Chapter Text
Another Kind of Island
Chapter 1: Pepper Potts
June 2013
“Tell me again why we didn’t take the jet,” Oliver asked, sighing. He tossed the white binder onto the seat across from them and slouched back with a groan. He shifted restlessly, reminding Felicity of a little boy in Temple on High Holy days.
Rolling her eyes, Felicity wondered if Oliver was being purposefully obtuse or if he just hadn’t paid one lick of attention the last three times she answered this question. She didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm from her voice as she explained, “Because Futura Labs is a five-hour drive from Starling, but a two-hour drive from the Coast City Airport, so it would actually take longer to fly.”
Oliver grunted, rolling his head from side to side and stretching his neck. “The plane is more comfortable.”
“Than the plush leather of QC’s best limo?”
“You can walk around the plane,” Oliver argued.
“Do you have any idea how much jet fuel costs?” Felicity countered, her eyes on her tablet as she raised a brow at him, knowing full well he was just arguing because he was bored.
“Aren’t we rich again?”
“We?” Felicity lifted her challenging gaze to Oliver’s, who just smiled back innocently. Innocent, her ass. “Well, we may have gotten QC back, but we aren’t going to keep it for long if we throw away our limited funds on jet fuel just so you can stretch your legs. And,” she held up a folder with the company ‘Futura’ written across the top, “if we don’t get a huge influx of money.”
But the bastard just grinned at her. “I’m better at spending money than making it. Maybe you should be CEO.”
“Sure, with my degrees in IT and Cyber Security.”
“Better than my degrees in nothing.”
Felicity looked up and Oliver met her gaze, completely unapologetic. He was already a handful and they had another hour left in this stupid (if plush) car. “Oliver, you just got your company back—”
“And maybe the best decision I could make for it is to find a competent CEO.”
“Oliver,” Felicity sighed, “you’re only saying that because you can’t sit still for five hours and you’re tired of reading—”
“Horrifically boring science documents that make no sense?”
“Interesting, but challenging, business proposals from a company dedicated to using natural substances to improve people’s health and well-being? A proposal that would give us enough money to rebuild the Applied Sciences Building we blew up just a few months ago?” Felicity corrected sweetly, tilting her head to the side and adjusting her glasses.
“That was necessary.”
“So is this.”
Grunting again, though softer this time, Oliver’s eyes strayed to the window. He looked absolutely miserable. There were definitely parts of business that were not for him.
Taking pity on him, Felicity grabbed a bottle of the Futura Juice and shook it at Oliver. “How about I finish the reading and you sample the product?”
Catching the bottle easily, Oliver narrowed his eyes as he stared at it. “Guava, pomegranate, and banana? You know I hate juice, right?” But he pried the top off the bottle anyway.
Generally, Oliver drank water. Only water. He was kind of a closet health food nut, which made sense because, eh, look at the man. Felicity had a hard time criticizing when the end result was so…okay, nope…not going down that rabbit hole. She needed to keep her mind on business.
“It’s good for you,” Felicity argued. Or she certainly hoped it was, for QC’s sake.
“Hmmm.” Oliver sounded far from convinced but he took a long swallow and Felicity averted her eyes to keep from staring at the way his tanned throat…wow. Yup, she had definitely been cooped in this car too long. “It’s actually kinda good. Sweet, but good.”
“Well, now you have something to discuss with Dr. Young and his colleagues.”
Oliver laughed. “It will be good to have something because this,” he gestured to the binder and tablet lying across from them, “makes my brain numb.”
Felicity chuckled. “Isn’t that why I’m here?”
“You’re here…”
Oliver leaned in close. Closer than their normal comfortable distance and it took Felicity off guard, made her breath quicken and, God, she hoped he didn’t notice.
“…because I couldn’t do a damn thing without you.”
Her heart jumped and sped up. Wow…that…that was not the usual.
Felicity knew Oliver felt….well, mostly he felt that he needed her. As a friend. A partner. As his EA. He even did a decent job of making her feel appreciated (usually) but…this felt different. More…intimate. Which was weird.
Plus, Oliver was really close. Like inside Felicity’s personal bubble close. And he was lingering far longer than anything resembling normal.
By the time Oliver left her said bubble, Felicity’s heart was racing and her skin heating up, blushing down to her toes no doubt. Damn her pale complexion.
When Felicity could finally breathe again, she scrambled for words, feeling as flustered as she had when Oliver first came down to her desk in the IT department, with his cute little smile and his puppy dog eyes. She just prayed that she didn’t make as much of a fool of herself as she had then.
When her brain caught up, Felicity considered arguing, telling Oliver he was far more capable than he gave himself credit for but in the end, she decided to cut the tension instead and said dryly, “That’s frighteningly true. Which is why I’m here as just your Executive Assistant and not as the VP of Applied Sciences.”
“You’re not just my anything,” Oliver drawled with a smirk that was far too sexy to be appropriate (one that he very rarely turned on her), before throwing back the last of his health drink like it was an expensive stout and melting into the leather seats as if they were made for him. Maybe they were.
Oliver had been more relaxed in the last month since Slade had been defeated and the courts had returned everything he and Isabel had stolen. The takeover had been declared illegal and Oliver and Thea got back their legacy. Crime fighting had been pretty low key and his mood was good. It was nice.
Except, the way Oliver was looking at her now, his eyes intense and considering, was just…not the way one looks at a friend. This went beyond a little more relaxed. This was…she didn’t know what this was. Felicity grabbed a bottle of water, her throat suddenly dry.
Then Oliver announced, “You’re my Pepper Potts.”
Felicity choked on the water just as it hit the back of her throat. “What?” Her heart-rate doubled at the images his words produced. “I knew I’d regret that movie marathon,” she muttered, trying for a joke.
But internally Felicity was screaming what the hell does that mean? Pepper Potts to his Tony Stark? He had to be kidding. It was a cruel joke. Frak, did Oliver even know what he was doing to her?
“What?” Oliver asked innocently. Too innocently. No matter what the situation, innocent never came off as genuine on him. A side effect of being sex-on-a-stick. “It’s the perfect comparison.”
Ever since Felicity had suggested they celebrate getting Queen Manor back with a movie marathon instead of a big, garish Queen-style party, Oliver had been a little too into Marvel movies.
This however…this was too much. Because Pepper Potts may be Tony Stark’s EA but she was also the love of his life.
“Perfect comparison? How do you figure?” Felicity managed to ask, having a significant amount of difficulty keeping her voice even. She was trying really hard not to read too much into this.
The look Oliver gave her seemed to say it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Pepper Potts runs Tony’s entire life, not just his company. She’s his conscience. She keeps him from going too far. She’s his anchor to the real world. Need I go on?”
Ah…no. Please, no.
This new Oliver was not good for Felicity’s sanity. Suddenly, the ‘I love you’ from that night in the mansion was on repeat in her head and she had to shake it to clear her thoughts. “You’re painting yourself as Tony Stark, I presume?”
The shit-eating grin Oliver gave her would certainly have done the fictional billionaire proud. “The similarities are striking.”
Felicity couldn’t help but laugh. A light-hearted Oliver was rare and irresistible despite the emotional roller coaster it took her on. “The best superpower is money, eh?”
Oliver laughed and it sounded freer than Felicity had ever heard it. “Something like that.”
Okay, maybe Felicity needed to go with this. Just enjoy Oliver’s uncommonly good mood. “Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist?”
“Ex-playboy. Just like Tony,” Oliver corrected, his dimples flashing, making her stomach somersault. “Though I notice you left out ‘genius’”
“I didn’t…” Felicity hadn’t. Not on purpose, anyway. “You are plenty smart and you know it.” She averted her eyes, because it was hard to compliment him and look at him, especially when he was being so...attentive. “I swear you must have failed out of school on purpose. You’re clearly way smarter than you pretend to be.”
“Maybe,” Oliver agreed, his voice low and gravelly. Then he leaned closer and if she didn’t know better, she would have said he was flirting with her. “But I’m no genius. That’s your job.”
Felicity cleared her throat which was inexplicably dry again. “You are brilliant in your own way.” She wouldn’t find him so fraking attractive if he wasn’t, damn him. And right now, he was sooo incredibly attractive and…look at that, back in her personal bubble. “Sometimes I wonder if you have untreated ADD. You just can’t sit still.”
Oliver laughed and sat up a bit, breaking the tension enough for Felicity to breathe. Which was good. Breathing was good. “You don’t think my mom had me tested? She would have loved to have an excuse for my laziness.” He didn’t sound bitter though. “Besides, I can stare at a target for hours.”
“That’s because, for some reason, you find that interesting.”
How was Oliver so relaxed? Felicity felt anything but. In fact, the more relaxed he got the tighter her muscles coiled. And she really hoped he wouldn’t notice or, God forbid, call her out.
“You’d be surprised how easy it is to focus when a life is on the line.” And still he smiled, comfortable and easy.
Then Felicity realized that comment would normally make Oliver all…broody. But there was even a dimming of the usual hardness in his eyes.
It was odd and it was making Felicity jumpy.
“Anyway,” she muttered, feeling a ramble coming on and trying to control it was like trying to stop a runaway train, “I don’t really see you as Iron Man. Irresponsible billionaire aside, you’re more of an amalgamation of Hawkeye and Captain America.”
Oliver’s eyes lit up. That was when Felicity knew she had made a mistake.
A big one.
Felicity didn’t even know what she said to cause it but Oliver leaned back in, even closer this time and the look on his face…oh frak, frak, frak…
“Felicity Smoak, did you just compare me, Oliver Queen, the Arrow, a vigilante, to Captain America?”
She squeaked. Just a little. But to be fair, he was reeeealy close and he smelled divine. “Well…” Felicity had no idea what to say. She could feel the babbles rise in her chest. “Well, obviously your morals are more in line with Tony Stark—”
“Obviously—”
“Though honestly I think that deep down you are much more of an idealist than you let on and that’s more Steve Rogers. You know, the little man…rights of individuals kinda—”
“Felicity.” Oliver almost purred the word. Oh God, he wasn’t going to kiss her! Was he?
“But that’s not really what I meant, either,” Felicity rambled on, almost hysterically now, “I meant, like in the field, you were more like those two. Hawkeye, clearly because—”
“Archer.”
“Right. But you also have the hand-to-hand thing going like Cap and your physique…”
Oh, dear God, did Felicity just say that out loud? God, she had. She had even gestured to his body like some…like some…groupie!
Oliver’s grin widened and he looked completely delighted. “You think I have the physique of Captain America?”
“Duh,” burst from her mouth before Felicity could call it back. Crap! He was too close. She wiggled over in the seat to escape his laughing lips.
Wait, why was she trying to escape? Felicity had been dreaming of this for two years.
She needed to keep talking. Buy herself time. “But you’re also intelligent in a Steve Rogers kinda way. With the strategy and the leadership. You know, more of an in-the-field intelligence than a sciency…” Felicity petered off. This was not going well.
Or maybe it was because of the way Oliver was looking at her, somehow both soft and intense at the same time. “Felicity, some day I want to be the me you see me as.”
And if that wasn’t the most romantic thing Felicity had ever heard.
No. No no no. No!
It was not. And…what was wrong with her? That damn Slade trick was messing with Felicity’s head. Oliver had the chance to take things to that next level after Slade was defeated and he hadn’t.
They were just friends. Oliver did not mean this the way it sounded.
They were just friends. He didn’t see her that way.
They were just friends. Damn it!!
“I…I…I…” Frak, Felicity hadn’t babbled this badly in years. Okay, months. “I think you have a little man crush on Steve Rogers.”
Oliver chuckled. Was it strange that he chuckled? “Every boy secretly wants to grow up and be Steve Rogers. He’s what every man should be.”
“I don’t believe every boy wants that. Maybe the good ones do...”
Damn it. Felicity had gone and made it bad again. Uncomfortable. Except she seemed too be the only one feeling that way. Also, the look was back. The look one she really, really shouldn’t be analyzing, but somehow made the sexual tension in the backseat of the limo a living breathing thing. She needed to say something, anything, to break it…or…good God or what?
“So…uh…” Felicity threw a Hail Mary Pass. “I guess that makes Digg Rhody, huh?”
“Well, clearly. In every way.”
They laughed together and it was a little better.
“Sara would be Black Widow, of course, while,” Felicity sighed dramatically, actually starting to have a little fun, “I’m the Girl Friday again.”
Felicity could do this. Just be herself. And avoid the smoldering eye contact.
“Please, Pepper Potts is so much more than a Girl Friday. And besides you’re like…Pepper Potts and JARVIS rolled into one.”
Felicity laughed out loud because… “Seriously, Oliver? The all-knowing AI?”
“Yup.” Oliver grinned, clearly proud of his analogy. “It’s perfect.”
“Well, I guess that really does make me the most important person in your life.”
“Guess so.”
Whoa.
Okay.
So much for being herself. Felicity had thrown out that gentle ribbing not expecting Oliver to…agree. He wasn’t supposed to agree. He was supposed to argue. Bantering was okay. They occasionally meandered into the world of banter, but this was more than banter. This was flirting. And flirting was not in their repertoire.
Oh God, was flirting now something they did? Felicity wasn’t sure if her heart could take it if it was.
Swallowing, Felicity did her best to get this train back on a safe(r) track. “So who’s Roy?”
Oliver shrugged, looking like he couldn’t care less. “DUM-E?”
An inadvertent laugh bubbled out of her. “That’s so mean!”
Shrugging again, Oliver just continued to smile at her. Frak that smile.
“I’m so going to tell Roy you said that.”
And still Oliver just grinned. “Go ahead.”
Okay. It was time to end this.
Or have a serious discussion about what the hell Oliver was doing and now was not the time. Thankfully. Unfortunately. Dammit!
Felicity glanced down at her tablet, trying to take a deep breath as subtly as possible. “We’ll be there in a few minutes,” she said in what she hoped was a professional tone. “Do you want to prep—?”
Oliver groaned. “You know what Tony eventually makes Pepper Potts?”
Dear God. Please don’t say girlfriend! What was she saying? Please, say girlfriend! What? No. Crap. Felicity didn’t know what she wanted.
“What’s that?” Felicity croaked. Because she was a glutton for punishment.
Oliver leaned in (again) and whispered, “His CEO.” He wagged his eyebrows and Felicity wanted to smack him with her tablet. Wait, what was stopping her? Oh yeah, tablets were precious.
Felicity grabbed the nearest binder and whacked Oliver on the shoulder. “Be serious! You aren’t getting out of this meeting, no matter what you say.” And certainly not by flirting with her.
“Umhmm, that’s what I was trying to do.”
Felicity just didn’t get him today. She really didn’t. “Look, when we get there, I’ll take the lead on all the sciency stuff. All you need to do is charm them and—”
“Make sure they don’t want the Applied Science Division to destroy the city like everyone else who’s ever wanted it?”
Well at least Oliver was finally taking this seriously. Sort of.
“Yes, well, that too.” Felicity frowned and turned back to her tablet, pulling up her information on Futura. “Though as far as I can tell, they’re just your average healthy, crunchy, biomedical engineering company, whose goal is to help everyone be their fittest, healthiest selves. They’ll love you. Just flex your muscles or something.”
Then Felicity patted Oliver’s bicep and she… “Dear God, I need to stop.”
And now she was back to accidentally saying things out loud. Crap. Crap. Crap.
“Do you?” Oliver asked, his voice back to that dangerously husky tone.
Her heart clenched and maybe another part that Felicity was trying so hard to ignore. She needed out of this damn limo.
“Yes, I really really do,” Felicity told him emphatically, but she couldn’t meet his eyes as she said it. “We do.”
The limo came to a stop and Felicity glanced out the tinted window. They were there. Thank God. But also, show time. Frak.
Her nerves were shot. Felicity turned to Oliver and pointed at him. “No flirting at the meeting!”
Immediately, Oliver’s hands went up in surrender, but instead of looking contrite, or embarrassed, as he normally would at being called out for such a thing, he just gave her that damn faux innocent look again. He was going to be the death of her.
“I see what you’re doing with this Tony Stark shtick,” Felicity accused.
Though she didn’t know what he was doing. Not at all.
Oliver shot her a grin and opened the door. Once he was out, he reached in to give Felicity a hand. That at least was normal. “I’ll be on my best behavior,” he promised as she climbed out. She really didn’t know if she believed him or not.
Straightening his suit jacket and buttoning it, Oliver seemed to take a deep breath before turning to the driver (not Digg, unfortunately) and thanking him. John was at his first OB/GYN appointment with his ex-wife/girlfriend so it was probably selfish for Felicity to wish he were here to help…
What? Run interference? Tell her what to do? Calm her nerves? She was so fraking neurotic.
Felicity tried that deep breath thing, smelling the clean California air, the scent of citrus in the breeze. Juice was one of Futura’s main products, so she supposed it made sense the lab was on an orchard.
She smoothed down her skirt and did her best to adopt a professional demeanor.
Then it got shot to hell as Felicity felt Oliver’s hand on her lower back and his breath against her nape. “I promise to be on my best behavior when other people are around,” he whispered.
It took her a minute to realize he was amending his earlier promise. So Felicity’s, “Oliver,” was a little delayed.
All the bastard did was chuckle.
Oliver walked her up to the front door where a smiling Adonis in a suit (which was saying something because hello, Oliver, right here) and a gorgeous young woman in a lab coat stood.
Actually, Felicity didn’t think she had ever seen a more beautiful scientist outside of tv. And of course those weren’t really scientists. Caitlin was beautiful but this…
It was rather intimidating and Felicity found herself throwing suspicious glances Oliver’s way. She really hated jealousy. Especially when she knew in her gut she had no right to it, but that didn’t make it any easier to control. This woman was so Oliver’s type and he was in a flirty mood and…Felicity needed to jump off the crazy train before it was too late.
Then Oliver murmured in Felicity’s ear, “Is this place being run by high school kids?” He didn’t make it sound like it was a good thing.
“I don’t think you’ve seen high school kids lately. High school kids are pimply and skinny,” Felicity whispered, biting back a smile as that ugly green-eyed monster started to loosen its hold. “These people are at least college kids.”
“They don’t look old enough to vote.”
Felicity swallowed a giggle and cursed herself for the relief she felt. She tried to concentrate on looking somewhat professional as the beautiful brunette stepped forward with a wide, unreserved smile. It was almost strange how happy she looked. Maybe she was an Oliver Queen fangirl. Wouldn’t that be lovely.
“Mr. Queen, Ms. Smoak, hello! I cannot tell you how excited we are to have you here.” And she really did look that excited. She held out her hand and Felicity took it, half expecting it to be damp with anticipatory anxiety, but it was a cool firm handshake.
“I’m Dr. Ann, this is Mr. Brian.” She gestured to her colleague, who nodded and looked at them with a bland, unassuming smile. Clearly not the brains. Dr. Ann turned to Oliver and shook his hand as well. “We have been so looking forward to our collaboration.”
Were those first names or last names? Because first names would be a little too…something. Hippie, maybe? Preschool teacher?
Oliver shot Felicity a quick glance, his eyebrows up, communicating silently how he found her enthusiasm interesting. Well, as long as he didn’t find Dr. Ann interesting, it was all good.
“Thank you. We are excited to be here as well,” Oliver said, flashing the doctor his patented CEO smile and Felicity relaxed. They had this.
“Dr. Young has been held up in the lab. We thought, perhaps, you’d like a brief tour of the grounds and facilities before we bring you to the conference room?” Dr. Ann never lost her enthusiastic smile. It was starting to get kinda creepy.
Oliver turned to Felicity and gave her his we’re-in-crazy-town-you’re-in-charge smile. And wasn’t it odd that not only did he have a smile for that, but that Felicity knew what it meant.
Felicity smiled at the doctor and her silent (but gorgeous) companion and told them, “That would be lovely.”
And it was. The grounds were spectacular. The orange and grapefruit groves smelled amazing. The air was clear and warm. Felicity half-listened as Dr. Ann went on and on about natural this and organic that. It seemed Futura thought they could save the human-race through fruit juice and natural supplements. Oh well, as long as they weren’t building an earthquake machine.
After over a half-an-hour on the grounds, Felicity was cursing her heels and the way they sunk into the soft ground. Dr. Ann gave them a quick tour of the labs, telling them it was getting late and that they would show them around more later.
Oliver and Felicity were finally led to a large, sleek conference room where Dr. Ann presented them with a healthy brunch, which frankly looked delicious. They hadn’t eaten in hours.
“Some of our newest creations,” Dr. Ann was saying, “fruit from our orchards, nut bars, gluten free muffins.” She said the word gluten as if it were the route of all evil. “And you must try our newest fruit blend. It’s a mango, guava, strawberry. It’s wonderful for the skin as well as for energy and stamina.”
Felicity’s eyes widened but she took the glass (it was practically shoved into her hands) and sipped the straw politely. “Wow, that really is delicious.” It was. She took another long drink and looked over at Oliver. “It’s really good.”
Clearly pleased, Dr. Ann filled another glass and turned to Oliver, but he held up his hands. “Maybe later. I have as much stamina as I need right now.” Then the ass winked at her.
Felicity glared at Oliver. What was wrong with him? Now, he was flirting with the doctor and insulting her by refusing her product. It was the first time the syrupy sweet smile wavered on Dr. Ann’s face. If Oliver messed this up, Felicity was going to kill him.
“Well, you’re missing out,” Felicity suppressed the urge to hiss and sent him a warning look, while trying to smile at the doctor. It wasn’t easy. She took another drink.
He looked back at her placidly and grabbed a peach off the table, taking a bite.
“Well, then,” Dr. Ann’s overly bright cheer was back, “please enjoy the refreshments and make yourselves at home. Dr. Young will be with you soon.” With that she glided out the door, Mr. Strong-Silent-Type nodding before closing the door behind them and leaving Oliver and Felicity alone in the large room.
This left Felicity to watch Oliver’s throat as he chewed and swallowed the peach. It was even more mesmerizing than before, when he was drinking and she was having a really difficult time turning her eyes away. His neck was too attractive to be allowed. Too masculine and too perfect. What a ridiculous thing to be turned on by? A neck. God, it was gorgeous…
Felicity tried to distract herself with her juice, refilling the glass and stirring it with her straw. It was both refreshing and filling. She wasn’t really feeling the need to sample anything else. Besides, she was overheated all of a sudden. And it was so mouthwateringly delicious. They were going to make a fortune. This was just what QC needed.
Oliver finished his peach and tossed the pit into a trash can, making it in one, of course. The stupidly perfect man. Then he wiped his hands and wandered over to the large window, overlooking the groves. He looked pensive all of a sudden, his hands buried in his pockets as he looked out with a serious jaw.
Stupid Goddamn beautiful serious jaw.
Felicity couldn’t help but stare at Oliver staring at the horizon. He could have regained his fortune with modeling. Being a CEO was completely unnecessary.
She had such an urge to touch. Well, Felicity always wanted to touch, but usually there was this strong undercurrent of anxiety and self-preservation that kept her in check. The odd thing was that fear, that hesitation…was strangely absent at that moment. It was rather dangerous, actually.
Maybe it was the flirting in the limo. Oliver had clearly been sending signals. Why had she been so intent on shooting them down? Felicity couldn’t think of a single reason why now.
Hadn’t this been building since the mansion, when he told her she was the woman he loved? Later, Oliver said it was a lie, a trick, but hadn’t Felicity always been able to tell when he was lying? And really that moment in the mansion had felt so much more real than when he denied it later on the island.
But he hadn’t denied it. Not really. Oliver had just…stared at her. Gazed, even.
So maybe it was time to stop fighting it.
Felicity wandered over to Oliver without realizing what she was doing. She wrapped both hands around her glass to keep from touching. She hadn’t decided to touch yet. Really, it wasn’t the time. They were on important business. But she could look. Boy, could she look.
“Felicity,” Oliver murmured, his eyes still fixed in the distance.
Then he bit his lip and Felicity barely suppressed a groan. Oliver’s lip was even prettier than his neck and his teeth…
“Mmm hmm.” Felicity took another sip, playing with the straw with her tongue. Wishing it were something else entirely.
Oliver was now wetting that same bottom lip with his tongue. He did that a lot. Did he have any idea what that did to her?
“You know I respect you, right?”
“’Of course,” Felicity responded, on auto-pilot. Thankfully it wasn’t a difficult question because it was getting increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything other than the path of his tongue.
“It’s just…I’m not sure what I was…in the limo…I mean…” Oliver was so cute when he babbled. He shot her a nervous look before confessing, “You were right, I was flirting.”
Felicity giggled. Which really wasn’t like her, but she couldn’t seem to help it. “I could tell.”
Oliver actually blushed, shooting her a shy smile. He was adorable. “I’m not sure what came over me.”
“Are you saying that you didn’t mean to flirt with me?”
Okay, so here was the super weird part. Normally those words would have come out hurt or confused or accusing. Maybe all three. Whether she wanted them to or not. But this time, somehow, it came out…sultry?
Weirder still was that usually when Oliver backtracked like this, Felicity had a knot of anxiety in her gut. Like a lead knot. Her defenses would fly up and she would already be retreating, deflecting like crazy. Not standing there sipping fruit juice and staring at him through lowered lashes.
It was a look that clearly worked for him, because Oliver’s eyes flashed with heat. Then he sputtered, “No. It’s not…it’s not that.”
“So you meant to flirt with me?” Felicity murmured, stepping closer.
Oh God, now she was flirting with him. What the hell?
“Yes…no…I mean…” Oliver’s words were awkward and uncertain. But his eyes…they were interested. More than. There was promise right behind the surface. Maybe she should have tried flirting with him ages ago. “It’s just that…I don’t want you to ever think I don’t respect you. You’re very important to me, Felicity.”
“And you don’t flirt with people who are important to you?” Okay, Felicity’s brain-lip connection was officially severed. And it had never been very good to begin with.
Actually, maybe her brain had just plain shut down. Felicity was barely processing Oliver’s words. She was just…responding. Her body was reading his and reacting. No higher brain functioning involved.
Still, Felicity half expected Oliver to recoil at her comment. Instead, he chuckled in a self-deprecating sort of way. “Rarely. Not anymore.” He looked at her with an expression that was both serious and genuine. “Don’t ever think that you’re someone I might…trifle with. Be the old Ollie with. I mean, I wouldn’t play with your feelings like that.”
"Then what are you doing?” Felicity asked and surprisingly that wasn’t coy. It was just candid curiosity. She wanted to know so she asked. No fear.
Where the hell was the fear?
“I don’t know,” Oliver whispered.
Felicity hadn’t realized how close they were. They were really, very close. Maybe even more so than in the limo. And this time she sure the frak wasn’t running away.
Then Oliver leaned even closer and all Felicity needed to do was rise up onto her toes and their lips would touch.
Oh God, was Oliver going to kiss her? Her Oliver?
"Felicity?"
“Mmm Hmm.” She felt herself sway toward him. Two more seconds and Felicity was going to kiss him.
Oliver grabbed her glass out of her hand, asking harshly, “What’s this?”
Felicity flinched back, blinking up at him. What? No….no fair.
“Felicity!” Oliver demanded, holding up the glass. He was starting to look downright distraught.
She didn’t understand. What happened? Why was Oliver asking stupid questions when he could be…doing other stuff?
“It’s…it’s Futura’s new health drink. The doctor told you—”
“Is this what I drank in the limo?”
What the hell? Now Oliver sounded angry. Well, Felicity was starting to get a little POed herself. He was terrible at flirting.
“No,” Felicity said sarcastically, trying to grab her drink back, “like I said, this one is new. It has mango.”
But the bastard still held it out of reach. "Felicity, do you feel strange?”
That made her pause, the worry in Oliver’s voice finally breaking through.
Oliver thought Felicity was being drugged. Oh God, was she being drugged?
Felicity reeled back, taking stock. She didn’t feel high or drunk. She didn’t feel fuzzy or floaty the way she did after one of Digg’s ‘aspirin.’ Her thoughts didn’t feel slowed or cloudy. Maybe a little distracted by arousal but she didn’t need drugs for that. The Salmon Ladder worked just fine.
“No…” she finally answered, but…she wasn’t entirely sure. “What are you thinking?” Felicity whispered, sobering.
Oliver’s voice lowered as well and he leaned in (and this time she knew it wasn’t to kiss her. Dammit), “Do you feel…? It’s not a drugged feeling. It’s like…you feel like yourself but without…anxiety. With lowered inhibitions.”
Felicity froze. Cause hadn’t she just been thinking that very same thing? But, as if to confirm it, she felt a suspicious lack of anxiety. Oliver just told her they were very likely being drugged and not only wasn’t she afraid but she didn’t have the tiniest flutter of nerves.
Hands flying into the air, away from where she had been reaching for the glass, Felicity stepped back, eyes wide.
“Christ,” Oliver swore, all but throwing the glass onto the table and grabbing Felicity’s hand to drag her toward the door. “We’ve got to get the hell out of here.”
But the door didn’t even have a handle.
“Fuck!” Oliver dropped her hand to shove at the door. Violently. His hands began to frantically feel around the edges.
Felicity’s eyes searched the room, looking for another route of escape. Her phone. She needed to send a message to Digg and Roy. Then maybe she could hack into their mainframe, release the door…
“Oliver? Does the air smell…sweet?” Felicity paused on her way to her bag and looked up in time to see a shimmery pink cloud emerge from the vent.
Oliver’s head snapped up and followed her gaze. “Fuck! Felicity, cover your mouth with your shirt.”
She did as she was told, doubling her efforts to grab her phone but…no reception. Of course. If Felicity could just…
There was a loud clatter and Felicity flinched, her eyes jerking up in time to see the chair Oliver had apparently hurled at the window crack under the blow.
The window remained unscratched.
“Oliver…” Felicity was starting to feel lightheaded. Her phone fell from numb fingers.
She felt hands close over her elbows. Felicity forced herself to look up and she met Oliver’s eyes. They were dilated and he was breathing fast. Their knees gave out at the same time and they sunk to the floor. Her head fell to his chest and her eyes drifted closed.
And still, she wasn’t scared. Wasn’t that strange?
* * * * * * *
The first thing Oliver recognized was warmth. And the softest fabric he had ever felt against his bare skin.
It had been a long time since Oliver had woken slowly, hazily. Usually he snapped into alertness with a corresponding shot of fear, a need to survey his surroundings for threats. Instead, he felt calm. Content. That alone should be terrifying, because there was no reason on God’s earth Oliver could imagine feeling that way.
He forced his eyes opened. His head was still laying against a divinely soft pillow and he held himself still as a sea of white came into view. Bright, striking white. Everywhere. The sheets. The walls. The floor. Nothing but white. Not a speck of color. Oliver wondered if he was having some sort of bizarre dream.
His head felt heavy when he lifted it and as he turned to look in the other direction Oliver’s breath caught. He almost became convinced, in that moment, that this was a dream.
On the pillow next to him, Felicity slept, her hair a bright golden cloud, striking in the expanse of white, falling in long curls around her peaceful expression. Her face was fresh and clean, scrubbed free of her usual bright and artfully applied make-up.
Had Oliver ever even seen Felicity without make-up before? Christ, she was beautiful.
Oliver’s eyes drifted to the soft skin of her bare shoulder, peeking out from the fluffy comforter. His hand itched to reach out and see if it was as smooth and silky as it looked. Felicity’s hand was fisted loosely under her chin, giving her a youthful…dear God was she naked?
Fuck. He was naked!
That startled Oliver enough to hurl him into wakefulness and he jerked up, alert. Yet without the spike of fear he would have expected given the sheer…insanity of the situation. What the hell was going on?
He surveyed the surroundings again, just to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. But he didn’t feel drugged or foggy and, in contrast with when he first woke up, he felt perfectly sharp. Not only that but Oliver discovered pretty quickly that he was indeed naked under the layers of silky white sheets and comforter. And Felicity….
Well, damn, as far as he could tell Felicity was naked as well. She was mostly covered, though, and Oliver had to forcefully remove his hands from the blankets to keep himself from lifting them to check.
There was a voice in his head, one he usually held in check, that was urging him to touch her. It made Oliver seriously question his impulse control. He might not feel drugged, but he had no doubt that he was under the influence of something.
It all flooded back in a rush. The limo. The cloyingly sweet fruit juice that had tasted oddly delicious, despite the fact that Oliver hated sweet drinks and had since the island. He remembered sitting with Felicity, talking…just talking about nothing, feeling relaxed and more like…himself than he had in God knows how long.
The conversation had been free-flow and fun, free of the anxiety and restraint that came with the worry that Felicity would figure out how he felt. Or that Oliver would let go and drag her even further into the darkness.
But then they were out in the fresh air and the anxiety had slowly started creeping its way back. At first, Oliver couldn’t understand what had happened, but then there was Felicity looking up at him with a soft, warm expression and that damn drink in her hands and it clicked.
Then there was the conference room and the locked door and the fumes and the unbreakable window and…that was it. Everything ended there.
Jesus Christ!
Oliver scrambled out of bed and frantically searched the large white room for his clothing.
But there was nothing.
Not his clothes. Not hers. Not anyone else’s. No robes. Nothing. No drawers, no cabinets, no closets.
There was a white sectional bolted to the floor and a large white easy-chair. There was a shelf against the wall, also white, with a glass pitcher and glasses filled with that damn juice. It was the only splash of color in the room. But when Oliver looked closely, because glass could be useful, they were made of plastic.
And nothing else.
There was one curtain and Oliver cautiously moved it to reveal a spacious white marble bathroom. It had slightly more color in the form of chrome fixtures and mirrors, but other than the basic toiletries and towels there was also…nothing. No razors, nothing sharp or electric. Not even a door for privacy.
Oliver used the facility and after washing his hands, he smelled the water. It smelled clean enough and when he tried it, it only tasted like water. Though strangely he found he wasn’t that thirsty.
How long had they been there? Were they still at the Futura Lab. Oliver hoped so. It increased the chances of Digg and Roy finding them. So far, Oliver hadn’t found anything useful for mounting an escape, but at least it didn’t look like they had been harmed. Which was strange in of itself. And very unlike any of his past, and numerous, abduction experiences.
Back in the main room, Oliver searched the walls for a door, a handle, hinges…but he couldn’t find even that. The door must slide…but there was no key pad, no buttons, no way to open anything from the inside.
Oliver was starting to be grateful for the lack of anxiety because, surely, he would be in a full blown panic mode now.
He glanced at Felicity, still peacefully sleeping.
Or rage.
He should be completely livid that someone had done this to them. To her. Someone had taken Felicity against her will and undressed her and…but Oliver seemed to be incapable of feeling more than a twinge of anger.
Without conscious thought, Oliver found himself moving to stand over her. His hand was hovering as he tried to resist the urge to stroke Felicity’s hair when he noticed the button on the wall next to the plush white headboard.
Taking a deep breath, Oliver only hesitated a moment before pushing it. He had no idea what it did, but they were low on options.
Immediately, the wall behind the bed parted and slid back, revealing floor to ceiling windows. Oliver was drawn to the bright sunlight and the promise of color like a moth to the flame. He pressed a hand to the glass and stared out.
They were up pretty damn high. On top of a mountain, at least, and only God knew how many floors up. There was a steep drop and a breathtaking view.
This was not the Futura Lab.
For the first time since waking, Oliver felt a real flicker of fear.
Because there were two things Oliver was certain of. He had never been here before. And this was a goddamn Island.
revised 3/3/20