Chapter 1
The blond ponytail moved as she looked from one screen to the next in front of her. She typed quickly as the clinking of her nails on the keys filled the sound of the concrete room around her. Felicity smiled as her skills secured the new wireless network in the new lair. It had taken her two weeks to gain a network server on the limited funds Oliver, Diggle and she could provide but she was pleased that her skills again were aiding in protecting the city they all worked to protect nightly.
She thought she was alone and the lair was quiet so she turned to her MP3 player and routed it through the Bluetooth operated speakers she installed on the new computers. He listened as her voice began to fill the space. The words to the song fit their story lately. He hated Taylor Swift but she smiled as she sang the chorus. Her thoughts as her fingers flew over the keys reviewed their friendship since they met that day at Queen Consolidated. Her smile shrunk as the former ladies in his life filtered in her mind; Helena, Sara, and Laurel. Laurel so fit the other girl mentioned in the words of the song. Her heart believed in Oliver and his mission to save Starling City but Laurel was protected, isolated from their work.
The next song brought up memories of that night and the fight with Slade and his men. The words and the memory still tore at her heart. The voice of Keith Urban in an early song filled the space. It described how she wished Oliver would see her in the deepest corners of her heart. Her eyes slightly filled with tears. He watched as she drew a deep breath and let it back out. The words stirred memories for him too. The mansion that night as well as the conversation on the island, he had let her believe it was all a rouse to fool Slade, but how much did he say that was true? How much did he mean? How much did he lie to her?
It was as the third song began to play an instrumental guitar tune that he finally stirred from his perch and she began to finish her work on the computer. She finished her security sweep of the computers when he began to make his presence known to her. She turned to meet his eyes with hers. A simple smile and nod of the head as he entered the main area of the lair and moved to change from his hood, it was then that the voice of the singer began to flow from the speakers. Before the fourth song began to play she disconnected her MP3 player and he returned to the clicking of her nails and the keys. She left the main programs needed for their work up and running as she began to push back from the desk. As she stood, he was there next to her.
"Quiet night tonight? You are back earlier than I expected." She said.
"Yeah, Slade's army still has them reeling. But we still keep a watch and help those trying to rebuild." He said running his hand through his hair. "What time is the meeting with Walter tomorrow to finish the plans to disband Isabelle's control of Queen Consolidated?"
"10 am at his bank. I know he is happy you have turned to him. I will be there and Diggle will bring you to the meeting." She paused before she spoke again. "Have you or Roy heard from Thea? I know you miss her around here."
"No, nothing. But she wanted to go and have a new life. I am trying to respect that even though I miss her and wish she was here in Starling City." He said quietly. She placed her hand on his arm. He looked at her and gave a small smile. "Well, let's close out for the night. Let's go get some sleep, Felicity." He said as he began to lead her with her arm in his out of the door into the cool night air.