Chapter Text
Oliver decided to ride his bike up to Central City. The entire ride was filled with uncertainty. He knew that Felicity told Dig and Roy that she didn’t want him to find out where she had been hiding out. But at the same time he had a feeling that she wanted him to come looking for her. He just felt stupid because she had been in the next city over and he had wasted a month searching everywhere else. He should have known that she would reach out to Barry. Ugh Barry, he thought as his grip tightened on his handle bars. Where they together? Was Dig just trying to spare his feelings? The thought of Felicity with another guy wrecked him inside. Not that he had any right to feel jealous the thought flashed in is mind. So why did he? He knew that he cared for Felicity deeply but this last month had opened his eyes to a new reality. He didn’t just need her as the Arrow. He needed her and wanted her as Oliver. Now all he had to do was convince her to forgive him. He knew better than anyone that this was going to be an upward battle.
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“So as you can see the IT department has increased efficiency and functionality as a whole. We’re not only offering IT services for the Lab, but also externally to the Central City Police Department as well as corporate clients.” Felicity finished her presentation confidently. It seemed like the board was happy with her first month. A few directors had some questions for her but they were pretty basic. Sometimes it surprised her how people who had such important titles new so little about the technology that ran their companies. She walked back to her office to find a few people whispering around the water cooler. As soon as they saw Felicity they bolted. As weird as it was, she was kind of used to it. Running her own department meant that sometimes people were intimidated by her. She shook her head and laughed, she may be used to it but it was still weird!
She walked into her office and noticed that her chair was turned around and someone was sitting in it. She checked the door to make sure that it was in fact her office. Once she saw her name plate she turned back to the stranger in her office, “um not to be rude or anything, but why are you in my chair? It’s bad enough that people hardly ever knock around here, but it’s kind of odd that you would just waltz into my office and have a seat…You didn’t touch the back support on my chair did you? It took me forever to get it just right!” She realized that she hadn’t taken in any oxygen during her little speech so she took a deep breath. “Sorry sometimes I ramble when I’m nervous, or annoyed, or…”
“Or pretty much all the time if I remember correctly” Oliver replied while swivelling around in her chair. “And don’t worry, I didn’t touch the back support” he gave her a small wink and his lips turned up slightly.
Felicity stood stunned in the doorway. It had been just over a week since Diggle had found out where she was. She figured that after a few days since no one had come to see her the boys were going to keep her secret after all. So much for that she thought. And then another thought popped into her head. Just because Oliver was standing in front of her didn’t mean that she had to give him the time of day. Hell, she had been by his side non stop for the last year and look where that got her. Time to switch tactics.
Oliver was shocked that his presence had caused the girl who talked incessantly to suddenly go mute. After what felt like forever she collected herself and slid right passed him and into her chair. Okay, I deserve that he thought. He moved to the opposite side of her desk and sat in the chair in front of her. She blushed and he was glad that he still had some effect on her.
After a few minutes of typing furiously on her tablet she looked up at Oliver. “It was so nice of you to drop by unannounced, but I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Oliver smirked, happy to see that her edge was still there. Even if it did hurt him a bit. “It’s almost lunch time, let me take you out for a bite” he replied.
“I’ve got plans.” She responded immediately.
“Okaaaay” he replied slowly. “How about dinner then?”
Felicity flushed again, she hated that she did that when she was nervous. She was a naturally bad liar and she knew Oliver would see right through any lies she may try. “I don’t know” she said. “I might have plans.”
“C’mon Felicity, you might have plans?” he asked. “I’m obviously here to apologize, just give me a chance.”
Anger passed across Felcitiy’s face. “Don’t C’mon me Oliver! You can’t just show up out of the blue and expect me to drop everything that I have going on just because you asked.”
Just as Felicity was about to launch into another tirade there was a knock at the door. “Hey Felicity, just so you know I could hear you yelling all the way down the…Ol-iv-er.” Barry was clearly surprised to see Oliver. “Do you want me to come back later? Or…”
“Or we could go out to lunch like we planned.” Felicity finished. “Oliver, go home. There’s nothing for you here.” And with that she dragged Barry behind her as they left her office.
Oliver had been expecting a cold reception, but that was down right frozen. He realized that everything he had put Felicity through the night that they took down Slade had way more of an effect than he ever could have imagined. He didn’t like that Barry was taking her out to lunch either. That’s something that boyfriends do for their girlfriends and the thought made him shudder. He pulled out his phone and called Diggle. “Hey Dig. It looks like I’m going to stick around Central for a few days so you and Roy will have to patrol without me.” He hung up with a determined look on his face. He was going to do whatever he could to get Felicity to come back home.
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Lunch was interesting to say the least. Felicity inhaled her food just so she wouldn’t have to say anything to Barry. Finally when there was no more food to be eaten she broke her silence. “Weirdest. Day. Ever.” She pronounced.
Barry just laughed, “definitely top ten weirdest. So what are you going to do?”
Felicity’s hands covered her face. “Ugh I don’t know Barry. I didn’t think he would come down here. I don’t even know what he wants. Not that I gave him much of a chance to say anything.” She chuckled. “Barry, what do I do????” she wailed.
“Look, I know that he was kind of a dick with the whole Slade thing and then there’s Laurel but I think you need to hear him out. I know that you like Central City but Starling is your home. I wouldn’t want you to regret staying here just because you were angry with one person.”
“You’re right” Felicity relented. “Okay, i’ll go to one dinner with him. But that’s it.”
“Works for me!” Barry replied “If you need anything I’m always here. We better head back to your office. We can’t have the rest of your department thinking that you are some kind of slacker.”
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As Felicity walked back to CC Labs she realized that she owed Roy and Diggle a call. Dig picked up after one ring. “I’m so sorry Felicity, he just found out and then the next thing we knew he was coming to see you.”
“I thought you guys were going to keep my secret! What the hell Dig?”
“Well technically…” she heard Roy’s voice on the line. “Technically you're the one that told him.”
“What are you talking about Roy?” Felicity asked exasperated.
“Well, Oliver saw the IM’s that you sent Dig and it didn't take a detective to figure out that they were from you.”
“How did he see them Dig?”
“Ummmmm I accidentally left my e-mail open and…”
“How many times have I talked to you about that?” she cut in. It’s a wonder that you haven’t been hacked out of your own life!” She heard the boys laughing and it tugged at her heart strings. She really did miss them. “Remind me never to tell you guys my secrets. I gotta go, but you better believe this conversation is not over.” She hung up with a smile on her face. It was nice to have at least those two boys back in her life.
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Felicity walked back into her office and was surprised to see that Oliver was still sitting there.
“You’re still here?” she said more as a statement than a question.
“Yup” he replied, “how was lunch with Barry?”
She thought she detected a bit of jealousy in Oliver’s voice at the mention of Barry. But she brushed it away.
“Anyways, I wanted to stick around to see if your evening plans had opened up at all.”
“Well, lucky for you it turns out that I am available for dinner. But one dinner is all you get Oliver.”
He smirked. “Perfect. One dinner is all I need. I’ll pick you up at 8.” With that he was out the door before she could change her mind.