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Healing and Scars - Having the Strength to Move Forward

Summary: Oliver, Felicity, John, Thea and Tommy deal with the aftermath of the Undertaking, some struggle to move forward more than others.

A/N: This is the longest one in the series and takes place after the Undertaking in between season one and season two.

I hope you like it.

All mistakes are my own.

It was days later, and Felicity was still feeling the effects of helping Tommy.

Sometimes, she felt like at any moment her body would give out, and she ached all over.

She felt like a freight train hit her and dragged her for miles.

She had sharp pains that would come and go. She would get winded sometimes and light-headed.

She wasn’t used to feeling like this for such long periods of time.

It was scary. Especially for her. She never been sick in her life and wasn’t used to feeling like crap for long periods of time.

And then there was the fear of what she was capable of.

If she could heal someone who was all but at death’s door, what could she do for someone who was dead for only a few minutes?

Was it possible for her ability to bring someone back?

And if so what would happen to her?

The thought was horrifying.

No one should have that power.

As she struggled with the fear of what she was capable of, her mind supplied other scenarios, only making her fear worse.

What about terminal conditions? Could she cure someone of cancer?

The way her power worked was, she took on their pain as her own. If she healed someone of cancer, did that mean she would take on the cancer?

How would her body handle it?

Would her body fight it off or succumb to the disease? Would it be temporary?

After healing Tommy, she had so many questions about her abilities and no way of answering them.

It was not only terrifying, but it was also frustrating as hell.

She felt isolated in a way she had never been before.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

There was a knock on her door, and Felicity forced herself off the couch with a groan. Moving was the last thing she wanted to do for many reasons.

“Felicity? Are you alright?” John’s voice sounds through the door, filled with concern and caution.

Felicity could picture him clearly in her mind, poised in front of her door, hand on his gun, ready to defend her if need be.

“Everything’s ok, I’m coming.” She stumbled over a pair of shoes she left in the hallway and caught herself from tumbling face first into the door the last second.

She kicked the shoes to the side, righted her glasses and pulled the door open.

John stood on the other side, hand on his gun, a bandage on his leg. “Your a sight for tired eyes.”

“I thought the saying goes, ‘you’re a sight for sore eyes’?” Felicity’s brow furrowed.

“Yes, but my eyes are tired.” John countered.

“Right,” said Felicity. She opened her door wider wordlessly, inviting him inside her home.

John stepped inside, moving his hand from his gun, and Felicity shut the door behind him.

“Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? Muffin?” Felicity asked, moving to her kitchen.

“I won’t say no to a coffee,” said John. “Black. Two sugars.”

Felicity moved about her kitchen, pouring them both a coffee.

Felicity placed his coffee in front of him. “How did you know where I lived?”

“I followed you home occasionally to make sure you got home safe.” John answered.

“I don’t know if I should be offended you followed me home without my knowledge, or thankful for you looking out for me.”

“Do I get a vote?” asked John. “If so, I pick grateful.”

Felicity grabbed a banana muffin from her pantry. “What brings you by?”

Felicity tore into the muffin. She was always hungry when she was healing.

“Oliver told me what happened.” John took a drink of his coffee and set it down on the counter. “He said you saved Tommy’s life.”

“I only healed his injuries.” Felicity dismissed.

“He had a rebar in his chest. There was no chance of him surviving. You saved his life.” John said. “How are you feeling?”

Felicity’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“I know you don’t like to talk about yourself, but that doesn’t mean we don’t notice. I’ve seen what using your ability does to you.”

Felicity’s heart pounded in her chest. She didn’t want John to know about the consequences of using her ability because then he and Oliver might not let her use it to help them. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb, Felicity.” John shook his head. “Healing people drains you. It takes your energy.”

Felicity was internally relieved he didn’t know the full extent. “It’s nothing a little rest won’t recover.”

“Maybe not, but you need to be careful not to overdue it. Oliver and I need you.”

His words touched felicity. “I promise I’m okay.”

John nodded. “Good.”

“What about you? How are you feeling?” asked Felicity.

“I’m a little banged up, but I’ll live.” John dismissed his current injuries.

“I could take care of them for you.” Felicity didn’t want anymore pain right now, but it was John and he has always been a good friend to her since she joined the team.

“No,” John shook his head. “Just because you can heal doesn’t mean you always have to do it. Some wounds should be left to heal on their own.”

“Okay,” Felicity conceded.

“Speaking of healing, is Tommy going to keep your secret?” John asked.

Felicity noticed the hard edge to his voice. “I haven’t talked to him, but I hope so. I don’t like the idea of being strapped to a table and dissected by scientists.”

“I would never let that happen.” John promised. “If Tommy so much as thinks of telling anyone your secret, they will never find his body.”

Felicity smiled faintly. It was nice that John cared so much, but she didn’t want him killing anyone for her, even if he was only joking.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Slowly, over the next few days, Felicity felt the pain finally start to ebb, and it was such a relief for her.

Unfortunately, she hated the ugly scar she was left with. Freshly showered, she stood in front of her floor-length mirror in her room in nothing but a pair of matching green bra and panties and stared at the scar on her torso. The skin was raised angry and red.

She frowned, tracing the scar.

Her eyes moved to the bullet scar from healing Oliver.

It was the next wound she had traced.

She half thought that as long as she remained on Team Arrow, she was going to end up with as many scars as Oliver and John.

She turned away from the mirror, grabbing for the old gray MIT shirt she had and slipped it on.

She was pulling on a pair of black joggers when there was the sound of a faint knock. Running a hand through her damp hair, she left her room.

The knock sounded again, louder this time.

She grabbed her phone from the side table, checking the time. It was almost seven in the evening. She wasn’t sure who that could be.

The knock sounded again, louder.

She pulled the door opened and her eyes widened. “How did you know where I live?”

Tommy stood in her hallway with a bag of Big Belly Burger. “My family name may be in the dirt, but I still have connections. Can I come in?”

Felicity hesitated. It wasn’t like she was inviting a complete stranger into her home, but she didn’t really know Tommy well enough to be inviting him inside.

Tommy saw her hesitation. “I would’ve asked to meet with you somewhere else if I could, but the media is out for a blood and I rather not be caught off guard by them, but I can leave if my presence is making you uncomfortable.”

Felicity shook her head at herself. She was being ridiculous. She had nothing to be wary of. Tommy wasn’t a bad person. “Sorry,” she apologized. “You just caught me by surprise.”

She stepped back, pulling her front door open wider. “Please, come in.”

A look of relief crossed his face. “Thank you.”

Felicity closed the door behind him and led the way to her living room. “Do you want to have a seat?”

“Whatever makes you comfortable.” Tommy sat down in her recliner, setting the takeout bag on the table.

Felicity set on the couch and turned to him. “How can I help you, Tommy?”

“I think you have helped me enough, don’t you?” asked Tommy, his eyes full of gratitude. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

“I don’t know about that.” Felicity looked away, avoiding his gaze.

“Ollie said you would say that,” said Tommy, and Felicity turned back to him. “He said you weren’t great about accepting praise after using your ability.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say here,” said Felicity. “I don’t know what you want-”

Tommy shook his head quickly. “I don’t want anything,” he was quick to assure. “I just wanted to thank you for saving my life. I know greasy takeout and an unexpected visit isn’t a great way to really go about it, but I didn’t have a lot of options.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Felicity said, letting her guard down. “You were dying. It was the right thing to do.”

“Just because it was the right thing doesn’t mean you had to.” said Tommy. “What you did it was amazing, and it was selfless. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. How is it possible to do what you can?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out some days.” Felicity looked at Tommy. “Please, don’t tell anybody about what I can do.”

“I would never tell anyone your secret.” Tommy swore. “I will take your secret to my grave. I would never repay what you did for me by betraying you.”

“Thank you,” Felicity said in relief. For days now, it had been in the back of her mind that her secret would no longer be her own. More and more people were finding out about her secret, and that was a terrifying notion.

Tommy chuckled. “I came here to thank you and yet you’re thanking me.”

“You keep my secret, then we’re even,” said Felicity. “But out of curiosity, what did you bring me to eat?”

Tommy grinned. “I have it on good authority that you enjoy the belly buster with a side of onion rings. I thought we could share a meal and get to know each other a little better.”

“Why do you want to do that?” Felicity asked, tilting her head at him.

“When you save my life at the cost of yourself, you bet your beautiful sunshine self that you will be a friend for life,” said Tommy, pulling his own food from the bag.

“What do you mean by that?” Felicity asked warily. “At the cost of myself?”

Tommy turned serious. “Contrary to what most people believe, I’m not an idiot and I’m observant and I felt you when you were healing me. I can’t explain it, but it felt like you were giving your own life for mine. This ability of yours comes at a high cost to you.”

Felicity’s heart thundered in her chest. “Please, don’t tell anyone.”

“I already told you I wouldn’t,” said Tommy.

“I mean, anyone.” Felicity stressed. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Tommy’s eyes widened. “Ollie, doesn’t know?”

Felicity shook her head. “And I want to keep it that way.”

Tommy’s eyes softened. “Your secret is safe with me, Sunshine.”

“Sunshine?” Felicity questioned, even as a relieved smile graced her lips.

“You glowed like the sun when you were healing me. It was warm like the sun,” Tommy explained.

“No one’s ever told me that before.” Felicity reached for her own food.

“How many people have you healed?” Tommy asked.

“You, John, Oliver, and my father once.” Felicity answered.

“And no ones ever told you what it feels like when you heal them?”

“I try to avoid talking about it.” Felicity answered.

“Well, I can’t speak for them but it reminded me of the sun,” said Tommy. “Hope you don’t mind, but I will be calling you Sunshine for the foreseeable future.”

She’d been called worse. She didn’t really mind.

It was a nice nickname if she had to have one.

She glanced at Tommy, a smile played at her lips. Maybe he was right, and they were going to end up good friends.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Tommy left shortly after sharing a meal with Felicity and thanking her again.

Felicity wasn’t expecting anymore visitors so when there was a knock on her door near the stroke of midnight. She was wary.

Grabbing the closest thing she could as she went to answer the door. Which happened to be her yellow polka dot umbrella.

She undid her lock, but not the chain. Pulling the door open just enough to see who it was and was greeted with wide shoulders and a broad chest, she would know anywhere. With a sigh of relief, she shut the door with a click and undid the chain before fully opening it. “Oliver, what are you doing here?”

“We haven’t talked in a few days. I wanted to see how you were doing?”

“Its almost midnight.” Felicity pointed out.

“That’s why I brought a gift. Ice cream. Chocolate swirl.” Oliver presented the bag to her.

Felicity scrunched up her nose but accepted the bag. “I prefer Mint chip.”

Oliver followed inside her apartment to her kitchen. “I’ll remember that for next time.”

“What really brings you by?” Felicity asked, retrieving two spoons and retaking her spot on the couch.

Oliver took off his jacket and joined her. “I’ve been feeling restless.”

In truth, he didn’t want to spend another night alone. He got used to spending his nights with John and Felicity. It felt wrong when he went days without seeing them.

“You should be taking the time to take a beat. The city is gonna need you again soon.” Felicity replied.

Oliver avoided her eyes. He wasn’t sure about picking up his hood again. Especially not after he failed it so epically. So many people were dead because he failed to protect the city. “If anyone should be taking the time to rest, it should be you.”

“Me?” Felicity replied, scooping a spoon of ice cream into her mouth.

“Healing Tommy seemed to really take it out of you. More than will you healed me.” Oliver commented.

“You had different injuries.” Felicity reasoned. “But as you can see, I’m fine. Nothing a little time didn’t take care of.”

Oliver turned toward her, taking a bite of his own scoop of ice cream, his look thoughtful.

“What?” Felicity asked.

“How does your ability work?” Oliver questioned. “I mean, I know you healed me and you were tired afterward, but seeing you use it is entirely different. It looked like it more than tired you. It looked like it drained you.”

Felicity was quiet for a long time. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she also didn’t want him knowing the full truth of her ability.

While she feared her own ability. She still wanted to use it to help Oliver and John when they needed her, but if Oliver knew the truth of her ability, she wasn’t sure he or John would ever let her heal them again.

“Felicity?”

Felicity jumped at Oliver’s voice, having gotten lost in her thoughts. “Sorry, I was trying to organize my thoughts. Honestly, I don’t know a lot about my ability.”

It wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t the full truth.

“What do you know?” Asked Oliver.

“I never got sick as a kid,” Felicity answered. “Never had the flu, a cold, fever, chicken pox. Nothing. I didn’t have allergies growing up.”

“Your parents didn’t find it a little strange?” asked Oliver.

“My father wasn’t really around much,” Felicity kept the information vague. She didn’t want to get into how he abandoned her and her mother shortly after the first time she used her ability.

There was nothing more soul crushing than realizing you were too much of a freak for your father to stick around.

“It was really just my mom and me,” Felicity said. “It was odd, but my mother didn’t really think much of it. Not until the first time I used my ability.”

“What happened?” Oliver asked, leaning back against the cushions, feeling at ease in Felicity’s presence.

“My father got into a car accident, he spent a few days in the hospital, when he came home, I sat with him and I put my hand over his side where he had a few shallow cuts, my hand glowed and when I removed it, he was healed.”

Felicity paused, taking a moment. “My father and mother stressed how important it was that I not tell anyone about what I could do. My father forbid me from ever doing it again.”

“He was probably scared of what could happen if people found out what you could do,” Oliver reasoned.

“Maybe,” she doubted it. He left not long after that, and she never heard or seen him again.

“My mother she thought it was amazing, but she wanted me to be careful.” Felicity said. “And I was careful. I didn’t want to end up in some lab being experimented on.”

“I only used my ability when I had to. It’s how I was able to keep it a secret for so long.”

“And then I showed up in your backseat,” said Oliver.

“Yeah,” Felicity nodded. “John and you are the only ones I ever told my secret and now Tommy.”

“Thank you,” said Oliver. “For trusting us.”

“You keep my secret, I keep yours.” Felicity said with an air of understanding and friendship that Oliver appreciated.

“Does your ability have drawbacks?” Oliver wondered, “beyond the draining?”

“No,” Felicity lied.

She hated lying but she couldn’t see Oliver reacting well to finding out the wounds she heals she takes on as her own.

She had scars that weren’t even rightfully hers.

“Are wounds the only thing you can heal?” Oliver wondered. “What if someone had a cold or something?”

Felicity shrugged. “Never tried.”

“Cancer?”

“Don’t want to find out.”

“Why not?” asked Oliver. “Do you not like what you can do?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it,” Felicity said honestly. “Its more that it scares me. Healing someone the way I do. It’s not natural or normal. I don’t understand it and I hate that. I hate mysteries.”

There should be a limit to what she could do, and she never wanted to find out what those limits were.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Oliver while he enjoyed just talking with Felicity, it felt natural to be in her presence.

A light shining in his darkness, however, it didn’t take away from the weight of his failure.

The body count weighed heavily on him, his mother’s imprisonment, the rift that was still there between him and Tommy, his mistake with Laurel.

All of it was his fault.

He came back to help the city and all he did was make it worse and cause more pain.

He wasn’t a hero. He wasn’t even a vigilante.

He was a failure.

He didn’t deserve to go on living his life. He didn’t deserve to move on past the Undertaking.

Making a choice, he left a gift for Felicity on her fire escape. The bottle of wine he promised her long ago.

He left a vast sum of money in both her and John’s bank accounts, his way of thanking them for their help.

He wrote a letter to Laurel, ending things with her officially.

He boarded a plane. He couldn’t say goodbye to Tommy or Thea, but he hoped they would understand why he had to leave. He left a letter for the both of them.

He needed to be alone, isolated from everyone.

It was his own punishment for his failures.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Tommy walked into the living room of the Queen home and found Thea, eating her way through a pint of ice cream.

He had started staying with Thea and Ollie after the Undertaking. It was on the awkward side with what was going on with him and Oliver, but it was safer than saying at the Merlyn Estate.

Everyone left in the Glades wanted him as dead as his father. Riots calling for Merlyn blood.

Then there was the constant hounding of the press.

It was by far the worst attention Tommy has ever gotten.

He was trying to handle all his family's legal affairs. He had taken over his family’s company and was in the process of selling it.

He wanted nothing to do with anything related to his father. He planned on using the money to rebuild the Glades and help the families that had lost loved ones in the Undertaking and rebuild his mother’s hospital.

He spent most time in meetings dealing with all the red tape and rarely saw Thea and Ollie.

He’d been screening Laurel’s calls. He wasn’t ready to face her. Avoidance was his friend when it came to her.

“Hey,” he greeted her with a smile. “I brought Chinese.”

“I’m good.” Thea waved her ice cream around.

“I can see that,” he said, taking a seat at the other end of the couch.

“Raisa finds out you chose takeout over her food, she’s going to be crossed.” Thea warned, half heartedly.

“It’s late. I didn’t want to put her out,” said Tommy. “You know, I love Raisa’s food.”

“Be sure to remind her of that,” said Thea.

“Where’s Ollie?” asked Tommy.

“He left.” Thea said, tone flat. “Where?” asked Tommy. “Will he be back tonight?”

“I doubt it. When I say he left. I mean, he’s no longer in Starling.”

Surprise filtered across Tommy’s face. “What are you talking about?”

Thea reached between the couch cushions and pulled out a letter, passing it to Tommy.

Forebodingly, he read the letter, a slow simmering anger forming in his stomach.

Ollie had changed a lot since he came back, but some things he saw were still the same.

Oliver still ran away when things got tough, choosing the easy way out.

He gave the letter back to Thea. “I’m sorry, Thea.”

“I don’t know why I’m surprised,” said Thea. “This is classic Ollie. Walter’s not around. My brother’s gone, mom’s in jail. Other than Roy, I’ve got no one.”

“You have me,” said Tommy, reaching across and squeezing her forearm.

Thea smiled gratefully. “You have me too.”

“We’ll get through this together,” Tommy said.

“We will.” Thea agreed.

Tommy smiled faintly, even as anger for his friend churned in his stomach.

He wasn’t sure if he was more angry that Ollie left or that he didn’t even bother to say bye to him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“What are you doing here?” Tommy asked, staring across the Queen foyer at Laurel.

“I think’s it about time we talk, don’t you?” asked Laurel.

Tommy wanted to turn away, wanted to continue to avoid this, but he was just running away and he didn’t want to be the guy who ran away from his problems.

“Yeah, it is,” he said finally.

“I don’t understand, Tommy,” Laurel grabbed his hand. “The world was coming down. I almost died, but you saved me. You risk your life for me, told me you loved me, and then you avoid me. Why do any of that if you were going to just ignore my calls and cut me out?”

“I did that because I love you, but it doesn’t erase what you did.” Tommy pulled his hand from hers.

“What are you talking about?” Laurel shook her head, confused. “I didn’t do anything.”

“I saw you,” Tommy’s jaw tightened as he recalled seeing Laurel wrapped around Oliver through her bedroom window.

The anger that had simmered inside him just then resurfaced the bitterness he felt.

“Before the Undertaking, I went to your place. I was going to tell you that I made a mistake in ending things, but then I saw you with Oliver.”

Laurel frowned deeply. “I’m sorry,”

“Are you sorry that you did it or are you sorry I had to witness it?” Tommy asked.

“I didn’t cheat on you. We were broken up.” Laurel reminded.

“We were,” Tommy agreed. “But with the way I felt about you, I could have never done that to you.” he laughed ruefully. “I guess that’s my answer. You don’t love me the way I love you.”

Laurel shook her head and took his face in her hands. “I can,” she kissed him.

Tommy found himself leaning into the kiss for a moment, but then he pulled away as the anger in his chest didn’t fade. “I don’t want you to. Not anymore.”

“Tommy,” Laurel protested.

“I refuse to be someone you settled for because Ollie decided once again you weren’t what he wanted. I will not be a stand in for him. I am not a placeholder.” Tommy said firmly, brushing her hands away.

“You’re not.” Laurel said, eyes flashing. “I don’t see you that way.”

“You’re lying to me,” said Tommy. “You’re only here because Oliver left. Tell me, did he even say goodbye to you?”

Laurel looked away, refusing to answer, but Tommy watched as tears gathered in her eyes.

“I’m not trying to hurt you,” said Tommy, and Laurel looked back at him. “I just want to be honest. I spent most of our relationship living in my best friend’s shadow and that is not the way I want to live my life. I am done begging at your feet for you to feel just a half of what you felt for him for me.”

“I wanted to love you,” Laurel felt a tear slip beneath her eye. “I don’t know why I couldn’t let him go. Why I still can’t.”

Tommy nodded sadly. “Then let me go.”

Laurel nodded and swallowed thickly. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I.”

Laurel pressed a kiss to his cheek in goodbye.

Tommy watched her leave and while it hurt to finally put her behind him, he knew it was the right choice.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The first time Tommy was attacked was a shock.

He was going to meet with lawyers. He had barely taken a few feet from his car when he was being knocked down.

Shocked by the suddenness of it all, he stared up in confusion.

A group of men surrounded him with weapons, crowbar and pipes.

He felt their kicks. They were bearable, but the true pain came when they cracked his ribs with the crowbar and then his knee with the pipe.

He cried out. Thankfully, his attack was short-lived. To his surprise, John Diggle came to his rescue, making quick work of the men and calling the SCPD.

John promised to take him to the hospital once the SCPD had finished getting their statement from Tommy, declining an ambulance.

Tommy wasn’t all that surprised that instead he called Felicity on the phone and she told them to meet her at her place.

John followed Felicity’s instruction, finding her hidden key and unlocking the door. He then helped Tommy inside.

While they waited for Felicity, who was at work.

Tommy winced, his body seizing up as he settled against the cushions on Felicity’s couch.

He couldn’t stand to put any weight on his leg. It hurt to breathe; his face hurt.

He understood that the city was angry, and it was hurting and they wanted his father’s head, but he never imagined that they would come for him instead because he shared his blood.

He was paying for his father’s crimes.

This wasn’t good.

He had a target on his back that he feared would never go away.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Felicity rushed up the steps to her apartment, her stomach in knots.

When John called her and told her Tommy had been attacked, she was shocked and then she was worried.

Tommy had called her almost every day since he had thanked her for saving his life. He had become a friend.

She hated to think about any of her friends hurt.

She hoped it wasn’t bad. She didn’t save his life just for him to be killed in a senseless attack because of his father’s actions.

She saw no other reason why someone would want to hurt Tommy Merlyn.

She breezed into her apartment. “What happened?!” she demanded before even laying eyes on Tommy.

“Angry citizens.” John answered her. “I’m glad I was in the area. They were out for blood.”

Felicity stepped around him and when her eyes fell on Tommy, she couldn’t help but gasp. “Oh, Tommy.”

“I usually hear those words under better circumstances.” Tommy tried to lighten what happened with a joke.

Felicity sat on the edge of her table in front of him. “What hurts?”

“It hurts to breathe and I think my leg is broken.” Tommy confessed. “And my face feels like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson.”

“It looks it,” Felicity admitted, tentatively touching the swollen and bruised skin of his jaw and eye.

Tommy pulled back with a wince.

“I was worried about taking him to the hospital.” John said from behind her. “Until the riots and the protest die down, I thought it best he not be seen.”

“You did the right thing bringing him here.” Felicity said. “I’m nobody. I have no connection with him. No one will look for him here.”

“My father really fucked things up,” said Tommy darkly.

“He did, but we’ll get through it.” Felicity promised. She looked over her shoulder at John. “Could you run to the store and get me a first aid kit? For obvious reasons, I’ve never needed to keep one in my home.”

“Sure thing.” John nodded. “I’ll be back.”

Once he was gone, Felicity turned back to Tommy. “You said you would keep my secret,”

“I will.” Tommy’s response was immediate.

“I need you to keep another one for me.” Felicity told him.

“I don’t know if I can heal all your wounds, but I’m going to try.”

“I don’t know for certain my leg is broken. It could just be busted,” said Tommy.

“Remember to tell John that when he returns.” Felicity advised.

Tommy's brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“You will.” Felicity placed her hands over his side.

Tommy watched in fascination as her hands glowed like the sun. Warmth spread through him and the pain disappeared.

When he looked back up at Felicity, he was surprised to see her face pinched in pain. “Felicity?”

“It’s okay,” she said, feeling a lingering pain in her ribs. She moved to his leg.

Felicity bit down on her lip so hard she drew blood. The pain was sharp, shooting through her leg.

She had healed a broke bone once before. It had taken almost a full day to heal, but the pain was an almost constant during the time. Fortunately, it didn’t leave any marks behind.

“Sunshine?”

Tears gathered in her eyes and Felicity's lips parted as she blew out a breath, breathing through the pain.

“You’re in pain.” Tommy moved from his seat. He helped her from the table and into his spot on the couch, most of his injuries gone except for the bruises and swelling on his face. “Why are you in pain?”

“I need to call into work,” Felicity blew out another harsh breath. “I need to call in sick for the rest of the day.”

“Why are you in pain?” Tommy repeated, taking her hand, hoping to ease her pain.

Felicity gripped his hands tightly. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“Your secrets are my secrets,” he answered without hesitation.

Felicity looked into his eyes, looking for honesty and sincerity. She found it. “When I heal someone I don’t just exhaust myself, I take on their pain and their injuries to an extent.”

“What?” Tommy was horrified.

“I mean, I don’t get the broken bone exactly, but I take on the wounds and they heal at a rapid pace. I get the scars.” Felicity confessed.

“That’s terrible,” Said Tommy, guilt filling him. “You have a scar to match where I was impaled?”

Felicity nodded.

“I’m sorry, Felicity.” He apologized. “I didn’t know.”

“No one does.” She answered. “Healing comes at a price.”

“That doesn’t make it right.” Tommy shook his head. “You can’t keep using your ability if it hurts you.”��

Felicity smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “I will always choose to help my friends.”

Tommy shook his head. “You’re too good for this world, you know that?”

Felicity smiled faintly. “It’s nice to hear.”

“It’s the truth.” Tommy's eyes narrowed. “You’re not allowed to heal me anymore.”

“If your life is in danger and I can do something about it, I will.” Felicity closed her eyes against the pain.

Tommy moved to sit beside her and pulled her to lean against him. “We’re going to have to disagree on that one, Sunshine.

“Thank you for caring.” Felicity told him.

“You make it as easy as breathing.” Tommy said.

Felicity turned and reached her hand toward his face.

Tommy caught her hand in his, stopping her from touching his wounds. “No,” he shook his head at her. “It will heal on its own.”

“You sure?” Felicity gave a teasing smile despite the pain she was in. “I know how important that pretty face is to you.”

“You’re more important.” Tommy held her hand, not letting go. “I hope you know from now on you’re never getting rid of me. Someone has to take care of you when you’re in pain.”

Felicity smiled faintly, leaning more into him. “You’re a good friend, Tommy.”

“You too, Sunshine, you too,” he said and felt as her breathing even out, telling him she fell asleep against him.

For the first time, Tommy was glad Oliver was gone because if he was here, he would be out on the streets, possibly getting hurt, and Felicity would heal him because she cared too much.

She would be in pain, and she didn’t deserve that.

She didn’t deserve to suffer other people’s pain, but she would if it help them.

Her heart was too big and too selfless and he worried for her more than he could put into words.

He made a promise to himself that while Felicity was busy taking care of others, he would take care of her.

And he intended to keep that promise.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The city fell apart, crime started to run rampant in Starling City, no longer keeping to the Glades. ‘

There was a rise in robberies, OD’s, break in’s, assaults and sexual assault.

Starling PD was becoming overwhelmed. The Glades were more dangerous than ever that even Starling PD wouldn’t answer a call without back up.

When the criminals of Starling realized the Hood was nowhere to be found, The Glades became their chosen playground.

Tommy felt the same anger when he first found out Oliver’s secret resurfacing, that same bitterness when he saw Laurel and him together brewing inside.

Anger and bitterness for Oliver.

Oliver could do something about what was happening, but he ran away and left everyone to fall victims to the predators.

Oliver could’ve made a difference, but he chose to abandon them all.

Tommy wanted to hate him for that. God, he was so angry with him. He wanted to see Oliver just so he could punch him in his stupid face.

Tommy tried to make the city better by beginning the rebuilding and helping with all the resources he could, but it wasn’t enough.

He knew that, but that point was driven further when he came across a girl being assaulted in broad daylight in an alley not far from Felicity’s place.

He couldn’t stand by and do nothing and while he saved the girl, he got stabbed in the process.

Felicity had to heal him, and he hated it.

He was done being the one who needed healing all the time; he was done, causing her unnecessary pain.

He was done standing by, watching his city fall apart.

He asked John to train him. At first the other man was against it but he didn’t stop, insisting he was going to go out there to help people, but he was less likely to get himself killed with John’s help.

Felicity was ultimately a deciding factor, reminding John that they could help the city and if Tommy knew how to take care of himself, she wouldn’t have to heal him all the time.

John caved, and he was harsh with his training, but Tommy was not going to complain. He wanted John to turn him into the soldier he needed to be to help Starling City in the Hood’s absence.

In time, it became just the three of them rebuilding the foundry. Tommy helped Thea rebuild verdant.

Tommy was green, too green to be on the field, but John believed he had potential. But this was not an easy life he was choosing.

Tommy was fully aware and gave it everything he had, leaving little room for anything else.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thea scowled, sitting across from Tommy.

It wasn’t the first time he was late for their planned dinners.

Tommy was all the family she had left, and she did not like how he was beginning to remind her of Ollie with his tardiness, absence, and lame excuses.

“Look, I’m sorry. I missed our last two dinners, but Felicity was helping me with lawyers and finances and-”

“Who’s Felicity?” Thea's eyes narrowed. “You keep mentioning her. Is she your rebound girl from Laurel?”

“No, I don’t have a new girl.” Tommy shook his head. “And Felicity could never be anyone’s rebound girl. She’s far too smart for that. And she’s special.”

Thea looked at him, considering. “You’re just friends?”

“Yes. She has become one of my closest friends.” Tommy smiled. “Do you want to meet her? I’m sure if you got to know her, you would be great friends.”

“It would be nice to meet the reason why you keep bailing on me,” said Thea.

“I’m sorry.” Tommy apologized again. “I will work on it.”

“I don’t need another Ollie, Tommy,” Thea said. “I need someone who's not going to leave me behind.”

Once again, Tommy felt his anger at his friend resurfacing. “I’m never going to leave you behind.”

Thea smiled faintly, not entirely sure she believed him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thea tipped her head back, a moan drawn from her lips as Roy sucked at her neck, her legs hooked around his waist and he was rocking against her.

“I’m supposed to be meeting with contractors in ten minutes.” Thea panted, chest heaving.

Roy buried his hands in her hair. “You can be late.” he reached his hand beneath her dress.

Feeling his hands on her body, the hardness rocking against her, his lips on her skin, Thea’s focus was zeroing down to the two of them.

Nodding frantically, she reached for his pants, pulling at his belt. “We have to be quick.”

She can do quick and dirty, then freshen up. Being a little late, couldn’t hurt that much.

The door to the office opened, “Hey, Thea- Oh God!”

Thea pushed Roy away, jumping down from the desk she was on just as Tommy turned his back to them.

“I did not need to see that,” he groaned.

“Sorry,” Thea's skin flushed, embarrassed, straightening her dress. “You should have knocked.”

“This used to be my office,” Tommy slowly turned around, and found Roy looking like he had his hand in the cookie jaw. “Shouldn’t you be helping down stairs?”

“I’ll see you later.” Roy kissed Thea quickly and passed by Tommy out of the office.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here today.” Thea said. She and Tommy had been working together to get Verdant up and running, but he was letting her have most of the final say.

“I wanted to get lunch and introduce you to Felicity,” said Tommy. “Think you can spare an hour of not sucking Roy’s face-”

“Do you really want to judge?” Thea quirked an eyebrow at him.

“No,” Tommy conceded. “That just wasn’t anything I wanted to see. It’s like I saw my sister making out with a frat boy.”

“I thought you liked Roy,”

“I like him, doesn’t mean I want to see him sticking his tongue down your throat.” Tommy shook, like he was trying to shake the image free from his brain.

“Is Felicity meeting us there?” Thea asked, running a hand through her hair and grabbing her purse.

“Yes, she is,” he offered her his arm. “Let’s go. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

Twenty minutes later, Tommy and Thea were walking into Big Belly Burger. He was glad that his work to help the city had deterred any further attacks on his person. He could go out and not get mobbed.

Felicity was already seated at a booth in the back, she was messing around on her phone.

Tommy led Thea over.

Thea’s brow furrowed as she slid into the booth next to Tommy, across from the blonde. “Haven’t we met before?”

Felicity smiled nervously, setting her phone down. “Yes, when Walter was found. I brought him get well flowers while you and your mother were at his bedside.”

“Right, you came with my brother,” said Thea. “He and Walter said you were their friend. Did Oliver introduce you and Tommy?”

“Yes,” Felicity nodded. “I worked for QC. That’s how I met Oliver and Walter.”

“How did you become friends with all three of them?” Thea questioned.

“Thea, this isn’t an interrogation.” Tommy nudged her.

“I know, I am just getting to know Felicity..” Thea looked at Felicity expectantly.

“Smoak,” Felicity suppled. “Felicity Smoak. And it’s fine, Tommy. I can handle a little questioning. To answer your question, I got to know Walter working on a project for him and he recommended Oliver to me when he was having computer trouble. He wasn’t too good with the new advanced technology and kept coming back for help.”

“And Tommy?”

“Oliver hired me to set up the club’s internet and Tommy kept me entertained. We became fast friends.” Felicity said.

“Just friends?” asked Thea. Tommy told her that’s all they were, but she wasn’t going to just take his word for it.

“Just friends.” Felicity confirmed. She sent Tommy a teasing grin. “Merlyn couldn’t handle more than that.”

“I’m willing to get burned,” he teased back, good-naturedly.

Felicity laughed. Tommy was a natural flirt, and Felicity handled it well.

Thea looked between the two, seeing the easy banter and friendship. “Well, it’s great to meet you. Again. I look forward to getting to know you as well as the men in my life have.”

“Can I take your order?” A server appeared at their table.

“I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake,” Felicity listed off. She smiled at Thea. “They have the best fries.”

“I’ll have the same.” Thea smiled. “I know. I’ve been here a few times with my boyfriend.”

“Roy, right? Tommy and Oliver both mentioned him a few times,” said Felicity.

“Yeah, that’s him.” Thea agreed. “He’s a good guy. Unlike this one here,”

“Hey,” Tommy put a hand on his heart. “I take offense. I am a great person.”

“You are,” Felicity agreed easily. “Still, we all have our moments.”

Thea laugh. “I think I like you,”

“Good, you’ll be seeing more of her.” Tommy looked at the server. “I’ll have the same, but make it a double cheeseburger with a side of onion rings and fries.”

“Did Oliver say goodbye to you before he left?” Thea asked her.

“Yeah,” she answered. In a way, he did. It just wasn’t in person.

Thea nodded. “Did he tell you when he might be coming back because I am still trying to figure it out,”

“No, sorry.” Felicity said apologetically. “But I’m sure he’ll come back when he’s ready.”

Thea nodded, but said nothing more.

Felicity could see she was a little crestfallen by Oliver’s disappearance and smiled faintly. “At least you still have Tommy. He’s great for standing in for Oliver.”

Felicity sent Tommy a teasing grin. Wanting him to know she meant nothing by the innocent words.

“Some would say better,” Tommy interjected.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t disagree.” Felicity nodded. “You’re here.”

Thea turned and looked at Tommy, and smiled. “Yeah, he is.”

Tommy grinned at both women.

“So, Felicity, I have to ask, are you single?”

“Why do you need to know this?” Felicity asked with a small laugh.

“You’re pretty, you’re smart, and as far as I can tell, a good friend. You having a boyfriend will be the only thing that would make sense for either Tommy or Ollie for being only friends with you.” Thea inclined.

“No, I do not have a boyfriend. I suppose I am just not their type.”

“That is a lie,” Tommy interjected. “You’re just too good for me and you know it.”

Felicity laughed. “I’m nowhere near your brother’s radar, and I am no one’s rebound.”

She wanted nowhere near the mess of Oliver, Tommy and Laurel’s drama.

“A girl with respect for herself, I like it.” Thea’s eyes narrowed. “Where do you stand on girls?”

Tommy’s eyebrows raised in interest.

“If the chemistry is there, attraction is attraction, love is love regardless of gender.” Felicity replied easily.

“Now, things are getting interesting.” Tommy leaned forward. “Did you experiment in college and if so how-ow!”

Tommy rubbed the back of his head and sent Thea an accusing glare.

Felicity laughed, and Thea grinned.

Tommy leaned back in his seat with a smile as Thea moved onto complimenting Felicity’s nails and while he did not care for the talk of the importance of nail polish matching ones outfit, he was enjoying seeing Thea and Felicity hit it off so well.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Felicity was surprised when Detective Lance ask to meet with her.

A part of her was worried it was a follow up to when he had her come to the station, but she agreed and met with him for coffee one morning.

“Ms. Smoak,” he greeted, waiting for her outside of a coffee shop a few blocks from QC.

“Detective Lance,” she returned. “I hope you don’t plan on bringing me in.”

“No, I wanted to talk with you.” he motioned for her to join him at one of the outside tables.

He passed her the extra coffee in his hand.

Felicity thank him and waited for him to continue.

“Since the Undertaking your friend has slacked off on the crime in the city, things have been escalating. I’m working on a series of house invasions. I believe they're all tied together, and I was hoping you could help me.”

“Why come to me for help?” Felicity question. “As you said, my friend has taken a step back since the Undertaking. He didn’t take it well, that we couldn’t save everyone.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t ask, but it’s not just house invasions.” Detective Lance produce a file from his jacket and slid it over. “I hope you will keep this between us.”

Felicity understood, if it got out he was showing her case files it could end badly for his career more so than it already had.

Because of his work with the Hood, he had been demoted to a beat cop, but Felicity would always see him for the detective he was.

Felicity set her coffee down and leaned forward to go through the file. It seemed pretty straightforward and simple. A string of break ends, no casualties, no injuries, safes, wallets, jewelry boxes emptied out. The victims woke up from a deep sleep. It was determined that the suspects were using sleeping gas. The targets were a little on the richer side, there was security footage but they wore mask, protecting their identities. It was the last one that caught her eye.

Felicity looked at Lance, her expression one of horror. “13?”

Lance nodded, his eyes darkening. “It’s one thing to be chasing down robbers, but raping that girl while she thought she was safe in her bed…It has to end. I don’t want another girl to become a victim. I want to stop it before it can happen again.”

Felicity closed the file. “I’ll do everything I can. I’ll have your suspects narrowed down soon.”

“If they keep to their current pattern, we have two days before they hit someone else,” said Lance.

Felicity hesitated. “Did the little girl get a rape kit?”

“Yes,” Lance nodded. “One of our female detectives was able to convince her to get one.”

Felicity nodded. “Expect a call from me soon,”

Felicity stood. “I’ll get right on this.”

Lance stood and extended his hand. “Thank you,” he said gruffly.

Felicity nodded, shaking his hand, and bid him goodbye.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Felicity took the rest of the day off and went to the foundry.

She was happy that the rebuilding of the Foundry was mostly done and that her computer station was already set up and ready to go.

She set straight to work. She went over the file thoroughly. Reports from the victims, pictures of the crime scene, forensic evidence, she hacked into the Starling Police mainframe, checking out the victims and the security footage they had from their homes, and was able to hack it.

All the victims used the same security company and Felicity didn’t think it was a coincidence, furthermore the sleeping gas being used was high dollar and you could only get it in a few places in Starling.

If they were hitting another house in two days, it was possible they would be looking to buy more sleeping gas.

Felicity hacked into the hospital’s records for the rape kit results and ran the DNA recovered from it in the system.

The scumbag wasn’t smart enough to use a condom and left evidence that she could use.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the system.

Felicity cursed loudly, her fist coming down hard on the table.

“Whoa, Sunshine, what’s raining clouds on you?” Tommy came down the stairs with a takeout bag.

John followed behind him. “You didn’t tell me you were taking a day off from your day job.”

“Sorry, I met with Lance for lunch and he has me working on something,” Felicity answered. “And I have to get this done. I don’t want to think what can happen if I don’t meet the deadline.”

“What are we working on?” asked John, showing his support.

“There’s been a series of break-ins of some of Starling’s higher suburban areas, it was just robberies, no casualties, it was just a simple break in until last night.” Felicity answered.

“Was someone killed?” Asked Tommy.

“No, but in some ways this is worse,” Felicity shook her head, and brought up a picture of of the young rape victim. “They use sleeping gas and this time, a girl was raped while she was kept unconscious.”

“Jesus, she looks barely fifteen.” Tommy said in disgust, staring at the school picture of a girl with vibrant red hair, blue eyes, and a freckled face.

“Thirteen.” Felicity supplied.

John cursed. “What can we do to help?”

“I was unable to match the rapist's DNA with any in the system, but I have another lead. If it pans out, I’m gonna need you to do some recon.”

John looked at Tommy. “You ready for some field work.”

Tommy looked at the image of the girl, and he nodded. “I will be.”

“Good,” Felicity said.

Felicity took a long enough break to eat the food Tommy brought and the drink John brought before returning to her task.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

After tracking down the security company that the families used, Felicity discovered that they were using a new state of art company and that all the families were hit had been recently installed.

Using her skill, Felicity discovered that the security company using special teams to install their security systems. She manages to link one of their teams to all the robberies from there. She looked into each and every one, narrowing it down to one.

It consisted of two men, Anthony Scott and Eddie Owens.

Felicity was able to run a background check on both men but it came back clean, still she wasn’t about to give up.

From there, she moved to the sleeping gas lead and found that only three stores in Starling sold it.

If they were lucky, they weren’t having it brought in outside city limits.

Later that night, the team coordinated with Lance, Tommy and John would each take a location and Lance would take the last with Felicity overseeing everything from comms.

It was a little tricky with Lance not aware of Tommy and John, determined to keeping their identities undiscovered, Tommy took over as the Hood.

Lance wasn’t entirely convinced, but the Hood and his accomplice were not on his list of concerns for the time being.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Recon was slow going, but just a little at midnight, they hit gold.

Tommy got to showcase John’s training and subdue the two men in the alley and waited on a rooftop for Lance after tying up the suspects.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

It wouldn’t be for a few days when the next robbery never happened that Lance ask to meet with Felicity again and when she did he informed her, he was able to run DNA and linked Eddie to the rape of the thirteen-year-old and with a little pressing on his partner got everything they needed. How they did the job, the money, their targets, all of it.

He thanked her for her help and to pass on his thanks to the rest of her team.

Felicity, John, and Tommy went out for drinks to celebrate the win.

It felt good to be helping again.

They doubled down their efforts to get the foundry up and running. Tommy trained more with John. He wanted to be able to go out again and help, but he wanted to do so without getting injured.

He still promised himself he would not let Felicity heal him unless it was life and death, and even then, he hated to think about it. He didn’t want her to suffer more than she already had for them.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

On the nights John was out with Carly and AJ, Tommy and Felicity took the opportunity to hang out with Thea.

The three would go out to restaurants, big belly burger or a night in, watching movies at The Queens. Some nights Roy would join them.

Some days, Felicity and Thea made a day of shopping.

As the weeks passed by, time was quickly going by.

Crime rate was still going up. John and Tommy started going out with Felicity on comms.

Lance came to them with a few more cases.

Felicity found herself forming a closer bond with Tommy and a close friendship with Thea.

Lance and she shared a working relationship that was going well.

John and she were closer than ever.

Felicity felt like they were all really starting to recover from the Undertaking.

Except there were moments where she would catch herself thinking of Oliver, wishing he were there with them.

She felt his absence more than she thought she would.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Wow, Sunshine, you’re turning up the heat tonight.” Tommy grinned.

Felicity's cheeks heated as she took a seat at the bar.

She wore a red dress with cutouts on the side and stopped a few inches above her knees. She let her blonde curls down to frame her face, but chose to keep her glasses. She paired the dressed with a gold clutch and stilettos.

“I’m meeting Thea and Carly for a girls’ night.” She accepted the glass of red wine Tommy slid over to her without batting an eye. “I was told to dress club appropriate.”

“Well, you look beautiful.” Tommy complimented.

Before Felicity could thank him, the sound of a voice clearing sounded just behind her and she looked over her shoulder to see Laurel Lance.

“Tommy, it’s been a while.” She moved to take the seat next to Felicity.

“Laurel,” Tommy said. “Surprised to see you here, I heard from your dad you’ve been burning the night oil, night after night.”

“I had to come up for air at some point.” She looked between him and Felicity. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she looked Felicity over.

Felicity didn’t like the way she was looking at her. Like she was someone not worth her time.

“Felicia, was it?” asked Laurel.

“Felicity.” Tommy corrected before Felicity could.

“I wasn’t aware you knew Tommy, too. Did you meet him while you were fixing Ollie’s internet?”

Felicity didn’t know it was possible, but Laurel made fixing Oliver’s internet sound like sucking Oliver off.

There were disrespectful undertones.

And by the way Tommy’s eyes narrowed, she wasn’t the only one who thought so.

“We met through Oliver,” Felicity answered. “And built a friendship.”

“Tommy and Ollie aren’t really one for female friendships.” Said Laurel.

“You would know, wouldn’t you?” Tommy snapped. “After all, you couldn’t be just friends with me or Ollie.”

Felicity appreciated Tommy coming to her defense, but he didn’t need to. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off.

“Felicity, wow, you look great.” She turned to see Thea. “You ready to head out to meet Carly?”

Thea barely spared Laurel a look.

“Yeah,” Felicity quickly finished her wine, and slid her glass back to Tommy. “What do I owe you, Merlyn?”

Tommy tore his angry gaze from Laurel to smile at Felicity. He leaned across the bar and tapped his cheek in answer.

Felicity rolled her eyes but leaned forward, brushing her lips across his cheek. She waved over her shoulder as she left. “See you later, Tommy.”

“Later, Sunshine.” he said.

“Sunshine?” Laurel mocked. “How long have you been sleeping together?”

“We’re not.” Tommy turned his eyes back to her, glaring. “And what is your problem? You were completely disrespectful to her.”

“Why should I respect your flavor of the week and Ollie’s leftovers?” Laurel countered.

“Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself?!” Tommy snapped.

Laurel reared back as if he slapped her. “How dare you!?”

“No, how dare you! You don’t even know Felicity and you were horrible to her. She’s a good person. She didn’t deserve that.”

Laurel scoffed. “Can you just pour me a drink?”

Tommy glared at her.

“Tommy.” Laurel insisted. “Look, I had a bad day and can use a drink.”

“I don’t care if you had a bad day. That’s not an excuse to treat someone like shit!” Tommy snapped. “Felicity has done nothing but been a good friend. She’s been there for me, for Thea, and she doesn’t expect anything in return.”

Laurel opens her mouth to respond.

“No, I don’t want excuses.” Tommy cut her off. “You can’t treat someone like trash because you’re jealous or because Ollie left. You don’t get to take that out on an innocent person who has nothing to do with our mess. You’re an adult, so fucking act like it!”

Laurel flushed, feeling contrite. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not the one you owe an apology to,” he said, his anger unrelenting.

“You’re right.” She said. “None of this is easy for me, but I shouldn’t lash out.��

Tommy sighed, forcing his anger down. “What are you drinking?”

“Tequila.” she answered.

Tommy poured her a shot and slid it to her.

“I just, I thought things would be different.” Laurel ran her finger along her glass. “I’m not handling any of this well. thought Ollie was done running away. When I let you go, I thought, he and I would give us a real shot. All I did was throw away a good thing for someone who doesn’t feel the same way about me.”

Tommy poured himself a drink. He was the last person Laurel should be confiding in. She was hurting and couldn’t see it.

“The question you need to ask yourself is, when is enough, enough?” Tommy advised. “How much more of his disappointment, the hurt he causes, can you take? How much are you willing to put up with?”

Laurel looked at him for a moment. “Is that what you ask yourself about me?”

“Yes,” he answered honestly. “I deserve more than to be a side character in my own life. I know that and I won’t settle for less.”

Laurel wished she had Tommy’s strength. She knew she should walk away and leave her history with Oliver in the past, but there was a part of her that was still holding on. It made it impossible to let go.

She wanted her career. She wanted Tommy’s friendship. She wanted Oliver’s love. She wanted the life she always wanted with Oliver.

Tommy was more grateful for Felicity than Laurel would ever know. She helped him see; he deserved more, that he was better than being a stepping stone in someone else’s love story.

He deserved to find someone who would love him without restraint and wanted a life with him and not his best friend.

That woman would never be Laurel. He accepted that, and he was better for it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Weeks passed and then months.

Tommy and Thea had become a permanent fixture in Felicity’s life.

John and Carly ended their relationship.

Laurel kept her distance from Tommy.

Lance and Felicity struck up lunch once a week, talking about crime rates and cases. He often came to her for assistance.

Crime continued to rise in Starling. The Glades were practically open season.

It made John, Tommy and Felicity more determined than ever to do what they can to help the city.

Once the foundry was rebuilt and Tommy’s training with John was good enough, Felicity had a suit made for Tommy.

It was dark blue, and he had yet to come up with a code name, but he and John started going out. Stopping crime.

For now, they were calling him Blue. It was completely unoriginal, but Tommy was undecided on what he wanted to be called.

It was an adjustment fighting the fight without Oliver. It wasn’t the same, but they were doing good and that was what mattered.

Tommy wasn’t reckless. He was cautious in his fights, calculated.

He didn’t want to be the reason Felicity had to use her ability. Felicity appreciated that he thought of her well being so much.

He was the friend she didn’t know she needed.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Oliver sat on the water’s edge, the water lapping at his feet.

A small fire burning nearby.

The waves were moving in faster, and the winds were strong. The smell of rain filled the air, clouds scarred across the sky, mixing with the sunset.

A storm was brewing. He could feel it.

Ever since the night of the Gambit, he hated storms but here of late, not as much.

They started reminding him of grey-blue eyes.

They reminded him of Felicity.

She proved herself strong to withstand any storm.

She was determined with an unbendable will.

She came into his world and blew away everything he thought he knew, he felt apart, like the most powerful of winds.

Distance, looking in from the outside, people often said it was a way to gain a different perspective.

And he did.

Only a few weeks into his own personal banishment to Lian Yu, Oliver had started dreaming of blue eyes, blonde hair, pink lips, a babble that never failed to make him smile. Not even in his dreams.

He was confused at first when he started to dream of Felicity.

Then he was thinking about her when he was awake, recalling every moment they shared, looking for a deeper meaning and finding more than he realized.

She was never far from his thoughts.

She was a light in his darkness. Something he didn’t know he desperately needed and while she was similar to a storm; she was also the sun.

She was warmth, and she burned brightly, she shined like the sun.

She was everything good.

When he thought of her, he realized that he wanted to be more than a vigilante; he wanted to do more than right his father’s wrongs, atone for his parents’ sins.

He wanted to make a difference for her and everyone like her.

He wanted to make his city a better place; he wanted to do good; he wanted her light to shine through him.

Looking out at the setting sun, feeling its warm rays on his skin and looking out at the incoming waves, the wind brushing against his skin; he realized how much he missed her.

Felicity.

If he regretted anything about leaving Starling, it was that he left without taking the time to say goodbye to her in person, committing her to memory.

He wondered if she was angry with him, if she was still trying to make the city a better place in his absence.

He had no way of knowing, but he hoped the best for her.

He thought of Laurel briefly, in passing, hoping she had moved on.

He thought of Tommy and Thea. He hoped they were doing well.

He thought of John, hoping that he kept in touch with Felicity.

Standing slowly, as the sky opened up and began to pour down rain, he knew no matter how much he may miss the people he left behind, he wouldn’t go back.

Much like the corrupted elite, he was a cancer to those around him.

Everyone was better off without him to spread his darkness in their lives.

He was where he was meant to be.

Alone.

No matter how much he wanted to bathe in the warmth of the sun, grey-blue eyes or the light he craved.

#fanfic #olicity #felicity smoak #oliver queen #oliver x felicity #olicity fic

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