A/N: Thanks again for all the love! I think this chapter has my favorite Tommy lines(s) in it. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
It took her longer than she cared to admit to calm her racing heart and get her shaky legs to work again. When she felt like she could function she headed straight for the bag the costumes had been delivered in and made quick work of unpacking them. She'd focus on that for now. Final run through with Tommy. Mission prep. Dance competition. Plant the transmitter. That's where her brain needed to be, not on how wonderful Oliver tasted, or how she could feel his muscles shift beneath her hand as she'd touched him.
With a shake of her head she threw those thoughts away and pulled out a barely there dress that was more sequins and sheer netting than anything else. It hadn't looked so revealing in the picture.
Tommy's was mostly black except for matching sequins along the deep V in the front. She smirked at how low it went and how uncomfortable he was going to be in it. She couldn't wait to see it on him.
With a resigned sigh she grabbed the outfit and her dance shoes and headed to the bathroom to change. With tights on she really wouldn't technically be in danger of showing anything, but the dress was still low in the front and the back, barely had any skirt on the right side, and left most of her midriff covered in nothing but nude colored netting that made it look bare. She cut a glance over herself and was glad Oliver had left. She really didn't know what his reaction would have been; good or bad.
Head held high she put her hair up in a haphazard bun for now and marched upstairs, grabbing Tommy's costume on the way. He was sitting at the bar when she entered the club, and his jaw dropped appreciatively when he caught sight of her.
"Wow!"
She rolled her eyes and pinned him with a look as she handed over his outfit. "I don't think you'll be so excited once you've got this on." she was determined not to end up in a discussion with Tommy about what he'd walked in on earlier.
His eyes held hers for a second and she actually saw the internal debate he was waging over what he was going to do. In the end he took the too shiny wad of material and began to head for the office. He'd made it up the stairs and was about to enter the door when he shot her a grin, unable to resist. "You do know if Oliver had seen you in that before he left...he'd most likely be taking a trip to Gotham at some point in the future to deal with Salazar there."
She flushed at his words and stalked away from the bar to turn on the music and drown out anything else he may feel compelled to say.
While she waited for him to emerge she stretched and continued to try and ignore everything that had happened. Oliver had kissed her. She had kissed Oliver. She paused, head bowed over her right knee as it struck her that she'd actually made the first move. But he hadn't hesitated. And if what she saw meant anything it was something he'd wanted to do for awhile.
It took Tommy stepping between her outstretched legs to the point that the toes of his shoes entered her field of vision before she noticed he was there.
"Can't imagine what you could be thinking about that would keep you from hearing me call your name three times." he said sardonically, hand already outstretched to help her up.
She shot him a glare that quickly dissolved into a grin as she took in the sight of him. To his credit Tommy Merlyn owned that costume. There wasn't a trace of self consciousness as he stepped back and held his arms out, turning slowly so she could see the outfit in it's full glory.
"This is working for me, Smoak." he said as he turned back to face her, tracing a hand down one side of the V in front, "It's a little slutty, but...I can live with that."
"Only you, Tommy." she said with a shake of her head.
They ran through the dance twice, and even though there were still a couple spots that could have used work they didn't have the time and it was good enough. There was no way they'd win, but they'd look respectable, and not like a plant, and that was all that mattered.
Felicity turned off the sound system and checked the time, shocked to see it was already close to mid-afternoon.
Tommy was waiting expectantly on the dance floor and she could tell he wanted to talk. Her finger was already waving as she made her way over to him. "No. Not going to happen. We have not had a chance to hash anything out, discuss what happened, consider what might happen, or even postulate as to why it's even happened in the first place. And until we do I'm not saying a word to you."
"Okay, okay. Message received. Can I give you the expected 'you hurt my friend you'll deal with me' speech?" his head tilted to the side as he looked at her with wide eyes and she swatted his arm as she passed. "Because I'll give him the same one. Promise."
"Why don't you save it until we know for sure there's a reason to give it." she was trying to sound light, and unaffected but her voice betrayed her and he heard.
" 'Lis...there's a reason to give it. Trust me." he said quietly and she had to turn away sharply before he saw the fresh sting of tears that took her by surprise. She didn't know what she'd do if this didn't work.
"Look, we've got to get out of here. We still have to check in at the hotel, and register, and actually compete before the dinner at eight. That's not a lot of time." she was already halfway to the entrance to the basement.
"Hey." Tommy called out and she had no choice but to turn and look at him, "It's all going to work out. The mission and everything else." he assured her.
Felicity gave him a tight smile before she continued back to the lair. Digg and Oliver weren't expected back yet, and as she carefully picked her way down the steps in her heels she glanced around quickly but didn't see anyone.
The only sound was the sharp click clack of her shoes on concrete until she was about to enter the training room. A low rumbling noise, almost like a growl came from the shadows and her head shot up, heart racing as she saw something in the darkness.
The form took shape quickly and she only had a second to recognize it was Oliver, green leather pants and black t-shirt, half dressed for the mission, before he was upon her.
Before she knew what was happening he'd wrapped his arms around her and hauled her into his chest, continuing his forward momentum until she was pressed into the pillar a few feet behind her. She gasped and arched into him, but it wasn't from the cold on her bare back.
Her breath was ragged and heat flushed through her immediately as she felt him against her. His face hovered inches in front of hers and all she could see were the black pools where his usually bright blue eyes were.
"Oliver," she said breathlessly, as she tried to drag air into her lungs.
"Felicity," he returned, the feral low sound of his voice caused her stomach to flip as desire bloomed within her instantly.
His eyes dropped for a second even though all he could see was the very edge of her costume, the rest of it held so tight to him it was covered. "Is this what you're wearing tonight?"
"Y...yes," she stuttered out after a long pause, words suddenly failing her at the intensity she saw on his face.
"I don't like it." he said through gritted teeth, as he pulled her that much closer to him while at the same time pushing her further into the solid form at her back.
She swallowed hard and tried to give him a level look of her own, "Duly noted." the fact that he didn't approve of how much the dress revealed turned her insides into molten liquid. "But I'm still wearing it."
A whimper escaped her throat when his head dipped and she could feel his lips just brush the edge of her jaw.
"You won't be wearing it all night."
It was a declaration, not a commentary and she could no more stop the moan that came from deep in her chest than she could have stopped the sun from rising.
His mouth found hers in a blaze of heat and tongue and teeth. She responded in kind, gasping into him as one hand landed high on her thigh and hiked her leg over his hip. Her hands grasped at his shoulders almost desperately as she ground into him.
The heat of his palm felt like it was burning her through the thin fabric that covered her leg, and when he slid higher to knead her ass her head fell back in defeat.
Lips attacked her throat, sucking and licking the lines and hollows. Teeth sunk into the sharp edge of her collarbone and she keened, pushing up on the toes of the lone foot she had on the floor. The hand that had been wrapped around her waist found her other leg and in one short move she found herself with both her legs around his hips.
She couldn't stifle the noises that were coming from her. Her breath came in short frantic pants that left her light headed, or maybe that was a result of the way he was pressed right into her center, directly where she needed him.
Her hands slipped over his back, enjoying how the muscles shifted beneath her fingers. When she felt the transition from cotton to leather she didn't stop. It was cool and slick to the touch and fit perfectly to his ass. Trailing over the sculpted curve she couldn't resist digging in slightly with a squeeze as she smiled into his neck. "God I've been waiting forever to do that." she mumbled, tongue flicking out to taste the salt on his skin.
There was a rumble in his chest that made her smile widen before his mouth covered hers again and all thought left her mind. His tongue stroked hers, making heat pool in her center as her hips jerked towards him.
She shivered in anticipation as one of his broad hands spanned her rib cage and slowly brushed north, thumb running just under her breast. Her body canted into his, pulling at his waist as if they could possibly get any closer.
"Oh come on! I thought we talked about this!" Tommy's annoyed shout echoed around them and she felt Oliver still.
Slowly his hold on her loosened and one leg fell to the floor, followed by the other. Felicity stayed leaning against the pillar for support as Oliver stepped back a few inches, the heat still pulsing between them.
"How hard is it to put an arrow in the door? It isn't like you don't have enough." Tommy was already making his way back towards the stairs. "I'll be back in a few and I expect everyone to have pants on and their tongues in their own mouth."
She raised her eyes to Oliver's and saw the desire and need was still there. He stepped back further as he fought for control which only made her want to jump him more. She'd already made him lose that control twice. For a man who prided himself on his ability to always be on top of things, to always be ready and on alert it sent a secret thrill through her to know she'd been the one to break down those walls and get inside.
No words were spoken as she carefully pushed away from the pillar and took a shaky step towards the bathroom. She didn't drop her eyes from his until she had to, but she could feel his gaze on her until she entered the other room and shut the door behind her.
Felicity took more time than she should have getting dressed. She kept finding herself staring out into space, stomach flipping as she recalled the way he'd made her feel. But by the time she stepped out she hoped she looked the part of a slightly haughty, serious dancer. Her hair was slicked back in a sleek ponytail, and her smokey eye makeup and dark sunglasses were only enhanced by the white pant suit and sky high heels that made her legs looks a mile long.
Tommy was waiting by her desk, looking vaguely European and almost unrecognizable. He gave her an appreciative once over and made a show of pulling her chair out for her as she set to do her last minute checks on the comms links and the transmitter she'd be planting on Salazar.
Digg and Oliver would be arriving at the hotel later. Oliver hidden on the roof with quick access to the room the dinner was being held in, and Digg in the lobby pretending to read a paper. If this mission had happened a month earlier there would have never been this much preparation. It would have been an easy in and out.
She wondered if they'd ever get back to that.
Oliver and Digg emerged from where they'd been going over a weapon's check. He had the jacket on now, although his quiver was still laying nearby. His eyes caught hers and she felt her breath catch in her chest at the emotions he saw swirling there.
Clearing her throat she refocused on her work and tried not to let her nerves show. They were all going to take their cue from her so she had no option but to be as calm and in control as possible.
She busied herself handing out earpieces and doing checks until the transmitter was tucked neatly into her bag waiting to be taken out before the competition. There was nothing left to do and a silence fell over the four of them.
Tommy had the garment bag with their costumes draped over his arm, waiting expectantly. She took a deep breath and flicked off her monitors before purposely putting her bag over her shoulder. Oliver's eyes felt like they were burning a hole in her and she couldn't bring herself to look at him just then.
Digg cupped her elbow for a second, "I'll be right there if you need me." he said, low and serious and didn't wait for her to reply before he was leaving.
Oliver started forward and suddenly she flashed out a hand and hovered only a few inches from his chest. If he touched her just then, or said anything that wasn't related to the mission she wasn't sure what would happen and she needed to keep that separate.
"No." she whispered, getting brave enough to raise her eyes to his. He looked fierce and a little wild, like he was trying to decide if he could snatch her up and lock her in the bathroom until it was all over. "We're doing this. I'll see you when it's over." she said with a finality to her voice that let him know he couldn't try to bully or intimidate her. Really what she wanted to do was run into his arms and let all the fear and apprehension she felt about this mission drop away for just a few more minutes.
Shaking inside she turned to leave only to have him call out, only it wasn't her name he said, but Tommy's. She spun on the spot at the rawness she heard, sure her heart had stopped beating as she saw the two lifelong friends exchange a look so loaded with meaning and importance she couldn't even begin to attempt to decipher it.
She felt frozen, and it took Tommy's hand gently falling to her back to make her finally move. Heart pounding they made it as far as the stairs when she pushed the handle of her suitcase into his palm and passed him her purse. "Just give me a minute." she whispered,
Tommy gave her a sympathetic smile and thankfully didn't say a word as he headed up the steps. She just couldn't bring herself to walk out of there without saying something to Oliver directly.
He was still rooted in the same spot he'd been in when they'd turned to leave and he didn't so much as twitch as she slowly walked towards him. She didn't stop until they were chest to chest, her hands coming up to lightly lay against the leather. Pressing up on her toes she waited for him to drop his head, their foreheads meeting, breath mingling.
"I'm coming back," she vowed,
Arms that had been firmly planted at his side came up at her words and banded about her, almost squeezing the air from her lungs as she was tucked into him, her face in his neck as he held her.
"Please," was all he said, but she felt the deep shudder that went through him and it took everything in her to pull back. She held his face in her hands and ran her thumbs over his lips before she barely brushed them with hers.
"I'm coming back." she whispered again, and stepped from his grasp, meeting his eyes one last time as she hurried away.