Felicity mumbled tirelessly to herself the entire elevator ride down to the basement. "I mean really, as if he has actually left his phone in the Car, I mean I know he was trying to do me a favour, but really, make it believable"
She had no idea who she was actually talking to but somehow chattering away to no one in particular brought a calming effect upon her. As she spotted the Bentley at the far corner of the garage she breathed a sigh of contentedness at the familiar sight before her and pulled her cardigan closed crossing her arms to block out the cold and damp of the bottom floor of the building. The feeling of serenity that Felicity had found to centre herself was quickly swept from under her by the calling of her name to her far left. She didn't turn, she didn't need to. The voice was one that had haunted her for five long years. Pretending as though she had not heard anything she continued on her quest for Diggles' phone, blond ponytail swishing with purpose, but she wasn't quick enough and as she saw he tall shady figure appear in her peripheral vision she let out an 'eep' sound before turning to face her demons. Jed stood a little closer to her than she found comfortable and as he spoke she slowly stepped backwards two steps in pursuit of the safe haven of the car.
"Hey Jed, w.. are you doing down here?" Felicty uttered, trying her very hardest to compose herself and appear aloof.
Jed gestured to the tie that hung loosely round his neck and then to the one in his hands "I stupidly spilled my coffee and well I had a clean tie in the car so."
"Oh, well wasn't that a pure Stroke of Luck" Felicity choked out nervously, pulling her lips into a tight smile while consciously taking another step backwards.
"We should grab a coffee. After work maybe?" Jed offered. His voice thick with charm, making Felicity wretch even more than she would have initially at the invitation.
"I uh can't, I have to go do…..something, probably wash my hair or you know, my dogs hair, If I had a dog, which...I...don't"
Felicity turned to retreat, but a heavy hand weighing down on her wrist pulled her back to within inches of the man who taught her how to hate.
"I want to see her" Jed offered pathetically, his voice no more than whisper.
"What? I, don't know what you're talking about?" Felicity whimpered as she fumbled for the automatic lock on the key-ring in her hand. Jed's hands found their way to her upper arms and he squeezed them tightly to keep her from running. Felicity could feel her airways restricting at the feel of his touch, her mind flashing back to their encounter five years ago. She fought at the sobs that threatened to consume her and with all her strength she tried to pull away, but Jed's grip on her would not relent.
"You lied to me Felicity I want to see her" His eyes darkened and as he spoke and his voice echoed with a wave of terror throughout the basement leaving Felicity's throat dry with fear. Felicity swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat and stood a little straighter. Ignoring his request she averted his gaze, and looked to the security camera in the corner.
"You know you're on camera right now Jed, my friend that you met earlier will be here any second and you do not want to piss him off"
All it took was one quick glance from Jed as he followed her gaze to the camera to give Felicity enough of a distraction to catch him off guard. Raising her knee with all the force she could muster and ploughing it between his legs bought her enough time to jump into the Bently and lock the door behind her.
With a heightened sense of focus both men entered the parking garage taking stock of their surroundings, being careful to keep checking the area behind them as they moved forward. With his gun drawn and ready, Diggle made his way to the Bentley while Oliver widened their search checking between nearby Vehicles.
"FELICITY"
As Diggle flicked off the safety, he noticed a shadow move behind the blacked out window of the back of the Queens Car. Catching Oliver's attention, Diggle gestured with a dip of his head alerting Oliver to his discovery, and carefully bending down he removed the pistol from his ankle holster and slid it across the floor in Oliver's direction. Oliver skilfully retrieved the gun and began to close the distance between them. Once they were either side of the Car, Diggle outwardly counted to three before pulling the door ajar and shouting for the occupant to throw their hands in the air, before quickly withdrawing his weapon at the sight of Felicity cowering between the seats on the floor of the car.
Oliver carefully tucked the handgun into the waistband of his trousers before offering Felicity a hand which she graciously took allowing him to pull her out of the car and to her feet with such force that she collided with the hard planes of his chest. He immediately brought his arm protectively around her placing a kiss upon her head.
Oliver raised his trembling hands to either side of her face, pushing her hair aside checking for any obvious injuries, before pulling her back into him and enveloping her within his arms. Taking full note of the bruising that was starting to form on her upper arms and her cheeks that were stained by the drying of fallen tears, he held her tightly and buried his face into her hair so he could inhale her scent, taking comfort in the fact she was on the whole unhurt. He didn't have to ask if she was okay she instantly replied as though on some unspoken level they had already communicated and she continued the conversation out loud "I'm ok, really" Before heading back towards the sanctuary of Oliver's private office.
When Oliver reached the glass door that separated their offices he could see Felicity had made her way over to the floor to ceiling windows at the far end of the office and was preparing herself for the grilling she knew was inevitable. Felicity jumped at the opening of the door, despite expecting it, her nervous disposition not lost on Oliver who remained silent and perched himself against the edge of the large conference table. With her arms crossed and legs wobbling beneath her she turned to face the music "I'm Sorry" was all she could muster. Oliver pushed up off the table and took a step to narrow the distance between them
"Sorry?, why are you sorry?"
"Because I know you're worried and you want an explanation but this is one part of my life that you don't get to ask me about" She replied with conviction. "You and Diggle will just have to accept that" she added as she gestured to Diggle who was sat at her desk playing with her Tablet. "Speaking of Diggle what's he doing?"
Oliver turned to see what Diggle was actually doing before responding "Oh, he's deleting the camera footage from the parking garage"
Feleicty broke out in a smile, proud that some of her hacking ability had rubbed off on Diggle in the last two and half years. The smile quickly faded when Oliver reproached the topic of conversation that was not to be discussed.
"Did Jed hurt you?" Oliver asked calmly, yet in a voice that was reminiscent of the Arrow, whilst concentrating on the bruising on her arms.
"How did you?" Felicity gasped not quite finishing her sentence and then realising that Diggle must have clued him in. "No, i'm fine" She quickly added rubbing her arms.
"Fel-ic-it-y, he had you cowering in the back of the Bentley" Oliver insisted, rolling his thumb and forefinger agitatedly. This was enough to have her near breaking point and turning away from him to hide her fragility. After a brief silence Oliver closed the distance between them, his chest now flush with her back, placing his hands on her shoulders that had started to shake. He was surprised when one of her hands arched up to touch his as an act of thanks, but she said nothing.
"Felicity, please talk to me"
Felicity turned to face him her face red with anger. "How can I Oliver? after our date last week you already have one metaphorical foot out the door."
Oliver took a step a back dumbfounded by her matter of fact statement, He knew things had been strained between them and strictly speaking they were well overdue a conversation. The selfish side of him wanted to hold her and tell her loved her, kiss her and take her bed, but the other side of him, the voice of reason was forcing him to accept the events of their first date and let her go to keep her safe.
"Felicity I need you to be safe. When I met you and let you in, My mission to save this city suddenly wasn't the most important thing to me, keeping you safe was. Last week has made me question whether I can be with you and still keep you from being hurt"
Biting her bottom lip to stop her from giving into the overwhelming need to cry she took a slow, controlled breath and asked the question she wasn't sure she was ready to hear the answer to. "Can you?" Because Oliver I'm willing to take the risk if you are" As Felicity waited with bated breath, any form of composure began to slowly slip away and her silent tears threaten to become a sob. The silence that shrouded her as Oliver's eyes bored into her soul caused her chest to burn with fear and anticipation. As she lowered her gaze to prepare herself for the walk out of his office she felt Oliver moving closer to her. When she saw his shoe enter her line of vision her head was tilted by the strength of his index finger and before she had the chance to speak his lips were on hers.