This is kind of bad. I don't know if I like the style but I tried. I really like angsty fanfictions it's a problem. So if you like them too, please read, I guess? Review if you want another chapter!
Alcohol. Felicity was very good at drinking alcohol. She had a lot of practice in becoming unaffected by the drug in her teens to very early twenties. Oliver was extremely unaware of the cute, babbling facade she had. Therefore that meant he had no idea what kind of things she was capable of - except her computer expertise. For instance, he had not one single clue that Felicity could drink four shots of vodka and be only slightly tipsy. He also had no clue she could drink many men under the table with ease.
This all came to light after Oliver decided to drag Diggle and Felicity out on a celebration night. They had just defeated Slade Wilson, the super soldier with a mask that looked like a pumpkin gone wrong. Although, it seemed, the only person who felt defeated and unhappy in this time of joy was Felicity. Oliver confessed to loving her but then played it off as acting. She was utterly confused and heartbroken. Felicity believed he didn't actually love her as if you did love someone you wouldn't be able to play it off easily - especially if the person you said it to had been pining for you for two years.
She sat at the bar of a club in the Glades called 'Evolution.' Oliver and John were playfully dancing trying to cheer Felicity on so she'd join them. Sadly, the only thing she wanted to do was drink herself under the table. She didn't do it because first of all, she had told Oliver repeatedly she hasn't drunk excessively before and second of all, it would take a while knowing her.
At this point Oliver had enough with Felicity moping around and walked over to her.
"Hey Felicity!" He said getting a noise of acknowledgement from her.
"Let's play a drinking game! You told me you don't usually drink so I'd thought it would be a fun experience for you."
Felicity shook her head and replied,"I'm good Oliver, thanks though."
Oliver huffed and tried to ask from a different angle,"What? You scared?"
A switch in her brain went off when he said that as if she'd geared up to drink.
"Fine! But I bet you your favourite t-shirt if I win!" She laughed, knowing his favourite t-shirt was one of his most prized possessions,"And you have to wear one of my dresses!"
Oliver scoffed and replied,"Alright then. And if I win, which I will, you have to dress like me for a week and I get to dye your hair brown!"
The bartender lined up ten shots and they both took five each.
"Ready, set, go!" shouted Diggle happily. By three seconds later Felicity had already devoured half of them - oh, how she loved the metallic burn of liquor down her throat, made her feel back on Earth. Oliver was just starting his second. He wasn't taking note of Felicity's progress but was sure as hell aware how many shot glasses had been put down. Five. Felicity had won. The Emerald Archer was flabbergasted - he didn't know what to say. He was absolutely without a doubt flabbergasted.
"How-wait-wait-How'd you do that Felicity?" Ollie asked with complete confusion,"You're like not even acting drunk." Felicity shrugged - she didn't know what to say.
"Maybe - just maybe - I'm not a silly little lightweight like you?" The blonde retorted playfully, "Anyway! I won so I'll be expecting my half of the bet tomorrow." She thought what she had just said over in her head and didn't understand why everything she said had to sound so damn sexual! But nonetheless, she stood up and grabbed her bag.
"Uh, Felicity, where do you think you're going? After that kicks in you're going to be bat-shit drunk and most likely throwing up. Also how are you even planning on getting home?" Diggle cautiously said.
"I'll drive. It's fine when I drink this much I'm usually acting and looking pretty sober. No need to worry about me," Felicity replied smiling.
"W-w-w-wait one second there. Usually? What bullshit have you been telling us then. You never drink! Well, that's what you told us?" Ollie supplied, "Also driving? Forget about bat-shit drunk what about bat-shit crazy? That's ridiculous you're like five times over the limit!" After Oliver finished his angry rant she realised what she'd let slip and now she had to pick up the pieces.
"If I walk in a perfect straight line, will you let me drive my car home?" The hacktivist deadpanned trying to end the conversation.
"Fine but only as I know you can't do it." The archer exclaimed, John nodding in agreement and shaking their hands on it. Felicity then, in great big (empire state building big to Oliver anyway) heels, walked in a perfect straight line. She chuckled, waved in a patronising manner and made a beeline for the exit.
Felicity woke up the next morning with the slightest buzz in the back of her brain from the alcohol. She ignored it and got on with her day. With teeth brushed, hair brushed, outfit on and breakfast eaten she headed to the Arrow Cave at her usual routine time to check up on her newest algorithms. The blonde begged to God her crime-fighting friends weren't there and if they were they'd be doing something distracting enough to not notice her presence.
The door slammed. A nice ice-breaking entrance don't you think? Felicity didn't think so. Turned out the gang were down there doing menial tasks and - without a doubt - heard her come in.
"Good morning, ladies." Felicity greeted.
"Drive home safe?" Diggle asked patronisingly.
"Yes, actually. Not like I said I would or anything." She deadpanned. The blonde then looked to her left and saw a worn out hungover chunk of flesh. Oh wait- no that was just Oliver.
"How did you even do that? I can barely stand." He groaned.
"Yeah, how did you? I vaguely remember you making a comment about how you're fine usually. Yet you've told us on many occasions you don't drink, and if you do, definitely not that excessively." Diggle asked. Felicity huffed and didn't know what to say. How is she meant to explain drinking was her extracurricular for university or her favourite pass-time. How is she supposed to tell them how she's turned up drunk to work as Oliver's executive assistant from too much booze five hours before. She was absolutely stumped.
"Well, Felicity?" Oliver whined, "Want to ex-p-lain please?"
Felicity has a very smart mind and should be able to find a hundred ways a minute to create an excuse for this situation.
All she could say was, "You know, I did go to university. What else would I have done there? Except get my computing degree of course." Oliver and Diggle laughed. They knew it wasn't true. She knew they knew it wasn't true.
"The real explanation please?" Oliver asked, again. Felicity didn't want to give a real explanation. It was a part of her life she kept secret. She only cracked it open with a nice bottle of store-brand vodka. A problem routed from Daddy and Mummy issues from infancy. The only sort of memories that would cause a just-turned-fourteen year old to be introduced to alcohol so young. Drugs, money and sex as a sixteen year old. Virginity? Lost that six months into being fifteen at a rich boy's house party. Deep routed issues that she couldn't get rid of and had no idea how to explain.
She stumbled over her words, "Well that wasn't a lie. It was the truth-"
"Just not the full truth," Oliver blankly interrupted, "Mind giving us that?"
Felicity laughed stoically, "Yeah, I do actually. Sorry." John let his head fall back knowing this could lead nowhere or somewhere really bad.
"Too bad. Spill. Now." he said with his angry, yet concerned voice.
"Why do you assume it's something so bad? Why can't you just leave it alone?" she asked, annoyed.
"Because you're clearly hiding something. You're drifting into daydreams and are not wanting to share anything with us. It's a dead giveaway."
"I'm from Las Vegas, no Dad, hardly saw my Mum as she was working her ass off for us and my boyfriend offed himself when I was at M.I.T. What did you expect from a girl like that? Sunshine and rainbows? Seriously. It's just a habit I picked up as a kid - nothing major. Everyone drank then anyway."
"Then? At what age did you start drinking Felicity?" Diggle asked worriedly.
She thought for a second, "I don't know. Late thirteen, early fourteen?"
"What? The normal age as a teenager is sixteen. Not thirteen! You're barely a teenager! That's ridiculous why would you do that?"
"It was fun? Parties were fun. Didn't want to go home and find my Mum looking at bills, crying about wherever my Dad was or just how sad she looked in general. It was just easier to deal with. She also treated me like I wasn't good enough or 'Donna Smoak' enough." The blonde replied, shrugging once again.
"Well, do you still do it now?" The vigilante asked hopefully.
"Drugs no," Oliver froze... drugs? "Drinking... maybe. Well... yes. Surprised you hadn't noticed since I have arrived at the office many-a-time drunk from a few hours before. My sessions last for an extended amount of time."
"You know by telling me this you could get yourself fired." He explained.
"Oh no! What would I do. With my degree, I could actually use it this time!" Felicity laughed," Why would I care about that."
"Sure you haven't had a drink this morning Felicity?" Diggle asked.
"Funny one."
"I'm tired of this shit. Anything else you want to lecture me about, make me tell you or drag out my brain?" She said yawning.
"Yes, actuall-"
"Too bad," Felicity exclaimed cutting him off and getting ready to leave, "See you at work boss."