Authors Note: Okay so this is my contribution to the Olicity Hiatus Fic-A-Thon on tumblr arranged by thebookjumper , we will get a prompt each Wednesday from now until Arrow season 6 airs. And I have decided I will convert said prompts into a multichapter fic. SO this is really hard for me, I am a planner! So this has had minimum planning, and should be updated weekly (unless life intervenes) so join me on this crazy ride that I have no idea where it's going, until I get the prompt each Wednesday :P (also each chapter title will be the prompt)...
Oliver stretched as he leant against his bike. He had the helmet placed on the back as he waited just outside her apartment block, for her to return. He checked his phone again noting the late hour before he let out a heavy sigh. Felicity Smoak was his only hope, she was the smartest person he knew and hopefully the kindest. If anyone could help him in his hour of need, then it was her. He wrapped his arms over his chest, his leather jacket creaking slightly as he glanced around him.
He knew students didn't always live in the best of places but this street seemed worse than it did in the Glades of Star City, which was saying something. He'd basically stayed with his bike in fear of someone stealing it, that and she wasn't in when he arrived. He'd been informed by an elderly lady through the comms of her building, that she was apparently working till midnight.
He shuffled on his feet when he noticed a small figure rushing in his direction. She was wearing a black coat that she was basically holding around herself. Her hair was black, and her head was down as she searched her pocket for something, presumably her keys. He froze in place as he blinked at the girl as she rushed passed, literally paying him no attention.
"Felicity?" he asked taking a step closer as her whole body tensed and froze before him. Her keys hung in the lock. She turned slowly to face him, and he could still tell it was her from her soft blue eyes, even if she was dressed completely differently.
"Oliver?" What the hell are you doing here?" she asked looking completely confused.
"I needed to talk."
"So you turned up on my doorstep at midnight? On the first day of summer vacation I might add too."
"Actually I got here earlier but your neighbour said you were working, but she refused to tell me where," he answered with a shrug. "And I know it's the start of summer vacation, that was a deliberate action."
"You know there is such thing as a telephone, Oliver."
"I was in the area," he responded with another shrug and he watched as she raised her eyebrows skeptical. She tilted her head and placed a hand on her hip, looking exactly as she did 3 years ago with the attitude to match. He just stared at her as she stared at him.
With a resigned sigh she turned back to the door. "You better come in then."
They walked up the stairs in silence, as Felicity lead the way. She never said a word as she unlocked her flat door and opened it for him to step in. She flicked on the main light as she followed him in. Oliver was genuinely shocked to find the room so colourful after seeing her appearance downstairs. In the light of her home he noted her jet black hair had purple streaks running through it. Then he starred properly into the room, the bright red brick walls, the white couch covered in a multi-coloured throw he recognised instantly. She had flowers around the place, and bright pictures hanging on the walls. Her coffee table was full of books and papers, a small old fashioned box TV sat in the corner and there was an array of computer parts around the place. He glanced towards the kitchen area, which was also adorned in colour. Even the toaster and kettle were a deep fuchsia to match the cushion seats on the small table and chairs. The space was tiny but it was full of character.
"It's..."
"I know it's nothing like what you're used to, but this is what I call home." She typed the code into the alarm system and then placed the locks on the door.
"No, no this is... Wonderful." She frowned then staring at him. "It's nice to see. It isn't like this at mine."
"Well you do live in a mansion," she mumbled as she walked past him, dropping her keys into the bowl on the coffee table.
"Well yeh but that's my parents, not mine," he replied placing his helmet on the floor and his keys with hers.
She cringed then at his words. "Sorry I didn't mean-"
"It's fine, you know what it was like. How much money we have and you never wanted any part of that." She couldn't help but laugh. "What?" he asked shaking his head.
"Oh believe me having a part of that money right now would be amazing! But I was never going to take your family's money Oliver, not after everything they did for me."
"You were a kid Felicity. We could have paid for a top end flat, paid your fees here..." he mumbled and she rolled her eyes.
"Make yourself at home." She gestured around, ignoring his statement. "I'm going in my room to get changed."
"Thank you," he replied.
"No problem."
He watched as she peeled her coat off showing her blue diner uniform underneath. The baby blue definitely didn't match the rest of her look, but it clung to her figure and he couldn't help but appreciate the woman now before him. He blinked as she folded her coat up and spun around. He licked his lips, because the view from the front was amazing but the back was damn good too. Her ass was perfect, peachy and round in the figure hugging uniform. He couldn't pull his eyes away until she disappeared through the door, that must have lead to her bedroom.
Oliver shook his head, nope he wasn't going there. He couldn't go there not with his baby sisters friend, even if she had grown into a gorgeous young woman. He pulled his leather jacket off placing it over a kitchen chair as he walked over to the fridge. He needed to keep his mind busy, and from thinking about her on the other side of the door.
"Errrmmm what are you doing?" Felicity asked walking into the kitchen to see him cooking.
He glanced in her direction, she'd changed into her pyjamas, a simple purple tank top with black pyjama pants. "I'm cooking. Why don't you trust me in your kitchen?" he teased.
"Well I've never seen you cook."
"Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean I didn't." She raised an eyebrow skeptically, crossing her arms over her chest. "You looked like you'd come from a long night at work and I wanted to thank you for letting me in, and hearing me out." He shrugged as he turned to fully look at her. Her makeup was gone and she now had a pair of glasses perched on the end of her nose. "You have new glasses." he said without thought.
"I..." She blushed slightly, looking away before she glanced back up. "I do, and I wear contacts mainly but my eyes ache-"
"Well I think they suit you." And her mouth fell open.
She cleared her throat before she sat down at the table watching him. "So what are you making?"
"Noodle omelette," he responded turning back to the stove.
"Noodle omelette?"
"Yeh, using the leftovers in your fridge."
"How do you know how to cook then?" she asked still a little surprised.
"You remember our housekeeper Raisa, well when I was younger she used to teach us how to make things and then when I went to college I just kind of liked to do it." He shrugged. "I guess you don't cook with how sparse in food this place is?" He glanced at her then.
"I can cook, not anything extravagant, pasta, rice, noodles..." she answered. "I just barely have the time, so I tend to eat takeout, or leftovers from the diner."
He nodded then as he sprinkled some cheese onto the top of the omelette. "Is that what you do then Felicity? Work in a diner I mean."
"Is that judgement I hear?"
He turned fully to look at her, unable to hide the frown nursing his brow. "No, not at all. I'm just curious."
She stared at him for a long moment. "I do go to college too."
He couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm well aware you're a college student at MIT." He turned placing the omelette under her grill before turning to the sink and washing the pots he had used.
"Yeh this is my final summer, it's my last year in the fall."
"Last year?" He turned again glancing at her. He looked her up and down: where had the time gone? "You're 19 now."
She laughed then. "Well done with the math."
He shook his head huffing out a laugh. "Seriously though..."
"Yes I'm 19, Oliver."
He froze, his name on her lips made something in his chest tightened but he brushed it off. "It's gone so fast and you've grown so much," he replied still a little stunned by the woman before him.
"Yes well that's what 3 years of not seeing each other does," she answered, her eyes looking him up and down. He blinked unable to look away from her and she stared right back. They seemed locked in this moment.
He shook his head when she tore her gaze away, remembering the omelette. He turned back to the grill pulling it out, then walked to the table slipping it onto the plate. Felicity watched him as he placed the pan in the sink and came back to sit opposite her with two forks in hand.
"I hope you don't mind sharing," he said.
"No of course not, we used to share at the mansion, remember?" She smiled warmly for a second. "But I will get myself a glass of wine, do you want some?" she asked standing up.
"Well I have to drive back to Star City," he answered.
"Oliver it's late, you can sleep on the sofa."
"You might not want that when I talk to you," he mumbled.
"Well either way." She shrugged. "I don't expect you to drive home this late!" So she easily poured them each a glass of red wine. "Also I know I shouldn't be drinking, but-"
"It's okay." He laughed a little. "I mean I can't say anything about underage drinking with my past."
"I don't drink all the time, I actually prefer coffee, like seriously give me that as an IV... But this was a gift from my mom-"
"Honestly, you don't need to explain plus you're a lot smarter than me. I mean you're 19 and a year from graduation so you have to be," he said as he took a fork full of omelette. "You can eat I promise it's safe." He nodded towards the food.
She picked up her fork and dove in, as soon as it passed her lips she let out a sigh of appreciation. "How the hell did you make that taste so good?" She asked before getting another fork full.
He laughed unable to stop smiling at her reaction, he could see her shoulders relaxing as she practically melted into the seat. "It's just thrown together, seriously if I could cook you Cordon bleu you'd truly love that." She sighed again as the pair finished off the omelette in silence.
Once Felicity had swallowed her final piece she looked at him tilting her head. "You are not what I expected Oliver Queen."
"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.
"Well considering you just cooked that amazing meal, and I know of your reputation."
"You know of my reputation?" he asked unable to hide his smirk. "Have you been keeping an eye on me, Miss Smoak?"
"No, Mr Queen. Your sister talks to me."
"Ah, so I guess you've heard all my many faults."
She shrugged in response leaving him a little confused. "I think there's more to it all."
Oliver felt something swell in his chest again but shook it off. "So what are you studying then?"
"A Masters degree in Cyber Security and Computer Sciences." She shrugged pushing her glasses up her nose. "I like technology."
"I know," he said with a soft smile. "I remember all the computer parts you used to have around the house."
She glanced down and away from his gaze before she spoke. "So why are you here in Boston, Oliver?"
"Thea." He sat a little straighter. "She goes to college in Boston."
"I am aware, I do still see her," she commented. "Even if she studies Fashion Design and it's wildly different from me."
"Well you two became quick friends, so opposites must work." Oliver stared at her for a second as he processed those words. "But I mean she's always been into fashion and an inspiration to our family, but you... You're a genius. You're 19, in your final year of a master's degree."
"I'm sure you didn't come here to praise my intelligence Oliver. So what's the problem?"
"I need your help," he mumbled unable to look at her.
"Well what with?"
"I work at Queen Consolidated, or rather I'm training," he started.
"You don't seem too happy about that," she interrupted.
"It's not that, I just..." He sighed as she sat there patiently. "I don't know what I want."
"I'll tell you a secret, not many people do." She smiled then. "Most make it up as they go along, I'm not 100% sure what I will be doing after college but that's okay. We just have to keep trying as long as we're happy."
He let his shoulders sag as he let those words settle over him. "Happy..." he whispered.
"Are you happy Oliver?" She frowned staring at him.
"Of course I am," he responded instantly showing his trademark grin but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Then why are you here in my house on a Saturday morning?"
"Well some would say that's fun." He winked at her and she shook her head rolling her eyes.
"Stop that, stop it right now." She sighed staring at him, never wavering as she spoke. "Stop pretending to be this," she gestured at him, "it's not real."
"What and your new look is?" he snapped back.
"We all hide behind masks, but you don't need to pretend to be happy, not here, no one here is going to judge you. I've never judged you," she said with a shrug. "I'm poor Oliver, I'm working every spare minute between my classes to live. I'm going to work all summer at a crappy diner, just to save to attend a family wedding where I'll finally see my mom for the first time in years, but be alone because my boyfriend and I split up. I'm working hard to survive, and everything you see in this space is second hand." She sighed rubbing her temple. "Life is hard Oliver, but we have to have hope, hope that things will get better."
"You don't know what it's like," he mumbled. "I'm expected to be something... Someone. I've been kicked out of 4 colleges in the last 3 years. I don't have a degree to show for it. The woman I was expected to marry finally had enough of my antics, and is now engaged to my best friend. My baby sister just handed my ass to me on plate. My parents want me to attend summer classes at Star City University to finish my degree, whilst shadowing at QC. They want me to grow up and prove myself because the board think I am a joke. I have spent the last 6 months trying to show everyone I can be serious, but... But it's not enough."
"Hey." She stretched her hand out across the table landing on top of his. "Breathe, that sounds like a lot." She squeezed his hand and he tried hard to give her smile.
"But what do you want Oliver?"
"To show them I've turned my life around, and I know that looks odd seeing as I'm here... god I'm such a screw up," he grumbled then feeling a little broken.
"You can still put things right, you have to take it a step at a time." She smiled softly at him. "But which part of that, if any, do you need my help with?"
"Tutor me," he whispered. "You're the smartest person I know, and if anyone can help me study and focus and do all of this and get a degree it's you."
"You want me to tutor you in business?" she asked skeptically. "That I know nothing about."
"You probably could read a book and understanding everything," he answered truthfully.
"Don't you want a trained professional? A person that actually knows what they're doing?"
"I would rather a friend," he answered unable to hide his sad smile.
"But... I don't..."
"You're super smart, super organised and I know your study plans will work. I'll pay you," he added quickly.
"Oliver-" she began to scold.
"No I don't want you to have to work in that diner and be miserable. Come back to Queen Mansion for the summer, help me, stay with me and I'll pay you. I'll pay the rent and bills for this place and give you $5,000 dollars."
"Oliver that's way too much!" she answered.
"No it's not. I don't want to take advantage Felicity, but I need help." She stared at him hard, her face searching for something, her eyes flitting all over the place.
"What?" he finally asked after a long pause.
"Are you doing this for you?" she asked.
"I want to prove myself."
"But for you or for them?"
"Does it matter?" he enquired with a shrug.
"I remember 17 year old you, who wanted to be a Police Officer, who wanted to fight crime and for justice with his girlfriend."
"Things change," he answered with a mumble, not meeting her eyes.
"I understand that, but you were working so hard for that."
"Just let it go," he snapped and he watched her eyes widened. "I'm sorry," he added quickly. "But please drop it."
"Fine, for now," she replied crossing her arms over her chest. "But we will be revisiting this."
"Fine," he grumbled looking down.
"So, you really want me to spend all of summer vacation with you?"
"Please," he answered. "I need you."
He watched her cheeks flush a little as she nodded. "Okay, but give me 2 weeks to sort everything out."
"Fine, but I will pay for your flight," he added quickly and she shook her head clearly about to disagree. "We can argue about this all at a later date, but right now lets not."
"Fine," she mumbled tilting her head at him. She slowly stood up placing the plates in the sink. "We better get some sleep," she said gesturing to the sofa.
"Right, of course," he replied.
"You can use the blanket." She gestured to the sofa.
"You still have it?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeh well it reminds me of home."
"Home?" he asked.
"Well the Queen Mansion," she replied quickly. "It was my home for a little while, and I like to remember my time there." She took a deep breath. "Anyway I'll just go fetch you some pillows," she said heading to her room looking slightly embarrassed.
He stood up and made his way over to the sofa, he sat down pulling off his shoes as she returned with 2 pillows.
"Here." She placed them down beside him.
"Thank you Felicity," he answered.
"No problem Oliver."
"Well goodnight."
"Goodnight Oliver," she said as she headed back to her room. "Sleep well."