I'm going all WestAllen and Lauriver in this chapter. A little romance is always welcome, isn't it?
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"... there are much worse games to play." - Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
Team Arrow return to the Arrow Cave. Thea, Roy, Diggle, and Felicity were still trying to process Laurel's return in their head.
"So, uh, how can we be sure that she's the real Laurel?" asked Felicity.
"Go ahead. Ask me anything," dared Laurel.
Thea started. "When was the first time you called me, 'Speedy'?"
"Your 12th Birthday Party," answered Laurel.
Thea smiled and gave Laurel a hug.
"It is you," said Thea happily.
"Nice to be back," said Laurel.
Next, it was Roy's turn. "What did I leave behind when I stole Thea's purse?"
"Your wallet chain," answered Laurel.
Roy smiled.
Diggle takes his turn. "Your first injury out there on the field?"
"A knife to the left shoulder," answered Laurel.
"Welcome back, Laurel," replied Diggle with a smile.
Felicity speaks up. "So, uh, hate to break up the happy moment, but what exactly happened back there?"
"Prometheus wasn't there," said Oliver. "Caitlin was."
"She is? Then why do you and Laurel look like you're A-OK?" asked Felicity.
"She wasn't there to fight. She was there to give us vital information on Prometheus," said Laurel.
"But she's working with him," said Felicity.
"No, Prometheus is just another pawn in her game," said Oliver.
"What did she tell you?" asked Curtis.
"Prometheus' identity," answered Oliver. "Adrian Chase."
Once again, Team Arrow is in a current state of shock and surprise.
"That son of a gun," cursed Rene.
"Yup, that pretty much covers it," commented Felicity.
"Infiltrating the government like that, putting highest level next to Oliver, we underestimated this guy," added Diggle.
"I underestimated him," said Oliver, a part of him still couldn't accept this fact. "I trusted him."
"We should go to Pike. Tell him Adrian is the Throwing Star Killer," said Thea.
"Won't do us any good without evidence," said Roy.
"We'll handle Chase in the morning. Right now, we all need to rest," said Oliver.
"Between the impeachment, Vigilante, and Laurel, it's been a hell of the last two days," said Thea.
The next morning, back in Central City, in the West household, Barry was sitting on the couch, feeling depressed. He wasn't gonna be alone for long. Someone was knocking a the door. He answers the door and sees Iris.
"Hi," greeted Iris.
"Hey," greeted Barry.
"You were supposed to meet me at Jitters half an hour ago," said Iris.
Barry slaps his forehead. "Oh my god. I forgot."
"Any particular reason why?" asked Iris.
"It's gonna sound like a lame excuse," said Barry.
"Barry, just tell me," said Iris.
"I... I didn't sleep well last night," said Barry.
"Nightmares?" guessed Iris.
Barry nods. "Yeah."
"Is it about Patty? Harry?" asked Iris.
"I know what you're gonna say. I shouldn't blame myself. But Iris, they're gone and I can't just forget about that," said Barry.
Iris sighs. "Let's sit down."
Barry and Iris sit down on the couch.
"Now, I'm not mad. I understand," said Iris. "To see them die right in front of you... it must be difficult."
"Every night, I wake up screaming every time I see it happen all over again in my head," said Barry sadly.
"Barry, I know you miss them, but you can't let what happened to them haunt you for the rest of your life. It's what Caitlin wants," said Iris. "She's trying to break you, make you feel hopeless. She knows that a guilt-ridden Flash can't save the city."
Barry stayed silent. He continues to hang his head in sadness.
"Barry, remember what you said when I told you that I'm a useless member on Team Flash?" started Iris.
"I told you that that's not true," said Barry.
"You said that you need me," reminded Iris. "Right now, you need me to remind you that you're not alone."
"I know I'm not," said Barry.
"No, you don't," said Iris. "Barry, you think that you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone. That's not true. Wally. Jesse. Cisco. HR. My dad. We're all bearing the weight on our shoulders as well. I know you feel responsible for Patty and Harry, but you should think about what they would want you to do. They would want you to keep fighting."
"That seems to be all I've been doing these past three years," said Barry.
"That's exactly what you do when you fight crime," stated Iris.
"But this isn't just any criminal. It's Caitlin," reminded Barry.
"Barry, we all want her back, but after everything that's happened, I think we can all agree that we can't play nice with her anymore," said Iris. "After all, she stopped playing nice with us."
"She's just playing with us. Period," added Barry.
"Speaking of playing, you wanna hit the bowling alley later?" asked Iris.
"That would be nice," said Barry, smiling.
"There it is. There's that smile," said Iris.
"You always know how to make me smile," said Barry.
Iris leans in and gives Barry a kiss. Barry kisses her back. Joe was walking down the stairs only to see his daughter and adopted son have a "session" on the couch. He decided not to say a word and walks quietly to the kitchen.
Back in Star City, Oliver returns to the Arrow Cave to see Laurel staring at the Black Canary display.
"You know I walked in here one day to see you at this exact same position," mentioned Oliver.
"Only you figured out it was Black Siren," finished Laurel. "I can't believe you haven't found someone to put on the mask."
"I know. I made you a promise, but I haven't delivered," said Oliver. "It's just... with everything that's going on with Prometheus, my mind was somewhere else."
"And...?" Laurel was expecting more.
"I guess I just couldn't bring myself to pick someone to replace you," said Oliver.
"I wasn't asking you to replace me. I was asking you to pick someone to take the mantle," said Laurel.
"But now you're home," said Oliver. "Maybe I won't have to pick someone else."
"Oliver, I would love to, but you told the entire city who I am," said Laurel.
"I thought you were dead and I didn't want Evelyn's action to tarnish your memory," said Oliver. "But by telling everyone, they know that you're a hero."
"But the Green Arrow is public enemy number one, again. I'm not sure working alongside you is going to help the Black Canary's status," said Laurel.
"It was the only option I had," said Oliver.
"And that was brave of you," said Laurel. "But we're gonna fight to restore your status as Star City's guardian. Taking down Chase is the first step."
"What about you? After we're done with Chase, are you gonna think about taking back the mantle of the Black Canary?" asked Oliver.
Laurel didn't speak for a few seconds. Oliver can guess that she needs more time to think about it.
"Laurel, remember what you told me before the promise?" asked Oliver.
"I do. I wished you and Felicity would get back together," said Laurel. "Though it seemed like your chances are out the window. She found Billy. You found Susan. But it didn't work out for both of you."
"And you were wrong," said Oliver.
Laurel looks at Oliver.
"Felicity is not the love of my life. It's you. It's always been you. No matter who I'm with, you'll always be the one, Laurel," said Oliver.
Laurel smiled.
"Are you trying to take me back, Mr. Queen?" asked Laurel flirtatiously.
"Laurel, the minute I realized you were alive, the first thing that popped in my head was to start over," said Oliver. "I know it may be too soon, but I don't know if I want to wait anymore. I don't want to waste this oppor..."
Laurel cuts off Oliver by crashing her lips into his. Oliver wasted no time kissing back. What started as a gentle kiss turned into a make-out session. Felicity comes in from the elevator, only to walk in on Oliver and Laurel's little "session". They were too caught up in the moment to hear come in. Felicity takes out her phone and takes a picture.
A romantic chapter never hurt anyone, right? Don't worry. The action will be coming soon. I just hope this was touching enough.
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