Anya looked up from her book to see a young woman in tattered clothing walk past the building she was sitting in. She set her book aside and walked out into the snow, drawing her parka tighter around her as she approached the girl.
"Are you lost?" Anya asked in Russian. The girl looked at her, gaunt and frightened.
"I think so," The girl responded in the same language, her voice was thin, and raspy. "I just want to get home."
Anya directed the girl into the building, pushing a cup of hot coffee into her hands and wrapping her in a blanket kept around for the coldest days. It may have been August, but summer in Svetogorsk, Russia just meant that the mercury stayed at about three above freezing.
"Where is your home, Little One?" Anya asked the girl. "What is your name?"
"Starling City. My name is Tala Merlyn," The girl said, sipping at the black coffee. "I was on a boat in the China Sea, heading for Hong Kong with family friends. It went down in a storm, in 2007."
"Tala, that was five years ago," Anya said, pointing to the date on her computer screen. She watched as Tala slumped in her chair, looking saddened. "Who should I call to get you sent home?"
"My father," Tala said, a small happiness creeping into her eyes. "Malcolm Merlyn."
Anya handed the girl the phone in the office and watched as she dialed her father's number.
"Merlyn," A man's voice came through the line.
"Dad, it's me," Tala said, her voice breaking slightly. "It's Tala."
"My daughter is dead," The man barked, pain apparent in his voice. "This is a cruel prank, don't call back here again."
"Alab!" Tala cried. "Please, it's me, it's really Tala. I survived. I want to come home."
"Tala? My aibnatu?" He asked. Anya watched as tears fell down the girl's cheeks, causing some of the dirt to wash away. "Where are you?"
Tala handed the phone to Anya, not knowing where she was, or how to get home from there.
"Mister Merlyn, my name is Anya, I am the woman who found your daughter," Anya said in heavily accented English. "She was wandering around Svetogorsk, Russia, near the Finnish border."
"Her boat was in the China Sea when it went down, how did she get to the other side of the continent?" Malcolm asked, bewildered. Tala and Anya shrugged, neither knowing the answer to that question. "It doesn't matter. How can I get my daughter home?"
"I have a cargo plane, heading for Central City in a few hours," Anya said, smiling at the lost girl. "I can secure her a place on it, and you can meet her there."
"Thank you. Thank you for finding my daughter," Malcolm said, ending the call.
In Starling City, the CEO sagged against the back of his chair, tears of relief starting to form in his eyes. Malcolm grabbed his office phone and reached out to his personal secretary.
"Sally, get ahold of the pilot, I'm taking the jet to Central City," Malcolm ordered, smiling at the picture of him and his children on his desk.
"Of course sir, any specific reason?" Sally asked.
"Tala is alive," Malcolm said.
Tala showered in the locker room for TSA agents in the airport, scrubbing the dirt off of her body. Anya had left her a change of clothes, a pair of cargo pants and a thick blue sweater. Tala started drying off, pulling on the clothing before looking at her reflection in the mirror. Tala quickly tied back her hair, tucking the long braid under her shirt before leaving the locker room, heading toward Anya.
"Thank you for the clothes, and the shower," Tala said in Russian, smiling at the woman. Anya pulled her into a gentle hug, mindful of the bruises on the young woman.
"Of course Little One," Anya said, smiling. "Anything to help you get home. The plane will take you to Central City, where your father will meet you to take you to Starling. You will get proper hospital care in your city."
Tala waved to Anya as she stepped on the loading ramp of the cargo plane. She sat on the floor next to a crate, holding onto the netting behind her as the plane started taxiing onto the runway for takeoff. Tala thought back to her time in the military, sitting in a similar position between her two best friends. She briefly wondered how they were doing before she dozed off, leaning against the crate and the wall of the plane.
Tala awoke suddenly, feeling the plane start to lower itself to land in Central City. She took stock of her body, feeling cramped from the uncomfortable sleeping position. Tala stretched, rolling her neck and shoulders stiffly to remove the cricks. She stood, and held on to the canvas netting as the plane landed with a bump; Tala grinned, knowing she was finally home.
Tala Merlyn walked through Central City's airport, looking around at all the people. It had been a while since the woman was surrounded by more than a hundred people at one time, and though she didn't show it she was mildly overwhelmed. Tala was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice someone in her path until she walked right into them. Her instincts acted before she had time to think, catching the man and bracing him until he caught his balance.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," Tala said, looking at the man she'd run into.
"It's alright. Nice reflexes though," The man said, laughing airily. Tala found herself smiling at the unknown man. "Have a nice trip, or if you just landed, enjoy the city."
Tala watched the dark haired man walk away, smiling softly. It had been awhile since she had been just another person, she idly wondered if she would ever see the man again as she walked toward the exit that would lead her to the Merlyn Jet. She glanced over her shoulder, watching as the mystery man vanished around the corner before she walked out into the sunlight. Tala smiled at the sight of the sleek jet, emblazoned with her last name in silver. The stairs were down, and Tala walked up them, remembering the last time she boarded the jet - when her father dragged her home from the Army.
"Tala," Malcolm said as his daughter came into view. "It really is you."
"Alab!" Tala said as she ran to hug him. She smiled against his jacket, happy to be back home.
"Tala, where were you?" Malcolm asked, sitting them both on the couch as the jet started preparing for takeoff. "I searched and searched, I thought I had killed you."
Tala frowned at her father's statement, confusion furrowing her brow as she looked at him intently.
"You thought you killed me?" Tala asked slowly. "How could you have killed me? The Gambit went down in a storm after engine failure."
"It wasn't engine failure," Malcolm said, looking at Tala. "It was a bomb I had someone plant. Robert Queen was supposed to be the only casualty. I didn't know you, or Oliver, or Sara were on the boat, I swear."
Tala stared at her father, confusion and anger a palpable tension between them as the pilot started taking off. Neither spoke, Tala unable to question her Father's intentions, and him unable to ruin the silence that had settled.
Tala walked out of her bedroom at the sound of the front door opening. She held her jacket in her hand, hoping to go for a ride around town later to get used to the city again. She turned to go down the stairs, and saw Tommy standing at the end of the hallway, staring at her. He was pale, blinking at her with his mouth open in surprise. Tala smiled and ran to him, jumping to hug him. Tommy wrapped his arms around her slowly.
"You're alive," He whispered into her hair, holding her tightly. "The boat?"
"It threw me. Far away, I watched it burn and sink," Tala said, hugging her older brother tightly. "I washed up on an island somewhere, where I made my way to Russia. I'm home Tommy."
Tommy looked at her, seeing the scars across her bare arms, and the tattoos covering the burn scars on her right shoulder. Tala gave him a wry smile, noticing what he was looking at.
"What happened to you out there?" Tommy asked, touching the scars lightly. He looked at his younger sister with sadness in his eyes.
"The boat burned me, when the engine exploded. My right shoulder and my left thigh and hip," Tala said, rubbing her leg where the scars and tattoos were hidden by her jeans. "When I was on the island, I wasn't alone - there was a gang. They tattooed over the scars to make me more attractive. So I could bring them in more money. They sent me to the mainland, where I eventually managed to escape."
"You're safe now. I promise," Tommy said, taking her hand. Tala smiled at her brother, pulling him back toward the front door.
"I need to officially come back to life," Tala said smiling. "I need to see Laurel, Quentin, Thea. Everyone who missed me while I was... dead."
Tommy grinned and started his car; Tala hopped over the closed door and sat in the passenger seat of the convertible.
Tala laid down on her bed back at Merlyn Manor, staring at the ceiling. Everything felt as unfamiliar as the first time she came back to Starling City, six years ago. It was then that she first met Oliver and Sara, the girl she would quickly fall in love with.
Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen entered the nightclub his best friend said he was at in a navy blue shirt, the top few buttons undone, and the sleeves rolled up - as he was told he looked best. He was going to meet up with his girlfriend and her sister in a bit, but first he was going to the bar to get a round of shots. And maybe a beer. He walked up to the bar to order and watched the girl next to him. She had dark red hair and wore a blue dress. She had five shots of something that could've been vodka or tequila. She nodded to the bartender and lifted the first shot. She pointed it to the sky and said something in a foreign language.
"Manzelle? What does that mean?" He asked her.
"Manzil. It means home in Arabic. I haven't been home, here, in years. I'm saluting my return," She explained, turning to look at him.
He tried to stay objective, remembering his commitment to Laurel, but even then he couldn't help but notice the muscle tone on her arms and legs. This girl was tough, and beautiful.
"Well then, welcome home. Finish your drinks and I'll take you and introduce you to my friends. My best friend would probably love you," Oliver watched as she downed the rest of the shots in quick succession
"Lead the way Oliver Queen," He raised an eyebrow at her and held out his arm - his mother had taught him manners, even if he ignored them a lot - and led her to where Tommy, him and the girls agreed to meet them. They were all there already.
"Ollie!" Laurel said, smiling as he appeared.
"Who's your friend Ollie?" Sara asked, adjusting the strap to her small bag that rested on her hip.
"Tala, you haven't introduced yourself yet?" Tommy asked the new girl.
"You know her? I found her at the bar; she said she hadn't been here in a few years. She hasn't given me her name yet," Tala pulled away from Oliver and moved to stand between Tommy and Laurel.
"My name is Tala Merlyn. I'm Tommy's little sister. I was raised away from Starling to avoid the spotlight and the lifestyle you all enjoy. Recently though, I was away because I was stationed in Kandahar protecting a warlord with Special Forces." Both of the girls and Oliver stared at her in surprise, whether it was because of the familial revelation, or her being in the army, she wasn't sure. She took a sip from the drink Tommy placed in front of her and watched his friends. Sara Lance was the first one to recover from her surprise.
"Well, Tala, any family of Tommy's is a friend of ours. I'm just glad no one suggested that you two would be cute together," She and her sister laughed as Tommy and Tala looked at each other and made a face at the thought of being together.
"I say we need more drinks! Tommy said that I don't drink enough, and I'm going to prove I can drink plenty!" They all cheered and tossed back their current drinks, heading to the bar again for more.
Tala smiled at the memory, before standing and turning to her window, seeing a shadow in the glass. She drew a knife from her waistband, walking silently toward her balcony.
"Peace, The'eb Sagheer. I hold you no threat," The shadow spoke in quiet Japanese. "I bring you gifts from Nanda Parbat."
"Welcome to my home, Sarab," Tala greeted, allowing the man to enter her room. He handed Tala a wooden trunk, locked with a padlock, marked in white. "Thank you for bringing me my things. I know not if I'll need them, but I would miss them."
"You would miss your jewelry collection you mean," Sarab said, laughing dryly. Tala laughed as she sliced her thumb open with her knife and pressed it to the white mark, opening the lock. "I don't know how you're going to explain away your sudden acquisitions."
"I'm the only legitimate daughter of a billionaire," Tala said, looking at one of the necklaces sitting underneath her armor. "It's expected for me to have ridiculously expensive things."
"As you wish. I am needed back at Nanda Parbat," Sarab said, walking back toward the balcony. "Shall I bring your regards with me?"
"Tell Ta-er al-Sahfer and Warith al Ghul that I miss them both," Tala said, examining a bracelet under the lamplight next to her bed. "And tell Nyssa that next time she dumps me somewhere, I'd prefer a warmer climate. I hate snow."
By the time Tala put the bracelet on her dresser, Sarab was gone. Tala laid back on her bed, her trunk locked and hiding under it. She stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. Sara was back in Nanda Parbat, not wanting to come home after everything she'd been through. Tala understood it, but missed the blonde assassin. But more than that, now that Tala was back in Starling City, it felt weird without Sara and Ollie. For her, there had always been five of them. Now there were only three, and it felt incomplete.
Tala sighed and walked to her closet, pulling out a flannel Oliver had left there six years ago when they crashed at Merlyn Manor after a night of heavy drinking. She pulled it on and left, slipping through the house like a ghost toward where her motorcycle was parked, kicking it to life. Tala drove to the Queen's Mansion, parking it a ways away from the house as to not risk waking them. The assassin climbed up the side of the house until she reached the window that led into Ollie's room.
Tala carefully jimmied the lock open with her knife before climbing into the room, looking around it.
"I miss you, Ollie. I wish you hadn't died with me angry at you," Tala said to the empty room. She turned suddenly, holding her knife out as the door opened.
"Hello?" Thea's voice came from the doorway. Tala quickly put her knife on the desk.
"It's just me Thea. I couldn't sleep at home," Tala said, stepping into the circle of moonlight coming from the open window. "I thought maybe coming here would help."
"You miss him too?" Thea asked, walking into the room and sitting on the bed, patting it for Tala to join her.
"Just before the boat went down, I caught him and Sara together," Tala said, taking Thea's hand. "They died thinking I hated them. When I was out there, in Russia, I thought I had made my peace with it... I guess I haven't yet."
"If Oliver were here, do you know what he would do?" Thea asked, looking at Tala. "He would apologize, and give you one of those puppy dog smiles he was always giving the other girls."
Tala laughed, pulling the younger girl into a hug when she noticed the tears in her eyes. Tala herself had tears rolling down her cheeks, but they weren't completely sad anymore.
"I think I'm going to sleep here for tonight, is that alright with you?" Tala asked Thea.
"You're family, Tala," Thea said, rising from the bed. "Stay here as often as you need to."
"Tala, wake up!" Thea shouted as she burst into Oliver's bedroom. She shrieked and dropped to the ground, avoiding the blue blade that Tala blindly threw from the bed. "Jesus, Tala, it's just me!"
"Shit, Thea, I'm sorry," Tala said, sitting up groggily. "Are you okay?"
"I ducked, thankfully. Now get up!" Thea repeated, bouncing on her toes as the assassin slowly climbed out of the bed.
"What's so exciting?" Tala asked as she pulled on another of Oliver's shirts before reaching for her shorts. She tied the shirt up and silently followed her excited half-sister out of the room, to the stairs leading downstairs, where Thea hesitated. Tala stood behind her, leaning into the shadows as the doors opened.
"Your room is exactly as you left it," Moira's voice said. "I never had the heart to change a thing."
"Oliver," Walter Steele boomed, making Tala's heart skip a beat. "It's damn good to see you. It's Walter, Walter Steele?"
"You remember Walter, your father's friend from the company," Moira said. Tala blinked rapidly, trying to calm her breathing before she devolved into hysterics.
"It's good to see you, Raisa," Oliver's voice came from the entry and Tala grabbed Thea's hand looking at her with tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Welcome home, Mister Oliver," Raisa said, sounding thrilled. "Mister Merlyn called. He wants to join you for dinner."
Tala blinked at the mention of her brother, wondering if he had tried to call her about Oliver's survival. She suppressed a sob, looking up at Thea as she sunk to the floor. Thea smiled at her softly, knowing that the older girl only left Oliver's room for food and coffee the past few days, falling into a depression over losing her closest friends. Thea nodded and started walking down the flight of stairs, rounding the corner. Tala watched as she hesitated.
"Hey, sis," Oliver said. Tala watched Thea run down the stairs to her brother. Tala stepped out of the shadow and silently walked down the first flight of stairs as Thea hugged Ollie.
"I knew it. I knew you were alive," Thea said, pulling Oliver into a hug.
"You were with me the whole time," Oliver said softly. Thea pulled away from the hug, looking at Oliver.
"I have a surprise for you," She said.
"I've only been back a few days, how could you?" Oliver asked as Tala walked into his view. "Tala..."
"Ollie," Tala cried, clutching the banister as she tried not to fall down the stairs. Oliver ran up the steps, taking them two at a time, scooping Tala up into his strong arms as her knees gave out, letting her fall against his chest. She sobbed, leaning against his shoulder, truly smiling for the first time since she returned to Starling.
Oliver carried the crying girl to his room, which held evidence of her stay. He sat her on the bed before sitting next to her.
"I thought you died," Tala said in a small voice, looking at him with watery eyes. "I thought I lost you, and that I would never get to tell you that I forgive you."
"I thought you died hating me," Oliver said, cupping her cheek. "Sara and I thought you died hating us both."
"She got off the boat?" Tala asked, knowing full well that Sara had survived. "Where is she?"
"Gone," Oliver said. "We were fighting a man named Slade on the Amazo, off the coast of the island; Lian Yu. The boat exploded, and Sara went down with it again. I did too but was rescued by a woman named Amanda Waller."
"I think I know her," Tala mused. "Doesn't she have ties to ARGUS?"
"Yes," Oliver said, his body tense. Tala frowned.
"You don't have to tell me what you went through. I won't ask you about it," Tala said, taking his hand. "But I understand that it was hard. I'm on your side, and here for you, no matter what Ollie. You're family now."
Oliver hugged the girl tightly, glad she had made it too. It was strange for them both to be back in civilization, but together they had a better chance of adjusting.
Oliver walked out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist as he prepared for dinner with Tommy. Tala was sitting on the floor in front of his mirror, fiddling with her wet hair, trying to force it into a better style.
"After five years away, everything is unrecognizable," Oliver said, looking out the window. "Even my reflection is that of a stranger."
"I understand that," Tala said, looking at his reflection. "When I first came back, Tommy took me around the city. I think he's going to take you tomorrow, it was such an adjustment. I came here that night, haven't left the mansion since."
Tala stood and looked at Oliver's scars, tracing her fingers gently over a few of them. Oliver placed his hand on her burn scar on her shoulder, before handing her the shirt she had laid out.
"Tommy should be here soon," Oliver said, reaching for his shirt. "Let's get downstairs before he tries to kill me for seeing you undressed."
Tala snorted, rolling her eyes. She finished getting dressed, laughing at the thought that Tommy could beat her in a fight. They walked downstairs, and Oliver started looking at the pictures set on the table in the entryway. Tala turned to the doors as she heard Tommy walk up. He opened the doors and smiled at her.
"What did I tell you," Tommy greeted Oliver. "Yachts suck."
"Tommy Merlyn," Oliver greeted as Tommy walked over to hug his oldest friend. Tala smiled, happy to have most of her group back. Tommy grabbed her and pulled her into the hug, sandwiching her between the two taller men. "I missed you, buddy."
Tala led the two boys to the dining room, where she sat on Tommy's right side, letting him sit next to Oliver. Raisa brought out their plates, setting a cup of coffee in front of her with a smile. Tala thanked her in soft Russian, holding the warm drink in her hands.
"Okay, so what else did you two miss?" Tommy asked, sipping his wine. "Super bowl winners - Giants, Steelers, Saints, Packers, Giants again. A black president, that's new. Oh, and Lost, they were all dead, I think."
Tala winked at Thea, smiling at the boys. Thea glanced at Oliver again, trying to reassure herself that he was really home.
"What was it like there?" The younger girl asked. "Both of you?"
Tala smirked, remembering the warmth and dryness of Nanda Parbat and how it differed from where she had claimed to be. Conversation froze around the table, as if she had brought up a taboo subject. Tala smiled softly at her, letting her know she didn't mind the question.
"Cold," Oliver and Tala both said, looking at the other in surprise.
"Tomorrow, the three of us, we're doing the city," Tommy told Oliver, pushing past the sudden silence around the table. "There's a lot you've got to catch up on."
"That sounds like a great idea," Moira said from the other end of the table.
"Good," Oliver said, a forced smile on his face. Tala studied him, wondering what was going on that she didn't notice. "Then I was hoping to swing by the office."
Tala blinked, knowing Oliver had never wanted to have anything to do with Queen Consolidated. She shifted her gaze to Walter as he froze. Moira seemed pleased but surprised, Walter seemed annoyed.
"Well, there's plenty of time for all that," Walter said, setting his wine glass down, without taking a sip. Tala wondered what was going on that she didn't know about. "Queen Consolidated isn't going anywhere."
Tala turned back to Oliver as Raisa tripped, and Oliver caught her and the bowl she was carrying easily.
"I am so sorry Mister Oliver," She said. Oliver brushed away her apologies in fluent Russian. Only Tala's training as an assassin kept her shock from showing on her face.
"Dude, you speak Russian?" Tommy asked, laughing in shock.
"I didn't realize you took Russian in college, Oliver," Walter said. Tala knew that wasn't the case as he didn't speak Russian before the island. She thought back, wondering when he would've learned it when she remembered the tattoo on his chest. He was a Bratva Captain, like her. Tala felt her respect and confusion growing in equal measure.
"I didn't realize you wanted to sleep with my mother, Walter," Oliver responded, the same casual, forced smile on his face. Tala took a sip of her coffee, pride shining in her eyes. She watched the staring match, between mother and son with amusement before Thea broke the silence.
"I didn't say anything," Thea said.
"She didn't have to," Oliver said, smiling at his little sister gently, the first true emotion on his face since the meal started. Moira nodded, mildly annoyed. She turned and took Walter's hand.
"Oliver, Walter and I are married," Moira said. Tala raised her eyebrows, not having known that bit of information. The assassin knew they were sleeping together, but hadn't known it was more than that. "And I don't want you to think that either one of us did anything to disrespect your father."
"We both believed that Robert, like you and Tala, were well, gone," Walter said, looking between the two resurrected people.
"It's fine," Oliver said, Tala noticed that his body language was saying that it wasn't fine. He stood, looking at his mother. "May I be excused?"
Oliver grabbed an apple at his mother's nod, and turned to leave, clapping Tommy on the shoulder as he walked past.
"Hey, don't forget about tomorrow," Tommy said gently. Oliver winked at Thea before pressing his hand on the back of Tala's neck. The assassin stood, placing her napkin next to her empty coffee mug.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, Tommy," Tala said as she looked around the table. "Thank you for dinner, Moira, Walter."
Tala followed quickly behind Oliver, catching his hand as they walked back up to his room. She could feel how tense he was, it vibrated through the set of his shoulders into a slight tremor in his hands. Tala squeezed his hand, letting him know she was there for him.
Tala fell asleep quickly, wearing a shirt from Oliver's closet. She felt almost back to normal, like the last five years hadn't happened. Tala thought that she had a chance at a normal life, she could go back to school and maybe take over the family company, using martial arts as a form of physical exercise rather than the form of survival she had become accustomed to.
Tala jerked awake with a crash of thunder, realizing the window was open. She looked around for the threat, and found two people hovering over Oliver. In her half asleep state, she didn't recognize Walter; leaping across the bed and holding a knife to his throat as Oliver woke up and flipped his mother, holding his hand to her neck. Tala realized what was going on and stepped back; Oliver snapped out of his PTSD and crawled backwards, looking fearfully at his mother and stepfather. Tala and Oliver locked horrified eyes, each wondering what the other was thinking.
"It's okay, Oliver. It's alright sweetheart," Moria comforted, crouching down in front of Oliver. "Both of you, you're home. You're home."
Tala hid the knife under the mattress as Moira walked to the bathroom to grab a towel to dry off Oliver and the floor in front of the window. Oliver sat on the bed next to Tala and let her take his hand until they left.
"You attacked Walter," Oliver whispered. It wasn't a question. Tala sighed, watching the two as they left, concerned looks on their faces.
"I saw him hovering over you and reacted. I didn't know it was him," Tala said, retrieving her knife. She held the blue blade by the hilt and looked at it in the light of the flashes from the storm. "At this point, it's an instinct. Can we talk about this later? I just want to sleep. Get in the bed."
"Oh so now you want to sleep with me," Oliver laughed shakily. Tala rolled her eyes. "I only had to be shipwrecked to do it."
"I just don't want to wake up alone," Tala said, snuggling into him. Oliver wrapped his arm around her waist and the two fell asleep.
Morning came too quickly for Tala who woke at the first light of dawn. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, padding down to the kitchen for a cup coffee with cream for her and a plain black cup for Oliver. When she returned to the room, Oliver was sitting up and looking around blearily. She grinned and handed him the mug.
"I'm gonna shower, if you don't mind," Tala said, drinking her cup quickly, knowing Tommy would bring her a cup too. Tala wandered into the shower, humming to herself as she heard Oliver wander around his room, getting dressed.
Tala walked down the hall toward Thea's room, running into her brother along the way.
"You know, I almost forgot how often you wear leather jackets," Tommy commented, making Tala smile. They turned to lean against the doorframe, watching as Oliver gave Thea a hozen.
"A rock! That is sweet," Tommy called, ruining the moment. "You know, I want one of those shirts that says 'my best friend was a castaway and all I got was this lousy shirt.'"
"I just want more coffee," Tala chirped, smiling at Thea from behind Ollie.
"Don't let the boys get you into too much trouble, Tala," Thea said, smiling. "You two only just got back."
Tala smiled as Thea hugged Oliver. Tommy cleared his throat, making the assassin roll her eyes.
"The city awaits!" Tommy said, leading Oliver back out of the room. Tala winked at Thea before following the boys, linking arms with them. "Have you noticed how hot your sister has gotten? Because I have not."
Tommy changed his tune at Oliver's sharp look. Tala gagged, thinking about the incest that would happen if Tommy went down that road. She shook her head and climbed into the backseat of Tommy's car, letting Oliver ride up front.
"Your funerals blew," Tommy said as they pulled into the Glades. Tala scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Did you get lucky?" Oliver asked. Tala chuckled and Tommy nodded.
"They were like fish in a barrel," Tommy laughed. "They were so sad, and huggy, and I am counting on another target rich environment for your welcome home bash."
"For the what?" Tala asked, raising her eyebrows at her brother. "I did not come home from a frozen hell to party."
"You two came back from the dead!" Tommy said, looking at Oliver, then in the rearview mirror at Tala. "That calls for a party. You two tell me where and when, I'll take care of everything."
Tala groaned, bracing herself against the wall as Tommy pulled a sharp corner. She looked out the window and saw the old Queen Consolidated steel factory. It had closed shortly before their departure on the Gambit.
"This city's gone to shit," Tommy said, looking around. "Your dad sold his factory just in time. Why'd you wanna drive through here anyway?"
"No reason," Ollie said, avoiding the question. She looked at the back of his seat curiously, wondering what he was thinking. She had seen the locked chest under his bed, and she noticed it looked suspiciously like hers, but since Tala couldn't read Mandrian, she didn't understand the labeling on it. She wondered again what Oliver had gone through on that island.
"So what did you two miss the most?" Tommy asked, driving again. "Steaks at the palm, drinks at the station, meaningless sex?"
"Laurel," Oliver said, causing Tala to smile sadly. She hadn't seen Laurel since the day she got back, choosing instead to hide herself away in Ollie's bedroom.
"Everyone is happy you're alive," Tommy said, glancing back at Tala. "You want to see the one person that isn't?"
Tala put her hand on Oliver's shoulder, squeezing gently. She understood Laurel's hurt over Sara and Oliver, but after living through thinking them both dead, she had forgiven them both and moved on. Tala had hurt, but upon finding Sara alive, she had healed of her pain. Tala read on her phone as Tommy drove them the three blocks to Laurel's legal aid office, CNRI. As Oliver got out to go talk to her, Tommy and Tala parked the car and went for coffee.
"What are your plans, now that you're back?" Tommy asked, looking at his sister. She tilted her head and thought about it.
"Harrison Wells, in Central City, is launching a particle accelerator in December of next year," Tala said excitedly, smiling up at Tommy. "I've already had Dad investing in Star Labs on my behalf for the past eight years or so. I'm thinking about going out there and applying as a Mechanical Engineer."
"You're going to leave?" Tommy asked, incredulous. "We just got you back!"
"Tommy, if I don't get out of Starling, Dad will have me married off to Hartley Rathaway to merge Rathaway Industries with the Merlyn Global Group," Tala said, glaring at the sidewalk. "I'd be CEO and a trophy wife for my gay best friend before I'm thirty. If I go to Star Labs, I can be something on my own merits before I am forced into the big chair at the company."
"Better you than me," Tommy scoffed. "I'd run the company to the ground, then end up on the streets."
"Nah, I won't let that happen," Tala said, laughing. "I have enough stored away to keep you from the streets. I've always got your back."
Laurel stormed past, glaring at the Merlyn siblings. Tala felt bad, thinking about Sara living in Nanda Parbat.
"How'd you think that was gonna go, Tommy?" She asked. Tala sighed, throwing her coffee cup in the trashcan.
"'Bout like that," Tommy said, looking after Laurel. Tala wondered if something had happened between the two of them. Oliver came back over, looking forlorn, but determined to get past it. The trio started walking back to where Tommy had parked.
"Okay, so we took care of that, good call," Tommy said, trying to break the tense mood. "Now we can make up for lost time. If you're not too sick of fish, I suggest we find some leggy models, and eat sushi off them, what do you say?"
Tala tensed as a dark van sped behind them, pulling up close. She pulled Tommy out of the way of the front bumper, reaching for the knife in her boot. She was crouched when a man in a mask shot her brother with a dart. Tala watched Oliver go down next. She lunged for the one closest to her as he shot another tranquilizer at her. Tala caught it, but pretended to go down, winking at Oliver who was fighting to keep hold of consciousness. She frowned as the masked men killed the man who came out of the warehouse. Tala pouted as they forced a bag over all three of their heads, making it obvious this wasn't a robbery.
Tala felt herself being thrown into the back of the van, annoyed that she would only be shot if she didn't keep pretending to be asleep. She counted the turns, deciding that they had driven them to the warehouse district near the docks. Tala forced herself to stay limp as they carried her and tossed her roughly onto a pile of plywood. She felt them toss Tommy down next to her, and wondered what was going on.
Tala opened her eyes slightly after the bag came off, and watched as they zip cuffed Oliver to the chair. She counted five of them, one had his back to her, and another was just pulling the bag off Oliver's head. She glanced around the room and noticed that none of the masked men were looking toward her, all more interested in watching Oliver.
"Mister Queen!" The masked man yelled, holding up a taser. "Did your father survive that accident?"
Oliver looked around, seeing Tommy, then meeting Tala's eyes. She grinned at him, pulling her hands free from behind her, untied.
"I ask the questions, you give me the answers," He said, before looking at his cohort. The man tased Oliver, who yelled in pain. Tala winced, knowing that hurt. "Did he make it to the island? Did he tell you anything?"
Tala wondered who had paid them to kidnap them, and why they were so fixated on Robert Queen. She looked at Oliver, meeting his eyes as he struggled to breathe normally through the pain of being tasered again. He nodded slightly, and Tala moved into place behind one of the men.
"Yes, he did," Oliver panted.
"What did he tell you Mister Queen?" The mask asked. Oliver slowed his breathing, glancing at Tommy before he looked up at the mask in front of him.
"He told me that I'm going to kill you," Oliver said. Tala raised an eyebrow at that, wondering what Oliver was going to do. The masks laughed, one of them almost spotting her.
"You're delusional," He said, getting back in Oliver's face. "You're zip-cuffed to that chair."
Tala watched as Oliver raised his hands showing them freed. Tala grinned as she grabbed the man in front of her as Oliver took on the two closest to him with the chair he was tied to. Tala grabbed him from behind, pulling his head down with a twist that shattered his top two vertebrae. The remaining two men split in different direction.
"You get him, I'll get this one!" Tala shouted at Oliver in Russian, knowing he'd understand. She ran after the man, noticing that he ditched the mask. Tala gave chase, leaping across the rooftop to roll onto the neighboring warehouse. The man shot at her, running backwards. Tala jumped over a smokestack, grabbing the knife from her boot and throwing it, smirking as it lodged itself in the man's sternum. He fell to his knees in shock as Tala almost casually walked over to him.
"Please, you don't have to do this," He gasped, not realizing he was already dying.
"But I want to," Tala pouted, cupping the man's cheeks. "And besides, no one can know my secret."
Tala leaned forward as if to kiss him, and snapped his neck, watching dispassionately as he fell to the ground. The assassin jerked her knife out of his chest and used his hoodie to clean it of blood, slipping it back into her boot as she lightly jogged back to where Tommy was just coming to, next to Oliver, who had a neutral expression on his face.
"I think we need to talk about what happened on that island," Tala greeted in Russian. "And what are we going to tell the cops?"
Tommy looked around, still groggy. Tala pulled her knife back out and cut the zip cuffs off his wrists.
"Man in a green hood rescued us," Oliver said in Russian, shrugging gently.
"And a woman in blue," Tala said shortly. "I dunno what your plan is, but it's including me now, regardless of how much you complain."
Oliver nodded and turned to Tommy who was starting to sit up. Tala shifted from assassin to concerned sister, carrying most of his weight as he tried to stand.
Tala sat in between Tommy and Oliver on the couch at Queen Mansion, looking at Detective Lance and the two police sketches on the table. One was of a woman in a hood, the other, a man. She hid her grin, knowing that neither of the drawings looked like either of them.
"So that's your story," Lance said, looking dubiously at Oliver. "A guy in a green hood, and a woman in blue flew in and took out five armed kidnappers? I mean, who are they? Why would they do that?"
"I dunno, find them and ask," Oliver said cheekily. Tala rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, what about you?" Lance turned to Tommy, who hadn't said a word yet. "You see the hoods?"
"I saw, just movement," Tommy said, making Tala lose some of the tension she held. "Everything was really blurry, I was kinda out of it."
"Yeah," Lance said almost wistfully. "It's funny, one day back and you've already got people gunning for you. Aren't you popular?"
"Were you able to identify the men?" Moira asked, sounding concerned.
"Scrubbed identities, untraceable weapons," Detective Pike said. "These were pros."
"Yeah, well they probably figured you'd pay a king's ransom to get your boy back," Lance said, anger starting to slip into his voice. "Or a Queen's ransom, as it were. After all, a parent would do anything to keep their child safe."
"Quentin, enough," Tala said, looking at the Detective. "If Oliver and I can think of anything else, or if Tommy starts unblurring his memory, we will call you. I promise."
Quentin and Detective Pike stood and moved to leave, packing up the sketches of the hoods.
"Your luck never seems to run out, does it?" Quentin asked Oliver, before he turned to Tala and his look softened. "Are you sure you're okay? They didn't hurt you?"
"Unconscious and rattled, but I'm okay Quentin, I promise," Tala said, smiling gently. She leaned forward to hug her ex girlfriend's father. Quentin hugged her tightly before leaving, only pausing to shoot Oliver another dirty look. Tommy left, saying he had somewhere to be, while Oliver and Tala went up to Oliver's room to talk.
"What happened to you on that island Oliver?" Tala asked, shutting the door behind her. "The Russian, getting out of the zip-cuffs, the trunk under your bed."
Oliver grabbed Tala and shoved her against the locked door, holding her by her throat. He looked down at her, using height advantage to try and intimidate her.
"And what about you? You killed the first man, and caught the tranq meant to knock us out," Oliver asked, glaring down at her. He froze when he felt the tip of her blade poking at his kidney. He looked at her, seeing her unconcerned expression and the knife she casually held in her hand. He let her go, taking a step back, holding his hands up in surrender.
"I was found by a man, after the boat crashed, a man named Ra's al Ghul. He saved my life in exchange for my loyalty," Tala said, moving to sit on the bed. Oliver followed and sat next to her. "If I served him for five years, my debt was repaid. So I did."
Tala told Oliver her story, telling him everything except for about Sara's survival. She told him of the training, the languages, and the assassinations. About the family she found there with Warith al Ghul, Sarab, Talibah, and Ta-er al-Sahfer. She told him about the jewelry collection she had amassed through her killings, and how she held no guilt over them.
In return, Oliver told her about the first year there, Robert's suicide, finding the island, Yao Fei and his daughter Shado. He told her about Fyers and the attempt on the plane. Oliver talked about the Amazo and Slade Wilson, and finding that Sara had survived, only to lose her when the boat went down. He told her about the AlphaOmega and Hong Kong and ARGUS. He told her about being Bratva and his promise to a woman who helped him survive a psycho with magic. Oliver talked about becoming a captain and training with a woman called Talia. He told her about his final fight with Kovar and the escape with the Chinese Fishermen.
"My father had this book, in his pocket. It's a list of names, and they're all bad people," Oliver said, handing her the book. "Adam Hunt, is on the list."
Oliver moved over to the desk, looking over the book and starting a search on Hunt while Tala read over his shoulder. She looked up when Raisa pushed open the door.
"You are different," Raisa said in greeting, making Oliver look up. "Not like you to read a book."
Tala chuckled as she reached around Oliver and put the computer screen to sleep, so Raisa couldn't see what they were working on.
"I missed you Raisa," Oliver said at Tala walked around to take the tray of fruits from the Russian maid. Tala set the tray on the set of drawers at the foot of the bed before eating an orange slice.
"No kitchen on the island," Raisa guessed, smiling at the returned boy.
"No. No friends either," Oliver said, standing from behind the desk. He came over and took an apple slice, biting into it happily. "Thank you. Do I really seem different?"
"No, you're still a good boy," Raisa said, smiling at Ollie.
"Oh, I think we all know I wasn't," Oliver said, approaching Raisa again. Tala laughed softly, selecting another fruit slice.
"But a good heart," Raisa said, placing her hand over Oliver's heart. Tala smiled, knowing that no matter what, Oliver did have a good heart.
"I hope so," Oliver said. "I wanna be the person you always told me I could be."
Raisa smiled at Oliver and Tala before she left. The two started on the fruit as they planned what they were going to do to get the money back from Adam Hunt.
"If one of us can get into his office, I can make a device, the size of your finger," Tala said, pulling on her coat. "It'll push a virus onto his wireless systems and steal the money, putting it into a new account. We can return it from there."
"I'm planning on making the steel factory a base," Oliver said, nodding along. "Let's head there for now, we can plan more once we're set up."
Tala grinned and shouldered her bag, the one Tommy had brought her, despite not knowing what was in it. They walked down to the entry hall, neither mentioning their plans for the night.
"Oliver, I want to introduce you to someone," Moira called before they could escape. Tala rolled her eyes, but halted dutifully. "John Diggle-"
"Johnnie?" Tala shouted, turning around at the mention of his name. She looked at him with a wide smile on his face before taking two quick steps and leaping at him, hugging him tightly. "What are you doing here? I thought you were still in Afghanistan."
"I'm working in the private sector now," John said as he straightened himself out. "I'm working for Mrs. Queen now, to accompany Oliver."
Tala blinked rapidly, imagining Oliver's plan crumbling around them like shattered glass. She turned and glanced at the man in question, finding his neutral but startled expression mirroring her own. Tala smiled tightly at Oliver, wishing she was telepathic to know what he was thinking.
"I don't need a babysitter," Oliver said, turning back to his mother after a brief pause. Tala agreed, knowing Oliver could take care of himself.
"Darling, Oliver's a grown man," Walter said, surprising Tala as he jumped in on Oliver's behalf. "If he doesn't feel he needs armed protection..."
"Yeah, I understand," Moira cut him off, determined. "But this is something I need."
Tala rolled her eyes, glad her father was never this much of a helicopter parent. Oliver looked at John before nodding. Tala tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow at Oliver. He sent her a reassuring look before moving toward the car. She opened the door for Oliver, climbing in after him, her duffle perched on her lap.
"Where to, sir?" John asked, looking in the rearview mirror at Oliver. Tala smothered a laugh at John's formality.
"I think we are heading to the Palms for drinks," Oliver said, looking at Tala, who nodded. John nodded and pulled out of the driveway, heading toward Starling City proper.
"So..." Oliver said, tapping the back of Tala's hand. "What do I call you?"
"Diggle's good," John said, focusing on the road. "Dig if you want. Only Tala can call me Johnnie."
"War buddies and all," Tala said, grinning toward the bodyguard.
"You're ex-military?" Oliver asked, looking at John. Tala couldn't tell what his tone was, but the smile was polite.
"Yes, Sir. 105th airborne out of Kandahar, retired," John said proudly. "Been with the private sector a little more than four years now. I don't want there to be any confusion, Mister Queen. My ability to keep you from harm will outweigh your comfort."
While John was focusing on the road, Tala slipped her duffle around her neck and quietly opened the door, dropping and rolling as Oliver did the same on the other side. They both darted to opposite sides of the road, Oliver donning a hat while Tala adjusted her bag to rest tightly against her back. She moved toward the Glades, slipping a beanie off the head of a blonde woman on the phone.
Tala stepped into the steel factory just before Oliver did, carrying two bags he didn't leave the house with.
"So what's the plan, brother?" Tala asked, pulling on a set of fingerless gloves. "That abduction wasn't good, especially since they weren't looking for money, but information."
"The abduction was unexpected. It's forced me to move up my plans," Oliver said, looking at the flyers on the ground. "We need to put a base of operations in the basement, because eventually this building will be a cover."
"Night club? Easy enough for people to believe," Tala suggested, grabbing a broom. "But it does need cleaned and reorganized. And we need equipment."
Oliver grinned and gestured to the bags he brought with him. The two of them made short work of the stuff they had, with Oliver doing deconstruction and Tala rolling her eyes and trying to make things easier. She climbed up to the rafters, looking at the wiring they had available. Tala grinned when she found copper wiring still in place from five years ago. She quickly collected it and used it to set up the computers Oliver had brought, connecting them to the internet and the Merlyn Global Group satellites.
A few generators were found and set up, giving them power while keeping them off the main electrical grid. Oliver set up a section for them to train in, archery and stamina. Tala watched as Oliver loosed a few tennis balls, shooting them all and attaching them to the wall with arrows. She smiled proudly at him, impressed with his abilities.
"You learned much in your five years. I am impressed," Tala said, holding up an arrow with a green tip and green fletching. In her other hand, she gently twirled one of her own arrows, which were silver tipped with blue fletching. "Spar with me. I want to know the level of your fighting ability."
Tala dropped the arrows, letting them clatter to the floor as she dove at Oliver. Oliver sidestepped her, letting her fall to the floor, hitting her with his bow as she fell. Tala rolled into a crouch and swiped Oliver's legs out from under him. He rolled over and grabbed her, dragging her closer, aiming a punch for her temple.
Tala looked over Oliver's shoulder as he watched a news report about Laurel being the lawyer taking on Hunt.
"His crimes go deeper than fraud and theft. But he's been able to bully, bribe, or kill anyone who's gotten in his way," Oliver said, talking over the news reported as he turned to face Tala. "He hasn't met us yet."
Oliver walked over to his trunk and held up a green hood. Tala stood and rolled her shoulders before holding her hand out to her duffle bag. She concentrated and her outfit changed. She stood there, wearing dark blue armor, a hood on, and a cloth over the lower half of her face. The inner lining of her hood was silver, reflecting the green light of the room.
"What the hell?" Oliver asked, staring at her in disbelief. "What was that?"
"The League of Assassins can teach many things," Tala said cryptically, her voice distorted, sounding like it was overlapping itself. "I have many connections, not all of them positive."
Oliver blinked at her in confusion before pulling his suit on. Tala idly considered designing something that would offer more protection than leather and cloth. She grinned as he finished suiting up, leading her out to the parking lot of the old factory. There was a bike sitting there, waiting for them.
"You can ride behind me until you get your own," Oliver said, deepening his voice. Tala smiled and hopped on the bike, noticing it was a Ducati Monster Diesel Edition, she liked it.
Tala knelt down and aimed an arrow, shattering the light behind Adam Hunt. She watched, a feral smile on her face as his security scrambled to get him into his car. The assassin carefully took aim, and dropped one of the guards with an arrow through the heart. The remaining bodyguard fired a few rounds in the opposite direction.
"Hey. You missed," Oliver and Tala called. They dropped from their spot in the ceiling and shook their heads at each other. They each fired, Oliver hitting the guard in the stomach, Tala catching him in the throat. He fell to the ground, dead.
Tala shattered the window of Hunt's car with her bow, scoffing when he ducked down and covered his head. Oliver used his distraction to grab him and pull him out of the car, throwing him to the ground. When Adam looked up, he saw two angry people standing on top of his car aiming arrows at him.
"What, What?" Hunt shouted, holding his hands up in surrender. "Just, just tell me what you want!"
Oliver jumped down and grabbed him, slamming him against the side of the car while Tala watched in amusement.
"You're gonna transfer forty million dollars into Starling City bank account one one four one by ten pm tomorrow night," Oliver demanded, holding Hunt by the collar of his suit jacket.
"Or what?" Hunt demanded.
"Or we're going to take it," Tala growled. "And you won't like how."
Tala walked down the back of the car and left, walking alongside Oliver, trying not to grin.
"If I see you again, you're dead!" Hunt threatened. Tala and Oliver turned in sync and fired two arrows, sending them through the rear window, before they grappled themselves to a neighboring building.
Tala mounted Oliver's bike behind him and relaxed as he drove them back to the steel factory.
"I'll catch you tomorrow, Brother," Tala said, pushing her armor and adjusting her leather jacket. "I've got work in a few hours and I doubt Alab will give me any more personal time, especially since you're not actually dead."
"Work? You work with your dad?" Oliver asked, setting his bow on his trunk.
"Yeah, he's training me to not kill the annoying board members," Tala laughed, wiping the blue grease paint off her face with a rag. "Tommy isn't inheriting the company, I am."
"I didn't actually know that," Oliver said, surprise. Tala winked as she left, taking the stairs two at a time. The assassin hailed a taxi, having it take her back to her house, where she showered and changed for work. As she left she saw a sleek town car sitting in the drive, waiting for her.
"Miss Merlyn, My name is Cody James, I'll be your driver if and when you need me," He introduced himself, holding his hand out for her to shake. Tala put on a gracious smile and shook his hand, noting that his grip matched hers in terms of firmness.
"Nice to meet you Cody. If you could, I'm running late for work, you know where the Merlyn Global Group building is, I assume?" Tala asked, slipping into the back seat.
"Yes ma'am. And there is coffee and breakfast in the seat next to you," Cody said as he closed the door behind her. Tala turned, pleased that her father had hired her a competent driver. She sipped at the coffee as she read through the budget for the upcoming meeting.
Tala ran her fingers through her hair as she entered her father's office, dropping the budget on his desk in agitation. Cody stood by the door, holding another stack of files and folders.
"This is completely wrong!" Tala said, shaking her head. "First of all, much as I adore the Queen family, we should not be financing their new division. If we stop doing that and simply invest in it, we can save the thirty people you want to lay off. Second of all, these numbers don't add up at all, even after taxes, personal salaries and investments, we're still missing a hundred thousand dollars from the budget, and I can't find it."
"You won't, because the person who has it is dead," Malcolm said standing from his desk. He waved Cody out before turning to his daughter. "His name was Kovar. He worked with the Bratva in Russia. I owed him a favor and it cost a hundred thousand dollars."
Tala kept a blank face, but ground her teeth together at her father's mention of Kovar, knowing it was the same Kovar Oliver had fought and killed, twice. She herself had met Kovar once, when she was in Russia joining the Bratva and working with Talia.
"Alright, just, next time cover your tracks better," Tala said, rolling her eyes. "And take what I said to the board. The Queen's don't need us paying for their things."
Tala left Malcolm's office and followed Cody to her own, sinking down into her chair with a sigh. As she turned on her computer, it alerted her to a dozen emails that she needed to address, starting with planning a banquet to officially name her as the heiress to the company.
"Cody, I'm going to need some more coffee. Would you mind making a run?" Tala asked, smiling at him.
"Sure thing, boss," Cody said, leaving the office. Tala propped her feet up under her desk and got to work.
Tala slipped through the doors at the place her brother had rented and walked to the bar.
"Something strong and cold," Tala ordered, placing her credit card on the bar. The bartender took it, setting up a tab and poured her a double of whiskey, which Tala quickly threw back. When she turned, Tommy was standing next to her, offering her another drink.
"The first time we celebrated you coming home, you were drinking vodka. I thought this would be appropriate," Tommy said. Tala accepted the glass. "No dress? And what's with the blue in your hair?"
"I don't do dresses. And I thought it was interesting. I needed something new," Tala said, throwing back the vodka. They both turned when Oliver started coming down the stairs. Tommy ran over, pushing through people while Tala watched in amusement.
"Man of the hour!" Tommy shouted after the DJ cut the music. Tala walked over to catch their conversation. "And, ladies, please give this man a proper homecoming!"
Oliver stepped up on a table, winking at Tala who rolled her eyes. Tommy passed them both a shot of tequila.
"Thank you very much, everybody!" Oliver threw back the shot with Tala and Tommy, before smiling at the crowd. "I missed tequila!"
Tala snorted as Oliver dropped back down to the dance floor. They gave their empty glasses to a passing waitress and settled around a table. Tommy pointed out John, who was watching Oliver with a blank stare. Tala smiled at him, breaking his emotionless facade.
"Hey, does he wipe for you, too?" Tommy asked sarcastically, making Tala and Oliver laugh. "Now, by my rough estimate, you have not had sex in one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine days. As your wingman, I highly recommend Carmen Golden."
Tommy gestured to three girls dancing in front of the DJ, though neither Tala nor Oliver had any clue as to which one Carmen was.
"Which one is she?" The two vigilantes asked Tommy.
"The one who looks like the chick from Twilight," Tommy said. Tala gave her older brother a confused look.
"What's Twilight?" Oliver asked. Tala shrugged when he looked at her.
"You're so better off not knowing," Tommy said, frowning slightly. Tala wondered if it was a chick flick that came out while she was at Nanda Parbat.
"Back in a minute," Oliver said when he spotted Thea. Tala leaned against her brother and accepted a drink from a passing waitress.
"I'm sorry, Tommy," Tala said softly. "I'm so sorry."
"For what?" Tommy asked, looking down at his sister. "You haven't done anything."
"I got on that boat. I joined the army, I managed to take your spot as main heir to the company," Tala said, swallowing half of her drink. She winced at the flavor, it tasted like Kool-Aid. "I was dead for five years."
"It wasn't your fault. And besides, I was never going to inherit the company. I'm not good at much besides partying and getting girls," Tommy said, rolling his eyes. Tala smiled at him, glad he hadn't changed in the past five years. They moved to the bar as Laurel and Oliver walked away.
"So when did you and Laurel become a thing?" Tala asked, causing Tommy to choke on his drink. "Please, it was obvious. And I'm not stupid. If you really like her, you should go for it."
Tala pulled her phone out of her pocket as it went off, alerting her to the fact that it was ten and there still wasn't any money in the account. She sighed and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Tommy asked, concerned.
"A coworker was supposed to finish this report by ten, for the meeting on Monday, but they haven't done it. I'm going to run back to the kitchens and do their work for them," Tala said, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "And then I'm going to draft their termination letter."
Tala gave Tommy a hug before darting back to the kitchens where she ran into Oliver who looked as annoyed as she felt by the situation. They were about to round a corner to the exit when they ran into Johnnie.
"Something I can help you with, sir?" John asked, causing them both to freeze.
"We just wanted a second to ourselves," Oliver said, wrapping his arm around Tala's waist. She bit her tongue, but leaned into the embrace.
"I would believe you, Mister Queen," John said, giving Tala a knowing look. "If you weren't so full of crap. Party's this way."
Oliver stepped forward and acted like he was trying the door. It didn't budge. Tala took a subtle half step out of the way, content to just watch.
"It's locked," Oliver said, letting John step in front of him to try the door. Oliver swiftly wrapped his arm under John's arm and around his neck, knocking the man unconscious. Tala waited until John was slumped on the ground before she pulled for her armor to appear on her. Oliver ducked into a stairwell and pulled his gear on. Tala used that time to set up their escape, firing a grappling arrow from the roof, securing it to Hunt's building and a smokestack on the convention center.
Oliver led the way into the back of the building, where they took the elevator up. Tala smiled at him before it opened, pressing a button that cut the power to Hunt's office.
"What was that?" Oliver asked.
"I got bored at work, so I set something up to cut the power on Hunt's floor," Tala said. "Something to announce our presence."
The elevator opened and Oliver fired off a shot, killing the first security guard. Tala responded by throwing a knife that slit the throat of the hired muscle closest to her. When the man behind her grabbed her elbow, she used his grip to pull him around to face her. Tala knocked him out, hitting him in the temple with her bow. When she turned, Oliver was flipping a man to the ground, his legs wrapped around his throat. There was one guard left and Tala stalked toward him while he reloaded his weapon, spinning and kicking him through the glass doors into Hunt's office. He spooked the security so much that they killed him, allowing Oliver to get a free shot off, taking out another guard. Oliver stepped into the office and fired the tech arrow Tala had designed, hitting the wall behind Adam Hunt.
"You missed," Hunt hissed, annoyed and angry as Oliver aimed another arrow at him.
"Really?" Oliver asked.
"Alaiqtisas, down!" Tala shouted as a man appeared in her field of vision, striking Oliver across the face. Tala fired at him, catching him in the thigh as he started trading blows with Oliver.
"He's here!" Hunt shouted into his phone as he ran out of the office. Tala fired another arrow, catching the last man in the heart as he fired his gun at Oliver. Tala ran over to Oliver, pushing her hood down as she knelt next to him.
"We have to go, SCPD is on their way up," Tala said, helping him sit up. Oliver groaned in pain as he did, pulling his hood up. Tala did the same and grabbed her bow as SCPD, led by Quentin flooded the floor.
"Lay down your weapons, or we will open fire!" One of the officers shouted. Oliver grabbed his bow, turning to head toward the windows. "I repeat, lay down your weapons!"
They both fired at the first two SWAT members, knocking their guns out of their hands as they dove for the window. Tala jumped out, enjoying the free fall before hooking her bow around the grappling she had set up. She pushed her armor away, leaving her in the same outfit as before.
"That's a neat trick," Oliver said, shedding his green suit. Tala started wiping away the grease paint on their faces before using her same trick to replace the makeup she'd ditched.
"It comes in handy, even if the man who taught me wasn't a good man," Tala said, checking her reflection in a passing window as they quickly walked back to the party. They arrived just as SWAT told the DJ to stop the music.
"Starling City Police, the party's over, kids," Quentin shouted as soon as he had everyone's attention. "Oh, Mister Merlyn. Imagine my shock at finding you here. Did you roofie anyone special tonight, huh?"
Tala darted over to Quentin, stepping between him and her brother. She crossed her arms and glared up at the detective.
"Quentin, this is a welcome back party for me and Ollie, why are you here?" Tala feigned innocence, stalling until Oliver could join her.
"There was an incident at Adam Hunt's building tonight. You two know anything about that?" Quentin asked, glaring at Oliver as he stepped behind Tala.
"Who's Adam Hunt?" Oliver asked.
"An old business partner of Dad's, is he alright?" Tala asked, knowing full well the man hadn't been harmed.
"He's fine. He just got attacked by your two hoods. The two that saved you two the other day," Quentin said, still giving Oliver a dirty look.
"The hoods? You didn't find them? I'm gonna offer a reward," Oliver said, turning away from the detectives. "Hey everybody! Two million dollars to anybody that can find a nut bar in a green hood!"
Tala bit her lip to smother her giggles at the thought of Oliver giving a reward to whoever finds him.
"Did you even try to save her?" Quentin demanded, getting in Oliver's face. "Did you even try to save my daughter?"
Tala pushed Quentin backwards toward Detective Pike who led him out of the building. Tala turned to Oliver and Tommy, shaking her head. Oliver rolled his eyes before jumping up on another table.
"It's way too quiet in here, this is a party!" Oliver jumped down as everyone cheered and the DJ started playing again. Tala grabbed a drink and downed it, not caring what it was.
"Some coincidence, I mean, you asking to have your party here, and Hunt getting robbed right next door," Tommy said when Oliver walked back to them. "And by the same guys who rescued us at the warehouse."
"If I were you, Tommy," Oliver said seriously. "I'd just be happy you're alive."
"What happened to you two out there?" Tommy asked, looking at the matching looks from Tala and Oliver.
"A lot," They both said before turning and walking away.
"Let's go, I can't take this many people anymore," Tala said, looping her arm through Oliver's.
Oliver took them back to the steel factory where they watched the forty million from Hunt be deposited into the different accounts it was originally stolen from. Tala smiled proudly as Oliver crossed the name off his list.
"It feels good to make a difference. We do this for Robert, and for Sara," Tala said, placing her hand on Oliver's shoulder.
"Laurel said that the island changed me, but she doesn't know how much," Oliver said, looking down at the list. "There are a lot of names on the list. Every last one of them will wish I had died on that island."