a/n: Thank you again to all of the reviewers. To my guest reviewer, I do feel that Felicity isn't a stereotypical character and I never intended to portrayer her as such. I tried to portray that in the first draft (standing up to Oliver, Oliver's descripton of her – shooting straighter than any of his arrows) but with help from constructive feedback, I've looked it over with a more critical eye, trying to keep in mind her portrayal on the series. I've revised and republished the first two chapters and am now continuing in that vein, however it does include my interpretation with respect to some of her minute gestures (swallowing before standing up to Oliver, clicking her pencil, occasionally stumbling on what she says) because everyone relates to characters in a slightly different way depending on their own experiences. Let me know how it's going.
Oliver sat at his desk in his expansive room. Outside, the wind rustled the leaves. Sleep never came easily for him. But tonight at least he had a distraction. Removing the USB drive from his pocket, he inserted it into his laptop. Now where to start? Work backwards, or start at the beginning? The beginning. Selecting the file with the earliest date stamp, he clicked.
Felicity, her golden hair down, appeared on the screen. A glass of wine was perched in her hands. "Felicity's log – Stardate 2012.297. My day was turned total upside down today. I goofed. The returned from the dead Oliver Queen walks into my office and what do I do? Click my pen like an awkward high school girl. I mean, yeah, he's easy on the eyes. However, telling the guy his father drowned is not news and does nothing but open old wounds. What was I thinking? Just because this typical spoiled blue-eyed rugged playboy comes in smiling does not mean that I need to turn into a typical blonde." Felicity's eyes rolled on the screen.
"Far from it. He wanted my expertise. However what was up with the bogus story of it being his laptop and he spilled a latte on it? It was riddled with bulletholes. What's he hiding? That lame excuse that his coffee shop is in a bad part of town just doesn't fit. And then that smile. Trying to charm me by implying he's in my debt if I can save anything off of it."
She takes another sip of her wine, before continuing, "So I get to work and manage to pull some stuff off. But having him hovering next to me is a bigger distraction than the mystery of what's on this laptop. His cologne clung to me even after he left. When I challenged him on the laptop being his, he just darted his baby blues side to side. Well-read me, I quoted Shakespeare's Hamlet only to discover he doesn't know it. I did learn that he dropped out of four different colleges before the island. I have no idea what his story is but I'm not buying the current one."
So she found me distracting? I wonder if she still does. Oliver clicked the window closed and opened the next file. Again, the blonde woman's voice told her story, "Felicity's log – Stardate 2012.318. Okay, so I may have been a little short with Oliver Queen when he showed up today looking for help. He sat down all casually at my desk, flashing that fake winning smile. I of course mention I should add that I'm his personal internet research to my resume in a sarcastic quip but corrected myself quick as I find him watching me closely. 'Happily… I mean'. I have enough work to do for Queen Consolidated without doing every little side job that he needs done. Hire a consultant already." She paused, blowing out a breath.
"So he had me researching this guy, Derek Raston who he claimed to be friends with but had lost touch. Diggle, Oliver's shadow, pointed out that Oliver hasn't exactly been with it for the last 5 years… No Facebook, No Twitter… I mean a well connected billionaire playboy and he hasn't even started using Facebook yet? And the sheepish look on his face at the pronouncement, it was ridiculous. Definitely something fishy going on here. I just don't know what yet."
She really had caught on to all my horrible cover stories, even in the beginning. I know she was always questioning their validity but somewhere she knew. Oliver walked over to the window, gazing out into the night. Felicity does understand what I need to do but she directs me to a higher road, a higher calling, than just a vendetta based on my father's dying wish.
He returned to the desk and cued the remaining video entries.
"Felicity's Log – Stardate 2012.346. Again, I get caught. I need a bell on my door at work. There I was in my quiet office, lights turned down to keep it cool, skimming the book that Mr. Steele gave me to research, when I'm scared out of my wits by HIM! I quickly hid it and then, stupidly, I asked if he ever knocks and he comes back with it's the IT department, not the ladies room. But still a little notice would be nice before being startled. Walk heavier, cough, something to let me know you are there. I know I was probably just engrossed in the article but Oliver is too stealthy. And again an odd research request: to look up the patent on a black arrow that his friend, who's into archery, would like for a gift. Seriously, I know the rich and famous have interesting hobbies but archery? What are the chances? A vigililante, the other Archer guy and a friend of Oliver's have the same hobby. It just doesn't fit well. I know the Hunger Games has resurrected interest in it but let's be more creative people. So a few mouse clicks and keystrokes later and presto! The address as requested. Then he smiles that smile. My insides warmed when he called me remarkable, in a sincere manner. He actually appreciates my skills. Despite the rush I was feeling, I calmly thanked him in my own quirky way. On the way out he wished me Merry Christmas and when I corrected him, saying I was Jewish, he actually bothered to come back in to wish me Happy Hanakah. What makes this guy tick?"
The screen darkened before it lit up again. Again, Felicity was perched on her couch, lounging with a glass of wine in her hand. "Felicity's Log – Stardate 2013.023. Just when I thought I wouldn't see anymore of my confusing billionaire playboy 'sort of' boss, he shows up, just when I'm in the middle of eating takeout at my desk. I told him I thought he was done asking for my help and he asked if that was my waying of saying I missed him. Of course I told him no but I did. I missed seeing his rugged good looks, the easy smiles, the banter and most of all the mystery he brought. Theirs is nothing like trying to solve a good logic puzzle, well maybe trying to debug some code or hack a system but still. Oliver is an enigma and I haven't been unable to unravel him yet."
A pause. "This time he claimed there was a very fine bottle of wine as a reward, so heck ya, I said I'd do it. But at first I couldn't focus. He'd actually touched me: playfully tapping me, when he told me a bottle was mine. What do I find when I unscramble it but evidence suggesting the Black Hawk security force was responsible for the armoured truck heists. When I shared that with Oliver he clammed up and said he'd take care of it. No bottle of wine I guess."
"Felicity's Log –Stardate 2013.030. What is up with the Queens these days. Thea turns eighteen and crashes her brand new car because she was on Vertigo, some new drug taking over the streets. Then Oliver shows up at work, almost stalking me. Instead of waiting for me in IT or calling, he actually tracked me down in the building to ask me to analyze an "energy drink". He looked like hell, claiming he was hungover and wanted me to break down the drink before he consumed it, saying he was particular about what he put in his body. I accidently blurted out that "I noticed" and then saw him smile back and I quickly corrected myself, trying to say that I hadn't noticed. But of course I've noticed. Who could help but notice the physique he has under all those tailored clothes. Broad chested and muscular with that rugged blue-eyed look. He could have his pick of woman in his social circle." The on-screen blonde temptress paused, collecting her thoughts.
So she was attracted at one point! Wonder if that's still the case.
" But back on topic, he gave me an energy drink in a syringe and when I called him on it, he just said he ran out of water bottles. At that point his bodyguard just walked over to the elevators. I get that he's lying, I just don't know why."
She could easily have connected the dots and called me out earlier. I wonder why she didn't. Oliver couldn't help but ponder her reasoning. The next video played. "Felicity's Log – Stardate 2013.031. So I took a huge leap of faith. I arranged to meet with Oliver at the café. I need to tell someone about Walter's little book. He seems like the only person I can trust, despite his ridiculous lies. I said as much to him when we started talking. He was sitting there so casually and I'm wringing my hands trying to start the conversation. I finally explained how I trusted him but when he said "I have one of those faces," I had to look away. He may tell me lies but he's usually honest in dealing with me so the devil may care attitude didn't sit well with what I wanted to talk to him about. He saw my reaction and apologized. He looked me right in the eyes with those piercing blue eyes and said "Yes, you can trust me". In that moment, I knew I could share everything with him about Walter, about my fears that this is why he disappeared. I pulled out the book. He questioned me like I expected asking who, where, how, when. By the end he looked shaken, uncertain about something, maybe even disappointed."
Felicity noticed that? She really was more in tune with me thatn my family was. She didn't know the why or how but she could read my emotions, my reactions even when I thought I was guarding them well.
"Oliver!" his younger sister called. "Breakfast is ready when you are!" Another sleepless night. I haven't even learned anything new from all of this. I hope she doesn't notice! He remarked to himself as he went down the stairs.
