"I don't care," Felicity said in a low voice, folding her arms.
Jack Kadere smiled and gently stroked Felicity's shoulder. "Your temper's gotten sharper over the years, hasn't it? Lucky for me, I reacted quickly. Otherwise, how awkward would it have been if you'd really hit me? Does it still hurt?"
"What do you think?" Felicity huffed, glaring at him.
Jack chuckled, then scooped Felicity into his arms. Turning to Laura, he said lightly, "Looks like you'll have to sleep in your own room tonight."
Laura nodded silently, her expression unreadable, before turning and leaving the room without a word.
"Is she…" Felicity hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Your new girlfriend?"
"New girlfriend?" Jack tilted his head in mock surprise. "When exactly did we break up?"
His response caught Felicity off guard. Was he seriously implying their relationship hadn't ended?
"Where have you even been all these years?" she finally asked, her voice a mix of anger and longing. "Why did you just disappear without a word? Do you know how much happened after you left? I…"
Before she could finish, Jack let out a quiet laugh. "I know. I know everything that happened. You, Laurel, and Selina formed the Birds of Prey. Helena must have tracked you down at some point asking about me, right? Then she stepped into the Huntress role and kept fighting by your side. I know it all."
"What exactly is going on between you and Helena?" Felicity pressed, her suspicion flaring. The mention of the Huntress left her brimming with questions.
Jack smirked. "I'll tell you in time—it's actually a pretty interesting story." Without waiting for her reply, he carried her toward the bedroom.
Once there, Jack recounted everything in detail—how he left to find Laurel Lance, the run-ins with the Legends, and how that eventually led him to Themyscira. Felicity at first found the idea of time travel absurd, like something out of a comic book. But as Jack continued, the story shifted to Themyscira and Olympus, where gods like Ares and Zeus weren't just myths. Then the tale shifted again, this time to Firestorm in the Soviet Union—back to science. Finally, Jack talked about S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry Allen, and why he had ended up in Central City.
"That's the gist of it," Jack finished, holding Felicity close. "My sudden disappearance wasn't planned. It all snowballed into a series of strange adventures, and rushing back too soon might've altered history in ways I couldn't predict. Besides, I knew you were managing fine, and… maybe a part of me wanted to see how it would all play out."
Listening to these wild stories—each sounding more like a saga than real life—Felicity found her anger softening. He hadn't vanished on a whim; circumstances had swept him away. He hadn't intended to abandon her, and more importantly, he still saw them as together.
Still, her voice carried a sharp edge when she asked, "And what about all those women? How do you explain them?"
Jack grinned. "Them? Sara Lance, for one—Laurel's sister. Though at this point in time, Laurel probably still thinks Sara is gone. That secret will come out on its own. As for Sara, she joked that I've got this… habit. Said I can't sleep without holding someone at night."
"Are you coming back to Starling City with me?" Felicity cut him off, unwilling to linger on his so-called habit. She didn't believe it for a second, but what mattered most was where he stood now. His willingness to explain already told her more than his words.
At least it showed he still cared about her feelings. If she kept pressing, though, she feared she might push him too far, maybe even drive him away.
"I won't go back just yet," Jack said softly. "But Starling City and Central City are only about six hundred miles apart. Easy trip. I promise you this—when you miss me, just call. Hang up, take a shower, and by the time you're back, I'll be in your bed." He grinned mischievously.
"That fast?" Felicity's curiosity overcame her skepticism. "Can you… show me?"
Jack grinned. "Of course."
A red streak of lightning sparked around him. Before Felicity could even register the movement, she realized something was off—her clothes had vanished, and so had his.
Her eyes widened. "When did you—" But before she could finish, Jack pulled her into a fierce kiss.
Felicity melted against him. She wasn't usually overwhelmed by passion, but being apart for so long and suddenly in his arms again felt like a dam breaking inside her. Every suppressed emotion, every lingering want, came flooding out at once. Her voice broke into incoherent pleas as the speedster's energy carried her along. She didn't even know when exhaustion overtook her, only that she drifted into unconsciousness in his arms.
...
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. Felicity opened her eyes, blinking at the unfamiliar room. For a moment, she thought it was all a dream—until she saw Jack lying beside her.
"Oh no!"
She bolted upright, scrambling to find her phone in the scattered clothes. Her screen lit up with dozens of missed calls and messages. Laurel and Selina had been blowing up her phone all night, demanding updates.
Biting her lip, Felicity tapped out a quick reply: I found Jack. I'll explain later.
She lowered the phone just as Jack stirred awake, stretching with casual ease.
"Morning," he greeted.
"Morning," she answered softly.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Shower first. Then I'll take you to see The Disciple."
"Deal." Felicity's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She had heard rumors about this Disciple, but now she would finally see the truth for herself.
What she didn't know was that for Jack, the visit was only partly about introductions. His private collection—a wall of photographs marking victories and encounters—had a new space waiting to be filled. Even Diana, Wonder Woman herself, hadn't escaped his eccentric obsession. How could Felicity, his girlfriend, avoid it?
Though she pretended to be annoyed when he pulled her into that world, Felicity eventually gave in. Another photo joined his wall.
...
After their visit aboard the Disciple, Felicity suddenly remembered something. "Jack… do you have enemies here in Central City? People who wouldn't want you staying around?"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because before I tracked this place down by satellite, someone tipped me off. I got an email telling me you were in Central City."
Jack's amusement faded, replaced with intrigue.
Who would do that? Caitlin Snow came to mind first, but it didn't fit her personality—too loyal, too cautious. That left one obvious candidate.
Dr. Harrison Wells.
Or rather… Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash.
Barry Allen's transformation into the Flash had already begun. Wells would be regaining more of his own speed with each surge of the Speed Force. And since he needed Barry's energy to power his way back to his own time, Wells had every reason to interfere—whether to distract Jack, push him out of Central City, or simply keep him too busy to help Barry at all.
Jack's lips curved into a calculating smile. "So… the game begins."