It wasn't the first time she'd said she needed air. What it really meant was she didn't want to talk; at least the team was giving her space right now.
As Felicity walked down the streets of the Glades, rain poured down around her, mirroring her mindset. She peeked gloomily out from under her umbrella at the dark sky as the words of A Great Big World's 'Say Something' began to play in her head. She could hear the words and music as clearly as if she were actually listening to the song.
Say something (I'm giving up on you) . . . I'll be the one, if you want me to . . .
That line hurt the most. After all they'd been through, the relationship between her and Oliver was at a standstill, but only because he didn't want to commit. She did want him to be 'the one' but he was afraid to be hers.
She refused to give up so easily.
'Stop dangling maybes,' she'd said and meant it. All she wanted to do was grab him and shake him, screaming for him to stop being such an idiot. He could say he didn't want to put her in danger however many times he wanted; she was in danger every day, just by associating with him.
Half an hour later, with her mental playlist finally silenced, Felicity made her way back to the lair, where only Oliver remained, the rest of the team having left.
Going silently in through the back door, she spotted him sitting at her desk, head resting on his hands, looking lost.
"Say something I'm giving up on you," she sang quietly, her voice loud in the cavernous space. Her singing voice was a clear sweet soprano; it made Oliver jump in surprise.
Smiling, she continued the song as she moved closer to him and only when she'd finished, did he finally get to his feet.
"Felicity . . ." He reached for her and she let him. He held her, gazing down at her with tears in his eyes. "That was beautiful; I didn't know you could sing."
"Do you know the song?" He nodded. "I don't want that to be us. Accept that we're better together."
"I can't . . ."
She silenced him. "I don't want to hear that. We are better together. Why can't you see that?"
He shook his head, unable to come up with the words. "I want to," he finally admitted. "But for both our sakes, I can't. There are too many dangers."
She turned in his embrace and his arms tightened possessively around her. "Danger is an every day part of life," said Felicity quietly. "Accept it." She began to sway in place, holding him to her. "Say something I'm giving up on you. I'll be the one, if you want me to . . ."
After a moment's hesitation, Oliver joined in, his singing voice a quiet whisper. He swayed with her, their world narrowing down to just each other.
As the song ended, she plopped her head back onto he shoulder and closed her eyes. "Stronger together," she whispered.
He continued to hold her, wondering how he ended up so lucky.
The atmosphere was shattered a moment later by the ringing of Oliver's phone.
Groaning, he let go of Felicity and answered it, his voice tight. "Hello?"
"Ollie?" It was Thea.
Felicity sighed and gathered her things as Oliver talked with his sister.
A moment later, he put the phone down. "Thea needs me at home."
Felicity nodded. "We'll open a new book tomorrow."
Oliver frowned. "What?"
"Close the book on today," Felicity clarified. "Start fresh. Tomorrow is a new day and a new book."
Oliver's grin lit up his face. "Gotcha."
They left then, Felicity in a much better mood than when she'd arrived at the lair earlier in the night.
It was still raining outside, but she went to her car feeling happier than she had in days.
Say something . . . and I love you too . . .