A/N: Hi there! This is my first attempt at an Arrow fic so I hope I did an ok job. Please review and let me know what you thought. Also this was slightly an insomnia write so I apologize if some errors got through. No Spoilers really, but I've written it after seeing up to episode 19 of season 1 so if anything goes horribly out of whack in the rest of the season then consider this AU.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to DC and CW.
"I need a favour." Felicity spun around to where Oliver was working out. He dropped from the pull up bar and grabbed a towel.
"Isn't that usually my line?" He grabbed a water bottle took a drink. "What's the favour?"
"Here's what happened." She started and Oliver knew this was not going to be a quick explanation. Then again Felicity's stories were never short. They were always highly entertaining, but never short. "So when I was a freshman in college I roomed with this girl Robin. We've been friends ever since even though she went a little legally blonde and I...didn't." Felicity glanced at the computer screen where the offending email that put her in this situation was still open. " So Robin's getting married and I'm a bridesmaid. Don't even get me started on the cost of dresses and hair and make up. I'm living off grilled cheese pretty much when I'm not with you and do you have any idea how hard it is to find forest green shoes with less than a two inch heel?"
"You're drifting Felicity." He didn't mind it, but she had asked for gentle reminders when she got off track as it was a habit she was trying to curtail.
"Right. Sorry. So we're planning the Bachelorette party and the She-Devil Maid of Honour Carli, she even writes it with a heart over the eye can you believe that? She keeps making cracks about how I'm of no help whatsoever because I don't get the 'Starling Scene' and I don't go out and I probably wouldn't even know where to begin planning a night like this." She took a deep breath "So I may have dropped your name and promised to get us in to Verdant on Friday night with like super V.I.P privileges. I normally wouldn't and I just said I do your I.T but she is just evil and I had to get one up on her." She finished and gave him a pleading look. He gave her his trademark blank look before smiling.
"Of course. It's the least I could do. I'll walk you out tonight and we'll talk to Tommy and set it all up." She clapped her hands together before punching the air in a happy motion.
"Oh she is going to eat her words! See this?" She traced a circle around her face "This is my gloating look."
"Glad I can help. You gloat, I'm going to go back to training" Oliver put down the water and grabbed his bow.
Friday night Felicity stepped out of the limo feeling vaguely uncomfortable. She was wearing a black strapless jumpsuit with the highest heels she owned and her hair up in a messy, curly updo. The other five girls, bride included were all in the shortest dresses they owned and were far more drunk than she was.
"Well this was all your idea Felicity, you lead the way." Candi smirked passive aggressively. One of the other more sympathetic bridesmaids had let it slip that Candi had a back-up club in place waiting for Felicity to fail. She took a deep breath and walked up to the bouncers. Just at that moment Tommy walked out to check how the line was doing. She caught his eye and he winked as he pulled the rope aside.
"Felicity! Great to see you!" He leaned in and gave her a friendly peck on the cheek. He then turned to the rest of the party "Ladies, Welcome! Have a fantastic night." The group walked into the club, with Candi trying to hide the sulking mood she now found herself in. They headed towards the main bar where they ordered bottle service and were subsequently directed to a plush booth just off the dance floor. It definitely wasn't her scene, but it made Robin happy which was all that mattered to Felicity.
Oliver returned from patrolling and was temporarily surprised to find just Diggle in the basement. "Wait, it's Friday isn't it?"
"Has been all day. Fall on your head parkour-ing through the Glades?" Oliver just smirked at his bodyguard's wit. "It's about time to make your Alibi forming appearance upstairs anyway. You'll probably run into her." Oliver nodded and went to change.
Once he was no longer hooded, Oliver wandered through the club. He usually tried to take a route that ensured he was seen by the largest number of people in the least amount of time. However, tonight he took a different route and walked a little slower. He looked down from the upper level and spotted a carefree blond on the dance floor. She was so caught up in the music that she didn't even appear to notice when other men danced near her in an effort to get her attention. Oliver smiled. He hadn't felt that kind of reckless abandon in far too many years. It warmed his heart to see a spirit so free. At this point the girl spun around and he finally got a look at the dancer's face. He was floored to discover that the dancing nymph and his I.T goddess were one in the same. Almost as if she sensed she was being watched, Felicity looked up. Seeing Oliver there she smiled and gave a small wave. He nodded before Tommy approached and pulled him away to deal with some club business. He finished signing whatever it was Tommy had shoved under his nose and turned back. She was gone. Oliver frowned and made his way downstairs. After a quick scan he spotted her again, sitting in a big booth by herself checking her cellphone.
"What happened to your friends?" Oliver asked while he slid into the booth beside her.
"Drunk Smoking. Another habit I never got the hang of. I'm much better at watching purses."
"Remind me to take 'Purse watching' off the defensive training schedule. Seems you have it under control." They both smiled at each other and at the joke. "You look wonderful tonight by the way." She tried not to blush.
"Thanks. I let the bride go all human Barbie doll on me and this is what she came up with. It could be worse I suppose."
" It's not only that." Oliver paused trying to think of the best way to say this. "You seem, Freer, more relaxed. I don't get to see that side of you really. It would be nice to see more of it."
"I'd like that. I wouldn't mind seeing your relaxed side too, if you have one." She added.
"If I knew where it was you would be the first to know." He looked off in the distance but didn't focus on anything.
"Of course, because you would probably make me put a tracker on it so you could follow it through the street." He laughed, still looking away. After a minute or two of silence he turned to her.
"So do you have a date for this wedding yet?"
"Ha! I mean, no, not really. I mean I have a couple of friends who I usually ask to stuff like this but no. No Date."
"Well, if you don't want to bother your other friends I could go with you. Maybe see if I can find that relaxed side?" She looked at him wide eyed.
"You? Oliver Queen?" she asked confused.
" Yes."
"Coming as my date, to a wedding, which probably cost less than your suit and definitely has a cash bar?"
"This is what I am proposing," He smirked, entertained by her babbling but hoping it wasn't a case of serious nerves. "Interested?"
"Um, Ok, yeah." She shook her head slightly as if she was trying to make the concept sit better in her mind. Oliver smiled.
"Great. I'm going to go back downstairs and work on some stuff. See you tomorrow?" He put his hand on her arm and gave it a reaffirming brush.
"Yeah, of course. Probably won't be too early though, because of" At this point her friends began to reappear. "Them."
"Text me when you get up. I'll let you know. Enjoy your night." He smiled again before exiting the booth and disappearing through the crowd. It wasn't a quick enough getaway unfortunately and now Felicity was being bombarded with questions about how close she was to her boss exactly. When he sent a bottle of complimentary vodka to the party that only made things worse.
For once, Felicity Smoak did not have all the answers. But she was pretty sure she was going to enjoy figuring them out.
