The Man in a Hood

"I owe you an Apology"

Next morning Oliver woke up with his head heavy as if he was hit by a truck. He slowly sat on the couch and noticed a Aspirin and a glass of water, along with a note "have this, it will help with the headache" placed on the table next to the sofa.
Oliver gave a look around to see if  felicity was around and smiling within himself he had the tablet;
"Oh, Good morning, you are awake!"
"I thought so.."
Felicity said entering through the front door, in the jumpsuit
"Oh, I assume you took the tablet a kept for you"
Felicity said standing next to Oliver, looking at him
"...or don't tell me you threw it out.. just like I do.. can't tell you how much I hate medicines" Felicity babbled, which made Oliver smile
"Oh no, I took it.. I swear" Oliver replied
"Good.. I believe you" felicity quickly said
"And Please Don't ask me how you got here or when or..." She added walking towards Oliver, who was still on couch
"Oh I remember that.. I told Tommy about me and laurel... that we were...  and we got into a fight; i wanted to forget it.. so i decided to take a drink... but ended up getting drunk; I didn't wanted to go home, so I got here.." Oliver explained

"Oh thank God, you remember!" felicity said with a nod
"I can't believe you actually told Tommy" she added quickly after a pause
"Well someone suggested me that if I need to change, I need to be honest.. so I had to"
Oliver said looking at felicity intensively
"Well... Hmm..." Felicity muttered 

Oliver said in a soft voice, breaking the awkward silence, which had made felicity nervous, "Thank you"
"For what?" Felicity questioned
"For letting me stay..."  Oliver said

"Oh, it's okay.."
Felicity said and paused while looking at Oliver
"Y-you are my ex boss..so...not an issue", She added.

"Well.. if you wish, I can still be your boss.
I swear I will be honest this time and try to be a good boss"
Oliver explained

"Oliver..I..." Felicity begin , but Oliver cut her out, "Felicity, I owe you an apology; we are in serious need to talk.. please! Allow me"
Felicity added with a nod, "well, since I promised you.. okay.."
Which made Oliver smile

"But... After breakfast, cause I'm hungry and exhausted so..." Felicity added with a pout
"okay.. Sure" Oliver replied with a smile
"I'm gonna take quick shower and be right back..."
Felicity said as she took a step, and turning back she added, "oh and if you want to take shower, there's a spare room to the left, you can use that bathroom.."

"Oh.. that would be great, coz I  smell like crap.." Oliver replied with a smile, which made felicity blush

After a while Felicity came back to find Oliver shirtless in the kitchen, 
"OH MY GOD" felicity exclaimed covering her eyes 
"Oliver.. will you put something on your--your..." she added nervously
"the thing is i never saw you shirtless..or anyone shirtless before" 

"well, my t-shirt is kinda smelly.. and i cant wear that, so..." oliver said 
"but relax! i told John to get me some cloths" he added with a smile 
"okay, thats fine" felicity said opening her eyes, and noticing oliver who was making some toasts 
"and what are you doing in my kitchen??" felicity said walking to the kitchen
"wait,... Oh my God! what are these...??" she said covering his mouth with her both hands, looking at the marks on oliver's chest, which she noticed as she walked closer to him
"i got them... on the island" oliver said exhaling; "sorry.. you dont have to look at it... let me put something over....." he added further, walking away from her
"Wait.. let me look..." felicity said holding oliver's hand and stopping him
Felicity touched his each mark, while oliver just allowed her to do so; and turning him around and noticing the burn mark, she asked "How did you get these??" and tears begin to form in her eyes;
"Those are burn marks.... and.... remaining once are either knife or arrow..." oliver replied turning towards felicity, "you see, each mark on my body has a story..." 

"How did you even survive??" felicity questioned with a worried look
"Well, each day i had to fight to survive..." oliver replied with a mild smile, and the tears formed earlier in her eyes, now rolled down over her cheek 
"Hey... its okay.. that was my past...." Oliver said wiping the tears with his thumb and softly caressing her cheeks

"Now, i hope you dont mind, i made some toasts, thought to help you" Oliver said grabbing the plate full of toasts 
"You are.... did you learn that on island too??" Felicity said following oliver to the dinning table, with the coffee mugs
"well.. the island did teach me lot of things..." oliver replied sitting by pulling out the chair, and felicity kept starring at him intensively and a silent smile hit her lips
"What??" Oliver said looking at her, as he applied butter to the toast 
"Nothing. its just...." Felicity nodded and added further after taking a deep breath;
"You are not what you pretend to be.. you know...." 
"what do you mean??" oliver questioned with puzzled look on his face, unable to understand what she meant
"I dont know why or for what purpose, you are behaving the harsh way... you are such a good man oliver.. i hope you realise it soon" felicity said looking at oliver 

"felicity.. before island i was a frat boy, irresponsible of his won actions and than when i got to the island, i realized what life was.. when i had to battle to make through that day..." Oliver begin,
"along with that, i came across some weird things too, some disturbing news, and also met some most dangerous people..." oliver begin, as on other side biting the toast 
"and when i came back, that past followed me here..." oliver paused, but quickly added 
"....i'm pushing people away from me to keep them safe felicity..." 

"Oliver, you cant change what is meant to be... you can be a better person, you cant be this rude and just cant push people away.. you gotta give them a chance... i dont know why you think that pushing away will keep them safe.. you may keep, but its like you are punishing yourself for everything.... all i know is that you can keep them safe by keeping them close to you..." felicity explained, and Oliver without saying a word, just starred at her; 
"Felicity... will you come out for dinner with me tonight??" oliver said breaking the silence

It was like they were having a moment together, when the door bell rang;
"and that must be John..." felicity said 
"i--should..probably.. get the door..." she added standing 
"Yeah...sure" oliver said, as he looked at felicity from behind

Felicity opened the door, and saw john standing infront; 
"Hi Felicity!" john greeted
"Hey John, Good morning" felicity replied, 
"is Mr. Queen there?" he questioned 
"yes he is... having breakfast, come in..." felicity said, welcoming john inside 
"would you like to join us??" felicity questioned 
"Oh no, Thanks Felicity! i'm already full..." john replied with a smile, "Mr. Queen, can i have a word with you..??" he added looking at oliver, 
"sure" oliver said walking towards john 
"hmm... you guys talk.. i'm gonna just..." Felicity said with a nod

"Mr. Queen, your cloths.." John said handling a bag to oliver
"Thank you Digg" Oliver accepted the bag and Pulled a t-shirt from it and wore it;
"Oliver.. man looks like you two were having a moment" john said lowering his voice
"Digg..  will you...."  oliver replied
"Oliver, why dont you finish the breakfast... meanwhile, i'm gonna take a walk in the neighborhood, meet an old friend of mine, who stays across the streets.." John said, noticing at felicity sitting at the dinning table

"are you sure??" Oliver questioned 
"yeah, i will be back in five minutes.." john replied, "will see you than, Mr. queen" he added increasing his voice tone, and oliver nodded 

"Hey..." oliver said joining felicity back 
"Where's john??" felicity questioned 
"oh, he is gone to meet one of his friend around here" oliver replied sipping the coffee mug 
"Oh.. thats nice!" felicity said 

"So.. what do you think??" oliver questioned looking at felicity
"abouuutt whatt??" felicity replied confusingly 
"about, a dinner with me??" oliver grasped 
"Oliver.. look... i..." felicity begin, but oliver understood the answer and he added, "its okay.."
"Oh... hmm....I'm so sorry, Oliver... I-----" felicity tried speaking, but was unable to find words; Oliver understood by looking at her expressions, he added, "No, its okay.. i know you dont trust me... i assume you haven't forgiven me fully... for my past behavior" oliver said giving out a fake smile
"Oliver.. i did forgive you.. its just... you and i..." felicity nodded 

"felicity, i promise you one thing, that you will see a new me... respectful, loyal person.." Oliver said wiping his hands, and grabbing the bag that john got, he said, "Thanks a lot felicity for everything..." 
"Oliver....I--I'm--so" felicity tried speaking 
"I'll see you around..." oliver said opening the door 

TBC...