Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow

Episode 9 tag - Another serious discussion (extended scene)

Episode 9 tag - Another serious discussion (extended scene) 

AN - Just as an FYI, this was one of my fave scenes write over the entire series so I do hope that you guys enjoy it too!  

DISCLAIMER - While I would love to see this on the show, the fact that we won't should tell you that I do not have any claim to CW's Arrow! :(

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Felicity's eyes widened as she watched Oliver pull out the bottle of vodka after Roy and Diggle had left to do a patrol. She knew getting drunk with Oliver would be a bad idea, but she wanted to share in this Team Lesson. Roy had told her that both Oliver and Diggle had spoken to him after the incident in Caitlyn's warehouse. Felicity had never blamed Roy; however, she knew that it was the discussion with the guys that helped Roy not blame himself. It was a Team bonding experience for him and she had been glad but also jealous. She wanted to be part of Oliver's ritual of having serious discussion over vodka...even if she didn't really want to do the serious discussion part. 

Oliver watched the surprise, happiness and doubt flicker across Felicity's expressive face. Sometimes she was an open book to him, other times she was a complete mystery. A tantalizing mystery that he wanted to solve even though he knew he never would. He still didn't know her history but he did know that nothing could change how he saw her. Nothing could change how he loved her either. He didn't understand why Felicity didn't see herself as he saw her, as they all saw her. He wasn't just blinded by love - Felicity was simply that wonderful, that special. He needed to help her see that so she could let go of the past. She had helped him, was still helping him and he wanted to do that for her. 

"It is a Lesson." Oliver stated when fear joined the doubt on Felicity's face. He smiled when she nodded and blushed. The List was still not something they discussed but he knew she was thinking about Lesson #1 just as he was. 

"So we are having a serious discussion then?" Felicity asked. She still wasn't convinced that she wanted this ritual badly enough to explain her past even to Oliver and she knew he wanted to discuss just what was in her folder as they already knew about her hacking charges. 

Oliver nodded and again watched the myriad of expressions Felicity shared with him. Her doubts and insecurities always brought a sharp pain to his heart. She trusted him to do what was right and protect the city, but she never seemed to believe she was even more worthy of his protection. He couldn't blame her for doubting him as he had made a lot of mistakes, but that wasn't the case here. She was doubting herself again because of him...unthinkable. 

Felicity made her decision and spoke rapidly. "You have questions and I don't blame you. I know I wasn't very forthcoming about my past, I mean you knew about the hacking but not the...not the other stuff in that file. I never wanted you to find out-" 

Oliver laid a finger across his partner's lips to stop the flow of words. He paused and kept the finger in place as he spoke. "I have no questions about you, no doubts Felicity. This is a serious discussion about my past, not yours." 

As she was focused on the feel of Oliver's finger resting against her lips, Felicity struggled to process his words. She sighed with disappointment when he replaced his finger with a shot glass as the glass felt cold after his heat. 

Oliver was glad he had spent his life developing a tolerance for alcohol as Felicity went to his head faster than any drink. The evidence of that was the way his heart beat accelerated and his thoughts scattered at just the brush of her fingers on his as she took the glass from him. 

"Your past?" Felicity questioned before she knocked back the shot. She coughed and blushed as Oliver watched her struggle after he had downed his drink with practiced ease.