A/N: I apologize for any mistakes. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Felicity glanced away from the line of code she was working on for a new security protocol when her desk phone ranged, she reached over, tucking it between her shoulder, she opened her mouth to greet the caller but was cut off as the head of the IT department began barking orders at her from the other line.
"Smoak, get to Mr. Harrison's office."
Felicity fought off a sigh. "What's the probl-" She broke off as she heard the other line click off. She pulled the phone away with a frown. "Okay, that was just rude."
She quickly saved what she was doing on her computer before securing it and heading out of her office, getting onto the elevator and riding it to the 24th floor. She walked passed several other employees as they got onto the elevator as she was getting off and made the pathway to Mr. Harrison's office, knocking on the door, pushing her way in when Mr. Harrison called out for her to come in.
"Mr. Harrison, I'm from the IT department I was told by my supervisor your having computer trouble."
"Yes, it keeps shutting down without warning." He rounded his desk. "I'm going to lunch and I expect the problem to be fixed by the time I return." He brushed past her out of his office.
"Yeah, I'll get right to it." She muttered moving around his desk, settling into his chair and setting to work seeing what the problem was. "Would it kill people to get some damn manners?" She continued talking to herself. "I mean is a please or thank you too much to ask?" She frowned. "Of course it is." She answered herself. "Because it takes too much effort to be professionally polite." She heaved a sigh as she found several bugs had found their way into the system. "And I need to stop talking to myself." She glanced at the opened door. "Preferably before someone walks by and hears me. Now wouldn't that be embarrassing?"
She had managed to fix the problem quickly but was called to fix several other office computer's. It took up her lunch hour much to her annoyance since they were pretty simple problems that even an intern from the IT department could have handled. It was twenty minutes after her lunch hour when she was walking into her office only to be caught off guard by who was seated in her chair and was looking at the picture she had on her desk.
"Oliver?"
Oliver gaze snapped up and he quickly put the photo back where it had been before like he'd been burned. He stood up from her chair quickly. "Felicity!"
"What are you doing here?"
Oliver rounded her desk, stopping in front of her. "I wanted to know when you would be free?"
Felicity brushed past him and around her desk. "What are you talking about?" She asked, settling into her chair.
"Our deal." Oliver reminded, turning around and standing directly across from her in front of her desk.
Felicity frowned, thinking back if it had been a month already, and cursing silently in her head when she realized it had indeed been a month since their deal. "Right, the deal." She tilted her head at him. "Did you even try to forget about me?"
Oh, he tried alright. He got it into his head that if he slept with enough women that Felicity would just fade into the numerous number of women he had been involved with. But he found that was impossible, he was either imagining they were Felicity or he was comparing them to her. Their hair wasn't blonde enough. Their eyes weren't as blue. They didn't have her figure. Somehow, someway, he always ended up finding things about Felicity to compare them to but no one amounted to her for him. Which was ridiculous seeing as he had never even been with Felicity. He hadn't even so much as kissed her.
"I gave it my best shot but clearly you're not forgettable." Said Oliver.
"How did you try to forget?" Felicity looked at him speculatively. She found herself curious just how he attempted not to think about her.
Oliver rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, avoiding looking her in the eyes. "I rather not say."
It took Felicity only a moment to realize what he wasn't saying. "Of course." She muttered with a shake of her head.
Oliver cleared his throat uncomfortable with the thought that she knew how he tried to distract himself from thinking about her. "So when should I pick you up?"
Felicity sighed. "A deal's a deal, I suppose." She said more to herself than to him, she looked up at him, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "How about Saturday night?" She usually used that night to visit Sara at work and let off some stress at the club with dancing but it looked like that won't be happening this week.
"Saturday? Definitely. Saturday is good. It's great." He usually went out clubbing that night and always found a girl to warm his bed but his usual plans could definitely be tossed aside in light of getting to take Felicity out. His usual plans could go screw themselves for all he cared.
Felicity raised a brow at him, feeling a flicker of amusement at his response. He sounded genuinely excited, like a kid in a candy store.
"So, I'll pick you up on Saturday at your place, say seven o'clock," Oliver suggested, a smile lighting up his face.
"What? No." Felicity's response was instant with a shake of her head.
Oliver's brow pulled together in confusion. "But you just agreed to a date."
"Yes, a date. Not for you to pick me up at my place for the date. There's no way I'm telling you where I live." She had a stalker in college and didn't want to repeat that experience.
"You do know I could just take a look at your employee information and just find out for myself."
"You do know that that's company information." Felicity shot back.
Oliver felt a flare of amusement. "My name's on the building."
"I don't care what your last name is. That's an invasion of privacy. And misuse of the fact that your name allows you certain privileges." Felicity glared. "Not to mention that is border-lining on stalker behavior."
Oliver frowned she had a point there and he needed to know when to draw the line and not cross over into stalker territory. That was just creepy. "Okay, so I won't pick you up at your place. I could pick you up elsewhere? Laurel or Sara's place maybe."
Felicity shook her head. "No, you can just text me, the time and place and I'll meet you there." That sounded like a solid plan to her. Oliver wouldn't know where she lived and she wouldn't have to go through another scenario like that Lacrosse player who stalked her at MIT.
"I don't have your number." Oliver reminded her.
Felicity held out her hand. "Give me your phone."
Oliver retrieved his phone from his pocket and placed it in her hand, feeling a jolt when his hand came in contact with hers and suddenly felt like the weird mark on his ribs was flaring up but it wasn't painful, it was almost pleasant, the complete opposite of how it felt when it first appeared.
Felicity felt the spark to her skin the second their hands brushed and her grasp on his phone tightened more out of reflex than anything and she felt her mark flare up with warmth, it felt oddly good, pleasant even.
Oliver watched her closely, wondering if she had felt what he felt when their hands brushed. But found it hard to tell, other than the way she seemed to tense and press her lips into a thin line she showed no other signs if she did or not so he couldn't be sure that she did.
Oliver's frowned deepened, that was the second time that he felt the mark flare and both times it had been when they had had some kind of physical contact no matter how small, whether it was a handshake or a simple brush of their hands. It never happened with other women. Just with Felicity. That couldn't have been a coincidence, he was sure of it. There was something more going on and it was just another thing to add to his ever-growing list of things that he just needed to know about her.
Felicity did her best to keep a straight face, feeling Oliver's gaze on her, looking for something, watching her every expression. She swiped her thumb across his phone screen and went straight to his contacts, quickly imputing her cell number and name, when she was done she held the phone out to him, careful to not let their hands brush again. "Now you have my number."
Her words broke him from his thoughts and searching gaze, he took his phone noticing how she tried to avoid any contact with their hands. "I'm surprised you actually willingly gave me your number." He said, glancing down at her number, his brow furrowing. "It's not fake is it?"
Felicity rolled her eyes. "I was tempted but no, it's not fake. Feel free to try it right now if you don't believe me."
"I trust you." The words were out there before he even realized what he said but once he did he knew they were true. He didn't know why after all they didn't know each other all that well but he trusted her completely. Which it was unfathomable for him to trust someone immediately but it didn't change the fact that he did.
Felicity's mouth formed a silent O in surprise, and she found herself nodding slowly. "Just please, don't misuse it."
"As in only text you about the time and place," Oliver said knowingly. "Don't want me blowing up your phone."
"Something like that." Felicity didn't want to be rude and tell him she didn't want him calling her period. She was hoping by the end of this date he wouldn't ever want to see her again. That would solve her problems or at least she hoped it would.
"Right." Said Oliver looking down for a moment to hide his frown but when he looked back up he had a smile in place. "So I'll text you the time and place where to meet Saturday."
"Sounds good," Felicity said just as her stomach rumbled hungrily, she felt a flush of embarrassment as Oliver's smile transformed into an amused one.
"Didn't you just get back from lunch?" He teased.
"No, I had to fix a few computers on the upper floors so I had to forgo lunch." She pursed her lips. "I really shouldn't have skipped breakfast." She said more to herself than him, she looked up almost forgetting Oliver was there. "It's not important. If we're done here, I have some more work I need to get done." She wasn't trying to be rude she really did have work to get through.
"Right," Oliver said with a frown of concern. "But you should take some time to eat. You know, take care of yourself."
Felicity was already turning back to her computer and returning to what she was working on earlier. "I'll get right on it. See you Saturday." She said absentmindedly.
Oliver watched her get immersed in whatever she was doing, turning to leave. He doubted she would remember to get something to eat. He wondered if she would take it negatively if he went and got her something to eat.
Felicity looked up when a rap sounded on her office door and saw a man, a few years older than her, holding a takeout bag. "Felicity Smoak?"
"Yes." She pushed her glasses up her nose. "Can I help you?"
He stepped up to her desk placing the bag down on top of it. "I have your lunch order. An Italian sub."
Felicity shook her head. "I think there's been some kind of mistake. I didn't order anything."
"Mr. Queen did. He said to deliver the food to your office."
"Oh." Felicity said in surprise. "How much?" She reached for her bag to pay him.
"It's already paid for." He shook his head. "And my tip is covered." He added before she could offer him a tip. "Have a good day, Miss Smoak."
Felicity frowned as he left her office. He had said that Mr. Queen had placed the order and knew instantly it was Oliver. She reached for the bag, retrieving the sub, the delicious smell of Italian food, wafting through the room and causing her stomach to rumble, as she unwrapped the sub and took a bite, she nearly groaned with how good it was, she chewed slowly, savoring the food before swallowing, taking another bite and chewing thoughtfully.
It was a nice gesture. One she wouldn't have expected from him. Mostly because it was considerate and she didn't really see him as being considerate of others. Maybe that was a pre-conception from their first meeting. She reluctantly admitted maybe he wasn't all bad but then again maybe this was just a move for him to try and gain her favor. But even if it was a genuine gesture she wouldn't let it influence her decision about not spending more time with him than necessary. She couldn't even consider getting to know him not with Talina's warnings not to let a bond form between them. She couldn't risk that happening and with any luck, she'll be able to scare him off on their date by being one of those annoying girls that guys hated to date.
Now if she could just somehow get him to never want to see her again? Then her problems would be solved and she wouldn't have to worry about creepy curses.
Still, she would thank him on Saturday for the gesture.
"So do you know where he's taking you yet?" Sara asked as she, Felicity and Laurel walked into a clothing store. They were going to find her something to wear for the date on Tuesday before getting dinner.
"No, he's supposed to text me, I'm going to meet him there." Felicity told them as they headed for the clothes.
"Knowing Ollie, he's probably going to take you to a club." Commented Laurel offhandedly.
"Maybe but maybe he'll take her out to dinner instead." Mused Sara, she looked to Felicity. "From what you told us, he seems to be taking this more serious than I would have expected."
"So what should I wear?" Felicity wondered, looking for their opinion.
"Maybe you should wear something conservative," Laurel suggested. "You're trying to get him to lose interest. So dressing the opposite of his type might help in that department."
"She shouldn't dress down." Sara disagreed, looking through a rack of dresses. "I think you should go all out for this date. Make sure he knows exactly what you're working with." She grinned mischievously. "It'll drive him crazy knowing what he's missing."
"You're evil." Felicity laughed.
"I like it." Laurel agreed with her sister. "Let's find you something that'll blow Oliver away."
"Alright." Said Felicity. "So what type of qualities does Oliver find beyond annoying in a woman again? I need to be the most annoying date possible. I mean, c'mon, he wouldn't bother if he couldn't stand me, right?" She asked, looking at a rack of cut out tops.
"No." Sara disagreed, looking at a rack of cut out dresses. "Haven't you heard of hate sex?"
Felicity dropped her head down with a groan. "Sara."
"What? I'm just saying you can completely hate someone and still be really sexually attracted to them that you just want to screw their brains out." Sara gave a shrug of her shoulder.
"You know what they say there's a thin line between love and hate." Mused Laurel.
God, who said anything about love? Felicity's thoughts went to the whole soulmate thing. Love was the last thing she wanted to feel with Oliver if her suspicion was right and deep down she knew it was. That he was her soulmate, the one she shared a soul with. If love and hate were as thin of a line as everyone believed it to be, herself included, she rather just be indifferent and not feel anything about Oliver.
"You have to try this on." Sara pulled a black cut out dress, with diamond shape cutouts all along the torso.
"And this one." Laurel held out a green dress, that bunch at the waist, with a flirty skirt.
"And this one." Sara added a purple number.
"Don't forget this one." Laurel added in a blue number, to the quickly growing pile of dresses.
"You two do know I just need one dress, right?" Felicity asked them amused.
"You can wear them when we go dancing." Sara dismissed. "C'mon." She ushered Felicity toward the changing room. "Time to put on a fashion show."
Felicity shook her head in amusement but took the arm full of dresses they pushed on her.
After an hour of trying on dresses, Felicity had found several dresses that Sara and Laurel insisted she had to buy but had yet to find a dress for her date with Oliver. She was hoping this next one would be the dress. "Alright, how about this one?" Felicity stepped out from the changing room.
"You look amazing." Laurel grinned approvingly. "This one. You should wear this one for the date."
"Yeah?" Felicity asked, voice colored in hope. She really liked this one. She could totally see herself wearing it more than once, she was completely ignoring the fact that it would be the dress she wore on her date with Oliver. "Sara, what do you think?" She turned to look at her blonde friend.
"I think if you were even a little bit interested in girls I would totally be trying to make out with you. You look super hot." Sara smirked mischievously before adding teasingly. "We could have a friends with benefits arrangement."
Felicity laughed knowing Sara wasn't serious about the making out thing. "Tempting but unfortunately women don't do it for me. Even if their gorgeous like you."
"Shame." Sara fake pouted.
"So I should wear this one for the date?" She wondered, turning to look in the mirror and even she had to admit she looked damn good in this dress."
"Yes!" Laurel nodded.
"Now we just need to pair it with a pair of fuck-me-heels." Declared Sara.
Felicity was all for shoe shopping. She loved shoes but she did not want to wear fuck me heels on her date with Oliver but something told her Sara wouldn't be dissuaded. She headed back to the changing room to changed back into her clothes and pay for the new additions to her wardrobe.
Oliver looked toward the entrance for the fourth time since arriving at the romantic Italian restaurant he had chosen for their date. He had shown up early not wanting to be late for once. He was late to a lot of things but this wasn't something he wanted to screw up. He wasn't going to mess up this chance to change Felicity's mind about him.
He looked at his phone to see it was five minutes after the time they agreed to meet here, he frowned but when he looked up again he watched as the woman in question walked toward his table.
His breath left him in a rush, his gut tightening, his pupils darkening to a storm blue as he took her in. He had thought Felicity was pretty from the very first moment he saw her. But pretty didn't even begin to describe her. Beautiful, gorgeous, perfect were better descriptions for her.
The red dress she wore fit to her like a second skin, accenting every curve she had stopping just a few inches above her knees, with cutouts along her ribcage the dress and black heels she wore, making her legs seem like they went on for miles, her hair was curled and draped over one shoulder but didn't abstract his view of the neckline of the dress that hinted at just the right amount of cleavage to be sexy but not slutty.
Felicity had entered the restaurant, hoping that Oliver would just pull a dick move and stand her up even if she doubted the likely hood of that happening. Not with how adamant Oliver had been to get her to agree to this date in the first place. When she saw him she felt a twinge of disappointment which she knew was kind of crazy because who the hell gets disappointed from not being stood up for a date? Her apparently. She forced a smile.
Oliver scrambled to stand up, his chair scraping against the floor in his haste as she approached. "Wow, Felicity, you look..you look." He let out a breath, giving his head a slight shake.
"Nice?" Felicity supplied, standing just a foot in front of him, noticing he was struggling for the right words. It looked like Sara's plan of making her look super hot was working better than she expected. Who would have thought, Oliver Queen, playboy of Starling City would be a bit tongue-tied over her.
"Amazing." Oliver corrected, the word leaving his lips on a breath. "You look unbelievable."
Despite her reservations about this Felicity felt herself blushing at the compliment and his obvious appreciation. She could actually feel his appreciation, she could also feel he was nervous.
She looked him over, reluctantly admitting he looked good himself. "You look pretty good yourself." She told him. She figured it couldn't hurt to tell him that before she started pulling out the annoying date behavior that Laurel and Sara suggested would turn Oliver off her.
Oliver's expression flickered with surprise at the compliment coming from Felicity. When he saw her move toward her chair, he moved quickly. "Here let me get that for you?" He quickly pulled out his chair for her.
Felicity hadn't expected that show of manners from Oliver. She smiled at him in thanks as she took her seat and he pushed her chair in.
Oliver quickly took his own seat, offering up a nervous smile. "I'm really glad you showed up."
"Did you think I wouldn't? A deal's a deal."
"Maybe so. But I wouldn't have held it against you if you decided to back out of the deal." Oliver rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. "I mean, you shouldn't be forced to go out with me if you don't want to."
Felicity was surprised at the admittance. "Force is a strong word. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be." It was half true, she wouldn't be there if she didn't want to be but she had ulterior motives for being there. She saw this as her chance to get Oliver to cut his losses and move onto the next girl that caught his eye.
Oliver wanted to smile at her words but wasn't sure if she meant what she said.
"Can I take your drink order?" A waiter had appeared at their table. "Perhaps I could interest you in some white wine?"
"Yes." Oliver said, hoping it might ease his nerves.
The waiter poured Oliver a glass of white wine and moved to do the same for Felicity but Oliver quickly put his hand out stopping the waiter. "She prefers red wine."
"Of course, Mr. Queen, I'll be back with a bottle of our finest, right away."
If Felicity hadn't been so thrown by Oliver knowing that she preferred red wine she would have objected to the waiter's urgency to wait on them like they were royalty but then again she was out with a Queen. The Queen's and Merlyn's practically owned Starling City.
"How do you know that?"
Oliver's brow furrowed in confusion. "Know what?"
"That I like red wine."
"I don't know." Oliver looked down a moment shifting in his seat. "I can't explain it."
"Try." Felicity insisted. She needed to know how he knew that. Was it just some coincidence?
"I don't know how or why but I feel like I already know you."
"But you don't know me." Felicity frowned at him. "We've only met a few times."
"Maybe so but I know things about you. Small details and I don't know how."
Felicity looked at him doubtfully. "Like what?"
"Like you hate needles and Kangaroo's freak you out. You think their evil. You love panda's and think their adorable, your favorite ice cream is Mint Chocolate Chip and you really love red wine."
A trickle of unease filtered down Felicity's spine with every word he spoke. She didn't know how he could know those things about her, hell she hadn't even told Laurel or Sara about her kangaroo phobia. She was more convinced than ever that even though she hadn't seen if he had the mark that he was her soulmate. This was so not good.
"Are you alright?" Oliver asked in concern, he could feel her uneasiness like he was the one who was uneasy.
"Where's that wine." She muttered. "I could really use a drink." No sooner had the words left her mouth, had the waiter appeared pouring her a glass of their finest bottle of red, she downed half the glass the second he left their table.
Okay, so she wasn't the only one experiencing weird shit from this soulmate business because there's no way Oliver just knew that stuff for no reason. It had to be some weird soul mate intuition or something.
Felicity had felt bad about her plan to turn this date into a disaster when she could feel his nerves firsthand but not after learning this. She couldn't be second-guessing her decision because the less she connected with him or spent any time with Oliver, the lesser chance of a bond forming.
"That's really something." She muttered.
Oliver watched her closely, he wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but he expected at least a bigger reaction. Something more..unless.. she knew something that he didn't. He remembered when they first made their deal and shook hands on it, how he had felt like this spark shot up his arm from the contact and the way his mark flared up pleasantly and how Felicity seemed startled but not surprised not the way he had been. Did she know something he didn't?
He licked his lips about to ask her just that when none other than the Chef of the place appeared to introduce himself and ask personally what they wanted to order, honored to have a Queen dining in his restaurant.
Felicity didn't know why but she was surprised to be served by the chef personally. That Queen wealth had a way of getting you treated like royalty not that she cared for the special treatment.
It had fallen silent and Oliver racked his brain for something to discuss, his nerves once again getting the better of him. "The weather's been nice." He commented. Oh God, did he really just comment on the weather?
"It has." Felicity agreed, keeping her answer short, deciding it was about a good a time as any to start turning this date to a disaster but then she suddenly recalled. "Oh, thank you for the lunch the other day, you didn't have to."
"I know but I knew you skipped lunch and well it would have been a shame if you starved to death before our date." He teased, he hadn't really expected her to thank him.
"Yeah, that would have just been the worse," Felicity said. "You would have to found another girl to try and seduce."
"You're not just any girl."
"I'm sure you said that before. Lots of times."
"Okaay, that is, well not wrong," Oliver said laughing at her spunk. "But I didn't mean it with them."
"And you expect me to believe you mean it now?" Felicity arched a disbelieving eyebrow at him.
"No, not really." Oliver laughed. "But I'm sure I can convince you."
Felicity narrowed her eyes at how sure he sounded. "Talk is cheap, just because you say you mean it doesn't mean anything."
"I have no problem proving it to you," Oliver said, giving her a once over, giving his head a shake cause damn did she look like sin tonight. "Just say the word and I'll show you with more than just my words that I mean it when I say it to you."
Felicity rolled her eyes just as her phone pinged, she retrieved it, checking it and saw that she had a text message from Sara.
Did Oliver like the dress?
She quickly moved her fingers over the keys texting back to Sara.
Seeing as he's already made suggestive comments I would say yes.
Plus he did keep looking her over, with dark eyes, if he looked any closer Felicity would think he was trying to undress her with his eyes. Not to mention she could feel his lust like it was her emotion and was doing her best to ignore it.
Good. Laurel is wondering if it's wrong that she's getting a thrill messing with Oliver?
Felicity's lips curled in faint amusement, she rather thought Laurel and Sara were enjoying this a bit much for the normal. Their friendship with Oliver was a strange one if you ask her.
Maybe. But I won't judge, gotta go, Oliver's watching me and it slipped my mind it's rude to be texting while on a date.
Felicity set her phone face down. "Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize though I do have to admit it's a bit of ego killer that you took the time to text during our date." He teased. "Can't say that's happened to me before."
"Maybe you're not all that interesting." Felicity quipped.
Oliver gave a laugh. "Then perhaps I can convince you otherwise." His hand wrapped around his wine glass and he never removed his eyes from hers as he lifted it to his lips, taking a slow swallow of wine.
"You can certainly try." She replied just as their food was brought out to them by the waiter with the chef.
"I hope the food will be to your liking." He smiled.
Oliver offered one of his smiles that he used for the cameras. "I'm sure it is." He grabbed a fork and took a bite, chewing carefully and nodding in approval.
The chef looked to her and Felicity breathed deeply preparing herself to act like one of those obnoxious food critic people in hopes of annoying Oliver or make him think she was high maintenance. Like really super high maintenance.
She took a bite and purposely made a face.
"Do you not like it?" Oliver asked, seeing her face scrunch up when she swallowed her bite of food.
"It's too bland." She lied, pushing the plate away.
"Too bland?" The chef repeated, he couldn't recall a time when anyone had called his food bland.
"Yes, bland." Said Felicity, raising her chin haltingly, committing to the act. "Lacks flavor."
The chef glanced nervously at Oliver before turning back to her. "I can whip you up another plate, one with more flavor."
"You do that." Felicity pushed the plate away from her.
The chef nodded, apologized and quickly disappeared.
Oliver watched her inquisitively, he didn't take her for the picky eater kind of girl. She really didn't seem the type.
The chef frowned, his annoyance clear as he waited for Felicity to give her approval. It was the fourth time that he had brought a new plate out to her. She had complained about the food each time he brought her a meal out. His food was too bland, too dull, the sauce wasn't seasoned enough, was too thick. You name it, Felicity nicked picked at it in an attempt to seem like the worst date to take out to dinner.
"If you don't like the food here we could go somewhere else?" Oliver suggested when her fourth change plate was brought out.
Felicity had to refrain from groaning in frustration, she had been trying to annoy him by being a picky food eater but all she managed to do was annoy the chef as he stood at the table waiting for her approval.
Felicity sighed internally. She would have to go a different route to try and turn him off her. Felicity lifted the bite of her food and chewed, and allowed herself to savor the taste, being honest with what she said next. "It's perfect."
The chef blew out a breath of relief before turning to Oliver. "Enjoy, Mr. Queen. I hope you visit often. It was my pleasure to cook for you."
When he turned to leave however Felicity cleared her throat. Felicity felt a twinge of guilt when he turned back with a look of dread. "I'm sorry for being a pain. You're an amazing chef."
The Chef let relief wash over him, nodded at her compliment and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"We don't have to eat here if you don't like the food." Oliver frowned at her sudden change in opinion.
"No, I love the food here." She admitted, taking a bite of her food.
"I'm glad." Oliver smiled, beginning to finally eat his own food though he was confused if she loved the food here why she would complain about it.
Felicity bit the inside of her cheek. Okay, so she would try something else that guys hated.
A silence fell over them as Felicity contemplated what to try next.
"How long have you been working at QC?"
Felicity looked up to see Oliver watching her, waiting for an answer. "A few months but I interned a year before."
"Did you always want to work with IT?" Oliver wondered.
"I originally wanted to work in Applied Sciences and I kind of just fell into the IT role instead, not that I'm complaining because I love working with computers." Felicity paused, as a thought occurred to her. Men's eyes always glazed over when she talked about what she did. Maybe she could ward him off by talking non-stop about something he could care less about.
"So computers are your thing?" Oliver asked with interest, he never really dated an IT Geek before. Sure he slept with a few smart girls before but not MIT smart. Felicity was a first for him in a lot of ways.
"Why did you want to work in Applied Science instead?"
"Don't get me wrong working in the IT department is great and I love writing code but I want to make a difference and present change, I want to be creating tech..the kind of tech that could…"
Oliver listened to Felicity with rapt attention, he enjoyed the way her eyes lit up when she talked about what she did, what she wanted, the way she talked with such passion about her work. He couldn't recall hearing someone speak with so much passionate about what they do. It was interesting to him because he didn't feel that passionate about anything he did not to the degree that she clearly did and he wondered what that must feel like.
Felicity thought if she kept talking non-stop Oliver would become annoyed with it. Guys hated a girl who talked too much. But as she continued to talk about her work with computers, writing code and algorithms. Oliver looked to be hanging onto her every word. Why the hell was his eyes not glazing over? Why didn't he looked annoyed with how much she was talking? Instead, he appeared to be really interested in every word she said, his focus completely on her, an almost endeared look in his eyes, his lips curved in amusement.
"Could we interest you in dessert?" A waiter appeared at their table as another cleared their empty plates. "Can I interest you in more wine?"
"No on the wine." Felicity shook her head, she still had to drive herself home and she wasn't looking to get drunk.
"They have excellent chocolate desserts here though. You like chocolate, right?" Oliver wondered. It was strange how he instinctively knew some things and not others.
"What girl doesn't like Chocolate?" Felicity picked up the menu, skimming through the dessert section. "I'll have a slice of your double fudge cake."
"I'll have the same." Oliver told him.
"Oh, uh, the double fudge is nut free? Right?" Felicity questioned. She learned it was always good to be cautious.
"Yes, there are no nuts in the double fudge ma'am." He nodded.
"Okay good." She noticed Oliver's questioning look. "I'm allergic. Like anaphylactic shock allergic."
Oliver's eyes widened. He would have to file that knowledge away for future reference. He would hate to be the cause of her accidentally having a highly allergic reaction. "I'll keep that in mind."
Felicity doubted he would, Laurel and Sara both said he wasn't one for long-term relationships and seeing as according to them anything with commitment or responsibility had him practically breaking out in hives she doubted he would need to remember that she was allergic to peanuts or anything with nuts.
"Is there anything else I should know about you for future reference?"
She didn't want him knowing anything about her really. Things would be better in the long run if he didn't. "No, not really."
"Okay then, tell me about yourself."
"Tired of me talking about work?" She asked, trying not to let it show how hopeful she was about that. "I'm annoying you, right?"
"Quite the opposite." Oliver shook his head. "I mean I barely understood anything you said about computers but I'm pretty sure I could listen to you all day and not get tired of hearing just the sound of your voice."
Felicity frowned in disappointed. What the hell did it take for her to annoy him, get on his nerves or something?
Oliver looked at her strangely. "Did I say something wrong. Wait." He tilted his head at her. "Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?"
"No, of course not." Felicity said immediately. "I mean who would purposely try to be annoying on a date." She gave a nervous laugh. "That would be like trying to sabotage your own date. Who would even do something like that?" She reached for her glass of water, taking a large gulp just as their dessert was delivered.
Oliver arched a brow at her, she was a terrible liar and if she thought all her talking would get on his nerves she was wrong. There was something about her rambles that gave him a light, warm feeling. And to be honest, the way she clearly grew flustered while lying and rambling at the same time was endearing in its own way. In a way that was completely her. A Felicity Smoak way.
"What can you tell me about yourself." Oliver wondered, taking a bite of his cake.
"I'm kind of new to Starling, I moved here just a few months ago." She wiped her thumb across the edge of her cake, wondering if one could still be considered new to a city if they been living there for a few months.
Oliver's eyes followed her movements with rapt attention, watching as she pressed the pad of her thumb to her lips, sucking the icing from her skin. It was a simple action but still, it sent a jolt of want through his body, his eyes darkening. "Where are you from?" He had to clear his throat before speaking again.
"Vegas."
"Vegas." Oliver repeated, his mouth curving. "I wasn't expecting that."
"I'm sure there are a lot of things about me you wouldn't expect."
"But I look forward to finding each and every one of them out." Oliver took a bite of his cake chewing thoughtfully. "Do you have any siblings?"
"Only child." Felicity lifted a forkful of cake to her lips, the chocolate immediately exploding on her taste buds and she made an appreciative little noise. "Wow, that is some seriously good cake. I might need to come here again just for the cake alone."
"I'll take you," Oliver promised. "We could come here again for a second date."
"You want a second date?" Felicity frowned. "Do you normally take a girl out more than once?"
"There have been a few I've dated for a few weeks." Admittedly it never went longer than a month on those few occasions. Okay, it was never more than two weeks but still, it lasted past the one night stand.
"So you're serious about this." She waved a hand between them. "Can you see this going somewhere?" She hoped his answer was no if not she would have to resort to her last solution. His commitment phobia.
"I.." Oliver paused, it wasn't the first time he'd been asked that by a woman but it would be the first time he didn't lie telling her only want she wanted to hear or answer in the negative. "I think there's potential here for more."
"Good." Felicity put on her brightest smile. "I feel I should be completely honest with you when I get involved with someone I'm in it for the long haul."
"Long-haul?" Oliver repeated, feeling his heart skip a beat "You mean long term, right?"
"Very long term." Felicity nodded, this was it if Sara and Laurel were right, this was her key to chase him off. "I mean, we'll have to eventually move in together at some point down the line." Felicity had to stop herself from cringing by how crazy she knew she must have sounded.
Oliver felt something trickle down his spine, but it wasn't dread like he expected, he thought about his dream and how right it had felt, he found he didn't feel dread, quite the opposite actually. "That doesn't sound as bad as I once believed." He said candidly.
Felicity's eyes widened. "You do know how serious a commitment moving in with someone is, don't you? Sharing every aspect of your life with someone, learning them inside and out? Putting up with each other's annoying habits? No secrets between you?"
Oliver shifted in his seat. "Yeah, I understand what a commitment it is and what the next step is in a relationship after moving in together, too. Eventually down the line, settling down for the whole white picket fence life with marriage, possibly two point five kids and a family pet."
Felicity's eyes widened and she shifted uneasily. "That's a whole lot of responsibility and commitment that I'm sure you don't want." She took a bite of her cake, unable to bring herself to keep his gaze.
"It wasn't." Oliver admitted, his hand reaching out toward her face and Felicity tense as his thumb swiped over the corner of her lips, coming away with a smudge of icing, her skin tingling with the brief touch, her mark heating pleasantly.
"But I don't know..the thought of having those things don't scare me like they used to. Not if I have those things with you." Oliver placed the pad of his thumb to his lips, licking the chocolate from his skin.
Felicity watched his movements closely and felt a surge of want heat her skin. She felt a wave of uneasiness at the sudden want she felt for him by such a simple action, she quickly shook her head trying to banish the feelings. "Do you even hear yourself?" Felicity exclaimed, she could feel a sense of panic inside her. "You hate commitment or anything resembling responsibility."
Oliver's brow furrowed, a lot of people knew that about him because of tabloids but he didn't think Felicity was one to read that trash. "How would you know that?"
"Because Sara and Laurel told me! You're supposed to get freaked out. You're supposed to-"
"Wait." Oliver interrupted her, his brow pulling together in utter confusion. "Are you trying to ruin this date? Why?" He could feel her unease and panic and he didn't know why and he couldn't understand why she was feeling that way. What about him filled her with such unease and panic?
That was such a good question and one she had no intention of answering. "I have to go." Felicity pushed up from the table. "Thank you for dinner."
It barely took Oliver anytime at all to react, he quickly stood, tossing a few hundred dollars onto the table and chased after her, catching up to her easily in the parking lot. "Felicity, wait."
Felicity whirled around not realizing just how close he was, nearly colliding into his chest, she took a step back to put space between them. "Look, I kept my end of the deal. We went out. We had dinner and that's all I agreed to."
"A date you spent the night trying to what? Get me not to want to see you? Being picky about your food on purpose? Talking non-stop thinking it would annoy me when really it did the opposite. Trying to scare me off with the prospect of a serious commitment."
"I need you not to be interested in me. I need you not to want to see me again." Felicity told him sharply. "I need you to just move onto someone else."
"I don't want to move onto someone else." Oliver declared, he couldn't remember the last time he felt so passionate about someone. "I want you."
Felicity didn't understand why but his words sent a pang of an emotion she couldn't put a name to or maybe she didn't want to. "We don't always get what we want, Oliver." She turned back around, taking the last steps to her car when she felt his fingers encircling her wrist, but his grip wasn't forceful like one might expect, he used the light hold to turn her back around but she barely noticed as she felt a buzz beneath her skin from his touch, goosebumps rising on her flesh.
Oliver froze the same feeling going up his arm, he moved his hand down, taking her hand in his and sucked in a breath as it was like he could suddenly feel everything she was feeling so much stronger than before than what he himself felt.
He felt her unease, her panic, her fear. "Just answer me this, why are you fighting this so hard, what has you so scared that you won't even consider giving me a real chance?" He looked at her imploringly, his free hand taking her other hand in his own so he was holding both of them, taking a step closer to her, their bodies almost brushing as he stared down into her wide blue eyes. "You can't tell me you don't feel this, this connection between us. It's strong and unlike anything I have ever felt before. With anyone." He paused his grasp tightening on her hands even as he felt a buzz travel beneath his skin like he was truly awake for the first time in his life. "You can't tell me it mean's nothing."
Felicity felt a shiver wrack through her, that traveled straight to her mark and she could feel the mark, flaring up warmer than before almost to a burning degree, fear struck her at the sudden feeling. "It does mean nothing." Felicity wrenched her hands out of his. "Nothing can ever happen between us. The faster you accept that the better." She quickly opened her car door, pulling quickly out of the parking lot, trying to force herself to calm down.
So concerned with getting far away from Oliver that she could Felicity failed to notice Oliver's brow furrowing, his hand going to his mark as it flared as he felt her fear as if it was his own, stumblingbackwards from the feeling and the deep disappointment he felt at seeing her drive away from him.
Felicity rushed into her apartment the door closing loudly behind her.
"Hey, I hope you don't mind but I was hoping to crash here tonight."
Felicity was unsurprised to find Sara there, after all, she told Sara she was welcome there anytime. She thought of the other blonde as her best friend and had even given her a key so she could let herself in when she needed to but at that moment Felicity couldn't bring herself to assure her that she was welcome to stay as long as she wanted like she usually did.
She quickly walked through her apartment past where Sara was flipping through channels on her couch, heading straight for the bathroom. "Hey, did the date go okay?" She heard Sara asked as she shut the bathroom door behind her.
Felicity quickly unzipped her dress as her mark grew hotter, shedding her dress, she stared in the mirror at her mark gritting her teeth from the burn she felt, watching in horror as the mark seemed to glow red with a vengeance, tears welled in her eyes, feeling like her skin was literally burning, she quickly wet a towel with cold water and pressed it to her skin, trying to breathe through the pain. The pain increased before it got better as she brought up a free hand to her mouth to muffle the urge to cry out in pain.
When the pain finally subsided she breathed deeply in relief. It had felt like someone took a hot iron to her skin, searing it all over again.
She removed the wet cloth from her skin, tossing it in the sink and staring at the angry red raised flesh of the mark that contrasted sharply with her pale skin standing out.
"Felicity, is everything okay?" Sara pushed the bathroom door open, concerned with how Felicity had torn through the apartment like her clothes were on fire. "Did somethi- Oh my God, what happened?"
Felicity whirled around eyes wide, immediately noticing Sara's gaze on her mark. Felicity flushed, standing there in nothing but her bra and underwear with Sara staring at her mark.
Sara's eyes lit up with fire. "Who did this to you?!"
Felicity shook her head opening her mouth to explain but snapped it shut because how the hell was she supposed to explain this to Sara?
Other than telling her the truth but would Sara even believe her? Or would she think she was crazy?
But Fuck, by the angry appalled look on Sara's face she didn't think she was getting out of this one without saying something.
Not if her friend had anything to say about it and Sara looked like she was ready to kill someone.
"What happened, Felicity?!"
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