Felicity opened the door to Kaffeine and was greeted with a blast of warm air. She eagerly stepped inside, grateful to escape the cold. Starling City's winters were usually pretty mild, but a rare cold snap had her longing for a heater and something delicious to warm her. The store was close to closing but she still had time to order a peppermint mocha. Crime had taken a rare holiday and she'd been able to duck out of the Arrow Cave early.

Oliver didn't like when she referred to it as such but really, what else were they going to call it? He hadn't offered any better alternatives so Arrow Cave it was.

The aforementioned Arrow Cave had become crowded as of late. Roy and Sara were now regulars and while it was normal to see them hanging out or training, there had been an adjustment period. And when Oliver and Sara's rekindled…relationship…came to light, well, awkward was too kind a word to use. Diggle had been silently disapproving. Roy had been clueless. And Felicity had been…well, she was still trying to figure that out.

She hadn't been jealous per say. It was more complicated than that. She cared about Oliver and Sara. She didn't know Sara very well, but they had the beginnings of a friendship. And she couldn't see how this relationship would help mend the fences broken with Laurel. And Oliver? Her feelings for him were even more complex. Some of which she wasn't ready to examine. They were better left buried and ignored. Her heart was safer that way.

But envy? That was an emotion she was becoming quite familiar with. Diggle had Lyla. Oliver had Sara. And while Roy couldn't tell Thea what he did at night with her brother, she was still a soft place for him to land.

Felicity had an apartment she rarely saw, and a mother she rarely phoned. There wasn't a lot of time to date even if she had met someone. Barry had potential, but he was still sleeping. The loneliness was building and it was hard not to withdraw sometimes. But when that desire to pull away set in, she worked extra hard to stay present and engaged.

Lost in thought, she missed her name being called the first time. The barista's bored, annoyed tone finally broke through. She grabbed her drink and turned abruptly, catching her heel in a groove and only stopped from tumbling to the ground because of someone's quick reflexes.

"Whoa there." He grabbed her around the waist with one hand and plucked the drink out of her hand with another before gently righting her. "You okay there? That was an impressive pirouette. Or…something. That's the only ballet term I know."

Felicity blinked a few times and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "Sorry about that. I'm not normally this clumsy. At least, not with my body. Usually with my mouth. That did not come out how I intended."

He stared at her bemused. "You will not hear me complaining when a beautiful woman falls into my arms."

She smiled at him. "Do lines like that work for you?"

"Sometimes," he shrugged.

He was about half a foot taller than her, all lean muscle under a black t-shirt covered with a leather jacket. Felicity couldn't help but notice he was cute. Really cute. His dark blue eyes made a striking combo with his too long on top black hair that was shoved haphazardly to the side.

She shook her head and laughed softly. "May I have my drink back?"

He glanced at her drink then back at her. He started to hand it back to her then stopped and pulled back. "You can. If I can get a name."

"Are you holding my drink hostage?"

"No. It's temporarily detained."

"Felicity Smoak."

"Nice to meet you, Felicity." He handed her drink over.

"And yourself?"

"Richard Grayson. My friends call me Dick. And yes, I've heard all the jokes."

"I wouldn't have said anything."

"No, but you would have thought it. You're thinking about them right now, aren't you?"

She grinned. "Maybe."

Dick gestured to a table and asked, "Join me?" just as the barista started putting chairs on the table.

"Maybe another time. Looks like we're getting kicked out."

He followed her as she left the shop. She was parked not far from the entrance and stopped at her car. "Do you live around here?" she asked.

"No, actually. I'm staying at the Ritz down the street."

"Oh. Visiting someone? Business? Wait. Sorry, I'm being nosy."

He grinned. "I don't mind. I guess you could say it's business. I'm trying to…coordinate a meeting with someone."

Felicity stepped off the curb and unlocked her door. "Well, good luck with that. Thanks for the save earlier. My ankle thanks you."

She got inside and he shut her door. He motioned for her to roll her window down and after starting the engine, she obliged.

He leaned down and spoke. "I'm not sure how long I'll be in town, but…would you be interested in dinner tomorrow?"

Felicity paused. "Dinner?"

"Yes, dinner. It's the one that's after lunch but before the nightcaps begin. Sometimes called supper, but I think that's only in the South."

She tried to frown at his sarcasm but ended up laughing instead.

"Yes, I may have heard of it. I…I think I could make an early dinner."

"Excellent. Meet me in the lobby of the Ritz at…5:30?" At her nod, he continued. "It's public. You'll be safe in case you're worried about that. Which, if what I've read about this town is true, you should be."

She waved a hand out the window as she pulled away from the curb. He stood for a moment and watched the taillights fade. Glancing at his watch, he noted he had a few hours before he had to suit up and start his hunt. He hadn't been looking forward to this trip, but a sudden need for caffeine and a blonde in glasses had things looking up.