she feels for Oliver Queen. She lets go then, repositioning herself slightly on the window seat to make it easier for Oliver to get at her injured leg. When the bandages are removed, she was clawed up by claws that are the size of a dog, and several bites also that came from a dog-sized animal, but the teeth marks don't match those of a dog.

"Well, one of them, a father to some of the others, I guess. He is a master martial artist. Better than either of us," Vanessa says. "And he got mind controlled. The attacker controlling the rats was using him to take out the other mutants," Vanessa tells Oliver.

"He was concealed, down the end of the tunnel that led to where we were. Rats, little, giant, all over the tunnel so we couldn't even spot him. And, I could tell the master was going to kill them. His sons, they weren't going to leave him there."

She looks down, her hands coming together, fingers fidgeting a little. "Someone set off a blast. And I had just a glimpse of the guy responsible. I only had a second to take the shot," Vanessa says. She falls silent for a few moments.

"I went for the eye," she says quietly. Her eyes lift to Oliver, afraid of what she might see in his face when she does. "I missed. I wouldn't have. But two rats jumped to shield him. Deflected the arrow into his shoulder. It was enough to break the mind control, of the master, and all the rats. But... but I tried. I tried to kill him."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver is used to listening even if he may be terrible at sharing his own secrets. Blame it to having always having tried to take care of both his young sister first and then Roy once he joined the family. So there is no judgement, no comment while he listens on, quiet, his eyes up on her own face for a time, then at the wound while he works. He first makes sure the bites and claw marks are all cleaned up, not in a hurry to go anywhere but instead to be fully sure that the job is well done, his touch tender..

It's when Vanessa mentions she went for the eye that there is the briefest of pauses in his motions. It is such a familiar feeling. And sometimes it feels like it'd make everything so much easier ...

"How did it make you feel? Attempting to kill someone." He finally asks after a time of silence, now having stopped to look directly up at Vanessa. If there was something he could understand was that struggle, the one about how far they'd be willing to go for those they cared for.

His hand reaches to take Vanessa's.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle's sloe eyes look about, anywhere but at Oliver for a moment. She blinks as if trying to hold back emotions from them. "Not good. Not good at all," she says, biting down on her lips as if to try to keep control.

She swallows and looks back to Oliver. In a voice that is fraught with emotion, cracking slightly as she tries to hold it back, Vanessa says, "Everything you went through with that. It's up here. Part of me." She reaches up and touches her index finger to the side of her head . Her other hand grips Oliver's as he takes it. Grips him tightly.

"The worst part, even as I let the arrow go, was thinking what you'd think of it when I'd killed him," she tells Oliver, tears starting to gather in her eyes. "I didn't. But I tried to. And... if I was in that moment again? I'd not have changed it. It was him, or the lives of the turtles."

Turtles?

Oliver Queen has posed:
The man's jaw tightens instantly when Vanessa mentions his own thoughts, the times he spent lost in his own vengeance, death and revenge being a constant in his life. Sometimes it was all one felt existed even if it but made him feel empty. "I feared this moment would come some day, that you'd be presented with a decision of choosing to take a life or not." and in a way he blamed himself, knowing that his own thoughts had been up on her mind during that time.

The grip on her hand is returned, his touch now firm, protective, not one of judgement but support. One that would have her back no matter what. That was what he did for those that were part of his life. Never give up on them, and making sure they realized that.

"You know I have done things I am not proud of. I wasn't a good man back then. I am not even sure if I am anymore, or what I'd do if those people important to me were in danger or...." were taken from him.. He takes in a breath. "Taking a life can change us though, and not for the better. But with the life we lead.., I am not naive enough to think there's always a chance to be non-lethal.."

The mention of the turtles does make him cant his head to the side. "Wait .., you mentioned martial arts earlier.. Don't tell me it's... Is one of them called Mikey?" how the heck would he know a ninja turtle?!

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa clings to Oliver's hand, the other moving to wipe at her eyes. "As heart-breaking as those memories of yours can be to know you went through... they are a source of strength for me, Oliver. I had a split second. Yet it felt like the world stopped. And... I didn't just do it, I made the decision to do it. But your memories made me know the price. So I was eyes opened. Knowing it had to be paid," she says quietly.

"I just... didn't want to disappoint you," she tells him. She clears her throat, trying to push down some of the emotions again. "Mikey? No, but... well, wait, yes maybe. Michelangelo. They are all named after famous painters," she tells him. "They evacuated that place, but I know where they are staying now. They weren't real happy about April bringing me by though, didn't want people to know they were there."

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oliver may say he isn't sure what he would do if those he cared for were endangered or taken from him but Vanessa will most likely know better. She has seen his core afterall. The darkness there. And the constant struggle in it between doing the good thing and ..., returning to those old ways. "I wish this was a decision you'd never have to take." he finally says, taking in a breath. "But I also know the woman I love wouldn't stay back with her arms crossed and letting the world pass her by knowing what she can do to help it. Just .., don't let it darken your heart like it did mine all those years ago." his free hand reaches up to tap her just above her heart in a gentle manner.

He then shakes his head, "You won't disappoint me. Because I trust on your own decisions." his tone open, intimate, reaching up to place a kiss on her brow. "And your heart is good. I know it."

Though as Vanessa explains about the turtles he nods slowly. "One of them helped during the fight against Zod.." he explains. "He brought this van as well, called it the turtle van.. He did sound a lot like a teenager a bit out of his depth but he disappeared once the threat was done. I have always been meaning to find him again to thank him for his aid." and as Vanessa explains further on their lair being evacuated she frowns. "If they need anywhere to stay for a while, or even more than a while they are always welcome here in Starling. Least I can do for the help given during the Metropolis fight."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa reaches out as Oliver kisses her brow, gently taking his cheeks in hand and leaning up for a second kiss, this one on the lips, though short and tender.

She lets him settle back then as she looks down at the replaced bandages. She gives her leg a little test and says, "It'll be good in a few more days. Just a little sore still. And just the two more rabies shots to do," she says with a sigh.

Vanessa nods slowly. "I think I've seen the van. The Mikey one wasn't there, but his three brothers were," she says. "And a couple of others who aren't turtles. Or, look like. I'm not really sure what their situation is yet. I got a little bit of a cool reaction when I went to check on them so... I'm... just not sure. But I can pass it on if you want. They know me as Vanessa, not as Quiver," she says. "Though April trusts them."

Oliver Queen has posed:
That kiss is certainly returned, Ollie's own hands resting up on her shoulders as they join in that intimate gesture together, some of that tension releasing. He smiles at her once they break the kiss, "It seems to me we will have to train your dodging abilities for next time." he teases quietly even if he does grimace about the rabies shot. Never a good thing.

He drops back down on one knee to make one last check over the bandages and nods as they seem good enough. "Mikey was .., very open when I met him. I am guessing not all of them are alike." as for the cool reaction he mmms, "They may be very tense to having had to evacuate their home. If I had my place attacked and was forced to leave I might be on edge as well.." he concludes, now letting his hand rest again upon Vanessa's.

"And yes, anything they may need. If April trusts them then that's good enough for me."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa gives a slow nod. "I'll go back out and see how they are," she says. "Maybe April can go too, this time," she tells him. The younger woman stands back up, sliding her hands around Oliver's waist. "I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner. I just needed some time to work through it myself," she tells him.

Vanessa rests her head against Oliver's shoulder, pressing in against him and savoring how it feels to be close against him like that. "Have I told you today that I love you, Oliver?" she asks him. "I feel like I'm overdue for it. But I do. You mean everything to me," she tells him, hugging him tighter.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"They will most likely need friends to support them during this time." Oliver says in agreement about Vanessa going to visit them. Another kiss is placed on her forehead and then he just rests there with her for a few moments in silence, feeling her warmth so close to him. One large arm drapes about her form, protective but also happy with the proximity, his breathing felt slow and measured..

"You just did.." He tells her, turning his blue gaze to look down upon Vanessa's, letting her see those feelings reflected there, one hand brushing across her cheek.

"I love you, Vanessa Carlysle."