Chapter Two
Felicity showed up at work feeling empty inside. After reaching a high she had never felt before, she was suffering from the low of losing Oliver to the league. Her EA had her coffee waiting for her and Ray had a list of things he needed from her on desk, but all she could think about was Oliver. He was gone. Once again he had sacrificed himself for the sake of his family and his city. The last time she thought he was dead and that was painful, but this time knowing he was at Nanda Parbat being trained by Ra's Al Ghul was almost like a painful open wound.
Sitting down at her desk, Felicity turned on her computer and stared at screen not wanting to think. Oliver and she had finally consummated their love. It was even more than she expected. Having sex with Oliver was truly making love. And now he was gone. All she wanted was Oliver to be home.
"Hey," Ray tried to draw her attention. "I was worried about you this weekend. I couldn't find you, even when I pinged your smart phone. I was afraid something happened to you."
She looked up at him. The expression on her face told the story of her weekend, as her face was pale and drawn, and her eyes were as sad as he ever saw them. Ray wasn't a stupid man seeing her like this could mean only one thing: Oliver Queen.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Oliver," she answered softly.
"Oh, Oliver," he repeated the name. He was right. Ever since he saved her life in the mayor's office and she saved his in the hospital then he told her that he loved her, Oliver Queen suddenly appeared between them. Their relationship, which was more than he expected it would be, was now on shaky ground because of Oliver Queen. He was the heroic Arrow, who didn't even need a suit to protect the city. Of course, he and Oliver teamed up to stop a metahuman. He wore the suit but Oliver controlled his actions when he fought the meta. Of course they won. "What's wrong with Oliver?"
"He left with Ra's Al Ghul to become his heir apparent," she said.
Ray furrowed his brow. Felicity had finally explained who Ra's Al Ghul was to Oliver and his family, which included her, and what sort of danger to the city he was. The Arrow look-a-likes were proof of Ra's Al Ghul's and the League of Assassins danger to the city and its citizens. He was willing to take innocent lives to achieve his purpose, which was to convince Oliver Queen to become his heir. Damn it, Ray thought, Oliver went with him. He sacrificed himself, a selfless act made by man who refused to think he was a hero. How was he to compete with that?
"I'm sorry, Felicity," he said.
"He... we...," she paused to collect herself. "He said that he'd be back. Ray, I want him back."
Ray nodded then he walked over to her. He offered her his hand and guided her out of the chair and into his arms for a hug. Felicity began to sob.
"It's going to be okay," he said. "I'll protect the city until Oliver comes back with your help and the help of Mr. Diggle and Laurel Lance. I'll even supply a lawyer for Roy Harper and try to get him out of prison. Okay?"
"Thank you, Ray," she sighed between sobs.
"We'll make this better, Felicity," he smiled. "Trust me."
"I do," she said.
Well, she might not love me but she does trust me, he thought. He sat her back down. That was something. Without Oliver around maybe love would be possible. He had to be patient because he loved and he wasn't willing to lose her to a man who she might never see again.
"I'm going to arrange for you to take the rest of the day off then I'm taking you to breakfast, so we can talk and after that I'm taking you back to your bed so you can get some rest," he told her.
Felicity looked up at him with eyes that looked both lost and sure of themselves. He offered her a comforting smile.
"Ray," she said sadly.
"Yes, Felicity," her replied.
"I can't be your girl any longer," she said softly.
"I know," he said. "Let's get going. You need some breakfast and lots of coffee."
"Thank you, Ray."
Arrow
"A tale to be begins thus," stated Ra's.
Oliver was seated at his dinner table. Nyssa and the woman in black were also there. Ra's had not bothered with introductions yet.
"I will tell you my tale in time, as you begin yours," he said to Oliver, who was now dressed in black boots, black pants, and a loose fitting black shirt.
"When does his training begin?" the woman in black asked.
"Basira is my wife, at least the last woman I married. Over the years I have had hundreds of wives, yet only three children," Ra's told Oliver. "Basira means seer. She was the one who had the harbinger about you. She is also the mother of my daughter Nyssa and Talia. In time you will need to take a wife. Al Sahim."
"When does my training begin?" Oliver asked.
On a plate in front of him was a dish called Kabuli Pulao, lamb in stock with fried raisins, diced carrots, and pistachios served on top of rice. On the table was several loaves of Naan along with fruit and a pitcher of red wine.
"Tomorrow. I shall be your primary instructor. You will have two other instructors: Nyssa and Abd Al-Ziz. He will also be your personal bodyguard for now. Abd Al-Ziz means servant to the powerful," explained Ra's. "You have experience and training. What you lack is artistry and fine-tuning. I do not believe that will take long for you to learn."
"Why must I train him, father?" asked Nyssa.
Ra's looked at her and shook his head.
"I assume you wish to return to Starling City," he sighed.
"I do," she answered.
"Then go in the morning. You can be our eyes and ears there, as your sister is our eyes and ear in Gotham City," he told her.
She nodded her head then glared at Oliver. He ignored her.
"Sarab will take Nyssa's place. His skills are worthy," said Ra's then he looked at Oliver' plate. He had barely eaten any food. "Eat. You will need the energy. For dessert we have Sheer Berinj, rice pudding. Tonight is a celebration. After dinner we will venture outside where fires are lit and entertainment and drinking is taking place. The league celebrates a new heir tonight, so that heir will talk among them with the man he will replace."
Oliver didn't speak. He lifted his fork and started eating. Ra's was correct about one that and that was he was going to need his strength. Part of his strength would come from thoughts and memories of Felicity and the rest would have to be gotten where he could get it.
Arrow
Ray asked for Diggle, Thea, Laurel, and Felicity to meet him in his penthouse/workshop at eight in the evening. Much to everyone's surprise Laurel brought Nyssa Al Ghul along with her. Diggle and Felicity knew that Nyssa had been training Laurel, but they had thought she left town. She was back.
"Nyssa," Laurel introduced Ray, "this is Ray Palmer."
"I am Nyssa Al Ghul, daughter of the Demon," Nyssa responded.
Ray smiled good-naturedly at her. Before Ray could say anything Felicity spoke up.
"How is Oliver?" she asked in a tone that sounded almost like demand.
Nyssa smirked at this. It was obvious that Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak were in love. Her father had once again thwarted love.
"He has been branded with the Demon Head, blooded, and renamed," she stated.
"Renamed?" asked Diggle.
"Until he becomes the next Ra's Al Ghul, he is now known as Al Sahim Al Ghul. In some ways he is the son my father never had," Nyssa spat.
"Al Sahim. What does it mean?" asked Ray.
"The Arrow," she answered.
Felicity gasped. She tried to hold back tears but it was futile. Thea was the first to her side. She hugged the woman who was several years older than her and said, "We'll get him back someday, Felicity. Oliver is too strong to lose himself. He'll find a way back to us."
"I hope so," Felicity said softly.
"Al Sahim is being trained by Ra's Al Ghul himself. He must be strong to survive that," said Nyssa.
She didn't want Felicity or Thea to keep up any false hopes. In her opinion Oliver wasn't as impressive as her father seemed to think he was.
"Well, I thought I'd call you all her in order to discuss how we fill the void until Oliver comes back," said Ray. "As you may or may not know I have built what Felicity likes to call a super suit. I call it A.T.O.M. and I think of it as a solution to some of our problems. Mr. Diggle, Miss Lance, and you, Felicity, have experience in the vigilante game. I admit to being an amateur. I faced Oliver in his Arrow gear once and he short circuited my suit and kicked me to the ground in less than a minute. It was embarrassing. The next time out I faced a metahuman, who I defeated but that was because Oliver literally controlled my suit when I fought. I need training and I need a team. I thought we could help each other."
"Vance has close my club and any access to the Arrow cave," Thea spoke up.
"I can have a state of the art command and control center fixed up along with a training area in no time," said Ray. "I need people."
"Oliver started a crusade to protect and save this city. I failed Oliver when he went off to Nanda Parbat and I couldn't find a way to stop it," said Diggle. "I'm not ready to give up on his crusade."
"Good," smiled Ray. "With your military record I bet you can train me."
"You won't be Oliver, but I can train you," said Diggle.
"I'm in," said Laurel. "I'm not ready to give up."
"I will not join your crusade, but I will continue to train Laurel as the Black Canary and anyone else who wants training," said Nyssa.
"Count me in," added Thea.
"Thea, Oliver wouldn't want you to do this," said Diggle.
"Then he shouldn't have left," growled Thea. "I've been trained by Malcolm Merlyn and I owe it to my brother and Roy to keep doing their work. I'm in."
"Wow, the family that vigilantes together stays together," joked Ray.
"What will you code name be?" asked Laurel.
"Speedy," Thea said proudly using the nickname her brother had for her.
"Okay, that's everyone but you, Felicity," said Ray. "Will you be part of this, Felicity?"
Thea, who had stayed beside Felicity, out her arm around her waist and laid her head in her shoulder. She was treating her like a member of the Queen family showing her affection and support.
"I'll help," she said.
"Well, it looks like there is a team now and now all I need to do is se up a sate of the art command center and training center," grinned Ray.
"Make sure there is a coffee machine," added Felicity.
"I know," said Ray.
Arrow
It was a bleating hot day. The sun above had started to tan Oliver's skin and lighten his hair. Oliver was dressed in his League of Assassins gear with his black hood down, but his face was uncovered. He held a wooden sword in his hand, while five assassins surrounded him holding wooden swords. Ra's walked up to Oliver and tied a blindfold over his eyes. He then stepped back.
"In battle you must rely on all your senses to win. You must hear your opponent. From footfall to shifts in the wind, you must listen and judge. Next, you must smell your opponent. Smell his or hers pheromones, their sweat, even their breath, what they had to eat or drink. Sound, smell, it will give you their location. Finally, boy, instincts should be followed. Instincts honed in training and battle. Instincts that separate life from death," Ra's lectured.
He walked away from Oliver and stood back to watch.
"We start with wooden swords. When I think you have progressed we will switch to the real thing. Blood will be drawn then and the lesson will become permanent," said Ra's. "Begin!"
The assassins attacked the blindfolded Oliver. For the next three and half hours Oliver managed to avoid or stop many blows from the wooden swords, but not all of them. His skin carried bruises and welts. His forearms had so many bruises that he could barely lift his arms and his body was soaked in sweat.
"Enough!" called Ra's then he laughed. "Not bad for a first day, but I expect better tomorrow."
"I agree," said Oliver.
"You don't like to lose. I saw that in your eyes when we battled," said Ra's. "That is the part of your spirit that I admire. Embrace that part of yourself and you will be done with my training sooner than you think."
"Yes, master," said Oliver.
"Good, boy," said Ra's. Ra's clapped his hand and two attractive dark haired women came running. He pointed to Oliver. "Take him for a bath. Clean his wounds and then covering them in a healing balm. Once that is done feed him. He may eat in his rooms tonight."
"Yes, master," they said in unison then rushed over to Oliver.
One of them took the wooden sword out his and handed it to one of the assassins that fought with Oliver. The other woman took him by his right hand and led him back into the Ra's fortress.
Through the halls of Nanda Parbat they led him until they came to a room where a hot spring filled a small pool. They then undressed Oliver. He didn't fight them. His body was too sore and too tired to fight them. While one of them finished undressing him, the other woman stripped. Once he was naked, she led him into the hot water. Oliver released a moan of thanks from his throat.
Along the sides of the pool was a bench. He sat down, while the other woman stripped and joined them. Once both women were in the pool with him, they became the process of gently soaping up his body and massaging him. Instead of paying attention to the women, he closed his eyes and thought of Felicity. The memory of their one night together was seared into his mind. Her face, her body, the sounds she made - he couldn't, he wouldn't, forget them.
Arrow
Ray Palmer was nothing if not industrious. He was also sometimes a little lacking in forethought. The Queen's mansion had been on sale since Moira died and all the Queen's trust funds went into receivership because Thea never signed paperwork to protect them. The trust funds were still frozen and untouchable, though Walter Steele as a favor to Thea and Oliver worked to get them released. Thea and Oliver's along with Moira's stock in Queen Consolidated would translate now into a major holding in Palmer Technologies.
Ray bought the mansion because of size. There were so many rooms, large rooms, that converting some in a training area and another into a workshop and command center. In time he would be able to refurbish the basement turning it into a secret base and adding hidden entrances and exits. But for now he would keep the staff small and the security on the outside of the mansion.
He invited everyone to the mansion. Thea arrived with Diggle and Felicity. She looked around her old home, which was now sans her family's belongings. Ray came out of the living room to greet them.
"Hey, glad you made it. I actually ordered Chinese food, which should be here soon," he said in his usual friendly tone.
He noticed Thea looking about. Instead of the paintings Robert and Moira Queen collected there was now a mix of modern and classic art bought by Ray Palmer.
"Great place, huh?" he said to Thea.
"I know. It was my family home up until a year ago," she said with a hint of bitterness.
Thea stormed past and into the living room. Ray looked confused. Felicity walked up to him. She was furious with Ray's thoughtlessness.
"What did you expect, Ray, you bought her family home, the only home she ever knew," she told him.
"But it's perfect for what we need and on the outskirts of town, which I like," he said wanting to explain himself.
"Ray, just let her stew a while. Thea will get over it, but think about what you are doing next time," Felicity said then she walked into the living room.
Diggle walked up to him shaking his head.
"The Queen Mansion, really?" he said.
"It was the perfect place for our needs," he said.
"You should be glad Oliver isn't around for this. He personally take over your training so that he could kick your ass once a day," said Diggle with a smirk.
"Luckily, you're not Oliver," said Ray.
"He's like a brother to me, Mr. Palmer," Diggle said then walked into the living room.
Ray followed them into the room. Laurel and Nyssa were sitting in the sofa talking, while Felicity was talking to Thea, who stood looking out one of the windows. Diggle walked over to the second sofa and sat down.
"Thank you for coming," Ray started the evening. "Although it appears that I caused some hurt feelings by buying this place, it wasn't meant. I just fell in love with the size of it and how it would be perfect for our needs."
Felicity and Thea joined everyone and sat on the sofa with Diggle.
"Thea, I have some good news for you. My lawyers got the money you inherited from Malcolm Merlyn released. The police can longer keep a hold on it," he told her.
"Thank you, Ray," Thea said politely. She could be the daughter of Moira Queen when needed.
"Also, this place has so many bedrooms that I'm going to make available a bedroom for each of you when you are too tired to go home or just in need a place to stay," Ray said.
"I would like to move out of the league's safe house. Can I stay here?" asked Nyssa.
"Of course," said Ray, though he was hoping someone else would have taken him up on the offer.
"I'll help you move in tomorrow," said Laurel.
"Okay, that settled," Ray started, "I've ordered cutting edge computers and tech, which will arrive tomorrow. We just need to pick a room for the command center and workshop. Also, we need to pick a room to turn into a training center."
"The second floor in the east wing there is a small ballroom. It would make a perfect command center and workshop," said Thea.
"Oh, I think I know it. Yeah, that would be perfect. There is a balcony I can use have re-enforced and use for liftoffs and landings," stated Ray.
"I'll look around and find a room that would be good to make into a training center," said Diggle.
"Great," said Ray excitedly. "I think this is going to work."
Arrow
A shirtless Oliver took on four men under the hot summer sun. He was practicing hand to hand combat. It started with him and one man then two then three and now four. If he defeated four men, then after a short break it would be him against five men. This was Ra's way of honing his skills.
Two of his opponents were disabled and Oliver managed to knock the third unconscious. It was now him against one man, but that one man had four inches and fifty pounds of muscle on him. Oliver had been told over and over by Ra's that each opponent calls for a different tactic. Against this giant, Oliver decided to use his speed.
Rushing in he avoiding the brutes attempted to grab him with his thick arms then with his left leg managed a leg sweep sending the brute to the ground. Once he was down, Oliver was on top of him. He placed his right and with his two hand grabbed the man under the man's chin and bent the man backwards until his back was about to snap. The brute pounded the ground with his right hand, a sign that he conceded. Oliver let go of him then stumbled away. He was exhausted and dehydrated.
As he stopped over with his hands on his knees, he heard Ra's slow clap of appreciation.
"Well done," Ra's said. "After a short rest and some water, I believe you should be able to handle five men then it is time for bow and arrow practice with Aziz."
"Yes, master," rasped Oliver out of breath.
Ra's clapped his hand and a servant brought Oliver a jug of cold water. Oliver slowly drank some of it down then he poured a small amount over his head before drinking more.
"I am satisfy with your training so far," said Ra's. "In six months I believe you will be up to my expectations by then."
"I hope not to fail you, master," said Oliver.
"Salim, you will never fail me. You will only fail yourself," Ra's said. "Drink up and prepare to face five men."
