As an ordinary genius

The sterile smell of the hospital room hit Ethan before his eyes fully opened. His head felt heavy, his body weak, and everything seemed blurred. Slowly, he blinked against the harsh overhead lights.

The last thing he remembered was working on his project in the garage. Then... nothing.

"Ethan?"

A familiar voice brought his attention to the figure sitting beside his bed. As his vision cleared, he saw her—Felicity Smoak. Her concerned eyes were fixed on him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

"Felicity?" Ethan croaked, his voice hoarse.

She let out a small, relieved laugh. "You scared everyone half to death, you know that?"

Ethan tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his chest, making him wince.

"Hey, take it easy," Felicity said, leaning forward to steady him. "You've been out for a week. Don't push yourself."

"A... week?" Ethan repeated, confused.

She nodded. "Yeah. There was some kind of accident in your garage. Your neighbors found you unconscious and called for help. Do you remember anything?"

Ethan shook his head slightly, though the movement made his head throb. "Just... working on my project, and then... nothing."

Felicity's expression softened. "I should've known you'd be up to something in that garage of yours. What were you even working on this time?"

Ethan managed a weak smile. "Just... a project. Nothing major."

"'Nothing major' landed you in a coma, Ethan," Felicity said, her tone a mix of worry and frustration. "You need to be more careful."

He tried to lighten the mood. "Good to know you're still keeping tabs on me."

Felicity rolled her eyes but smiled. "Someone has to."

The Doctor Arrives

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a doctor.

"Well, it's good to see you awake, Mr. Cooper," the doctor said, glancing at his chart. "You're a lucky man. The injuries could've been much worse."

"What exactly happened to me?" Ethan asked.

"We're still piecing it together," the doctor replied. "Your neighbors mentioned an explosion in your garage, but there's no clear cause yet. You suffered a concussion and some minor burns, but nothing life-threatening. Your body seems to be recovering well."

Ethan nodded, though the explanation left him with more questions than answers.

After the doctor left, Ethan turned back to Felicity.

"Why are you here?" he asked softly.

She looked surprised. "What kind of question is that? Of course I'm here. I may not live in Central City anymore, but when I heard what happened..." She trailed off, her voice faltering.

Ethan felt a pang of guilt. "I didn't mean it like that. I just... didn't expect you."

Felicity hesitated before replying. "You've always been important to me, Ethan. Even when we drifted apart."

He didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded, feeling a warmth he couldn't quite explain.

As the sun began to set, Felicity stood to leave.

"I'll let you get some rest," she said. "But I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

Ethan watched her go, the faintest smile on his lips. For the first time since waking up, he felt a sense of calm.

But as the hospital room grew quiet, his mind raced. What had caused the explosion? And why did it feel like something had... changed?