"Wow," Felicity says, "that's pretty big."
Oliver wraps his arms around her from behind and tucks his mouth close to her ear so no one can hear.
"Pressure sensors underneath," he says, softly, "and the glass is shatter proof."
"Nothing's unbreakable," she murmurs as they look at the admittedly impressive sight of the Logan diamond lying nestled on a bed of dark blue velvet.
It's in a glass case, ostensibly secured, but Oliver knows that if Helena plans to steal this, it can't be as secure as it seems. After all, she's no cat burglar, and she wanted his help with the job - which suggests she's aiming more for a smash and grab than a subtle infiltration. It's right up against the low stage at the end of the room and there are two guard within 20 feet but he doesn't think that's enough.
The back of his neck itches - he feels exposed here. He misses the comforting weight of his hood. And his bow.
"Ooohh," Thea says, leaning in close enough that her nose is almost pressed to the glass case. "Shiny."
Felicity laughs and Thea grins at her. "That's it, right?" His sister says, "That's the one we don't get to bid on."
"Yup," Felicity says, "the biggest diamond to be found in the last century. Very much not for sale tonight."
"Well, that makes it a tease."
"Not impressed, Thea?" Oliver asks.
"I've seen bigger," Thea says, dismissively. "Walter took me to see the Crown Jewels at the Tower last time we were in London. Now that is some serious bling."
"I bet," Felicity says.
"You ever seen them?"
"Only pictures," Felicity shrugs. "Never been to London. Never been anywhere really."
"Well, that's about to change," Thea says with a grin, "we Queens are jet-setters, don't you know?"
"I'm still a Smoak."
"Only in name," Thea scoffs, "that," she adds, gesturing at Felicity's ring, "makes you family. Though seriously, Ollie, you couldn't get her a rock? Plain gold is very, well, plain."
"Why do you think we're here tonight," Oliver says and Thea claps her hands with excitement.
"Come on," she says to Felicity, "let's go choose your present!"
"You can't be serious," his wife says to him and he smiles and shrugs.
But she lets Thea pull her away to the other displays, talking the whole time about carats and settings and what type of ring she should choose.
"If it costs more than my car I'm not wearing it," Felicity says to Thea but through the earpieces she, he and Diggle are wearing it's crystal clear and he knows the words are meant just as much for him as his sister.
Oliver smiles and Diggle steps in beside him, his back to the diamond and his eyes on the room.
"Anything?"
"Nothing yet," Diggle says, "I've informed the security office about the 'threat' made against you as we planned, but they think they've got it covered. No extra personnel required."
"The balcony worries me," Oliver admits. "It's where I'd be."
"Helena doesn't have your aim. Or your range."
"Depends on what her weapon of choice is for this evening."
"True," Diggle says. "You spotted her yet?"
"No," Oliver admits, "and that worries me."
"Guards patrol the balcony every twenty minutes or so," Diggle says.
"That's not often enough."
"You're telling me," Diggle says wryly. "There are days when I'm embarrassed to be associated with the private security industry."
"You're one of a kind Digg."
"Don't you forget it."
Oliver scans the crowd, listening absently to Felicity's "umm"s and "ah"s over Thea's jewellery suggestions. After a few minutes he hears Juliette start to weigh in and his sister and the journalist debate whether one big stone or lots of small ones is a better choice.
"Guys, I really don't need another ring," Felicity says.
They ignore her.
"This is your fault, Oliver," he hears her say too softly for the other women to pick up on.
He smiles. Even when he can't see her, she makes him smile.
His eyes fall on the shadowed balcony.
"I really want to go check that out," he admits to Diggle.
"Well you can't," Diggle says, "the plan calls for you to be visible all night, remember?"
"I know," he says, "I'm starting to not like the plan."
"It was your plan."
"I know."
"Felicity and I argued against it."
"I know."
"Changing it at this point would be unwise."
"I know!"
Diggle cocks an eyebrow at Oliver's tone.
"Sorry," Oliver says, "I just hadn't realised how hard it is to be here and do nothing."
"Welcome to my world," Felicity mutters.
"What?" Oliver hears Thea say.
"Nothing," Felicity replies, "what do you think about emeralds?"
Oliver tunes out his sister's response.
"If Helena is looking to set the Hood up to take the fall here," Diggle reminds him, "you need independent witnesses that he is not you."
"I know," Oliver sighs. "And on that note I should catch up with Juliette. No point being in sight if she can't see me. And you."
"Lead the way," Diggle agrees.
Nothing happens during the pre-auction viewing. At least nothing unexpected happens. Oliver talks to Juliette, teases his sister, flirts with his wife, while Diggle stands as a reassuring shadow at his back. Matthew drops by for several two minute conversations as he works the room, extracting from Oliver further promises to bid on four items, then five, until Thea is also roped in for two bids and Felicity has only been able to avoid a promise because she whispered her salary into Matthew's ear and the pitying look he responded with was enough to send her into giggles.
Oliver puts his arm around his wife and reminds her that what's his is hers and she responds that maybe they should let at least a week pass after the "I do"s before she starts to diminish his family fortune.
Juliette laps the whole evening up like a cat with cream, seemingly never bothered by the dark looks Matthew sends her way when he drops by.
Oliver grows more tense with every passing moment, convinced that there's a crossbow targeted at his back. Or Felicity's. Or Thea's.
He hates this.
He goes from holding Felicity's hand or resting a hand on the small of her back to keeping hold of her with both arms, as if by covering more of her body with his he can prevent the worst from happening.
Thea notices.
"Newlyweds," she scoffs.
Juliette raises an eyebrow.
"It's as if you've only just met," she says, "you're still in the honeymoon stage."
"Appropriate, don't you think?" Oliver says.
He presses his lips to Felicity's cheek and she blushes. He's standing behind her, one arm wrapped around her abdomen, holding her against him. His other hand lies loosely on her hip.
"You're going to give everyone in here a toothache," Thea complains.
Juliette eyes him but doesn't say anything.
Felicity shifts in his arms and his thumb slips down, running over the hard edge of her hipbone.
He allows himself a second to think about what he remembers from last night. Licking ice cream off her skin, wrapping his shirt around her naked torso, her skin glistening with sweat as she moved above him.
Oliver suddenly realises that he'll have all that again tonight - and he'll remember it this time. She's his wife - he's allowed to touch her. He could touch her right now.
He pulls his head back to see her neck. There's a few freckles grouped together, right where her neck meets her shoulder. A loose curl from the complicated updo that Thea weaved her hair into lies just above it.
He brings his hand up from her hip and winds the curl around his finger.
Then he drops his lips down to kiss the freckles. Opens his mouth slightly to taste her skin with his tongue.
Suddenly he can't remember why stopping Helena's theft of the Logan diamond is important. How could anything be more important than tasting every inch of Felicity's skin?
Felicity shivers against him and he opens the fingers of the hand he has pressed against her stomach and pushes her back so she's pinned against him.
"Oliver," she gasps and he's ready to give up this whole thing right now. Let Helena have the diamond, let Matthew make his own choices, let Juliette write how he was suspiciously not there when the heist happened-
And then the lights go out.
The music cuts out too, and suddenly they and the crowd are all standing in a dark ballroom with no natural light.
Felicity freezes against him and he hears Thea make a surprised noise and he sees the movement in his peripheral vision that means Diggle has a weapon in his hands. And then -
Then the lights come up to reveal Matthew on stage, microphone in hand.
"Welcome," Matthew says, "to the Arnstein Industries charity auction for SLDT, the Society for the Legitimate Diamond Trade, who are fighting to end the illegal trade in blood diamonds and the appalling conditions under which they are mined in Africa."
Polite applause echoes around the room.
Felicity puts her (full) champagne glass down and joins in. He has his hands full of her so he just taps a quiet rhythm against the material of her dress.
She turns her head so she can see him.
"You need to stop that," she says softly, "you're distracting me."
"You're distracting me," he whispers. "All I can think about is you."
"We need to pay attention," she replies as soft as a whisper.
"I can't wait to get you alone," he whispers, "can't wait to have our wedding night all over again and remember it this time."
"Oliver," she says but her voice is wavering, he can tell he's having an effect on her.
"I can remember licking ice cream off of your skin," he whispers, "it's about all I can remember, but I remember it. Licking ice cream off your hip."
Felicity shivers in his arms, her breath coming faster.
Diggle clears his throat behind them.
"Guys," Diggle says sotto-voice, "you remember I can hear everything you're saying, right?"
Oliver watches as Felicity blushes deeply, the red flush expanding from her cheeks down so the skin of her neck and shoulders even seem to glow with embarrassment.
Very deliberately she takes half a step forward, shooting him a look over her shoulder which includes a clear message to behave.
Oliver grins at her, then turns to glare at Diggle who looks far too pleased with himself.
"Sorry," he says in a completely unrepentant tone.
Diggle snorts.
On stage Matthew is talking about the charity and the work they do. And while Oliver is sure it is a worthy cause, it's a speech he's heard a thousand times before.
Donate for this, pay for that - save the whales, protect the rainforest, feed the children. All the charities do good work, he's sure, but events like this are just for the rich to feel less guilty. They never seem to actually change anything, no matter how much money they make.
He itches to be dressed in his Hood, threatening people into better behavior and not just asking for their money on behalf of a cause. Or giving away money he never earned.
"And on behalf of everyone here," Matthew says, "I'd like to thank my father for arranging for the Logan Diamond to be displayed." He gestures at the glass case standing right beside him. "Sadly it's not for sale, but we do have plenty of other gems to tempt you with. Now, onto the bidding."
The crowd applauds as the lights go out again and everyone waits, expectantly.
But nothing happens.
"Er, hey," Matthew says, "we appear to be experiencing technical difficulties. If everyone could stay calm-"
Suddenly Oliver hears a dull bang followed by the sound of glass breaking.
"-the lights will be back up and - arrrrrggh!"
Oliver starts at his friend's scream and then the lights do come up - the dim emergency lights, not the small delicate display of illumination they've had all evening - and he can see Matthew on the floor, a green fletched arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
And the remains of the case for the Logan Diamond in front of him, scattered across the floor as if blown apart by a bomb.