So, had to have some surgery earlier in the month, and now just recovering from a virus-cold thing that seems to have taken out half of Melbourne, so basically, October is kicking my butt. Anyhoo, long weekend coming up (Melbourne Cup day - yup, we have a public holiday for a horse race) so plan to spend some time in daylight and ease on in to Summer. Hope you've all been well - Grey

Chapter 6 - Intended to keep in darkness, what occasion now reveals before 'tis ripe.

There's a time when the oddity of a moment slices through the routine of life, wakes you up, sucks air back into possibility.

Sleep had been a stranger. Felicity had dressed in her disguise like a numb soldier drill-compiling a gun.

She wanted to run. And stay. Tell Oliver the truth. Not utter a word.

She slipped her tablet into the backpack and shoulder-slung it, toast-in-mouth, key-in-lock.

The drive to the Foundry was automatic. She knew that Oliver would be wanting to speak to Flick; wondered if he'd ask about 'the' twin sister.

This was getting so fucked up.

Mostly because she couldn't stop thinking about the night before. How one moment had changed things. How her lens on her life had shifted, with Oliver now centre-focus. How had that happened?

She didn't know if she liked it or not, or if it would pass like a normal crush. Something about this felt different though - bottomless, engulfing. Like she had altered at a molecular level. Even her breathing felt different, adrenalised.

Felicity eased Tommy's car to a stop behind a svelte grey sedan, and looked to see if it was occupied before getting out. Different was not good for somewhere as remote as the old factory.

She palmed her phone and cautiously walked to the heavy front door, pulling it open with her bodyweight and peering into the dark-shaped room. The works to convert the space into a club were progressing, but today it felt orphaned and bleak, like an end-of-the-world Sunday.

She saw a figure turn from what was becoming the bar, and stilled, deciphering a female form but not identity. The figure stepped forward into a lighter space. Laurel.

'Hi.' Confusion. Then placement. 'It's Flick, right?' Laurel looked at her, mind calculating. 'I'm here to speak to Oliver, but I wasn't expecting to see you. Do you know Oliver?'

Felicity flit-thought about turning around and bolting, but sense stayed her.

Bluff. And good lies.

Not her strong suit.

'Hi Laurel.' She boy-nodded. 'How's it...hanging.' Egh. Felicity hitched her backpack and squared her stance.

Laurel tilted her head and smiled. 'Good.' Her lawyer eyes pinned, letting silence build the pressure.

Felicity rushed her excuse. 'I was just, doing some tech wiring and stuff for the new club. I freelance, and...a friend recommended me to the Queen guy - I mean, Oliver - for this gig. So ah, is he around?'

'Not yet, no.' Laurel lay a hand on the cloth-draped bar, her suit cutting angles, cat-cornering-prey vibing off her. 'But since you're here, I thought we could talk about the laptop you gave me. And where it came from.'

Sweet jesus Oliver, please arrive early today.

'It's not really my place to say, Laurel. But I hope it was helpful,' Felicity smiled boy-winningly.

'Oh, it was. Thank you, by the way. But I have to say, it's given me more questions than answers. Including who you are exactly, and how a teenage boy has become involved in a major mob conspiracy.'

Oi. Couldn't she just be happy with the gift-wrapped evidence?

'Just lucky I guess,' Felicity sassed.

Laurel's expression did not relent.

'Too much John Grisham as a child?' Sass, take two.

Laurel turned her head to side, amusement leaking through this time. She pushed off the bar, and swung into a slow, semi-circle lawyer walk. 'Okay, so, you're not going to tell me. That's okay.' A few more steps. Shoes grating the dirt on the concrete floor with each footfall. Laurel slowed as she neared Felicity, and then stilled, capturing her gaze. 'But just assure me that you know what you're involved with, and you're gonna keep yourself safe. No bragging to friends or anything.'

Felicity felt a little taken back by the sincerity track, and touched by the concern.

'No, I'm being careful. Thanks though.' Felicity re-hitched her backpack.

Laurel smiled at her thoughtfully. 'You're a strange one, do you know that?'

Felicity chuckled. 'I'll take it as a compliment.'

'You should, Flick.' Laurel switched modes again, back to bristling efficiency, surveying the darkened space and lack-of-Oliver. 'I don't really have much time to wait for Oliver to show. Can you let him know I was here looking for him, and ask him to...give me a call about a case.'

'A case?' Felicity's brow furrowed in confusion. What case would Laurel need billionaire-Oliver-Queen for? Unless she was fishing for his connection to Flick, and the mob-laden computer? Or Vigilante hunting?

'Yes, of course.' Laurel, trigger-defensive at the dubious look Felicity was giving. 'Look, Oliver and I were over long ago.'

Okay, that was a sharp right turn in conversation. WTF?

'Oh, no, I didn't mean that. I thought...I mean, that is soooo none of my business,' Felicity floundered, wondering how she'd ended up in the deep end of this pool of awkward.

Laurel, however, was sparking, anger-fused pain. 'I mean, he was the one that slept with my sister. And got her killed!'

What was she talking about? The yacht sinking?

Felicity scrambled to find word-footing.

'Look, Laurel?' Felicity's hands arced forward, placating, syncopating. 'You seem...really upset at Oliver, and I imagine you have good reason to be, but, ah-' don't get involved, don't get involved, 'he's been through alot too, he's lost alot, and I think he's trying really hard to do better now. To be a better man than what he was.'

Laurel bitterly stared, eyes swimming. A harsh, hurt whisper, 'There's so much history between me and Oliver. But losing my sister almost killed me. And every time I think of him, I think of her. And it's all just wrong and it can't be fixed. So I...understand what you're trying to say, Flick. I just. Can't. Hear that right now.'

Felicity sympathy-smiled. 'It's okay. I get it. You're both in pain. But Oliver...he just seems like a guy who's coming back from somewhere pretty dark. And I think he needs people to help him see that it's worth it.'

Laurel considered, looking at her with an intensity that was unnerving. Then determined. 'I just don't think I can be one of those people.'

Felicity shrugged her understanding.

Laurel blew out a deep, surprised breath, breaking the moment. 'Okay, well that got a little intense.' She shook herself. 'I'd better go. Give Oliver my message, will you?' Heels echoed as she headed to the door. Silence, as she turned back, 'And Flick, thanks for the talk.'

'Sure thing, Laurel.'

'You know, you're not like other teenage boys that I've met.'

'Oh, you'd be surprised.' You have no idea.

'See you Flick. And remember what I said about keeping safe.'

'Yeah, thanks. See ya, Laurel.' To the departing, suited back.

The door opened to the light of the overcast day, and swung back into darkness.

'Reggie. I understand you have news for me.'

Reggie swallowed on dry throat, wondering why he was still so nervous when he had found the girl they were looking for.

His legs felt 50% there as he shuffled forward into the lush office, magneting towards the Tiger Snake sitting behind his imposing desk.

'Yes. Sir. I found her. Um. I traced the ghostprint from our systems and then programmed a-'

'Reggie.' A voice of implacability. 'I don't need to know how. I need to know who. And where.'

Reggie reluctantly made eye contact, and his soul aged years. The Tiger Snake was was more than just a psychopath running an empire, he was his warden, and his fate.

'Starling. She's in Starling, sir.'

A brief glimmer across his eyes was the only response from the man hunting prey.

'And her name?'

'Felicity. Smoak.'

Oliver seemed chirpy. Felicity found it disconcerting. She was pretty sure he had just skipped down the Foundry steps. In a manly way, of course. Heading straight for her.

'So, Flick.' Was that meant to be a question? Or a hello?

'Hey Oliver.' Her eyes fixed to data-filled screen. Not wanting to look at him in case heart pounding took over.

He swung her chair around, soundtracked with her indignant 'Hey!'

He stood back, arms crossed against chest. 'So, I dropped past your place last night.'

'Uh huh.' Felicity raised her eyebrows innocently.

'And I met your sister.' Still not sure if that's meant to be a question.

'Mnnm. She didn't mention it,' Felicity casualled.

'Really. Didn't mention the Vigilante being in her bedroom?'

Fuck. Good point.

Felicity seized the offensive. 'Wait - you were in her bedroom? What were you doing in my sister's bedroom?' Channeling over-protective Tommy. Who knew that would come in handy?

'I was there to see you.'

'Dude. You came to see me in my bedroom?' Felicity deadpanned.

Oliver lightly clipped the top of Felicity's beanie, and it took every bit of control not to check her wig position. 'You're funny. No, I was there to see if you'd found the location of the arms drop, but instead, this sister that you'd never mentioned was ah- there. Instead.'

What was the opposite of smooth again? Oh, that's right, Oliver and this conversation.

'So you said.'

Oliver shifted weight. 'Yeah, so. How come you hadn't mentioned her. That you had a twin.'

Felicity watched Oliver's attempted uber-casual. A smile captured her face, she couldn't help it.

'There's alot you don't know about me Oliver.' Oh, this was getting fun. 'I also have parents, and a pet fish, if you're interested.'

'Right. Right.' Oliver laughed. Then nodded slowly. 'So, Felicity.' One-frigging-track. 'She in town long?'

Unbelievable. Oliver was interested in her. Holy fuck.

Felicity swallowed, the funny dissipating as reality settled in. 'For a little while. Why?'

'Oh, no reason. I just-'

Dig's heavy clanging steps broke the conversation, as Oliver turned to face his approaching friend. A touch guilty-like.

'Hey, Dig. How did you go?' Oliver asked.

Dig looked at the blonde man, picking up on the odd. 'Fine. I spoke to my contacts and you are good to go. Flick, thanks for locating the drop for us so fast.'

Flick, relieved at interruption, waved her 'no worries.' Dig tilted his head, looking back and forth between the two of them.

He pursed his lips slightly, deep brown eyes understanding something.

'Oliver, better suit up and get going. You've only got 20 minutes to get to the drop,' Dig ushered.

Oliver nodded, 'Right.' Heading to get changed.

Felicity turned back to her computers, her mind whirling, as her fingers and eyes automated - tapping keys, windows opening and closing on the screens like fireworks.

She heard Oliver pick up his bow and arrows, and code the door open, mission-focused.

As the door closed, she was chair-swivelled for a second time that day.

Dig leaned down toward her.'You and I need to talk.' Deep voice serious, steadfast. Felicity knew this one wasn't a question.

Felicity, trapped, trembled a smile at him. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. He knows I'm not a boy.

Dig softened and returned to his full height.

'Okay, let's try it this way. Flick, I've noticed the way you've been...looking at Oliver. Is there something you want to tell me?'

Felicity's eyes darted in confusion. Looking at Oliver? Fuck it, in for a penny, in for a pound of flesh. 'Yep, I'm gay.'

Dig crossed his arms and smiled. 'I don't think so.'

'No really, I am. Been out and proud since the tenth grade.'

'Flick.' In a tone that shut her up. 'I know that you're a woman.'

Felicity shut her eyes. She opened them slowly. Damn, he was still there.

'I thought you might know.' In her normal voice. That bit felt good at least.

Dig leant back against the metal table. 'Hi, I'm Dig.'

'Hi Dig, Felicity.'

'So Flick is?-'

'My nickname.'

'And Tommy is?'

'My brother.'

'And you're pretending to be him because?'

Felicity bit her lip, then launched. 'I just needed to be...not me for a little while. I kind of got into some trouble - I didn't do anything bad, or illegal or anything, I mean it was kind of illegal but in a hacking not hurting people kind of way-'

'So you got into trouble with the wrong people? Or the government?'

'Option A - some not so nice people.'

'Any now they are looking for you.'

'Bingo. You're good at this.'

Dig smiled despite himself. 'And I'm guessing there is a plan for getting you out of trouble. Or is it 'Mr Flick' until the end of your days?'

'Tommy's working on it. But I promised him and I can't really talk about it. He wants me to break it off with you and Oliver as it is.'

'So he knows about us.'

'Yeah, he wasn't...pleased...but he knows.'

Dig nodded, taking it all in.

'Can we help you out of this?' Dig asked.

'Thank you. Really. But Tommy has it under control. I'll only need to be a Starling a week or so longer - tops - and then I can get back to my life.'

'Okay. I guess the only other question I have is when are you going to tell Oliver?'

Felicity stilled. 'D-do you think he needs to know? I mean, of course he needs to know. But can we just hold off for a bit? I just want things sorted out before I tell him, so he doesn't head in all arrows blazing to punish the bad guys. And I don't want to do anything that will jeopardise what Tommy's working on.'

Dig looked at her. 'I can keep your secret for a little while. You and I both know that Oliver will want to take over and fix things. But you also need to understand that Oliver trusts you, and he doesn't trust easily. So I think you should tell him. Soon.'

Felicity's torso eased as her anxiety ratcheted down. Dig, bless him, wouldn't out her.

'Thank you Dig. And I will tell him. When everything's settled.' She smiled at the big man in gratitude, and turned back her screens, as Oliver's voice came in on cue, letting them know he'd arrived at the drop point.