A/N: Sorry I forgot to post this sooner enjoy!
Oliver woke up a while after Moira arrived, "What happened?" He asked looking over to Diggle.
"You got in a crash. Good thing you were wearing your helmet." Diggle said since Moira was there.
"Oh! Right sorry my head's a bit sore," Oliver said.
"Might be a slight concussion, might want to take it easy." Martin said.
"Yeah, believe me, I will," Oliver said remembering seeing Martin and Thea.
"You guys were there?" He asked Martin and Thea.
"Yeah we were following you to the club you wanted to show us something." Thea said.
"Oh right," Oliver said pretending to remember.
"Oliver you should be more careful," Walter said.
"I know and I will be next time."
"You had better."
"You should go soon he needs rest," the doctor said.
"Diggle stays. He is my body guard," Oliver said.
"Alright," The doctor agreed and the rest left.
"What really happened?" Oliver asked.
Diggle explained everything including how Thea and Martin had already figured it out, "So what now?" Diggle asked.
"Well, I guess we could find something for them to help with." Oliver said.
"I think Martin should be your partner," Diggle said.
"Well, I'll have to see what he can really do but I'll certainly take that under consideration."
"Good, because the kid is hiding something Oliver,"
"Definitely, I'm just not sure what it is."
"I'm not either," Diggle sighed.
Meanwhile the rest were about to head back to the mansion when Martin said, "Actually, I have to go get some presents for my family and you guys."
"Now?" Thea asked worried.
Martin nodded but said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Okay, but be careful and take our card." Thea said as Moira gave him the card and Thea kissed him.
"I will." Martin promised when they separated.
"You had better." She said getting in the limo with her mother and Walter and driving away.
"No promises," Martin said getting into the car.
Malcom Merlyn sat in his office resting in his office when his secretary buzzed in. "Mister Merlyn you have a visitor," She said. He was puzzled who would come this late on Christmas Eve to see him?
"Let them in." Malcom said after a second.
He was surprised when Martin walked in.
"Hello Malcom," he said calmly examining one of the statues in his office.
"Hello Martin, long time, no see."
"Yeah when was it last china?" He asked.
"Exactly," Martin nodded.
"So holding hostages Malcom? I thought so highly of you.
"What do you want?" Malcom demanded.
"You running around in league gear sort of makes you a problem."
"I do not think so I did nothing wrong."
Martin snorted slightly and said, "You and I both know that's a lie."
"We kill all the time," Malcolm said.
"No we kill when necessary," Martin said.
"Necessary is such an opinionated term isn't it?"
"That may be, but you know what they feel is necessary and I am sure this vigilante is not it," Martin said.
"The Hood is a completely necessary kill."
"No he is a personal vendetta or it appears to be." Martin said.
"He's going after and killing our men. I'd say that more than enough reason."
"Our men or your men?" Martin asked.
"Both," Malcom said.
"The league does not have any immediate plans in Starling you however might. I am watching you Malcom after all we both know you never really leave the league you just get time away." Malcom just growled slightly. "You know I'm right," Martin shrugged.
"Please leave my building," Malcom said carefully.
"I was actually just about to." Martin said walking out. Malcom slumped in his chair with a sigh. This complicated things, but only slightly.
Martin headed out of the building and checked the time on his watch. He had an hour to mid night.
'Better head back,' He thought. He got in his car and drove toward Queen Manor. Starling City was so much more interesting now.
"Interesting how much things can change."
He drove home to find Thea waiting in the living room for him. "Get everything?" Thea asked.
"Yeah!" He said holding up the bags.
"Good, I guess you're still a little procrastinator."
"Maybe," He said smiling.
"It's almost midnight on Christmas Eve. I'm pretty sure that's called procrastinating."
"I have only been here a while," He said.
"Alright, I guess I can excuse it." Thea said and gave him a kiss.
"Merry Christmas," he said.
"Still have about twenty minutes." She corrected with a chuckle.
"Oh right," he chuckled.
"Oh well," She shrugged and kissed him again.
"Wonder what happens now?" Martin asked.
"Well, we should probably go to sleep soon."
"I suppose so." He yawned.
"It'll be okay." She said and headed back upstairs.
"Yeah, see you in the morning," He said.
"See you in the morning." She smiled. He went to his room and sighed as he went over and examined his own league suit.
The day Oliver was let out of the hospital he went straight to Thea and Martin. "So…?" Martin asked.
"Obviously we need to talk," Oliver said.
"Right, couldn't agree more." Martin agreed.
"Thea how long have you known?" Oliver asked.
"Well, I started to get a little suspicious at the vigilante's first appearance then it just grew over time."
"Smart girl," Oliver sighed.
"Thank you, people just don't give me enough credit."
"Clearly, so the question becomes now what?" Oliver asked.
"We want to help in some way." Thea answered.
"I figured the question is how for each of you," Oliver said.
"That we do not know." Martin answered.
"Well, Martin you went into a dangerous combat zone without flinching, do you have combat experience?" Oliver asked carefully.
"Just a few years of self-defense while I was away,"
"Well, I'll have to see what exactly you can do." Oliver said.
"Okay," Martin said eagerly.
"The base is under your club right?" Thea asked.
"You figured that out too?" Oliver asked.
"Well, you protect that place so relentlessly and usually disappear and reappear as the vigilante when you go down there." Thea pointed out with a smirk.
"I never come up the public way in suit." He said.
"No but you disappear then appear on the news as 'the Hood'." She corrected.
He smiled. "Alright Thea, I have a place for you."
"Alright, where?"
"Observation and intelligence gathering," he said.
"Alright," Thea nodded. "I could definitely do that."
"Good," Oliver said nodding.
"Sounds like a plan." Martin agreed.
"Martin, come with me," Oliver said.
Martin followed. "What are you not telling me?" Oliver asked when they were alone.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Martin lied easily.
Oliver eyed him suspiciously. "Are you sure?" He asked already knowing he was lying.
"I told you everything." Martin said.
Oliver looked skeptical but nodded. "Well you need to train a bit then." He said.
Martin nodded, "Definitely."
"When you are ready you'll be my partner." He said.
"You sure that's a good idea?" He asked.
"Yes I am. Diggle made a good point to me that he can't always be there." Oliver said.
"Alright, when do I start training?"
"Tonight and every single night after unless I say so."
"Alright, perfectly fair." Martin nodded.
"You need a suit." Oliver said.
"Right, can't have anyone recognizing me."
"No but I have idea for that. For now get Thea and your gear we are going to the base," he said.
Martin nodded and headed back to where she was. "Come on let's go," he said smiling as he picked up his bow. She smiled and they headed off.
A few minutes later they stood in Oliver's base. "Wow," Thea awed looking around.
"It's pretty good. No touching the arrows, Thea." Oliver said.
"Noted," She said keeping her hands behind her back.
"Good because some of them explode."
"Definitely noted," She said simply.
"Now, Martin let's see how good a shot you are," Oliver said throwing a tennis ball up into the air. Martin drew an arrow and shot it pinning the ball to the wall. "Nice shot, let's try something harder," He said duping over a ben of them.
Martin shot a few but not much not wanting Oliver to get too suspicious.
"Good," Oliver said.
"Still have work to do." Martin said looking at the ones of the ground.
"You do, but your good," Oliver said.
"Well, thank you. I had a lot of practice the last few years."
"Good, need a bit of improvement," He said.
"Well, that is what this is for isn't it?"
"Yes it is," Oliver said. "There's more than just the shooting though." Oliver added.
"Like?" Martin asked.
"Strength, speed, agility, combat all of that."
"Okay," Martin said nodding.
"So, where do we start?" Martin asked. Oliver smiled and threw a punch out of nowhere. Martin had quickly blocked it.
Oliver smiled, "Nice reflexes." Oliver delivered another punch which Martin out of reflex blocked again. "Excellent," Oliver said getting more suspicious. He aimed a kick at his ribs. Martin side stepped it just in time. "You are good," Oliver said.
"Just the self-defense classes,"
"Must have been a great teacher."
"Well, yes he was."
"Okay well then we keep working"
Weeks later Oliver watched Martin shoot and spar with Diggle and simply said, "You're ready"
"You sure?" Martin asked wiping his brow and setting the bow down.
"Yes, you are ready." Oliver said and Diggle nodded.
"So, then I need a suit?" Martin asked.
"Yes and I have one for you." He said smirking. "Just follow me." Oliver directed.
He followed over to where Oliver kept his suit. The suit was a bluish grey with red and black on the sides, a utility belt, a full hood and mask with red one way goggles, and a grey recurve bow and back quiver with red tipped and feathered arrows.
"Wow it's amazing!" Martin said honestly.
"Glad you like it." Oliver said. "Go ahead and try it on."
He did and had just slipped the hood up when Thea arrived. "Oh, wow." Thea said seeing him.
"Look good?" He asked his voice altered.
"Yes you do."
"Thanks Ollie says I am ready."
"That's great! But be careful out there." Thea warned seriously.
"I will and Oliver will be there too." Martin said.
"Of course, I just don't want anything to happen to either of you."
"We'll be alright." Oliver said from over at the computer.
"Alright, I can trust that." Thea said.
"Now we have something odd." Oliver said as a call from the phone he had given Laurel rang.
"Hello?" Oliver answered with the phone disguising his voice.
"I need to talk to you." She said.
"What is it?"
"My friend's brother recently died in a fire. He was a fire fighter, but his death is off." She said.
"Off how?" He asked pulling stuff up on the computer.
"His autopsy shows he was burning hotter than the fire." She said.
"Alright, I'll look into it."
"Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome." Oliver said before hanging up. "Let me suit up we have to go meet your sister."
"Laurel?" Martin asked surprised.
"Yes, Laurel."
"What does she have to do with this?" Martin asked.
"She has a phone to reach the vigilante." He said.
"But she has no idea it's you?" Martin asked getting his suit.
"Not that I am aware of." He said.
"Alright, might be best that way." Martin said getting his suit on.
"It is." Oliver said.
"Then we need to make sure she doesn't know who I am either." Martin said donning the hood.
"That's part of the reason for the hoods." He said.
"Part?" Martin asked confused his voice now disguised.
"Yeah part." Oliver said his own voice disguised.
"What other parts are there?" Martin asked.
"Sentimental." He said.
"…Alright…" He said hesitantly. "Let's just go." Oliver nodded.
They both headed out through the private exit. "Ready?" Oliver asked.
"Ready," Martin nodded. Oliver shot one of the grapple arrows and they were off.
They both arrived fairly quickly where they found Laurel waiting for them file in hand. "Who's this?" Laurel asked looking at Martin as she handing Oliver the file.
"My new partner," Oliver said reading the file.
"Well, that will certainly help then." Laurel noted.
"Yes it will." Oliver said continuing to read.
"See anything?" Martin asked.
"Yes, I do this man had bruising as if from a fight." Oliver said.
"She's right then. Looks like we have someone to go after."
"No, but we do know someone is targeting fireman in fires, but why?" Oliver asked.
"Let me see that file." Martin said taking it having no idea yet. "Interesting look at this all the men hit were survivor of the building fire and collapse a few years back." Martin said.
He looked at Oliver looked at him and said, "Maybe he lost someone in the collapse and thinks he's somehow avenging them."
"Maybe, but he has not touched the builders for cutting corners though."
"Maybe just not yet."
"Maybe, but what if he is after the firemen specifically?"
"Maybe he was one of them." Martin intrigued.
"That seems more likely," Laurel offered.
Oliver nodded and said, "We'll pull up a list. See if we could find any leads."
Martin nodded and turned to Laurel. "Thank you Ms. Lance," He said.
"You're welcome and thank you for helping." They said nothing heading off.
They headed back to the arrow cave to look into who it might be taking the file with them.
"That went smoothly," Oliver said.
"I'll call Felicity, see what she can find."
"Who?" Martin asked.
"She's an IT Person for Queen Consolidated but since she's so good I sometimes have her find stuff for the vigilante. She doesn't realize that part though." Oliver explained.
"She doesn't?" He asked.
"Unless she figured it out herself and never said anything." Oliver said looking over at Thea.
"Maybe," Thea shrugged.
"Well, either way I'm giving her a call." Oliver said taking off the hood and pulling out his 'Oliver' cellphone.
"Why?" Martin asked.
"She has been completely reliable to get all of the information I need by computer."
"Alright," He said taking his hood and mask off.
Oliver nodded and dialed Felicity's number. "Hello?" She asked.
"Hey Felicity, I'm going to need a favor."
"What is it?" She asked carefully.
"I'm going to need a list of the firemen who were on call for the collapse at the Noddel Towers two years ago."
"Alright why?" She asked.
"I want to hold a benefit for the firefighters and I need the names for a memorial ice sculpture," Oliver said.
"Alright, I'll get them over as soon as I can." Felicity agreed.
"Thanks!" Oliver said.
"You're welcome, Oliver." Felicity said and they hung up.
"Nice girl." He said.
"Seems like it." Martin nodded.
Thea smiled. "Is that so?" She asked smirking at him.
"That's irrelevant." Oliver said awkwardly.
Thea and Martin both snorted at that. Oliver sent them both a slight glare. "Oh lighten up." Thea said.
"Besides, you pretty much just confirmed it." Martin pointed out with a smirk.
"Confirmed what?" Oliver asked.
"You like her." Martin said simply.
"I do she's a good friend." He said.
"That's not what we meant." Thea said.
"Whatever," Oliver sighed. They both snorted again. "Oh you two go make out while I wait for the file." He taunted.
Even though they knew he was taunting them, they did anyways. Oliver face palmed and set to work reading through the file he had. "That does seem to be the case." He muttered.
"What?" Martin asked pulling away from Thea.
"That he was in that collapse." Oliver said simply.
"You sure?" Martin asked walking over.
"Not positive but it certainly seems that way."
"Interesting." Martin said.
Then Oliver's phone rang. "Hello?" He asked still reading the file.
"Oliver, I found the file, how do you want me to get it to you?" Felicity said on the other line.
"Email would be best." He said.
"Alright, sending them over now."
"Thank you, Felicity." He said.
"You're welcome, Oliver." Felicity said as the computer indicated its arrival.
"Ask her out." Thea mouthed.
Oliver hesitated but said, "One more thing, Felicity."
"What is it?" She asked.
"Well… will you go out with me?"
"I...what...well yeah I...you...like a date?" She stammered.
"Well, yes, I do."
"I...uh...yeah of course!" She said.
"Saturday night work?" She asked.
"Yeah I can do that."
"Great, I'll see you then."
"Yeah see you then." She said.
They both hung up smiling widely. "So?" Martin asked.
"I have a date for Saturday night."
He smirked "That so?"
"As long as nothing gets in the way here."
"Well then Romeo let's try to get this settled and maybe you can actually have that charity event for the firemen Saturday." Martin said.
"Right," Oliver said opening the file.
"Look at this one Garfield Lynns presumed dead in the collapse." Martin said.
"What about him?" Oliver said looking over his information.
"Showed signs of psychosis a few weeks before."
"So… if he's still alive."
"Then maybe this pushed him over the edge." Martin said.
"Definitely on to something there, Martin."
"It would make sense." Martin said.
"Then we have a lead."
"No, we have no clue where to look." Thea said.
"We have a better idea though." Oliver corrected.
"That is a better way to put it."
"Put what?" Diggle asked coming in.
Oliver explained to him the entire situation.
"Tough situation.
"Very," Oliver nodded.
"Hold the ball...if he is after the others then he will attack it!" Martin said.
"I know that." Oliver said.
"No, I mean host the ball and wait for him to attack." Martin said.
"Would you be able to make the switch without anyone finding out though?" Diggle concerned.
"No I do not show up as me." Martin said.
"That could work." Diggle admitted.
"Then why am I not going to be suited up?" Oliver asked.
"You need to be there for official reasons."
"He right, Oliver." Thea said.
"So I let you take this guy on alone?" He asked.
"Do we really have any other options?" Martin asked.
"No, no we don't" Oliver said.
"Then yes you do." Martin simply stated.
"Fine we'll do it." Oliver sighed.
"Good," Martin agreed.
"You will owe me a date." Thea said.
"Alright, gladly." Martin agreed.
"Good because you did not have choice." She smirked.
"No complaints." He shrugged.
"Well I guess we have a party to plan." Oliver said.
"Right, aren't you good at that?" Martin said to him.
"I am." He said.
Martin chuckled and said, "So, let's get to work."
"Fine I'll get Tommy." Oliver said pulling out his phone and heading upstairs followed by Diggle.
"Think it will work?" Martin asked Thea.
"Think you can handle him?" She asked.
"I think so." Martin said.
"Then yes I do." She said.
"Good," Martin said with a sigh.
Thea was trying to figure what was wrong. Martin was internally thinking and wondering how well he could fight without revealing how good he was. "Something wrong?" Thea asked.
"No, not really." He said.
"You sure." She asked worriedly.
"Yeah I will be fine." He said.
"Well, alright." She said and gave him a kiss. He kissed back mind still running wild. He still had no idea then. 'I will just have to wing it.' He thought. He just hoped it wouldn't give himself away.
Saturday rolled in with Oliver waiting out front of his half-finished club for Felicity while the party was in full swing. While he was waiting, Laurel had come over with Tommy. "Oliver, going alone to your own party?" Laurel asked surprised.
"Actually, no, I have a date." Oliver said. "I'm just waiting for her."
"That's great Oliver with who you never told me..." Tommy said awkwardly.
Oliver was about to answer when Felicity finally got there in a fitted red dress with her hair down and curled beautifully wearing contacts instead of her glasses. "H...Hey Oliver." She said.
Oliver turned to her and was even honestly shocked himself. "F… Felicity you look great!" He said.
Felicity blushed and said, "Thank you, you do, too."
Tommy cleared his throat getting their attention. "Oh! Right, Felicity, meet Tommy my best friend and Laurel my other best friend and Tommy's girlfriend.
"Nice to meet you two." Felicity said.
"You too, Oliver had never mentioned you before." Laurel said.
"Well, he's my boss." Felicity said in awkward Felicityness.
"Oh! So you work for him or the company?" Laurel asked.
"The company, I work in the IT department."
"Really Oliver does not seem one to have tech issues and not just buy a new computer." Laurel joked.
Felicity laughed slightly and said, "Except that's not what it means."
"What do you mean?" Laurel asked.
"IT stands for Information Technology, it's the use of systems to store, retrieve, and transmit information."
"Oh! Okay I get it now." Laurel said smiling.
"Yeah, a lot of people make that mistake though."
"So the party then?" Oliver asked extending a hand to Felicity.
"Oh, right," Felicity said taking it.
From the rooftop above the club Martin was watching with a smile. "Looks like that worked out, now, where are you Garfield?" He waited and watched and then on the rooftop across from him there was a man dressed in fireman's gear staring at the club as he headed down. Martin smirked and headed down after him.
Inside the party was in full swing when something hit one of the snack tables and it went up in flames. The party was obviously set into panic. No sooner had Oliver shouted for everyone to leave when Garfield walked in flame thrower in hand. Just as he was about to fire at the firemen a red arrow severed the fuel line and he turned to face Martin as guests ran out around them.
"Consider that a warning." Martin said with his voice disguised drawing back another arrow. "I do not want to hurt you Garfield please just let me help you." Martin said.
Garfield said nothing and pointed the flame thrower at Martin. Marin dodged the last bit of flame and shot an arrow at his hand forcing him to drop the flame thrower.
Martin very quickly had another arrow drawn. "They are innocent people!" Martin shouted.
"Them innocent? They left me to die! I told them we could save the others and they ran! Do you know what it was like waking up as a John Doe in the hospital burned beyond recognition! They need to suffer as I did!" He shouted throwing another fire bomb.
Martin dodged it easily, "No I don't but you don't need to do this because of it!"
"They need to suffer!"
"No they don't." Martin said and fired an arrow. It hit him in the shoulder. He hissed and reached for the flame thrower again. "Don't make me do this!" Martin said aiming for the man's head.
"You wouldn't." He accused simply.
"Try me." Martin said. He got a hold of the flame thrower earning an arrow through the brain.
Oliver saw all of this and he could tell by his stance that it was not Martins first kill it was another kill for him and just like Oliver when he was forced to he was not proud of the kill. That of course made Oliver even more suspicious of the Lance boys past.
Martin looked over to Oliver gave a nod and shot a grapple arrow out the window. He knew that some time likely soon Oliver and he would be having a talk. He went out the window though knowing that more immediately he had to get out of there.
Just as he vanished into the night Martin's father arrived. Quinten looked around the crime scene then over at Oliver who was the only one still there by now. "What happened?" He asked him.
Oliver launched into the story of what had happened.
"Great, as if the Hood wasn't enough of a problem, now we have this new copy-cat vigilante to put up with."
"To be fair he did save the party." Oliver pointed out.
"It should have just been evacuated then have let us do our job."
"We did evacuate and you were still a good ten minutes away." Oliver said calmly.
"This copy-cat should have stayed out of it though."
"And then the cities Firemen could have died." Oliver said.
"No, we would have handled it."
"From a few blocks away?" Oliver asked.
"Why are you taking these guys sides? As much as they feel like sugarcoating it they're both just murderers."
"One of them just saved a party full of people including your daughter." Oliver said.
"They murdered people." He said.
"Only when they had to." Oliver corrected.
"That does not make it right." He said.
"If this new vigilante hadn't killed him there would have been a lot more deaths which would likely have included Laurel, Tommy, and myself. So excuse me for not being mad at the new guy for doing it."
Quinten glared but said nothing as they began checking the crime scene. "You need to leave now." He told Oliver after a while realizing he wasn't. "At the tome your club is a close crime scene. We'll let you know when it's cleared."
Oliver nodded and left to meet his friends outside. "Are you okay?" Felicity worried coming over.
"I'm fine." Oliver said smiling and hugging her.
"Good," She smiled hugging him back.
"You really should have gotten out when the fight started." She said and he saw Laurel and Tommy nod in agreement.
"Sorry, I guess I was a little to put off at the time."
"So what happened?" Laurel asked.
"A vigilante showed up and killed the guy that was attacking the party. It wasn't our usual one though but they still used a bow and arrow." Oliver said.
"He has a partner now?" Tommy asked reminding Laurel of her talk with the Hood but she obviously didn't say so.
Oliver shrugged to keep them from getting suspicious and said remembering what Quinten was calling him, "or a copy-cat. He was alone so honestly it could be either."
"Maybe the other one was busy?" Felicity said snuggled comfortably into his side.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what else comes up." Oliver shrugged holding her close.
