A/N: So, here we go with the Dollmaker episode! Around here is when it really starts breaking away from canon, instead of just being a 'between the scenes' ordeal. That being said, I think the route I've chosen to take with this story might be a bit ridiculous to some people. I apologize!
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue me. please? I'M JUST A POOR COLLEGE STUDENT
"More dangerous than going undercover in a mob casino? Or jumping off a plane?" Felicity questioned the pair of men before her, slowly stepping towards them after voicing her solution for the current dilemma; Finding Barton Mathis. "It's my life. It's my choice." She declared firmly, making sure to accompany it with a pointed look in Oliver's general direction. That statement relevant to far more than just this current situation with the Dollmaker.
It had been just a few days since he spent the night on her couch, watching a selection of movies that he'd missed in his five years on the island. And, predictably, it hadn't taken long for Oliver to start sending her those looks. The looks that told her he was second guessing his actions, that he was worrying about how much danger he was putting her in. And so her look, and her declaration, was just as much meant to deal with that problem. It was her life. It was her choice.
And her choice was refusing to allow him to push her away. Though he seemed clueless as to the reason for her pointed look. Typical, typical dense male. Clearly, she would have to make her point abundantly clear to him...later. Y'know, when there wasn't a psychopath out on the loose in Starling City, turning young girls into porcelain figures for no particular reason whatsoever.
Oliver's obvious disapproval of her proposed plan wasn't the only issue she had to deal with in order to get this problem dealt with. Dig was just as much, if not more-so disapproving of this apparently asinine plan of hers than Oliver. Probably to be expected; he treated her like a little sister. And he'd had absolutely no part in that whole plan with her infiltrating the mob casino. He hadn't been very pleased to hear about it after the fact either.
Her mind easily flashed back to that series of events, she'd had to fight Oliver just as much back then to allow her to put herself in danger for the mission. Of course, back then, the purpose had been to rescue Walter. Her support of Oliver as the vigilante had had nothing to do with it, and that had probably been the reason he'd agreed to it at the time; Walter had been her entire purpose for joining him in the first place. He couldn't really deny her the chance to help with rescuing him. This time? She had no personal stake in stopping the Dollmaker. But here she was, proposing the idea of putting herself in danger once again. Maybe Oliver was rubbing off on her. It felt like she was becoming a vigilante in her own right.
Eventually, the two men grudgingly agreed to her plan, and she found herself walking out of the last of the four stores in Starling City that sold 'Mermaiden'. The skin cream by which one Barton Mathis chose his victims. She couldn't help herself from making a joke about Oliver reimbursing her for the expenses and how she'd saved her receipts. She didn't really expect the reimbursement either way. Maybe she'd actually even use the cream, who knew?
"Well, she must really believe in you." She heard Officer Quentin Lance mention over their earpiece radios, and she internally smirked. He really had no idea how much she truly believed in Oliver. Not so much to protect her, as to do the right thing in the end. That's what really mattered to her. What would happen if he found out who the Arrow really was? It would be interesting to see how much his hatred for Oliver Queen and his grudging respect for the Arrow would conflict. Not to mention how his process of thought would run if he found out the very man he thought had destroyed both of his daughters, had been fighting day in and out to protect Laurel and make up for his sins with Sara ever since.
She wasn't going to lie; when she caught sight of the man with that ridiculous hat on, she was seriously freaked out. She trusted Oliver to keep her safe from his over-watch position, but the conversation he'd just had with Officer Lance about how the Officer had chased the Dollmaker so relentlessly in a misguided attempt to make up for his inability to save Sara, and how every girl Barton Mathis killed represented a personal failure. Well...that conversation had to be playing at some strings deep in the very fibers that made up the man known to the public as Oliver Queen, to the criminals of the city as 'The Arrow' or 'The Vigilante', and to her, simply as Oliver.
It turned out, of course, that the man with the ridiculous hat was a false alarm and, in fact, not Barton Mathis.
Which made it all the more terrifying when she turned to find herself face to face with the psychopath in question.
She screamed out for help, hoping she'd been loud enough for the three men that were watching her back to hear her and locate her. Her self-defense sessions with Oliver rushing back into her head, her body moved of it's own volition; raising her foot and slamming the heel of her stiletto into the Dollmakers foot, drawing a short shout of pain from the killer that almost drowned out the loud crack of bones snapping. She didn't stop; kicking her foot forward, past his lower leg, hooking it around his ankle and drawing it back while she shoved harshly at his chest. Using his body-weight against him. Just as Oliver had taught her. He went crashing to the concrete of the alley and let out another grunt.
When the arrow pierced his shoulder, he let out another cry of pain. And that was apparently the point where he decided to cut his losses. Scrambling to his feet and away from Felicity, he turned tail and ran, yanking the arrow from his flesh and carelessly tossing it on the ground behind him as he escaped with Lance and Diggle in hot pursuit.
Oliver however, stopped to make sure she was alright. "I'm fine. Go." Felicity insisted, waving him off, even though she was breathing heavily and her heart was beating wildly at the fright from the situation. Really, his concern was touching; but it wasn't doing anything to stop the Dollmaker, and if they didn't do something to stop him here and now, then all the danger she'd just put herself in would be in vain.
The stern look that accompanied her order overpowered the look of concern on Oliver's face, obvious even underneath the shadow of his hood. "Go!" She repeated, and finally, Oliver turned around and ran off after his prey.
As did she; turning to rush towards the car that Dig had recently vacated. If she had the laptop that was present in the back-seat, at least she would be able to do something. Maybe she could be of some use if this came down to an extended chase.
The thought that she had actually fought back against a serial killer and survived was repeating through her mind like a broken record. And she was desperately trying to shove it to the back of her mind.
It didn't take long for Lance's call for help to result in Police showing up to the scene. Apparently, Mathis had disappeared into thin air while Oliver had been distracted by the sound of the approaching sirens, knowing full well that the police were more likely to chase after him than the active and uncontrolled serial killer, for whatever reason.
And now Mathis was gone. And Oliver had the urge to get back to Felicity once again and make damn sure that she really was alright.
The fact that Mathis had been limp-running from them after Felicity smashed his foot with her heel made him feel a little better. Maybe she wasn't in as much danger as he'd thought around him. Still way too much danger. But he doubted he'd ever be able to stop her.
He wasn't sure if that scared him or endeared him.
Maybe both?
