So, true story. Was out horse riding a month ago, and I was having a chat with the guide about the deadly snake breeds in Australia. Her horse balks, and I look down and a tiger snake is striking at her horse, starting to move towards it. We back up, and the snake turns slowly and retreats into a crevice, but holy whoa. New rule: don't talk about snakes when I ride. And tiger snakes really do chase for territory. There you go. Also a timely reminder to get back to this story. Thanks universe (kinda) - Grey

Chapter 4 - Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

Felicity skipped down the stairs to the Foundry, slowing as she rounded to find Oliver already down there. Shit. Should've scuffed. She self-consciously tugged down Tommy's blue hoodie hem.

'Hey,' he up-nodded, apparently not noticing amiss.

'Hey,' she breathed, relieved. 'Where's Dig?'

'He's coming. Just got held up a little. Do you want a coffee?' He indicated the percolated coffee on its heated plate.

'After last time? Not so much,' Felicity smiled.

'Without gunfire this time,' Oliver acknowledged back.

'Sure then. I can grab it.' Felicity did her best boy-scuff over to the machine, adding a little head-bop for effect. The attempt at casual diminishing as she fumbled the cup, turning back to Oliver with a dorky, apologetic grin.

He chuckled, then checked his watch. Dig-waiting.

Felicity poured herself the steaming dark liquid and took a sip, then a mouthful, as tastebuds recognised passable coffee.

She turned back around and aerosoled the coffee, as Oliver lifted up his top. Unveiling contours of abs.

'Wha-what are you doing?'

Slight furrowed eyebrow as he pulled the grey T-shirt over his head. 'Working out.'

'Here? Now?'

'It's where I train.' He looked around to indicate the obviousness of mats and weapons.

Felicity flailed for a life-raft excuse. 'Yeah, no. I mean, it's just that you still have stitches n' stuff. Is that wise?'

'Wise?'

'Yeah. Opposite of stupid.'

Oliver's jaw tensed in suppressed smile.

'I'll be okay. I heal fast.'

Felicity's eyes widened in 'okay-crazy-man'. She was still a little mesmerised by the latitudinal/longitudinal of his torso. So eight packs do exist. Huh.

He raised and sprung to grip a bar above his head. He grunted in pain, but subverted, beginning a rhythmic ascent of clang and hold.

Disguise forgotten, jaw a little slack, Felicity wide-smiled in appreciativeness.

'Hey Oliver, hey Flick.'

Felicity spun to the deep, nearing voice. Dig dropped his leather jacket on a desk. His gaze switched, taking in the scene. She had a feeling he was figuring out something was not quite right in Denmark.

A moment passed. She felt the hook slip away.

'So, Flick, what did you find?' Dig asked, walking towards the beat up laptop.

Felicity tried to regain her best 'guy' mode. She put her cup down, flopped into the tall, wheeled chair in front of the computers, and scooted to open up the rectified laptop. Screen still shattered, she connected a cord to bring the display up on the larger screens.

Oliver dropped down from the top rung, panther-like, and walked over to look.

Of course he perched next to her. Of course he remain shirtless. The gods of lets-have-a-laugh-at-Felicity's-expense were working overtime since she arrived in Starling. Felicity could feel an unhelpful blush start, and willed it down.

She cleared her throat lower and began to tour them through the computer's hard drive.

'So, on the surface, not a lot going on. Normal files, typical web history, no alarm bells as such. But then, we get to this.' Her voice ta-da'd. 'Encrypted. Very well done. Someone expert.'

'And?'

'And, did I mention I graduated MIT? Broke it in like five minutes-'

'Aren't you a bit young to have graduated college?' Oliver interrupted.

Shit.

'I'm, ah, older than I look.'

'Really? Cos half the time it sounds like your voice hasn't even dropped.'

Felicity felt affronted for her fake persona. 'Rude!..dude.' Oh-so-lame. 'Do you wanna see what I found, or not?' she jerkily steered them back on course with two clicks bringing up a stream of data.

'Yes thanks Flick. Oliver, leave him alone.' Dig admonished.

'Sorry. What do we have?'

'Well, according to these files, we have a fairly extensive trail of laundering for the Massiano crime family,' Felicity matter-of-facted.

Oliver and Dig exchanged looks, unsurprised, satisfied.

Felicity took it all in. 'So the guys in the coffee shop. They were after this?'

'Yeah, definitely Massiano's men,' Oliver confirmed.

'So what do you want to do, Oliver?' Dig asked.

The blonde man paused.

'We should take this to Laurel.'

'Oliver.' Caution-toned.

'No, listen Dig, she's got the case against Massiano already open. This could strengthen it and lock him away for good.'

'So, that's the only reason you want to give this up to her?' Both men knew the answer.

'Look, she's just hurting, Dig. Me coming back to Starling has shaken up Sara's death for her again. It can't be easy.'

'Oliver, she's gunning for the Vigilante. Along with the rest of the Starling DA's office and the PD. We should lay low, minimise your contact with her for awhile. We only just cleared your name in connection with the Vigilante.'

'It's just handing over a computer, Dig.'

'Uh huh.' A mile from convinced.

Felicity's mouth formed words she didn't actually remember thinking. 'I could take it.'

Two sets of eyes zeroed on her.

She shrugged. 'I mean, I could drop it to her...this Laurel chick,' Felicity recoiled slightly from Oliver's frown, 'and just say I found it.' She nudged her glasses up. 'Or something.'

'Flick, I don't think you should get involved,' Dig cautioned.

Her steel set. 'Not your choice Dig. And correct me if I'm wrong - which, by the way - I rarely am, but we've already had this conversation.'

She turned to the coil-tight man sitting on her desk, considering.

'Okay, just take it to her,' Oliver abrupted, conceding.

She smiled, a little unsure. 'Alright. So where can I find this woman?'

Oliver's voice clipped, 'Laurel Lance. Assistant District Attorney.'

Felicity laughed incredulously. 'The one on every media outlet vowing to catch the Vigilante. That one? That's your contact?' Her head flicked to Dig for confirmation. He raised his eyebrows in the affirmative. The 'don't ask' was implicit.

'Soooo, I'm guessing she is...unaware of your night-time identity.'

'Yes, and I'd like to keep it that way Flick.' Oliver pushed off the desk and walked back to his metal ladder.

'Sure, no problem.' Felicity took Oliver walking away as the end of the conversation. She noticed he did that a bit.

She unplugged the laptop as the metal clanging re-started, routine as a blacksmith hammering a bend in a shoe.

Felicity eyed the determined brunette stalking towards her. Cut beige suit, slim frame, slicing through air. Consuming energy, focused.

Felicity had been standing in the foyer of the DA's office for 20 minutes, vacillating between regretting her offer to drop the computer off, and practicing her boy slouch. She was doing pretty well, she thought, no double-takes by passers-by; she was definitely getting the hang of this.

'Hi, I'm Laurel Lance. I was told you were looking for me.'

Felicity surreptitiously eyed the brunette's make-up. It was heavy for daytime, but expertly applied. She was quite stunning.

'Yep, hi. I'm, ah, Flick.'

'Flick?'

'Yep.' Felicity had decided against giving Tommy's name. This Laurel could either take the computer or leave it.

'Okay, Flick, how can I help you?' Tinged with impatience.

'I have some information that might be useful. In relation to your Massiano case.'

Felicity could see Laurel's breath slow, interest piqued.

'The laptop?' Laurel looked down, indicating the battered case clenched in Felicity's small, black-nailed hand.

'Yeah, it's a bit shot up, but we-...I managed to get it working.'

'And what is this information?'

'Well, I can show you if you like, but basically, it's Massiano's laundering files. For the past twenty years. Dates, routes, fronts. It's like the holy grail of Starling mobster-ing.'

'Are you kidding?'

Felicity couldn't tell if Laurel was being rhetorical or not, so handed out the laptop to her. 'No, it's all on here.'

Laurel eyed the strange-looking young man in front of her. 'Where did you get it?'

'I found it.'

Narrowed eyes.

'I didn't steal it. I found it, and I'm good with computers, so I was just seeing if I could get it working. And when I did, that's what I found.'

'So the files were just there, on the desktop?'

'Well, they were pretty well hidden. And encrypted.'

Laurel re-looked at Flick.

'I told you. I'm good with computers.' A person accidentally brushed Felicity's shoulder as they passed, reminding her the job was done.

'So, it's all there. Your computer guys should find it fine. I've gotta go.'

Felicity hitched her backpack and turned to leave.

'Wait, Flick. You can't just go. I need to get your details. Your statement. You may need to testify.'

Felicity barked a laugh. 'Yeah, that's not happening. I gotta go. See you around, Laurel.'

'Wait, Flick...'

Felicity let the heavy glass door swing shut behind her, as she disappeared into the crowds of the street.

Felicity liked the cool darkness of the Foundry. She walked steadily down the pale-lit stairs, glad to have a place to come that wasn't Tommy's apartment. She missed her friends, her family, her life in Vegas. She felt in stasis here in Starling - a slightly insane, at times heavily scary, stasis.

Except strangely, descending into the cavernous room she felt safe, and hidden.

She traced and pushed up the heavy, metal switch. Lights flooded, illuminating a solitary Oliver sitting, knees raised, against a cement pillar.

Felicity started a little, glad she hadn't been talking to herself aloud, or god forbid, humming. Which she sometimes did. Usually in a high, melodic tone.

'Hi - why are you sitting in the dark?' Felicity asked, deep-voiced, overcompensating.

Oliver looked over at her, sombre. 'I like to be alone sometimes, just to think.'

'Oh,' Felicity spun to point back to the stairs, 'I can go.'

Oliver shook his head, shook himself off, and rose to standing.

'No, no. You're fine, Flick. How did it go with Laurel?

'All good. She's taken the computer, and seemed to know what to do.'

Oliver nodded distractedly at her words. Felicity didn't know whether she should leave him, or awkwardly stay. The thought of heading back to Tommy's apartment, to bide more time, decided her.

Felicity edged towards the weapons stand, and traced two fingers up the smoothness of an arrow shaft.

'So, you know Laurel. From before?' she hedged, looking back around at Oliver.

'Yeah, we were together. For a few years.'

Felicity let the information sink in, gut dropping a little. So, serious then.

'And now?' she picked.

Oliver's breath expelled in a gust of self-derision. 'Not so much. Her sister, Sara, died when the yacht went down.'

Felicity mind-filtered the implication.

'You were with her? I mean, with her, with Sara?'

'Yeah. Probably the other good reason Laurel wants nothing to do with me.'

'Ouch.' Her voice quavered a little, disappointment flooding. So Oliver had cheated on Laurel. With her sister. Felicity tried to ignore how much this bothered her, trying to reconcile this younger, selfish version of Oliver with the man who now risked to save.

Oliver inclined his head, ghosting somewhere else.

Felicity couldn't help herself - subtle not a strength. 'But you still have feelings for Laurel. Want to be with her, I mean.' Not really a question. Disheartened by what she knew the answer would be.

Oliver looked across at her, a brief, wounded, stalwart smile. 'Yeah. Anyway. Not likely with our history, and with the life I lead now.'

Felicity reacted to the hopelessness in his voice.

'But you're trying to do good here, Oliver. I mean, that's why,' Felicity arm-sweeped the surrounds, 'you do all of this.'

'Maybe. I don't know,' he shrugged.

Felicity was surprised when he continued.

'Growing up, it's not ever what I thought my life would be. But...things happen.' A world unspoken, swallowed down. 'And when I returned, I wanted to do something to try and make it right. I wanted to honour my family, and protect this city. And this is the only way I know how.'

Felicity stood still in the aftermath of his confession. Soaking in his truth. Soaking in the man who tried so hard, and seemed so alone.

Oliver surveyed the stark, shadowed room, breaking his space, avoiding looking at her. 'I better get ready to patrol. Dig's on his way.'

The last thing Felicity wanted to do was leave. 'Can...can I stay around for a bit? Just, you know, I could help.'

Oliver looked at her. 'Sure. You're kind of already an honorary member of the team, so...'

Felicity smiled and slung her backpack to the floor, unknowingly flexing her fingers in anticipation as she gravitated towards her computers.

She halted, and turned to face him, straight on. 'Oliver, for what it's worth, I think this city is lucky to have you. And maybe one day, Laurel will feel that way again too.'

Oliver's eyes flicked to hers, speaking his thanks, though not his belief.