Having Arrow (TV 2012) brain rot because I am mentally avoiding working on the final project for my Masters, so I'm working on creating an AU where Mirakuru metabolizes way quicker than canon and Slade is able to fully process that yeah, Ivo is not a reliable narrator and Oliver probably did not choose Sara over Shado by the time Oliver is dealing with the Alpha-omega virus in Hong Kong.
I think the whole thing would get leaked to ASIS and Slade would end up rushing to help Oliver because of course the kid would end up basically enslaved to A.R.G.U.S. but Slade would not be there in time so everything with the Yamashiros still happens.
Still not sure exactly how it would go, but it would be heavily hurt/comfort considering Oliver isnt as hardened as he by canon. Maybe Oliver ends up staying with Slade for the remaining years until start of s1 time? He did stay in Coast City away from his family in canon.
Still not sure if I would end up writing Slade and Oliver as a romantic or platonic pairing. Probably QPR knowing myself. Though if anyone wants to writing a similar AU for the romantic pairing i would appreciate it! :3