Card Sharked
by Savanasi
I took some liberties with their past. All will be revealed in good time.
Thea Queen was not your typical six year old. Her bedroom was larger than most single family houses in Starling City, there was a city wide celebration the day she was born, and last year on her birthday, her mother had conjured up six pink unicorns to mark the occasion. But when it came to being lost, she was no different.
She was seated in the dried cereal aisle, her cheeks red, a box of Captain Crunch clutched to her chest with one hand and the other clutching her baby Prada dress. She fought the tears that welled in her eyes, hearing her mother's stern voice in her head. Queens do not cry they command.
Footsteps caught her attention and she looked up to see a thin blonde girl with blue and platinum hair in an edgy pixie cut, bright fuchsia lipstick and an MIT sweatshirt turn the corner. She was muttering to herself, under her breath, clearly lost lost in her own world when she caught sight of Thea and froze.
"Uh, hi there." Thea heard her mutter as she stumbled to a halt. "I don't suppose you're sitting there looking like your mother died on purpose-that is not to say she died, or she is remotely in trouble, or that you want to hear the strange blonde lady babble."
Thea stared up at the girl as she flushed red. To her genuine surprise, she felt her lips tug into a smile. But before you could blink, she had schooled her expression into one of indignation and scowled at the new commer.
The girl sank to her knees, probably mistaking the scowl for sadness. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm going to help-I think."
Thea eyed her dubiously. She wanted Ollie. And what Thea Queen wanted, Thea Queen got. "Ollie." She announced.
"Ollie?" The girl repeated, surprised. "Is that your name? I'm Felicity-Felicity Smoak." she held out her hand which Thea eyed distastefully and then ignored.
She let out a disgruntled sigh before shaking her regal head. Maybe this girl was just as stupid as the rest. "I want Ollie."
"Oh," Felicity hesitated. "Who is Ollie?"
Thea stared at her for a long moment and then felt a familiar rush of mischievousness. This would be fun. Just like last month when she'd broken a vase and told Raisa it was girlfriend number seven or spilled ink on Mom's new Balenciaga tote and then snuck it into girlfriend number 14's car. They were so easy. She looked up at Felicity and shrugged.
To her surprise, Felicity grinned. "I do like a mystery. Let's see, you're five-maybe six?"
Thea nodded, stunned that this girl wanted to play along. None of the others had. They had all just crooned sickeningly when Ollie was around then ignored her the minute he turned his back. Except for girlfriend number 21 who she had run away from. But she didn't want to think about that so she returned to Felicity who was eyeing her dress.
"Prada, hmm? That's pretty expensive for your budget. I imagine that means your mother bought it for you which means your family is top 1% wealthy." She smiled, tilting her head. "How am I doing so far?"
Thea fought to keep her face stern and shrugged.
"Oh, not impressed. Well, let me try harder." Felicity sat down across the aisle from her and stretched her feet out. "How about this, Ollie is short for Oliver, who shares your disdainful blue eyes and last name, making you a Queen. Thea Queen to be exact."
Thea couldn't help the answering smile. She liked this Felicity Smoak. Well like was a little strong, but she was far more tolerable than any of the girls Ollie brought around. Maybe he could date her and they could play more games like this. She pulled herself to her feet and dusted off her dress. She looked Felicity over once more and nodded, she wasn't the savior she had been hoping for but she would do. And so Thea Queen held out her hand, and smiled happily at Felicity. "Take me to him."
"Yes sir." Felicity answered, goofily, scrambling hastily to her feet and taking the outstretched hand.
Thea looked up in surprise as she got an affectionate squeeze on top of it.
"So are you going to make me keep guessing, or are you going to help me out?" Felicity probed. Upon Thea's silence, she let out a long sigh. "Okay, but only because you're sad."
That got a tiny smile out of the little girl and Felicity seemed encouraged. "Did you wander off when Oliver wasn't looking?"
Thea shook her head.
"Oh."
Thea watched as the strange blonde girl looked at her almost sternly.
"Did you run away? You know that's really irresponsible, Thea. It's better to talk your feelings out than run away when something doesn't suit you."
Thea had never had anyone chastise her before and she certainly didn't like it. "I had a good reason!" She burst out.
Felicity smirked victoriously. "And why did you run away?"
"I don't like Ollie's girlfriend." Thea admitted grudgingly.
Felicity's smirk melted into a look of sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that." She lowered a voice to a whisper. "I don't like them much either."
Thea looked at her in surprise. "Do you know Ollie?"
Felicity laughed then. "No, not even a little. His girlfriends like to pick on me though."
Thea felt a strange surge of protectiveness. "I always try to get them in trouble when he brings them home."
Felicity held out a hand and Thea laughed as she met the high five.
"Thea! There you are!" The voice was loud and Thea's smile disappeared instantly as she caught sight of girlfriend number 21 stumbling over to her in too-high-heels. "I've been looking all over for you."
Thea shrunk back against Felicity's leg, finding comfort in the well worn denim. Felicity stood up straighter. "Where's Oliver?"
Number 21 ignored Felicity and reached out for Thea, her nails sharp as claws as they reached for her. "Come here you, I've been running everywhere trying to find you. Oliver's going to be pissed as it is."
"I think she'd rather you didn't touch her." Felicity's brows drew downwards and her hand gripped Thea's tighter.
"Who are you?" The girl asked snidely. "Don't be ridiculous, Thea loves me, don't you, honey?"
Thea stayed resolutely mute and clung even more securely to Felicity.
"Yeah, she looks real fond of you." Felicity snorted, before slapping the girl away and ducking so Thea could jump on her back. "Let's go find your brother, okay?"
"No!" 21 snapped explosively. "Look, I don't know who you think you are but Thea's coming with me."
"No, she's not. Don't think I didn't see the imprint your nails left behind on her arm."
Thea squeezed her arms around Felicity's neck in approval. "I want to stay with you." She whispered softly.
"You got it munchkin." Felicity muttered back before squaring her shoulders. "Look, I don't know who you are, but I know that she's scared and so unless you've got gorgeous blue eyes and your name is Oliver Queen, you don't get her."
"I don't know about gorgeous blue eyes, but my name is Oliver Queen."
Thea could feel the heat of the blush that spread from Felicity's neck.
"Oh. Uhhhh." Felicity began, her words failing her as she turned to face a smirking Oliver Queen, his eyes betraying the nonchalance of his tone as they stared at Thea with relief. "I think this belongs to you?" She shrugged Thea's weight up and down, smiling as the six year old snuggled closer.
"She does." Oliver said softly, his hand reaching out to stroke Thea's arm gently. "Hey, Speedy, you ran off pretty fast."
Felicity shivered as his thumb brushed her face accidentally. "I know you don't know me and you don't have to believe me but I know first hand how much those acrylic nails hurt. They shouldn't be anywhere near a six year old."
Oliver's brows quirked in surprise and he withdrew his hand from Thea's arm. "You know first hand." He repeated thoughtfully.
His gaze was piercing in a way Felicity hadn't expected and she shirked away from it. This was not the time or the place or the person for that conversation. "I mean-never mind. I just think maybe you should stick to girls without talons." Felicity covered quickly and earned a comforting squeeze from Thea around her shoulders.
"Noted." Oliver acquiesced. "Thea would you like to do the honors?"
"Three strikes, and you're out!" She chirped happily at number 21 who narrowed her eyes in annoyance before turning to Oliver.
"Ollie-let's go, I'm over this."
"You're welcome to leave." He extended a hand in the direction of the exit. "I owe Thea an apology ice cream."
"Ollie-don't be silly, you're not going to let her ruin what we have?"
Oliver laughed at that, a hand running through his tousled blond locks. Looking over at Felicity and winking, he shrugged. "Guess I am."
Number 21 scowled and extended a pointed middle finger in Oliver's direction.
"Hey, there are children present!" Felicity hastily extended a hand above her head, hoping she was covering at least one of Thea's eyes.
21 ignored her. "You're going to regret this, asshole!" She flounced from the store and all that was left was her sickly sweet cotton candy perfume in her wake.
"I sincerely doubt that." Oliver muttered, shaking his head as she walked off. He laughed as he turned back to Felicity trying to cover Thea's ears.
"I already heard that one!" Thea laughed swatting her hands away. She leaned down to whisper conspiratorially in Felicity's ear. "Ollie called daddy that last week."
Felicity laughed in defeat, before lowering her hands and turning to Oliver. "You okay there, champ?"
"Champ?" He crinkled his nose at her and shook his head. "I don't think so."
"Oliver then." Felicity allowed.
"Oliver then." He agreed, tilting his head as he seemed to take her in for the first time. "And you're...?"
His eyes were entirely disarming when they caught yours, Felicity decided. It wasn't quite fair. He seemed to waiting for something. "What?"
"You're name?" He repeated, smirking.
Shoot. She must have missed the part when he asked her that. "Felicity. It's Felicity." She groaned, she needed to learn to be less inept around men. Or just people in general really. "I should get going, I have to make dinner. I'll see you around, I guess?"
"You will?" He started to smirk at that, his eyes lighting up at the implication.
"Calm down, cowboy. I meant at school."
"School." He repeated again. "School?"
"Yes, school!" She huffed, annoyed suddenly that he didn't know who she was. Why shouldn't he? Felicity Smoak was worth knowing. Or at least she would be. One day. "We go to the same-never mind." She rolled her eyes at the blank look on his face and turned for the bread aisle.
"Felicity, wait?"
"What?" She turned back, annoyed. Only to find he didn't look the least bit fazed, but instead was holding back a laugh.
"I think you have something that belongs to me?"
"What-oh right." Felicity felt her neck go red again when she remembered the six year old on her back. "I guess you want this back, huh?" She let Oliver stride over and throw a giggling Thea over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. She turned to leave again.
"Felicity." This time it was Thea, calling her name.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for being not a complete suckfest." Thea grinned. "And for saving me."
Felicity felt her smile widen. It had been while since she had smiled like that. "Anytime."
And then they were gone. And all that was left was the cereal box Thea had been clutching in the middle of the aisle. Felicity sighed and reached for it. She supposed it wasn't enough to play hero for people like the Queens, she had to pick up after them as well.
Typical.