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Once again, Felicity was right.
Oliver sighed as he looked at the devastation around him. In the four days the Hood had been back, he'd managed to prevent three robberies, one murder and several drug deals but had probably put more arrows in people, most non-lethal, than he had in all of the past year. Part of him was not surprised that the underworld had taken over the Glades. He knew that if you gave people enough rope, they'd usually hang themselves. And with no clear voice of leadership in the rebuilding effort (other than his own, which wasn't exactly being well received), the Glades had become a hotbed of trouble.
Even more, he found himself wondering and worrying about what could happen to Thea at Verdant, although, he would admit, grudgingly, Roy was doing a pretty good job of keeping her safe. And so far, he'd been too busy to think much about the Hood. But now that Oliver's alter-ego was back on the streets, he figured it was only a matter of time before the younger man was back on his crusade to find him.
Then again, maybe it would help to have a third person out there. After tonight, he was pretty sure that he and Digg couldn't possibly handle everything going on after dark in the area. And Roy seemed determined, if reckless…
Damn Felicity. Her ideas were getting to him. He hadn't really wanted to hear it when she'd mentioned that maybe a third person out in the field would be a good idea earlier that week. He couldn't figure out why she'd suggested Roy as he was a hothead with a temper and he could prove more dangerous than helpful in a tense situation. Of course, Felicity had only raised an eyebrow and said "and that reminds me of whom?" He'd been annoyed as he'd heard Digg smother a laugh, but he had to admit she was right. However, in his defense, he'd had years of training and life-experience in dealing with things like putting arrows in people. Roy was still a child…
A shout nearby brought his senses back to full alert as he turned to scan the area. He noticed a set of shadows moving towards a nearby alley where the scream had come from. He hoped whatever it was wouldn't take long as he really wanted to get back and see what Felicity had found on the newest drug being sold on the streets. And if he were honest, he missed her smile and the way she'd teased him on and off all week with hints and questions about what he considered 'classic movies.' Digg had only given him a knowing smile when Felicity had explained their 'agreement.' He was thankful his friend didn't say more, although he knew he'd wanted to.
"Oliver, you get what's going down on 43rd and Broad?"
Digg's voice crackled in his ear and he focused again on the situation at hand. There would be time enough to tease Felicity and wonder about what she had planned for tomorrow. Right now, he and Digg had a city to try and save. What a way to spend a Friday night.
Felicity hummed to herself as she put the finishing touches on the cookies she'd baked earlier that day in anticipation of 'movie night.' Really, it was ridiculous how much care and thought she'd put into tonight's plans, especially after a week that would have killed a lesser person. She frowned as she thought about the two new scars Oliver sported, after a run in with a drug dealer and his sidekick earlier that week. She was glad the Hood was back in action, but she'd forgotten how much she hated patching him up, or worrying about him and Digg as they were out hunting down the bad guys.
Still, Detective Lance had sent her a terse email, one word really, "thanks" and she took it as a victory. Not to mention Oliver, though he wouldn't admit it directly to her, had made several comments that showed her he now realized she was right about the Glades needing both Oliver Queen and the Hood. Although she'd been on him to come up with a more 'heroic' name than "the Hood" as he really didn't want to be thought of anymore as the Vigilante. She couldn't blame him.
And then there was the insanity that was Queen Consolidated. She only dealt with the IT part of things, but she heard the gossip and knew, from what little Oliver told her, that several shareholders were talking about a takeover. The tension around his mouth and the small lines around his eyes told her more than he knew as he arrived at the lair every night. Part of her thought the Hood was a good way to work off that tension, another part worried that he was going to kill himself trying to juggle the two sides of his life.
Which was probably why she was determined to make this night a fun, non-working one. And if nobody did anything stupid in the Glades, she might just have a chance at getting Oliver to relax for a few hours if nothing else.
As the cookies cooled, she pulled out all the fixings for making popcorn. Since she'd discovered his taste for it, she'd decided she'd go all out and actually pop the corn on the stove, as she actually liked the richer feel and flavor more than microwave popcorn. And she was glad her companion wouldn't complain about the stick of butter she melted to go over it. She supposed Oliver, with all his training and stamina could use the extra calories. She however, would put in an extra hour at the gym next week.
As the kernels popped on the stove, she looked at the clock, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she realized he'd be there within ten minutes. She told herself to calm down, they were simply two friends who were going to watch a movie together. And she had to admit, she was rather excited to see how Oliver reacted to her choice of film.
She was so involved in picturing his reaction that she nearly missed the knock. Jumping at the sound, she quickly turned off the burner and moved towards the door, straightening the T-shirt she wore and glancing quickly in the hall mirror to make sure she looked presentable. With a quick 'you can handle this Felicity, he's your friend' pep talk in her mind, she took a deep breath and opened the door.
Oliver smiled as he ended his call with Digg. The latter was headed out with Carly and had given him precise instructions that unless the world was ending, and maybe not even then, to not disturb them. He didn't plan to, he'd told his friend, as he intended to relax himself that evening. He'd ignored the innuendo laden response Digg had made about his spending time with Felicity, telling him to go have fun and mind his own business.
The call done, he felt himself begin to relax as he slipped on his jacket and checked his pocket for his keys. Heading out the front door of the mansion, he was glad that Thea and Roy were at the club and therefore, couldn't ask where he was going. The same went for Laurel, who was out of town visiting her grandmother, saying she'd needed to get away from everything for the weekend. She hadn't asked him to go with her and for that, he was extremely grateful.
A touch of guilt hit him for a moment, as he'd neglected to tell his girlfriend where he would be spending the evening, much less with whom. But the fact that she didn't seem to want him around was just fine with him, as it meant he could solely focus on Felicity and what she had planned for the evening. And if she'd asked, he wouldn't have lied. He'd simply have told her he and a friend were going to be watching a movie.
Right, just a friend. Keep telling yourself that Oliver.
He frowned at his inner monologue, trying to ignore it as he reached the bike and grabbed his helmet. No car tonight. He wanted the feel of the wind on his back as he rode. Riding was one sure way he knew to release the tension of an awful week. And it had been a bad week. From the problems in the Glades mounting, to the threat of the takeover from some very annoying yet determined stockholders. He really didn't want to think about the potential this all had to go bad. It would drive him crazy if he did.
Which was why, as he rode, he made the decision to put everything out of his mind except the fact that he was going to relax and enjoy this moment out of time tonight. When he didn't have to be a shrewd businessman, or a masked archer. He could just be himself, and hopefully, enjoy some popular culture with one of his best friends.
He wondered what movie Felicity had chosen. She'd teased him all week and he was pretty sure it wouldn't be anything like what he'd expected. That was Felicity, always surprising him, even when he didn't think he wanted to be. She had a way of getting him to do a lot of things he might not want to. He smiled as he thought of her sparkling eyes as she laughed at something he'd said. Or the way those eyes turned fiery when she disagreed with him or challenged him on something he'd done. Or the way he'd almost kissed her before he'd left last week.
Deciding he was already thinking too much for a 'relaxing' night, he pulled up to Felicity's building and parked the bike. He removed the helmet, straightened his jacket and headed inside, his heart beating just a little faster as he walked down the hall towards her door. Really, you'd think he was a hormonal teenager all over again. She was just his friend. Wasn't she?
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the front door, noting the delicious smell of popcorn that wafted through the air around him. As she opened the door and he saw the smile on her face as she greeted him, he finally felt the tension of the past week begin to leave his shoulders and he returned the smile as he stepped inside trying hard not to notice the way the t-shirt she wore clung to her curves.
She's your friend, Oliver. Don't forget that.
He only hoped he could take his own advice.
Notes: So, what do you think they're going to watch? Thanks for reading!