Nerds in Low Places

Felicity had just finished compiling data for Oliver's next round of hits, a few bankers and lawyers doing some insider trading with public funds, when her cell phone rang. Oliver stopped doing his inverted abdominal crunches from a pull up bar suspended ten feet in the air and hung like a bat upside down letting his arms dangle. His eyes were closed but his ears were fully functional.

She picked up the phone as the last chime of " The Superman Theme" played, " Hello?" She knew who it was from the tone; her main partner in crime at work, Mark.

" Felicity! What's going on?" Marc replied easily. She could hear the sound of rock music in the background.

" Not much. Just finishing up some work." she returned and knew where he was and who he was probably with.

"Hey, wanna catch up with a beer? We're at the Cantina." Marc replied between a sip.

Felicity peeked around her flat screen at Oliver, who was still hanging upside down like Luke Skywalker in Empire Strikes Back. For a moment she wondered if he'd like to go with her. After all, she had been invited to several shindigs of his, one that got a bomb around her neck, but a party never the less. He'd never seen her side of life. Action got the best of her, " Mind if I bring someone?"

" Is it a girl?" Marc asked with mock longing. She heard some other male chuckles on the other end.

" No. I'm the only girl you are friends with because you are such a geek." Felicity shot back.

"Sure. I guess." Marc replied sullenly. Felicity always thought Marc may have had a thing for her, but she chalked it up to being virtually the only woman in the IT department. Queen Consolidated was not up on diversity hiring.

" Ok. Be there soon." she replied and hung up. A few well-placed clicks later she was shutting down. She walked around to his work out area and faced him as he hung from the bar. His head was only slightly higher than hers, " Oliver, are you busy tonight?"

He opened his azure eyes and upside down it was very unnerving. She felt the urge to babble but clamped her jaw muscles," Sure where to?" he asked with a smile as if he was pleased he made her flustered.

" The Cantina. A little place we- the IT department- like to hang out." she replied wishing he'd come down from his current perch.

As if he read her mind, he curled upward in a fluid motion, grabbed the bar, unhooking his legs and gently landed in front of her still glistening with sweat, scars glowing balefully. Felicity's logical self was slowly getting immune to this, but her womanly self had not. He reached for a towel and wiped his face, " Sure. Give me a minute to clean up."

" Sure." she said almost inaudibly and watched him retreat to the shower. Cursing herself she patted her cheeks to get her mind off his skin and what it may have felt like. While she waited she combed her Facebook, noting a lack of real meaningful activity. Why am I not surprised, my life is work and vigilante work, she chided herself, common denominator: too much work!

Oliver was intrigued, as he had been hanging there. He never heard Felicity mention any friends before. I guess when you work as hard as she does, your friends are your coworkers, he pondered. The water was soothing to his muscles as he showered, but his mind was curious about Marc. Was he into Felicity? Stopping himself, he wondered, why do I care? He got no reply but decided to keep his thoughts quiet for the remainder of his shower and dressing.

Felicity was looking still at her smartphone when Oliver appeared in a grey V-neck t-shirt and jeans, hair still wet from the shower. "Ready to go?" he asked and she jumped, being absorbed in whatever she was reading.

She looked him over and decided it was satisfactory, " Your car or mine?"

Oliver gave her a sly smile, " You drive."

" Am I your DD?" she replied with an edge. She hated driving home tipsy friends especially when they were your boss.

" No. Just I don't want to overwhelm your pals." he replied.

" Oh. You think you're going to make a big splash here? We'll see." Felicity scoffed and followed him up the stairs.