Star City
May 28, 19:02
I daresay that no one else on this planet had had a week that was as good as mine. Where did I even start?
Let's see, on Sunday, I had a meeting with Felicity and pitched my proposition to her and also got her to agree to a date. That same day I also fought and defeated an enemy that was out of my league strength and durability wise.
And that victory led me to face some very uncomfortable and poignant truths about myself, said truths giving me more conviction about the path I'd chosen in this life.
Also mind you, all this was after the day when I led a successful mission where my team rescued Superboy and Speedy. It was in a separate week, but I felt like it counted somehow.
On Tuesday, Speedy came to see me about his arm and we managed to work something out, a few somethings actually, and I couldn't wait to see them in action.
Mike and I also conducted a test with the first vehicle I built using principles and tech I intended to incorporate into the Zephyr, and the results were more than stellar.
As for the plane itself, three days had passed since the boys all arrived, and the extra help they provided had sped up my initial timeline by more than half.
As I spoke right now, the fuselage and wings were fully assembled and in place, the tail on its way to join them. That is… if the boys kept working and didn't slack off while I was out here.
Eh, no worries. Mike would set them straight.
The rapid progress with the plane wasn't the only thing to occupy the three days. First, and perhaps one of the best things to happen this entire week was the finalization of the deal with Batman, or should I say, Bruce Wayne.
Right now, my bank accounts were bursting at the seams, the proceeds from the tech and rights I'd sold over being more than I'd ever owned, seen, and handled. And though seeing all those zeroes sent me into a daze each time, I still remembered the surprisingly complicated process in which they ended in my coffers.
It turned out suddenly receiving a huge chunk of money was a much bigger deal than I imagined. The bank demanded an explanation for where I acquired the money, namely proof of the source, proof of my identity, and the reason for the transfer.
Thanks to Batman, who I assume due to his wealth of experience concerning such matters foresaw this, notified me about these things and advised me to get a lawyer and advisor so they could ensure things were on the up and up, just in case.
Believing in the fact that he had no reason to mislead me, I heeded his advice and here I was now, an overnight millionaire. Even saying the words out loud or in my mind felt strange, but I was sure the feeling would pass soon enough.
There were thousands of millionaires, I doubt they all had to double check their own minds or vision to make sure they weren't thinking or seeing things. Besides, it's not like I was going to be rich forever.
In addition to the company I was going to start, there was the deal with the Genomorphs that had now been finalized. With Batman's help, again, Dubbilex and I had drafted a series of contracts about the projects he and his people were going to undertake for me.
They were basically a construction/manufacturing company now.
However, instead of weak, feeble humans, they comprised super strong, super agile, and super dextrous creatures, one of which could freely move things with his mind, more than a few capable of telepathy, and a good number able to bodily generate electricity.
Our partnership was new and in its early stages, but I could see it improving and expanding in the future.
For now though, I'd worry about the present, because my date was here, and she looked absolutely stunning.
Fighting my jaw for the right to keep it in place instead of falling to the ground like it wanted, I stood from my seat and grinned, staring at Felicity as I unconsciously adjusted my suit.
The usual corporate clothing she wore was nowhere in sight. What hugged her frame tonight and accentuated her shapely, eye-catching features was a red sleeveless dress that ended a fair distance from her knees, the view from down there being her fair, healthy legs that ended in a set of brown heels.
Her usual ponytail and glasses were nowhere in sight, her blonde hair let loose around her head in curls. She smiled and waved when she saw me, clutching her purse tighter while closing the distance between us.
When she finally arrived close to me we both stood there a bit awkwardly, our hands making reaching motions but staying at our sides. In the end I took the leap and leaned forward with my arms, and she reciprocated the gesture, said gesture being a short hug.
With a subtle but deep breath, I helped her to her seat afterward, pushed her in and went back to mine.
"Thanks for coming. You look amazing."
"You too," she said a bit breathily. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I'm a bit nervous."
"Really? I feel the same way."
A waiter appeared by our table and I asked for water. Felicity's order was the same and we were soon alone again.
"I'm nervous… because I really don't want to mess this up," I said. "I hope I'm not the reason for yours."
"Oh no. It's just… due to the whole hacking each other and digging up our secrets thing, we've both seen everything about each other. Stuff that would usually be first date stuff."
That was a relief.
"Huh. I guess so. However," I said and paused, thanking the ninja waiter for the water. "I bet there are things I don't know about you. There has to be more to Felicity Smoak other than her high school grades."
"Hm," she chuckled. "Oh, please don't remind me. I would've had straight A's throughout if not for Mr. Henderson's stupid music class."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Music? What's the story behind that?"
"Ugh," she jokingly groaned and took a sip of her water. "I wanted to go to computer camp, and my mother wanted me to diversify my studies, explore my horizons," she made air quotes, "so she made me take that class. In exchange, she'd pay for me to go."
"It must've been expensive."
"500 dollars was enough to buy my cooperation and silence. No complaining about music class was part of the deal."
"No complaining? That must've been hard. Suffering in silence."
"Oh, I found another outlet. That's probably why Mr. Henderson gave me that C. I kept trying to be a rockstar in his perfect, orderly class."
"What instrument?"
"Believe it or not, I was a master guitarist by the end of it."
"Your mom must've been thrilled."
She laughed and the base in her voice went up a bit. "Nooo she was not."
"I can imagine," I said and leaned forward with a smirk. "Master guitarist."
"That's right. I still have the phantom pain in my fingers to prove it."
I laughed and shook my head.
"What about you? Any instruments you're a master of?"
"Hufff, let me see. I've played… quite a few now that I think about. Never became a master of any though. Drums were my first."
"Oh… go on," she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.
"Followed by the piano, the base guitar, and for a little while, the trumpet."
"You really got around," she said, before sitting up right away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. And by that way, I mean–"
"It's okay," I said and waved her concerns away, saving her from saying something that would make me laugh and her embarrassed.
"So yeah, drums, piano, guitar, trumpet. Wow. I really did get around. It's so weird, I learned to play all these things but without you mentioning it, I wouldn't have thought about them even once."
She nodded and sighed. "Suddenly remembering my high school days and Mr. Henderson makes all the memories seem like they happened long, long ago."
"Mm, and it makes you feel like a fraud for forgetting them."
"Yeah…"
Grabbing my glass, I raised it and said, "To the past."
I maintained eye contact and continued, "You are filled with many fun moments, more than enough sadness, and too many embarrassing moments. And though sometimes we wish we could go back and change you, we still appreciate you, because if you and all those moments didn't exist, we wouldn't be here."
"To the past," Felicity mimicked my actions and repeated the words.
We clinked our glasses together and emptied them, the both of us. Turned out I wasn't the only one parched from the plenty talking.
I raised a hand to signal the waiter and looked at her. "Should we go ahead and order right away? I have a dish I know you'll love."
"Mmm, why don't we do both. We eat while you tell me how you went through so many instruments. Any more secrets about yourself you wish to share will also be greatly appreciated."
"Fine by me. Should I expect more secrets from you as well?"
She smiled, leaned forward, and rested her chin on her hand. "We'll see."
.
.
.
.
"I'll admit it, I'm glad I trusted you."
"And I'm glad it all worked out and no allergies were triggered."
Felicity stopped walking and spun her head to face me.
"Or none," I said and raised my arms hastily. "I don't know if you have an allergy, no allergy, or multiple of them."
She smiled and resumed walking. "You're fine. I'm only allergic to nuts, and thank goodness it's only nuts. I really cannot imagine my life now without octopus meat. Where has this delicacy been all my life?"
"In the sea?"
She slapped my arm playfully. "I'm serious. How did I not know about this? Although now that I think about it, in the many nature documentaries I've watched, octopi—is it octopi? Those creatures really don't have good PR. Most people, like me, think of ink, a disturbing lack of bones, and too many legs when they are the subject of conversation."
"Octopuses. You asked for the plural of octopus. It's octopuses."
"...Thank…you for that. Wow. You really had that one to go," she said and gave me a top down look.
This… was probably due to the smile on my face when I corrected her.
"Hey, I didn't make the word," I said and kept pace with her. "Hate the message, not the messenger."
She laughed and I joined in, the both of us continuing this conversation all the way to where her vehicle was parked. Since this was the first date, we both agreed to come separately. She'd come with her mini cooper, and me with a cab.
Right now she was leaning on the side of her car, and I was inches away from entering striking distance. I took a slow step forward and removed a hand from my pocket, placing it near her head.
"So… we said to push the thing about the proposal to the end. We're at the end now," I leaned in while maintaining eye contact. "What do you say?"
Her breathing slightly heavier, she placed a warm hand on my chest to stop my advance and swallowed. "Yes. I accept," she said and did her usual double take, blinking and shaking her head, a telltale sign she was about to say something even worse.
I didn't let her say anything.
"Felicity."
"Mm?"
"I'm going to kiss you now."
I let a second pass and leaned down, cancelling the short distance between us and closing my eyes when our mouths met. Her cherry red lips tasted exactly like I thought they would. Strawberry, honey, and a third component I couldn't place.
A second after I initiated the contact, she thankfully responded in the way I hoped and I felt her hands on my chest increase from one to two.
Eager to take things a little more further, I lowered both my arms and placed my hands on her waist. They did move any lower or do anything friskier than that and we remained liplocked to each other for a good while.
Well, until Felicity couldn't anymore. Unlike me, she had a perfectly normal lung capacity.
A faint smack echoed when we separated and our eyes met again. I waited for the flushed blonde to catch her breath, smiling at her the whole while. It didn't take long and she went from palming my chest to grabbing my coat.
"That was…"
"Really nice," I moved my hands upward and placed them over her own.
"Really nice," she repeated breathily and nodded, her eyes flicking between mine and my lips. In the end however, she reasserted control over herself and pulled away.
I took it in stride and took a step back. This was a first date after all.
"Trust me, I want to take you into the back of my car and get more… of that. But it's late, and this is a first date. I hope you—"
"It's fine. I understand. I really enjoyed the time we shared tonight. Truly. I'd love it if we did it again."
"Me too," she smiled.
"Great. Then it's settled. About the business thing, let's meet up tomorrow and talk details. You choose the time and place. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes. It is."
I nodded and waved. "See you then. I'll be waiting for your message. Call me when you get home."
"See you too. I will."
She unlocked her car quickly after that, got in and gave me one last glance while starting it. I gave her another wave, one she returned before reversing out of the lot and then speeding off.
Unable to keep a smile off my face, I gave in and hailed a cab. Life was great and there was nothing wrong in showing evidence of that.
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1-10 advanced chapters on: https://patreon.com/MasterReigen