True freedom isn't about doing whatever you want. It's about not having to do the things you don't want to.
Now that Jack Kadere had arrived in this world, that was exactly how he felt—free.
He had no intention of sleeping on the floor. While Felicity was still puzzling over what he meant by "restraining himself," Jack had already flipped back the blanket, slid under it, and—very naturally—wrapped his arms around her.
Felicity froze.
Her entire body tensed like a statue, though soft and warm in his grasp. It was as if someone had hit her pressure points; she didn't dare move. Her hand still clutched her phone tightly, but her fingers had gone stiff. Her mind was blank.
"This new body pillow's a bit smaller than I expected," Jack murmured to himself, as if evaluating a piece of furniture. Satisfied, he slowly closed his eyes.
Time passed—how long, she wasn't sure—before Felicity dared to glance at him. Seeing that he appeared to be asleep, she carefully tried to slide his hand off of her.
But the moment she pushed it away, it came back—like it had a will of its own.
Felicity frowned, removing it again. And again, it returned.
They went back and forth like this several times in a silent tug-of-war for personal space until Felicity finally surrendered, exasperated. Fine. Whatever. It's yours. Take it, just stop moving!
She glared at the peacefully sleeping Jack, letting out a silent groan in her head. But without realizing it, her own eyelids started to grow heavy. The tension faded from her limbs. Slowly… she drifted off.
She dreamt.
In the dream, she had just graduated and landed a job at Queen Consolidated. She and her boyfriend had moved into a modest but cozy apartment together. They spent their first day unpacking and ordering takeout, too exhausted to cook. Later that night, he embraced her, whispering sweet nothings, and made a move. She had felt shy, awkward—but safe. Secure, even. She was sure she had found someone she could trust her future with.
She gave in to him slowly at first, but as the moment deepened, she grew bolder. Yet, just as things were heating up… her boyfriend pulled back, teasing her, dodging her advances. It was maddening.
Felicity let out a soft growl of frustration, her hands grasping at his shoulders. "Stop teasing me," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want you. Now."
Jack smiled, a soft, gentle curve of his lips. "Patience, my love," he murmured, his hands trailing down her arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. "I want to take my time with you. I want to explore every inch of you, commit it all to memory."
Felicity's breath hitched, her heart fluttering in her chest. "You mean that?" she asked, her voice soft and uncertain.
Jack nodded, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "Every word," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I want you to know, Felicity, that I care about you. More than anything. And I want to show you, in every way I can."
Felicity's eyes welled up with tears, her heart swelling with emotion. "I care about you too," she whispered, her voice choked with unshed tears. "So much."
Jack smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Then let me show you," he said, his voice low and gentle. "Let me love you, Felicity."
And with that, he began to undress her, his hands moving with a slow, deliberate tenderness. He kissed every inch of her skin as it was exposed, his touch light and reverent. Felicity shuddered, her body responding to his every touch, her breath coming in short gasps.
When they were both finally naked, he paused, his eyes taking her in. "You're beautiful," he said, his voice filled with awe. "Inside and out."
Felicity blushed, her heart fluttering. "So are you," she said, her voice soft. "Inside and out."
Jack smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Thank you," he murmured. "For trusting me. For being here with me. For loving me."
Felicity's heart swelled, her eyes welling up with tears once again. "Always," she whispered. "I'll always love you."
And with that, he entered her, his body moving with hers in a slow, steady rhythm. They moved together, their bodies fitting perfectly, their breaths coming in sync. Felicity could feel the pleasure building, her body tensing as it grew closer and closer to the edge.
Jack leaned in, his lips capturing hers. He kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding against hers. Felicity moaned, her body responding to his. She could feel the pleasure building, her body tensing as it grew closer and closer to the edge.
He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against hers. "Come for me, Felicity," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "Let me feel you come apart in my arms."
Felicity's breath hitched, her body tensing as the pleasure built. Her boyfriend's touch was gentle yet firm, his fingers knowing just where to press, how much pressure to apply. She could feel herself growing closer and closer to the edge, her body yearning for release.
Just as she was about to tumble over the edge—
—she woke up.
The sheets were tangled. Jack was gone. And… her pajamas were missing.
For a moment, she lay there in stunned silence.
As the hazy details of the dream returned, her cheeks burned. The boyfriend in her dream had looked exactly like Jack Kadere.
"Ugh! What the hell is wrong with me?" she groaned, burying her face into her hands. "I'm not that girl. Why would I even—"
Her eyes flicked to the alarm clock.
Her heart stopped.
She was late.
Panicking, Felicity jumped out of bed and began scrambling for clothes, muttering curses under her breath. She stumbled her way into a wrinkled blouse and skirt combo as she bolted into the bathroom, splashing water on her face. A chaotic five minutes later, she emerged from the bedroom, hastily grabbing her bag, slipping on her shoes—only to freeze mid-step.
Jack was lounging casually on the living room sofa, watching the entire whirlwind performance.
For a split second, Felicity's brain short-circuited. Then, in a moment of pure reflex, she blurted out—
"I get off work at five."
Bang!
The door slammed behind her before she could process what she'd just said.
Jack blinked.
Then chuckled to himself. "She's definitely more interesting than Harley Quinn."
Sunlight poured through the window, casting warm golden rays over the sofa as Jack lay back and stared at the ceiling. Starling City, for all its grit and gloom, was starting to feel a little too quiet.
Lying on the sofa with the afternoon sunlight streaming across his face, Jack Kadere squinted slightly, deep in thought. So far, Oliver Queen hadn't returned to Starling City yet, and the particle accelerator explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs in Central City hadn't happened either. That meant The Flash hadn't debuted, and Jack's options were limited for now. Still, there was another angle worth pursuing—the Legends of Tomorrow.
Their mission? Traveling through time to correct temporal anomalies and preserve the timeline. If Jack tampered with key historical events that were supposed to unfold, the Legends would definitely take notice. Once they showed up, he could hitch a ride on their Waverider and follow them across the timestream. Whether they'd actually let him on board?
Well, life hadn't taught him much—but it had taught him this: If you want it, take it.
Since he was in Starling City, Jack figured it was time to focus on Laurel Lance. Her character was strong-willed, idealistic, sometimes infuriating—but ultimately heroic. If she could become Black Canary earlier than expected and gain the strength to protect herself, maybe she could change her fate. That, in turn, would alter the trajectory of her sister, Sara Lance—who only joined the League of Assassins out of guilt and protection.
No betrayal, no assassination by a brainwashed Thea, no resurrection in the Lazarus Pit. No White Canary. And no spot on the Legends' roster.
If the Legends appeared and discovered their future captain never joined them in the first place, wouldn't they scramble to investigate?
Besides, Jack had his own curiosity about Laurel. It wasn't about stealing Green Arrow's girl just for drama. He was more intrigued by the idea that when Oliver did return and tried to put on the hood with that ever-so-brooding "I must become someone else, something else…"—he might find that the city's problems had already been solved.
Would he still become the Green Arrow?
Probably. But his first real challenge might be Laurel Lance herself.
Hero vs. hero. Classic. Predictable. And incredibly fun to watch unfold.