Work Text:
The BUNKER seems empty when OLIVER arrives in the elevator, but seconds later the sound of punching on a dummy confirms someone's there. He steps out of the elevator and sure enough finds LAUREL, practising on a sparring dummy.
OLIVER: Hey.
LAUREL (panting a little): Hey.
OLIVER: How are you holding up?
LAUREL: You mean after Sara leaving?
OLIVER: Yeah.
LAUREL: Okay. I guess.
OLIVER: You want to spar?
LAUREL: Sure.
(She grabs the nearest eskrima stick and blocks OLIVER’s attack just in time.)
OLIVER: Nice reflexes.
LAUREL: Funny. Sara said the same thing.
OLIVER: You're getting better. I can't believe how much you've learned in such little time.
LAUREL: Come on, Ollie, you know I've always been a badass.
OLIVER (laughs): True.
LAUREL: Hey, can I ask you something? It's about… Cisco.
OLIVER: Cisco Ramon?
LAUREL: You know him, right?
OLIVER: Yeah, we worked together last year when we teamed up with Barry. He's a good guy.
LAUREL: He is, isn't he?
OLIVER: What about him?
LAUREL: Nothing, just - he asked me for a drink last time he was up here.
OLIVER (getting knocked to the floor by LAUREL): Ow.
LAUREL (extending her hand to him): Sorry.
OLIVER (taking her hand and letting her pull him to his feet): ‘S’okay. Did you, uh, tell him bars aren't your thing anymore?
LAUREL: No, I went, and I just got myself a club soda, and it was fine, just -
OLIVER: Just what?
LAUREL: Just - we're friends, Cisco and me. And… it made me wonder -
OLIVER: - if you want to be something more?
LAUREL (taken aback and taking a punch to the shoulder): How did you know?
OLIVER: You know me better than anyone, Laurel, but you sometimes forget that I know you better than anyone too.
LAUREL: Yeah, I mean, he's smart, funny, cute. I could see myself with him.
OLIVER: I sense a “but” coming.
LAUREL: But yesterday I called him, to ask about… something else he's been working on, and he - mentioned his girlfriend.
OLIVER: Ah.
LAUREL: Well, I mean, he didn't actually say she was his girlfriend. But the way he was talking about her, I'm pretty sure they were dating. Kendra, her name is. She's a barista.
OLIVER: So he's unavailable. You never know what might happen in the future.
LAUREL: However unlikely that might be. I just… he was one of the first people to truly believe in me as the Black Canary.
OLIVER: How do you mean?
LAUREL: I mean, the first time we met, I told him how I knew who Barry was and who you were, because I'm the Black Canary.
OLIVER: And?
LAUREL: And his immediate response was - and I'm not kidding - “I love you”.
(OLIVER bursts out laughing, and LAUREL takes advantage of that to try one of NYSSA’s signature moves on OLIVER, succeeding in getting him into a headlock. Then she releases him.)
OLIVER: Seriously?
LAUREL: Yeah. And later, he called me Star City’s prettiest guardian angel.
OLIVER (considers): I can’t argue with that.
LAUREL (punching him playfully): And you know, this line of work, people hardly ever say “thank you”, and that's fine - that's not why I do it. But -
OLIVER: - it would be nice to get some acknowledgement all the same?
LAUREL: Yeah, something like that.
OLIVER: I know what you mean.
LAUREL: Having someone believe in you… it means the world to me.
OLIVER: I'm sorry I ever doubted you. But I'm glad… that you had Cisco in your corner. You deserve to have people believe in you. In the good you do.
LAUREL: I appreciate that, Ollie. Another round?
OLIVER (laughs): No, I'm good. Gotta go and do some stuff for my campaign.
LAUREL: “Mayor Queen.” It has a nice ring to it, I think.
OLIVER: So what, you're saying you believe in me?
LAUREL: I believe you'll do what's best for the city. For your home.
OLIVER: Our home.
(He pushes the button and calls the elevator.)
LAUREL: Thanks, Ollie.
OLIVER: For what?
LAUREL: For letting me talk to you. About Cisco. I know it's probably weird, for you.
OLIVER: You helped me with Sara - which is a lot more than I deserved. It's the least I could do. And it's not weird. In fact - I wouldn't have it any other way.
(He steps into the elevator and the scene ends with LAUREL going back to the sparring dummy and punching at it with renewed energy - but this time with a small smile on her face.)