Chapter 4 – Public Personas Part 2
AN – Again many thanks for your support! FYI, I hope to continue as a collection of random one-shots that are loosely connected through the Lessons so if there's a scenario you'd like to see then pls just let me know! For now, here is the rest of the charity costume event!
DISCLAIMER – Still no legal claim to CW's Arrow but hope springs eternal and all that!
Feeling the leather against his hands, Oliver rubbed gently and pulled back as the song came to an end. "Leather can be tricky, difficult to get off…I'll be happy to help you though. Have I told you just how much I like your costume?"
Both smiled but neither realized just what an impact her costume would have on their evening nor that they would have need of it later in the night…
Oliver wore a proud smile as he led Felicity back to their friends. Seeing Diggle and Roy both smirking though did cause him to narrow his eyes suspiciously. He wasn't surprised when Roy spoke immediately.
"So just what is your costume anyway Oliver? Going incognito as a rich former CEO playboy?" Roy grinned as he mocked his teacher and friend.
All turned to take in the simple, elegant black tuxedo as Oliver quirked a brow and replied. "Hmm, didn't Felicity mention that costumes were optional instead of formal attire?"
All now turned their gazes to Felicity who grinned and spoke next. "None of you asked so technically I didn't lie…I just omitted a few pertinent facts." Roy groaned dramatically as Diggle rolled his eyes, however, the women seemed more amused than annoyed. "Besides, I couldn't be the only one in costume."
"So much has changed now, so many Lessons violated. You lied—" Roy began though he too was actually more amused than annoyed.
"Omitted, not lied…and you got to wear a cool sword in public so why are you complaining?" Felicity continued to grin so Roy switched his focus to Oliver as he continued to complain.
"You could have told us – aren't you supposed to have our backs? We did talk about this several times." Roy realized his mistake and knew when Oliver grinned that the other man wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.
"You are right - we did talk about it. I think you suggested I go as the Central City hero the Flash, didn't you Roy?" Oliver had hoped the younger man would give him a chance to repay him for that suggestion since Felicity wouldn't let him train with him afterwards.
"You didn't?" Thea asked laughing. "I'm surprised that you survived that one Roy – impressive."
"Not that impressive considering that he hid behind Felicity when he said it." Diggle couldn't resist joining in the fun as the others laughed.
Taking pity on Roy even as she laughed, Felicity stepped forward to tug on his arm. "Come on Harper, dance with me!"
Roy had no issue with Felicity continuing to rescue him and even grinned as he looked back over his shoulder at the others. He laughed harder when he saw that Oliver was no longer grinning, but he did put Felicity's back to Oliver so he could keep watch.
Oliver frowned as he watched Felicity dance with Roy. The Arsenal wasn't a real threat but he did serve to remind Oliver of the all other men in the room. Scanning the room he saw too many looking intently at Felicity. He couldn't help but wonder if they saw more than the tight leather pants, if they even noticed the bright smile and easy laugh. He wondered if they could even begin to guess at what was beneath the surface and just how remarkable she actually was.
After Roy's dance, Digg claimed Felicity next as he knew Oliver wouldn't allow too many more opportunities. He hoped the press was paying attention so they could see just how hard Oliver Queen had fallen for the woman they continued to disregard so easily.
Oliver claimed Felicity next and stayed close throughout the night by choice, by necessity, by instinct. He had never realized that seeing Felicity in green leather would be such a turn on, but it was. She hadn't said what her costume was and he never even thought to ask. He had seen the party as another job, another task to get over and done with so he could be with his friends, with her.
Between being Mayor, being on the QC Board, and being the Green Arrow, he had little enough spare time and he preferred to spend it with Felicity. He didn't care if they were watching her favorite scifi series or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream in bed, he just enjoyed being with her. He enjoyed talking to her, listening to her, watching her, touching her...Oliver pulled his thoughts back before he put on even more of a show than he had when he had first seen her in green leather.
That image was burned into his mind forever, in addition to a multitude of images of Felicity. The first time he saw her in her office chewing on a pen - Felicity crying, laughing, Felicity wearing only a smile. Get your head in the game, Oliver reminded himself even as he pulled Felicity closer. He growled low in his chest when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Turning, Oliver saw Ray Palmer standing and smiling at Felicity and he nearly growled again but Felicity used the hand at his neck to reach up and pinch his ear.
"Ray, I didn't you were going to be here tonight." Felicity's smile was slightly forced as she worried about Oliver being…well, Oliver. She loved that he still got jealous though as he rarely stepped over the line and returned to his more primal instinctive response anymore.
"I couldn't resist an opportunity to dress up. I do love your costume Felicity…I didn't realize you had a thing for superheroes." His smile was smug as he ignored Oliver and continued to focus on the blond. He had always wished he had gotten more time to get to know the woman.
"Not all superheroes – just the Arrow but luckily Oliver doesn't mind." Felicity answered tartly as she grinned at Ray then Oliver before turning back to Ray. "What's your costume anyway?"
"I'm an Atom." Ray announced proudly and Felicity laughed as now she understood the colored blob in the middle of his black tux as well as the thin lines that circled it at various angles. "Do you mind if I cut in?"
Felicity again pinched Oliver's ear as she dropped her hands and turned to put herself before Ray and Oliver. "Of course not, Oliver will have me all night…I mean, we're together and he…dancing, we'll be dancing all night here."
Felicity's ramble relaxed Oliver as nothing else could have and he slipped an arm around her waist to pull her back for a quick kiss. Turning to Ray, he smiled proudly. "I don't blame you for wanting to dance with Felicity, she is the most beautiful woman in the room, in any room really."
Blushing even more after Oliver's comment, Felicity assumed a more formal dance position with Ray even as she turned to watch Oliver walk away. She knew she had probably done little to quiet all the haters but it made her feel better to claim the Green Arrow for herself. The Green Arrow was the hero of Starling City after all - he had saved the city repeatedly and she had helped him. She was part of Team Arrow and she was proud of it. It didn't hurt that the real Green Arrow himself clearly approved of her costume. Smiling to herself, Felicity turned back and smiled politely at Ray as she asked him about his current projects.
Oliver moved purposefully away from the couple and sought out his friends as he needed a distraction. Unfortunately, he couldn't locate anyone on their Team so he continued to stare at Felicity dancing with Ray Palmer.
"I just may have an excuse, other than jealousy, for you to interrupt them." Diggle grinned as he stood next to Oliver. Roy was now on his way to get Thea and Lyla and Felicity would be needed too.
Oliver turned eagerly to his friend even if he tried to keep his face calm, blank. "What's going on?"
"Roy noticed a couple caterers are wearing sneakers so we checked out the staff and it looks like the party is about to heat up." Before he had finished speaking Oliver was on his way to Felicity.
"Sorry to interrupt but Felicity, Roy and Digg have some important information to share that is a little time sensitive." Oliver already had an arm around Felicity and stood between her and the now frowning Ray as he finished speaking.
Felicity had frowned not at Oliver's interruption but at the harsh tone; however, his words put her on edge as it was clearly a reference to a Team issue. "Sorry Ray – another time. Let's go Oliver!"
Ray's brows rose almost to his hairline as he heard the authority in her tone. Bemused, he watched as the slim blond now pulled the much larger man behind her.
"Great, the gang's all here." Roy announced when the missing pair joined them.
"Looks like a crew of four, young, not that organized – we found bags with masks and guns in the back. We can't take them out now but if we wait…" Diggle's voice trailed off as all of them glanced around the room at the potential number of innocent casualties.
Thinking quickly, Oliver calculated the opened balconies as he considered a plan. Digg and Roy immediately followed his line of sight and his thoughts as well. Felicity was already texting Captain Lance even as she handed out comms links. Thea immediately went in search of Walter after a brief look at Oliver and Roy – she could hear Oliver start outlining his plan as she walked away.
"There's got to be another way." Diggle argued after Oliver finished but at the same moment masked men entered the room with gunfire directed to the ceiling.
"Nope, let's move. Felicity." Oliver used the chaos and quickly ushered Felicity out the balcony. Before she could register a complaint, he had her outside and hidden on the ledge as he took the bow and arrows from her back.
"We're in position." Digg updated as he and Lyla had headed to the east side to block the entrance. Both had their weapons close at hand.
"I've got Walter – center, toward the back." Thea advised from her position.
There was a brief scuffle heard over the comms which caused Oliver and Felicity to exchange a look just as Digg and Lyla did. It was Thea's voice they heard next.
"Roy? Check-in!" There was a mixture of urgency and authority in Thea's voice as she searched the room for her ex. Digg and Oliver also altered their position for better vantage points in case Roy needed back-up.
"Just taking out the trash – I'm in position. Let me know when you need the lights out." Roy wasn't breathing heavy as even though they hadn't known about the two other bad guys, they hadn't posed much of a challenge. They were now tied up next to the unconscious security guard as Roy sat at his desk.
The masked men had been rounding up the party guests and requiring that they turned over all jewelry, cash, and phones. Team Arrow noted the disorganized effort and how one man stood off to the side but there was no time to waste and Oliver gave the go sign.
As the lights flashed off, leaving only one light behind him, a hooded Oliver stood up. Before he could speak though the gunman fired. Releasing four arrows in quick succession he moved back to the ledge and pushed Felicity back onto the other balcony. Roy brought the lights back up just as the SCPD entered the building. Captain Lance led the charge and stopped to speak to Diggle as his men continued into the ballroom.
Felicity had her bow and arrows back on her minus the four Oliver used. Her hood was stuffed inside the quiver. The pair walked casually to Captain Lance who still stood with Diggle and Lyla – Thea and Walter as well as Roy joined immediately. A young lieutenant approached Lance and spoke with an awestruck tone.
"All three suspects have been cuffed – the arrows went through the gun hands and pinned them to the wall."
"Three? I thought I saw a fourth man Captain, on the south side." Diggle offered with a significant look and Lance immediately replied.
"Do you mind showing me Mr. Diggle?"
The whole group made their way calmly through the chaos of the hysterical crowds as the SCPD fought to restore order. Diggle stopped and pointed to the blood stain as Oliver gestured much higher up the wall. The broken arrow had been imbedded in the wall with a black mask hanging from it.
"He broke it and pulled his hand free then repositioned the arrow that high up? Why? Why would he do that?" Felicity asked in a quiet, tense voice.
"He stood off from the others, didn't even collect the booty." Roy had followed the action on the security cameras.
"Leader?" Diggle questioned with a significant look at Oliver who stared at the white concentric circles on the mask.
"He wasn't wearing that mask." Oliver noted and the others quickly looked then nodded in agreement.
"So what message is he trying to send the Arrow?" Lance asked as the group exchanged looks.
"I don't know but I know that we'll find out." Oliver vowed quietly.
...
The next morning Felicity arrived at Team Arrow's lair to find her own picture on the front cover of the newspaper. It was taken at the charity ball so she was in her Arrow costume - Oliver stood slightly to her side with a proud smile on his face as he focused on her. The headline read Arrow Saves Party but the article didn't just recount the criminal activity of the night but also noted the surprising and striking costume choice made by Felicity Smoak. The reporter then went on to ask whether or not Oliver Queen now had competition for his leading lady's hand.
Felicity laughed lightly even as Oliver's arms came around her and he nuzzled her neck. He had placed the paper there and already knew what the article said.
"So should I worry about you and the Arrow?" Oliver teased.
In response, Felicity turned inside the circle of his arms and thoroughly kissed him.
AN2 – Special thanks to SunnyIt for suggesting the Flash costume part!
AN3 – Another self-serving and shameless plea for attention, I'm currently working on my 2nd book and have decided to post my first book in its entirety on Fiction Press. I'll be posting a chapter a week so I hope you'll take a moment and check it out (my pen name is Rennie75 there too and the story is called Nadya's World). Thank you!