Note: Hey guys! Sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I needed to get some things in order because as some of you may have noticed, this story is about to be tied up, which means I need to watch those loose ends... Either way, thank you so much for the MINDBLOWING response on the previous chapter! I was so nervous because of my big re-write, but I am so incredibly happy that you enjoyed the final product as much as I did. Thank you.
Now, without further delay, please enjoy this chapter that I'm not 100 % sure is okay, but I'll be happy to hear your thoughts either way. Oh, and there are some sweet moments in the beginning too, but I'm sure you won't mind that! ;) xx
Hunted
Chapter 29: The Visitor
Warmth.
Warmth and contentment.
No, warmth, contentment and something else that before last night had been left unsaid between the two of them.
Oliver opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times to adjust his sight to the light that was slowly filling the room. Everything was brighter, somehow, and for a moment, he was confused as to why before remembering everything that had transpired between him and Felicity the night before. He laid on his back now, looking up at the ceiling, Felicity's head on top of his bare chest, her ear over his heart and her naked body pressed tightly against his. One of her arms was laying over his middle, her leg thrown over his. He had both his arms around her, holding on to her tightly and Oliver couldn't help but glance down, seeing only the top of her blonde head, but feeling how relaxed she was against him.
Sunlight warmed him through the sliver between the curtains and Oliver pressed his lips lightly against the top of Felicity's head, his thumb moving over the soft skin of her arm. A small sound fell from her lips and she nuzzled her face against his chest. The effect was instant; heat blossomed low in his belly and his heart beat just a little faster inside his chest. He stopped stroking her skin, pausing as he felt Felicity's smile against his skin.
"You're loud," she mumbled against him, her lips brushing against his chest. She hadn't opened her eyes yet and she hadn't moved other than turning her face more into him.
"I didn't say anything," Oliver pointed out, his voice thicker in the early morning hours. He wasn't even sure what time it was. There was no way to know how much time had passed since he and Felicity finally fell asleep. For all he knew, the world might have ended during the night, but he was still content, happy.
"Your mind," Felicity clarified, stretching against him, her bare breasts brushing against him. "You're thinking too loud. It's early."
"Can you hear them? My thoughts?" Oliver questioned, not really sure whether that was a possibility. After all, last night had been-
His thoughts were interrupted when a giggle fell from Felicity's lips. She twisted and lifted herself up a bit, moving so that she could lay on top of him. Oliver's arms wrapped around her, settling low on the small of her back, just beneath the comforter that barely covered her backside. Her blonde locks brushed against his chest when Felicity tilted her head, peering down at him curiously. The sight of her bright blue eyes brought a smile to his face and he couldn't help but grin at her as he moved one of his hands up to cup the back of her head.
Felicity didn't resist when he pulled her downward. Instead, she closed her eyes the second before his lips pressed against hers. Her palms rested flat against his chest, right over his heart and it was difficult to kiss her when neither of them seemed to be able to stop smiling. A low chuckle fell from Oliver's lips and he blinked his eyes open, meeting hers instantly.
"Good morning," Oliver said, pecking her lightly on the lips again.
"Morning," Felicity returned, brushing her fingers lightly over his forehead. The way that she was looking at him, as if she couldn't quite believe that he was really there with her… Oliver could relate.
"Did you sleep well?" Oliver asked, his own hands once against settling on Felicity's back, thumbs moving over her warm skin. He watched her face and he felt something shift inside of him. The easy smile he'd had on his face faltered and he tightened his grip on her automatically, making her meet his eyes. "I felt that," he said, his voice low again, worried. "Why?" he wondered, knowing that she would understand.
It didn't make sense at first, how he seemed to be able to pick up on what she felt. It wasn't exactly as if he was seeing what was going on inside her head, but rather that he felt it in his chest; the turmoil that was still raging on inside of her.
Inside her soul.
"All those people, Oliver," Felicity started, sounding unsure. This was something new for her too, he understood. Neither of them had ever had someone connect with them on such a level before. When Felicity stopped speaking, Oliver decided to listen, not with his ears, but with his heart.
He felt the guilt that she felt, heard the way that she was still aching for all the people who had died in the bombings. He focused and understood where the pain laid.
"How can I be allowed to be this happy when I'm the reason that so many died?" Felicity asked, voicing her thoughts, the same thoughts that Oliver had already picked up on. It wasn't about heightened emotions due to the blood exchange; they were connected somehow and Oliver knew what it was without having to actually voice it. Eventually, they would have to talk about that too.
"I told you last night, that what happened isn't on you," Oliver told her, trying to sound reassuring while also making her feel his earnest. He didn't really know how this new connection between them worked, but so far, he hadn't exactly been able to read her mind. He just understood.
Felicity watched him quietly for another moment. Her fingers trailed over his skin again and Oliver's own hands slid further down her back, sliding over the curve of her ass, resting there. He didn't want to distract her, but he could feel that she needed to know that he was there with her. For a split second, he thought that he might have misinterpreted the signals she was sending him, but then Felicity moved slightly, her hot center brushing over his already half-hard member.
His grip on her hips tightened and Felicity pushed herself up, allowing the comforter to fall off of her completely. Oliver's eyes traveled downward, over her nude body, hands moving over her skin without much thought. It was natural, this connection. He understood what she needed without her having to tell him anything. Moving, he turned them, gently laying Felicity down against the pillows. Her hair sprawled out and his mouth connected with hers again as he melted into her. It didn't take long for the kiss to deepen, Felicity opening her mouth for him and her tongue moving languidly against his. A moan escaped her when Oliver's fingers found their way to the juncture between her legs, digits probing her entrance. Felicity gasped, her lips parting from his when the tips of his fingers found her clit, rubbing her in tight, slow, almost lazy circles. She protested, hips lifting as she sought more pressure and Oliver bit down on his own lip to keep from moaning at the wetness that coated his fingers. Meeting her hooded gaze, he couldn't help but lean down, his lips seeking hers. They kissed for a while, Oliver's thumb keeping constant pressure on her clit as she desperately tried to make him move.
He knew that she could, of course. She was strong enough to shift their positions, if she really wanted to. However, Oliver suspected that there was something about the sweet, slow torture that had their blood buzzing with energy that was keeping her from doing so. His other hand found her thigh, fingers brushing over her skin until he reached her knee and finally, her calf. Gently, he pulled on her leg, hooking it around his waist as he situated himself more comfortably between her legs. Felicity reached down between them, placing her hand over his to guide his fingers into her and Oliver buried a groan against the side of her neck, his teeth scraping over her skin.
Instantly, memories of the night before flooded his mind again and involuntarily, Oliver grinded down into the mattress, breathing heavily into Felicity's skin. It was embarrassing, the way that she made him feel like a hormonal teenager, not being able to control himself around her. Felicity sighed, her hips rolling up to meet his fingers that continued to move inside of her, quickening when he saw the wave of pleasure run through her, making her tremble.
She moaned his name and Oliver kissed the base of her throat, mumbling words of encouragement into her ear. He wasn't even sure what he was saying, only that he could feel her inner walls tightening around his fingers, fluttering and coating his hand as a throaty moan tore from her lips. Working her through her orgasm, Oliver pressed his lips against her cheek, "Yeah, just like that, Felicity… Just like that."
"Oliver," she panted, her fingers finding purchase in his hair as she crushed their lips together. He kissed her hard, so different from the sweet kisses they had shared just moments ago. It was like pouring everything that he felt about her into a single kiss, a mixture between the one that had started it all the night before and the passionate, desperate moment they had shared in Russia. Back then, it had been fueled by jealousy from his side, words and thoughts he would never have dared to reveal. Now, he kissed her the way that he had always wanted to, the way he had always thought that she deserved to be kissed.
Oliver found himself on his back suddenly, Felicity hovering over him with a grin on her face. Their bodies were warm, a thin layer of sweat covering them both.
"Your turn," she said, voice raw as she pressed a kiss against his chest. It took his mind a moment to register the fact that she had started trailing kisses lower, and he didn't stop her until her lips against his hipbone made him jerk up.
"Wait," he said, cheeks hot. "What about…?"
Felicity raised an eyebrow at him, her head tilting to the side again as she watched him with that same curiosity as before. "You don't want me to suck your-?"
"Felicity," Oliver interrupted, sounding almost chastising. It wasn't that he didn't want her to blow him. In fact, he was pretty sure that at least seventy-five percent of his dreams about her in the beginning of their partnership had been about her blowing him in the office during after hours. The problem was that he would rather be inside her right now, much like she had stopped him from going down on her the way he would have liked to last night.
"Oh," Felicity breathed out, seeming to catch on to what he wanted. "In that case, I think we should be on the safer side and use protection."
Brushing back her hair, Oliver looked at her, "Last night we didn't…"
When he trailed of, Felicity only nodded. "I told you we would be fine, which we most likely will," she told him. "Being a wolf doesn't somehow give me automatic birth control abilities, but it does make me a bit different from humans. I… I've been under a lot of stress lately. It messes up my… It's the same with humans, you know? Like, stress can sometimes cause women to ovulate differently and that fucks up their cycle and essentially-"
"Felicity," Oliver shook his head at her, stopping her from rambling. "I understand basic biology, even though I might not remember everything from what I learned in high school." He looked at her carefully, "What were you saying about you being different because you're a wolf?"
Felicity shrugged lightly, looking sheepish, "It's like… Sometimes we shut off that part of ourselves, I suppose. It's not something I can explain, and like I said, it doesn't contraceptive measures, but it…"
Squeezing her legs, Oliver raised his eyebrow at her, "It…?"
Felicity's cheeks flushed at his prompting. "Maybe not exactly 'shut off' as much as it is 'slow down'," she sheepishly said.
"You mean you slow down my-"
"Yeah," she interrupted, cheeks still red. It was lovely, Oliver thought to himself. Felicity's lips spread into a small smile, as if she had read his mind. "I felt that," she said, repeating the words he had said to her a couple of minutes ago.
"You felt what?" he wondered.
"Your affection," she replied, a serene look falling over her face. She no longer looked embarrassed by the conversation they had been having. Oliver felt her reciprocation, like a flood of warmth and love washing over him.
"I love you," he said, and it really was as simple as that. He no longer understood where his worries had stemmed from; now it all seemed so unnecessary. They loved one another and he felt as if they could overcome anything, as long as they stayed together. He grunted when she moved against him suddenly, reminding him of what they had been doing earlier before they had decided to talk about contraceptive measures for wolves. "You're telling me that it's basically the same biologically as with any human," Oliver tried to clarify, "except for the fact that your body 'senses' when it's the right time or whatever and slows down my-"
"Swimmers," Felicity nodded, finishing for him.
"That's...interesting," Oliver mused, finding it funny how she didn't seem to want him to elaborate or dig deeper into the matter. "Does that mean that we could, one day…?"
He felt it again, that rush of love as she looked down at him. There was a bit reservation mixed into it as well, but Oliver tried to give her a reassuring look.
"We could," she nodded slowly. "If we wanted to, one day… Do you want to?" she asked and Oliver knew where her concern stemmed from. They had just gotten together last night, but they had been circling one another for much longer than that. Oliver couldn't remember exactly when it was that he had known that he was in love with her, but the moment he had realized it, everything had changed for him.
The thought of having kids one day had never been a part of his plan when he had returned to Starling City. He had never expected to find someone or fall in love and he knew for certain that he hadn't really expected to survive as long as he had. Oliver had been an empty shell, a killing machine set on protecting the people of Starling, but in turn, he had lost himself. When Felicity had come into his life, he had hated her and he had loathed the fact that he somehow just couldn't quit her. Falling in love with her had happened unexpectedly, although he was glad that he had. Having her in his arms now, after everything that they had shared the night before, Oliver couldn't help but think about what it would be like, to share a family with her one day.
"I know it's too soon to talk about these things," Felicity said. "With everything that's going on and us being… New, or whatever…"
"Felicity," Oliver said, cupping her cheek softly. She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning into his palm. "With you, one day," he told her, hoping that he wouldn't have to say anything else. Her eyes opened and she looked down at him, eyes bright.
"One day," she said, repeating his words carefully and he hoped that she could feel it again, how much he loved her. When she shifted over him again, he remembered that they had more pressing matters at hand. The future was uncertain, but he knew for a fact that he would remain by Felicity's side in whatever capacity that she allowed him to, until the day he died. Turning them again, a genuine laugh rang from Felicity when he started pressing quick kisses over her face and then her chest. She continued to giggle when he found a spot that tickled her, her laughter shifting into a moan when he sucked on her skin. He loved laying on top of her; he loved keeping her safe.
He loved her.
"So, you're saying condoms then?" Oliver asked, nuzzling her cheek. Felicity laughed again but nodded against him. "And do you have any here or…?"
"There might be some in Roy's room," Felicity stated and Oliver groaned.
"I really don't want to think about why there might be some in Roy's room," Oliver told her.
Felicity made him look at her, "Well, it's not like I had a reason to buy condoms until now. Roy and Thea have been in a relationship for ages. Did you expect them to remain celibate?"
"First of all, I don't want to know what my sister does with her boyfriend," Oliver said. "Secondly, I know very well that she's an adult. Thirdly, why are we ruining the mood by discussing them?"
Felicity reached down between them and Oliver's face fell back down against her chest when she grasped him. "As you so eloquently put it last night, the mood has clearly not been ruined," she grinned, her thumb sweeping over the head of his cock.
"Mm… Okay, okay," Oliver said, pushing back from her, standing. He looked at her for a second, naked and spread out on the bed, hair sprawled over the pillow. "Condoms," he choked out, hurrying out of the room toward Roy's. Felicity's laughed made him smile, as he searched through Roy's drawers until he found what he was looking for. He grabbed the whole pack before hurrying back to Felicity. When he saw her with her legs spread, working herself as she waited for him to join her again, Oliver couldn't help but pause again. Her cheeks were flushed again, one of her hands moving from one breast to the other, pinching her hardened nipples as she moved her fingers inside of her.
"Oliver," she said, head thrown back as her back arched slightly from the bed. "It's not enough," she told him, in a low whine. "I need you."
Throwing the box of condoms on the floor beside the bed, Oliver tore one of the foil packs open with his teeth, not once taking his eyes off of her. Rolling the condom on, he stroked himself a few times before he crawled on top of her again, settling between her open. They had prolonged this enough.
Kissing her fiercely, Oliver reached down between them. He slowly removed her hand and pulled it up. Felicity watched and gasped when he licked at the two fingers she had just been working inside of her. Sucking on them, licking up every drop of her, Oliver relished in the taste of her. He reached down to touch her again, all while he suckled on her fingers. He needed to know that she was ready for him.
Finding her pussy dripping, he moaned around her fingers, finally pulling them out of his mouth. He guided himself into her, running the tip of his cock between her wet folds. His hands found hers and their fingers intertwined, resting over Felicity's head. Sinking into her slowly, only an inch or two, Oliver pulled back again, leaving the tip inside her. Felicity let out another sound of protest and started moving her hips against him, but he moved, holding both her hands down with one of his as he reached down and held her hip, stilling her.
"We're going slow," he said, searching her eyes to make sure she would be fine with his decision.
"We've been going slow for too long, Oliver," Felicity told him and he smiled before kissing her deeply again. His hand moved from her hip, down to her leg, once again hitching it over his waist. "Oliver, will you please just- Oh," Felicity's eyes fell closed when he entered her with one quick, hard stroke. Her lips parted, her breathing picking up with the force of his thrusts. Oliver released her hands so that he could instead focus on setting the pace. She clung to him and Oliver felt her fingernails digging into his back, every sound from her spurring him on.
"Oh my God," she panted, looking up at him through hooded eyes. "There," she gasped, when he hit a certain spot, stilling for a second before continuing moving inside of her. "Oliver, right there…"
"Fuck," he grunted against her lips, forcing himself to keep going. He could feel her walls tightening around him, feel the flutter of her and it drove him crazy. "Felicity, I need you to- I want you to-"
He couldn't even get the words out. Her nails extracted though, sharpening into claws and her eyes flashed gold. Oliver managed a chuckle, happiness making him almost lose his rhythm when Felicity ran her claw just over the top of her breast. The second she drew blood, Oliver lowered his head, lapping it up, sucking as he drew the red substance into his mouth. Felicity made another cut, higher up and closer to her shoulder. Oliver moved toward it when the one on her breast healed up. The flavor of her blood in his mouth only made him drive into her harder as he closed his eyes. Like the previous night, it was like seeing stars exploding behind his eyelids, all of Felicity's emotions washing over him and making him feel her. It was like a blanket of something unexplainable surrounding him, heat that he couldn't put words to because he could just sense that she was everywhere around him.
Oliver barely felt her fangs pierce his own skin. He lost himself in her and everything he felt once more, thrusting into her at an almost punishing speed. They needed it though, wanted it after last night. It was like Felicity had said before: they had gone slow for too long. Tasting her, smelling her and sensing her mind, feeling it weave and intertwine with his own was a sensory overload that he didn't think he would ever get enough of. There was no way he would ever tire of having Felicity like this.
Felicity pulled back from where she had been drinking from him, head thrown back as she gasped his name, her legs tightening around his waist to keep him close when he finished with a hard thrust, sending her spiraling over the edge. "I love you," she said, breathing heavily, lazy smile on her lips. He couldn't keep himself from kissing her again, his reciprocation whispered against her lips.
-§-
Felicity sat on the stool in her kitchen, elbows on the counter and chin in her hands as she watched Oliver. They had wanted to stay in bed longer, but after a few minutes of post-coital bliss, Oliver's stomach had growled in protest, making Felicity grin. Of course, she had offered to make him breakfast, but he had been adamant about being able to make them both something to eat. Quite frankly, she wanted to watch him mill around her kitchen, making himself at home as he prepared them some pancakes. He had only pulled on his boxers and a shirt, having had to take a clean one since Felicity had already tugged on the one that he had worn the night before. It was comforting, to have his scent surround her.
Not that she didn't already, considering that she had been wrapped around him since the night before.
Still, the way that Oliver's eyes had darkened at the sight of her in his shirt had sent a shiver down her spine. If he hadn't been hungry for actual food at the time, Felicity was certain she would have jumped him and had her way with him. She knew though, that he needed to eat. While she had been partially sated by the blood exchange, she too couldn't wait to see what Oliver cooked up for them.
Felicity couldn't help but think about it. Sharing blood with someone, sharing blood with Oliver… She had done it before, that time after the Undertaking, but before that, she had never even considered it. Wolves didn't drink blood, not like vampires did. For wolves blood was the conduit of the soul. Traditionally, it wasn't meant to be consumed in any way, which was also why many wolves believed that killing innocents and drinking their blood was essentially what created blood wolves. There were stories told to the children in the packs sometimes, legends of horrors that followed if a wolf became obsessed with the taste of the souls. For hybrids, it was different though. It took a lot to make them lose control, the only exception being if a hybrid had been created through a blood wolf. Felicity thought back to Queen Consolidated, when she had woken up tied to the chair, staked embedded deep into her flesh and a container of vervain and wolfsbane water burning her feet. She had been weakened and the Count had managed to force bag after bag of blood into her mouth, down her throat. Felicity had choked on it and the madman had lashed out, twisting the stakes, making her scream. There had been something in the blood too, she had sensed. Later, when he had revealed how his sick plan had worked, she had understood that there must have been remnants of Vertigo left in the blood. It had made her even dizzier.
Felicity had never lost control before. She had never felt the need for blood in the way that vampires did. As a hybrid, human food would have been enough to sustain her. What had happened that night at the office had pushed her over an edge that she had feared she would never be able to come back from. The fear of losing herself, of becoming a blood wolf or something worse had consumed her and she hadn't seen another solution, so she had returned to her roots.
"I'm sorry for what I put you through," she said, looking over at Oliver who paused over the frying pan.
He looked over at her, eyebrows furrowing. "We already talked about this," he stated, but she could sense that he wasn't shutting her down. If she wanted to talk about it again, he wouldn't stop her.
"I meant for turning into a wolf and not speaking to you for three days," she clarified, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I couldn't face what I had done, so I decided to run, emotionally."
Oliver flipped the pancake before glancing over at her again, "Why?"
Felicity tapped her fingers against the counter, biting her lip nervously. After everything that they had been through, she wanted him to understand. She didn't want to keep secrets from him or make him feel like she didn't think that she could talk to him. He had made it clear to her how he felt; he had shown her, multiple times, both through his mind when they were connected and through staying when she had struggled the most.
"Losing control, consuming so much blood that you feel the urge to kill… That's what creates a blood wolf," Felicity said, knowing that Oliver was already aware of this. "After what I did… After killing the Count, all I felt was pain. I just… It was like watching myself break apart from the inside, everything felt wrong and I worried that I would lose myself and become a true monster."
"Like a blood wolf," Oliver concluded, setting down the spatula slowly as he moved the pan away from the stove.
"Yes," Felicity nodded, keeping her gaze locked with his as he approached her. He came to stand between her legs and she tilted her head up so that she could look at him properly. Oliver's hands settled on her shoulders, moved over her arms slowly, comfortingly.
"And you turned into a wolf instead," he said. "To deal with what you felt."
"I thought that if I reminded myself somehow, of what I truly was and where I came from… I thought I could stay in control. I was so afraid of losing myself, so overwhelmed by everything, that I didn't know what else to do." she explained, her hand clutching his shirt. "It wasn't turning into a wolf that allowed me to remember who I was, though. It was you."
She waited for his reaction, wondering to herself if maybe she should have waited to have this conversation with him until after they had eaten. The silence that fell around them made her worry, but she couldn't pick up on any rejection on Oliver's part. He was just deep in thought, she knew, and she couldn't really blame him for that.
"I don't want you to get mad," he said suddenly, searching her eyes, "but Roy told me about his theory."
Felicity looked at him and once again, there didn't seem to be any sign of him pulling away from her. His hands were still on her shoulders, thumbs stroking her skin and her own hand was clutching his shirt while the other rested on his side.
"The soul bond," she acknowledged, biting her lip. "It's a mystery, even among the Dark Ones."
"Roy didn't get into too much detail, but he thought that the two of us might be connected through that," Oliver said and Felicity could feel that he was determined to have this talk now that she had initiated it. "I saw the way that Roy reacted to Thea when he was turned. Is that the way that it works?"
"No one really knows," Felicity admitted, remembering what she herself had observed between Roy and Thea. "It's not like there's a textbook on these things… At least not among wolves or vampires. Shapeshifters, the bellua ones, their history is based in ancient tribes all over the world. They originated from witches and they have a thing for writing everything they do down."
Oliver nodded slowly, "Do you think Barry would have information on it then? Like, in his mother's old books?"
"I don't know," Felicity said. "As I said, there are no guidelines for what being bonded like that means. It's a connection, deeper than any other. There's no definitive rule as to what kind of a connection it is though."
"So it can be friendship too?" Oliver wondered.
"Yes," Felicity replied. "Friendship, companionship… Love. I've never witnessed it before though, which is why I didn't believe in it when Roy first told me about it."
Oliver chuckled, tightening his grip on her shoulders just slightly. "He told me of your skepticism," he said. He paused for a moment before giving her a pointed look. "How do you feel about it now? Do you believe in it?" he questioned.
Felicity thought about everything that had happened between them since they met. How she had felt drawn to Oliver since the beginning, in a way that she couldn't explain. Despite him hating her, everything inside of her had screamed at her that she needed to get him on her side. She had thought that it only had to do with her needing his help, but she knew that it was more than that. When Sara had come to town, after Russia, Felicity had been a bad place. The pain she had felt when she had found out what Oliver had done had been nearly unbearable and she knew that he must have felt it too. Their love for one another had always run deeper than either of them understood. Back then, when Sara had stabbed her, Felicity hadn't been able to heal. Her emotions had affected her abilities, but she had been hurt emotionally before, so she knew it had to be something else. Roy had confronted her one night, telling her that he had done research on the web and in the library. He had read up on old legends about soulmates and then he had indicated that Oliver might be hers. Because she and Oliver hadn't been emotionally connected, they had both suffered; Oliver, mentally by her absence and Felicity in a more physical manner since she was a wolf. Having a soul bond with Oliver would explain so much, but at the same time, raise so many questions. She didn't know how the connection worked, only that they were more in tune with one another than with any other person. They understood each other and Oliver anchored her in more ways than one. When she had first turned into a wolf to show Roy what he would be dealing with when he eventually transformed, Oliver had been there and he had been able to reach out, through the wild beast and find her. She had connected with him even back then. There was the blood exchange too, of course, that weighed in. It had heightened everything for her, making their connection even cleared. A single touch meant so much more, a look shared between them could hold an entire conversation, all because they were so deeply connected.
"I believe in you," Felicity finally answered. "I believe that you saved me, pulled me back and anchored me. I believe in what we share… I believe in us." She tightened her grip on his shirt, pulling him down to her level so she could rest her forehead against his. "I don't know what being soul bonded means," she told him, "but mates have existed among wolves since they first came to be. No matter what happens, you will always be mine. Somewhere, sometime… I chose you. If that's because of destiny or fate or whatever, I don't know. All I know is that you are my mate because I am choosing you, because I love you. Nothing will ever change that. Nothing will ever change how I feel about you or when I'm with you," she said, closing her eyes, breathing him in. "I have found my place in the world and it is right here, by your side, for as long as you will have me."
"Always," Oliver replied instantly, cupping her cheek. Lightly, he pressed his lips against hers, keeping them there as he spoke again: "Always."
-§-
Shortly after eating breakfast, Oliver was forced to text the others in their team that they were okay. Diggle and Tommy were still worried about Felicity, wanting to know more, but Oliver figured that they would be able to fill them in on the change in his and Felicity's relationship later. Felicity had suggested that they stay at her place for the remainder of the day and for a moment, Oliver had been a bit concerned. She had smiled though and assured him that she wasn't going to run from reality anymore, but rather that she wanted to spend some time with just him. That was how they had found themselves on the couch, Felicity's feet in his lap as he rubbed her soles. Felicity told him more about her past, about growing up in Las Vegas, losing contact with her mother and never speaking to her again after she first turned into a wolf. Her mother hadn't known about Felicity's father having the gene, clearly, but Felicity wanted to keep her mother as far away from the Dark Ones as possible, even if that meant herself. Oliver in turn told her about himself, how he had been in his younger years, what had happened when he had been shipwrecked and some of what he had been through before he came back to Starling City.
There was a lot to talk about, many levels to cover, but they did their best, allowing their connection to grow. Oliver understood that being soulmates was a difficult thing to grasp, but at the same time, he knew that what he felt for Felicity went beyond love. At the same time, he picked up on her emotions and he knew that she felt the same for him. Whether or not such a thing as soulmates existed, Oliver knew that he would never want to be separated from Felicity ever again. They loved one another and he was hers as much as she was his. What they had was beyond someone or something coming between them. All he could hope for was that they would always remain by each other's side, as Felicity had said.
"Do you think we'll be even more connected if we keep sharing blood?" Oliver wondered then, meeting her eyes as she sighed. He continued to rub her feet, enjoying the fact that he could make her feel relaxed. It was strange, because he couldn't remember if he had ever taken the time to do something as simple as massage someone's feet. He'd been with many women in his younger days, but with Felicity, things were different in every capacity. She wasn't just some girl he had hooked up with once; she was the love of his life and his soul was twined with hers.
"I know that the process is…pleasurable, with us," Felicity started, looking deep in thought, "but we can't ignore the fact that you're human. I don't really know what drinking blood feels like for you. I can't imagine it's as satisfying as drinking your blood is for me."
Oliver couldn't help but think about the previous night and this morning, when he had tasted her. He'd had blood in his mouth before, mostly his own, but Felicity's was something else. Beneath the tangy, coppery taste, there was also something else that he couldn't put his finger on. It was just her, he supposed, and he proceeded to tell her as much.
Felicity listened intently, looking intrigued. He could guess what was going through her mind because he could pick up on some of her emotions still.
"It could be our bond," she supplied after a moment. "The fact that we were already deeply connected with one another… Drinking each other's blood could have just heightened our existing bond."
Slowly, Oliver found himself nodding to agree with her. "Do you think we would have figured out the bond thing if we hadn't shared blood?" he questioned, already knowing his own answer.
"What do you think?" Felicity smiled lightly, seeming to sense that he wanted to say something.
"I think, after being stubborn and stupid for a while… We would have figured it out," he said. "I don't know if we would have put the right word to it, but I've always been connected to you, since the day that I met you," he told her. "I still remember that night in the Foundry, during the Undertaking when you collapsed. I had never felt such a thing in my life before, but your pain brought me pain. After that, when we were at my place, when we shared blood the first time… It was always there with us, I know that."
She took in his words and he let go of her feet when she moved to pull them back from him. For a moment, he worried that he might have said something wrong, but the next thing he knew Felicity had moved so that she could straddle his lap. Her hands rested on his shoulders, her fingers occasionally reaching out to touch the hair at the nape of his neck.
"We were always meant to be."
With those words, she summarized his thoughts completely. Just like there was no explanation for the soul bond, or how it all worked, but he knew it in his heart. If he had never met Felicity, he might have been able to live an average life eventually, if he had survived his hunting. He knew though, that he never would have felt as complete as he did with her by his side. Something would have always been missing and eventually, he would have lost himself to the darkness completely. He was sure of it. She had saved him, just as much as he had anchored her. They belonged together and if he had any say in it, they would be with one another for as long as they both lived. Deep down, he knew that it was a crazy thing to believe, but Oliver was certain that eventually their paths would have crossed somehow. It was a terrifying thought to think of a life where he and Felicity eventually wouldn't have ended up where they were now. It was like she had told him earlier, during her own confession, though. Whatever it was that had brought them together, whether it was destiny or fate or something else, she had chosen him in the end, just like he had chosen her. Oliver was convinced that somewhere along the line, he would have met her.
"If we keep sharing blood, you need to be careful," Felicity told him then, bringing him out of his thoughts. He looked at her, searching her eyes and he understood what she meant. If he died with her blood in his system, he would most likely turn into a vampire or something. Felicity was still more wolf than vampire, but it didn't change the fact that it took a lot more to turn a person into a werewolf than it did vampire. With her being a hybrid, Oliver was certain that it was the vampire part of her that would make him turn, especially if he died.
"We'll be careful," Oliver agreed. "I'll be careful," he clarified, thinking of how he wouldn't be able to stay away from hunting. Especially since the Master was still out there.
"Oliver, I would never want to turn you against your will," Felicity said. "With my blood, if you died… You wouldn't die. A part of me wants to be relieved by the thought that I wouldn't lose you, but I know that you would never want that for yourself. That's why I don't want that for you either."
Leaning forward, he kissed her. His hands roamed her back, finding their way underneath the tanktop she wore. He didn't have any words that could explain how much what she said meant to him, so instead, he would show her. Deepening the kiss, he adjusted their positions so that he was laying on his back and Felicity was above him. There was just something about her taking control and being on top that made everything a hundred times more intense for him. A part of him knew that Felicity needed it too; being in charge and controlling where things went between them was something that she needed.
Felicity trailed kisses down down his neck, her tongue tasting him with every other kiss. It sent a rush of blood south in his body and Oliver couldn't help but grunt her name when she grinded down against his hardening length. She only smiled against his skin, trailing lower, pushing his shirt up to reveal his stomach. Oliver bit his lip when Felicity's human teeth scraped against his abs, the muscles there straining from his efforts to stay absolutely still as she continued downward. Felicity glanced up at him through hooded eyes when she made herself comfortable between his legs, her fingers catching in the waistbands of his boxers. A noise that he would normally have been embarrassed for escaped him when Felicity started tugging the material down over his hips. His hand reached for her, but she looked up at him sharply, eyes flashing golden.
"If you tell me you don't want this, I'll stop," Felicity told him. "You should know that I want this, though."
Oliver looked at her, not really knowing what to say. Of course he wanted this; he wanted everything she offered him. Whatever she was willing to give, he would accept.
"Okay," he nodded, his voice shaky. "Okay…"
Felicity's lips quirked up, eyes still shining gold. "Good," she said, licking her lips as she continued to pull down his boxers. Oliver's breath was ragged, chest heaving as he watched Felicity take him in. When her plush lips finally wrapped around the head of his cock, the same sound as before fell from his lips, his fingers tangled in her hair and his head fell back against the couch.
-§-
Oliver's arm was wrapped around Felicity and her head rested against his shoulder. They were on their way to the Queen mansion, it was already a bit late, but Moira had called Oliver, telling him that she wanted him to come over for a late dinner. Olivver had sheepishly told his mother that he was still with Felicity, but Moira had been insistent, telling him that he should bring Felicity too. Oliver had looked over at Felicity who had nodded, silently agreeing to come along. He hadn't been sure that she would be up for it, especially since they had spent most of the day in various states of undress, exploring each other to the fullest.
They had gotten cleaned up and dressed, the shower taking a bit longer because Oliver hadn't been able to keep himself from asking Felicity to join him. He had taken his time methodically washing her and she had done the same to him. Somehow, it had been almost therapeutic and they had needed it as to wind down a bit. Once they were ready, Oliver took Felicity's hand in his and lead her outside where they decided to take a cab. Felicity's car had been disposed of after her crash and Diggle had made sure that the company car Oliver had hot-wired was returned too. Since neither of them had an actual vehicle, it made sense to just get a cab. They didn't exactly feel like calling up Diggle or Tommy to get a ride.
"I'm a little nervous," Felicity admitted, her voice low.
"Don't be," Oliver told her, lifting her hand to his mouth so that he could kiss her fingertips. "You have nothing to be nervous about."
"It's just, your mom and I have always had a complicated relationship," Felicity said. "She's accepted what I am and all, but I don't know if she'll be happy that the two of us are together now."
Oliver smiled at that, loving the fact that they actually were together. It wasn't something he had conjured up in a dream or in his imagination. It was real.
"I bet you'll be happy to know that she was kind of pushing me to reveal my true feelings for you then," Oliver confessed. Felicity looked at him surprised, but he didn't elaborate. Instead, he kissed her softly, his eyes closing as he enjoyed the moment of it being just them. Felicity seemed happy to leave the conversation at that when they pulled apart and Oliver pressed another kiss against her temple, leaning his cheek against the top of her head when she settled against his shoulder again.
They arrived at the mansion at seven and something. Oliver payed for the cab and then stepped out with Felicity, twining their fingers together as they approached the main entrance. Upon entering, one of the maids took their jackets and Oliver could feel that Felicity was still nervous.
"Your mother, Mr. Steele and your guest are in the dining room, Mr. Queen," the woman said.
"Guest?" Oliver asked, confused now. The maid only nodded and left him and Felicity without another word. Oliver turned his attention back to Felicity and felt a shift in her emotions. There was a tension in her shoulders that hadn't been here before and it quickly transferred over to him as well.
"Oliver, something…" Felicity trailed off, shaking her head. She looked up at him, sniffed the air and then blinked a few times. He waited, expecting her to say something else but he could already feel the dread that was welling up inside of her.
"Let's go," he said, reaching for her hand as he guided her to the dining room. Her grip on his hand was tight and he could feel his stomach knotting. His heart pounded away in his chest as they reached the dining room. He could hear a man speaking, but it wasn't Walter. The voice wasn't unfamiliar either, which only made the entire thing more confusing for Oliver. Opening the door fully, he stepped inside, Felicity following closely behind. His eyes fell on his mother first, who was sitting in her usual seat around the table, next to Walter. The man who had been talking abruptly cut himself off when they entered the room and for a moment, everything was quiet.
Oliver stared at the man's back, recognizing the broad shoulders and the tall frame as the man stood up, wiping his mouth with a paper towel before he turned to face Oliver. His heart fell to his stomach at the sight of the eye-patch and the tanned skin. The hair on Oliver's arms rose as a cruel smile spread over the man's face. Oliver felt Felicity's fingernails dig into the palm of his hand and he knew that she could change the shift in him too.
Before him stood the one man that Oliver would never have expected to see again; the man that he thought that he had killed back on Lian Yu after he had released an arrow into his eye. The mastermind, the Master, stood before them finally, Oliver knew. The vendetta, the targeting of himself and the people that he cared about the most… It all made sense now.
"Mr. Queen," Slade Wilson said, smile still on his face as he looked at Oliver from top to toe. "It's been years."
-§-
The second Felicity heard the man's deep voice, it was as if something in her mind was released. Her grip on Oliver's hand tightened and she moved quickly, pulling the man she loved back as she came to stand before him. The man, whose name she didn't know only smirked at the sight of her protective stance before glancing back at Moira and Walter who were still sitting carefully still in their seats.
"Slade," Oliver finally breathed out. The turmoil and confusion on his side was lashing out at Felicity's own brain and she felt for him. Slade? As in his old master, Slade Wilson? The one that Oliver had told her about a while back? Felicity looked at the man still standing, wondering if it could truly be him.
"Still cowering behind the women who are stronger than you, I see," Slade mused, bitterness dripping in his voice. "Or perhaps it's just a newly established bond between the two of you that makes Ms. Smoak give in to her instincts?"
Slade looked at Felicity then and she knew.
"You're him, aren't you?" she spat, anger welling inside of her. The memories of her treatment in captivity, the way that she had been tortured and forced to turn… The innocent lives that had been sacrificed, and for what?
"I am someone, that's for sure," Slade replied, one of his eyebrows quirking at her. "You might need to be a bit more specific, Ms. Smoak."
"What are you doing here?" Oliver asked, and Felicity looked toward Moira and Walter who still hadn't done anything to indicate that something was amiss. They were eerily quiet.
"Making my move," Slade hissed, his eye flashing a dark yellow, momentarily flickering to red before returning to his normal color. Felicity remained standing in front of Oliver, but she could feel his anger and worry. It was only fueling her own. Slade continued to watch them for another moment and then snapped his fingers together. Instantly, Moira and Walter stood from their seats and made their way over to the man.
Compelled, Felicity realized. The madman had compelled them.
This wasn't a final showdown, she sensed. This was all about Slade revealing himself to be alive, to throw them off balance and to make an example. He wanted to show them what he was capable of. Felicity had never been able to compel anyone, but Slade clearly had Oliver's mother and stepfather under his compulsion. Whatever he had planned, Felicity knew that she couldn't let them be hurt.
"Let them go, Slade," Oliver bit out. "This isn't about them."
"No," Slade said, his eyes flashing again which only made Felicity frown. The man was unstable, clearly. No matter his power, he seemed to be a bit too out of control, not being able to handle his emotions very well. "This is about hurting the people you love," he said, lifting his hand in the air. "Compulsion is a fine tool," he continued, motioning for Moira and Walter to step closer. "If I wanted to now, I could just order both your mother and her husband to slit their own throats, right here, right now."
Felicity tightened her grip on Oliver's hand when she felt him take a small step forward. She was focused on Slade, but her eyes moved from him to Moira and Walter. A bead of sweat rolled down slowly from Moira's forehead and Felicity could see the way that Walter's eyebrows were furrowed. They clearly didn't have any control of their own bodies and couldn't speak, but they were still very much aware. Moira might have an idea as to what was happening, but Walter, who didn't know much - if anything - about the Dark World was most likely very confused.
"Please," Oliver said, his voice low. "Leave them out of this, Slade. I am begging you."
"Your past mistakes are catching up with you, Mr. Queen," Slade said. "You're the only one to blame for this." Felicity could see the man's eye flicker again, shifting between yellow and red. The second he reached out and grabbed Walter by the throat, pulling him toward himself as fangs extracted themselves from his gums, she moved.
In a split second, she let go of Oliver's hand. A scream tore from Moira as she finally moved, covering her eyes when Slade lowered his fangs to Walter's neck. He pierced the skin just as Felicity made the jump, her clothes tearing as she shifted in mid air. She ran at Slade, canine teeth gleaming in the light of the dining room and Slade's eye widened for just a moment before he pushed Walter away, knocking him unconscious against the wall. Felicity lost herself momentarily in her wolf form, her claws slashing over Slade's chest as she came down on him. She had used the momentum of him losing his grip on his emotions and she figured that he hadn't expected her to out herself like this in front of Walter, or risk losing control herself as a wolf and massacring Oliver's family. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Moira run to Walter, and Felicity managed to get a bite into Slade's shoulder before he pushed her off, throwing her against the wall. Slade lashed out, his hand reaching for Moira and he managed to scratch her arm, drawing blood. Oliver moved in then, kicking Slade back and away from is mother, into the table which was knocked over. Slade's eye glowed and he turned his focus back on Oliver who reached for one of the knives on the table. The man threw a punch at Oliver and for a split second Felicity was worried that he would hit his target. Fortunately, Oliver blocked the attack and she was surprised that he somehow managed to hold the other hybrid back on his own. It could be because of all the blood sharing that they had done in the past twenty-four hours.
Slade let out a sound, something between a hiss and a growl, saliva escaping from his mouth as he took a mid-shift form. Hair had sprouted out in patches all over the visible skin on his face, but he still stood on his hind legs. Somehow, he grew taller and broader, muscles stretching and elongating, bones shifting and breaking to adjust to his new form. Felicity had seen blood wolves before, but Slade was something else entirely. He was a hybrid, she could sense and a strong one at that. Oliver had told her that he had been changed because of the mirakuru, like Roy had, but when Roy had shifted, he had never turned into a monster like this.
This time when Slade lashed out, his punch connected with Oliver's face, sending blood spraying from Oliver's nose. The moment Felicity sensed the heady smell of Oliver's blood, something inside of her snapped. She jumped again and this time, she tore her sharp teeth into Slade's forearm. His blood filled her mouth and she tore off a chunk of his flesh, making the creature howl in pain. He freed himself from her grip, panting heavily. His eye was flashing between yellow and red as a crazed look came over his face. She watched in horror as his face continued to morph, the eyepatch breaking, revealing nothing more than an empty socket. His ears flattened back against his head suddenly and Felicity saw him shift on his feet. For a moment, she wasn't sure what he was doing, but he looked around as if searching for something. The next thing she knew, the hybrid creature had sped toward the glass balcony, throwing himself right through the glass and into the darkness of the night. Felicity started to go after him, knowing that the fight was far from over, but she felt the pull in her chest even before he spoke.
"Felicity, don't," Oliver said, making her turn away from the broken window and back to him. She hurried over to him, her paws padding over the floor as she stood over him, tongue darting out to lick at his hand and then at his forehead that was bleeding. Sitting back, she realized that his wound had already healed, most likely due to her blood still being in his system. His nosebleed had stopped too, but his face was still red from the blood. It didn't seem to be broken or anything though, which made her wonder just how quickly her blood had managed to heal him. She held his gaze and Oliver leaned forward, his forehead pressing at the side of her throat, his fingers digging into her fur. He needed her comfort at the same time that he needed to know that she was okay. A low whine fell from her and she nuzzled against him, trying to assure him that she was all right.
"What the hell just happened?" Walter's voice finally broke the silence, making both Oliver and Felicity turn their attention to the older couple who were shifting their attention from the broken window to the two of them. Felicity could only imagine what it must look like to them; Oliver sitting on the floor with a huge white wolf at his side that was cuddling up against him.
Sniffing the air and looking at Moira and Walter, Felicity could sense that they weren't injured. Yes, Walter was still bleeding a bit from his neck, but there wasn't much blood flow since Slade had only just pierced his skin. There hadn't been much damage done because Felicity had reacted quickly. However, she was certain that the man would be sore in the morning. Then there was the issue about the compulsion. If it had only been a display of power, then Felicity wasn't sure if it had worn off on it's own or if Slade had somehow ordered both Walter and Moira to remain docile until he bit one of them. It was something they would need to discuss, but she wouldn't be able to do so as a wolf. Looking at Oliver again, she stood back up and he held on to her as he lifted himself up off the floor. Finally standing, Felicity made another noise and then sped up the main staircase, toward Oliver's room. She wasn't going to shift back to human form in front of Walter and Moira. Surely, they had seen enough of her as a wolf and she didn't want them seeing her completely nude. Besides, she needed to check and make sure that there wasn't someone else lurking upstairs.
When she couldn't sense any other presence in the house besides the people downstairs, she made her way into Oliver's room, grateful that the door had been left ajar. Once inside, she quickly turned back into a human, cringing slightly as her bones returned to their normal form and she stood, rolling her shoulders. Pulling the spare blanket off of the bed, she had just enough time to wrap herself up in it when Oliver entered the room. There was a wet towel in his hand and he wiped at his face, trying to get the blood washed away. His eyes were set on her though and she felt a familiar tightening in her gut. He didn't close the door behind himself as he approached her with quick steps, closing the distance between them. Dropping the towel on the floor, his hands cupped her cheeks just before he kissed her urgently, catching her off guard for just a second. The second she recovered from her surprise, she responded just as enthusiastically to the kiss. He pulled back just as she started getting lost in him and he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing heavily.
"I didn't know he was still alive," he said after a moment of silence. "It makes sense now, why the Master was targeting us like this… Why he wanted you to find me… It was Slade all along."
"Oliver, we'll handle this, I swear," Felicity said, "but right now, all I can think about is the fact that we could have died down there and we didn't."
"I know," Oliver said, opening his eyes to meet hers. She was still holding the blanket around herself, her torn clothes left downstairs in the dining room.
"I turned in front of Walter," she said. "Oh God, I turned in front of your mother."
"You protected them," Oliver corrected. "You protected us all and you could have been killed in the process."
"They are your family," Felicity told him. "That makes them my family too, no matter if they accept me or not."
"We should go back downstairs," Oliver said, but he leaned in and pressed another kiss against her lips. "Walter is confused and so is my mom… What Slade did to them…"
"He compelled them," Felicity confirmed, knowing that Oliver was thinking it. "We're going to need to contact Diggle and Tommy, tell them what happened. Make sure they're safe."
"We will," Oliver nodded. His hands were still shaking as they moved over her smooth skin. "Take some of my clothes and let's go downstairs. We need to talk to my mom and Walter. I'm pretty sure the maid must have been compelled too… This is a mess," he sighed, rubbing his temple.
Felicity kissed the corner of his mouth as she cupped his cheek with one hand. "We'll deal with this," she promised. "We will figure out what happened here tonight and we'll make sure we're never caught off guard like this ever again."
Oliver only nodded and pulled her in for another quick embrace. Felicity allowed herself to relax against him, breathing in his scent, the tension falling from her shoulders now that she knew that he was safe.
-§-
The next hour or so was all about damage control. Felicity and Oliver gave Moira the opportunity to talk to Walter first because they knew that the truth would be better coming from her. The two of them stayed in the dining room, looking over the damage that had been done to the place during the fight. The table was knocked over, the dishes were broken on the floor. The food that had been placed on the table was covering the walls as well and the broken glass from the balcony door was still on the floor too. There was blood everywhere, drops from every injured person in the house. It was a bit overwhelming and for a moment, Felicity felt dizzy. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her surroundings once more, but just the thought of how close she had gotten to losing Oliver tonight scared her more than anything.
Slade, the Master, was a powerful enemy. She knew that his abilities stemmed from the mirakuru that had turned him into a hybrid, but she had never in her life encountered a creature like him. He was out of control one second and the next, it was as if he was focusing on his task. The split personality thing was just as concerning as everything else about him. The Count had been crazy too, a complete maniac, although with Slade there still seemed to be some kind of sanity tethering him to the things that mattered most to him. Felicity was confused as to what it all meant, although she knew that they needed to figure out how to deal with him.
"How are you doing?" Oliver murmured, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder.
Felicity turned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist as she tried to get a hold of herself. Maybe she had hit her head a bit stronger than she had first suspected. Still, she should have healed fully by now. An hour had passed after all.
"Just a little dizzy," she admitted, not wanting to lie to him. "I think it's all the blood and the thought of everything that could have gone wrong."
"We survived," Oliver said, although Felicity knew that he too had been scared. She had felt it in the desperation of his kiss after he had followed her upstairs to his room.
She wanted to assure him again, to make him see and understand that she would never let anything happen to him or his family. Before she could say anything though, the maid from before walked into the room, looking confused and shaken.
"Mrs. Queen and Mr. Steele are done with their conversation," she said, blinking a few times as if she wasn't even sure what she was talking about anymore. Felicity looked over at Oliver, lips parting in a silent question. He nodded, looking back at the young woman who seemed to be in a daze.
"How about you sit down for a while, Ms…?"
"My name is Abigail," the woman replied, her voice low. "I just recently started working here…" She trailed off once again and Oliver nodded.
"Abigail, please sit down and we'll be with you shortly," he said. Felicity felt his hand fall on the small of her back as he started leading her out of the dining room to the kitchen. "I haven't really been around much with all the Arrow work," Oliver admitted. "I didn't even know that my mom had hired new people…"
"I think we should just talk to your mom and Walter, see how they are first and then we'll get to Abigail," Felicity said. "I hate that she was caught in the crossfire like this."
"I agree," Oliver muttered, just as they walked into the kitchen.
Moira and Walter were sitting on the high chairs around the kitchen island in the middle. Oliver's mother was holding her husband's hand, murmuring low words of comfort to him. It was a sweet sight, but Felicity knew that what they had been through must have been traumatic for both of them. As Oliver and Felicity entered the room, the older couple looked up at them. Felicity watched their faces for any sign of discomfort or fear, but strangely enough, they seemed to be all right. She knew that Moira had probably never seen a wolf transform and Felicity hadn't waited for permission when she had attacked Slade. Walter must have been scared too, seeing her change like that.
"Are you guys okay?" Oliver asked and Felicity was grateful that he was the one to start the conversation.
"We will be," Moira nodded, a sad look crossing her face. "I've explained what happened tonight to Walter… He knows about the Dark One's now."
Felicity looked at the man again, wondering if he hated her now that he knew the truth about her. He had been the first one to accept her when she had started working at Queen Consolidated and she had always been grateful for his support. Whatever he thought about her now, she would forever be in his debt for everything that he had done for her. Being accepted, becoming a part of something bigger… It meant something to Felicity.
"I'm sorry you had to find out like this," Oliver said, and there was real regret in his heart. Felicity could sense it, even as it mixed with her own feelings about the situation that had occurred tonight.
"I suppose it's better now than never," Walter said, clearing his throat. "I am still a bit confused about the details, but I am guessing that I'll understand more with time."
"Trust me, it can get quite messy, the more you learn," Felicity said. She caught herself quickly, sending him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for what happened here tonight, Mr. Steele. You should have never gotten involved in this. I was the one who started this whole mess-"
"Ms. Smoak- Felicity," Walter sighed, addressing her by her first name. She couldn't remember if he had ever done that before. "Mr. Wilson approached me weeks ago, wanting to partner with Queen Consolidated. I was the one who invited him into our home tonight, not you. You saved my life."
Felicity didn't know what to say to that, but she felt some of the tension in her shoulders fall away. "I'm still sorry," she said, not being able to help herself.
Walter, to her surprise, chuckled. "I always knew you were extraordinary," he mused, standing up from his seat. "Although, I can't say that I would have ever expected you to be able to do what you did tonight."
"Yeah, I guess that must have come as a surprise," Felicity said, running her fingers through her hair. She felt a bit self conscious, standing there in one of Oliver's shirts again and a pair of sweats that she had grabbed from Thea's closet.
"I can't say I'm sorry for it though, since you saved my life," Walter said again and she had a feeling that he wasn't going to let that go. She cared about Walter, so for her, it hadn't been a choice. He seemed to believe that she hadn't needed to step in, but she knew better. He was Oliver's family and an innocent in all of this. She would protect him too, just like she would protect everyone else that she cared about.
"Oliver," Moira said after a moment. "Could you maybe help Walter up the stairs? He's still not feeling well from the hit he took."
Oliver looked at Felicity and she knew that he could sense that he was being dismissed in a way. "Yes, of course," he said. "It'll give us a chance to talk… I'll need to check on Abigail as well."
"The poor girl," Walter said. "She just started working for us and then to have something like this happen to her."
Oliver glanced toward Felicity again before walking out of the kitchen with Walter. Felicity nodded curtly, assuring him that she would be fine. Once they were out, she turned back to face Moira. Inhaling through her nose, she sensed the smell of blood. Her eyes zeroed in on Moira's arm, noting that there was blood seeping through the material of her shirt, probably from where Slade had scratched her.
"I can give you some of my blood, to heal," Felicity said, unsure if she was doing the right thing by offering. "If you want, I can heal Walter too."
The corner of Moira's mouth lifted, but the older woman shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't think it will be necessary," she said. "It's just a small cut. I'll clean it before I go to bed and use the emergency medical kit to patch it up."
"Do you need help with it? I can help," Felicity offered, but Moira shook her head.
"You have done enough tonight," she said, holding her hand up.
Dread filled Felicity instantly. She knew that her relationship with Oliver's mother had always been strained. After the Undertaking and jail, Moira had been more welcoming of her. It didn't change the fact that Felicity still felt like she somehow needed to prove herself to her and make a good impression. Now that she and Oliver were together for real, she didn't want Moira to hate her.
"I'm sorry," Felicity blurted, hating the fact that her turning had clearly scared Moira. Oliver's mother had known all along that Felicity was a supernatural being, but to actually see Felicity turn and attack someone else like an animal must have been frightening.
Moira frowned at her apology and Felicity paused, meeting the woman's eyes once more. "You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, Felicity," Moira told her. "It's like my husband just said: You saved his life. You saved us all."
Felicity lowered her head, staring at her hands. She had washed away all the blood before heading downstairs with Oliver again, but her hands still felt as if the substance had dried on them. "The fight against Slade is far from over," she said. "There's still so much going on… I don't know how much you know, but he seems to have a personal vendetta against Oliver and he'll be targeting everyone he cares about."
"By everything that happened tonight, I am guessing that Mr. Wilson has a past with my son, but I don't understand-"
"That's Oliver's story to tell, not mine," Felicity interrupted. "I just need you to know that I won't let Slade hurt Oliver. I will protect him with my life."
"I know," Moira responded, giving her a look. "Even though I couldn't move of my own free will tonight, I saw how you stood between my son and that monster tonight. Your feelings for him run deep… I might even say that you love him." Felicity didn't say anything, but that alone seemed to be enough of an answer to Moira. The older woman smiled at her and Felicity had a feeling that it was genuine. "I'm glad that you've worked out your differences," she said. "Even though I was separated from Oliver for five years, I know that he's still the same young boy he once was, deep down."
"He's better," Felicity said, thinking of all the stories she had heard about Oliver's past. He had told her so much since he told her about Shado. Earlier today, when they had been hiding away in her place, they had exchanged stories and opened up about their pasts. She knew that Oliver wasn't proud of the person he had been before, but she knew without a doubt that she loved the man that he had become.
"He is," Moira agreed. "He's a better man… His love for you and your equal love for him has probably helped him accept that."
Once again, Felicity couldn't find any words. What was she supposed to say? It was clear that Moira knew that her and Oliver's relationship had changed and since she didn't seem to be opposing it, no more words were needed on the matter.
"Slade will be back," Felicity said instead. "He won't stop until he wins."
"Is there anything I can do? Resources to help locate him? Anything?" Moira offered.
"You and Walter can tell me and Oliver everything that you know, for starters," Felicity said. "It can wait until tomorrow morning because I hardly think he will be back tonight, but we're going to need everything from the first time he made contact with you. It can help us figure out what angle he's playing at with Queen Consolidated."
Moira nodded, still looking deep in thought. She pursed her lips then and shot Felicity a look. "What else? There's something you're not saying," she realized.
Felicity breathed out slowly, nervous about her next request. She hadn't talked it over with Oliver yet, but she hoped that she was making the right call. The moment she had him alone again, she was going to explain her decision to him and she only prayed that he would be on her side.
"I want you to leave Starling City," she finally said. "I want you and Walter to go, because the next time that Slade attacks, we might not be as lucky as we were tonight. The less people that he can use as leverage against us, the better."
Moira contemplated it, her eyebrows furrowing. Felicity allowed her a moment to think about it, but finally, the other woman nodded.
"You're right," she said. "I'll talk to Walter tonight, make plans to get away for a while until this whole business is settled… Will you keep me informed about what's happening?"
"I will," Felicity promised. "This is the safest option for you and Walter, Moira. I will talk to Oliver too, make him understand-"
"You don't have to," Oliver spoke up, stepping into the kitchen. Felicity bit her lip, turning to face him, prepared for his anger. She didn't see any though, so she relaxed when he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I agree with Felicity, mom," he said. "This is the best idea we have to keep you safe."
"Then it's settled," Moira said, walking toward the exit. "If you'll excuse me, I still have some things to talk over with Walter and I have a feeling that the two of you will need a moment alone." With a last smile, she walked out of the kitchen and left Felicity alone with Oliver. The second they were by themselves, Oliver wrapped his arm around Felicity's shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he pressed a kiss against her forehead, shaking his head.
"Don't even think about it," he told her. She understood why he felt the need to hold her because she was still shaken about everything that had just happened as well. "I texted Diggle and Tommy, made sure they knew about Slade being out there, but I don't think they're in danger of an attack tonight. You got Slade pretty bad with that last bite of yours."
"He'll heal and he'll be back," Felicity said.
"I know," Oliver sighed. "It's just, my mind feels like it's all over the place. I still can't believe that he's alive and that he's been behind this the whole time."
"Some things still aren't adding up," Felicity told him. "Why would he out himself like this, tonight of all nights? Does that mean that his plans are about to be put in action? What's his endgame?"
"We'll figure it out," Oliver said, similarly to what she had told him when they had been upstairs together. "Tomorrow, we'll have a meeting with the rest of the team and we'll set up a plan."
Felicity pressed her lips against his shoulder, embracing him tightly. "I think I know what we need to do," she said after a moment.
"What?" Oliver asked, his hands stroking the back of her head gently.
"After we talk to your mom and Walter, get them safely out of town and meet with Tommy and Diggle, we need to contact Lyla," Felicity said, looking up at him.
"For what?" Oliver frowned, but she knew that he could already sense what she was going to say. His eyes widened as she tried to project her thoughts and emotions as loudly as possible into his mind. She knew that he wouldn't hear them exactly, but he could pick up on some of the things that she was thinking of. "You want to visit Roy," he acknowledged and Felicity nodded.
"With Slade revealing himself, I need my beta by my side, Oliver," she said. "This fight is closer than we think and by the time that it breaks out, I need to know that Roy will be able to stand with me, even with the mirakuru in his system." She blinked back tears, knowing that there were many risks involved with every possible route they could choose. This one, meeting up with Roy and Thea, would be the safest one for them too. She had to know that Roy was still himself; she couldn't have him turn into a monster like Slade.
Oliver's fingers brushed over her cheek gently. "You and me," he told her and he didn't have to say anything else, because she could feel it. He was on her side with this too. They were together and he wasn't going to abandon her for anything. Whatever Slade or anyone else threw at them, they would face it together. Whatever darkness they fell into, they would always find their way back to the light, as long as they stood by one another.
Note: Uh-oh... So, some of you saw this coming, but let me just say, there are so many hints in this chapter for other things, that I wonder if you actually picked up on it, he he he... Also, as you can see, we'll be visiting Roy and Thea in the next one! Yay! I haven't started writing it yet, but I'll work on it a bit now during the weekend. Sorry for any spelling mistakes in this chapter, I just wanted to get it out to you guys since I promised I'd post it.
Also, I've been thinking about doing a live-feed Q&A on my Twitter in relation to this story... What do you think about that? Then you could scream at me live while I get to actually discuss some of the things that have happened here along with what's in store for the final couple of chapters. I would like that, but what do you think? :)
Thank you so much for reading and supporting this story. I love each and every one of you for commenting.
Much love! Until next time... x
