This drabble is based on a tumblr prompt: 25 Days of Fic: Snow.
Disclaimer: I don't own Arrow, or Christmas, or Snow. Happy Holidays!
Oliver watched Felicity from his peripheral vision. He'd been training with Diggle earlier, but then he cut out to go see Lyla, leaving the two of them alone. He'd continued to train for a while on his own, every once in a while feeling her eyes on him. He knew she liked to watch him work out. If he was honest, watching her fingers fly over the keyboard was quite the turn on. Until recently, he'd never let himself entertain such thoughts. These last few months there has been a shift in their relationship. Admitting that he had feelings about her was a massive leap forward.
He looked forward to these nights when it was just the two of them. Watching her fuss at her computer now made him smile. Felicity had been trying to break into some secure files for over 4 hours. But everything she threw at it resulted in the same thing: ACCESS DENIED. "She needs to relax before she does something she might regret," he thought, "like put an arrow through the screen."
"Do you want to go for a walk?" He hadn't meant to say that. He hadn't meant to say anything. The words just came out. He realized after he said them, he didn't want to take them back.
Normally she would have declined his request. These files weren't going to unsecure themselves. But something in his voice gave her pause. Lately, Oliver had been opening up to her more and more. Nothing overt; he just seemed to touch her more, smile at her more, and there was a glint in his eyeS. She wasn't sure what had happened, but the emotions he usually kept such a tight lid on seemed to be breaking free. Not that she was complaining.
"You know what, yes. I'm worried if I stare at this screen another minute, I might harm myself. Or worse, it."
They grabbed their coats and made their way upstairs. And we were greeted by a winter wonderland.
"Did you know it was supposed to snow?"she asked.
"Honestly, no. But then the weather isn't something I usually worry about."
The night had turned to day. Or at least the illusion of it. The sky was a mix of magentas and violets, illuminating their surroundings, as white, powdery snowflakes fell before them. "It was like being in a snow globe", she thought. With a laugh, she grabbed his hand and dragged him out into the parking lot. The snow was past their ankles and Felicity delighted in kicking it about. For his part, Oliver reveled in her enjoyment of the snow. As she leaned her head back to catch the flakes on her tongue, his gut clenched. What happened next would change him and her forever.
Felicity had been so focused on the snow that it shocked her when she felt Oliver's hands cup her cheeks. They were cold but the fire in his eyes is what really startled her. He was looking at her like a man looks at a woman he desires. It was the last thing she'd ever expected to see on his face, but when he leaned in towards her, she found herself meeting him halfway.
When his mouth covered hers, the world around her dissolved. All she knew, all she felt, was him. Her hands moved to his elbows, gripping them tight. From the outside, it didn't appear to be a passionate embrace. She would even call the kiss chaste, except for the storm of emotions ragging inside each of them. The kiss lasted only a few moments, and when they drew apart neither said anything. They gazed into each others eyes, a smile on each of their faces. He dropped his hands only to reach down and interlace her fingers with his. He took in her appearance; flushed face, dilated pupils, the snow falling around her.
"What was that for?" she whispered.
"You look beautiful in the snow."