So I'm fairly happy with this one even though it's extremely short, and I mean extremely short. Theme #2 Complicated. At first I was going to do something with Spitfire pre- allude acquaintance but then it evolved into Roy/Artemis and finally Roy/Thea. Warning: Extreme Angst ahead. If you don't like, don't read. You have been warned.

#2 Complicated

Pairing: Roy/Thea

Fandom: Arrow

Rating T: For angst and mild language.

ENJOY!

She's lost everything, and he knows it. Still, it doesn't make it any easier to see her this way. Alone, cold, at war with the world. His heart aches for the girl he used to know. If only he hadn't listened to Oliver dammit. If only he'd be honest with her when everyone else in her life had lied to her. Then she might have been okay. They could have left Starling and started over. But he wasn't honest. He'd lied to her just like everyone else and so she finally broke. Left the city. Gone with Malcolm and he'd done god knows what to her.

But now here she stands in front of him, clad in the dark robes of the league of assassins, aiming a gun at his chest. She has changed a lot from their last encounter, her once lively brown eyes stare dully into his green ones. The dark circles under them show that she hasn't slept properly in weeks.

"What are you doing here, Roy?"

There is a tone of authority in her voice, but he catches the slight crack when she speaks his name. She still cares for him, he can see it in her eyes. That only makes the pain in his heart sharper and he feels his throat tightening with sorrow.

She drops the gun.

"You're lucky I'm letting you go. Don't ever show your face here again understand?"

He nods slowly. Trying to drag out the moment as it may be the last time he sees her face.

"Go," she snaps, her voice finally breaking into a tiny sob. She doesn't look at him.

"Thea..."

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Roy turns her to face him. Tiny tears stain her cheeks, her eyes red from what looks like sleep deprivation and pain. He wants to kiss away the pain in her eyes so badly it hurts. But he can't, so he simply runs a red-gloved hand across her wet cheeks and tucks a strand of frizzy brown hair behind her ear. It's just a small caress but it means so much to them both. So many unspoken words communicated. I'm sorry. Forgive me.

After a moment he pulls his hand away and turns, tears of his own forming, but he can't let her see that. And as he leaps off the rooftop he finally lets one fall.

Oh Thea...

He silently wonders as the tears cascade down, a placid expression on his face.

When did things become so complicated?