Title: Sixteen Candles
Fandom: Arrow
Rating: G
Length: 1225
Warning: None
Summary: It's just a cupcake, she thought. Only a cupcake he gave.
Notes: Also written for Challenge 04: Table of Doom @ writerverse



There has always been a specific way that I celebrate my birthday. I guess it goes back to my childhood, when I was the only girl in class who had any working knowledge of electronics; knowledge that some even thought of as arrogant because I picked things up faster than my lecturer.

In my defence, he really shouldn’t have been drinking before ten in the morning, anyway.

With a happy sigh, I open my eyes and let my brain just… be. It’s a nice feeling, to be able to shut down my thinking for a while. All I do every day is bury myself in programmes too complicated to be legal, trying to help a vigilante do what he does best and try to fix our broken city. I hate to admit it, but I admire what he does. What makes it worse is how much I enjoy the thrill of the chase. My real job seems boring by comparison.

It’s the blue that calms me, I remember thinking once. Maybe it’s the movement of the water which brings out the serenity in one’s self. Or, maybe, I’m just being too philosophical. Aquatic life is part of the great unknown. Sometimes, I like the fact that I don’t know everything. Ignorance has its perks.

“This is how you celebrate your birthday?”

I knew it! I just knew it! I shake my head and fight the smile threatening to play on my lips. “Diggle told you, didn’t he?”

Oliver suddenly appears to my left and sits down on the wooden bench beside me. Not for the first time I wonder how he learnt to be so quiet.

“I’m not saying a word. I have been sworn to secrecy,” he says with a sly smile.

He watches the movement of the exotic sea life for a moment, his shoulders gently shrugging in an effort to look casual. I have seen that action so many times that I know it is his way of feigning casualness. I wonder if I should tell him this.

“Is this a tradition or…” He looks at me expectantly, and like always, I find myself unable to lie to him.

“A tradition,” I say quickly, fixing my glasses to search for an excuse to look down. “My parents had a birthday party for me when I was eleven. Only one person showed up: my best friend.” I look up just in time to see Oliver look at me with an intense gaze. It’s too much. I look away and let my eyes fall on a baby shark searching for prey.

“My father felt bad for me, so he brought me here, to the aquarium.” I shrug. “I loved it, and I started coming here every year.”

Oliver nods. “Where’s your father now?”

“He… um… died. Last year.”

His eyes soften considerably. I look away again. I’m still not used to the looks of pity.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

I wave his condolences off flippantly. “It happens.” I try to smile but fail miserably at it.

We sit there for a moment, silent, with my fingers fidgeting nervously. Vigilante-Oliver I can handle. Oliver, the Billion-dollar worth playboy, is amusing. But the caring Oliver who seems to see things with one good look scares me to no end.

“I think it’s time for another tradition,” he says gently, before reaching behind him for a paper bag that I hadn’t seen him come in with.

He pulls out a cupcake with pink frosting on it. But what really draws my attention is the amount of candles he had poked into the mini cake.

“…Wow,” I find myself deadpanning. It almost looks like a pink hedgehog.

His smirk widens. “Don’t sound so excited. All I did was buy a few candles to represent your birthday.” He frowns with good humour at the offending dessert. “Unfortunately, I could only put sixteen candles on it without having it collapse into a pile of crumbs.”

The gesture is so very thoughtful and sweet. I smile, despite the dangerous looking cupcake that is held before me. “Thank you,” I say graciously. “I always wanted to turn sixteen twice.”

He pulls out a lighter and uses it to light the sixteen candles. “Blow it out. Quick,” he says as he pockets the silver instrument. “Before I get kicked out of this place for violating its safety codes.”

I panic immediately and start blowing at the candles. But my lung strength is near abysmal and after four strong blows, there are still a few dancing flames. When I try to blow out the candles for the fifth time, it’s too late. The fire alarm goes off and water rain down on us from the sprinkles. At least the flames are doused within seconds.

I meet Oliver’s eyes and we both burst out into laughter. I’m soaking wet within seconds and he is simply shaking his head while water droplets cascade down his face and neck.

“Not how I expected this to go down.”

“What can I say?” I ask with a haughty air. “I am the queen of birthday disasters.”

His smile widens affectionately. “Which is why you’re such an important part of the team. We queens must stick together.”

I smile back, even though there is a certain nervous flip my stomach is doing because of the way he’s looking at me. Oliver Queen knows how charming he is. That is exactly how so many women had fallen for him before he was stranded on an island for five years. I’m determined not to be one of them.

“Well…” I say through the falling water, my tone playful. “Thank you for a memorable birthday.”

Oliver leans forward, so close that I can smell the musky scent that is just him. “I try.” His gaze suddenly moves to the side of my face. I watch with curiosity as he raises his hand and gently rubs his thumb over my chin.

I tell myself that the shiver that wracks my body is from the cold water than maintenance still hasn’t managed to turn off yet.

“Frosting,” he says as a way of explanation as he pulls his hand back to show the pink cream on his finger. “I think I might have accidentally hit you with it when the water came on.” He licks it off his finger and gives me a wide toothy grin.

I stare at him for a few seconds while he looks back at me. The water knocks off and I sigh in relief. “Time to go home and change.”

Oliver nods. “By the way,” he begins in a tone too serious on a day where no villains need be hunted. “Diggle is waiting in you apartment with your real cake. I was the decoy.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“It’s your birthday,” Oliver says with a shrug. “We’re not going to let you celebrate it alone.”

I will never admit this, but I’m really touched with the gesture. “Fine,” I breathe out. “Let’s go, then.”

Oliver takes my arm, pulls me up with him and starts leading me towards the exit. The whole ride to my apartment, Oliver explains how it is important that Diggle be forgiven for breaking into my home, while I sit in silence and try to shake my fascination for Oliver Queen to no avail.