Chapter 2
AN – Yeah, apparently I don't understand the meaning of "one shot" any more that I understand "complete"! :) Not sure why I felt the need to continue this other than the fact that I'm afraid tonight's new episode won't bring much Olicity fun! I've enjoyed the Vigilante/ Team Arrow universe of my stories that I've been living in lately and tonight will be a rough push back into "reality"!
DISCLAIMER – Still not mine, never gonna be mine!
Oliver Queen left the committee meeting tense though with his playboy CEO façade in place no one was aware of his heightened state of alert. There was too much noise and not just the concerns, accusations being bandied about inanely by those in attendance. There was also the static from the conference call phone, incessant tapping of pens, even the nervous throat clearing grated his already tense nerves. It was as if there was an endless barrage of information fighting for his attention and he was unable to turn off his island honed senses. It took an enormous amount of restraint to appear calm, unflappable when your senses were raging just under the surface.
He was relieved to see John Diggle holding an empty elevator for his use. Even the pointless elevator music would be soothing, Oliver thought as he nodded a greeting to his friend.
Diggle wasn't like most and did note that Oliver was tense. He understood Oliver's battles even if the other man had never verbalized them. Diggle had served in war zones and understood the scars soldiers returned home with and even had some of his own. The adjustment to normal civilian life was always difficult and Oliver's war zone was more intense, personal than most. Diggle simply stood guard next to him and was relieved he had asked Felicity Smoak to program the elevators to lower the music and to allow them private passage between floors. It was enough to take the immediate edge off of Oliver's tension and allow him a few quiet breaths. Let's just hope Felicity can work some more magic before tonight's mission, Diggle thought. The mission and night itself usually calmed Oliver but Diggle knew that working with an Oliver on the edge was always more dangerous.
Felicity knew the meeting would be rough and fully expected the tense Oliver who stepped off the elevator. She exchanged looks with John and his nod only served to confirm her expectations. It was unfortunate that QC business was going to aggravate him further but Felicity planned to get that out of the way quickly.
"Oliver, there was some forms and documents you need to sign." Felicity spoke quietly instead of in her usually animated fashion. She followed Oliver into his office and pointed toward the array of documents neatly stacked and flagged on his desk.
Even without John's experience Felicity had noted Oliver's heightened senses early. Felicity's mom suffered from migraines and it was a similar look in Oliver's eyes that first caught Felicity's attention. She noted the pain in his eyes even as he smiled and spoke politely. Next, she noticed when he cringed as an HR assistant walked by. He had mentioned the strong scent of her perfume and even called it by name. Felicity hadn't been able to smell anything much less identify the name brand of the scent and the woman had been stand close to her before walking by Oliver. The next clue was when he had turned with a questioning look at her desk drawer when he had visited her in the IT department. She hadn't understood at the time and he had avoided her question. Only later when she noted the missed call and voicemail timed well with his visit did she understand. The revelation of Oliver as the Hood had simply explained her observations and provided additional examples of his skills and abilities as well as the price he paid for them.
After choosing to help Oliver and John, Felicity had also chosen to change some of her habits in order to ease his burden. She switched her shampoo, stopped wearing perfume completely and even kept the music down at the lair. The lair was clearly his sanctuary and she was particularly careful there. As his EA, she had taken further steps to ease the background noise with several noise reductions on both of their computers and phones. It seemed he struggled less as the months had gone by but there were still rough days. Apparently, today is a rough one, Felicity thought as she saw the tension in his shoulders as he started to sign the papers.
Oliver did feel some tension ease as he settled into his chair with only Felicity and Diggle near him. He had realized early that both had a calming effect on him. He was able to relax around them and even at times forgot they were in the lair with him which both surprised and annoyed him. He also took note of each change they implemented on his behalf and again he was surprised and annoyed. Surprised they noticed and wanted to help him without even talking to him and annoyed they noticed and wanted to help him without even talking him. It seemed there were more options than just fight or flight now and he found he didn't want to fight their efforts nor did he wish to flee from the resulting comforts.
Felicity stepped in close to retrieve the signed papers and Oliver timed his breath accordingly. He knew she had stopped wearing perfume for his benefit but he didn't think she fully appreciated the fact that the scent of her was far more compelling than anything from a bottle. He also didn't think she understood that her presence while comforting, relaxing on one level was also exhilarating on another.
He had been with women since his return but none were quite the right fit. He now realized that he had tried to both re-create and atone for the past by pursuing his connection to Laurel. Helena certainly appealed to his darker side but in truth he found he wanted more light in his life. McKenna was a perfectly logical, normal choice but that was perhaps why he couldn't fit her into his not so normal life. Isabel Rochev was simply expedient on many levels but not someone he did or could care about or allow into his life past his bed. He had resigned himself to such a future – a return to a string of nameless women, none of whom merited or required anything past sex. He had tried to convince himself that was best and all that he deserved…he tried to ignore the temptation of his beautiful, vivacious and clever IT girl even as she became more than his assistant, more than his friend. Oliver again took a deep breath as Felicity passed behind his chair on her way back out.
He treasured the comfort, peace and even light that she and John, but Felicity in particular, had brought into his life. He knew he didn't deserve it but he finally acknowledged that he was not only better for it but also willing to work to deserve it. There would be no more flights from his sanctuary but he would fight for it.
Oliver watched the sway of Felicity's hips as she walked from his office and he saw the look of concern shared by his friends. Right now, it seemed he would need to fight himself and his own urges to keep the comfort of Felicity in his life. He wasn't ready to risk the joy, peace, light of her even for the exhilaration of finally solving the mystery of her taste.