Soulmates existed. Everyone knew who their soulmate was because they had the same soulmark in the same place on their body. But soulmates came in many forms. Mainly platonic and romantic. There was burning passion and there was quiet comfort. Some soulmates knew from the beginning which category they belong in. Others weren't as lucky.
…
Felicity Smoak happened to be in the not so lucky party. She had a soulmark on the back of her elbow. It was an arrow with binary code as the fletching. She often wore long sleeve or quarter length shirts to hide it. It wasn't like she was ashamed, but she hated people who obsessed over their soulmate.
When she met Oliver Queen, she never would have guessed he was her soulmate. He blatantly lied to her, but she still felt she could trust him. Their friendship grew, naturally. She got a feeling something might be different when he told her his secret-identity. But it wasn't 100% in her mind. Then one day she watched him workout shirtless.
That's when she saw it. An arrow on the back of his elbow with binary code as the fletching. She choked on her Twizzler. Diggle patted her back when she wouldn't stop coughing. "You okay, Felicity?" the older man asked.
"Yeah," she squeaked. "I just remembered I need to go home. Now!" She quickly got up and sprinted out of the foundry. Oliver and Diggle exchanged a confused look.
So, this was why she felt she could trust Oliver no matter what. Why she cared so deeply about him. But her heart ached at this knowledge because if he was her soulmate, it was more than likely platonic considering the way he looked at her.
If they were romantic soulmates, wouldn't he also have that eye blinding attraction to her? Felicity spent the night wallowing with a glass of wine. She watched all the Robin Hood movies, even the Disney one. But it just made everything worse.
She should have guessed it when she first heard about the hood. He literally shot arrows! And her soulmark was an arrow.
But speaking of that, how was Oliver hiding this secret if he had the same soulmark? Felicity pushed everything to the back of her mind and buried her head in the sand.
…
When Oliver first spotted Felicity's soulmark, he bit his tongue so hard he cursed. It made Felicity jump in her chair. Diggle sent him a questioning stare. Oliver's cheeks flushed and he announced that he'd be going on patrol.
He knew there was something drawing him to Felicity Smoak. He never would have guessed she was his soulmate. But now that he thought about it. It made perfect sense. She was the first person who saw him for simply him. The first person he saw not as a threat. He desperately wanted to keep her safe but never wanted to part ways with her.
It was a conundrum, but he was fine with that.
The only issue was how she felt about him. It was clear she had a crush, but she'd been able to see his soulmark for weeks. And she never said anything. Did she think this was platonic? Oh God, he hoped not.
…
Diggle spotted their marks on two separate occasions. Usually, he tended not to stare at other people marks. It was intrusive and not his business, but these two were unbearable to be around. They were so clearly dancing around feelings. Diggle was getting sick of watching Oliver and Felicity take turns staring at each other.
But when Felicity had a sleeveless dress on one day, and Oliver was working out, Diggle saw it. Oliver went over to stand behind Felicity's desk chair to see her monitor. She had her arm bent on her mouse and Oliver was standing in a way that had their soulmarks side by side. Diggle sucked in a gasp so fast he breathed in some spit.
The pair of soulmates whipped around to him with wide eyes. "Digg, you okay?" Felicity asked full of worry.
John nodded. He told them to go back to what they were doing. Oliver eyed him for a second longer than necessary but eventually went back to Felicity's monitors.
John Diggle knew in that instant, these two buffoons needed to see what they were avoiding. So, he planned something.
…
Diggle picked Felicity's dress for when they went to track down the Dodger. When she refused to accept it, Diggle told her it was on Oliver's credit card, and no one would miss that money.
"True," Felicity sighed.
And Diggle's plan went into action pretty well. Until the Dodger screwed everything up. Diggle ended up taking Felicity home to comfort her, even though he suggested Oliver do it. Oliver was too frazzled. Digg could see the man needed to get lower his adrenalin before he comforted anyone.
…
Felicity woke with a start to knocking on her front door. She rubbed her eyes blearily as she walked to check the peep hole. "Oliver?" she mumbled as she opened the door. Oliver visibly relaxed at the sight of her in her Doctor Who pajamas. She invited him in and asked if he wanted any coffee.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he answered her unasked question. Felicity stopped mid movement to her kitchen. As a friend, yeah that makes sense, she thought.
"Thanks. It was scary but I'm tough."
Oliver shared one of those big toothy smiles. Felicity found herself returning it. She turned her back to him to get his coffee. His eyes fell to her arm. When she saw him staring, she tensed. In her pajamas her soulmark was clear as day. Had he seen it?
Her hand came up to cover it, but Oliver stepped up to her. He grabbed her hand and linked their fingers. Felicity's heart started to race.
"An arrow on the back of your elbow with binary code as the fletching," he softly spoke. Felicity's mouth went dry. When he simply stared at her, she swung their hands playfully.
"Hey, soulmate," she teased nervously. Oliver's eyes lit up with joy and he smiled down at her.
"Hi, soulmate," Oliver replied. Felicity bit her lip and wondered how one would proceed with a platonic soulmate. But then Oliver's hand cupped her face, and he was kissing her!
Felicity melted into the kiss. Her mouth opened without hesitation. He pulled her to him with their linked hands as his tongue glided along hers.
They kissed until they ran out of oxygen then pulled apart with gasps. Felicity's eyes were blown wide open. "So…" her eyes flipped between his swollen lips and his dark eyes, "not platonic," she whispered.
Oliver grinned again. "Far from it," he replied before sinking into another kiss. Felicity felt light-headed in the best of ways. If this happened every time she was wrong, she would love being wrong!
