The Foundry was an easy place to get lost in. Felicity had the misfortune to learn that the next morning when she was trying to locate the kitchen to have breakfast, and by the time she found what she was searching for, her stomach was growling so loudly that she was sure the other residents of the Foundry could hear it, wherever they might be in the building.
When she entered the room, she found Oliver sitting alone at the long wooden table in its center. A fire roared in the hearth behind him, and the delicious smell of baking bread filled the room, making Felicity's stomach growl even louder.
"You bake?" she asked by way of greeting, easing herself into the seat across from Oliver.
"And cook," he replied. "I know a bit of medicine, as well. Enough to get by if Dig or I are injured, at least."
"It seems you're a man of many talents," Felicity said with a small smile.
"It's amazing what you can learn when you're forced to by necessity," Oliver replied quietly. The bitterness in his voice worried her. It seemed he blamed himself for failing to learn those things sooner, when really it was his former lifestyle that was to blame for that, not Oliver himself.
"You shouldn't blame yourself," Felicity said, though not loudly for enough for Oliver to hear. They ate their morning meal in silence, both occupied with their own thoughts.
"No Captain Diggle this morning?" Felicity asked after a while, trying to make conversation.
"Not for about another half hour yet," Oliver replied. There were no windows in the kitchen, yet he seemed to know exactly what time it was. "He usually sleeps in for about an hour past first light. He says it's the one luxury he'll ever allow himself." Felicity nodded. Neither of them spoke again.
After a time, the quiet was broken by Captain Diggle entering the kitchen. He nodded to Felicity in greeting, exchanged good mornings with Oliver, and went straight into discussing plans with him while he ate. It seemed that they were trying to decide whether or not to patrol that day. Captain Diggle wanted them to go out as usual, arguing that it was better if they not disrupt their usual routine. Oliver advocated for waiting another day to resume patrolling, to give Felicity more time to settle in before she had to learn to adjust to the routine of the Foundry's other residents.
"I think you should do as Captain Diggle suggested," Felicity put in, addressing Oliver, making the decision for them. "It will give me time to learn my way around this place while the two of you are gone."
"Well, if you're sureā¦" Oliver said uncertainly, trailing off.
"I'm sure," Felicity confirmed. "I can manage perfectly well on my own for a few hours. Besides, the Green Arrow's mission is more important than my personal comfort" Oliver frowned at that but didn't argue. Instead, he got up from the table without a word and followed Captain Diggle out of the room. On his way out, he put a hand on Felicity's shoulder and said, "We should be back by sundown, but we can't plan for everything, so if we don't return until later than that, try not to worry about us, alright?"
"Alright," Felicity said. "And when should I start worrying?" Her smile made it clear that she was joking.
"When it's sunrise and we still haven't returned," Oliver replied, his tone making it clear that he was serious. Felicity nodded.
"But it won't come to that," Oliver assured her. "We do this every day. We'll be fine." He left the room at that, and Felicity was alone. The Foundry was silent in the way only a building normally occupied by several people emptied of all its residents but one could be. Felicity sighed, knowing she had several hours of that silence ahead of her.
The first thing Felicity found in her exploration of the Foundry was the library, where she spent a good half hour using the books contained therein to practice casting illusions, a skill she didn't often have occasion to use but nevertheless felt was important to keep sharp. From the library, she found her way back to her own room, and from there to one she assumed was Captain Diggle's, as it was sparsely furnished in a way that seemed deliberate, as if anything its resident deemed superfluous had been removed long ago. The fact that it was down the hall from the armory further cemented in Felicity's mind the idea that that resident was Captain Diggle. A room with easy access to weapons with which to defend oneself seemed like the kind that the former captain of the Starling city guard would want to take up residence in.
By the time sunset was drawing near, Felicity felt confident in her ability to navigate the halls of the Foundry. She made her way to the entrance hall and sat down at the top of the stairs to wait for Oliver and Captain Diggle. She found herself waiting much longer than she'd expected to, and, despite Oliver's assurances, she started to worry.
It was getting close to full dark when they finally returned. They entered the Foundry with weary expressions, dragging feet, and a few new cuts and bruises, but otherwise looked none the worse for wear. Felicity breathed a sigh of relief. Odd how she had come to care for two people she had known for less than a week.
Oliver's gaze settled on her, but she didn't think the sound of her sigh had drawn his attention. He just always seemed to know where she was in a room. He smiled in greeting, and something about it made her breath catch in her throat, just for a moment.
"You didn't have to wait up for us," approaching where Felicity sat on the stairs.
"I know," she replied, "but I wanted to." Oliver inclined his head, as if to say Fair enough. Captain Diggle moved past them on his way up the stairs, and Oliver made to follow him.
"Oliver?" Felicity said before he could disappear around the corner, getting to her feet. He stopped and turned back toward her.
"I just wanted to tell you that, until you decide whether or not to return home," she said, "I'll help you with your crusade. I'll lend my skills to it in whatever way you need." Oliver studied her for a moment, his expression guarded. She could see that he was running through scenarios and motivations in his mind, calculating whether she was sincere. It didn't offend her that he felt the need to do so. It only broke her heart that he had lived a life where it was necessary for so long that the behavior had become ingrained.
"Thank you," he said at long last, and disappeared around the corner, leaving her alone for the second time that day.
