Hi guys! Wow, I can't believe people are actually reading this. Thank you for the positive reviews but also know that I am very welcoming of constructive criticism. Again, you guys are awesome.

This chapter is set during "The Calm". Obviously AU. That ending of the episode though, excuse me while I cry.

Anyways, add in another billionaire genius who ties into the Great Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let the games begin.

"I'm so sorry, Oliver. I really thought that was going to go our way."

Felicity stepped quickly to catch up with the man, cursing her footwear and restricting suit.

"It's fine. I'm sure the company will be better off with Dr. Palmer anyways. It was selfish of me to think I could save the company. I'd better stick to what I do best." Oliver paused and smiled tightly at her . "I bet you were really looking forward to making me coffee again."

Felicity loved him. She really did and right then she really just wanted to hug him.

"It's fine. It's not like my IT career is over. Guess who is going to get to meet a certain billionaire genius? And no, I don't mean Mr. Ray-ooh-like-my-smartwatch-Palmer."

Oliver raised an eyebrow in that very Oliver Queen-style.

"Tony Stark of Stark Industries! The main leader of clean energy and a billion other tech advancements!"

Oliver couldn't help feeling a slight twinge of jealousy. He cringed inwardly when he noticed that Felicity noticed.

"No! Oh gosh, no, I'm not leaving you! Never! Oh gosh, not that I'm with you, just I'm with your crusade. 3, 2, 1..."

Oliver put his hand to steady her. "Felicity." This was going to hurt him a lot more than it was going to hurt her. Right? "I understand. That's huge. It's great."

Felicity stopped him. "You need me, Oliver. I'm your girl and until every single last baddie in this city is locked up in a smelly old jail, I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you."

Felicity smiled. "So... do you want to grab a coffee before the next takedown?"

Then she saw it. She had taken a risk and that small crack that she thought could be safely stepped over widened into a void that she stared down. Oliver stepped back, ever so imperceptibly. But she noticed. So she tried to save it.

"We can just pick up a couple for the team, it will probably be a long night."

She waited. Black ice would be the metaphor for this moment, she thought.

"Sure."

Maybe, just maybe, we can make it.

"Don't ask me to say that I don't love you."

"I told you as soon as we talked... it would be over."

Felicity bit her lip down hard, trying to walk straight as hot burning tears started to sting and cloud her vision. She stopped beside her car parked in the alleyway and fumbled inside her purse for her car keys. He made his choice.

All she wanted to do was go home and crash, maybe call her mom or something.

Her fingers failed to grasp anything remotely like a car key. She wanted to curse, scream, be angry as heck- anything but fall apart crying. Anything but feel the raw heartbreak...

"Felicity?"

If anything, the sheer surprise of it caught her off guard. She turned around, blinking into the headlights of the limo behind her. A man stood there, half-emerged from the driver's seat of the limo.

"Marcos? Oh, gosh, I'm in your way." She paused and blinked at him. "Why did you park in the alleyway?"

Marcos turned crimson. That had to be some sort of record, was what crossed Felicity's mind. The second thought was-

"Oh my gosh, are you stalking me?"

Great, just another stalker to add to the list. She reached into her purse slowly and pulled out what seemed then to be a ridiculously inadequate pink canister of pepper spray. The man could probably take her out faster than she could flip the switch.

"Stay away, I'm armed." Hanging out with a vigilante sure as heck should pay off now.

"I don't want to hurt you, Felicity!"

"It's Ms. Smoak to you, creeper."

The passenger door of the limo opened. Felicity shielded her eyes to see the new player.

"Ms. Smoak. My name is Tony Stark. We need to talk."

"Frak."