sixwordstories | (no subject)

Interesting. I find the opposite to be true myself.

Let's just say it was something I really wanted to be wrong about but wasn't.

[Sherlock raises an eyebrow.]

Something else that doesn't happen often... Care to expand?

Only if you wanted to be wrong.

Ain't that the truth, man?

She stood there, staring at him, "You are not doing this," she told him, her arms moved across her chest, growing very defensive. "You walked out on me, Tommy. You" her finger moved back and forth between them, "ended this."

*Tommy sighs.* Not really... *He looks for something else to say and comes up blank.* Sorry, I'm not in the best mood.

*Tommy taps the side of his nose in the 'you got it' gesture.* And oh how I really wanted to be wrong.

Painful truth.

So what'd you get right, man?

The words stung so hard it made bile rise in his throat. The same thing Oliver had reminded him. He swallowed it back along with anything resembling emotion. "I did. I'm an idiot and a coward-" his jaw tightened then and his eyes went cold, "but I'm not wrong. Am I?"

*Tommy poured himself a drink. Bourbon.* Want one?

I ah, I realized that the girl I love was still in love with her ex- he was in love with her- they were meant to be together and I- *He shrugs* I was in the way.

She looked ashamed now, even if she shouldn't feel this way and looked down, away from him, unable to met his eyes. "You were right," she admitted, then looked up at him, her eyes meeting his, she had did nothing wrong. "About that. But I never, ever, would have been with him behind you back. I'm not the type of person, Tommy and when I was with you, I was one hundred percent with you."

Sure, hit me up.

That blows. So you did what, stepped aside and let it be?

Something about him softened but he was still raw and full of pain. "I know that. I know you. You're strong and willful and you would never, ever want to hurt anyone. I believe you would have stayed with me..." He collected his thoughts for a moment.

"I told you I thought things weren't going to work out, because I knew I couldn't stand being with you, watching you want to be with him. I've seen that longing in you and I just couldn't stand there and be the second best that had better timing."

Why, what were you right about? Death, destruction, the end of the world?

"You were never second best," she told him softly, she moved closer to him, "never Tommy." She had feelings for Oliver, yes, but she never let them crowd the ones she had for him, not when she gave herself to Tommy.

Her hand touched his arm, "Yes, I do love Oliver, that will be something that I can't change, but I wasn't in love with him when I was with you, I loved you!"

*Shakes his head.* No. Love. Just stupid love.

*Pours a drink and slides it over.* Pretty much. Even though it hurts like hell.

Well, that's a bit dull. I was hoping for explosions at least.

It wasn't that he thought she was a liar, it's just that the words were nearly impossible to believe. His whole life was spent being second chair to Oliver. When she touched his arm he tensed and flinched away. "Yeah, I can tell you're really broken up about it." As soon as he said it, he knew it wasn't fair. He had no claim to her and it wasn't hard to see that something pent and powerful had been brewing between Laurel and Oliver since he came back from that island.

She never viewed him as Ollie's second, he was an equal within her mind, but his words stung and instantly she stepped back from him, "I can see this conversation is over." She turned her head away, pushed some hair back out of her face. The tears she had cried for this man, the days she was miserable after he left her, "Goodbye, Tommy."

Tommy squeezed his eyes shut. Somewhere in the self-destructive muddle of his mind, he knew he didn't want to completely burn his bridges. "Laurel."

He took a deep breath. "Tell me you're not glad that I stepped aside."

Cheers. [And down the gullet! Richard, you are not supposed to drink that like a shot.] That's why man made alcohol; to lick your wounds with.

"You broke my heart, Tommy Merlyn." Laurel glared at him, "you didn't step aside, you ran away." Her eyes looked hard and then she shook her head.

Letting out a shaky breath, "Doesn't matter, does it?"