And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Epilogue

They were in the basement under Verdant. Even with the remodeling and all of the soundproofing Felicity had installed, she could still sometimes feel the bass from the music upstairs. It seemed to travel through the ceiling, the walls, settling in the floor where it pulsed up through the concrete and ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Sixteen

“Please rise...”

That's as far as the bailiff went into his extremely well practiced speech before Felicity was already zoning out. After all, she had heard the spiel many times already that day - to open the case and after every single recess... of which there had also been many. Thankfully ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Fifteen

The elevator doors closed, and Felicity... smiled.

She had been nervous that morning when she had finally decided that she couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer; she had to go into QC. At least, it wasn't so much fear that was keeping her from what was technically her place of employment. ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Fourteen

Felicity was entirely engrossed in her... research - not, wow, this is interesting or even entertaining, but, oh my god, this is bad, epically bad - when Oliver came charging into the basement - so much so, in fact, that she was oblivious to him. But that didn't last for long. By the time his ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Thirteen

“What is it with you and this weird Asian food fetish?”

“Oliver, if you think this is a fetish, I'm afraid you won't live up to your reputation. I mean, don't. I totally meant don't. Ack!” And then Felicity studiously turned away from him, pretending to look at anything and everything ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings
Chapter Twelve

For the first time since she was raped, Felicity was in public and alone.

Well... as alone as one could be with Digg sitting in the car outside, waiting for her.

She had played it off as making a concession - in compromising, but, really, Felicity wanted Diggle there with her as much as ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings
Chapter Eleven

It was the next night. He and Digg were working on cleaning up the Foundry's basement, while Felicity was, no doubt, planning on spending an obscene amount of his money on new, state-of-the-art computer equipment. While they hadn't yet discussed what they would be doing with the list moving ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Ten

There was something bothering Felicity - something more, something different than just the rape. While it might be connected - Oliver didn't know yet, because she was still organizing her thoughts, it wasn't something she was actively trying to keep from him. She wasn't avoiding him, or masking ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Nine

Oliver was acting... off.

Then again, Felicity was actually looking forward to getting sweaty with him.

She shook her head, making sure not to dislodge the double French braids she was working on.

Getting physical, she mentally corrected.

Pausing, tilting her head to the side, and meeting ( Read more... )

And Then a Butterfly Flapped Its Wings

Chapter Eight

“Rough night.”

It wasn't a question. It wasn't even a statement, really. It just... was - which was so very Diggle that it brought a wistful tilt to Oliver's mouth. He had just stepped outside of the suite for a minute. Everyone else was still asleep inside, but he had felt surrounded anyway. ( Read more... )