Chapter Text
The conversation this fic is based on.
Oliver sat at his desk working on a way to lessen the crime in Star City without being too harsh on the citizens of the city when he received a phone call from Felicity.
“Felicity,” he answered.
“Um, no. It’s Sin.”
“Sin? Thea’s friend?”
“If you can call us that. Yeah, I guess.”
“Why do you have Felicity’s phone?”
“So, you know that Thea left me in charge of Verdant while she’s doing what rich girls do for a few months?”
“…Yeah.”
“Well I’m doing my job here, and blondie decided to come here tonight. She’s drunk out of her mind. I cut her off, but-“
“But?”
“But guys keep buying your fiancee’ drinks and she keeps taking them.”
“She’s not my fiancee anymore,” he answered with a heavy heart.
“That’s all you got from this?”
“I’m already on my way,” he said stepping into his car. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Oliver had left his office the moment Sin told him that Felicity was at Verdant. He hung up the phone, and drove past the speed limit and made it to Verdant in record time. He moved through the gyrating crowd, and pushed past the girls that were touching him, inviting him over.
“Mayor Hottie, I have a few things you could help me with personally,” they’d say.
You should work that out with your therapist he thought, but he’d just smile, and continue walking. When he reached Felicity, he couldn’t actually see her. A crowd of men surrounded her and were cheering. “LISSY, LISSY, LISSY.”
Oliver’s blood boiled. He pushed through the swarm of moron’s surrounding Felicity with a bit more force than a mayor should, but he didn’t give a shit.
“O’ver,” she slurred when she saw him. She put down the shot glass, and hopped off the bar stool, if Oliver hadn’t been there she would’ve fell, and probably sprained an ankle considering the height of the bar chair, and her lack of balance.
“Come on, Felicity,” he told her. “Let me take you home.”
“I don’t want to go home,” she protested.
“Felicity,” he tried to reason with her.
“Hey dude. If she doesn’t want to go, don’t force her,” said one of the men surrounding her.
Oliver turned to where the voice came from, and glared at him, sending all the anger could muster but kept a smile on his face. “I suggest you stay out of this,” he said politely.
“Bro-“ another one said.
“I’m not your brother,” Oliver turned to the other, “and I advise you the same.”
“She dumped your ass,” another one shouted.
“I’m well aware of that,” Oliver told him angrily. “And if you keep me from taking her home, I’m going to beat your ass.”
Felicity laughed when one guy stepped closer to Oliver, as if he were going to fight him.
“You guys, you can’t beat Oliver in a fight. I mean he’s…well, he’s Oliver.”
“Oh no baby,” one of them said. “I bench like 250 at the gym. I could take Mr. Mayor out any day.”
Oliver honestly didn’t even hear his challenge, or jibe, he only saw red when he heard the man call Felicity baby. He clenched his jaw, and steadied Felicity before getting in the man’s face.
“Call her baby, one more time,” Oliver told him.
He gulped, and Oliver nodded backing up out of his personal space. Felicity continued to babble as he calmed himself down.
“-And it’s pretty stupid of you to even think about beating up the mayor, ‘cause you’d be behind bars in like five seconds. Not that any of you could beat up Oliver, I’m just saying though…and bars like a jail cell, not these kind of bars. Oliver! Let’s go to another bar. This one is boring. No offence. I mean it’s still Thea’s club, but Sin cut me off. Can you believe that?”
“Yes, I can. Come on, we’re going home.”
The group of men surrounding Felicity seemed to understand that Oliver meant business, and all backed off.
“I don’t want to,” Felicity whined.
“I wasn’t asking,” he told her as he lifted her into his arms.
“Oliver! Oliver put me down.”
“I will, once we get you into the car,” he assured her as he moved past the group of men who made a path for him silently.
He caught a glimpse of Sin on the way out, and he mouthed a thank you to her, and she motioned for him to come over. He was already carrying an non- compliant Felicity, but went over to her nonetheless.
“You forgot this,” she said handing Oliver Felicity’s cell phone and small bag.
Felicity stopped protesting then, and checked around. “Hey, that’s mine.”
“I know blondie, I’m returning it.”
“…Oh, thank you.”
“Sorry,” Oliver muttered taking her things from Sin.
“It’s alright. It just goes to show that even the smartest can be pretty dumb when they’re drunk. See you around, Queen.”
“Oliver. I don’t feel so good.”
“…And good luck,” Sin said parting with them.
“Just hold on, okay? I’ll get you home soon enough.”
“I’m sorry,” she said with a gloomy tone.
“For what,” he asked genuinely concerned.
“Well, the paps are always trying to get pictures of you to make you look like a bad mayor, and they’ll probably get one tonight because of me.”
“No they won’t,” he assured her. “They won’t find us.”
“How?”
“Felicity, open your eyes.”
She lifted her head from Oliver’s chest, and opened her eyes.
“Are we in-“
“The Foundry, yeah,” he answered. “I went back here after we left Sin. Only a few cops know about this place, and no one goes around here anymore anyway. I’ll get you into the car and drive you home in no time.”
“…I miss this place,” she said with a small smile on her face. Oliver said nothing, feeling slightly nostalgic all the same, but he had to get her home, so he continued to walk towards the door, when she chuckled.
“What,” he asked stopping in his tracks.
“The original salmon ladder,” she said nodding towards it.
Oliver smiled remembering all the times he’d catch Felicity staring at him while he was on it.
“Want to give it a go? For old times sake?”
“Maybe another time,” he told her. “I’ve got to get you home.”
“I forgot how cold it was in here,” she said cuddling closer to Oliver. He held her tighter, hoping that it would radiate warmth through her body faster than usual.
“I miss being in your arms,” she admitted as he closed the door of the Foundry behind him. That had Oliver stop in his tracks, but he picked up his pace all the same.
“They’re perfect, y’now? I mean, you wouldn’t think so, because you work out all the time, and your arms are huge, well not Dig huge but-“
“Dig’s arms aren’t that big.”
“They’re like three times the size of yours Oliver,” she scoffed, “but anyway, they’re hard…your arms, but they’re not.”
“…”
“You’re the perfect pillow. And you know exactly what to do…I meant that in a non sexual way…although you did know exactly what I wanted in a sexual way too…man you’re good at sex. Like really, really good,” she continued, “but again, besides the point. Like you always know when my neck hurts, and you shift me without me asking, and you run your hands up and down my arms, and make feel really good. You cuddle but you don’t smush me…well you used to.”
Oliver was silent through the whole thing, but his silence could be felt at those last words of hers. He carried on nonetheless, and soon they were at his car. He shifted her into one arm, while the other reached for the handle of the door, but she clung to him, and grabbed hold of his neck.
“Felicity,” he placated.
“No. I want to ride shot gun! I want to sit next to you!!”
“Okay, okay,” he capitulated. He closed the back door and opened the door to the passenger seat, and carefully placed her in, making sure that she wouldn’t hit her head. He buckled her seatbelt for her, even though she refused, and closed the door behind her. He then got into the driver’s seat, and started to drive her home. He realised that a drunk Felicity in the passenger seat was a mistake. She had changed the radio station fifteen times in the past five minutes, and then sang along to a song different from the one blasting from the stereo.
It was only when they stopped at a red light that Felicity stopped singing, and he felt her eyes on him. He glanced quickly at her, then back at the road, and to her once again.
“What?”
“You’re wearing a suit,” sadness lacing her voice.
His suits never made her unhappy before, he was about to ask her what’s wrong with that when she continued.
“I mean, I know it’s none of my business, but how’d your date go?”
Oh. Now he knew.
“There was no date, Felicity. I was at work, and then Sin called me from your phone, telling me that you were drunk and that I needed to pick you up.”
“Is that judgement I’m hearing?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t really blame you. This isn’t a moment I’m super proud of either.”
“What happened?”
“Really Oliver? So much has happened! So much change, and it’s too much.”
“I’m-“
“Don’t apologise. It’s just it’s so hard to deal with the change. Dig’s gone, Thea, Laurel, Sara, I lost my company, we don’t kiss anymore, we barely talk anymore, my mom hasn’t called in a week, she’s having trouble with Quentin, Lyla’s taking care of Sara on her own, Roy hasn’t called, Curtis left his job because I don’t work there anymore-“
“Hey! Hey, I know. I know.”
“I just couldn’t deal with it anymore.”
She turned the radio off, and slumped against the window. He didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
When he got to the apartment, he looked over and Felicity was sleeping. He took a minute to just study her, she looked exhausted. He brushed some hair from her face, and tucked it behind her ear. He carried her up to the loft, and prayed to God that’d he’d have to wake her to find the key. He reached into the potted plant near the door, and groaned when he found the key.
“Felicity,” he woke her.
“Hmm…”
“How many times do I have to ask you to put the key in a less obvious place?”
“No one is going to kidnap me, Oliver,” she replied sleepily. “Besides, when I’m inside I put the chain on the door.”
“That’s not going to stop them from shooting it, and breaking in.”
“Well then, who’s to say it won’t stop them from shooting down the door if they can’t find a key? What kind of burglar looks for a key in the first place?”
Oliver rolled his eyes, and walked in closing the door behind him, knowing that there was no point in arguing with her. She moved closer to him, burying her face towards his chest. He opened the door to their old room, and took a deep breath.
“No,” she said quickly.
“Felicity, I’m going to put you down.”
“Not here. I don’t sleep here anymore.”
Oh. He closed the door, understanding her reasons, but it still stung.
“Where do you sleep now?”
“The fourth room.”
The one furthest from their old room. Oliver nodded, and brought her there. He sat her down on the bed, and waited for her to get settled in. She undid the strap of her many jane heels-yes, Oliver knew the names of the different types of heels, it was one of things Felicity taught him when they were together-and throw it. Unfortunately for her the show didn’t go very far, it actually landed on the bed and bounced back, just missing Felicity. She let out an annoyed huff, and Oliver smiled. He bent down, and undid the strap of her other shoe, and then grabbed both of them and walked over to the closet. There were no shoes inside.
Oliver turned back to her with a confused expression on his face.
“This closet is too small,” she explained. “I leave them over there,” she nodded to a rack nearest to the bathroom. He left them not the rack and turned to see Felicity going through her closet trying to find something to wear to bed. She had something in her hand, but she grabbed her favourite pajama pants and an old t shirt and discarded the other item on the floor at the last minute before closing the closet doors. Felicity tried to take off her dress, and Oliver turned around. He heard her struggle for a few moments, and then she was silent.
“Oliver,” she called out for him after a few moments of silence.
“Yeah?”
“Help.”
“I don’t think that’s the best idea,” he said turning around to face her.
“Come on. You’ve seen me in less.”
Yeah. I know.
“We’re both adults.”
Oliver nodded, and made his way towards Felicity. He turned her around and undid the button that kept the dress on her body, and moved it off her shoulders. She could’ve pulled the dress off, but no, she shimmied out of it. Oliver wanted to turn away, he should’ve, but his eyes remained transfixed on her beautiful bare back…well and bra. It was only when she stepped out of her dress that Oliver realised she was wearing sexy lingerie. It was then that guilt took over him, she wasn’t wearing it for him, he wasn’t allowed to look at her like that. She turned around to get her clothes from the bed, and he looked away. Ironic really. He’d watch her get ready for bed everyday, most days she wouldn’t wear anything to bed.
“Your arms around me is enough,” she’d say. He never complained, and she was comfortable. They both were. That was a million years ago though.
“I’m dressed,” she told him as she slipped under the covers.
“Alright. Then I guess I’ll be going.”
“Oliver?”
He turned to face her.
“Could you stay…until I fall asleep?”
“Sure,” he smiled at her sitting on a chair, after bringing it closer to the bed. He took off his suit jacket and put it on the chair behind him. Felicity moaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I know we’re broken up, but you’re still really sexy when you wear a three piece suit,” she said tugging on the vest.
“Do you want me to put the jacket back on,” he asked trying to make her more comfortable.
“No,” she yawned. “Thanks for staying with me Oliver.”
“Always.”
She then closed her eyes. He waited for her breathing to even out before leaving. She said his name a few times, but her breathing still wasn’t slow and steady. He closed his eyes as well. His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a reminder that he had lunch tomorrow with the head of City council. He put the phone back in his pocket, but the light from the phone glazed over something under the bed Oliver bent down and picked it up.
It was a picture of the two of them in Bali. They were so happy then. He wondered how often Felicity looked at it. He went to put it back when his fingers felt another glossy paper. It was another picture of them. This one Thea took. It was after they announced their engagement. They both fell asleep on the couch after the extravagant party Donna threw for them. Oliver reached under the bed again and pulled out a large shoebox filled with pictures of them-intact there were so many pictures that some of them were scattered on the floor. He looked through all of them, and smiled at the happiest memories of his life, while at the same time remorse coursed through his veins. By the time he put down the last photo, his eyes were streaming tears. He hadn’t even bothered to wipe them away after sometime, so his face and neck were completely wet. He finally wiped his face, and put the photos back under the bed. He put the chair back where he found it and then walked over to her. He stroked her face, and then pressed his lips to her forehead.
“I love you,” he whispered to her. He kissed her forehead once more, and then forced himself to walk away. He sat in his car, and cried for twenty minutes, and then drove to the bunker. He opened the chest, and pulled out a bottle of Tennessee Whiskey. He didn’t even bother with a shot glass. Felicity was right. Tonight seemed like a good night for a drink, or a bottle, or three.