A prompt, as requested: The first time William walks in on Felicity after or during a coding spree/all nighter and just turns to Oliver like "WTF?! What happened to her?!"
He had never seen his stepmom quite so out of it. In fact, over the last couple months he had seen her more put together than anyone in his family. But this, this was strange.
âDad?,â he whispered, coming into the kitchen.
âYeah, buddy?â Oliver looked up from the cutting board and then over to the living room.Â
So Iâm not the only one worried. William sighed before he spoke again. âWhatâs wrong with Felicity?â
âNothing. Why did she say something?â
âNo,â he paused. âThatâs kind of the problem. She hasnât spoken in like six hours. Did something happen?â
âIf something happened weâd know it.â
âFraking, stupid, overclocking piece of crap.â
William whipped his head around. Felicity still sat on the floor in front, her laptop perched on the coffee table. But her head was in her hands.
âWilliam, maybe you should go hang out in your room for a while. Iâll call you when dinnerâs ready.â
âDid you break Felicity?â
âSheâs not broken, sheâs just,â Oliver groaned. He saw a struggle cross his fatherâs face. âSheâs trying to do some work for the team, trying to find someone whoâs been after them. But sheâs hitting a wall.â
âAnd sheâs been zoned out practically all day?â
âYeah she gets like that when sheâs working hard.â
âWhat do we do to help her?â
âNormally I suggest a shoulder rub and a nap. Possibly a shower as well.â
âAnd that doesnât get you slap?â
âIt most certainly does actually,â his father mused. âBut itâs all I can offer in the way of help. Sheâs the computer genius, Iâm just the guy who stands off to the side and watches her work.â
âI think you do more than that,â he mutters, and then ducks his head. âMaybe we should forgo the whole dinner thing and give her ice cream?â
âThatâs not healthy.â
âNeither is staring at a computer screen in almost complete silence while you get more and more frustrated. But at least ice cream would make her happy.â
He paused, looking down at the cutting board, and then over to William. âFine, ice cream for dinner. But you have to eat granola for breakfast for the rest of the week.â
âWhat would those parenting books you used to pretend you werenât reading say about bargaining with your kid?â
âTheyâd say if your kid doesnât want kale and fish instead of ice cream, he should probably head to his room and finish his homework.â
âFine,â he stood from his stool, glancing at Felicity once more. âIs she going to be alright?â
âYeah, buddy,â his dad reached out and fluffed his hair. âSheâll figure this out. She always does.â
âAnd youâll be with her?â
âEvery step of the way.â