Summary: Two unlikely souls find each other. One looking for love, the other revenge. Can an innocent Felicity change the mind of a certain dark Mercenary?

Disclaimer: I don't own any DC characters.

Chapter 7

Grand Event

Felicity was paralyzed in the assassin's gentle grip that could turn deadly at any unpredictable moment. Slade was hovering over her making Felicity feel smaller and less helpless than she already was. A weird feeling began to stir in Felicity's stomach. Was this love? Or a mutual attraction? It had to be. Felicity tried to convince herself but the more she tried to convince herself the less true it seemed to be.

Felicity blinked and shook her head when she realized Slade had stopped just enough distance from her face to be close but not uncomfortably close. His lips were moving and Felicity realized she had missed everything he said, completely zoning out.

"What?" Felicity squeaked dumbly feeling a blush burning across her cheeks.

"I asked, if you would join me as my date to a nice gathering?" Slade asked again in a smoky tone. Felicity smiled slightly when she caught an amused glint in his visible dark glinting eye.

"Are you asking me or do I not have a choice?" Felicity joked. Slade leaned back shoving his hands in his dress pants while his smile grew broader. "I guess I'm going then." Felicity sighed good naturedly. "I will need something to wear though."

Slade frowned. He hadn't actually thought about this all the way through which was strange. He was always prepared ahead of time for anything and everything. He had been planning to bring Felicity to this function for days yet he hadn't given thought to what she would wear.

"I could always just wear what I have on." Felicity offered. "But you did call it a 'nice gathering'." Slade turned on his heel to exit the room.

"I'll take care of it." He promised distractedly still pondering how something so essential could have slipped his mind. With Slade's abrupt leave Felicity was left to ponder how to get ready for the gathering.

Felicity's heart jumped when the door opened. With a hand over her chest Felicity mentally kicked herself. Would she ever get used to Slade barging in her room.

"I brought you a dress to change in and some extra clothes for the future." Slade tossed a black duffel bag on the floor next to Felicity's feet. Pulling out his cell Slade checked the time. "You've got about an hour and a half to get ready." Felicity picked up the bag.

"How do you even know what size I wear? Or what looks good on me?" Felicity wondered aloud.

"Trust me," Slade called back already leaving to get ready himself and take care of a few things, "anything looks good on you." He muttered under his breath.

An hour later Slade was outside Felicity's room door. Sticking the key in the lock Slade was about to walk in but decided he would knock.

Felicity was actually kind of nervous. It wasn't because she was going out with her kidnapper/friend/ whatever Slade was to her. Which is weird because she should most certainly be upset that she didn't have a choice to go out with her abductor. However, Felicity wasn't one often asked out to nice parties and such with the upper class. She had done undercover work for team arrow of course but that was completely different. With team arrow she was on a mission. Now, well she was going out with an escort, with no mission, no contact to team arrow, and she would have to socialize. What would she even tell people that approached her? "Hello. Oh it's nice to meet you too! I'm Felicity and I'm here with a man that abducted me and has held me captive." The unexpected harsh knock on Felicity's door made her stop pacing across her room. When did she even start pacing? Smoothing out her red dress and folding her glasses Felicity told Slade to come in.

"Ready?" Slade questioned. Felicity nodded, her blonde wavy hair bounced. "Excellent! I do apologize in advance though." Felicity looked puzzled.

"Why?" Slade pulled out a black cloth.

"I have to take precautions." Felicity's face fell slightly.

"Right." She turned around. Slade slipped the dark blindfold over Felicity's eyes securing it with a knot. Felicity turned around slowly, arms out to steady herself. Almost tripping on her heels Felicity searched out for anything to hold on to grabbing Slade's suit jacket. Slade used a strong hand to grip her arm and hold her steady.

Felicity laughed awkwardly. "Kind of reminds me of the first time I came here. Being blindfolded and all. Great way to make a good impression on a girl." Felicity babbled awkwardly as she let Slade guide her around her unknown whereabouts.

After some trial and error Felicity made it out in one piece of wherever Slade imprisoned her. When Slade removed the blindfold Felicity was standing next to a very expensive and fancy looking car. It gleamed in the moonlight showing off its pearl silver finish. "Wow." Felicity admired it in awe. Felicity wasn't one for knowing cars but even she could tell this was a piece of art.

Slade opened the butterfly car door for Felicity who smiled sweetly and lowered herself into the dark leather passenger seat. Slade got in the drivers spot and the car's engine rumbled smoothly to life. Shifting the gears the couple was off to the gathering in no time.

Valet parking outside of one of Queen's nicest country clubs is where Felicity found herself. Intimidated by all the people who were most definitely respected high upper class Felicity was getting even more nervous super quick. Slade was already greeting people leaving Felicity to herself. Just as Felicity was thinking of heading to the bathroom to hide from all these people Slade appeared at her side.

Slade linked his arm with Felicity's. "I don't want my pretty date wandering around without me." Slade muttered quietly so only Felicity's ears could catch what he said. Slade's words were flattering and also disappointing at the same time. Of course Slade didn't trust her to wander around herself. She did consider somehow finding a way to contact Oliver. But Slade, of course, had already thought ahead of that. Apparently keeping by his side the whole time was how he would keep Felicity from contacting Oliver.

"So I'm obviously going to be with you the whole night." Felicity whispered back to Slade smiling kindly to an older couple that passed by who smiled and waved back. "But what am I supposed to say when people come up and ask me questions about me or you?"

"That won't be a problem." Slade answered smoothly. Having led them to a table of champagne Slade grabbed a glass for himself and one for Felicity.

"How can that not be a problem?" Felicity asked.

"I already worked things out. Everyone knows my date is mute due to a tragic accident. No one will be asking you anything and if they do I'll take care of it." Felicity stared at Slade not even comprehending what he said.

"Wait, are you serious? No one's going to believe that I'm talking to you right now and I am sure people have noticed." Slade sipped his Champagne casually.

"Well you can talk but you have a special voice modifier to help you speak. You're still self-conscious about speaking to people in public though. It's better for the people just not to speak to you at all." Felicity shook her head, blown away and slack-jawed.

"I can't believe people would fall for something so utterly ridiculous." Slade shrugged and offered his arm to Felicity again who rested her hand on the underside of his bicep.

For most of the night Felicity was hanging on the side of Slade's arm smiling at each and every person that Slade introduced her to. It wasn't a boring affair but Felicity was exactly enthusiastic about it either. There were all kinds of people gathered at the country club. Some of the richest families in queens, people from out of town, and many others. Towards the closing of the party people had cleared out a lot. Slade allowed Felicity to sit down at a table by herself for a bit.

Felicity was surprised Oliver wasn't at this party. Felicity actually discovered from listening to the conversations Slade was having with some of the other people that this was one of Queen's Consolidated grand events. However Felicity was and wasn't surprised that Oliver didn't show. He was too busy being the arrow. He didn't have time for his own parties. And he didn't have enough time for Felicity either it seemed.

Felicity mentally scolded herself. Oliver was her friend of course he had time for her. It's not Oliver's fault he didn't know she was out and about with Slade at one of his own parties. Apparently Felicity must have been showing her emotions on her face. Slade held out his hand to Felicity as if waiting for a handshake.

Felicity looked up at him quizzically. "You look lonely over here and I don't have much more patience to socialize with these boring imbeciles much longer." Slade vented.

"Are we leaving?" Felicity stood up half happy to leave and half disappointed she had failed to figure out a way to contact team arrow. Besides being out of that room she was always cooped up in was a relief.

"Not yet Ms. Smoak, I wanted to offer a dance." Felicity laughed lightly.

"Really? Why?"

"I have a beautiful lady on my arm might as well enjoy it." Slade spoke honestly. Felicity hesitantly put her hand in Slade's. She actually hadn't noticed before but there was a dance floor and quite a few couples were out on it dancing. But Slade and she weren't a couple. They were hardly even friends.

"I'm not so sure I'm good at dancing. I may break a few of your toes." Felicity joked.

"If you do I'm sure the mirakuru can heal them." Slade joked back seriously. Clearing her throat Felicity turned in front of Slade to face him. This was so not right. Why on earth would she dance with her captor?

Slade had a broad smile plastered on his face. He couldn't have seemed much happier that he was able to dance with her. It wasn't until Slade placed a light hand on Felicity's side that she realized the music playing was slow dancing music. Slade could sense that Felicity was uneasy as she put her hand on his upper arm and one in his hand.

"You put on very little make-up. It looks nice. Better than these older ladies that wish they were fifteen years younger who cake themselves with make-up in hopes of looking younger. It's disturbing."

"Well I only have less on because I had to make do with whatever I had in my purse. Which really isn't much just some blush, dark mascara… Oh! And my favorite pink lipstick. I never go anywhere without it…"Felicity slowed down her babbling and looked away from Slade shielding her bright blue eyes and biting her lower lip. "You probably don't care to hear about that. But uh- you look nice too. Not because you're wearing less make-up or anything. You don't wear makeup." Felicity was cringing inside. She just complimented her captor on his handsome appearance. What was wrong with her? It's just a mutual attraction Felicity reminded herself. She was lonely and here Slade was so it was only logic she found him attractive.

Slade's hand that grasped Felicity's waist moved to the lower part of her back where Slade applied a little more pressure bringing them closer together. "I enjoy hearing about something other than my own problems."

Felicity gave an unladylike snort that ended up being louder than she expected which caused a few couples to glance her way. Lowering her voice Felicity playfully mocked Slade "You have problems!"

"Everyone does." Slade replied quietly.

That's true. Felicity hummed unknowingly drawing closer to Slade as their slow dance continued. Slade was actually a surprisingly good dancer. Felicity only managed to butt heads with his foot once or twice. Perhaps it was because of his training background. All that work made him quick and deadly on his feet. It made sense to Felicity.

"Hey, how did you know my dress size? And this red color really suits me honestly. It reminds me of one of my dresses I own. But I haven't gotten the chance to where it yet. I don't go out to nice places that often." Felicity admitted.

"Well, you should know. It's yours. I went to your house to retrieve it. Slade laughed deeply amused that Felicity didn't even recognize her own clothing. Felicity was so close to Slade she could feel the deep rumble of laughter coming from Slade's chest. "I figured you would have something in your closet. I also took the chance to grab some other clothing. It must be uncomfortable wearing only what you have since you've arrived." Slade spoke quietly again his hot breath tickling against Felicity's skin causing goose bumps to stand out on her skin from the close proximity.

Felicity opened her mouth to say something back when a flash of someone familiar caught the corner of Slade's eye he interrupted her.

"Ah! Excuse me but this is one person I cannot miss speaking too." Slade removed himself from Felicity but she wrapped a hand on his arm.

"I'll come along." Felicity followed beside Slade.

"If you wish." Slade walked toward a man whose back was turned toward the couple. When they were in just a few feet away from the man turned around. Steel blue eye's flashed around the room almost urgently.

Felicity stopped walking entirely. What was Oliver doing here at one of his actual own events.

Author Notes:

Chapter 7 enjoy!Hope everyone had a good Holiday break and New Years. Please R and R

~StotusElite558