Chapter Text
“What if she changes her mind,” Tommy asked. Behind the wide smile for the photographer, Oliver could hear the fear. He was doing his best man duties and faux adjusting Tommy’s suit to get “candid” groom moments for the videographer.
“It would make things difficult,” Oliver said. “I obviously can’t ask for my donation to the clinic back, but the other gift I got you is kind of bespoke, you know?” Instead of the laughter he expected from his best friend, Tommy flicked his hand away with a huff.
“I need constant reassurance right now, Ollie. You know how needy I am, can’t you just pretend for a minute?” Oliver couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I’m really not laughing,” Tommy said. “I would never do this to you. Mostly because you’ll never settle down, but also because I am, and will always be, your pillar of strength.”
Oliver turned to his best friend and gripped his shoulders tight, paying no attention to the flashes and clicks from the camera. “Tommy, I’d take an arrow to the chest for you, but I need you to say that again- slowly, and with a straight face. ‘Pillar of strength’? This wedding is breaking you. Even if Laurel did pull a Runaway Bride, I’d have no choice but to drag her back and beg her to put us all out of our misery.”
Tommy relaxed into Oliver’s palms. “I will admit I came on a bit strong there, but this is hell!”
“Pillar of strength?” Oliver murmured.
Tommy slid out of Oliver’s grip. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m a bit emotional right now, if you couldn’t tell.”
“You called yourself a pillar of strength and told me I’d never get married. With friends like these,” Oliver let the phrase hang.
Tommy rolled his eyes. “It’s my wedding and you're making jokes about my wife leaving me. Pillar of morality you most certainly are not.”
“Enough with the pillars,” Oliver grumbled.
Tommy continued on, “You started this when you went missing and had to be wrangled by Donna, then instead of consoling me, on my wedding day , you're trying to amp up my anxiety.”
Oliver raised his palms in submission. “Okay, to be fair I thought it was a funny, cheerful, jittery energy and left you, briefly . I accept wrongdoings on that, but I’m here now, and you’re here and doing great, and Laurel is almost here, and we’re gonna have a wedding today.”
Tommy took a deep breath. “See, that’s literally all I needed.”
“Okay, again, my bad,” Oliver said with a teasing sincerity that brought a smile to Tommy’s face.
“So where the fuck were you before?” Tommy asked.
“By the bar,” Oliver answered quickly and suddenly looking down at Tommy’s shoes.
Tommy’s eyes widened. “So now you’re going to lie to me on my wedding day?”
“I don’t think that adding ‘on my wedding day’ has the power that you think it does.” Oliver said, trying to deftly avoid Tommy’s questioning.
Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose. “So let me get this clear. You’ve now abandoned me, mocked me, lied to me, undermined me, and refused to be honest with me, all on my wedd-”
Oliver cut him off. “I was talking to Felicity.”
Tommy shook his head with a touch of pride on his face. “Trying to score on my wedding day?”
Oliver rolled his neck with a groan. “I was trying to have a conversation with a friend.”
Tommy snorted.
“Why is that hard to believe?” Oliver asked seriously.
The earnestness was what made Tommy laugh.
“Because she’s beautiful, and funny, and clever, and single.” He explained. “If you didn’t have ulterior motives I’d ship you up to a wing in your grandfather’s name at Starling General.”
Oliver let out a sigh. “You don’t have to worry about any motives.”
Tommy scrunched up his face in confusion.
Oliver saw the questioning look, but offered no further details. He then looked around waiting for more direction from the photographer or videographer, but they were nowhere to be found.
Tommy noticed Oliver’s shock at being alone. “They left ages ago. We’re alone and the floor is all yours my friend.”
Oliver refused to make eye contact, so Tommy pushed on. “Maybe you’ve forgotten how you’ve abandoned your post as best man and essentially betrayed me, but I haven’t. Make it up to me on my wedding day, and tell me what happened.”
“Thea happened.” Oliver said, plainly as if it was all obvious to Tommy.
Tommy waved him on. “Thea happened and what?”
“She threatened me, I guess,” Oliver said with a shrug.
Tommy’s eyes narrowed. “She threatened you, how?”
Oliver’s face dropped.“She said she was going to introduce Felicity to some guys.”
“Was Felicity there when the threats were made?” Tommy questioned.
“Yeah,” Oliver responded slowly. Tommy wasn’t understanding the severity of the situation.
“So she said, ‘Felicity, you can’t speak with Oliver, I’ll introduce you to other men’?” Tommy asked.
“Basically,” Oliver huffed.
Tommy looked skeptical.
“Why are you making that face? You weren’t even there. I’m telling you what happened.” Oliver insisted.
“Why don’t you replay the whole scene for me so I can get the proper perspective.” Tommy urged.
Oliver ran his hands through his hair. “Felicity was taking a picture and I tried to photobomb her.”
“As a person perpetually stuck in 2014 does,” Tommy interjected.
Oliver continued on. “And the Thea came and Felicity mentioned getting back on dating apps. So Thea told her that she wants her to be with someone that works with the group already, not a stranger.”
Tommy blinked slowly.
Oliver took that as a sign to continue. “So Thea and Roy, he’s on my shit list by the way, were talking about how they could find her a great guy today.”
Tommy reached out to grip Oliver’s shoulders. “Oliver, my best friend. My best man. I can’t believe that I, as an only child, have to spell this out for you, on my wedding day no less.”
Oliver waited for Tommy’s sage advice. “Thea’s taunting you.”
“Yeah, I know that.” Oliver insisted.
“I don’t think you do, actually.” Tommy responded softly. He would have to explain it simply.
“Thea is trying to get you to make a move on Felicity. She gave you a fair warning that if you don’t grow a pair, she will introduce Felicity to someone smart enough and bold enough to realize what a catch Felicity is.”
Tommy watched as recognition fluttered into Oliver’s eyes. Tommy scrunched up his nose and nodded at his clueless best friend. “She got you.”
While the pieces were forming together in Oliver’s brain, Tommy took the time to gloat.
“Damn, I handled that well. I’m gonna be a great dad. A master of problem solving.”
Oliver shook his head, confused on how his little sister had once again managed to get under his skin and play him for a fool.
Tommy continued on. “We all thought the two of you would make a good pair. But then again we also thought you’d make a move naturally. On a normal day we can’t keep you away from an eligible young woman, but as soon as it’s someone we actually want to see you with, poof, you become the kind of guy to abandon his best friend and whine about not being picked.”
Oliver shook his head in anguish, “Wait, who’s we?”
Tommy started counting off his fingers, “Me, Laurel, Sara, Thea, Roy, to be fair it’s probably everyone except for Quentin.”
Oliver nodded along, pretending like the freshly revealed information was not shocking him to his core. “Do you think she likes me?”
Tommy was dumbfounded. “We’re fully grown men, it’s my wedding day, and you want me to pass a ‘check yes if you like me’ note to a woman who has clearly shown interest in you?”
“You’re one to talk,” Oliver complained. “Fifteen minutes ago you were on the verge of a meltdown because you thought your level headed, loving, fiancée was going to abandon you at the altar.”
“Yes, but I’m the dramatic one, you’re the cocky one,” Tommy clarified.
Oliver fidgeted with his cufflinks, an unfamiliar energy taking hold of him. “You’re right. Why am I being like this?”
Tommy gave him a shrug. “Because you have an insatiable lust for being difficult?”
Oliver wasn’t amused.
Tommy tried again, “Why do you think you’re being this way right now? About Felicity specifically?”
“I don’t know,” Oliver responded truthfully. “It just feels different.”
“Why,” Tommy pressed on.
Oliver absently rubbed his fingers together. “I guess because I really like her.”
Tommy’s smile was luminous. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Oliver grabbed Tommy in for a hug. “I’m sorry for making this all about me right now. And for abandoning my post as Best Man.”
Tommy gave Oliver a big squeeze and laughed. “Actually, you made me realize how stupid I sounded. Laurel and I are meant to be, obviously. What would I look like sitting here, on my wedding day, being melancholy? Your ways are unorthodox, sure, but you did your job.”
Oliver gave him a chuckle, “My pleasure. I know how you love to problem solve.”
Tommy grinned. “A thoughtful wedding present. But what was that I heard about a bespoke gift?”
“Should I call Laurel and ask if you can open all the gifts on your own?” Oliver asked.
“Oh I asked you multiple times to get her on the phone and you wouldn’t but now you want to call her, you tattletale?” Tommy taunted.
“I have your best interest in mind,” Oliver clarified.
Suddenly, they weren’t alone any more. A wedding planner, the photographer, videographer, and other essential yet unidentifiable crew all walked in together in a v formation. The planner, clipboard in hand, spoke up. “Laurel is outside, we’re going to start making our way to the altar.”
One of the team members walked up to Tommy with a mic pack in hand. “I’m just going to attach this,” he said while adjusting Tommy’s lapel.
Tommy looked over at Oliver. “It’s showtime,” he said with a beaming smile. “For me, not you. Please don’t become the dramatic one right now. There will be plenty of time after the ceremony to woo. I need you to stand up there and focus on me and Laurel and rings. After you hear, ‘I do,’ you are released from most of your responsibilities.”
“Much appreciated. Though I think you like keeping me under your control.” Oliver jested.
Tommy nodded salaciously. “I do like keeping you on a leash.”
Oliver scrunched his nose. “Save that talk for your wife. Now let’s go get you hitched.”