Line Of Fire •L.A•

26. For The Record

Felicity finds herself stealing glances at Luke as she pours herself a drink at the minibar. He had had this look in his eyes since Des Plaines that she couldn't put a meaning behind.

"You okay?" Matt's words drag her out of her thoughts as he steps up to the minibar.

She gives him a small smile." As fine as one can be after being taken hostage."

He nods." Yeah. You're right. It was a stupid question." He smiles lightly and a twinkle appears in his eyes." So you and Alvez..."

"We're not together." She says quickly, averting her gaze.

"But you like him." He states.

Felicity doesn't know what to say. He chuckles lightly." Penelope accidentally told me." He looks up from his glass.

Felicity sighs." I kinda figured she'd tell someone. As long as the news never reaches Luke it's okay." She looks over at Luke, who's in the far corner of the plane.

"He likes you, Fel."

She stays quiet, choosing instead to stare down at her glass.

"I can tell." He continues." I remember when I first started falling for Kristy, I was always glancing over at her and I'd follow her around. I was like a puppy." He laughs." Luke has that same puppy love look in his eyes when he looks at you."

"That's a weird way to put it." Is all she manages to say but her heart does a few somersaults. She wasn't aware hearts could do that.

Matt walks closer and pulls Felicity into a hug. " I've known you for a very long time, Fel. Same with Luke. You two make each other happy." When he pulls away he smiles." Don't wait until it's too late."

His words sit in Felicity's mind that night when she gets home. She can't stop thinking about them and it makes her heart ache. She gets into bed early that night, the same thing repeating over and over in her head.

Why did you have to come into my life?? Stupid Luke Alvez. Stupid Luke Alvez. Stupid stupid-

Suddenly there's knock on the front door. Her eyes shoot to the clock. It's half past 8. She slips out of her bed." I have a week off of work, can't people just leave me alone!" She continues to grumble as she trudges to answer it. When she pulls it open, she wants to slam it again. Luke is standing in the hallway. She mentally scolds herself for repeating his name so many times. Apparently it had spawned him like Bloody Mary.

"Luke, what-"

He holds up a plastic bag." Thought we could enjoy some sushi together. Unless of course you have other plans."

"No, just sleeping but I guess I can't do that later."

He steps past her and sets everything on the table."I don't know about you but after being held hostage I get a big appetite."

"Sounds like it's happened to you quite often." She takes a seat.

"Comes with the job." He hands her a fork with a small smile.

She sighs." Yeah." Her eyes land on his busted lip and bruised cheek." Looks like Louie really did you one."

Luke shrugs." Nothing I can't handle." He chuckles but Felicity can hear how strained it really is.

"You okay?"

"Why would I be anything other than okay?" He answers slowly, his eyes clamping down. He begins emptying the contents of the bag.

"Luke..." Felicity places her hand slowly over his. Making him stop in his tracks. "What's wrong?"

"You mean other than us just being in a hostage situation?"

"I can tell there's something more than that bothering you." She answers, staring at him intently.

He stays quiet for a few moments. Finally he lifts his eyes to meet hers." Tomorrow is the anniversary of my best friend's murder."

Felicity feels a pit form in her stomach." Your best friend's murder?"

"Phil Brooks." Is all he says before going silent for a few minutes. Felicity just holds his hand in hers, giving him time to form words. His eyes are stuck on a spot on the floor.

The food became forgotten as he begins to talk, his voice oddly quiet." Phil was always there for me, always. And when it was time for me to do the same, I failed. He died and I couldn't save-" His voice quavers and he falls silent. He runs a quick hand over his face.

Felicity stands, before taking a step closer to him. She pulls him against her and for a second he's stiff. But then his arms snake around her waist.

For a moment, all that can be heard is the ticking of the clock on the wall.

When he finally does pull away, Felicity smooths down his hair and stares down at him with sympathetic eyes. "Are you doing anything for him tomorrow?"

"I haven't been to his grave since his funeral. Something about going to visit it makes it feel to real and I'm a coward but I know I should. I think it's time, I make the trip back to New York."

"I could go with you, if you want the company."

He stares up at her, his brown eyes saying so much yet betraying nothing at all.
" Gracias."

A sad smile adorns her face." You're welcome."

"For the record, you're not worthless."

She chuckles." Thanks?"

"Sorry, that was sudden. I mean what Louie said earlier. It's not true. You're worth a lot to so many people. Including me. You're my..." he's silent for a second unsure of what words to use. "Best friend."

Friend. Not the word she was hoping for but it was something. "You're my best friend too."