Chapter Text
It was Christmas time and, as did any other major or minor event at the Queen’s house, that called for a party. So there was one.
Anyone who knew the Queen family, whether it be from an actual proximity or the newspapers, knew their parties were famous for not once being uneventful. Since their father’s death on a terrible boating accident five years ago, the Queen siblings were said to have changed a lot. Thea Queen, the younger sister, had grown quite fond of illegal substances and not-so-legal actions of any sort. Some claimed it was her coping mechanism, that it was perfectly understandable for a teenage girl who had just lost her father and who had never been given a proper education rather than learning right from her birth that money could solve anything. Whatever it was that made her act the way she did, the younger inheritor of one of the most powerful and wealthy families of Starling City was hardly a good portrayal of the Queens.
But it was the older, former playboy and always introspective Oliver Queen that caught everyone’s eye. Never having been seen with a woman for more than a month and with no serious relationships on his record, the 27 year old boy who was forced to grow up a little too fast due to his father’s death was the matter of an incredible amount of articles in several magazines. Some believed that the guilt of not having followed his father on his way to death had eaten him up until there was nothing left but the memory of the boy he used to be. Others vehemently denied such nonsense, declaring the unfortunate event had caused the boy to become more mature and aware of his responsibility to the two still remaining members of his family. Despite all the theories written around him, what no one could disagree on was that Oliver Queen was no longer the reckless, immature boy whose life revolved around parties and one night stands.
However, that didn’t mean he didn’t know how to throw a party; in fact, he was very good at organizing social events. So much so, the Queen parties were the highlight of any special occasion, bringing all sorts of people, especially women, to the absurdly enormous house. But amongst the variety of beautiful women in a little too short dresses and a little too much makeup, there was one Oliver hadn’t been able to take his eyes off for the whole evening.
He first saw her when he was heading towards the bar to get another drink. She walked pass the front door with the elegance of a super model and yet, there was something about her that made her look more like an angel. Maybe it was the way she looked around, trying to familiarize herself with that unknown environment, and how she made him feel like he should protect her from all the evil in the world. Maybe it was her bright blue eyes that shined through the lights and everyone else walking by, or maybe it was her splendorous blonde hair, falling from her head in perfect curls, lighting up the breathtakingly beautiful skin of her face, the first he had seen that night that was not covered in makeup. Or it could be the golden, shiny dress that fitted her perfectly, showing the skin of her neck and arms, made pallid by the glaring lights.
Whatever it was, something about her just felt right. She was the kind of girl who didn’t turn heads when she walked in, who felt like maybe she should’ve dressed up a little better, and yet she turned his head. And he knew he could just stare at her forever.
Seconds later, she disappeared in the crowd. He looked for her amongst the men in neat, white shirts and the women in all sorts of colored dresses, but nothing. He finally gave up, resuming his walk towards the bar.
The second time they crossed paths he was leaning against a wall and a sudden glimpse of her made him abandon his ramblings and focus on the blonde. She was in the dance floor, and even though the music was very loud and the DJ was the best in town, she didn’t seem that excited. She was casually moving her feet while taking sips at some drink which he wasn’t sure to be alcoholic, and yet he found that simple, ordinary attitude, as if this was just another day and just another club, fascinating.
He was so focused on her he didn’t even notice Tommy had been standing right beside him, trying to figure out where his gaze was locked.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you”, he yelled so that Oliver could hear him.
“You know her?”, he replied, ignoring his comment and not taking his eyes off of her, afraid she might run away.
“Felicity Smoak. She used to work for your father before…” His voice faded away.
“Why doesn’t she work there anymore?”
“No idea.”
They kept silent for a moment, both staring at the girl moving quietly between the crowd as if she didn’t even notice where she was. A few moments after, Tommy faced him with a look that was both serious and playful, “Stay away from that one, Ollie. She’s danger.”
But before he could ask him what he meant, Tommy walked away to greet a girl who had just walked in and Oliver was left alone, wondering how could a girl with the face of an angel ever be dangerous.
He decided he should check in on his little sister, see if she hadn’t done anything bad so far. He loved Thea more than anyone else in the world and would be willing to do anything for her, but watching her go down that path, watching his baby sister turning into some addict because he hadn’t been there for her like he should’ve, broke his heart. He searched the whole room for her, but no sign of the tiny girl whose body he could shield so easily between his arms. Maybe upstairs. But Thea wasn’t there either. Someone else was.
“Felicity Smoak?”, her head turned quickly at the sound of his voice. “Hi, I’m Oliver Queen.”
She was leaning on the balcony, her gaze lost somewhere around the room, her hands together and her elbows on the cold stone. He joined her.
“I know who you are, I- Oh, am I not supposed to be here? I’m so sorry, I just needed to get some air, it’s a little crowed downstairs. Not that I’m saying you have a small house, you obviously don’t-”
“Hey”, he lowered his voice with a grin and she immediately shut up. She was cute. He wanted to go near her but he knew that would probably intimidate her, so he didn’t. “It’s okay, you can be here.”
She took a deep breath. “What about you? Needed some fresh air as well?”
“I’m looking for my sister.”
“Oh, right. Are you worried about her? Because it’s a party and everything… Not that I want to, you know, intrude in your family’s business.” He looked at her inquisitively, wondering how she knew about Thea’s problem. “I read the newspaper.”
“Oh,” he made a brief pause, turning to give a quick glance at the people downstairs. “Yes, I am. She’s a little too young for these things”, he answered, his eyes facing her once more. “I haven’t seen you here before.”
“That’s because I don’t come here often. This?”, she made a broad gesture that covered everything around her, “Not really my style.”
“Then why did you come?”
“I’m not sure, actually. Maybe I just needed something different in my life…”, she sighed.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s fine”, she smiled at him and for a moment, he felt at home, like he hadn’t for a really long time. “Unless you’re going to attack me or anything.”
He stared at her in confusion, “What?”
“Because of the whole psychological trauma thing?”, he didn’t seem any less enlightened. “You don’t read the articles they write about you?” He nodded, but his features softened as he realized she was kidding. “Bad joke, sorry.”
“Actually, some people might say you are the one who’s dangerous”, he teased, remembering Tommy’s earlier comment. He thought he saw a flicker of fear in her eyes as he said that, but as quickly as it came, it vanished and she had a lovely grin on her lips again, her dazzling blue eyes catching his.
“You’d have to find out”, and her smirk widened as she took a step closer to him in a swaying walk.
“Is that your way of asking me out?”, he teased again, not being able to help the smile that was gaining form on his lips.
“No. But if it works for you, go with it.”
“And if I wanted to?… Ask you out, I mean?”
Her phone must have vibrated inside her purse, because she rushed to grab it and quickly peeked at the screen: whatever it was, it was enough for her to start walking towards the stairs a little too fast. Before disappearing in the dark, Felicity turned around and gave him a little grin. “You’re Oliver Queen. I’m sure you can work that out.”
Already outside, she struggled with her umbrella. It was windy, the rain wouldn’t stop falling and there was this feeling of guilt she just couldn’t shake, more intense than she’d ever felt before. She stood on the sidewalk, a few yards away from the Queen’s house, and wondered if there really was no other way. If there was really nothing she could do to stop it, to stop her.
The car parked in front of her and she got in without a second thought, taking off her soaking wet coat. Seconds later, the vehicle was gone, and so was Felicity Smoak. All that was left of that night was Oliver’s memory and a brief text message showing up in a wide screen some miles from there.
I got him. -F