iworksolo | For Thea

For Thea

Solo rubbed at the stubble on his face before he took another drink of his beer. It was the sort that was thick enough that he was fairly sure you could stand a spoon up in it. It wasn't particularly good but it wasn't all that bad either. It was exactly the sort that you expected to find in the sort of bar he was in. It wasn't exactly a dive bar. It was more the sort of place with the clientele of a dive bar but somewhat cleaner. Not much, but clean enough that the rough and unrespectable that liked sanitary drinking establishments went here instead of somewhere else.

Solo had come to conduct business earlier. Dressing down a bit meant he didn't have stick out enough to attract more attention than he wanted to. Once he was done here he'd head home and shave and retire the outfit of jeans and a dark shirt to the back of his closet for the time being.

Still, while he was here he might as well enjoy himself. Or at least try and enjoy the beer, thick as it was.

"I'm not entirely sure if this qualifies as a drink or a meal," Solo said, holding up the glass again before taking another drink. Maybe he'd know when he got to the bottom of the glass.

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Part of opening a bar was seeing what else was out there. Thea and Molly needed to make sure they don't overlap too much with what's already in the market. They've each taken a list of places and are going through them, having a drink or two as they try and get a feel for things.

Tonight she's in a place that Thea knows won't be anything like their club. It doesn't mean she dislikes it, it's oddly comfortable. She's ordered another jack and coke when she hears the guy at the bar. "Maybe it's a bit of both? Timesaving to get them both out of the way at once."

Solo had noticed the woman when she walked into the bar. Everyone had noticed her when she walked into the bar. While there weren't any catcalls or anything like that there had been plenty of appreciative looks. His had only been a quick glance though before he had turned back to his work.

She wasn't all that tall but she was lean and put together that gave her the illusion of having incredibly long legs. She was also completely at ease in a place like this, which intrigued Solo.

"And what sort of drink do I follow up my meal of a stout with?"

"Good question." He's handsome and better put together than most of the people here. Still he doesn't exactly stand out either, not any more thanshe does. Her training picks all of those things out while she smiles and leans against the bar.

"Yoy'd have to go lighter, and stouts are surprisingly sweet." She likes them, very occasionally. "A red ale or a glass or shiraz. A peppery one."

"Someone who knows their drinks. A red ale then," Solo said, returning her smile before turning to the bartender who didn't look insulted at all that they didn't have to answer Solo's question about what was the best drink to have.

"And something for my hero too, if she doesn't have to change in to a cape and mask before running off to help someone else?"

"I'll have the shiraz," she says, the idea in her head now. She likes wine more than beer, but is happy to drink either most days. Thea laughs at his suggestion, her hair swinging as she shakes her head. He's closer to the truth than he knows, with what her brother does as the Arrow. "No capes and masks for me. I try to avoid that stuff."

"Do you have it chasing after you then?" Solo asked, raising an eyebrow at the phrase, teasing her about it. While it was true that there were those sort of people in the city he knew the odds of running into one were low. He liked her laugh though and wanted to hear it again.

"If we drink long enough will your reflexes be dulled enough that you won't be able to avoid donning a mask and cape? Because I would be committed to providing the drinks if that were the case."

At first she's not quite sure what he's saying. When he continues, she smiles wide and open. He's cute and funny and that's a pretty rare combination. Thea's willing to stick around for another drink to talk to him. "We can find out, I guess."

"Thea," she says, holding out her hand. "Thanks for the drink."

"Solo, and you're very welcome. To capes and masks," Solo said, holding up his own drink in a toast before drinking some. She had been absolutely right about the red ale being a good follow up to the thick stout.

"So what is it you like do to besides rescue bar patrons from uncertain drink decisions?"

Solo isn't a name she's heard before, but then people say that about Thea too. She tilts her glass toward him to return the toast even if she doesn't feel it entirely. Capes and masks come with secrets, and she's still not ready to embrace that it might be a part of her future.

"Oh, it's a full time job," she says seriously. Her mouth twitches, and she can't stop the laugh that escapes. "Honestly, I'm in the middle of opening a bar."

"Going undercover to scout the competition then?" Solo asked, suddenly rather intrigued. Of course she could just be out having a drink at her favorite place but even if that was the case when you started a business it was the sort of thing that was always on your mind.

"Just between the two of us," Solo said, leaning in closer to Thea. "i think you're likely to attract a lot more people to the bar than Horace here,"

Not that there was anything wrong with Horace. The strong, burly, rough-looking silent type was a perfect fine choice for a bar tender. He really just couldn't compete with Thea's smile.

"Hardly undercover. Horace, are you going to come to our opening?" Horace grumbles something that she takes as a yes, and Thea smiles at Solo. Research is one thing, and spying is another. She doesn't want any grudges later on, especially not from people actually from Darrow.

Horace moves back down the bar and she leans close to Solo, whispering, "It's okay. I won't tell him you think he's not as attractive as me. Wouldn't want to hurt his feelings."

"Do you think he suspects?" Solo asked, turning his head so that he spoke low in her ear, his tone conspiratorial. He also noticed that she had a terribly convenient haircut for kissing along her neck. Like the rest of her the neck was rather lovely.

"I have been trying to tip rather well though, so at the very least he knows I appreciate his service. He has undone one more button on his shirt since I got here though."

His breath is warm, yet it sends a chill down her spine. He's precisely the kind of guy that she avoids, put together and flirty. Thea puts that aside for now. For now she's enjoying this distraction.

"Has he? I always thought he stopped at two buttons," she says. She lets her lips brush over the curve inside his ear. In part she's just curious what he'll do, and in part... It's been a long time since she's had sex. "If you have three buttons, you're a lucky man. Do you like the bottom?"

Thea's lips on his ear made him want to turn his head and catch them in a kiss, or wonder what it would feel like if her teeth in that same spot. Before he could really imagine that too much her sudden question about whether he liked the bottom made him stop and think. It was rather abrupt but he certainly didn't mind the straightforward approach.

"I like a good partner. With the right person I have no problem enjoying either way. What about you?" Solo asked, turning to arch an eyebrow at her.

"I bet Hector will be disappointed, I hear he's not a great partner." She's teasing him, redirecting his question. It's part of her fun.

"That's terribly disappointing but I'm glad I know now so I don't waste any time for effort. Now," he said, turning in his stool so that he could better survey the room as he leaned back against the bar. "Who do you think in here would be a decent partner if I wanted to be on bottom?"

"That depends," she answers, pulling back to take a sip of her drink. Thea's not the type of girl to pick someone up at a bar, at least not anymore. But tonight she feels like breaking the rules she's set for herself.

When she looks back at him, her eyes are dark and her bottom lip is caught in her teeth. "Do you like being told what to do?"

"I do. I'm very good at following orders," Solo said, giving a bit of a smile at how she bit her lip like that and the way she looked at him.

"I served in the army and got very good at following orders while being yelled at during extensive physical exertion."

"Really?" Thea considers asking him to drop and crawl right there, but decides it's likely better for them both if she doesn't. Instead she grabs a napkin, scrawling the address of her soon to be bar on it. "Thirty minutes. Bring wine. And rope."

"I will be letting someone know where I am and who I'm with but I will be there," Solo said, tucking the napkin into his pocket without looking at it. Telling someone youte taking precautions in case they're a murderer is one thing, doing it in front of them would be rude.

It's beyond stupid, but some days there are things that go beyond all of that. Stupid. Reckless. She texts Molly to let her know the idiotic thing she's doing before she does it.

The bar is almost finished but empty. She plans on pulling him up to office anyway, hanging out near the door.

It didn't take Solo long at all to obtain a decent bottle of wine and some rope. He had gone with thicker nylon rope, knowing from experience that it would chafe less and bigger knots were easier to get out of, if it came to that. He had decided to leave his gun at home, though he did bring a knife that he had hidden in his jacket. It was always good to be prepared when doing impulsive and rather inadvisable acts. But Solo was always the sort to look at the reward rather than the risks.

"You know, I almost thought you might not be here," he said as he walked up to her as she stood outside the building. It was entirely possible this wasn't her club after all and they were breaking in but that didn't really bother her.

Thea pushed away from the building, pulling out her keys and dangling them. "Do I seem like the kind of girl who would stand someone up?"

She may be joking, but there are a few things that she needs to make clear. "My friends know I'm here, and no one with any ill-will can enter. At least not tonight. Had little spell performed."

Thea opens the door, smiling over her shoulder. "I'm not stupid. And you don't need that knife."

"I'm not stupid either. I make it a rule not to enter strange buildings with women I just met without some form of protection," Solo said, not bothered at all that she had been able to tell he had a knife. Being with someone that had that sort of experience actually made this a bit more exciting for him. "No matter how attractive they are."

"Cute and smart," she says, though she'd figured that out already. Thea yanks open the door, motioning for him to go past. "Straight through the back. There's a stairway inthe back left corner. We're going up that to the office."

The bar is nearly finished and dimly lit. Along one wall the beginnings of a hanging garden can be seen, the bar itself a large island in the middle of the floor. Platforms with booths and tables litter the edges but the main soace is open and empty. It's retained the look of warehouse it was, only it's refined and polished. "Lead the way."

"Don't forget obedient," Solo said, heading toward the stairway she had talked about. He glanced around the club, taking it all in while he did his usual perusal of trying to notice all the exits and places to hide, all the best angles to observe the room. It was easy to see that Thea had a clear vision for the place and it looked very nice.

"And this is a very nice place. If you're trying to impress me then it's definitely working."

"Obedient is my favourite part." Thea waits til they are at the top of the stairs, reaching past him to key in the code that opens the door to the office. At this point it's fine if he sees it, they'll change it before opening.

The office is simple. Two desks, chairs, a table . A few filing cabinets and bookshelves againsst one wall and a small pile of boxes. "I wasn't, but I'm okay that I have."

'Strip."

"Yes ma'am," Solo said, pulling off his boots and socks first before shrugging out of his coat and pulling his shirt off over his head. Just because he didn't work for the CIA anymore didn't mean he let himself get lax when it came to his fitness. Besides, he was entirely too vain to not want to look good naked. His shirt was quickly followed by his pants and then his boxers until he was completely naked.

This is so different for her, but she doesn't regret her decision. Being in control, even the illusion of control, and enjoying herself for a few hours is needed. And the man in front of her is attractive indeed. Thea smiles, biting at her lip. There are many things she's thinking of, but she needs to get undressed herself. She sinks down onto the edge of the desk, holding out a leg. "My boots, please."

"Absolutely," Solo said, stepping forward to carefully pull off one boot and then the other, his hands trailing along her skin as he slid them off her leg and foot and set them down. He was perfectly comfortable giving up control, at least in this situation where they were both going to get what they wanted. The young woman was attractive and seemed more than happy to play along which was just what he liked.

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For Thea

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