#simplyfragile

So, Felicity chewed her lower lip and watched Oliver as he had some sort of silent exchange with the gravestone.  She hoped against all hope that he wasn’t taking this loss upon his shoulders.  He’d done that so much already, with so many people they’d lost along the way.  This wasn’t his fault.  She’d known what she was doing.  

It wasn’t his fault. 

After a few long moments, Oliver finally straightened.  He walked towards them, but he didn’t look as defeated as he had moments ago.  His shoulders were squared and his back was straight.  He met their eyes head on. 

“I’m sorry, man,” Diggle offered and embraced his friend in a long hug.  Felicity felt tears prick her eyes, grateful that at least her two best friends had resolved their issues before this tragedy befell them… so that they could be here for one another.  

“Thanks, Dig.”

“We’ll all miss her.”

Oliver nodded and turned to Felicity.  His eyes were sad but she saw the resolve there as well.  They needed to talk soon, about what this meant going forward, what the plan was, if there was any plan at all.  But right now, she wanted to hold him. 

Felicity wrapped her arms around him, nestling her head against the crook of his shoulder.  His arms came around her too and she felt his nose bury in her hair as it flowed around her shoulders. 

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Dig said before he stepped away.  Lyla stood with Sara by their car, trying to entertain the restless toddler. 

Oliver held her for a long time and Felicity tried, for probably the fiftieth time in the last three days, to find the right words.  She was coming up blank.  She was sad too, nothing like what he had to be feeling of course. The shock and grief of losing a member of their team, someone who had become a friend to her in the last year, made Felicity want to go right now and hunt down Darhk herself.  She wanted to make him feel the pain he’d inflicted on her and the rest of her team.  On Oliver.  

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled into the wool of his coat. 

“Thank you.”

Felicity pulled back enough to see the shine of his eyes, the emotion he was trying to reign in.  Her heart clenched for him and she felt tears spring yet again to her own eyes. 

“I know she was special to you.  I promise, whatever you need in order to deal with Darhk, just say the word and I’m there.”

“I know you are.  I appreciate it.”

And while Oliver looked grateful, Felicity still felt her words fell short.  She’d never lost a lifelong friend like he just had.  At one time, they’d been even more than that… She just had no idea what he was feeling.  What she could do, however, was offer herself as comfort. 

Felicity pushed up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.  It was a kiss tinged with the salt of her tears but she hoped he felt her sincerity.  One of his hands came up to cup her jaw as he kissed her back.  The kiss was soft, gentle and subdued and when Oliver finally pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, she felt him sigh against her lips.  Some tension drained out of his shoulders and his hand on her waist flexed while his other thumb rubbed at her cheek. 

“Thank you, Felicity.  I couldn’t have done this today, without you here.”

“I wish I had words–”

“Shh.  It’s okay.  You had yourself, your strength.  I needed it.  Thank you.”