Fandomweekly Challenge 33 - Sleeper

[m_findlow]

Title: Sleeper
Fandom: Arrow
Characters: Felicity, Oliver, Malcolm
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 33 - Jury's out at fandomweekly
Summary: The team might give him the benefit of the doubt, but Felicity knows the truth
Disclaimer: I don't own them

She didn't really want to be in the room whilst the pair of them were sparring, but there wasn't much choice since crime in the city never seemed to stop. Still, the sharp clang of metal on metal, sword on sword was thoroughly distracting, to the point of irritation. It wasn't the sound that grated on her nerves but the man that was wielding the sword against Oliver. Part of her wished Oliver would just stick him with the blade and be done with it. Preferably before Malcom stuck one in them.

She despised Malcolm Merlyn with every fibre of her being. She didn't want him here, and she certainly didn't want him thinking he was part of the team. None of them had at first, but somehow he'd wrangled his way in, like he'd poisoned their minds. She knew him for what he was, a liar and a murderer, guilty of heinous crimes, so why had the others suddenly decided to reserve their judgment on him? Malcolm wasn't a changed man, wasn't capable of goodness, and most certainly shouldn't ever, ever, be trusted.

A ping came back on her search algorithm and she knew she couldn't wait until they were done to bring the results to Oliver's attention.

Tablet in hand, she slowly made her way over. Had it been anyone else, she might have admired they way they fought, like two dancers on a stage, swirling and sweeping as if in unison and yet opposed in deadly combat. Instead all she saw was a fight for survival, darkness and light, good versus evil. She nearly squeaked out when Oliver was slammed back onto the floor, Merlyn's blade pressed up underneath his chin.

'For someone so trusting, you have a real problem trusting your instincts,' Malcom lectured.

'I trust my instincts just fine,' Oliver replied, letting Malcolm pull him up off the floor.

'It's you he doesn't trust,' Felicity piped up, surprised by her own boldness.

'Well, he'd better, or else R'as will cut him to ribbons,' Merlyn replied, looking straight at Oliver and not at her, as if they'd repeated this lesson to death, teacher growing fed up with the pupil.

'Is there something you need, Felicity?' Oliver asked, trying to cut the tension, gently pulling her aside.

'How can you let him stand in here?' she hissed.

'Malcolm has skills in swordfighting, Felicity,' reminding her. 'He knows how to beat R'as. We need him.'

'We can beat R'as just fine without him! Or do I need to remind you who he is?'

Oliver gave her that firm look of determination that she knew so well. 'I know who he is.'

'So do I!' she cried. 'League of Assassins, the undertaking, killing Sarah, putting Thea right in the crosshairs with R'as just to save his own skin! That's who is he, Oliver. Why can't you see that?'

Oliver gripped her by both shoulders, trying to be reassuring. 'I do. Believe me. But I can't change what's done, Felicity.'

He cast a look back over her shoulder at Merlyn standing here pretending not to listen.

'I'm doing this to save Thea, and so is he. He might be a lot of things, but I truly believe if he cares for nothing else, he cares for her.'

She tried not to let her emotions get the better of her in the face of his calm cadence, even though she knew she was making pouty expressions with her bright pink lips.

'So what you're saying is that he wouldn't have pitted you against R'as if he didn't think you could beat him?'

Oliver shook his head and let a smile of mirth pass over his face. 'Honestly, I don't know what I'm saying, but what I want you to do is to trust me.'

'You're not the one I have a problem with,' she huffed.

She turned away, no longer wanting to continue the conversation, tablet in her arms, the search results long forgotten as she tottered back towards her workstation, pump heels clicking across the concrete. She could feel Merlyn's cold gaze following her across the room. She knew he didn't need to hear what she'd said to know the gist of it and her feelings about him being here.

Just as she was halfway across the room, passing by him, her nervousness got the better of her and the heel slipped from underneath her in the moment of indecision between stopping and continuing to strut past.

Hands grabbed her and arrested her descent to the floor, and she found herself lying helpless in the arms of Malcom Merlyn, tablet still gripped tight against her chest. She immediately reacted, recoiling and staggering back out of his reach until there was a good six feet separating them.

'Don't ever touch me!' she spat, watching as his expression remained neutral and unchanged.

'I believe the words you were looking for are thank and you,' he replied, trying to be cute.

His words left her flustered. She didn't want Oliver to see how much Malcolm frightened her.

She pointed a finger accusingly at him, praying it didn't shake noticeably. She also noted that Oliver didn't make a move to come between them.

'You might have fooled the others into thinking you've turned over a new leaf and that you're here to help us, or maybe they're just giving you the benefit of the doubt for now, but I know what you really are.'

He smiled and it sent an icy chill down her spine.

'I admire your honesty, Ms Smoak. I find it so refreshing to know who you truly can trust in this world. One day maybe I'll have the chance to show you what it means to put your faith in someone when there's no other choice.'

His words made her feel sick. She got the horrible feeling that one day would come sooner than she liked. She just prayed it wasn't Malcolm she'd be forced to put her trust in.