Phoenix

(I do not own any part of or have any affiliation with Arrow. This is strictly fan faction.)

Chapter One

Oliver choked as the sword slid into him, stealing his breath and any hope for the future. That bright point, that could have been, slid away as Ra's al Ghul pulled the blade free of his ribcage. The pain from the fight faded as blood filled his lungs and his brain was rid of oxygen. He struggled to understand the whispered words of his enemy, but his mind would only acknowledge those he loved and lost.

An image of his father, alive, strong and determined filled his vision only to be replaced by his mother, holding him with love on her face. Thea came next, bounding down the stairs, so incredibly happy to see him. Damn, he loved them. He would miss them. In that moment he said his goodbyes and waited for death to claim him, though it seemed death wasn't ready.

Instead, his final remembrance washed all of his acceptance of fate away. Felicity. His Felicity, filled his vision. How could he leave her? Their kiss. The unplanned moment that destroyed his soul.

His feelings for her were intense and true. From the moment he watched her chew on that red pen, he felt himself slip. Even when everyone around made him feel like a killer, she made him feel like a hero, and it was then he fell.

For a brief moment he thought they could have more, that he could have her. He had been nearly giddy with the thought. Only the Arrow wouldn't allow him to have that happiness. The Arrow had many enemies and they would not hesitate to turn his love against him. After their date ended with Felicity covered in blood, he tried to put distance between them, because he was terrified that she would be killed because of him.

Oliver tried to convince himself that it was for her own good and he nearly had until that night at the hospital. He tried to tell her why he couldn't be with her, but she didn't seem to want to understand. Felicity actually thought that he never felt anything for her. It killed him. She demanded that he tell her that he never loved her. His entire body reacted on instinct, pulling her face to his. His lips took what his heart denied him, drinking in the feel of her soft sweet lips against his. She returned his kiss and he was desperate for the moment to never end. It took everything in him not to back her into the hospital wall and take her then and there, marking her as his and making her unfit for every other man on the planet, because she would be his. Instead, he let her pull away. As much as he loved her he couldn't put her at risk, and being with him was risky.

Gripping her beautiful face, so delicately between his palms, he stared into her wounded eyes and tried to give her the words she needed to leave him, but he couldn't say it, even to keep her safe, because it would be the biggest lie he ever told himself, his family, his friends, all of Starling City.

Instead he let her walk away. He died a little as he watched her leave. It was over. His decision for them both, and he knew she was not okay with it, but what choice did she have. A relationship was a two way street and he was going to stand still while she kept going forward in life.

It nearly killed him when she started seeing Ray Palmer. He had never felt such jealousy and regret, but when he saw her kissing Ray, his heart broke and rage consumed him. He tried to convince himself that he had done the right thing, but after seeing their kiss his feelings would not be so easily buried. He wanted her, he needed her. She embodied everything he had ever hoped for himself and he lost her.

Those last moments in the Arrowcave held his regret. He knew he was too little, too late, and she was with Ray, but he couldn't leave her without telling her the truth of what he felt. He loved her. It was simple. It was true. He loved her.

He knew now with his last breath that even if he were to live 60 more years, he would always love her, he would always protect her and he would always fight for her. Felicity, the girl who stole his soul and made him long for a different life. A life free of a responsibility to Starling City, a life free to sweep her off her feet and keep her with him always…safe, sweet and sassy as ever.

A life filled with her light.

In that moment, with his life dripping, a crimson contrast against the stark snow, he felt the awesomeness of his regret for not taking the love she offered and running with it. Death was breathing down his neck and never being with her was the only regret following him to the grave.

His awareness returned to the present as Ra's al Ghul's foot kicked against his chest, knocking him from the cliff face. The scenery screamed by as he plummeted toward his death, and all he could think of was Felicity and the future they would never have. His body slammed into the rocks and snow below as darkness claimed him.

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