The first draft of this chapter was written before Billy's death, which may make this less relevant, but, hopefully, not completely obsolete. It takes place in the summer before Season 5, between chapters 3 and 4 of Of Redemption and Inebriation. He did get a little epilogue at the end that was written with episode 5x09 in mind.


When Locksley Meets…

Billy Malone


JJuly 11, 2016

Billy had first noticed her almost two weeks ago. The beautiful blonde woman with the adorable golden puppy and his curly little tail. Billy had been sitting in the shade, eating lunch in the park that ran down the center of Star City, a block from the station, when they came trotting by.

The woman was carrying on a conversation with the puppy, as if it were capable of talking back, and the way the fluffy little guy looked up at her, like he was hanging on every word…well, Billy could certainly see why.

She was like the sun. Every time she was anywhere in the vicinity, Billy's eyes were immediately drawn to her. She exuded this warmth…okay, now he was waxing poetic. The guys at the station would never stop laughing at him. Not that he would be sharing these particular thoughts any time soon.

Billy couldn't tell what the woman was saying to the puppy. He never let himself get close enough. Some big bad police officer he was. He still hadn't worked up the courage to talk to her.

At least, his detective skills hadn't let him down. Billy had found out that the bubbly blonde with the quirky glasses passed this way between 11:15 and 11:45 every morning. He hadn't found it too difficult to move his lunch earlier to plant himself in her path. Not that it had done him any good so far. She never so much as glanced his way. He was going to have to step up his game.

He probably could have found out more about her than her walking habits…who was he kidding, he definitely could have. But using the station's facial recognition software or any of the other resources he had at his disposal…it just felt like cheating. Or stalking. It was bad enough that he was watching her like this, Billy really had no desire to step any further into creepy stalker territory.

So, he did this the old-fashioned way. Billy sat by the fountain and kept his eyes open, all while trying to appear like he was casually eating his burrito. It was easy. Like a stake out. Which was absolutely nothing like stalking. Very different. Truly.

And every day, Billy was rewarded for his patience.

Every day, the woman would appear in a brightly colored dress (Billy didn't think he had ever seen her in pants) showing off her shapely legs…and, damn, they were gorgeous. Especially considering that she wasn't even that tall. But she was balanced on the sexiest heels, ones that click clacked as she walked on the paved trails. Her golden hair, usually held back in a smooth ponytail, swished as she walked. Her brightly painted lips were always moving, her expressions constantly changing. Even her glasses Billy found endearing.

And, yeah, he sounded like a sap. He had it bad…especially for a woman he had yet to speak to. But there was only one way to fix that. Today was the day that Billy Malone was finally going to talk to her. If he waited any longer, it really would be stalking, facial recognition software or not.

He just had to figure out how. Billy brushed his sweaty palms on his jeans. Fancy detective…if his brothers could see him now.

The best plan Billy had been able to come up with was to just walk up to her and ask to pet the dog. The fluffy little guy looked friendly enough and he had seen plenty of kids be successful with the same move. Sure, they probably were more interested in the dog than the girl, but there was that floppy haired teenager…yeah, Billy was pretty sure that kid was trying out his moves. Pretty pathetic that he had been more successful than the fully-grown man. So far, anyway.

There was also the fact that a six-year-old asking to pet your dog was adorable, a teenager…well, it wasn't nearly as sketchy as a scruffy 29-year-old policeman. Or as obvious.

Maybe he should have shaved. Or at least trimmed his beard. A really closely trimmed beard was 'in' right now, but the last thing Billy wanted was to be accused of following a fad started by this city's new 'Mayor Handsome.' And really, they couldn't come up with a better nick-name? Lame.

Jesus Christ, Billy was the one who was lame. He'd faced down hardened criminals without blinking. Hell, he chose to transfer to Star City, knowing full well that it was just below Gotham in terms of crime rate and crazy ass shit going down. Why on Earth was he scared to talk to a petite blonde and her friendly puppy-dog?

But that still didn't give him a line that didn't sound ludicrous.

Then Billy heard a woman yell, "Locksley!"

He wasn't sure how he knew it was her, maybe he just hoped. But when Billy's eyes jerked up, he found that adorable ball of fluff tearing toward him, his leashing flying behind as he followed three children, all of whom were clearly encouraging his bad behavior.

"If you keeping running, so will he!" the woman yelled, coming to a halt on her tall heels and stomping her foot. She was so goddamn adorable. She put the puppy to shame.

Instinct drove Billy and, as the pup dashed by him, he dove, missing the dog...but he did manage to trap the leash between his chest and the grass as he landed face down in the lawn. It kind of hurt and he must have looked foolish, but when he looked up he saw a pair of leopard skin heels skitter to a stop in front of him.

Score!

"Thank you!" The woman gasped, bending down to scoop up the puppy, leaving Billy to scramble off the leash. "We've only had Locksley a couple of weeks and he hasn't quite learned his manners yet."

She held the puppy out in front of her, turning him to look her in the eyes. He really wasn't that small, even though he was clearly still a puppy. He was going to be a good-sized dog.

"You hear me, mister," she reprimanded the pup. "It's bad manners to run from your mom. You understand? When I say, 'Stay!' You stay! No matter how cute the kid you're chasing is."

The puppy named Locksley (now Billy just needed to get her name) responded by wagging his tail and licking her chin.

"Don't you try and butter me up! You're in deep trouble, mister." Then the woman deftly transferred the dog so he rested under her left arm and held her right hand out to Billy. "Thank you so much!"

Whoa. Billy couldn't believe his luck! Finally! He brushed his hands, again, on his jeans, using the guise of just having had them in the dirt to hide his sweaty palms. "No problem at all, Ma'am. All in the line of duty."

Ma'am? Line of duty? What was this, Mayberry? He was such a dork. But the women took Billy's hand and smiled and, wow, her eyes were so blue. Butterflies gathered in his stomach. Her hand was soft, but her hand shake was firm…

And…now what? Billy was going to say something stupid, he just knew it. His eyes flicked away nervously and…landed on the dog. Oh, thank God. "Hey, Buddy—"

"Grrrr-ruff!"

Billy was able to pull his hand back just fast enough to keep from getting bit.

"Oh, my God! I'm so sorry! He's never done that before," the woman gasped, pulling the dog back and once again turning him to look at her. "What is wrong with you? This nice man just saved you from getting lost, you silly puppy."

"It's okay," Billy rushed to reassure, though, in truth, he was flustered. He hadn't considered this scenario. The dog had always seemed so friendly. How was he going to charm the girl if he couldn't charm the dog?

"Okay, you," she told the puppy, "let's try this again. Now watch very carefully." She was even more adorable when Billy was able to hear what she was saying. She turned to him and smiled, making Billy's breath catch, as she held out her hand, again. "Hello, my name is Felicity Smoak and this unruly mop of fur is Locksley. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Felicity Smoak. Billy had her name. Finally. And a beautiful name it was. Kind of familiar too…

Billy lost his voice for a moment, which was just this side of humiliating…he wasn't usually this bad with women. He did manage to hold out his hand as he tried to swallow around his suddenly dry throat. "I…uh…" God, was this middle school? "Detective Billy Malone." Detective? What the hell? He was such a dork!

Felicity's eyebrows raised as she repeated, "Detective?" Yup, 100% certifiable dork. "I haven't seen you around the SCPD. Not that I'm at the SCPD much…"

Well, Billy certainly wouldn't mind if she were. "I'm new. Transferred here after Genesis Day. I was recruited a couple months ago, but…it just seemed important to come now." That didn't even make sense. He was babbling like an idiot.

"Oh." Felicity took her hand back and…

Of course, she took her hand back. Billy couldn't go on shaking it like a love-sick fool indefinitely. Had he held it too long? Fuck, Felicity was going to think he was a love-sick fool. As long as she didn't think he was a stalker…

"Well, I hope you're not one of the corrupt police..." Felicity broke off with a wince. "Sorry, I…"

"No! No, it's okay." It was actually nice that Billy wasn't the only one with a terrible filter. Could she be nervous too? Except, it sounded like Felicity didn't have the highest opinion of cops in this city and here he was announcing he was a cop every five seconds. "I knew crooked cops were a problem here when Captain Lance recruited me."

Felicity's entire expression changed, surprise washing over her face as her head tipped to the side. Though, he couldn't tell if her reaction was a good one or bad one. "Quintin recruited you?"

Billy stiffened. Did she have something against Lance, because he wasn't sure if he was okay with that. And why the first name? "I know the things they say about him—"

"I'm not sure which things your referring to, but Quentin is one of the best men I know," Felicity sad firmly, but then she gave Billy a soft smile before, again, addressing the puppy in her arms. "See, if Grandpa Quentin thinks the detective is a cool guy, he's gotta be."

Yes! Finally, a win. And Felicity was close to Lance. This was his way in! Billy smiled at the puppy and…

It snarled right back.

Jumping a little and trying to act nonchalant about it…that puppy was fierce, but the little guy couldn't actually hurt him…could he? He was just a pup. "Umm…how do you know Captain Lance?"

"He's dating my mom."

"Oh. Wow, small world." That was good, right? Except…maybe a little intimidating. Lance's girlfriend's daughter…wow.

"And I was close friends with his daughters."

Lance's daughters? Weren't they both dead? That was…a lot less good. Great, nothing makes a Meet Cute better than reminding a girl about her dead friends. "Oh, I…I'm sorry."

But this Felicity, she just smiled. Though it was, maybe, a little less sunny and a little more sad. "I'm not. They were both amazing human beings. I'm privileged to have known them."

So, apparently, Billy was just going to keep saying the wrong thing. "I didn't mean—"

"I know what you meant." Felicity laid a hand on his arm and Billy wondered if he stopped breathing. If he did, he hoped she didn't notice. "And thank you. Losing Laurel this Spring was a blow for all of us." She cleared her throat. "But for now, let's try for a more polite meeting. Be nice!" The last was a stern warning for the dog, though Billy had to admit that it threw him for a second. "Just hold out your hand to sniff."

Billy did as he was told and—

Locksley bared his teeth, snapping at him so fast that…Billy yanked his hand back.

"Oh, my God! Did he get you?" Felicity gasped, sounding genuinely distressed as she pulled the dog back.

"No. No." Billy clenched his fist and rubbed at his finger, trying to rub away the blood. It wasn't…a deep bite. He hoped that thing had its shots.

Spinning, Felicity placed the puppy on the wide concrete ledge around the fountain. "Bad Locksley!" She presented the dog with a stern voice and a shaking finger. "We do not bite new friends! No!"

It was an impressive loud voice and Billy would have definitely been cowed, but Locksley just wagged his tail and, damn, if that little devil didn't smile.

It would be adorable if the little creature wasn't so clearly determined to thwart him. The little cock blocker. "I don't think he understands," Billy told Felicity, finding himself smiling involuntarily. But that was mostly because of how cute Locksley's owner was, not the dog. The dog was getting less cute by the second.

Sighing, Felicity slumped down next to Locksley. "This puppy parenting thing is a lot harder than it looks."

Chuckling despite his stinging finger, Billy told her more confidently, "You're doing great."

But when Billy took a step toward them, the dog barked again. Wow, that dog did not like him. Did he smell like cat or something? And then it did something even weirder. It stomped at him. Every time he took a step closer…it stomped.

"Oh. My. God. What was that?" Felicity gaped, her hand flying up to cover her mouth…and the laughter she didn't seem to want Billy to see.

"I don't…" Billy tried again. But…yup, he took a step forward and it was stomp and growl from little Locksley, the devil pup. And if he got too close, it was followed by a fierce little bark.

"Oh dear lord. He's warning you off." Then Felicity practically doubled over with the laughter it seemed she could no longer contain.

Billy wasn't sure if he should be enchanted or insulted.

Then Felicity pulled out her phone. "Okay, do it again, I've got to get this on video."

Now, Billy really wasn't sure…but she was still damn cute and the most interesting woman he'd met in years, so he…did it again.

And right on cue, little Locksley did his stomp and growl routine. Frowning, Billy shoved his hands into his pockets. Now what? Maybe he should just back off and try again some other day. Maybe with a burger instead of a burrito? Stick a few dog treats in his pocket?

Felicity's eyes were on her phone and not Billy anyway. She chewed her lip through the last few soft chuckles.

"I'm sorry, it's just so funny. I've just got to send this…" Finally, Felicity put the phone face down on her lap and turned the full brilliance of her smile on Billy. "So, how are you liking Star City so far?"

Okay. Wow. Maybe this wasn't unsalvageable. "I, uh…it's really interesting. I like it more every day." It was actually hard to focus when she smiled like that. Without thinking, he stepped toward her only to have a sharp bark make him jump backward again. "Damn it." Locksley really sounded like a much bigger dog.

Felicity smothered a laugh and Billy prayed she was finding more than the puppy cute. Then her phone rang. "Sorry," she murmured, but didn't wait for Billy's response before holding it up and speaking to the screen. "FaceTime, Oliver? I didn't know you knew how to FaceTime."

"Har dee har har," came a deep masculine voice from the cell phone.

Shit. Maybe it was her brother? Her dad? Gay best friend?

"What was that?" Her (hopefully) relative asked.

Felicity laughed and the musical sound didn't do a whole lot to still the sinking feeling that was settling in Billy's stomach. "This nice detective…Maloney?"

Billy cleared his throat and forced himself to smile. "Malone."

"Detective Malone rescued me from having to chase this naughty puppy across the park in my heels and now Locksley won't let him near me."

"Let me talk to him," was the disembodied response.

"The detective?" Felicity looked positively gleeful and Billy tried to sneak a peek at the phone. Maybe this guy was old…like her old neighbor. Or her grandfather. No, she wouldn't call her grandfather by his first name, would she? But Oliver sounded like an old man's name. Oliver…? That sounded familiar too.

"Of course, not. Locksley."

Felicity looked up and smiled at Billy as if they were sharing a joke. He really didn't think they were on the same page here. Then she held the phone up to the dog. And still Billy couldn't catch a good look at the screen. Some detective he was turning out to be.

"Hey, Locksley. Can you hear me, boy?"

Apparently, because the dog was practically bouncing with excitement, his eyes glued to the phone. So…little Locksley didn't hate all men. But the worst part was the way Felicity was beaming down at the dog and the phone.

"Did you stomp and growl at that man, Locksley?"

And, damn, if that dog didn't, "Arf," out a yes.

"Good boy. Good boy, Locksley."

Immediately, Felicity yanked the phone back to her, screeching, "Oliver! What the hell!"

And thank you for that, at least! Last thing Billy needed was someone encouraging her dog to hate him.

"Locksley's supposed to protect you."

Billy took offense to that! As if he had done anything threatening. He hadn't even been stalking. Much.

"Not from nice police detectives in the middle of the day. In the park, Oliver."

At least, she thought he was a nice police detective. That was something, right?

"One step at a time."

Who the hell was this guy? Billy hated him already.

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Enough of you. You're not helping. I'm going."

Please. She really couldn't hang up fast enough for Billy's taste.

"Fine," the voice said, not sounding at all upset. Unfortunately. "See you in twenty?"

Damn it! Please, let him be old. Please, God. Or a relative. Or both.

"We'll be in the café waiting," Felicity replied.

"I don't have that city council meeting until 1pm, so I'll probably beat you there."

City council…Oliver…Oliver Queen? Fuck. This girl was meeting the mayor? As in Mayor Handsome? Well, he sure as hell wasn't old and it was doubtful he was a relative…there was still the possibility that she worked for him—

"Love you."

"Love you, too."

Or…not. Fuck fuck fuck. Wait…Felicity Smoak…Oliver Queen…Billy's shoulders dropped. He couldn't believe it had taken him this long to put the pieces together. Some detective he was.

Felicity ended the call and looked up at Billy. It was a crying shame. Most interesting woman he had met in years. Sighing, Billy asked, "So you're the Felicity Smoak who used to be the head of Palmer Tech and was engaged to Oliver Queen?"

A dark cloud passed over Felicity's face, but she recovered well. "Guilty."

Billy didn't know if he felt worse for causing her distress…or because he was realizing that even if this Felicity hadn't been involved with Mayor Handsome, she was so out of Billy's league. "They called you…Olicity?"

Felicity blushed and, somehow, she was even more beautiful. Ugh. "I know. It's so stupid."

Billy really thought it was. But she didn't have a ring on her finger. Billy casually glanced down…nope, no ring. Did that mean there was still hope? Was there a way to ask without sounding creepy and desperate? "I thought that whole engagement thing was broken off?"

And…that was probably not the way to ask. Obvious much?

If possible, Felicity turned even redder. Her eyes found the ground as she stood and brushed off her skirt. "Yeah, well…like I said, we had a really rough Spring." Swallowing, she looked at Billy and seemed to force herself to smile again. It was definitely not as open as before. "We're taking the summer slowly and seeing where it takes us."

And that was the final nail in the coffin. Her words might have given him hope, but…Billy looked into Felicity's eyes and, yup, it was terminal. This little lady was very much taken. So much for the most fascinating thing he had found in Star City.

Felicity lifted her dog off the fountain. "Come on, let's go get lunch with Daddy."

Daddy? Oh yeah. No chance in hell. Billy wouldn't be surprised if that ring made a reappearance before the summer was over. Not that Billy would be skulking around the park looking for it. It was back to having lunch with the guys in the precinct. At least, they'd stop ribbing him for being anti-social.

"It was nice to meet you, Detective," Felicity finally said, wrapping the dogs leash twice around her wrist. "I'd shake your hand again, but I'm afraid Locksley would, well…"

"I understand," Billy reassured. Given the circumstances, he wasn't eager for any more physical contact, anyway. He buried his hands deeper in his jean pockets. "It was nice to meet you, too. And its Billy."

"Felicity." But her smile was awkward now. "I'll just…" She gestured…away and all Billy could do was smile and nod as she waved and continued down the path toward City Hall. City Hall, where her boyfriend worked. As the mayor. No wonder she spent so much time in this park.

Billy waved back, feeling like a complete fool. As soon as Felicity was out of view he dropped to the edge of the fountain. There went the perfect woman. Billy ran a hand down his face. He just hoped Mayor Queen realized what he had.

Was it too early for a drink?

Even though Billy stopped going to the park for lunch, Felicity Smoak and her puppy were hard to avoid. Turned out, they were Star City royalty. And the puppy…he didn't stay a puppy for long.

Billy saw Locksley running with the mayor in the mornings and sitting calmly in front of his favorite coffee shop waiting for Felicity (and making it rather difficult for Billy to enter). The dog was even on the news fairly often, standing vigil next to one or the other of his people during a press conference.

Locksley never did learn to like Billy, though. Felicity was sweet and friendly. She would even show up to the station with coffee to talk about a case and ask for an update "for the mayor." Which Billy always gave, because he was a sucker for that smile (even if he did think she was rather overinvolved for a girlfriend). But she quickly learned to leave Locksley up front with Frank or Jenny…who the dog loved, by the way.

And when Billy was sworn into the Anti-Crime Unit, he could swear that dog was giving him the stink eye the whole time. At the reception after, Billy even heard Thea Queen asking her brother and his fiancé (yup, that ring reappeared, though it took until October) if they should trust someone Locksley didn't like. Apparently, that was who got to make character judgements in this town. The mayor's dog.

Though to be fair, Oliver (yeah, Billy eventually started calling him 'Oliver', as painful as it was), never held Locksley's dislike against the detective, though he found it amusing. It took Billy awhile to realize why. Oliver simply recognized a fellow victim of the lovely Felicity's charms and felt sorry for him. It was sort of humiliating.

It was the night that the Green Arrow and Arsenal rescued Billy from The Throwing Star Killer, though, that really changed everything. Because even dressed in a black Kevlar suit and streaked with black greasepaint, Billy would have recognized his canine nemesis anywhere.

But given it was Locksley that saved him from a serial killer, sniffing the asshole out and taking a chunk out of his leg in the process, Billy could never have anything but respect and affection for that damn dog ever again.

From a distance. Definitely, from a distance.

After that…well, did Billy really think there was a possibility that he could compete with a man who was not only Mayor Handsome, but the Green Arrow (his person hero, by the way, even before he rescued Billy from a certain death)? The answer was an unequivocal 'no.'

But Felicity Queen…well, she would always be his celebrity crush. Billy even confessed this to his own fiancé after one too many champagnes at the Mayor's annual Christmas Party one year.

And his fiancé…she told him that was 'okay.' She had a crush on one of the Queens as well.

No, not Mayor Handsome. The dog. Locksley, the Wonder Pup. The Black Shadow (as the press dubbed the Green Arrow's four-legged sidekick). Billy's nemesis, once again.

Maybe it was time for Billy to get his own dog. But not an Akita. Anything, but an Akita.


Notes:

This piece was dreamt up early in season five while texting with Ireland1733 during some of the more difficult scenes in 5A. I promised her I would have Locksley bite Billy (and Susan, though I just haven't been able to get into her head yet). The longhand draft was written on the way home from HVFF Atlanta, before Billy's untimely demise, but the "epilogue" was inspired by Fairytalehearts saying it felt "low" to get Billy's hopes up like that (even though she hates the guy) and Imusuallyobsessed saying she wanted to see Billy's reaction to Locksley in the park later with Oliver.

So, I dedicate this chapter to these three lovely ladies. Though, I don't feel like this little piece for fluff is at all worthy, given all they have done for me.

Thanks for reading!

Emmy