Hearing the familiar noise of his cell phone vibrating on the nightstand next to his bed slowly Oliver opens his eyes as he reaches up with his left hand to rub them before he looks down and a smile comes to his face when he sees Laurel sleeping peacefully next to him on the bed naked with her arms wrapped around him in possession. For the next few moments as Oliver stares down at Laurel's face Oliver can't help but remember the previous night in full detail. Remembering how he had gone to city hall to confront and bring an end to Damien Darhk once and for all. The memory of being bested by Darhk until a familiar scream was heard echoing through the streets. The feeling he had when he was Laurel standing just a few feet away from him. How a piece of himself at that moment had been reborn again.
The memory of bringing her back to the mansion and opening up to her about everything like he wish he had done with his world's Laurel Lance before he was lead up to his bedroom inside of the mansion and spent most of the night making passionate love to her for what she called making up for lost time. As he feels Laurel's body stirring reaching over Oliver pulls her closer to him before he lays his head back on the pillow his head was previously been resting upon.
" This is going to be complicated."
Without opening her eyes Laurel nods her head into Oliver's chest as she tightens her grip around him.
" Yeah but it will be worth it. I have my Oliver back."
" And i have my Laurel back. We are just going to have to work around a couple of things."
" Such as the whole me being dead thing i presume you mean right?"
As she opens her eyes Laurel glances up towards Oliver seeing him nodding his head before she rests her head back down onto his chest.
" I mean we could go down to city hall and have you declared alive…."
" No. We can't do that Ollie. And you know why. Even though we know that we are each the same as our the love ones that we have lost the others won't see it that way. Everyone else will look at me as if i'm an imposter. Just like how the blonde did. Maybe it's best to have it be this way. To have Laurel Lance declared legally dead while at night i can help patrol the streets with you. Besides…."
As a smile forms on her face Laurel scoots closer to Oliver before she places her right hand down onto his chest.
" I need my beauty sleep."
Laurel's smile widens as she hears Oliver letting out a chuckle before she turns her head and looks up to see him smiling down towards her.
" Yeah but we can't have you act like a vampire. Sleep during the day and go out and play at night."
" Oh? And why not? You seemed to enjoy it last night when i came out to play."
Leaning down Oliver gives Laurel a gentle kiss before he pulls back to see her smiling towards him.
" Yeah i did it's just i've been waiting for years for this to happen just like you have. To finally be back together with you. I'm not ashamed or will ever be ashamed of being with you."
Reaching up Laurel places her right hand gently on Oliver's face before a smile comes to her face when she sees him closing his eyes from her touch.
" I know Ollie. But it's better this way. It will spare Quentin Lance the pain of hearing his daughter is alive before he meets me and finds out that it is not the case. It will also spare me a lot of trouble of having to fill in her shoes. This world's Laurel Lance was an extraordinary woman. She had touched so many lives out there and if they were to see me then they would look at me with a look of gratitude and kindness that i don't deserve from them. This way her memory can still be honored by everyone in Star City while at night i can take up her mantle of being the Black Canary without anyone noticing. It's okay."
" And on days that you want to go out and explore the city during the day?"
" I have my ways of staying hidden. You may be the great hero Green Arrow but i was one of the most feared metahumans in Central City. I know my way around the block as well. I know how to make myself blend in with the crowds and make it so that they wouldn't even recognize me. There is only one matter that we will need to solve. Something we did not discuss last night."
As she sees Oliver opening his eyes Laurel watches him give her a confused look before she gently starts to stroke his cheek with her thumb.
" If we are going to go out there every night as The Black Canary and The Green Arrow there has to be a new set of rules laid down right now. A sense of understanding so to speak between us. While i admire your heart and how you played cops and robbers with the rest of your team tracking down every drug lord and criminal that was a threat to the city before you locked them away that is not how to go about it. There is men and women around the world that do not deserve second chances. Don't deserve your pity or remorse. At the first sign of weakness they will strike. They will cause more innocent lives to be taken. Damien Darhk is just an example. Because you and the rest of Team Arrow decided to not kill him when he was weakened he had caused thousands of lives to be taken and destroyed in an instance. You cannot allow that to ever happen again. If you do then the darkness inside that you told me lays in wait deep inside will only get stronger from the pain of the lives that you would have failed to save."
Right when she sees Oliver about to open his mouth Laurel moves her hand away from his cheek before she puts her right index finger on his lips in a sudden move.
" I don't know what happened to you when you were on that island. To be honest i don't know if i want to know. All i know is that experience changed you in so many ways. Ways that nobody will ever be able to understand. But i'm telling you this because i love you and don't want to see you in pain. This needs to be done. There is no such thing as good and evil. All of us have a little piece of evil inside of us. It's just the matter of how we use it that defines us. If you really want to make a difference in this city then you need to unleash the darkness on all those that would do harm to it. This is the only way you will ever see results. Otherwise you will be stuck in a never ending cycle."
As she removes her finger from his lips for the next few seconds Laurel stares at Oliver in silence before she gently places her hand back down on his chest.
" Just think about it Ollie. Right now every criminal will be too scared to come out after they have heard the news that The Green Arrow has killed Damien Darhk. This will buy you some time to come to an decision. Just please think about it. For me okay?"
After just a few seconds of staring at Oliver in complete silence Laurel watches Oliver give her a nod before she lays her head back down and starts to gently rub circles on his chest with her right index finger.
" So what to do?"
With a smile forming on her face Laurel looks up to Oliver when she hears him letting out a chuckle.
" Want to go another round?"
" I thought you would never ask."
Leaning down Oliver captures Laurel's lips with his own as she feels her wrapping her arms around the back of his neck before he feels Laurel repositioning herself to be on top of him. As he gets lost in the moment for a few seconds battling for control of the kiss Oliver suddenly breaks away from the kiss when he hears his cellphone vibrating from the nightstand.
" Just ignore it."
Reaching down Laurel brings Oliver back into another kiss as she listens to the cell phone vibrate on the nightstand for the next few seconds before a smile forms on her face when she hears the sound disappear. As she feels Oliver's hands slowly making their way down her waist and only getting lower Laurel deepens the kiss before seconds later she breaks off the kiss and lets out a huff when she hears the cell phone vibrating on the nightstand once again.
" I swear to god if it's that blonde calling i'm going to kill her the next time we meet."
Gently taking his left hand off of Laurel's leg Oliver reaches over and grabs the cell phone from the nightstand before a confused look comes across his face once he looks to see who is on the caller's id.
" What is it Ollie?"
" It's the mayor's office."
As he sees Laurel leaning down Oliver opens the phone and raises up his head towards her as he puts the phone to his ear.
" Hello?"
Just a hour later with a hoodie covering her face Laurel is found walking through the streets of Star City heading towards a small apartment complex just a mere couple of miles away from the Queen Mansion. An apartment complex she knew a member of the Queen family now called her home after doing a background on her. Thea Queen or known to her and Oliver as Speedy. A little nickname they had given the younger member of the Queen family so many years ago. A name she knew she had hated but now had grown accustomed to it.
Her reason for the visit was simple in her mind. To insure herself that Thea was okay and not suffering the same fate as her world's Thea Queen had suffered. A fate that was filled with drugs and alcohol until she had met her demise at the hands of Deathstroke. A path she would not allow this Thea to follow down. Wouldn't allow someone whom she has considered to be a younger sister to her ever since the day they met.
But how would Thea react seeing her? Would she have the same reaction as Felicity and freak out about seeing her? Would she be happy to see her like how Oliver was? This is what worried Laurel as she neared the apartment complex. Was she sure that Thea would be happy to see her? That she was sure of. After all she had a closer relationship with her than her own sister. But would she see her as an imposter? Could she show her that she and the Laurel of this world are the same beings? These thoughts are snapped as she reaches the outside of the apartment complex.
Taking a quick look around her surroundings Laurel makes a few mental notes at what she sees before she slowly enters into the complex before just a couple of minutes later she arrives just outside of the apartment she know Thea is staying. The same apartment according to her research that she had been staying at for over a year now with this world's Laurel Lance. A place she now knows Thea is living alone now since Oliver had been staying at the Queen Mansion. Something that instantly brought concern to Laurel.
Reaching for the apartment door Laurel slowly wiggles the handle to find the apartment door locked before with her free hand she reaches into her pocket and takes out a lockpick from within. Taking a quick look around finding nobody in sight Laurel turns back to the door before for the next few seconds she starts to lockpick the door until suddenly the sound of a click is heard and she slowly opens up the apartment door. Finding the entire apartment engulfed into darkness Laurel slowly walks through the small opening quietly closing the apartment door behind herself before she slowly starts to explore the apartment.
As she starts to explore the apartment suddenly Laurel stops dead in her tracks and turns her attention towards a partially open door when she hears the sound of someone shuffling around on a bed. Slowly making her way towards the door Laurel peeks her head to look inside of the room before her eyes go wide when she sees Thea sleeping on a bed with signs that she was having some kind of nightmare. Quietly opening the rest of the doorway Laurel slowly makes her way over towards the bed before she leans down and whispers into Thea's ear.
" Shhh it's okay Thea. Everything's alright."
Leaning back Laurel watches Thea for the next few seconds slowly drift off into a peaceful state before a smile starts to form on her face. Taking her eyes away from Thea reaching down Laurel grabs a nearby blanket and gently covers Thea before she leans down and gives Thea a kiss on the forehead. Backing away slowly Laurel turns on her heels and leaves the bedroom quietly closing the door behind herself before she slowly starts to explore the apartment once again. As she passes by a room that she guesses is the living room area of the apartment Laurel stops in her tracks when she sees a nightstand near the open doorway that is covered with a few picture frames. Slowly making her way over towards the table a smile forms on Laurel's face when she recognizes a few of the pictures on the table. Especially one picture in particular. A picture of when herself,Oliver,and Thea were younger. A picture of Oliver holding her and Thea as they look towards the camera with a shocked and goofy smile across their faces. A memory of when everything was perfect in the world.
Hearing the sound of movement coming from Thea's bedroom Laurel slowly makes her way out of the living room and back towards the apartment door before she quietly opens and closes the apartment behind herself.
Just a couple of hours later just a few rooftops away from the apartment complex a figure dressed entirely in black could be seen watching over the complex from the shadows. Raising his left arm up towards his face Malcolm can't help but glare down at his arm as the memory of how this situation unfolded in front of him. How he had absolute power. The power of running one of the most power groups in the entire world. Having the power of hundreds of the world's greatest assassins at his disposal. But then it happened. He had to ruin his plan. Oliver Queen. The very same individual that ruined his plan to remake the city as he saw fit so many years ago. A vision that he had been playing for so many years ever since his wife had been killed.
But as the night of The Undertaking had come to an end and he had seen that Oliver had won their encounter he had to replan everything. Had to go back into hiding knowing now that the whole world would be coming after him for what he had attempted to do on this given night. But with every failure came a new opportunity. An opportunity he could use to not only gain him the absolute power that he craved but the bounty on his head by The League of Assassins to disappear. All he needed to do was remain patient and wait for the right opportunity to present itself.
And this opportunity came to him in the form of his daughter. Thea Queen the daughter conceived of a one night stand he had so long ago with Moira Queen. His trump card to unleash his plan. The plan of having his two greatest enemies fight against one another. But he did not expect himself to get weak when it came to his daughter. Over the months he had always made sure to put Thea's safety first. Even if she would never see it that way. He knew that she would always hate him and never see him as a father figure but he was not willing to let her go. Let the last of his blood remain unwatched.
These thoughts are snapped when suddenly Malcolm hears a pair of boots landing on the rooftop he is occupying. Looking away from the apartment complex slowly Malcolm turns around before a shocked look comes across his face when he sees her. Laurel Lance standing before him. The same woman that had died the night he helped sneak the idol into the prison. Something he knew was impossible thanks to Nyssa destroying Lazarus Pit.
" No. It's not possible. I watched you die."
" I've been getting a lot of that of late. Now let's get down to business. I'm willing to make a deal with you. If you promise to scream for me, I will make sure to kill you quickly. Otherwise i'm going to take my sweet time with you."
As he lets out a small laugh Malcolm reaches back and unsheathes his sword before he sees a grin forming on Laurel's face.
" You do realize i was Raus al Ghul right? Even if i wasn't you don't stand a chance against me."
As she sees Malcolm slowly circling around the rooftop Laurel matches his movement before she puts her hands up and waives her fingers at Malcolm.
" Ohhh i'm so scared."
Without taking his eyes off Laurel for a single second Malcolm looks deep into her eyes as he continues to circle around.
" You've changed. You're not the same Laurel, I watched die."
" But you're the same Malcolm Merlyn. The very same that will bow down and beg for mercy from me once again before i rip your throat out. I've killed you once before and i will do it again."
Suddenly Malcolm lunges forward at Laurel with a sword attack the Laurel dodges easily by stepping to the side before just a mere second later Malcolm swings the sword at her again to have the same result. For the next minutes as she times his movement perfectly Laurel continues to dodge Malcolm's sword strikes before she sees an opening presenting itself to her. Timing it just right in a sudden move Laurel sends a spinning kick to Malcolm's side forcing the Dark Archer to take a couple of steps back from the impact.
Looking back up an intense glare forms on Malcolm's face when he sees Laurel waving him over before he lunges back at her with the sword. As he witnesses the same results as before repeating itself with Laurel dodging everyone of his attacks Malcolm's rage slowly starts to build up causing his strikes to lose their accuracy and leaving a few spots exposed. Something that he soon regretted as a minute later once he feels his legs being kicked out from in front of him and the sword that was once in his hands to go flying into the air. As he quickly gets himself back to his feet Malcolm watches the sword quickly fall from the sky into the awaiting arms of Laurel before he takes a couple of steps back just in time to avoid a sword strike from Laurel.
As she swings the sword at Malcolm and watches him quickly dodge every single one of her attacks Laurel slowly times his movements before in a sudden move using her quicker speed she sends a spinning kick to Malcolm's lower back before with a flick of her wrist she sends a sword strike that connects into Malcolm's chest causing the Dark Archer to take a couple of steps back. With a grin forming on her face Laurel watches as Malcolm reaches down towards his cut and brings his hand up to eye level to see his hand partially covered with his own blood before she watches him look towards her with an intense glare. With her eyes never leaving Malcolm for a single second with a flick of her wrist Laurel sends the sword flying off the roof down to the street below before he raises up her hand and motions for Malcolm to bring it causing his glare to intensify.
Once she sees Malcolm lunging forward at her once again Laurel side steps his attack before she slowly starts to get into a rhythm dodging his attacks as she starts her own onslaught unaware that slowly Malcolm is reaching down lower to grab a knife he has hidden away on his right leg. Suddenly as she feels herself being sliced in her right side Laurel jumps back a couple of feet along with Malcolm before she slowly reaches down and finds that Malcolm was able to land a strike to her side with the knife in his hands. As she looks back up to see Malcolm smirking Laurel sends a glare his way before she watches him lunge forward towards her once again with the knife.
Making sure to avoid suffering another wound Laurel watches Malcolm closely as she dodges his strikes. After just a minute of watching him closely a small opening presents itself to her and she capitalizes by sending a vicious kick towards Malcolm's chest causing the Dark Archer to fall to his knees before in a sudden motion she grabs a firm hold of his arm with the knife in it. Without giving him anytime to react Laurel sends all of her body weight down causing Malcolm to scream out in pain as his shoulder dislocates along with ligaments from his arm causing the knife in his hand to drop to the ground below. Rearing back Laurel sends her right knee down that connects into Malcolm's face causing the Dark Archer to roll a couple of feet back as Laurel reaches down and picks up the knife from the ground before in a sudden motion she sends the knife flying through the air that connects straight into Malcolm's throat.
Rising to her feet Laurel slowly makes her way over towards Malcolm as she watches him rip the knife out of his throat and immediately cover his wound with his right hand before he slowly starts to stumble towards the end of the rooftop. As she sees Malcolm stopping at the very end of the roof Laurel comes to an complete stop before she looks Malcolm deep in the eyes.
" You should have screamed."
In a sudden move Laurel takes a step forward and unleashes a sonic scream that sends Malcolm flying off the roof before the sound of glass shattering followed by a car alarm going off echoes through the air. Walking over to the ledge Laurel looks down to see Malcolm laying across a destroyed hood of a car before she slowly turns around and walks away.
Author Notes: Okay this is offically the update until the end of August when the story's poll will close as who the main villain will be for the story as the next chapter will reveal who won. Since Malcolm wasn't going to win i wanted to give everyone here a sneak peak at what's to come for the story. Feel free to review as i love to hear your feedbacks. Thank you to everyone that has been reading this story and have left reviews. For some that have asked Laurel will be getting a costume change in the near future that will resemble the Black Canary costume from the comics.
Pootamis