Chapter Fourteen:
They began hesitant strikes gaging each other's strength and looking for weaknesses. Slade in true form decided to attack first and soon had Malcolm scrambling for defense to avoid being struck. Slade was impressed at Malcolm, the man was appearing to run and cower from attack but he was blocking each strike proficiently and his arm acted like steel, barely flinching when struck. The man had been trained by an expert, and was not far from the title himself.
Oliver and Shado noticed too, with Sara beginning to see something wasn't right either.
"Shit," Oliver swore, the rest of the group looked but Shado and Sara remained transfixed on the fight.
"What?" Tommy asked worriedly, concerned for his father.
"Your dad, he's been trained. He's just as good as Slade, maybe better," Oliver stated.
"Are you blind, Slade's beating him up," Lance scoffed.
"Nope, look at him take the hits. Ignore the stupid facial expressions he's pulling. Every time Slade lands a blow, it's like he's hitting a concrete wall or a big tree. Malcolm's arms are not moving from the blows at all, if anything Slade is getting more pain from them than Malcolm is." Oliver pointed out and the rest of the group focused on what Oliver was saying and watched in amazement as Slade struck again and Malcolm's defending arm didn't budge an inch and immediately struck out with a counter blow.
Slade was getting tired, and so decided to use more advanced combinations he had learnt in his later years working for ASIS. Several quick combinations later and Malcolm was thrown to the ground and Oliver quickly took this opportunity to end the match.
"Slade wins," Oliver announced loudly. Slade looked over to Oliver, but Oliver quickly shook his head to tell the man not to argue. It was then the adrenaline began wearing off and he felt the aches throughout his arms and torso. He left Malcolm on the ground and walked over to the kid.
"I have never seen anyone who fights like that," Slade told them all quietly. Slade looked to Shado who gave a brief shake of her head to indicate she did not know either. Malcolm pretended to struggle to his feet and stumble over to the group.
"Thank you for the help," he said sarcastically. Tommy snorted and Malcolm glared at his son.
"It's not nice to be left behind, is it Dad?" Tommy questioned raising an eyebrow in challenge.
"You really need to grow up Tommy," Malcolm told him. Slade bristled along with Tommy and Oliver. Oliver however decided to do something about it and struck his fist out instantly and before Malcolm could even register the fist coming his way, Oliver had struck his right in the nose, breaking it. Blood splattered everywhere but Malcolm did not make a sound, though the majority of the group gasped.
"He did grow up, he stayed like a man even though he was just a kid. He faced the media that hounded us for over that first year you were gone. The media that came back for every anniversary of her death. He is the only one that goes to her grave and puts flowers down. He is the only one that kept your house alive and when the board of Merlyn Global asked him to attend gatherings and balls because you were fuck knows where, he did. The way I see it, he is the man and has been since your wife died. You were the fucking coward who fled with his tail between his legs and left behind your child, who needed you more than ever. And you have no right to mock him or berate him, and if you try it again it won't just be a broken nose you end up with." Oliver growled and Slade nodded his approval and support. Shado and Sara also nodded giving their support to Oliver's words. Thea walked over and stood beside Tommy and was soon joined by Walter, Lance and Joe. Tommy had tears silently running down his face, he was used to having Oliver to rely on, but then he went missing and he was alone again like he was right after his father left him. Now Oliver was back and he had come back with people he had told Tommy were family and they were standing with him like one.
"Thank you," Tommy whispered.
"No worries little brother," Oliver replied with a smile. Slade thought on that and then nodded to himself, which Oliver noticed.
"What are you thinking of now?" Oliver asked.
"Kid," Slade said pointing at Oliver who nodded in response to his nickname, and then he pointed at Tommy, "little brother," he said. Oliver grinned, as did Shado and Sara.
"You're really a part of the family now, if Slade has given you a nickname," Shado told him.
"What are yours then?" Lance asked them.
"Sara is little bird and Thea is Speedy, even if she doesn't like it much. I am still working on the rest," Slade told them.
"Shado doesn't have one?" Tommy asked confused about why he would be given one before Shado.
"I value my life," Slade said simply much to the amusement of the others. While they were laughing, Slade noticed Malcolm slink away, moving with a grace and fluidity that made Slade think that the man was more dangerous than anyone was aware of.