Chapter 8: Destiny
Sorry for the delay in writing a new chapter! Should be back to normal speed from now on!
Things between Oliver and Felicity have become increasingly complicated lately, but what could possibly make things worse?
Enjoy and can't wait to hear your feedback!
'So I've upgraded our security systems and I'm also looking into getting my hands on some of Star Labs latest inventions. Might come in handy. I think Laurel might be able to convince Cisco.' Felicity said with a small laugh as she walked as fast as she could to keep in pace with them.
Oliver unlocked and opened the door to Verdant and held it open for the others.
Felicity continued babbling on about some sort of prototype security system she was working on not even lifting her eyes from her tablet, while Roy looked at her semi-buffled, semi-amused.
He had kept his promise since that night. He had tried to apologise, yes, but Felicity had cut him off every single time, not really letting him say anything at all. And it wasn't like he would have really meant it even if he had. Truthfully, he found it offensive; the idea of him apologising for kissing her.
So mostly he had left her alone (or if he was being honest she was avoiding being left alone with him, making sure to leave early enough from the lair to not run that risk). In so many ways, where they were now was similar to the first couple of years of their relationship, it was awkward at times, comfortable at others and the spark was still there, but they both tried to pretend that it wasn't.
'So by enabling the new system to generate…' she continued her explanations of the changes she was making in preparation of having to face an attack from Ra's and Oliver snapped out of his thoughts. It still didn't sit right with him – letting them take the fall with him, but he had started to come to terms with the fact that they made their own choices.
'Fe Li Ci Ty ' He finally interrupted her in his usual, a bit exasperated manner, as he keyed in the code for the door of the lair. His eyes found hers and he let himself sink into their deep blue depths for a second, before pulling himself back and holding the door open for them.
He motioned for her to go inside and she walked ahead, not saying a word as she descended the stairs infront of him. Her heels clicked loudly on the concrete floor as she made her way towards her computers.
'In English' he added finally and he could see that she smiled in a way that told him that she loved that he had to ask for an explanation.
'It means even if he has cyber ninjas, they won't be able to get within 100 feet of the foundry without all my security sys…' she suddenly stopped and froze on the spot and he looked up to see what was wrong.
'Well, it might be a bit too late now.' Felicity finally said and he felt his muscles tense at her words, ready to jump into action.
The lair was quiet as always.
In the middle of the room, on the table there was a note pierced through by a small sharp knife, making it stick to the table.
He moved swiftly infront of her, covering her small body with his and motioning for her to stay still. A quick glance around him told him that everything else seemed to be undisturbed and that no one was lurking in the shadows.
Roy had taken a defensive stance when he had seen him stiffen and was moving sideways to do a thorough check of the lair.
He clenched his teeth as he slowly made his way towards the note. He placed his fingers firmly around the knife and he could feel the small intricate pattern of the hilt before pulling it off and taking the note. A small hole was left on the table where he pulled it out. The texture of the note was rough, parchment; he could feel it with his calloused fingers. His heart sank, because even if he had dared to have hopes about whom this was from, he knew who would use this type of paper in a heart bit.
He unfolded the parchment and he saw writing in black ink on it.
'Your new home is awaiting for you my heir. Do not disrespect me any longer.' It read and he felt his heart sink further into his stomach.
Roy was finishing making a round of the lair as he looked up and he nodded at him briefly when he said 'Everything seems clear'.
They didn't need to take anything. Message was clear enough.
Soon, his hand fell to his side and he stared up into nothingness, his eyes unfocused as he worried his way through all possible scenarios that could play out.
Felicity had moved quietly to his side, reading the note by scooting down and looking at it sideways before carefully pulling it out of his grasp.
Roy looked at the note too over her shoulder and turned to look at both of them a questioning look on his face.
He could feel his muscles tense.
It was time.
He knew they were waiting for him. Waiting to take him back with them.
Things had been quiet for long enough.
He knew what he had to do.
He had to stop this before it got to far.
'Roy' he said simply as he moved swiftly towards the glass display holding his hood and the young man understood immediately his intentions, also moving towards the display holding his own suit.
It didn't take long for them to get ready. Years of practice meant they had perfected every single movement.
He grabbed his bow and quiver from the display and walked swiftly towards the stairs.
'Call Diggle. Tell him its started. He'll know where to go.' He said turning to Felicity who was still standing at the same spot. Her eyes seemed to be glazed over and he was unsure that she had heard him.
'Fe…' he started again and he saw her jump slightly and a resolute look take over her face.
'I'm on it' she said simply before walking towards her computers and he longed for the days were she would come over and tell him to be careful.
'I know what to do' she said as she sat at her chair interrupting his thoughts 'Go!' and hesitantly she added 'And Oliver?' turning around briefly.
'Be careful, I know.' He replied back.
She just couldn't help herself could she? And he felt that he loved her just a tiny bit more in that moment (if that was even possible).
He nodded looking determined for her sake but he felt his blood boil beneath the surface. He ran outside towards his bike and Roy followed suit.
He gritted his teeth and tried not to let himself worry about her too. She was safe here. She was her own person as she saw often pointed out to him and made her own decisions– and she chose to stay. It was time he learned that. And he knew that she was a strong and very very smart woman (he could and should never forget that). She could hold her own if she had to.
He revved his bike as he raced across the city with the sun setting behind him.
He knew it wouldn't be hard to find them; they still used the smoke signals the league used centuries ago, refusing to participate in society's increasing use of technology.
He cursed under his breath as he raced through traffic lights, keeping his comm off on purpose. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and Felicity's voice in his ear didn't help with his concentration.
He knew this was coming, but he couldn't believe it was happening now with Diggle's wedding coming up in a few days. His friends deserved to celebrate their day. He had to stop this before it escalated, else they'd all be in danger. But he knew Ra's al Ghul wouldn't be a man to give up easily.
He was soon close enough at the origin of the smoke. He stopped a couple of blocks away to be able to see the area from a distance, and turned his comm on.
Diggle's voice came loud and clear in his ear soon after and Roy checked in not long after that.
He climbed up the building closer to him. He knew the others were close, surrounding the area, they stated their positions as they approached. Felicity would have called Laurel when they had left and told her to meet them as well. He still hated she got involved but he was trying to get used to it. They had enough to worry about as it was. He hoped that Thea was safe at the club at least.
The moment he stepped on the rooftop he could feel the shadows shift and he knew the men of the league were there. He knew Diggle had a clear shot with the sniper rifle from across the street and was waiting for signs of trouble.
A man stepped forward from the shadows just as Roy and Laurel stepped on the roof on either side of him.
'Warith al Ghul.' He greeted him and Oliver could feel a snarl almost escape his lips. He hated that name.
'Come. Ra's is waiting for you' the man continued and he could see others out of the corners of his eyes surround them.
'That will not be happening.' He replied as calmly as he could, his hand twitching, ready to grab an arrow out of his quiver.
He was trying desperately to keep his cool, but as soon as the first man struck on Laurel's site, he could feel all the energy rise up to the surface and spill out.
If that was how they wanted to do it, then he'd have no choice but to fight for his freedom.
He took three men out easily, hitting two of them with his bow before they saw him coming. The third had been harder to take out, having to engage in hand-to-hand combat with him.
A thin film of sweat was covering his face and throat soon after. He felt a small gasp behind him, turning around to see a man fall to the ground; blood spilling out as Diggle chuckled in his ear saying 'You are welcome'.
Roy was fighting two men at the same time and had blood spilling out of the side of his mouth. The league's men, unlike previous opponents the young man had faced, were more than skilled in combat.
Laurel seemed to have it worse though, she was even less trained, though some of the moves she was using were the League's – her 'secret' training with Nyssa hadn't gone unnoticed.
A man hit her hard and she lost her balance falling on one knee. In a second he had taken out the man and saw Diggle take one approaching behind Laurel, before he turned round and taking out the two men that were coming for him.
Another man tried to pierce him with his blade and he stopped him with his quiver, placing it infront of him. The sound it made when it came in contact with the blade resonated on the walls around them. He raised the quiver again and hit the man hard with it on the back and he fell to the floor. Just as he raised it again to hit him one last time, he noticed a man standing further back that had not moved at all.
He hit the man on the ground as he tried to stab his foot and he ran towards the man standing semi-hidden in the darkness, another one of the league's men running behind him in the darkness. He was probably their leader.
What a strange sight they made, fighting on the rooftops of a city that didn't even know most of them existed and wouldn't even believe it if they saw them.
He placed an arrow on his quiver and aimed on the move, shooting, before turning and hitting the man behind him with it. When he had turned to look back at the man he was still standing at the same spot, unaffected, and his arrow was lying broken on the floor by his side.
He aimed again but the man deflected the arrow in a move so fast he barely caught it. When he reached him he hit him hard, in an attempt to take him out quickly, but the man was fast. He moved a split second before his arm made contact and fought back easily and with skill. Their movements matched and they danced engaged in combat around the roof, others fighting around them. Oliver kicked him hard with his left leg, making him almost fall, but the man regained his footing and hit him on the head, making him stagger instead, his vision turning dark.
He was good. He was more than good. He had to up his game.
The man had pulled his sword out of its sheath now and Oliver had to fall back not to get stabbed, pulling his quiver up to use as a shield. His quiver could only protect him for so long, but the others around him were still trying to stop the last remaining men and Diggle wouldn't have a shot anymore – not where they were standing.
As the man moved forward again he shifted his weight to his right leg, but he wasn't fast enough and the man's sword caught his bicep. He winced, but when the man's sword came towards him again he was determined. He let him get close and grabbed the blade with his bare hand. He could feel his skin break, but did not let go and he pulled hard, while at the same time kicking the man hard on the left shin. His move was successful and he was able to pull the sword out of the man's grasp, turning it round and placing it on the man's neck before he was able to get away.
'I will say this once. I will not be coming with you. Now leave me alone' he said, accentuating every word with as much hate as he could.
The man tried to move, not saying anything back and Oliver tightened his grip and forced him down a bit more, making the man's mask fall back and illuminating his face with light from the streets.
He knew the man under the hood.
'Maseo' he breathed and his grip relaxed slightly, but not enough for the other man to escape.
'Stop fighting Warith al Ghul' he said to him and Oliver's gaze hardened at the name he used.
'Ra's al Ghul always gets what he wants. Stop fighting and come peacefully, before it's too late.'
'Is that a threat Maseo?' he spat, vile rising. 'I don't take threats well! The debt has been repaid! Leave and don't come back.' He finished letting go of the other man and taking a step back, dropping his sword on the floor.
'You did not die as you were supposed to.' Maseo continued calmly.
'Who's fault is that?' Oliver retaliated. 'Is that what you saved me for? I'd rather you had let me die then.'
'You are meant to be the next Ra's. It's time you face your destiny.' Maseo insisted, picking up his sword, but making no attempt to fight him.
'I don't believe in destiny, Maseo.'
The other man laughed coldly, before taking a step back towards the edge of the roof.
'It's time you start. For all your sakes.' he said finally, pulling his hood up and jumping off the roof by taking a step back, his eyes never leaving Oliver's.
His men followed suit, stepping off into nothingness.
By the time Oliver had looked over the edge, there was no one there. Blood trickled down his face from the gush on his forehead as Roy and Laurel stood by his side, looking at him quietly, Maseo's warning still echoing in his ears.
This was not good.