Seven

Sophia knew that she had to do it this way and it was a big risk but she didn't think that Malcolm would actually kill her. She kept her hood up thanking the stars that it was a long enough hood to cover her face and she took a deep breath keeping out all her thoughts. She had trained by Talia and she knew that to defeat an enemy didn't necessarily mean being stronger than them but smarter. Sophia knew that Malcolm would hear her coming so surprise wouldn't really be an advantage but she would have to do her best. She crept up to the mansion using the code that Tommy had given to her to get past and silently made her way inside. She was thankful that Oliver had taken Tommy out with him because she didn't know if she was up to making excuses with him.

"You know you're good," Malcolm's voice said as she turned the corner to find him standing there looking at her expectantly, "I see from the hood that you were trained by the League."

"The League has a warning," she spoke in Arabic using the voice modifier to make sure he didn't recognize her, "Stop your plans or your son pays the consequences."

"Ra's Al Ghul should know not to threaten a man's family," the older Merlyn said his eyes turning angry and colder if that was possible.

Sophia hated that she had to use that warning but it was an order from Talia. The warning though had given her insight to Malcolm and it told her that he was still capable of love and would do anything to keep his child safe. She stood waiting ready and saw his move coming. He threw a knife her way and she moved to the side. She had just enough time to turn when a punch was thrown at her and she ducked down in time. She kept avoiding everything he threw at her waiting for him to make a mistake smirking when he seemed to slow down. He brought out another knife and swung it at her but missed as she slide down under his arm quickly standing to bring her leg back and kick the back of his knee. It brought him down and she used this momentum to continue her assault. She knocked him to his knees and turned wrapping an arm around his neck. Seeing that he wasn't going to give up she sighed and brought two fingers together she hit the pressure point in his neck. It paralyzed him and unless she fixed it in a matter of three minutes he would stay that way. She threw him to the ground, putting her foot to his throat and took her hood off to reveal exactly who she was seeing the surprise on his face.

"I could care less what your plans are but when my best friend and mentor calls me to tell me that if I don't stop you Tommy pays the price I listen," Sophia growled out, "Ra's doesn't interfere but if you do this it won't be you that pays the price. If I have to kill you to save Tommy I will. You have a week to decide or you die. Oh and I wouldn't test me Malcolm because you may have been trained by the League but I was trained by one of the only people to ever defeat Ra's Al Ghul."

Sophia hit the pressure point and moved quickly out of the mansion. Malcolm wouldn't recover quickly but she wasn't going to take a chance with him. She had meant what she said because as much as she didn't want to kill Malcolm she also wouldn't let Tommy pay for the sins of his father. She got into her car and stepped on the gas wanting to get out of there quick. She looked down at her phone and smiled when she saw a text from Tommy wishing her a good night. Maybe all of this would be worth it if it meant saving his life.

~Rogue: Origins~

2010

Sophia groaned as she came to and tensed as she remembered what had happened. If she had known that saving somebody's life would lead to this she still would have done it but would have calculated for it or tried to anyway. She looked and saw that she was in a room and then narrowed her eyes when she saw the woman from before. She jumped up ignoring the pain in her head and swung at the woman getting a punch in before she was grabbed by two hooded men wondering where they came from.

"You always seem to bring home the most interesting pets," a voice spoke.

"I like her father and she did save my life," the woman spoke her dark eyes menacing.

"You know if you wanted to give me a gift you could have thought of something better than knocking me out and kidnapping me," Sophia said struggling and elbowing one in the ribs which made his hold loosen slightly but not enough for her to get away.

"You have pain child," the man said stepping closer to her making her freeze.

Sophia found herself looking into his grey eyes and there was something in them that demanded power and respect. The way he held himself told her of how dangerous he truly was and it scared her. She froze tensing completely as he grasped her chin in his hands and looked directly into her green eyes. She wondered how he was able to see all her pain but it seemed nobody else could.

"I've learned life is pain and there's nothing you can do to change it," she told him boldly glaring at him.

"Child I like the fire in your eyes," the man said smirking at you, "I am Ra's Al Ghul and I have a proposition for you."

Sophia shook her head as she tried not to think of the past and focused instead on getting the club ready. The contractors were being a pain in her ass and she tried her best not to growl at the one standing in front of her. He was smirking at her like he held all the power and she took a deep breath counting to twenty in her head so she didn't lose her cool. She had just opened her mouth to say something when he stopped seeing a certain someone walk through the door.

"Mark Samuels," Malcolm Merlyn's voice greeted as he walked to stand beside her and Sophia put on a smile so the contractor didn't see the way she really felt.

"Malcolm Merlyn I was just having a talk with Ms. Queen here," the sniveling man said with a sneer, "It seems she takes after her mother in thinking that being kind and polite will get you everything."

Sophia muttered under her breath quickly calling him a stupid big and she heard Malcolm laugh knowing it wasn't because of what Mark said but what she had said. She kept the smile on her face because otherwise she was going to reach over and snap this man's neck. Out of the two of them she would rather deal with Malcolm because at least she somewhat knew what to expect from him. An arm wrapped around her shoulder bringing her close to the older man and she relaxed because it didn't feel like a threatening hug as she tried to remain calm.

"I do admire that about her," Malcolm said wanting to put an arrow in Mark, "She also makes my son very happy something I have not seen in many years. I think you understand the importance of family Mark."

"Of course Mr. Merlyn I will take care of everything as soon as I can," the man said suddenly acting like a whimpering child.

"Fucking dumbass," Sophia stated harshly pulling away from Malcolm and turning to face the man.

"It seems Sophia that those years away were not spent on just school," Malcolm told her a smirk on his face like he respected her and she held back from rolling her eyes.

"Saving the life of Talia Al Ghul apparently leads to being trained by the League of Assassins though she is a little messed up in the head," Sophia told crossing her arms, "She likes me and for a while there Ra's thought she would make me her pet but that didn't happen. Now how about we stop with this small talk because how I came to train isn't important. What is important is that they will kill Tommy if you don't stop. So tell me what the hell it is your planning and I will think about not ending your life."

"I plan to avenge my wife by leveling the Glades," Malcolm told her admiring the strength she showed and the way she seemed to be ready for just about anything.

"So you think that is the solution?" the blonde asked thinking of the people she knew in the Glades and the lives that would be destroyed.

"Yes I do. The Glades is filled with poisoned scum who let Rebecca bleed out on the street. The killer was never caught because the police is so incompetent," he said angry his words harsh.

"Okay," she told him, "Follow me."

Malcolm narrowed his eyes as she grabbed her keys and bag. He was intrigued by her seeing a kindred spirit and hated that he had to kill Robert. He wondered if she would be so willing to give him a chance had she known. She turned her green eyes to look at him expectantly and he sighed figuring he might as well follow her. If anything he could just move her out of play until the Undertaking happened since he refused to kill her. He wasn't going to be moved from his course or so he thought. Little did he know that what Sophia was about to show him was going to change things?