Note: So, I've been a bit taken by life, and have neglected writing. Though I'm apparently a world-class procrastinator when it comes to tapping finger to keyboard, so there is that. In other news, I have two new young dogs in the pack - Winter, a beautiful blue dane (who my brother describes as ticking all seven boxes of stupid) and Kiti - a goodness-knows-what-breeds rescue. She's odd, deaf and sees dead people, so that's exciting - Grey


Chapter 7 - both day and night did we keep company

The tall man paused, dead eyes surveying the tarmac sea of the Starling City private airport. His steel tipped leather shoe hit the first stair off the bulleted jet; the air shifted, the wind grew heavy and bold. The Tiger Snake anchored down each step, measured, relentless. Once grounded, he strode towards his chaufferred car, disappearing into its darkness before any of his employees dared to disembark.

"Good afternoon, sir", Carlos, the driver.

"Drive." Rasped.

"Yes, sir."

The car pulled away smoothly, as the Tiger Snake began to feel the stirrings of anticipation.


Felicity groaned, circling back cramped shoulders and stretching her neck to each side, slowly returning to reality after an long night of computer coma. She clicked on shutdown, flicked her fingers a few times to loosen them, and looked around the Foundry. Dig had left an hour ago, and Oliver was on his way back - a successful job at the drop point signalling the end of Vigilante efforts for the evening.

Her phone rang/shimmied; Tommy's face photo filling the screen. She smiled in affection as she pressed to answer.

"Hi Tommy - what's up?"

"Flick - are you okay?" Shallow-breathed panic tone.

Felicity felt her heart start to hasten. "Yeah, I'm fine. What's wrong?"

Tommy breathed out relief, voice still concerned. " Oh jesus Flick, it's ah...I just spoke to one of my contacts and we've got a problem."

"What's going on?"

"He's left for Starling City."

Felicity froze, deadweight hitting her stomach.

"He knows I'm here?" Each word fighting against being spoken.

"Yeah, I don't know how, but it's too much of a coincidence. He must be there to find you. Somehow he knows where you are."

Felicity's mind split - two analyses vying for supremacy: How did he find her? And what the hell should she do?

"Flick?"

"Yeah, Tommy, I'm here." Distracted, panicking.

"Look, I think it's best you just get out of the city. Take my car, head down the coast. Get a new phone, and contact me when you're safe."

Felicity's attention jerked back at 'safe.' She was so tired of feeling unsafe. Tired of running.

Resigned, she shook her head at the mess she'd created. "Tommy, if they've found me in Starling, they'll be watching everything connected to me and you - your apartment, your car. If I try to go back to your place, or drive your car, they'll be able to pick me up on facial recognition - traffic cameras, satellite - whoever found me is that good."

"Flick-"

"No Tommy, it's okay. I'll work something out." Her heart breaking for her worried brother.

"I'm coming to Starling right now. I'll be on the first flight I can get on."

Felicity picked at the edge of her desk, her voice quietening. "Tommy, it's not going to help, and you're just going to put yourself in danger."

"Flick - you're my sister. We're in this together, just like always." Loyalist.

Felicity knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. Tommy had always been a force of nature.

"Okay...Call me when you get here, and we'll work it out." She rallied a little. "Just like always."

Felicity tapped end, and dropped her phone down. She ran her fingertips over her closed eyes, pressing tension. Okay, okay now, I can do this. She stood, squared her shoulders, and looked around the shadowed space of the Foundry, imagining staying down here until Tommy arrived. There was no bed, but she could grab a blanket and sleep in her chair. We really should get a bed down here. With my all-nighters becoming habit, and Oliver getting shot also becoming habit, it would make sense to have somewhere for us to sleep, I mean, not sleep together-that's unhelpful thinking right now-

Oliver's footsteps broke in, Felicity jumped, swallowed down the last few minutes and tried to school her face and voice.

He raised his brows and looked at her, 'Hey' as he slung his curved bow into its stand.

"It all finished up okay?" her voice hit a little tremor, but she didn't think he'd noticed.

"Yeah, fine. You heading home now?" Oliver nodded his head, indicating her dark computer screens.

"Oh, just in a bit."

"Flick, we're done for the night. You should go home and get some rest."

"Oh no, I will. Just um..." Come on excuse machine, pedal, pedal.

Oliver picked up the dropped beat.

He walked towards her. "Flick, is everything okay?"

Shit, shit, shit. "Fine." Of course her voice broke.

Oliver stilled, concerned. "Flick." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt anchored. She blinked hard, whatever lame ass excuse brewing, dissipating. She wanted to just tell him.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me. " Echoing. She took a breath to speak her truth. "Is it Felicity?" he guessed. Record-scratch.

She shook her head clear. Tommy, plan, disguise - right. Oliver thinks she's a boy right now. Jesus.

"Ah, yeah. Just some...family problems." Felicity hitched a ride on the improvisation train. Which rarely tended to end well for her. "Ummm, Felicity's...ex has been bothering her, and he's ah, followed her here to Starling. She actually came to visit me to get a bit of break." Felicity mentally ticked the plausibility box.

Oliver's voice testosteroned. "Do you want to me to have a word with him?" 'Have a word' code for 'threaten his existence', she was pretty sure.

Felicity gave him a look. "Thank you Oliver-" eighty per cent droll "-but I don't think that's going to help things."

Oliver shrugged, unconvinced.

Felicity waded in further, seizing the opportunity to rid one complication by sending 'Felicity' packing. "Don't worry, I spoke to my sister and she's just going to go back home to Vegas. Her ex knows where I live here in Starling, so she's grabbing her things and will be on the next flight out." Nice. Bow-wrapped.

Oliver crossed his arms, furrowing. "Won't he just follow her back to Vegas?" A pause. Then a different tone. "If she wanted to hide out for awhile, she could come and stay at my place."

Felicity tried not to cough her surprise.

Oliver pressed his argument. "I mean, just until he realises she's not in Starling and gives up. You could head to your place and if he turns up, tell him she's gone back to Vegas."

Felicity paused, trying to out-logic Oliver's reasoning. Her uber-brain failing just when she needed it most. Serves me right for fake-storying.

Felicity surveyed the Foundry again, the night air chilling the space and deepening its corners. Or behind curtain number 2: a warm bed at Oliver's security-heavy home. She blew out resignedly at her own weakness. Sold.

"Okay Oliver. I'll speak to Felicity, but that would be really...great."

Oliver smiled. "Good." He unzipped his green jacket and started to strip it off as he walked away. "I'll just get changed and I can go and pick her up."

Felicity panicked, the how-was-she-gonna-sort-being-two-people-at-once-logistics kicking in a little late. Should've read more Wonder Woman . "No, no, that's fine Oliver. She can catch a cab."

"It's no problem," turning back to her, brow furrowing again.

"She doesn't do motorcycles." Fast lie. Probably true.

"Okay then.' He paused. Felicity held her breath until he continued. "I'll head home and see her there. I assume she doesn't know I'm her ah- night-time visitor?

Felicity's brain started to smoke at the web-weaving of dual identities, and who was supposed to know what. "No, I haven't told her Oliver. I just told her I'd been helping the Vigilante with some hacking stuff. She bought it. And I can tell her I'm Oliver Queen's - I don't know - personal IT guy? And that you're just a great all-round guy that's offered to help?" Felicity groaned inwardly at the stretch. "I'll think of something."

Oliver looked dubious. "Okay. Are you going to be alright with this guy if he turns up at your place?"

The fictitious ex. "Yeah, I'm sure it won't come to blows."

"And do you need my address?"

Felicity snorted. "No, Oliver, I think Felicity will be able to find the Queen mansion just fine."

Oliver gave her a wry look, and her shoulder an intended reassuring squeeze, then turned to head to get changed. Felicity fixated for a moment on his scarred, naked back, wondering at each wound, until her next problem pinched her attention back. Heading to Oliver's. As a girl. Need girl clothes. Without going back to Tommy's
apartment or driving his car. And need to get changed before arriving. Without anyone noticing. Triple shit.


The door opened to a casually clothed and barefoot Oliver, haloed by the warm lights of the Queen mansion foyer.

Did the man ever have a bad-anything day? Felicity's throat sahara'd as her nerves rushed to the fore. She clenched the handle of her luggage bag and stuck out her free hand, surreptitiously wiping its sheen of sweat on her new skirt as she did.

'Hi. We haven't met. I'm Felicity. Thank you so much for doing this."

Oliver smiled and engulfed her hand in his. "Hi Felicity. I'm Oliver. Please, come in."

Felicity smiled nervously, and stepped through the entrance, trying not to stare at cavernous foyer dripping with old world wealth. Vegas chandeliers may have been bigger, but there was a confidence in the Queen mansion surrounds that could never be bought.

Felicity's ceiling-turned head swivelled down to her hand, as Oliver gently prised her bag handle from her grasp. "Here, let me.'

She followed him up the stairway, burnished wood softened by lamplight, and halted as he opened a door from the hallway.

"This is where you'll be staying,' as he led her into the most subtly ornate room she had ever seen.

She took in the pillored bed, brocade chaise, peaking bathroom door and expansive heavy curtains hiding the windows, and froze a little, feeling like an intruder. Oliver lay her bag on the bed, and turned to her. A beat of awkward.

"I'll...uh...let you get settled." He walked towards the door. Then turned back. "It's good to have you here. Felicity."

Felicity smiled her slightly overwhelmed thanks, and watched as he left, closing the door. Quiet and safe for a brief moment. Then the magnitude of her out of control tales contorted to whiplash her in the face.

What have I done? What the hell am I doing? She grabbed her newly purchased burner phone and pressed in Tommy's number, pacing in short bursts as the call rang to his messagebank. She waited for the beep, "Tommy, it's me. I'm staying somewhere safe. Call me on this number when you get in." She finished the call and flung the phone on the bed, running her hands through her un-wigged hair, struck by the momentary oddity of not being in disguise. I need to get my shit together. Felicity took a deep breath and breathed out what she hoped was the start of zen. I'm in a safe place, Oliver is here, I don't have to pretend to be a boy, and Tommy is on his way. Everything is going to be okay.

Feeling the stress recede a little, Felicity rolled her shoulders and unzipped her fairly empty bag. She'd only had enough money for a few clothes and a small, cheap, red luggage bag at the 24 hour chain department store she'd stopped at on the way to the Queen mansion, taking a cab there, and a different cab to Olivers', so the driver didn't notice the gender transformed passenger entering the store as dark-haired guy, and exiting as a blonde haired woman.

She unpacked, took a shower in the ensuite bathroom that was bigger than her apartment in Vegas, and as she dressed, felt calmer than she had in weeks. In a strange way, she felt relieved. That all this may be coming to an end. The threat, the charade, the upheaval to her and Tommy's lives. And maybe, if it was all going down in Starling, Oliver and Dig may be able to help after all.

Felicity padded down the stairs, not quite sure of where she was heading, following the lit rooms through the mansion until she heard faint conversation. Nearing, she could decipher Oliver's voice, then a long pause.

"Okay Dig, I'll see you tomorrow."

Oliver put his phone on the counter, looking up as Felicity entered the kitchen, tentative.

"Sorry Oliver, I heard your voice but I wasn't sure..." petering. Fidgeting.

Oliver smiled, "You know, Flick fidgets too. You have that in common, as twins."

Felicity efforted a smile and walked around the counter to survey the ingredients Oliver had laid out.

"I was just making us some sandwiches, since I missed dinner. Sorry, Raisa, who is an amazing cook, is off tonight, and my culinary skills are kind of limited. Fish over a campfire, that kind of thing," he joked, slicing tomato.

Again, Felicity wondered at the mystery of this man, at what he had endured, survived.

"Can I help?" Edging closer, preparing to take over.

"No, no, sit. Please. I'm almost done.'

Felicity hopped up on a benchstool and gripped the marble bench to steady herself.

She took in the surrounds of the kitchen, the rhythmic cutting board sounds echoing slightly.

Oliver sneaked a look up at her, then eyes down to his preparations. "So, Felicity, how are you feeling? Flick told me about your ex."

Ex, right. Back into it.

"Ah. You know. Not a great break up. And he's a little unhinged. Hence, actually, the reason for the breakup." She rubbed up her arms, and leant back on the stool.

Oliver flicked his blue eyes up to meet hers. "You're safe here, you know."

Felicity smiled, worry leaking through. "I know, I just feel bad about getting you involved. And...Flick having to deal with him."

"Flick will be okay. And he's got our number if he needs any help."

Felicity nodded and swallowed down the uncomfortable knot in her throat. She was so sick of lying.

Oliver finished cutting huge sandwiches on two plates and slid one across the counter to her. Felicity stared at it incredulously for a second, then laughed. "How do you expect me to fit that in my mouth?" She looked to Oliver, and laughed again as he expertly took a bite from his own sandwich, winking at her and munching a full mouthful in answer.

She reached for the knife and cut of a corner of the sandwich, tomato and lettuce spilling.

Defiant, she scoop up the deconstructed ingredients and popped them into her mouth one by one. She felt the atmosphere charge as Oliver's eyes fixed on her mouth.

He finished his mouthful slowly and took another, smaller bite, as he pushed himself up from his bench lean, and started putting ingredients back in the fridge.

"Raisa will have both our hides if we don't leave her kitchen clean." Felicity noticed his voice was lower, her own skin was tingling and weightless.

She considered getting up to help him clear, but felt it was safer on her side of the bench. The electricity was coursing, and she had no idea what to do.

She ate in silence as Oliver moved around. He stole another bite of his own sandwich in between closing the dishwasher and wiping the broad bench.

Finally, she thought of something seemingly safe to ask, to break the strange silence.

"So, has Raisa always been with your family?"

Oliver looked at her, and Felicity felt a small, thank-goodness relief.

"Since I was a child. She pretty much raised me. Or at least, taught me my manners." Dimpling at mischief memories.

"Well, it's good that you've had her to come back to. Since, you know, returning from the island." Jesus Felicity, way to keep it at innocuous small talk. "I mean-"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Returning to Starling City, it's good to know some things haven't changed. Raisa is actually one of the only things." Oliver propped against the bench again, and pushed up his sleeves.

"It's strange. I know we've only just met, but I feel...comfortable around you?" Like it was a question he was asking himself.

Felicity's posture softened. She waited. The hum of the fridge made it feel like the midnight it was.

Oliver crossed his arms. "You know, I've known darkness. Devastation. Dead ends. And I learnt to survive. But sometimes, coming back here, it's the little things that are the hardest to know how to deal with. When someone you love thinks the worst of you. When a friend looks at you like they don't know you anymore. That's the stuff that just makes me feel...less. Makes it harder to know who I am. Sometimes I just think it's easier to turn it all off."

Felicity felt her chest burn at his pain. This was the loneliest person she had ever met.

She swallowed. Feeling her words would be nothing against his tide of loss. But having to try.

"But you can't do that, Oliver. You're not a machine. And you can't live that way. Your friends and family - sometimes they let you down, sometimes they don't see you. And sometimes, you will do the same to them. You have to forgive each other Oliver. And you have to forgive yourself."

He looked at her, eyes torn, bleak. "I don't know if I know how."

Felicity looked at him a beat, then slid off her stool and walked around the counter. He watched her approach, confused, and slowly stood to his tallness.

Standing in front of him, diminutive, she reached her arms up, pulled him to her and hugged, tucking her face into his chest. She could feel his steel tension, feel his 'what the fuck' in his pumping heartbeat, but held him through it.

After a time, when he realised she wasn't letting go, she felt him relax slightly. Not fully, but a bit.

She knew awkward was waiting, so embraced it. "Sorry, I just felt like maybe noone had really hugged you for awhile." Felicity knew she was blushing, and after a few moments, released him. It took all her willpower not to look at her feet. She locked eyes with Oliver, and was relieved to find only cautious confusion.

"That's...okay...Felicity."

She smiled gently. His mouth upturned in reply. Her breath hitched and electricity-ed again. Sonafabitch, this chemistry thing was no joke.

Belated self-preservation surfaced. Balancing on one foot, she pointed her thumb at the door. "So, it's been a long day. I should probably go to bed. You should go to bed too. I mean, not my bed, your own bed, so we can...sleep.' Ugh.

Oliver chuckled. "You know, Flick does that too. You two are really alike."

Felicity barked out a manic laugh, "Yes, except he's a boy and I'm a - girl." Yep, pretty sure that was right.

"Yeah. I noticed."

Felicity felt things clench in places she should not be thinking about.

Oliver wolf-smiled, knowing he'd got her. Mercifully, also deciding to let her off the hook, for now.

"Well, goodnight Felicity." He stepped closer, hand on her elbow, leaning in and kissing her on the corner of her mouth as she turned her head to kiss his cheek. Warm,soft lips, a brush of stubble.

If she had felt electricity surge before, this was a power blackout. She faltered back, heart thumping, watching him watching her.

She swallowed. Flight survival mode. 'Thanks again for letting me stay.' Backing towards the door. 'I'm just going to go. bed.' God-stop-talking-god-stop-talking.

Oliver, implacable. 'Goodnight Felicity.'

''Goodnight, Oliver.'