Chapter Text
How did I even think I could manage the City and be the Green Arrow at the same time, Oliver thought to himself as he sat in the Mayor's office, leaning back as far as he could in the leather desk chair, his eyes closed. He had spent most of last night hunting down the remaining forces of Damian Darhk's Ghosts left in the city. Most of them had fled when Damian was defeated, but a few loyalists had remained, hiding in the shadows. Felicity had been in the bunker helping him track them down, but even he knew that they had not likely caught all of them yet. He knew it was going to be an on-going battle to find them and eliminate the last remnants of H.I.V.E. from his city. A job even tougher without the help of John Diggle, his sister Thea or Laurel.
Now, all he wanted was for a quiet moment to close his eyes and try to rest for a moment. To aid in this effort, he had finally shut the door connecting his private office to the receptionist area where his assistant, Mrs. Sanchez sat, to allow him a few minutes to reflect before his first City Council meeting occurred in less than an hour. Knowing that he really needed to review the Council Agenda and meeting script he had been provided by the City Clerk, he released a heavy sigh. It can wait a minute, he thought, as he stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the plaza in front of City Hall. There were still visible reminders of the death and destruction that had occurred there only a week ago when Damian Darhk's forces had attacked the city...his city...Star City. Even amidst the scorched concrete and boarded up windows, he could see a mother, pushing her child in a stroller, making their way across the street to lay flowers next to the make-shift memorial the people of Star City created to remember how they had united with the Green Arrow to take back their city.
Oliver knew that sacrifices had been made that night to help him defeat Darhk. He only hoped that the families of those that lost loved ones during their battle would be able to continued to rally with him to rebuild this city. He allowed himself a moment of happiness as he remembered how it felt to harness the hope and goodness from the citizens who showed up to help him, help the Green Arrow save Star City. Isn't that what his father had wanted him to do all along? He couldn't let them down. He couldn't let himself down. He knew he would not fail this city.
A gentle knock on the door broke him out of his reverie. He turned to face the door and said, "Come in."
Mrs. Sanchez opened the door, smiled at him and said, "Mr. Mayor, you have a guest here to see you."
Oliver smiled at Mrs. Sanchez and said, "Now, Mrs. Sanchez, how many times do I have to tell you to please, just call me Oliver."
Mrs. Sanchez frowned and replied, "Mr. Mayor, I was there on the plaza that day when you scrambled up on top of that car and inspired our city to not lose hope. You earned the appointment to be Mayor that day." Mrs. Sanchez placed both hands on her hips and added, "and in a few short months, the citizens of Star City are going to ratify that appointment by outright electing you Mayor. So I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree on this point, because you have earned the title of Mr. Mayor and I will chastise anyone who dares to call you anything else while I am in earshot."
Oliver chuckled, nodded his head in agreement and said simply, "Who's here?"
Mrs. Sanchez's eyes lit up as she answered, "Why, Miss Smoak is here to see you." She stepped into his office to let Felicity enter, then she exited and closed the door.
Oliver looked at Felicity with surprise, his right hand down by his side, rubbing his middle finger with his thumb. "Hi Felicity, I wasn't expecting you to be here this morning."
Felicity walked toward him, keeping his desk between the two of them, she smiled at him as she replied, "It's your first City Council meeting, Oliver. I thought you might like to have at least have one friendly face in the audience of politicians."
Oliver smiled back at her and said, "Thank you."
Felicity said matter-of-factly, "That's what friends are for," then she hesitantly added, "Right?"
Oliver wet his lips, then pursed them together, nodding his head and said, "Um-huh, yeah." He grabbed his portfolio with his Council Meeting agenda and script, stepped out from behind his desk and toward her. He looked at her and said, "You know that the media is going to be all over this first meeting."
Felicity took in a deep breath and said, "I know they are, Oliver. We'll just keep maintaining our requests to keep our private lives private and that while we may not be together together," she motioned her hand between the two of them, "we still care and support each other in our endeavors and hope to work together to help rebuild Star City."
Oliver nodded his head at her again and said, "Um, about that, Felicity. I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
Felicity looked up at him, a small "O" formed with her lips as she asked, "What is it?"
Oliver placed his right hand in his pocket so she wouldn't see him rubbing his fingers together and said, "I know that the Board of Directors made the poor decision to fire you as CEO of Palmer Technologies..."
Felicity frowned and nodded her head.
He continued, "and that since we're all that's left of Team Arrow, it would really help our mission to rebuild Star City if you were working here at City Hall."
Felicity laughed and said, "Well I don't think Mrs. Sanchez would be too happy with me if I pushed her out of her job, Oliver."
Oliver shook his head no and said, "No, Felicity, that's not what I had in mind. I need someone who can help me rebuild this city, not just when I'm the Green Arrow, but also when I'm the Mayor."
"What are you trying to say, Oliver?"
Oliver took in a deep breath. He couldn't believe how hard this was a question to ask her. "I'm saying that I would like for my first action as Mayor to appoint you Deputy Mayor of Star City."