Genesis
Chapter One:
There was something in her mind that was screaming at her. She inevitably heard the news from Thea and Diggle that Oliver and Felicity were consequently over due to the recent events revolving a situation that dealt with Laurel. Samantha, Samantha was a woman that she knew was trouble when Oliver and her were younger. Despite all the years, finding out that Oliver cheated on her more than just with Sara and the others that she knew of, it stung, and the fact that Samantha had Oliver Queen's child caused her stomach to turn. Deep down, Laurel knew she shouldn't be as bothered about it, certainly not as much as Felicity, but still… It was so hard to maintain the focus on this scout tonight. Diggle was with Lyla, so it was Speedy, Oliver and well…Laurel of course. Damien Darhk was no where to be seen but for some odd reason vertigo was making its way back out onto the streets again. Thug after thug, Oliver was taking his frustrations on each punk that sold the drug. No Overwatch, no Spartan. Laurel paused and took a step back after Oliver managed to pull himself away. Thea had been back away, conveniently for Black Canary. "Oliver." She called out, her voice in dire need of finding some sort of strength. "Laurel." His voice was stand offish, usual Ollie. She swallowed and took a step forward. "Oliver, we need to talk." Did she really need to bring this up now? She clenched her jaw as she heard his next set of words. "This is not the time, I want the police to round these guys up, so we can call it a night. It's a good night, can we leave it that way." He questioned, and with a quick reply of: "No." Green Arrow turned his head to look at Black Canary who was standing tall in front of him. "We
are going to talk right now. I understand Oliver, that we aren't together, and I know that you're inevitably dealing with the situation between you and Felicity, but did you ever stop to think of how I was going to handle Samantha coming around and being pregnant with your child, when YOU were with me?" There was silence between the two and Thea, in the distance knew, she knew that this was a fight she did NOT want to get into. "Laurel-." She cut him off. "Did you ever stop to think about how any of this was going for me Oliver? You told me that you are protective of me because you care, but I sure as hell haven't seen that at all lately. Since you came back from the Island Oliver, I have been the one, been the one jumping hoops for your approval. Since Tommy died…when I needed you most, you kicked me when I was down, when I needed you to believe me. When Sara came back and then she died…I needed you to lift me up, and instead Oliver you kicked me down again! You've always found ways to put me as second fiddle when in reality Oliver, I am on the same level as you here in this whole mask and robbers thing we do. But I thought despite everything, you would have at least had some consideration to hear me out tonight. Just for a moment. It's always not now, or why did you do this Laurel. Guess what Oliver, I'm sick of trying to get anyone's approval. I'm sick of being cast out to the side by you, and you've shown me…time and time again, that you don't need me here. Damien Darhk is done with, my Dad is safe, I think it's time I get off the Queen's Gambit while I have a chance." She said, and after, took a deep breath. "Do me a favor though Ollie, if you're truly serious about Felicity, you better make things right. Don't screw it up like you always did with me." She felt his hand touch her wrist, but she pulled it away, hurt shown in her eyes as she took a step back. That classic Ollie stare, that boyish charm. She shook her head. "Laurel…" She turned her heel and took a step forward. "Bye Ollie." She concluded and began briskly walking away. He wouldn't stop her. He never tried to. "Laurel?" Thea questioned as the female ventured forward to wrap her leather clad arms around the woman. "I'll miss you Thea, I promise. I promise I'll keep in touch." Thea knew how Laurel felt, Thea had a knack of seeing those sorts of things. But tonight, tonight was when the Canary left her home and would sing a new tune somewhere new.
Central City
The Newspapers were every where. FLASH IS BACK! FLASH SAVES THE DAY! Gee, if only she had that sort of rep in Starling City. She paused as she heard a grunt from a man behind her. "I think this is the last of it." The pretty brunette released a smile and took a step forward. "Thanks for helping me move my things Dig, it means a lot." She paused as she was met with that wise face of John Diggle. "I suppose I can't convince you to pack it all up again and come back home huh?" She released a chuckle as she gave pause. "No, I need…I need to start fresh and this isn't too far from home so I could always visit Dad. Speaking of Dad…you'll keep an eye on him right?" Diggle gave a nod as if to say of course and the two former partners shared a hug. "Take care of everyone, even when they don't want it…make sure, make sure they are alright okay?" Again, Diggle nodded and the two parted. "I'm just a phone call away Laurel, if you ever need anything…you call me." Laurel nodded, and the two exchanged good-byes and Diggle left Laurel to her new apartment in the heart of Central City. She gave a sigh. All the boxes, all the crumpled newspaper. She needed a coffee…stat. Walking over to her purse on the kitchen table in order to get her keys and purse, the brunette left her apartment, aiming to tackle the monstrosity of unpacking much later. Walking down the street, the female had been wearing a jean jacket with a white wife-beater beneath it. On her legs was a pair of worn blue jeans, her feet wearing sneakers. She caught a few looks here and there. Perhaps they realized she was new, but that was highly unlikely. Searching for a coffee shop to her liking she found a familiar place: Jitters. She smiled moving her hand to open the door and pushed it open. It was a breath of fresh air, and to be honest, it felt good to finally breathe.
ENTER BARRY ALLEN
My name is Barry Allen and I am the fastest man alive…
Typical right? The kind of intro you hear to your typical story about a hero with the mission to save his city and the people he loves from danger. In most cases that might be true, Hell even for the case of the Green Arrow in Star City you would be one hundred percent right but for Barry Allen in Central City, he felt like anything but a hero. Haunted by a speedster he could NOT beat no matter how hard he tried, Barry was forced to live with the reality that the people he fought for, people like Ronnie, Joe West on Earth 2 and…Jay Garrick. All lost because Barry just wasn't fast enough, the Flash just wasn't good enough to stop the man who threatened his world and his friends. Sure his talk with Dig involving his fight with King Shark and his motivational speech may have put the others on board, but it wasn't just that simple for Barry Allen and so he ran. Barry ran and ran and ran as fast as he could go. Sure to his friends he might have seemed alright but deep down he just wasn't and as long as Zoom lived in this or any other world he would never be alright. He had to get faster, he needed to be ready because the next time he confronted Zoom he was going to do anything and everything in his power to stop him once and for all.
"Hey Barry you read me?" A question from Cisco Ramon back at Star Labs. Placing his right hand up to his right ear, Barry pressed the transmitter within his mask and spoke even if he refused to slow himself down in the slightest. "Go ahead Cisco." Barry called out before he received word on a new Meta-Human target. "Yeah, sorry to interrupt your run but we have a Meta-Human sighting over by Jitters. It's the second one today and people are saying…" But Cisco's voice wouldn't have long to project his information because Barry waste no time in turning one hundred and eighty degrees in the opposite direction. "On it Cisco." It was an action seldom taken by Barry, to just interrupt the information given by his command post and furthermore charge into battle without a plan of action. Perhaps you could say Barry had a lot of steam to let loose and unfortunately for the Meta-Human that involved himself in Central City, this would simply not be his best welcome. "I'm not going to let a Meta-Human hurt anyone else, not anymore."
And sure enough within the doors of Jitters rose a man in a grey wife beater, blackened jeaned, and black boots. Long black hair flowed down shoulder length behind him with a pair of goggles that blocked his eyes. It was apparent the man was up to no good when he pulled a 9mm standard issued pistol from his pocket and held the place up yelling for everyone to quiet down. Now assuming everyone in the coffee shop was accounted for and seen by the man, it should prove difficult for anyone to slip by and with most dropping to the floor, the man with the gun held nothing to fear. "No one moves and no one gets hurt!" The man yelled before his eyes within the goggles fell upon a certain tanned female who had quite the reputation. "You, you're that journalist everyone talks about. Iris West. Good, you can bring him to…" But before he could complete his sentence his goggles fell upon another face that almost called out to him. Boy was it his lucky day. "And you, why do you look familiar?" He asked stepping away from Iris toward a woman new to Central City. "Star City, that's right, you're from Star City aren't you? The District Attorney? My my miss Laurel Lance all the way here in Central City, it's just gotta be my lucky day. With two important figures and a ton of hostages at my disposal, I'm bound to get everything that's coming to me." The man said with a laugh before a huge gust of wind pushed through the door. It was signature, classic, and to him cliché. "And then there's you…" He said turning to his left to see the man in red and gold standing in place with his eyes focused on the man with the gun. "The Flash, here to save the day?" He asked with a chuckle to his voice.
"It's simple, you let these people go and we can resolve this without any violence. I don't want this to get worse. Please, just put the gun down and…" But before he could finish his sentence the man with the gun pointed toward the Flash, pulled the trigger four times forcing several stray bullets to scatter from the gun aimed in his direction. That was when The Flash act just as quick and reached out to shift each bullet so neither of them would harm any civilians nearby before he pushed forward and with one clubbing shot balled up his right fist and cocked it back before he thrust it forward striking the man in the face with the intensity added by his lightning fast speed. Taking down the man, maneuvering the bullets to avoid contact with anyone, and taking the gun from the culprit, Barry disarmed the gun and tossed it to the ground before gave an emphatic cheer. His eyes stood upon the man for a moment before he turned to Laurel first. A small grin upon his face and a tilt of his neck to the right and Barry asked, "Laurel? What are you doing here?" He questioned with a small smile to his lips. When she gave him her answer he turned around for a moment and then turned back to Laurel. "Hey one second, I've gotta check to see if Iris is okay. It's good to see you though." He said with another time before he stepped toward Iris West. "Hey, you alright?" He asked taking a knee beside her. "Yeah, I'm fine. But he's not." She said with a grin before Barry came to nod. "Yea, you can say that again." And that was what he found odd. Stepping to the side and touching his right hand to his mask again, Barry radioed in to command, "Cisco what's the deal, I thought you said this guy was a Meta-Human?" he asked with concern to his voice. "I thought so too. I'm not sure maybe…wait…BARRY TURN AROUND!" Cisco shouted before Barry did just that with enough time to catch the man's arms
shifting from normal flesh and bones into what almost appeared to be whirlpools before he held his right arm out forcing a gust of water to expel from his right arm in Laurels direction.
Barry didn't have time to think. Acting quickly, he mustered as much speed as he could and jolted through the room in order to bypass the man and place himself between Laurel and the oncoming whirlpool of water. Holding out his arms in order to hug the female toward him, Barry took the shot from the whirlpool to the back and was forced forward to the ground. It stung, like a mother fucker but Barry wasn't down for the count. "Argh…" He groaned before he picked himself up slightly, "Laurel are you okay?" he asked, hoping to receive a positive answer before he turned back toward the man and took off in a blinding speed toward him now. Before the man had a chance to attack, Barry reached out with his right hand and cupped the face of the man using all his momentum to drop him toward the floor. In one swift motion he dropped the man, mounted him, and balled his right and left fists before he let his anger take over for just a moment. Thrusting his right and left fists forward he decked the Meta-Human clean across the face over and over and over again before the Meta-Human dissipated into an aquatic form. The water that merged with the ground soon found it's escape in various directions and the Meta-Human was gone. "Damn…" Barry said when his last punch was held back. He couldn't wait and with his blinding speed he didn't have to. Taking off to his right and leaving the entrance of the store, Barry returned to his base of operations, Star Labs where he lowered the mask of his costume and paced around awaiting Cisco's evaluation.
Dinah Laurel Lance… The brunette faltered as she heard an all too familiar voice and she turned her head, but when she looked, there was no to look at. Latching onto a look of confusion, Laurel finished making her order of the Flash; a bit weird, but appropriate. Saying a quick 'Thanks!' The female exchanged her money for delicious warm coffee. 'It's a new start Laurel.' She told herself as she looked around. Suddenly as if time stopped before her she was found to be one of the many held at gun point. Then, then she was being addressed by the foe. She questioned as to how to lure this idiot away from everyone. She could see it now: LAUREL LANCE: FORMER STARLING CITY D.A FIGHTS CRIME IN CENTRAL CITY…PHYSICALLY
She grit her teeth together, she didn't know what to do. But before she needed to do anything here came the Flash. Was it weird that the super heroine had the butterflies when she saw fellow superhero in action? To be able to see what the people see. She paused as Barry took a handle on the situation, knowing that truly, she didn't need to step in. "Flash." She gave a nod. Even with his mask on, she could see his boyish charming grin. He addressed Iris and with a nod she watched him go to her. Laurel gave a smile and took a deep breath. A new start Laurel, a new start. She couldn't help but notice the fact that the man knew of her. "Laurel? Dinah Laurel Lance? Is that really you?" She gave pause and turned around. "Denny?" She called out, her eyebrows furrowed together in shock. "What are you doing here?" Her arms wrapped around the man who adorned a handsome designer suit. "Pro bono work for Central City, I'll be heading back to Gotham soon. What are the chances that I am in the same place at the same time as the Great Laurel Lance and get a front row seat at The Flash saving the day. Chances Lance, I've always told you about them." She rolled her hazel eyes. "Well, are you here visiting or did you—."
Laurel cut him off with the quick response, "moved here just today actually." Dent looked confused at first, but transitioned it into a more hopeful expression. "So Morrow, would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?" She looked back to where Barry was standing and then she looked back to her college friend. "Maybe another night Harv? I have loads of unpacking and I actually have prior engagements." She looked at Iris at the corner of her eye and she gave a slight smile; at least she was okay. "Another time then, see you around Killer!" She heard Harvey speak to her as he collected is coffee and left the coffee shop. Pausing for only a moment her eyes still lingering on the other woman, she was glad Barry got to her in time. A sigh The leak was expelled from her oral cavity and Laura made her way out of coffee shop and Down the street. She didn't know where she was going, but sipping on her coffee she wasn't quite sure that she cared. She found herself at the docks and she stared at the water. It was the same water that flown into Starling City bay, but here, here it looked so much more clear. Looking at the buoy out away, Laurel knew she had to find a job, anything. She lowered her eyes to the coffee cup nestled between her hands. She sat like this for roughly an hour and from there, the woman considered if she was being smart. She had a great job, great apartment, a good thing going. But did she really? She had no one, sure she had the gang but other than that…Laurel was completely and utterly alone. How sad. But still, she was here to move on from her past and this was her future. Hearing a little jingle in her phone pocket, Laurel pulled it open and looked at it to see the name Oliver on it. She looked at it blankly before pushing it back into her pocket. Sighing the female resorted to standing and bringing herself to the trash can and disposed of her cup. She then looked in the distance and seen where STARLABS was located and that, that was her next direction.
-Star Labs-
She thought it would have been harder to get in but she was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. "You should beef up security in here." She smiled as she walked in, and started to take off her jean jacket. "Laurel?" "Hi Caitlyn." The two embraced and it was then that she pulled back with a smile. "How have you been?" Laurel questioned as she ventured to where Caitlyn was previously standing by the computer. "well, I've been better…" Laurel placed her hand upon the woman's shoulder. "It will get better Caitlyn." The reassuring squeeze was wonderful and that allowed the female to smile. "By the way Barry made a nice save today at jitters." Laurel complimented the man in red as she sat in generally cisco's seat. "It was a nice house warming present." Laurel stated as she watched the unreadable symbols on Caitlyn's computer. "House warming? As in you're living here in central city?" Laurel nodded her head to Caitlyn's question. "Had to put myself in a spot to allow myself to get better." The two shared a look of understanding. Caitlyn knew of Laurel's past with Team Arrow and more specifically Oliver Queen.
