Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
"You're late." Diggle told Oliver as he and Sara entered.
"It's 12.45, the invitation said one." Sara said.
"We're early. And I'm never early." Oliver protested.
"Yeah, well, the ceremony was at one, photos were at noon." Diggle patted Oliver on his shoulder as they walked down the hall as they saw Henry, Laurel, Nicole and Chloe mingling. "Last time Lyla and I got married, we said our vows on the ATV in Registan desert. This time, we hired a photographer, so, yes, photos."
"Come on, don't blame your best man for being late." Sara pleaded.
"That's alright, we'll photoshop you, guys, later." Diggle assured them.
Then, Ray entered with Felicity as he shook hand with Oliver. "Oliver."
"Palmer." Oliver smiled. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Actually, I called him." Lyla said as she entered. "My friend, Rick, who was supposed to be our officiant, just got deployed to South Sudan."
"You don't have a minister?" Sara demanded.
"I could do it. I'm a minister." Ray volunteered as Oliver, Diggle and Sara stared. "That's why Miss Michaels called me, it's a long story."
As Ray wed Lyla and Diggle and the guests were dancing, Oliver and Sara were looking at each other, smiling. "Ollie… do you ever wonder about our future? I mean, if there was no Arrow or Canary… do you think we could ever…"
Oliver sighed. "Lately, I couldn't stop for a moment to think about it but… I wish we could have all that. But… right now this city needs us."
Sara nodded, looking sad, though. "Maybe it doesn't need only us to save this city. I mean, look at Dig, Roy and Laurel. Henry. Chloe. Everyone."
"You mean you want us to retire?" Oliver asked as Sara sighed.
"All I'm saying is, one day, we're gonna have to stop." Sara said. "I want to be with you… but… I don't want to spend the rest of our lives putting ourselves at risk every day, jumping on rooftops as everything around us explodes."
But then, Sara's, Oliver's, Roy's, Diggle's, Laurel's, Henry's and Chloe's phones went off as they pulled them out from their pockets and all of them saw a news article of the Arrow returning to killing as they looked at each other grimly.
The Lair
Team Arrow, minus Laurel, Lyla and Nyssa were watching the news as Quentin and Laurel were making an announcement at the press conference.
"There were eight victims, all shot with arrows. However, one escaped and has given us a statement, which remains uncorroborated, so we will be looking into it to confirm the legitimacy. This would not be the first time, when a copycat archer has struck in our city." Quentin said.
"And now, I would like to introduce the new chief of police, Eric Needham."
Needham entered onstage as he cleared her throat. "While it is hard to ignore the good the Arrow and the Canary have done for this city, it is equally hard to ignore the fact that in the past, the Arrow and the Canary were responsible for at least twenty deaths and whether they are guilty or not, it is past time these vigilantes have been brought to justice. And Mr. Palmer will provide all of his substantial resources towards apprehending the vigilantes."
Chloe sighed as she turned off the TV and looked at Sara. "Now what? Clearly, he's going to limit your Dad's ability to help us."
"If you didn't kill those people, then who?" Roy asked.
"The League of Assassins." Sara realized. "It cannot have been anyone else. Elian told me that the they have vast resources. And we all should have known that Ra's would not take "no" for an answer."
"He's trying to turn this city against us to force me to take his place." Oliver nodded.
"It is true." Nyssa nodded as she turned to the TV. "I know that man. His name may have been "Eric Needham" a lifetime ago but he works for my father. He's one of his most loyal soldiers. Jazar. The executioner."
"What are we gonna do?" Henry asked.
Oliver turned to Roy and Henry. "Hit the streets, whoever is doing this, he's targeting criminals. We need to know who are they gonna hit next."
"I'll call Dad and Laurel, see if they can tell us anything they can, so we're one step ahead of this Jazar and find the copycat Arrow before he kills more people." Sara suggested.
"How can we help?" Diggle asked.
"Go to Starling City Airport." Oliver ordered the newlyweds.
"Anything?" Oliver asked Chloe.
"Nothing." Chloe sighed before Roy and Henry entered.
"Los Halcones are unloading a huge shipment of narcotics, the entire gang is going to show up for protection." Roy said.
"A good opportunity for the League to frame you again." Henry supplied.
"Let's go." Oliver ordered. "Roy, Laurel, this is the League. You stay here. Nyssa, you're coming with me and Sara."
Roy and Laurel nodded reluctantly.
Later, Starling City
The thugs were filling the teddy bears with drugs before they were shot down by arrows as they fired above at the man disguised as the Arrow, who descended and started shooting down more of the thugs before the real Arrow entered, shooting the copycat in his shoulder but the man was unfazed as he pulled the arrow out.
The Arrow and Canary engaged the copycat as the Arrow forced him to his knees and pulled off his hood as the copycat laughed before two more men disguised as the Arrow entered as the copycat that they had subdued, kicked the Arrow back as the copycats surrounded the vigilantes and Nyssa jumped down from above.
"Enough of this madness!"
"It is the will of Ra's al Ghul." One of the copycats said. "Either you're with us, Nyssa al Ghul, or against us."
"Then I'm against you!" Nyssa snarled as the copycats attacked her, the Arrow and Canary as they blocked and counterattacked and knocked them down.
"You can't kill them all, Oliver." Sarab said as he entered. "Where one falls, two more arrive."
"Maseo…" Oliver growled. "You can't believe in this. Murdering all these people, just to prove a point?!"
"No. To persuade you." Sarab retorted. "My master sees something in you. Don't fight it, embrace it."
"You know me better than that." Oliver shot back.
"Don't let your recalcitrance take any more lives." Sarab said before he did a throwing motion to the ground and an explosion followed as Sarab and the assassins disappeared in the smoke.
Later, the Lair
"Any luck?" Oliver asked as Chloe compared the arrows with the magnifying glass.
"Unfortunately, no. These are exactly the same arrows you use." She sighed. "The League has vast resources, I have to give them that."
Then, Oliver's phone rang. "Oliver Queen? It's Ray Palmer. We need to talk."
Later, Palmer Tech
Oliver entered Ray's office as Ray had unreadable expression on his face. "Palmer, if this is about the job you have offered me, I really don't have the time right…"
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the other job you have." Ray explained. "As a vigilante, you and your girlfriend." He showed Oliver the photos of the Arrow and Canary, except, with Oliver's and Sara's faces as Oliver recognized the place, where they just were.
"What the…"
"I talked to Felicity about your activities at Queen Consolidated two years ago. How you needed her help with a bullet-ridden laptop, when at the same time, a hired gun was after the bidders of Unidac Industries. And… you liquidating the shares of Queen Consolidated, when William Tockman was after the money. It wasn't that hard to put it together." Ray said. "And now you are killing people again. You and your girlfriend. Care to elaborate?"
"You think I'm behind those killings?" Oliver asked, realizing that Ray had him.
"I honestly don't know what to think." Ray said. "But, the Arrow and the Canary have done some good for this city too. So, I ought to give you the benefit of the doubt and listen to you."
Oliver sighed. "Ray… this is going to be hard to explain and you might not believe what I'm about to tell you."
After a few hours of filling Ray in on Lian Yu, Mirakuru and League of Assassins, Ray stared at Oliver. "And you're telling me that this Ra's al Ghul has set you up since he wants you to join his cult of killers?"
Oliver nodded. "Ray, I know how it sounds but I'm telling you the truth. I know you're a good man in your core and I'm asking you to trust me and give the vigilante the benefit of the doubt. Make the right choice, Ray. Please. We're not your enemies."
Ray considered as he looked at Oliver. "How can I trust you?"
"If I was the man the media believe me to be right now, do you think I'd be talking with you right now?" Oliver reasoned as Ray considered.
Later, City Hall
"Mayor, I have it on good authority that he's being set up." Ray said.
"Hold on a second, Ray, now you're telling me you think the Arrow is innocent?" The mayor asked.
"Of these murders, yes, I believe he's being framed." Ray nodded.
"We need to address the media right away." Laurel said.
"And what are we going to tell them, Miss Lance?" Needham scoffed. "That some rich playboy genius has reconsidered his opinion?"
"Well, Chief, tell me, why would the Arrow return to killing spree, when he hasn't dropped a body in almost two years?" Quentin glared at the assassin in disguise.
"Alright, enough, both of you, I am tired of listening…"
Before Mayor Castle could finish, a flying arrow flew through the window, shooting her in the heart as she collapsed to the floor, dead. On the opposite rooftop, Maseo notched another arrow, aiming at Laurel.
Personally, I think the main reason Ray went after Oliver wasn't that he was playing hero, it was that he was jealous of Oliver's close relationship with Felicity, so he was unwilling to believe Oliver but since Oliver and Felicity were not that close in my story collection in here, Ray would in my opinion listen to reason, so no fight between the Arrow and the Atom.
So, what do you guys think about it?
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far.