Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow

Episode 12 - Heroes and Villains Part 2

Episode 12 — Heroes and Villains Part 2

AN — This picks up right where Part 1 left off but this one is a little lighter, less complicated (whew)! We should move a bit faster now as we start to wrap things up!  Also, I wanted to go ahead and post this as I was a little late posting Part 1!

DISCLAIMER — I have absolutely no legal claim but will continue to borrow CW's and DC Comics' toys for a bit longer!

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Roy and Diggle exchanged a look as the door closed behind Lance. There was so much for them to do but both were reluctant to speak as Oliver continued to envelope Felicity completely in a comforting hug. By mutual and silent agreement, the men simply continued to wait and fortunately Barry followed their lead. After several moments of silence, Oliver and Felicity smiled at each other before they dropped their arms to their sides. Oliver took Felicity's hand in his as she moved to his side.

Team Arrow then turned as one to face Barry who immediately fell back several steps with his hands raised in front of his chest in a gesture of surrender. He had always been nervous around Oliver, Diggle was only slightly less scary, and Roy was still totally unknown to him. However, he wasn't sure where else to go as he wanted to help them take down Caitlyn for his sake and Felicity's.

"I can help you—" Barry began tentatively but Felicity immediately jumped in.

"Of course you can but are you feeling okay? It's too late to work now and you need some rest. Maybe you could review the lab results later? You'll understand more of that than I will and it would be a big help to know what we're up against." Felicity had continued to look at Barry while she rambled but she now turned to her Team and put her hand just above Oliver's heart as she spoke to him. Not only did Barry need rest but they all did and she didn't want to fight about this right now. "We owe him and we need him. Don't you think?"

"Mm hm." Oliver gritted his teeth and hummed his reluctant agreement. He had kept his eyes on Barry but when Felicity's gentle touch became a painful pinch he brought his gaze to her.

Felicity barely felt Oliver react when she pinched him. She was glad when he finally looked at her as she wanted his eyes on her when she made her point. "He can rest here tonight and we can get started reviewing everything in the morning. You have meetings with the City Council tomorrow but Roy, Barry, and I can stay here and work."

"Cancel the—" Oliver wasn't about to leave Felicity's side with Caitlyn still loose.

"No, you have two jobs now—" Felicity interrupted as she wasn't about to let Caitlyn win by default if Oliver didn't do his jobs.

"My job is to take care of you!" Oliver's voice rose in angry disbelief as he didn't understand how she thought he would just leave her in danger. He had finally admitted his feelings to her but it didn't seem she wasn't going to allow him to act on them before they had talked about everything.

"No, our jobs are to take care of each other and this city." Felicity's hand found its way back to a gentle caress that soothed both her and Oliver. She tried to bury her instinctive joy at his words and focus on the problem at hand though as she knew that now still wasn't the time for them to talk about their relationship.

"Felicity." Oliver growled in frustration. He knew she was right but that didn't stop his primal need to protect her. He rested a hand on hip and used his thumb to stroke her lightly as he tried to bury his emotions.

"Oliver." Felicity tried to inject a growl into her own tone, but when she saw Oliver's lips quirk up in amusement she knew she had failed. However, he was smiling now and she would always consider that a victory.