Tears slipped down Oliver's cheeks unnoticed- by him, at least. For several seconds, Tyrone just looked at his friend in shock.

Finally gathering himself, he reached out and clasped his friend's shoulder. His voice was soft as he spoke, like a man afraid of spooking and wounded and frightened animal. “Talk to me, bro. I can't help if I don't know whats going on.”

Oliver closed his eyes, unable to bear the look of concern from his friend. “I'm... I'm good. Just... tired. I-”

“Don't bullshit me, Oli.” Tyrone rumbled softly. “Or did you forget that my minor is in psychology? I may not be a professional, but I can tell when my best friend is hurting.”

Oliver sighed as he subconsciously nodded- Sweet T already new most of his secrets, and was even helping him... and talking to someone he trusted could at least help him sort out his own mind. Years of therapy had taught him that, at least.

“I... made new friends. Kinda. On my last job” He answered slowly, struggling through the words. “Good people. Most of the Rach were, though they were all a little naive at times...”

“And coming back, I felt... sad to be leaving them.”

Shaking his head slowly, he turned to look towards the sky- somewhere, out in the Universe, the Ark flew on in its search for a new home. “Then I get back to town and... everything looks the same but feels different.”

“I kinda just... drove around. Feeling lost... And when I finally stopped to really look around... I was sitting in front of Poli's house...”

Tyrone felt a pang in his chest at the anguish and confusion in his friend's voice. In the past, Oliver was always so... controlled. Neutral. Indifferent, to almost any situation... Except for the brief moment of rage directed at Carl.

And the surprising amount of joy and happiness whenever he talked about Polina. Like speaking her name was enough for him to truly come alive...

But this time, all he heard was pain.

“We had talked a couple times about replacing the cracked stone in her front walkway...” The words spilled from Oliver's lips like fresh blood, his face contorted in pain only he could feel. “...But we never got around to it. Just too much going on, I guess...”

Oliver closed his eyes against the blurred light of the moon. “She replaced it while I was gone... And... I realized... that her life can go on without me...”

Hands clenched tightly around the swing's chain, his voice cracked. “And... maybe that's for the best. Maybe... Maybe she can move on. Live a good life, without all the worries and troubles someone like me brings...”

“...maybe she can find someone... someone good, like her... and not a monster like me.”

Tyrone's hand tightened on his friend's shoulder. He never imagined Oliver could sound so... defeated. Or broken. “Bro, you-”

Oliver continued speaking, not hearing his friend at all, his voice very nearly a low wail. “I thought about it... I have more money than I ever expected to have... Magic and Powers that other people can only dream about... I've even been to other planets and met aliens!”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“But... all I can think about now... Is how I've screwed up. Dealing with Carl and his dad... The racist assholes...”

“How shitty of a friend I've been to you... and Marty, Ed, and Gary...”

“ And Poli... How could I ever think it would work? She's a good person. Honest, loyal... Someone who believes in justice and integrity... And I basically shit all over that by being a murderous nutjob. I-”

Oliver's head rocked to the side, his cheek stinging as the crisp sound of the slap rang out. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw Tyrone in front of him, leaning down so they were eye to eye.

“You know I don't like hurting people, especially my friends, but you needed a wake up call. So, first, I'm sorry for hitting you, Oli.” Tyrone spoke softly, his gaze locked firmly with Oliver's. “Second... You aren't the only person that has made mistakes.”

“Wha-” Oliver started, only to be cut off by Tyrone's raised hand.

“Hear me out, Oli. I know how smart you are; you'll see what I mean if you just take a moment to actually listen and think about it.” Seeing his friend nod slowly, Tyrone pushed forward- he had no idea if it would really get through, but sometimes people needed the hard truths. “I fucked up.”

“Bro, you-”

“Just listen, man.” Tyrone said softly, placing his hands on Oliver's shoulders. “I got caught up in trying to help you with the business... And I didn't think about you needing help in other ways.”

“You've always been so strong and independent...and a bit closed off- that's not criticism, just a fact... I couldn't see how badly you were hurting. When things went down with Poli, I should have thought about how hurt and vulnerable you may be. I should have checked in more, and probably pushed you a little, to make sure you were ok.”

“But I didn't do that. That's my fuck up, and I'm sorry.”

Oliver wanted to argue, to tell his friend it wasn't his fault... But Tyrone didn't let him.

“And I'm not the only one, man. Marty didn't see it. Neither did Ed or Gary. We're your bros, and we didn't see how hurt you were. I know you want to argue. Maybe say that we couldn't see it because you rarely show emotions at all... But that's bullshit. We're your best friends. Your brothers. We know you better than we know ourselves.”

“Honestly, I'm pissed at myself for not being a better friend. And I know they will feel the same. Friends fuck up sometimes, man. The only question is... Can you forgive us? Because we want to be better friends to you just as much as you want to be a better friend to us.”

Not trusting himself to speak, Oliver could only nod slowly as he struggled to hold back the unfamiliar swell of emotions running through him. When Tyrone pulled him into a quick hug, he nearly broke again... He didn't understand how someone like him ended up with a friend like Tyrone...

Easing Oliver back slowly, Tyrone sighed softly. “Now comes the part that I know you're going to argue.”

Seeing the confusion on Oliver's face, Tyrone decided that 'ripping the band-aid off' was the only thing he could do. Taking a deep breath, he spoke evenly. “Poli fucked up too.”

“What? No! How can you even say that, man?” A spark of anger flashed through Oliver's eyes as he spoke. “I'm the one-”

“Oli, bro, please listen to me.” Tyrone pleaded, and the gentle understanding in his voice brought Oliver up short. “Yeah, you could have handled things better. Maybe talking to her before circumstances forced the issue would have changed things. I don't know.”

“But the way she handled things wasn't right either. I can't imagine it was an easy situation for her, but leaving you hanging for a month wasn't right. I know she said she needed time, but a month? With you hurting and uncertain the entire time?”

Shaking his head sadly, Tyrone did his best to explain what he meant. “What she needed to figure out... Was whether or not she could accept all of you. And could she accept that you would do what you feel is right even when the world says that your actions are wrong?”

“She loves you, Oli. If she didn't, it wouldn't be so difficult for her to figure this out... But her trying to reconcile her sense of justice with her love for you isn't a reason to leave you in limbo. It isn't fair to either of you.”

“I know you don't want to hear this... but, one way or the other... This can't keep going like it is. It's only hurting both of you. Either of you can choose to end it, but it will take both of you to make it work.”

“So, you two need to talk... And either make it work... or find the closure that you need.”