Chapter Text
This wasn’t the first time Felicity fiddled with one of Oliver’s arrows (and by arrows, she meant like actual, literal arrows, as in the ones he used when he was all leathered up in green and not any other insinuation of the word), but, much to her chagrin, it was the first time she’d nicked her palm on it’s tip. And, well, it hurt. Does he really have to keep these things so sharp? Really? You’d think the man would have hobbies other than sharpening his weapons and training… Then again, it’s Oliver… he doesn’t really have much of a life outside of the Arrow Cave.
She hissed in through her teeth as she pressed the towel back down on her gushing palm. Ow, ow, ow. I hate this, I hate this. She cursed her always busy mind, blaming it for this accident. If I wasn’t always thinking of five things at once at all times maybe I would have been paying more attention and this wouldn’t have happened.
Speaking of, I really need to finish configuring that algorithm; this was only supposed be a five minute break, I mean, if I don’t finish it and get the names Oliver asked for, he’s probably going to get all growly at me-
Which is not the issue now. Focus Felicity! I need to bandage this hand first. Don’t want to damage the computers; my babies deserve better.
Sighing and staunchly not looking at her bleeding hand (it’s gross, ok?), she rifled through some of the metal drawers to look for the right supplies. Which is, of course, when Oliver decided to come in, intending to get ready for a night of vigilantism. And, of course, he had to be his stupid ninja self and sneak up behind her... So when his hand suddenly fell on her shoulder, turning her towards him, her first reaction was to let out an undignified squeak of surprise.
Luckily Oliver didn’t seem to notice that embarrassing lapse, instead completely focusing on her injured hand. “What happened?” He demanded immediately, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and pulling her closer to him. Yep, I was right. He got growly.
“Um, well, you see-” Felicity tried to stammer out an excuse, doing her best to ignore how he lifted the towel carefully, his finger trailing gently over her palm as he examined it. “I just, I-”
“You were playing with my arrows again.” Oliver inserted for her, not unkindly, though he did raise an exasperated brow her way. The worry that had lined his face not moments before disappeared some.
“How did you know?”
“Felicity. I shoot arrows into people on a daily basis. I’m pretty sure I know what kind of damage they can cause, even when they aren’t shot from a bow.” Taking over, he was quick to reach for the medical supplies, bandaging her hand with a deftness that spoke of experience. “You’re lucky you don’t need stitches.”
“Yeah, this was completely my bad. I just couldn’t figure that stupid algorithm, which you know almost never happens, and I needed to take a minute to think… and you always seem to get some scary type of focus when you’re just sitting with your arrows and I thought that maybe I could get the same type of perspective… But then, I think I forgot how sharp they are; the way you use them just seems so easy, you know? You must have some talented hands to be able to handle them as delicately as you do, especially considering you’re a big guy.” Oh my god, did I seriously just say that? She felt her cheeks go red. “I mean… what I meant is that you handle them like a pro – I guess there’s a reason you’re called the Arrow, right?”
“Felicity.” Oliver cut in, eyes shining down at her with amusement.
She winced. “Sometimes I really wish I had better control of my mouth... And the words that come out of it.”
She felt his chest rumble with a huff of helpless laughter until they lapsed into silence as he finished up with the bandage. When he was done, he slowly put away all the supplies, before taking the culprit arrow into his hand, turning it in his hand expertly. Show-off.
He turned to her with a small smile. “Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to use these; you should learn, just in case.” Well, I won’t argue with that, a little training may actually help my chances surviving all the sharp things in this basement, she thought as she watched him put it to the side to be cleaned. Just as she was about to voice her consent to his idea he leaned down closer. “And it’ll give me a chance to show you just how talented my hands really are.”
She felt herself freeze, words dying in her throat as she computed just what exactly he said. Oh my god, of all the things to pick up on in my ramble, he had to choose that? Oliver, noticing her distress, only gave her a knowing wink and walked to the other side of the foundry to change. Felicity shook her head, trying to get rid of the heated feeling rising up her cheeks.
Oh boy, I’m in trouble.