It was a warm Saturday and, though Felicity resented having to spend it in the windowless basement of Verdant, she still had a spring in her step as she bounced down the stairs in her patent leather pink flats. Oddly enough, the guys weren't there. She shrugged, figuring they had stepped out for lunch. She was starving.

As her foot hit the bottom step someone slammed into her and an enormous arm pinned her against the wall.

"Hello gorgeous," the guy said in an Australian accent. "Curiosity is, historically, a maligned trait in women."

"Depends on who you ask," Felicity said, trying not to panic. "Men who think that are usually idiots."

The man smiled. "Completely defenseless, yet insulting. Bold."

She kneed him in the balls. "Not so defenseless!" When he bent over she kneed him in the face and shoved him away. She ran to her desk, trying to find her panic button since her phone was buried in the bottom of her purse. Before she could find it the guy dragged her from behind and lifted her off the ground.

"Let me go!" Felicity's voice was a screech.

Then chaos ensued. Suddenly Dig was yelling, Oliver was grabbing the guy, and she was being pushing into her desk chair.

"What the hell, Slade?" Oliver had his hand on the guy's chest, pushing him away from her. "I told you Felicity was coming. I specifically said don't attack her!"

"That's Felicity?" Slade tried to take a step forward, but Oliver stopped him.

"I'm sorry. When you said she was tech support I expected someone… less beautiful."

Felicity blushed. Dig stood at her side protectively. "You okay?"

She met Slade's eye. "Fine. Physically, anyway."

"Me too," Slade said.

"No one cares if you're okay," Dig practically yelled. "If you had hurt Felicity I would have ended you; friend of Oliver's or not."

"Understood." He looked at Oliver. "To be fair though, I thought she was a barmaid who'd gotten it in her head to see what her boss does down here. Just trying to help keep your secret, mate."

"Barmaid?" Felicity folded her arms across her chest, fully offended.

"It's a compliment." He shrugged.

She about launched out of her chair to attack him again, but Oliver interceded.

"Go get lunch." He shoved a few twenties into her hand. "When you get back Slade will try his best to be a gentleman and we'll try the introductions again."

Felicity leaned around Oliver to glare at Slade.

In turn, he bowed and winked.

Barely holding on to her anger and still pumping with adrenaline, she left.

#

An hour later she returned, feeling calmer, but very much on the defensive. Slade met her at the bottom of the stairs and tried to take the drinks from her. She resisted and moved past him.

He chuckled and followed her. Dig came over and put a hand on her shoulder. She smiled and nodded, letting him know she was fine. Oliver stood on the other side of the table, forehead creased and his eyes darting between her and Slade. The tension in the room was so thick she was afraid she might suffocate. Enough was enough.

She turned on her heel and put out her hand. "Felicity Smoak, IT girl extraordinaire."

"Slade Wilson, an old acquaintance of Oliver's." He shook her hand, then put his other hand on top. "Please accept my apology for a very poor first impression."

Her heart beat faster. "Okay. Yeah. Sure."

Dig whistled. "That's as close to speechless as I've ever seen you, Felicity."

Slade laughed; she blushed.

Oliver clapped his hands. "Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business."

Felicity extricated herself from Slade's grasp and sought the familiarity of her desk. Slade's eyes followed her and she could honestly say that no man had ever looked at her like that before.

"Slade!" Oliver smacked the table. "Did you hear me?"

"Every word." He turned away from her. "I'm capable of doing more than one thing at a time, you know."

"I bet you are." Felicity didn't realize she'd said it aloud until all three men stared at her, slightly aghast. "I meant physically. Like with his body. Fighting! And other things and I'll start looking for a way into the building."

Oliver's expression was blank. "What building?"

The one you're breaking into?" she guessed.

"Nope. No building."

Felicity blushed. "Apparently I can't do two things at once."

After the team meeting Slade came over to her desk.

"Felicity." His accent was one she could listen to for hours. "Do you have any plans for dinner?"

Her pulsed kicked up the speed. "Nothing I can't postpone." Yeah, she could get takeout some other night.

"Care to join me?"

"How about you join me?" she asked boldly. "I know the perfect place. You'll love it."

He smiled. "It's a date."

She followed him with her eyes as he walked away. Oliver intercepted her gaze. His brow was creased in concern. She gave him a questioning look. He put on his fake smile and shook his head.

Felicity turned back to her computers trying very hard not to squee out loud. Tonight she was going on an actual date! With a man with a very sexy accent and amazing arms. Someone who hadn't been bribed into asking her out by a concerned friend or co-worker. A man who looked at her like she was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen.

#

Just before 5 she started shutting everything down. Slade and Oliver weren't back yet so she left a note for Slade with her number and directions to her house.

As she got to the door she was afraid she was being too presumptuous. Maybe she should have him meet her at the restaurant? Before she could go down and write a new note the door opened and she came face to face with Slade and Oliver.

"Hi! I left you a note with my number and address on it, but I was thinking you might want to meet at the restaurant. I don't know where you're staying, so it's whatever is easiest for you." Felicity put a hand to her mouth to plug the flow of words.

Slade seemed a little dazed by her verbal waterfall, but recovered quickly. "Oliver has invited me to stay at the mansion, but I haven't decided whether I will or not. I also haven't had time to rent a car yet."

"Dig can drive you." Oliver interjected with a surprising amount of enthusiasm.

Felicity raised her eyebrows and pushed her glasses up. "I don't know that I want Dig on our date with us."

"That could be a little crowded," Slade agreed.

"Why don't I pick you up?" she asked. "How about 8?"

"Could we make it 7? I'm starving." Slade patted his stomach.

"Great! So 7 at the Queen mansion." She felt awkward standing there in front of them so she leaned over and gave Slade a kiss on the cheek as she slipped between the two of them.

Once outside she realized she'd probably made an idiot of herself. She kissed his cheek! What was she, his grandmother?

The embarrassment only wore off when she remembered she had nothing to wear.