Chapter 12 – Paying it forward

AN – This follows Episode 12 of Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow. The last 2 installments have been all action/ drama so I needed to find a bit more levity but it's still not as funny as I had intended!

DISCLAIMER – Nope, still not mine!


Considering Barry's revelations, it was a growling, tense Oliver that joined Diggle on patrol that night. The atmosphere in the basement wasn't much better though. Barry was still riding the high of using his powers and having Team Arrow accept his help. Roy remained suspicious and on alert as he tried to stay between Felicity and Barry. Felicity was tense herself as she found both her Team's aggression and Barry's energy exhausting especially as she'd had little sleep and even less caffeine. The silence stretched out for several minutes before Barry spoke.

"I really thought he might actually kill me this time." Barry admitted as he replayed Oliver tossing him across the room in his mind.

"This time?" Roy might not ask his Team about Barry or how he landed on the list, but he had no problem quizzing the other guy.

"Yeah, Felicity brought me in when he had been poisoned. He woke up and just started choking me. He was not happy that I was there, but it was Felicity he yelled at really. Have you seen him angry? Well, of course, you have." Barry could easily remember that night. It was the night he had met his hero and the night he realized that his hero was actually a team of heroes. He was still reliving those memories when Roy's words startled him back to the present.

"He put an arrow through me." Roy had been working on his poker face and he was pretty sure that his stoic expression and deadpan delivery would even have made Diggle proud.

"Roy! You deserved that one as you wouldn't listen to reason and were determined to put yourself in danger!" Felicity was still anxious and had no issue taking out her nerves on Roy. His answering smirk simply annoyed her further and had her glaring as she continued.

"Plus that's really not the story you want to share as Barry is already…well, um, concerned about Oliver." Felicity tried to backpedal away from saying outright that Barry was scared, but she had always known Oliver's effect on her friend.

Roy gave up on poker face when he busted out laughing; however, that laughter definitely contained no small amount of sympathy. He even clapped a hand on Barry's shoulder and grinned as he spoke.

"Don't worry! Most of us have a healthy concern when it comes to Oliver and it's even a Lesson that you can stand behind Felicity if necessary." Roy met Felicity's face and saw her blush which immediately encouraged him. "Have you seen the Lessons Barry? It's really my job to pay it forward—"

"Roy!" Felicity couldn't believe Roy would bring this up now and she felt her face heat even more. She just had to hope that he would show some restraint and not mention her initial training session with Oliver or their kiss. Groaning softly to herself, Felicity closed her eyes and tried to focus on her job instead of just how bad Roy could make this for her.

"Lessons? You have actual written Lessons from training with Mr. Queen, um, Oliver?" Barry had noticed Felicity's blush but couldn't resist asking. Before the accident, he had followed the Vigilante's activities closely and had always been impressed and intrigued. Meeting them all had only heightened his respect for Starling City's hero. He also wanted to join them so if these Lessons would help him then he needed the information.

"Oh yeah, Felicity even helped me write them—" Roy was still grinning as he watched and waited for Felicity to look his way again. It took only a moment and she immediately interrupted him.

"Those are all you! You ignored my perfectly reasonable suggestions—" Felicity glared at Roy and tried to ignore Barry's obvious fascination. She had never been sure if Barry had actually liked her or if he was just awestruck with what Team Arrow did.

"Hey! I included your parameter rules for your babies—" Roy interrupted to retort, but Felicity quickly spoke over him again.

"You intentionally changed #1—" Felicity gestured with her hands as she stood now to make her point.

Barry had been whipping his head back and forth between the squabbling pair as if watching a tennis match. However, when he followed Felicity's hand gesture and noticed a white sheet attached to the wall behind Roy he immediately blurred over there. He pulled the sheet off and then blurred back to stand between them as they had continued to bicker without noticing his momentary absence.

"These Lessons?" Barry asked with a smile. He actually laughed when Felicity moved to take them; however, he laughed from across the room as his movements were just that much faster than hers.

"Barry! Give those back right now!" Felicity's loud voice was impressive and Barry was seriously considering following her order until Roy started laughing.

"As his name is on there, I really think he should be allowed to read them." Roy played that angle as he knew Barry wouldn't be able to resist checking out the reference to himself. He also knew Felicity felt like he was betraying her though so he offered her more in a quiet voice. "You know it's for his own good. He may be fast but do you really think Oliver couldn't take him?"

"Oliver wouldn't hurt him!" Felicity spoke quietly too now but despite her words there was some doubt. She and Oliver had had issues previously about Barry and now that they had kissed and well, maybe confessed their feelings, she had to consider that Oliver could react in some way. Felicity was still pondering not only what Oliver might do but also what just what she wanted him to do when she heard Oliver's voice over the comms.

"Felicity."

Felicity moved immediately to answer him. "Oliver, is everything okay?" She quickly checked the tracking program she always ran when they were out on patrol before turning her attention to the traffic cams near them.

"Yeah, everything is quiet here. I was just…just checking in, on you. Everything okay there?"

Felicity frowned at the uncertainty in his tone; however, before she could reply, Roy leaned over and clicked off the mike before he spoke.

"Do you really think he would just check-in Felicity? Mr. Every Mission is Serious and only use the comms when necessary?" Roy knew Felicity still hadn't accepted Lesson #1 herself and he knew he should leave it up to her and Oliver as Diggle had suggested but he couldn't help giving her a push.

Felicity met Roy's eyes in both confusion and hope, but Barry's laughter drew both of their attention even though he was still across the room.

"I am on the List! I don't know why but I am!" Barry couldn't believe it and wanted to ask questions. Before he could speak again though, both Roy and Felicity shushed him.

"Felicity?" The uncertainty was gone now and Oliver's tone now had an edge as he demanded a response.

Felicity wasn't sure exactly how to respond to Oliver, but when she turned and noticed Roy's smirk had returned she couldn't resist some taunting of her own.

"I'm fine Oliver…Roy was just saying that he was bored though so perhaps you can spar with him when you return?" Felicity smothered a laugh when she heard Diggle's laugh and watched the smirk slide from Roy's face. While she couldn't fully credit that Oliver's mood directly related to her, she did understand he was in a bad mood and training would be rough.

"Okay, sure – we'll be back in thirty." Oliver's tone was bland now as he clicked off.

"Felicity!" Roy couldn't believe she had escalated their little bantering session to all-out war.

"Roy!" Felicity immediately replied with a smirk of her own.

As the silence stretched out, Barry divided his attention between reading all of the Lessons and watching the pair engaged in an intense staring contest like a couple of kids. He could see their mutual affection despite the argument just as he could see both the humor and seriousness of the Lessons. Smiling, Barry nodded his agreement with Lesson #1 before he made a mental note of the items not to mention to both Oliver and Felicity.

"I was just trying to do Barry and you a favor and you pay me back like this?" Roy was trying for a pitiful look to gain sympathy but realized quickly that Felicity wasn't buying it when she replied.

"You started it, I ended it!" Felicity almost felt sorry for him; however, she still believed he exaggerated when he complained about how rough Oliver could be. "Roy, Oliver's not like he used to be – he's changed since Slade. He's lightened up, surely you can see that?"

"Yeah, I can see that. I wonder why he's in a better place now. Hmmm, let's think about what's changed lately..." Roy's voice trailed off as his smirk returned when Felicity blushed. He gave her just a moment before he continued.

"One day, Felicity, you are gonna have to admit that Lesson #1 is there for a reason and you're gonna have to decide what to do about it." Roy's voice was surprisingly gentle considering his recent teasing.

"There hasn't been time to think much less talk and make any decisions Roy! We've just been trying to stay alive and keep the city safe. You should know that!" While Felicity knew she wanted and needed to talk to Oliver, she also liked how they were right now – there was more gentleness, more intimacy, more touching, and yet they could still argue and do what needed to be done. Everything felt good and natural despite the recent changes and Felicity was reluctant to do anything that would jeopardize that.

"Felicity, there will always be people after Oliver, after all of us. There will always be bad guys. You've gotta live in the present and take advantage of it." Again, Roy's tone was soft and serious.

Felicity gave a soft sigh before she nodded her agreement. "Since when did you get so mature and wise? I remember the days when you wore a red hoodie, slapped water, and shot one of my babies!" Felicity smiled her appreciation for Roy's words even as she teased him.

Roy laughed before he replied. "That's me, the model of sobriety and wisdom!" He grinned as Felicity rolled her eyes and returned her focus on her computer once more. Turning to find Barry still across the room seriously studying the list of Lessons, Roy hid a smile and was just about to speak when the other man unexpectedly blurred back over. Unfortunately, Barry misjudged the distance and actually tripped on Felicity's chair. He careened off course before crashing into a table as Felicity gasped in surprise and Roy moved to her side.

"And that's why focus, precision, control and balance are on the list." Roy grinned as he slid Felicity's chair back to help her up as Barry found his feet on his own.

Barry just grinned in return before he turned to Felicity. "So can I see your battle scar?"

Ignoring the discussion of the Lessons, Felicity just sighed and smiled before responding. "Sure, I got it taking a bullet to save Sara."

Felicity remained proud of her first scar even if she was still wary about what future ones she could acquire. She told the story quickly with Roy only interrupting a few times. The conversation continued as Barry asked about other missions as he was fascinated by everything they had done, especially Felicity's part and anything that explains the Lessons. Time flew by for the trio and the basement doors had just opened when Felicity spoke up with a grin.

"I'm even thinking about getting another tattoo – Team Arrow needs its own ink!"

Another tattoo, Oliver thought in surprise as his eyes drifted over Felicity's slim form.


AN2 – I've always been fascinated with Oliver discovering Felicity has always had a tattoo and/ or with Felicity getting something symbolic of the Team. Not sure I'll take this anywhere but I couldn't resist including it!

AN3 – For those of age and looking for a bit more summer fun, I have started updating my M rated story Intimacy on Archive of Our Own! I have the same pen name there so pls check it out if you are interested!