Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
Arrow Lair
Night
"So, how'd it go?" Diggle asked as Oliver walked down the stairs to the lair.
"Mr. Redman didn't take much persuasion once he and I had a chance to chat." Oliver said idly and Diggle smirked.
"So…any bird sightings tonight?" Diggle asked curiously and Oliver rolled his eyes at her.
"As I've said every night for the past week, I have had no encounter with the Black Canary tonight." Oliver said irritably as he put his bow away.
"And you aren't interested in tracking her down?" Diggle asked curiously.
"As long as she stays out of my way, she can do what she wants." Oliver said dismissively.
The Lairs, next day
Afternoon
"I don't know what I've done to earn this witch hunt from Ms. Lance and her bosses at the CNRI, but I do know this: I am an honest business man and I will fight this slander until my last breath. That's all I have to say, thank." Martin Somers face was soon replaced by a reporter before Oliver turned off the news report.
"If he's an honest business man, then I'm Beyoncé." Diggle scoffed.
"I think it's time The Hood paid Martin Somers a visit." Oliver said idly and Diggle smirked.
Ted Grant's gym
Same time
"Sounds like you made a very passionate argument." Ted mentioned as he held the sand bag as Laurel wailed on it.
"It won't matter if Somers refuses to testify the truth." Laurel grunted as she punched the bag.
"Well, that what your, uh, bird friend is for, isn't it?" Ted smirked as Laurel glared at him.
"Shut up and hold the bag." Laurel snarked before punching it again.
Starling Docks
Night
Martin Somers was threatening his lawyer when the lights went out. He heard the sound of something hitting a target before the lights came back on. Martin stared in shock and no small amount of fear as his lawyer and two body guards laid on the floor. There were unconscious, injured but not dead. Somers was then struck from behind and all went black.
The Hood was about to grab Somers when he felt a presence behind him. Whirling around, The Hood caught Black Canary's fist with his palm. The stared at each other for a moment, Black Canary's face hidden by her mask and The Hood by his hood.
"I warned you, no more unnecessary deaths." Black Canary growled.
"And I haven't killed anyone tonight." The Hood deadpanned.
Surprised, Black Canary looked over at the wounded party. True to his word, they were unconscious, not dead. Black Canary felt a little embarrassed as she lowered her hand. Still…
"Somers needs to testify at the trial tomorrow." Black Canary snapped.
"I know, that's why I'm here." The Hood told her and she raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" She asked skeptically.
"Sometimes, threats don't cut it with men Like Somers. Allow me to show you a more…effective way to get the results you desire." The Hood offered.
Construction site
Later
Martin Somers came to and the world seemed to be upside down. He spotted The Hood and Black Canary almost as soon as he realized he was hanging from a crane as he swung side to side.
"Martin Somers, you have failed this city!" The Hood shouted.
The Hood notched an arrow and fired. Somers screamed in horror but the arrow just flew by the side of his head harmlessly. Black Canary couldn't help the smirk that crossed her face at the sight of Somers cowering in terror.
"You're gonna testify in that trial, you're gonna confess to having Victor Nocenti killed. There won't be a second warning." The Hood barked amidst Somers moaning.
The Hood then notched another arrow and fired. Somers howled in pain as it flew by, cutting the side of his face. While he was distracted, the two vigilantes took off, seeming to disappear before his very eyes.
"I admit, that was probably more effective than if I had done it," Black Canary said as they walked away from the construction site, "but the sheer brutality of your methods bothers me."
"It's a kill or be kill world. I don't like to kill, but I will if I must." The Hood said before the two parted ways.
CNRI, next day
Afternoon
"They are going to have kill me if they want me to give this up." Emily Nocenti told Laurel and Joanna passionately.
"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that." Laurel said as she internally promised that it wouldn't.
"It won't."
Laurel turned around to see her father walk in with three other officers. While internally Laurel looked calm, internally she seethed. Her father, and she used that term loosely, may think he's helping, but he was interfering. The police protection, because she was sure that was what he was doing her with those officers, would only interfere with her nightly activities.
"What's going on?" Laurel asked in a confused voice, giving no sign of her true thoughts.
"The three of you are getting around the clock police protection. Get used to their faces, 'cause they're not going anywhere, no arguments." Quentin said only making his daughter angrier.
"I'm a lawyer, I live to argue." Laurel said tersely.
"I'm your father, I live to keep you safe." Quentin said and Laurel had bite her tongue to keep from saying something in front of an audience.
Joanna mumbled an excuse and Quentin set two of his officers away until it was just Laurel, Quentin, and one officer.
"Protective custody? I seem to recall you trying that when I discovered boys, it didn't work then either." Laurel said icily.
"This isn't a joke Laurel; Martin Somers got attacked last night." Quentin said and Laurel did her best to act surprised.
"What, by who?" Laurel demanded even though she knew exactly who.
"It doesn't matter; the point is you've whipped up a storm with these guys. Until it's settled, you are gonna be protected, end of discussion." Quentin said and Laurel glared at him.
"So now you decide to start acting like my father?" Laurel demanded and Quentin was taken back, "you know when I could have used that? Five years ago, when my sister died and my mother walked out on me. But you weren't here; you just crawled into a bottle, left me to deal with it on my own. I may have needed you then, but I don't need you now." Laurel said before storming passed the stunned Quentin.
Laurel's apartment
Night
Laurel opened her door after checking to see who it was. Oliver stood on the other side, holding a brown paper bag. She gave him a look, not unfriendly but guarded. Considering the last time they had talked, Oliver couldn't exactly blame her.
"Is that offer to listen still open?" Oliver asked and after a moment, Laurel's face relaxed into a soft smile.
"Always." Laurel said as she stepped aside.
"Are you okay, there are police cars out front?" Oliver said as he walked inside.
"It's nothing, why are you here?" Laurel asked curiously as she closed the door.
"I was trying to push you to protect you but I realized I hurt you instead," Oliver said as he turned around to face her, "I'm a jerk. Before the island I was jerk, and now I'm just a damaged jerk."
"…what's in the bag?" Laurel asked starting to feel uncomfortable.
"I thought about many things on the island, but there was one thing I thought about every day. I actually dreamed about it," Oliver laughed as he reached inside the bag, "and I promised if I ever got a chance to do it again, I'd do it with you."
Oliver pulled out a quart of ice cream and Laurel smiled in amusement.
"Eat ice cream." Oliver said as she laughed.
Later, Oliver and Laurel were sitting on the couch. Laurel was eating out of a bowl while Oliver was eating right out of the carton. Oliver put the carton on the coffee table before looking over at Laurel with a slight grin on his face.
"This is as good as I remember," Oliver said and Laurel smiled as a content silence washed over them, "my mother wants me to join the company," Oliver smiled bitterly at the look she gave him, "yeah, take my rightful place."
"I can't exactly picture you as master of the universe." Laurel said idly and Oliver gave a tight smile as he looked away from her.
"You know, after five years…I have things I have to," Oliver said and Laurel silently wondered what those things were, "I can't do that if I'm, I don't know, attending board meetings and stock hold briefings."
"Oliver," Laurel swallowed her bite of ice cream before continuing, "You're an adult, you can say no."
"Oh I tried, didn't take." Oliver said dismayed.
"Well, then don't tell her, show her," Laurel said and Oliver looked over at her curiously, "be the person you want her to see you as. Trust me, I have plenty of experiences with disapproving parents."
"I have been on the receiving end of your father's disapproval." Oliver said dryly.
"He blames himself more than he blames you," Laurel told him and he looked over at her again, "he thinks maybe if the two of them were closer, she would have told him about the boat trip. And he could have stop her from going with you."
"I am sorry." Oliver said lowly.
"You already apologized." Laurel pointed out.
"It'll never be enough." Oliver said remorsefully.
They stared at each other for a moment before Oliver's heightened hearing, his training giving him near super hearing, picked up a sound. Oliver turned away from her, trying to locate the origin of the sound.
"Did you hear that?" Oliver asked her as he started to stand up.
"What?" Laurel asked as he picked up a butter knife.
"There's someone on the fire escape." Oliver said as he slowly inched towards the window.
Suddenly, before Laurel could completely grasp what was happening, Oliver grabbed her by the arm and they two were running. They were halfway towards the door when it was busted down, a man with a gun on the other side. Oliver and Laurel fled towards Laurel's bedroom, ducking to avoid a rain of bullets. The window was crashed through and another man entered the apartment. The pair stopped and turned when they were blocked by a familiar white haired woman. China White, Oliver managed to control his reaction to seeing her. Hearing the click of a gun, Oliver turned his head just in time to see two bullets go through one of the men.
Diggle came in through the door, wielding a gun of his own. Diggle fired again, taking out the other man before China White lunged for him. Diggle was disarmed and it became a physical fight of Diggle and White traded blows. It was obvious that Diggle was in trouble and as Laurel commentated breaking her cover, Oliver raced across the room. Oliver threw the knife, knocking the knife out of White's hand. She looked at him and seemed to recognize him for a moment before standing up and racing out of the room. Laurel raced into Oliver's arms and he whispered reassurances into her ear as he and Diggle exchanged glances. All the while, Laurel was beginning to understand just the kind of man Oliver had become.
Laurel's apartment
Later
Ted raced into the room, looking around wildly. Laurel walked away from Oliver and Diggle and he raced over to her, gripping her tightly in his arms. Ted pulled back and checked Laurel over for injuries. Satisfied, Ted pulled back from her as he eyed the bodies as they taken away.
"Where those cops your father put on you?" Ted demanded angrily.
"I went aside for a light and they both dead in the squad car." Diggle explained and Ted his attention to him and Oliver.
"And you two are?" Ted demanded with a raised eyebrow.
"Oliver Queen and this is my body guard John Diggle." Oliver explained and Ted turned from curious to cold.
"Ted Grant, I'm a friend of Laurel's. I know all about you, Mr. Queen." Ted said coolly and Oliver nodded in understanding.
"Enough Ted. If it weren't for Oliver and Mr. Diggle, I'd probably be dead." Laurel chided him and Ted warmed considerably towards Oliver.
"I apologize, Mr. Queen." Ted said but Oliver just nodded.
"It's okay, I get it." Oliver said just as Quentin burst into the room.
"Laurel!" Quentin rushed forward and Oliver and Diggle slipped out of the room.
"I'm fine dad." Laurel said coolly as she walked away.
"Queen was here, this guy was after him." Quentin growled and Ted raised an eyebrow.
"What proof do you have other than your very obvious hatred for Mr. Queen?" Ted inquired.
"Who the hell are you?" Quentin growled as he turned to the unknown man.
"He's Ted, he's a friend. And he's also right. You have no proof that they were after Oliver, and you told me today that I had started a storm." Laurel pointed out and he gapped at her.
"Are you defending the man who killed your sister?" He demanded.
"He didn't kill Sara. For so long, we have blamed Oliver for what happened to Sara, but she was just as much to blame. Unless you have something else to say, Ted and I are leaving." Laurel said as she walked towards Ted.
"Where are you going?" Quentin demanded.
"I'm staying with Ted tonight." Laurel said as the two walked out.
The Foundry
Later
"So what are you gonna do?" Diggle asked as Oliver suited up.
"I gave Somers a chance to do the right thing, to confess to his crimes. He chose to go after someone I care about instead. He'll face my kind of justice now." Oliver said darkly as he put the hood over his face.
Ted Grant's apartment
Same time
"You're really going out there?" Ted asked as Laurel put on the wig.
"Somers nearly got Oliver and Mr. Diggle killed. He needs to pay." Laurel said and Ted was concerned.
"You sure this isn't about more than that? Do you…do you still have feelings for Oliver?" Ted asked.
"I need to go." Black Canary leapt out the window.
"Well…this will be interesting." Ted sighed.
Docks
Later
"Wallace, you copy? Wallace?" Somers' guard asked into the radio.
"Wallace isn't here, but I am." The Hood said as he stood over Wallace's unconscious form.
Ted Grant's apartment
Same time
"Can I help you detective?" Ted asked as he opened his door to see Quentin on the other side.
"I want to talk to my daughter." Quentin demanded.
"She's asleep." Ted tried to open the door but Quentin blocked it.
"How long have you and my daughter known each other?" Quentin demanded.
"Since she came to my gym a round five years ago." Ted said blankly.
"Why does my daughter seem to trust you so much?" Quentin demanded.
"Probably because I did what you should have done after Sara died: I was there for her. I helped her through her grief; I was there when she just wanted to sit and cry all day or when she was so mad she just wanted to hit something. Now, is there anything else or do I have to call the police on you for trespassing. It'll be a funny story, calling the cops on a cop." Ted said gruffly.
Quentin just glared at him before walking away. Ted made sure he was gone before he closed the door.
Docks
Same time
Hearing a scream, Black Canary looked up to see a man falling. She jumped up and grabbed him. Gently lowering him to the ground, Black Canary looks up to see The Hood running after Somers. Reminding herself to have another talk with him, she ran after him. She came upon the white haired woman from tonight talking to The Hood in a language she didn't understand.
Aw, you started without me?" Black Canary said as she jumped between them.
"You have a new friend." White smirked.
"You know her?" Black Canary looked over at The Hood.
"Her name is China White; she's the best assassin for the Chinese Triad. We have a history." The Hood admitted.
White lunged for them but Black Canary blocked her punch. It became a two on one fight with Black Canary blocking White's strikes with her fists while The Hood used his bow. Despite there advance in numbers, White was still holding her own. The Hood let Black Canary use his arm as a swing so she could deliver a swinging king to White's mid-section. White recovered as Black Canary landed on her feet. They three were about to resume the battle when they heard the police call out. The battle ended and the three fled in different directions.
"Freeze!" Black Canary froze as she heard Quentin run up behind her.
Making a quick decision, She weird around and screamed. Quintin dropped his gun as he covered his ears before she ran. Quentin looked up and she was gone.
Queen Consolidated ceremony, next day
Morning
Laurel watched with suspicion as Oliver gives a seemingly drunken speech. Five years ago, she would have bought this as Oliver being drunk and acting out. Hell, even before last night she would have. But after last night, she didn't think so. His talk of having to do things shattered that illusion. And hi throwing the knife that way, that wasn't luck. That had to be taught, learned. Laurel watched with suspicion as Oliver walked off, walking for too steadily to be drunk. Yes, something more was going on with Oliver than just being damaged by the island. She just wasn't sure what yet.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.