Sitting Down with dl_greenarrow

[quickreflexes5]

Ian walked through the lobby of the large building taking a deep breath and nodding towards the doorman as he made his way to the elevator. He'd been there a ton of times before, and a few times since Oliver had moved back to Star City, but somehow today felt slightly different. It was close to three in the afternoon and he was meeting up with Oliver so they could talk. He stepped into the elevator, reached out pushing the button for the penthouse, and when it prompted him for the code he started to type it in before he swore to himself and canceled it.

That was exactly what he needed, to walk right in and let Oliver know he'd obviously been there alone with Mia before. That really wasn't the way he wanted to start his visit. He cleared his throat and pushed the buzzer as he stood there waiting for Oliver to answer.

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[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver was sitting at his computer when he heard the buzzer from downstairs. He switched to the video feed that monitored the elevators and paused for a moment, forcing himself to take a deep breath. He reminded himself that he had to be the mature adult here. That Mia really liked this guy.

And he could practically hear Chloe's voice in his mind telling him to give the kid a chance. It wasn't like he really had room to judge.

He pursed his lips and reached out, hitting the intercom. "Come on up," he told Ian, pressing in the code.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

The elevator jerked to a start and Ian slipped his hands into his pockets. He hadn't told Mia he was stopping by the apartment today because he was pretty sure she'd tell him not to.

But he thought it was about time for him and Oliver to actually talk. He'd tried avoiding the older man and that never seemed to work out well for him, so he might as well get it over with.

He heard the chime and when the doors slid open he sucked in a deep breath and walked out into the apartment.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver rose to his feet, giving Ian a short nod. "Ian. Thanks for coming. Would you like something to drink?" he offered, raising his eyebrows a little.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He gave Oliver a tight smile and scratched the back of his neck while glancing around the room wondering if Oliver's better half was around also. "Sure...something to drink sounds good."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Nodding a little, Oliver headed for the kitchen. "Water? Orange juice? Or coffee?" He grimaced a little at the last option, wondering how Chloe and Mia managed to drink so much of the stuff.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He followed Oliver into the kitchen while making a face. "God no coffee please...I swear Mia consumes too much of that crap...watching her drink so much actually makes me nauseous."

He motioned toward the fridge as he walked over to the cabinet that held the glasses. "Juice is fine."

He stopped right before his hand touched the handle realizing what he was doing. Ian winced slightly sighing internally as he stepped away from the cabinet awkwardly, pursing his lips.

He was suddenly wishing he hadn't spent so much time here with Mia.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver smirked at that. "And Mia is light on coffee in comparison to my wife." He shook his head a little. "I don't drink the stuff either."

He raised an eyebrow at Ian's familiarity with the cabinets. "I know you've been here before. With Mia. Before Chloe and I moved back."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"Believe it or not, I actually understand." He smiled a bit, as well. "And you can still come over here whenever you want. You don't even have to bring Chinese." There was a faint hint of teasing to his voice now. "Most nights, I cook and you're welcome to join us."

He paused. "I'm not comfortable with the idea of Mia spending the night at your place," he admitted. "But if it's something she decides to bring up, we'll talk about it then."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian cleared his throat surprise coloring his face for a minute before he arched an eyebrow. He could play it off like he had no clue what Oliver was talking about, but that probably wasn't the right way to handle the situation.

Instead he leaned against the counter and nodded giving him a one armed shrug "Did Mia tell you that?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he said honestly, watching the younger man as he poured two glasses of juice and held one out to him. "But I would've known it anyway." He raised his eyebrows.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He took the offered drink slowly, swallowing heavily and tilting his head to the side, a hint of humor in his voice.

"Oh, how's that? Got the place bugged?" He chuckled lightly as he brought the glass to his lips.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver simply arched an eyebrow at that, letting the silence between them linger for a moment before taking a drink, as well.

"I was your age once," he said with a shrug. "I remember how it works."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian glanced down at his glass before looking back up and meeting Oliver's eyes. He wouldn't let the older man intimidate him, even if a tiny part of him was nervous around Oliver, he wasn't the type that would ever admit it.

"Does Mia know you spy on her? Don't you think that's taking overprotective to the next level?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He narrowed his eyes a little at that,not pleased with the implications of what he was saying.

"First of all, it's called a security system. Secondly, yes she knows it's here. There honestly isn't very much I keep from her." He set his glass down and leaned back against the counter, folding his arms over his chest.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He saw Oliver's eyes narrow and he shifted slightly, sighing This was not going well. He put down his glass and turned so he was facing the taller man while speaking.

"Look I don't know what it is you think I'm doing that requires you to limit my time with Mia and dislike me, but Mia trusts me. And if the two of you are as close as you say then shouldn't you trust her judgment?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"I trust Mia's judgment." He studied the younger man. "But you seem to have as much dislike for me as I do for you, so why don't we talk about that?"

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

His jaw clenched and he was silent for a minute while he gathered his thoughts studying Oliver's face and debating on what exactly he wanted to tell him.

"I don't know you very and I don't know how much you know about me, but my guess is more than you should," He paused brows furrowing. "Mia thinks you're this amazing guy...I'm pretty sure you couldn't do wrong in her eyes if you tried."

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Me I see a guy who tried to help a girl who was in a bad place...and that's commendable."

He met Oliver's eyes, "But what was the point of helping her if you were just going to dump her into a strange city where she doesn't know anyone and leave?"

Ian shook his head lifting his hands out of his pocket slightly agitated. "You know you don't like me being around or how I joke around with Mia or that we're so close, but I was here with her. I was her friend. I'm the one who sat up on the phone with her all night when she had nightmares for weeks straight...where were you?"

Ian hadn't meant to get so angry, but his parents had left him when he was little and he spent years in foster care before he was emancipated. He knew what it was like to feel like no on cared. And even though Mia didn't seem upset by Oliver not being around, because apparently he called and visited when he could he still thought it was wrong of him to just leave.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver stared at him for a long moment, listening to the anger in the younger man's voice, seeing it in his expression, and things began to make a lot more sense.

"There's nothing I can tell you that won't sound like a string of excuses." He shook his head a little. "And honestly, I can't explain things to you anyway. There's a lot you don't know about me, about my life."

He paused for a moment. "There was too much involved and there was too much at stake for Mia to stay in Metropolis when I found her. I have enemies. People who hate me because of who I am. And back there? Things were dangerous. She was a target. And I didn't like sending her away and leaving her to deal alone. It's why I was back here as often as I could be. Why I called and texted her constantly after she came here to live."

Oliver paused for a moment, looking down at the floor. Then he looked up once more. "But I can tell you this much. I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. So I think it would be a good idea for the two of us to come to some kind of an understanding for Mia's sake. Because she's been through enough."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian's shoulder's deflated slightly as he leaned back against the counter and nodded. He probably just succeeded in making Oliver hate him more when he promised Mia he'd try to get along with him.

His chest tightened slightly as he looked up at the frowning man.

"Mia is the first person I've been able to open up to and be myself around in a long time. She means..." he swallowed heavily throat slightly dry, "more than you know to me. She's so happy your back...happy to have a family. I just don't want to see her get hurt," he said softly.

Ian turned his eyes towards the floor for a second before gazing back up at Oliver. "I might not know everything she's been through, but I know it's a lot. I'm not the bad guy you think I am...I would do anything to protect her, Mia can count on me."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver's expression softened a little at Ian's confession. "I don't think you're a bad guy," he said honestly. "And if you're being honest, then we want the same thing. Mia safe and happy."

He leaned back against the counter. "Why don't we both agree to keep an open mind about one another?"

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

"I am being honest. I don't have a reason to lie." He said lightly before hesitating and scratching the back of his neck. "If I was going to lie to you I wouldn't have bothered coming here."

"And yeah, I guess I can do that...and while we're keeping an open mind on things and since I told you where I stand, I think it's only fair if you tell me why you're not crazy about me..."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

A faint smirk touched his mouth. He knew the kid wasn't going to like his answer very much.

"It's not that I dislike you. It's that you remind me a little too much of myself. Or myself when I was your age anyway." Before he'd gotten stranded on a deserted island, that was.

A little cocky and self-assured, a little too smooth and defiant.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian made a face as he leaned back slipping his hands into his pockets and arching a brow at Oliver. "I like to think I'm my own unique brand of male...but okay, I'll go with this. I take it you weren't the greatest guy when you were younger then?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He shrugged a little. "I was a player. I thought because I'd lost my parents when I was younger that loss entitled me to whatever I wanted. That I could treat people however I wanted and I could get by with it," he admitted.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

"Not having parents does seem to get a sympathy vote with women..." He winced shaking his head not sure why his mouth wasn't often attached to his brain. "I get your concerns okay? And i'll admit I can be ass and I have been before. Honestly though and this probably won't make you like me anymore, if this was about sex, I could get it somewhere else for a lot less work."

He shrugged, "Mia is more than that to me, her I respect. I'd never push her into anything she isn't ready for and she and I already discussed this. She's setting the pace for our relationship and I'm okay with that. When she's ready...then she's ready."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

A faint smile touched his mouth at Ian's blunt honesty. "I'm glad to hear that. I'd like to say I won't be so overprotective when it comes to Mia, but I try not to make promises I know I can't keep. So what I'll promise is that I'll try to give the two of you more space. How's that?" He raised his eyebrows a little.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian sent him a small smile while nodding, "Yea, that would be appreciated." He said his tone more pleasant than earlier.

He bit on his lower lip for a second before catching the older man's eyes. "And I'll do my best to remember it's not just us anymore. I'm not great with change and there's been a lot of it lately. First with Mia actually deciding to give this relationship a go, which I actually think I owe your wife for..."

He cleared his throat, "And now with you guys being back...I'm not used to having someone tell me I can't stop by when I want or that Mia can't spend the night at my place. I guess I'm just used to being able to be around her whenever I feel like it...so it's difficult for me to get it through my head that it's different now."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

A small smile touched his mouth at that and he held Ian's gaze. "Appreciated. There has been a lot of change lately. But if you want to come over and hang out with Mia, you can still do that. You don't even have to bring over Chinese for dinner." There was a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Most nights, I cook, actually. You're welcome to join us whenever." He paused. "But I'm not comfortable with the idea of her spending the night at your place. If she brings it up, we'll discuss it, though."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head slightly trying to figure out if Oliver was being serious or not. He doubted the guy actually wanted him invading his home whenever he felt like it.

"Noted and I appreciate the offer. I might even take you up on it sometime..."

Ian smirked. "And yeah, somehow I didn't think you would be. But...even I can understand that from your standpoint. Fair warning though, since we're being honest and I would eventually like it if we got along. If she ever does ask, I'd tell her no if I were you."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He raised his eyebrows a little at that, taking a drink of his juice. "Duly noted." He smirked, as well, nodding at the other man's empty glass. "More juice?" he offered.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He shrugged, the corner of his lip quirking up. "Mia already said she isn't comfortable with it now that things are different between us. So if she's asking that probably means she's ready and even though I consider myself a good guy where's Mia's concerned, I'm still a guy."

Ian's eyes shifted to the empty glass and he shook his head. "No, I'm good, but thank you."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough," he acknowledged. "I appreciate the honesty." He set his glass down, extending his hand toward the younger man, then pausing. "Do I need to give you the obligatory 'if you hurt her in any way, I reserve the right to break every bone in your body' speech? Or are we good with me leaving it at that?"

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

Ian chuckled taking Oliver's hand and shaking it. "Only if you want me to give you a similar speech," he said a hint of humor in his voice before his face sobered slightly.

"I'll tell you what...I promise you that I'll do everything I can not to intentionally hurt Mia...if you promise to do the same. You're important to her and I'm not sure you realize how much your opinion means to her."

He smiled, a fond look in his eyes as he spoke. "She's tough and stubborn, but under all that...I'm pretty sure she just wants to know she has people around her who love her."

He swallowed hard not looking away from Oliver's eyes, voice steady. "So I guess it's up to us to show her she does?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver shook Ian's hand firmly, nodding. "You've got yourself a deal." The last thing he ever wanted was to hurt Mia in any way. The younger man's words about his opinion meaning a lot to Mia made him smile faintly.

The kid was smarter than he'd originally given him credit for and he found himself relaxing a little. "That's what we're here for," he said quietly, nodding.

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He released the other man's hand and pointed feeling some of the pressure release from his shoulders, a hint of a smile on his face. "Agreed. You see...I told Mia you'd like me eventually...it's impossible for people to dislike me for long...It's the Archer charm, I'm quite likable when you get to know me."

He shifted letting his hands once again fall into his pockets. "I've gotta head to basketball practice soon, but...we're good here right? I don't need to worry about you attempting to make me disappear to keep me away from my girlfriend or anything nuts like that?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver smirked at that. "Don't worry, Archer. Contrary to popular belief, I only make people disappear who really deserve it," he joked. "Just be good to Mia and you and I are good."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

He laughed as he shook his head. "Good to know cause Mia would miss me, I'm sure of it. And I will be..."

He motioned towards the elevator, "I should head out," Ian gave Oliver a sheepish look, "If you could not say anything to Mia about us talking I'd appreciate it. I want to tell her myself. I'm going to give her a call as soon as I get out of practice."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver nodded slightly, smiling at the younger man. "No problem. Have a good practice."

[quickreflexes5.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." Ian gave Oliver a small nod and smile before making his way to the elevator. He got inside, pushed the button and when the doors slid shut he let out a long breath as he leaned against the wall.

That had to be the longest forty minutes of his entire life. Oliver wasn't as horrible as he thought he was and he found himself actually wanting the guy to like him, which was strange. Normally he didn't care enough to try, but as he had told Oliver this was different.

All in all things had gone fairly well and he was glad they finally spoke. The elevator chimed, the doors slid open and when Ian walked out into the lobby he felt a lot more relaxed then he had in weeks.