Warrior (An Olicity Fanfic) [ON HOLD]

Chapter 25 (Alcohol & Felicity)

A/N. Heyy so this story has reached 5k views *yay* Thank you for that, again. This chapter's comparatively long, so I hope you like that.  I'd write smething senti but homework awaites. Enjoy and let me know what you think! :)

A petty argument broke out in the midst of the scent of cheese and candles. Felicity was doubtful but Oliver insisted on leaving for Thea’s. 

“It seems uh..highly unethical for me to disturb your..household routines.” Felicity wasn’t exactly convinced. Truth was, Oliver’s insisting on departing was disappointing for both of them, but it only seemed appropriate for their..relationship as friends. To Oliver, it was one of the most relaxing nights he’d ever had. He wasn’t forced into talking about anything he didn’t want to talk about, he didn’t have to keep his guard up, he didn’t have to be this other person. Felicity to him was like the most natural instinct. He’d heard several times from others that a person is their truest self when they’re alone. Truth was, Oliver felt his most true form was exposed with Felicity. Alone, his thoughts would consume him and he’d go back to the Oliver Queen of the island. There was darkness trapped everywhere inside him and self-loathing. It ate him up. He lived a life where he wasn’t privileged enough to even talk freely to his sister.  Once you let the darkness in, it makes a home for itself. Felicity seemed to have combatted that though. She was the fire he couldn’t have but he stayed closed to her to stay warm. Too close to the fire and he’d burn both of them. Too far and it hurt too much. Though it ached him to see her live her life with other men, watch other people claim to love her, it was the only thing he could do. He couldn’t be Oliver Queen and the Arrow. It was too complicated. There was a part of his life missing where understanding and transitioning between characters would’ve been possible. The island had sucked that lively, able part away from him. 

Now, it was just Arrow, or Oliver Queen. But when he was with Felicity like this, he didn’t have to be either. With her like this, he was a boy so deeply in love with a girl; and that was the end of that. He would get lost in her and her laughter, her eyes, her lips. And it was beautiful. She was beautiful. And he loved her. No matter how thick the walls of his denial stood, no matter how tall they leaped, Felicity’s light and beauty always seemed to penetrate them.

Felicity was sure something horrid would occur to him if he left her presence. 

“Felicity, I have a phone.” He couldn’t stop his lips from uplifting at her concern. 

“I can call you,” he stared into her eyes. 

“Yeah, just like you called me when we were in a three meter radius. And you still managed to collapse, without so much as calling my name for help,” Felicity retorted determinately. 

The argument lasted over the duration of a couple more pizza slices. Truth was, Oliver’s reasons were getting weaker and weaker and somehow, he liked it. He was uttering all the reasons he should leave while another part of him was relishing at Felicity’s dawning victory. At last, Oliver was settled to stay at Felicity’s apartment overnight. He was to sleep on the couch. 

Felicity smiled bravely with her bright lips. She was proud of her success. She had stopped Oliver because she was genuinely concerned for his health. The prospect of something happening to him before he reached Thea’s would keep her awake all night. Better to be safe than sorry. It was admittedly awkward having Oliver sleeping on the couch and embarrassingly, it did make her heart beat faster a little. But it was for his best, and that was that. Felicity Smoak had decided. Oliver loved how opinionated she was. Slade had once said that Oliver had a certain attraction towards strong women. And grudgingly enough, he was correct. Felicity’s strength, bravery, power, it all fascinated him. Her soft yet strong voice contrasted and perfectly deflected off of his harsh and low one. It made him lighter somehow. He didn’t understand it but that was okay. Sometimes understanding and unfurling something ruined the beauty of the entire concept and Oliver didn’t want to do that with what he felt for Felicity. He would stay confused and lost forever if he had to, if it meant she’d be close to him.