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Felicity made her way down to the foundry with heavy steps, usually the foundry is like a second home to her but ever since Slade blabbed to Laurel about Oliver and his secret identity, she has somehow found her here, spending most if not all of her free time, watching Oliver work out. How is it Laurel can spend so much time down here yet never really making eye contact with me? That takes a certain level of skill, Felicity pondered, mouth puckered out in amusement. It didn’t take too long to figure out Laurel was jealous. Not sure if it is about the whole “kill the woman you love most” thing she heard from Slade, or thinking that woman was me or that I knew about the arrow for a full 2 years before the almighty laurel. But it is a testament to willfully put so much energy and effort into the pretense that I’m not here.
Diggle didn’t like her here either, Roy didn’t care either way, I think he gets a kick out of guessing how long before I simply use my loud voice on Laurel and settle whatever pettiness is festering on her part.
“How long before Oliver gets back on the Lance sister drama train?” asked Roy, looking at Oliver and Laurel talking. Felicity rolled her eyes. She may have kept her mouth shut, she may have spoken about it to the rest of the team especially Diggle but she knew Oliver was dead serious when he said he loved her. He has never been able to lie to her. Diggle looked at Felicity in concern, and it seems he didn’t forget how left out she felt when Oliver and Sara had a repeat of their hookup. Diggle was pleased to note, no upset on her face.
“I doubt a repeat of that drama is something Oliver is looking to do, but whatever it might be, it will be short lived. I can tell you that.” Said felicity
“Oliver is a big ole dumb pine tree when it comes to that. What do you think, Felicity? “
“Do I think they would go back there? I doubt it but if somehow Laurel manages to manipulate Oliver and he feels guilty enough, I place my bets on radioactive fallout after the nuclear blowout.” Felicity said with a serene smile on her face. She recognized that Oliver has a guilt complex the size of the moon on his shoulders and he may feel like he owes it to Laurel to be a better boyfriend the tenth time round, but whatever they had before the island was a weak and deeply toxic relationship. Don’t need to be a love guru to analyze that Oliver carrying on an affair with Sara, was his cowardly way of not telling laurel he didn’t love her or want to commit in any way.
If Laurel needs closure after five years of thinking her ex was dead, sleeping with her ex’s best friend in a monogamous friend with benefit arrangement and said ex turning out alive, and then rekindling his affair with her sister, then Laurel has a tight grip on the past. If death couldn’t make her let go, what will?
Oliver made his way over to the trio and noticed the comical look on Diggle and Roy's faces. Felicity always makes the people around her smile. Even unintentionally.
“What's so funny?” Oliver asked. He noticed Laurel stiffly standing next to him and realized she hadn’t said anything to the rest of his team. He remembered Laurel always used to do this when they were dating, she would completely ignore anyone she thought was beneath her and dating him didn’t help.
“Nuclear fallout” felicity deadpanned looking Oliver in the eyes. Diggle and Roy snorted at the confused scrutiny from the newcomers to the conversation. Felicity turned back to her computers, and resumed her searches on the gang leader they were looking for.
“Why is that funny?” Laurel asked, but gazed at Oliver. Her eyes panned to Roy, thinking he would be the weak link to tell her. Roy learned a lot of girl politics from Thea and he had a good idea of what Laurel was doing, trying to assert her dominance and higher importance in the foundry and in Oliver’s eyes. Roy almost felt pity for her but that mood passed fast. One of the main unofficial rules was that Felicity's voice carried the most weight.
“Don’t worry about it, Canary Lite, inside joke,” Roy said, just the right amount of dismissal in his tone. Oliver caught the underhanded insult and tried not to react. He realized that Laurel was clingier than normal ever since she found out what Sara could do and that he was the arrow. She kept slotting herself in aspects of his life she has no business in, he could tell the rest of the team wasn’t keen on the idea either.
Eventually, the team trickled out, to attend to their own non vigilante lives, leaving Felicity still tapping away on her babies and Laurel trying to do a kata. Felicity observed the display and wanted to point out some mistakes but she had a feeling that wouldn’t go over well at all. Laurel doesn’t take direction well and she sure won’t take it from her.
“Well, I’m off. I have a date with a pint of mint chip ice cream and the Doctor.” Felicity said, as she gathered her belongings. “Just to remind you, Oliver, you have a Board meeting tomorrow morning so don’t be late.
The next day, the team gathered in the foundry for their next mission. Diggle was cleaning his guns, Roy was busy admiring his red costume, sending a token of gratitude to Felicity for having Cisco make his very own suit. Everyone was suited up, except Laurel who was not happy about not being allowed on the mission. Oliver told her only when she was ready. But who was he to decide that?
“Alright, supersuit, here’s the situation. The head of the Triad is set to meet on the docks. They are expecting a shipment, I suspect humans, set to be sold to the highest bidders. I’m talking about the elite of the elite who are expected to attend this auction. We have the time and place for that shipment. Our primary goal is to intercept that shipment.” Felicity said, keys clacking at a speed.
“Ollieeee, I’m ready to go on the field.” Laurel whined. Oliver shook his head, refusing to even contemplate letting her go on a mission so untrained.
“I agree with Oliver. Thus far, you are the weakest link. It’s best you stay in the foundry and watch how we operate from here. You need to learn how we move as a team before even thinking of joining us out there.” Diggle said, his army commander's voice coming out.
Laurel couldn’t find a way to argue her way out of that logic and resigned herself to watching the IT girl play with her computers and google things. She watched on, with a mulish expression on her face as the team left. She turned to Felicity, noting the extreme concentration on her face.
Soon enough, Felicity’s orders came out crisp and clear to the team, directing them on positioning.
“How hard is it to do what you do? "Laurel asked, arms crossed as she stood behind Felicity.
“Be quiet! I need to concentrate on the mission until they get back.” Felicity warned. Laurel bristled at the command and was about to say more before her attention was taken by the fighting that was on the screen.
“Diggle, hold your position...there’s two guards at your position.” Felicity said, as her eyes flicked from screen to screen as her fingers flew over the keys.
“Why are you telling him to hold? Diggle can take them.” Laurel interrupted. Felicity closed her eyes for a brief second, finding her place of zen.
Realizing the pest would continue talking, questioning her orders, she muted her comms. She shifted her neck to take in Laurel’s stance, not even looking at her.
“I know Dig can handle them. Our objective is to get the shipment with the women. We can’t very well do that in a gunfight, can we? Stealth is key.” Felicity said, attention back on the screen, comms on before even finishing her explanation. Laurel’s green eyes tightened along with her mouth as she flared up at the dismissal.
“Arrow, wait 2 minutes. The guards will have a shift change, that’s your cue.” Felicity ordered.
A few more orders, sounds of gunfire and the mission was over. Lance was called in, with the rest of the SWAT team and the girls were saved. Felicity leaned back in her seat, tension leaked out of her back and shoulders.
“Mission accomplished, come home.” Felicity said, forgetting to turn off her comms.
She swiveled in her seat and turned to Laurel, seemingly waiting on the other women to speak.
“Is that all you do? Anyone can do that?” Laurel said.
“What I do is more than just the eyes and ears. I have to make split second decisions with real time intel, knowing that it could be the wrong one. It’s coordinating the team and making sure they are as safe as they could be. I’m kinda proud that you think it looks easy.” Felicity said, voice deceptively sweet, the moment she suspected arrived, the other heel dropped.
“Whatever. It still doesn’t look that hard…….Is this your way of getting close to Ollie? Don’t deny it, I see the way you drool over him.” Laurel said, expecting Felicity to give her a reaction. She pulled a seat and dragged it closer to where Felicity was sitting with her arms on the handles.
“Have you seen him shirtless? Of course I look at him.” Felicity said, flippantly, still waiting on the point.
“You seem like a nice girl-”
“I’m a woman, Laurel, not IT girl.” Felicity interrupted, steel shot out of her.
“You must know Ollie would never think of you that way. He may fuck you, but that’s it. You’re not his type. I don’t mean to offend you.” Laurel said, false sugar lacing her barbed insults. Felicity chuckled.
“We’ve never fucked, as you so crassly put it. What do you think is his type? You? Or Sara?” Felicity said, smirking in place. Laurel jerked back at the teeth from that statement. Eyes narrowed at the slight, and the truth, Laurel reared forward getting in Felicity’s space. Felicity lifted one mocking eyebrow at the pitiful attempt to intimate and degrade.
“How dare you! We have a history you can’t even begin to touch. We’ve been in each other’s lives for years before you even entered into the picture. Careful, Felicity, your jealousy is showing.”
Felicity couldn’t hold a straight face as she guffawed, slapping her hands on her thighs. Her mirth filled the entire foundry.
“Jealous of your history? Laurel, no sane, self respecting woman would ever be jealous of this beloved history you cling on to. Holy Shit! I can’t believe you said that with your whole chest.” Felicity breathed out into between spurts of glee.
“You’re nothing more than a means to an end for Oliver.” Laurel said, thinking she would shut the woman up.
“And what are you, Laurel? An untrained wannabe Canary itching to be a part of the team.The only reason you are here is because Oliver knows how stupidly stubborn you are. He’s treating you like an objective: How can I keep Laurel from doing something fatal?” Felicity said, sad smirk in place as she looked at Laurel with pity.
“That’s why I am in training. So I can go out there. Ollie needs me.” Laurel snarked.
“Oliver needs you to do what exactly? You were here, you saw how the mission went. Oliver, Diggle and Roy don’t need you, Laurel. You just want to feel like you are part of Oliver’s world and boils your goat that Sara was the true Canary.”
Unbeknownst to the occupants in the Foundry, the team heard every word that Laurel said to Felicity.
“Who the hell do you think you are, speaking to me like that? Wait till Ollie hears this. I will have you fired.”
“Oh dear Laurel. This is one battle you’ve lost before you even fought. Oliver needs me here. I was brought in three years ago. Frack, Oliver didn’t even trust you with his truth. A supervillain told you to mess with Oliver’s head. There’s something I always wanted to know.”
“What?”
“How come you stayed with Oliver when he cheated on you over and over and over again? I mean, you seem smart enough to know when to show a man the door? So why?” Now it was Felicity who leaned in her chair into Laurel’s space. Blinking at the rapid fire question, Laurel blinked her eyes, thinking to herself this conversation wasn’t going how she wanted.
“I know Ollie like I know my name. I knew he would eventually grow up and we would be together.”
“Ahhh, I got it. Ollie must have a magic cock.” Felicity deadpanned. Laurel jolted out of her seat and paced away from Felicity.
Laurel stuttered for a bit, stumped on how to even respond. No one heard the muffled giggles from the three men on their way.
“I’m just saying. Ollie was a cheating douchebag, so he must have been the orgasm king. Because I cannot wrap my head around any woman staying put when a guy she’s with, consistently and constantly cheated on her. I mean, talk about a sad lack of basic self respect. Even thinking of the STDs, you might have been exposed to, it makes me shudder.”
“Ollie is different now. He won’t cheat on me.” Laurel said, losing her ground at the veiled disdain and ridicule. Not liking the logic and truth shoved down her throat, she stormed to Felicity and placed her hands on the armchair handles. Felicity didn’t even flinch.
“I feel intense pity for you. I really do. The tabloid stories from your Ollie dating time were not kind to you. You know what they wrote and speculated about why you really stayed with this Ollie, and it wasn’t because of love.” Felicity raised her eyebrows and smiled once her insinuation hit.
Laurel swung her arm back, and attempted to punch Felicity, who dodged from her seated position. Laurel reared back her arms about to try again before an arm grabbed her hand.
They both turned to see Diggle, stony faced.
“Let go of me. You didn’t hear what she was telling me.” Laurel cried, tears springing to her eyes in frustration, as she saw Oliver place his hands on Felicity’s shoulder.
“We heard everything. I don’t appreciate trying to come into my team and insulting the heart of it.” Oliver raised his hand to stop Laurel from saying anything further.
“What do you mean? Oh Frack balls! The comms were on.” Felicity cursed. Diggle broke and chuckled, Laurel’s arm still in his grip.
“So you heard her insult me, and our history. What are you going to do about it?” Laurel said, smirking in Felicity’s direction.
“Absolutely nothing. She didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. I never loved you, Laurel. I couldn’t possibly love you or respect you back then and cheat on you all the time.” Oliver said.
“You don’t mean that, Ollie. We’re meant to be. We’re finally both ready to put the past behind us and be together. We can save the city together.” Laurel whined. Diggle’s eyes widened at the absurdity of the statement. Roy walked over after changing out of his suit, and snorted.
“Ya know! This is why mental health care is so important.” Roy said.
“I’m letting you go now, Laurel. Another attempt to hurt Felicity and I won’t hesitate to deal with you.” Diggle threatened. Laurel agreed, rubbing her arm from the soreness, looking at Oliver.
“I had her handled, Dig. She projected that punch. Word of advice. Plant your feet, that makes for a stronger punch.” Felicity directed, as she closed down her computers.
“I’ve been trained in self-defense my whole life. What the hell do you know?” Laurel sneered. Before anyone could stop her, Felicity had Laurel in a headlock, knees buckling to the floor. Laurel twisted and tried to get out of the move, before Felicity released her. She scrambled to her still shaky feet, smarting at being bested. She narrowed her eyes at the pride in the men’s eyes as they beamed at Felicity.
“Nice move, Blondie. I see Sara’s training stuck.” Roy hollered. Diggle smirked at Laurel while Oliver smiled at Felicity. Noticing his smile, his sparkling eyes gazing at Felicity and the rest to the team laughing at her, snapped something in Laurel.
She roared a primal scream of pure hate and envy and charged, like a bull straight for Felicity.
Shaking her head, Felicity stepped out of the way while the momentum carried the other woman to the wall, where she knocked herself out.
“The day that woman is let on to the field is the day I walk.” Diggle said, gesturing towards the prone form on the floor.
“Same.” Roy said.
“What do we do? Laurel will do what Laurel wants to do.” Oliver asked.
“We call Lance and tell him the truth, about Sara being gone, and giving Laurel the chance to come clean, how she now wants to be the Canary. There’s something unhinged about her. I don’t trust her to have your backs in the field.” Felicity stated.
“That’s best. I honestly don’t want her anywhere near the field.” Oliver said, hand passing over his sweat soaked hair.
“So, Blondie, orgasm king, huh?” Roy smirked. She swatted his arm and laughed.
“Shut it, Roy. ” Felicity said, as Oliver blushed at the term.
“Diggle, can you call Lance? Tell him everything. Maybe he can get Laurel some professional help.”
Diggle nodded his agreement, already dialing the detective’s number as he walked away.