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Oliver couldn't stop thinking about what their conversation had led to as Laurel took the chance to drive him back to the parking lot of Queen Consolidated. They had mostly been quiet the drive there, and he rightfully couldn't bring himself to say anything as he looked out the window. Of everyone, she was the one he couldn't handle lying to. It hurt lying to her the most, only because he wanted to be completely honest with her as to who he was.

"So... how's your father?" he asked, finally tired of the silence.

"Depends on the hour and day, I suppose. The majority of the time he's still angry, with nothing but hatred towards you over what happened to Sara. It's not just that, though... when Sara died, Dad dived into his work to find a way out of his suffering. I suppose, that's partially why I became an attorney, is because Dad went to the law, and I followed. Mom couldn't, and she ended up leaving Dad, and me. He's not just angry about Sara, but he also partially holds you responsible I think for their marriage falling apart." she explained, not looking towards him as Oliver blinked with surprise, having not known about Laurel's mother.

"I, I had no idea."

"Imagine how he must have felt when you came back from the island, Ollie. I mean, the guy who in his eyes essentially killed his daughter, comes back from the dead, and she's not there. I honestly think had he seen you within those first twenty four hours of being back from the island, he might have actually shot you."

"I suppose it's a good thing I didn't get kidnapped right away," Oliver laughed sourly. "He doesn't have an opinion on Harry yet, does he?"

"What do you mean?"

"One minute it seems like he hates Harry just as much as me, and then other times it's like Harry's a friend of his. I don't know what to make of it."

"You've rubbed off on Harry, that's why Dad seems to hate him sometimes, because the way Harry talks, and acts... is a lot like you. The times where you're not there and Harry actually talks to him, Dad gets to see through that side."

"Oh, is that right?"

"I think Dad even talked about how Harry's a good kid, just needs to get away from Queen." Laurel chuckled, making Oliver laugh as well. "That's high praise from Dad, by the way."

"The only praise I got from your Dad was when I didn't get arrested for a month straight."

"You mean, the month after Dad had to be the one to arrest you because you peed on the other cop?"

"I was drunk, and did not know that he was there, okay?"

"Ollie, you even said... 'Hi, Mr. Lance... what are you doing here... this douche over here is saying I'm intoxicated!' He explained it to me in high detail. I'm pretty sure Tommy recorded it too." Laurel acknowledged, making Oliver shrug with a sly smile.

"Hey, it's not my fault I thought the one cop was a fire hydrant for a bit." Oliver explained. Laurel raised an eyebrow in confusion and looked at him with the most bewildered face Oliver had ever seen.

"So, you peed on a cop, that you thought was a fire hydrant, like a dog? Ollie, that's horrible."

"I did have a bit too much to drink, I will admit."

"That's a bit of an understatement," Laurel said with a sigh. "Dad does seem to care about Harry, though. How is he? I haven't seen him around much the past couple weeks."

"He's been working with the club's construction a lot, and working on a passion project he's been starting on ever since we were first in the Glades."

"Passion project? Consider me interested."

"Ask Harry, he'll be happy to explain what's he doing."

"You're not even gonna give me a hint?"

"Okay," Oliver relented as he was a bit excited to hear about Harry's project the other day. "According to Harry he wants to provide new forms of income, and help with the growing crime scene. One of his outlets is going to be creating a home for some of the homeless and low-income class. Honestly, I think Harry should become a humanitarian with that goal," he joked, amused by the thought of the Red Arrow, the demonic archer known around the world being a humanitarian. Hell, it would be a perfect cover.

"Hmm, looks like he is different than you in one way..."

"What's that?" Oliver asked.

"He's not selfish like you are..." she sighed, and Laurel was one hundred percent right in that statement. He was selfish, in the past, perhaps... but now he was actually fighting to save the city and protect innocent people. He even had plans at the Research and Development department of the company. Having done some studying in his free time about everything he could possibly get his hands on, Oliver was starting to have a better fundamental grasp of what he wanted to focus on. Even when he first got back from the island three months ago with Harry, Oliver had taken to his room to study as much as he could, and now his bookshelves were packed with medical books, things related to energy, electricity, chemistry, and many more that he couldn't even think about at the moment. Then at the Lair he also had some books on magic he was reading. Currently he was reading on something that could make the Arrows' suits far more lightweight and durable than their current suits and possibly make it to where they could possibly conceal their suits underneath their regular clothes. It would make things certainly easier.

"You're right, Laurel... he's a far better man than I am."

"The Oliver I knew before he went missing, he was a selfish man. The Oliver that's come back from Lian Yu, now... that's hard to say just yet." Laurel sighed, as Oliver saw the company's building come into view.

"I don't think that's going to change too much."

The clanging of the wooden batons echoed throughout the Lair as Oliver, Harry, and Diggle fought each other in a sparring match, and to Oliver's surprise, Diggle was managing to keep up even with Harry using more of his actual strength than normal.

"So," Diggle breathed out as he blocked one of Oliver's attacks. "Board meeting, how'd... it go?"

"Not as bad as I thought, you know?" Oliver responded easily without skipping a breath making Diggle raise his eyebrows in shock.

"How, how can you talk... so easily while doing this?"

"Trust me, you get used to it." Harry laughed as he rolled out of the way, hitting Oliver in the back of the leg and knocking him to the ground. Before Oliver hit the ground, the archer put his hands down, pushing himself into the air and kicked Harry in the face knocking him out of the 'ring.' "Oh that was a cheap shot."

"You know that didn't hurt."

"Doesn't mean that wasn't cheap." Harry rubbed his face with annoyance as he stood up, while Hermione watched amused. "What are you smiling about?"

"It's refreshing to see you smiling all the time. Broody Potter is not the one I signed up for."

"Well, Broody Potter is the one who saves people."

"No, Harry Potter... is the one who saves lives. Broody Potter is just the one who doesn't know which color of black matches that crimson red of your suit best." Hermione chuckled, making Harry roll his eyes.

"If anyone, I think my friend might have me beat there," Harry smiled, thinking of the Devil Bat of Gotham and how he seemed even more dark and brooding than Harry was.

"And pray tell, who is this friend of your's?" Hermione asked as Oliver groaned in the background, having been hit in the jaw by the baton. Audibly they could both hear Oliver say 'no, that was a cheap shot!' as Diggle just swung his batons around with a smile on his face.

'Nice to see that smug smile of your's get wiped off finally.'

'Dig, I only smile because I like the competition. And you're getting better.'

'Still, you're an asshole when you're winning.'

'Blame it on Harry, he's always beating me.'

"I have a reason for why I win, it's because I'm stronger, and more experienced than you!" Harry called out towards his brother with a smile. "I hold back when I fight you, Ollie!"

"YOU'RE NOT HELPING!" Oliver hissed as he dodged an attack from Diggle, while hearing the bodyguard laugh.

"Was I supposed to be? I'm confused." Harry raised an eyebrow, turning back towards Hermione. "I'm not telling you."

"Oh come on! Don't leave me hanging," she gave him puppy eyes, but thankfully Harry had learned to be not phased by that.

"Sorry, 'Mione, it's not gonna happen anytime soon."

Hermione frowned in defeat while the teen sat down beside her, and leaned back in the chair. "You know, it's been interesting since I joined," she admitted, smiling at the sight of Oliver getting a hit in on Diggle. "I don't think I've been this happy in a long time, Harry."

"Well, I don't think Oliver's been this happy in a long time either, EVEN THOUGH DIGGLE'S WINNING!"

'He's not winning!' Oliver called from the sparring mat. Harry chuckled lightly before turning back towards Hermione,

"But in all honesty, things have been good with you here. Makes things a bit interesting around here."

With Hermione and Diggle here, it had made for an interesting dynamic. Oliver was suddenly able to make jokes about who was the better fighter between the three of them, there were inside jokes that only the four of them understood, and more importantly it didn't feel like they were just working together, it actually kinda felt like they were a family in a way.

"Just like when we were kids, right?" Hermione poked him, gaining a laugh from him.

"Oh yeah, we were definitely a band of vigilantes that fought their foes with bows and arrows... just like when we were kids."

"I meant being like a family."

"Even when I was there at the school, Hermione, I never felt like I belonged, not entirely. This, this is where I feel like I belong."

In the fluorescent orange hallway, Drakon stepped into view, with a bald man walking behind him. Electrical burn scars ran up along the right side of his face, and his one eye was a milky haze. Drakon was wearing body armor underneath his jacket and smiled lightly while tugging at the knives in his pocket. He would be ready this time, there was no losing to the Red Arrow, Harry Potter... whatever his name might be. Their last fight had ended only because Red brought out that hidden strength. It had scared him off at the moment but he had vowed to come back and kill him.

It had been so long since he had an actual challenge that he was thrown for a loop when it finally got to him. A sense of fear actually filled his body for once in his life. Drakon had never been afraid, he was always confident, and yet... here he was, nervous about going up against the Red Arrow. It was an exhilarating sensation, to know for once in his life he felt an emotion unlike any other, one that made him feel like he had a stake in this battle.

The Red Arrow was holding back, even when he threw that punch that nearly took off Drakon's head. He knew it, he had heard what he apparently did to Bane in Gotham, and now the rumors of the mystical or supernatural properties he now exhibited. It made Drakon practically jump with excitement at the thought of facing off against it.

"You irritate me," growled the bald man, to which Drakon shook his head in response. "Why you bring me for this 'red arrow' character?"

"He's something else... you'll see it soon enough. I need you."

"We shall see about that." the man named Lester Buchinsky groaned. "I'm-a kill you if this-a trick."

"Shut up you idiot, you'll see tonight."

Harry entered the Manor and saw Thea typing away on her phone on the steps, a dumb smile on her face as his phone buzzed, giving him an idea of who she was contacting. "You know, it's rude to text someone when they're right in front of you."

Thea jerked with surprise at the sound of his voice and smiled while getting to her feet. "Well, if you had answered my call in the first place I wouldn't have texted you."

"Isn't there a whole thing about not texting and driving, Ms. Queen?" Harry mused as Thea rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh sure, you and Oliver are such upstanding citizens of the law."

"Yeah, I am at least. I don't drink and drive like your brother tends to do. There was also the urinating on that cop too when he got arrested."

Thea smiled at that, noticing how Harry's go-to-thing was to bring up the urinating on a cop situation whenever he and Oliver were compared. "You're never going to let him live that one down, are you?"

"Oh, not as long as I live." he admitted, while stepping next to her. He brought her into a hug, making her raise an eyebrow at him.

"Someone's a bit happy," she looked at him, before gasping. "Please tell me you finally got laid. I can't imagine you being a virgin still after being off the island for three months."

"No, I did not have sex, Speedy." he rolled his eyes while looking at his phone and saw the message from her was of a baby dressed up in a Red Arrow outfit, which made him chuckle but also think about the nightmare that would be a toddler version of himself, still fighting crime. THAT WOULD BE HORRIFYING. "God, they're making costumes of them, now?"

"Just one of the supporters. According to the original post on twitter, that baby just so happened to be saved by him a few weeks ago, and the mother made it as a way to show thanks."

Harry nodded, feeling a tiny bit of pride knowing he had saved that child, but also a little bit of horror at the thought of somebody making a child a Red Arrow costume. He wasn't someone to dress up as for Halloween.

"I don't know if Red would be flattered or horrified."

"If he's horrified by that, then the guy has more problems than just being crazy enough to go out in a costume and fight crime."

Oh if you only knew the half of it, Speedy.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" she asked, making him form a sly smile.

"You just did, but if you wanna ask another one, go ahead."

Thea groaned at the comment, rolling her eyes before crossing her arms. "Cute. It's really adorable, honestly." Harry smiled at her, his eyes moving towards the window, noticing far off in the treeline, making him tilt his head in confusion. The air he could taste the electricity building, like a large electric power source was nearby, and getting closer. His body felt like it was on fire, and it was screaming at him that something bad was coming. "What I wanted to ask, is if you think you could help me tomorrow with phase one of our plan to get Ollie and Laurel back together."

"I, uh, I don't think I have anything to do, so I should be able to help," he replied, half-focused on the movement in the trees. The lights disappeared, and Harry's hands wrapped gingerly around Thea's arms, making her raise an eyebrow at him with reddened cheeks.

"Everything okay, Castaway? Please, tell me you're not planning on kissing me right now." Thea asked, blushing. Harry's eyes grew wide as he saw the silhouette of a person flying towards the nearby window. Immediately, he brought her close to his chest, spinning her around as the glass shattered causing Thea to scream, and as he looked back, the horror and anger that mixed at the sight of who it was made him pull Thea closer.

"Hey, Red..." Drakon greeted with a twisted smile, standing up as Thea looked at Harry with confusion then at the man who just broke into their home. "I never would have thought in my life that the Red Arrow was just some kid off of an island, but then again... the Red Arrow wasn't on the island the entire five years, was he?"

"Harry, what's he talking about?" Thea asked, the fear in her voice evident by the shaky tone. She was quivering underneath his touch, and Harry wanted to do nothing else but get her away from the assassin.

"Who's this, your girlfriend?" Drakon asked, coyly, eyeing the youngest Queen as Harry gritted his teeth. "Thea Queen, I presume. Ooh, this is a complication. Guess we'll have to kill her, too, can't have any witnesses after all."

"Wait, we?" Harry asked, looking rather angry, as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and something hard hit him in the back, ripping him away from Thea and throwing him across the room as electricity surged through his body. He hit the floor as a white glow illuminated the room, and he could see standing above Thea was a bald man with a strange device on his back that led to large mechanical gloves, glistening with electricity.

"This is why you-a wanted me? This little pipsqueak? You must be losing your touch, Drakon."

Thea couldn't speak as she looked at Harry, whose entire demeanor had changed from anger to suddenly being perfectly calm, but his face showed contempt while he climbed to his feet, slowly stretching out his body to get rid of the tension from the electricity.

"So, it's you..." Harry muttered under his breath, recognizing the device the man was wearing. They were shock gloves, used by an assassin called The Electrocutioner.

"Don't worry, Red... we don't have to think about your pal in the green hood ruining the party... you're alone and have no way to call for help."

Heh, I don't need help, Drakon. I need to get you two away from Thea, but without revealing who I really am, even with them calling me the Red Arrow in front of her. If I don't use my strength or any magic, I can write it off as a misunderstanding. I'm gonna have to take some blows and struggle my way through this, and just hope like hell that Oliver or Diggle shows up, and not Moira and Walter.

Harry clenched his fists tightly, and took in a deep breath. "I don't suppose you guys want to take this outside, do you?"

"Oh no, and let her get away?" Drakon smiled, pulling out a knife from the inside of his jacket. "Come on, Red... aren't you going to fight back?"

"Harry, what's going on? Who are they, and why do they think you're the Red Arrow?" Thea asked, confused and worried, her attention darting back and forth between Harry and the looming Electrocutioner.

"I'm calling your boyfriend the Red Arrow because that's who he is. Think about it, it makes sense. Harry Potter comes to Starling City after being stranded on an island for five years, and at the same time, the Red Arrow shows up. That's one hell of a coincidence, don't you think? Oh, and before I forget about it, the Magician sends his regards, Red."

Fuck...

"Magician? What the hell are you talking about? I'm not the Red Arrow, you lunatic. You've got the wrong guy," Harry questioned, hoping he didn't sound like he was lying.

"Don't try to deny it, kid... it just makes you look pathetic."

"We just-a gonna stand here or are we gonna kill him?" Electrocutioner asked, causing Harry to prepare himself.

"Yeah, you're right... better to finish this now, that way the rest of the family don't get involved."

Thea's eyes met Harry's, and in that moment, Harry decided that he wasn't going to care about whether his identity was revealed or not, he had to protect her. "You kill the girl, I'll keep him busy."

The Electrocutioner smiled menacingly, only to see Harry suddenly appear in front of Drakon, his fist colliding with the assassin's jaw, knocking him back into a cabinet. Harry spun, grabbing a vase and threw it at the Electrocutioner. Thea covered her face as the vase shattered against his face, and before she could even breathe, Harry was pulling her to her feet, her hands fumbling as she grasped at his sleeves.

"Go!"

"What about you?" Thea asked in a panic as Harry held her face.

"I'll be fine, Speedy. Go!" He ordered, making Thea freeze for a second before running upstairs, as he turned to see both of the assassins recovering and looked at him with malice.

Meanwhile

Might it had been another day, Oliver would have gone home with Harry instead of going with Diggle to get a bite to eat before retiring to the Manor. It had been a good day, after all, what with there being practically no targets to go after. All was quiet, and the team had decided to not have the Hood and the Red Arrow go out and patrol. Oliver finished his drink and sighed, leaning back in the seat as Diggle smiled, looking forward towards the road. "So, how's it feel to be a proper member of Queen Consolidated now?"

"Boring... but, it's a nice change of pace compared to being shot at every night."

"Here I was thinking that maybe Harry and you get off on being shot at."

"Maybe Harry, but not me." Oliver smiled, while Diggle laughed at his comment.

"Have you heard some of the stuff Harry says when he goes into the field? I think he might."

It was true there were moments where Harry seemed to enjoy what he was doing a tiny bit more than he should have, but Harry had explicitly said he never liked what he did. Oliver believed him, for the most part.

"How come Harry wanted to go home so early?" Diggle inquired, to which Oliver shrugged. "Really, Harry tells you practically everything."

"Harry doesn't tell me everything, Dig. Would you believe me if I told you I don't know where he was for a year? He doesn't even tell me anything about when he was gone unless it involves Natalie. In fact, I never knew her name until she showed up at our door after he was kidnapped."

"Strange, even for Harry."

"Believe me, Dig, I know it far too well. He's always been a bit secretive with things like that, though. Even on the island, when he first got that tatau, he wouldn't tell me where he got it, or why he knew there was a red hood hidden underneath a waterfall waiting for him."

A lot of things that happened with Harry just don't add up, he's never been willing to tell me the full truth unless it was absolutely necessary. He won't tell me much about the tatau's origin, or who it was that kidnapped him. I just wish he would trust me with that.

Oliver felt his stomach tighten up out of nowhere, and somehow he just knew something was wrong at the Manor. "Dig, step on it. I think something's wrong."

Diggle didn't even question it as he hit the gas.

Harry's face was covered in cuts as he went crashing into the staircase, electricity surging through his body. His arms were locked up and he couldn't move as he saw Electrocutioner wipe the blood off of his lip. "For a pipsqueak you got some strength, you-a know that?"

"S-stop... calling me, a pipsqueak." Harry groaned as he used some of his magic to remove the effects of the electricity. He grabbed the rail and pulled himself to his feet as Drakon launched towards him, hitting him in the jaw. Harry went tumbling to the floor, watching as Drakon stepped over him.

"Now, go find the girl, and kill her."

Electrocutioner nodded, running up the stairs, while Harry growled and punched Drakon in the groin, causing the assassin to stumble backwards enough for the teen to get to his feet and run upstairs after Electrocutioner.

"Where you at, girly..."

Thea was hiding in a closet, holding her mouth closed so she didn't make a noise as she heard Electrocutioner's steps getting close. "Come out, and I'll make it quick, I promise."

She saw his outline step in front of the doors, and drew in a deep breath. Electrocutioner went to open the door, but Harry came out of nowhere, tackling him out of the way. Thea sprung into action, racing out of the closet and watched as Harry exchanged blows with Electrocutioner, being blasted in his face with an electric punch, throwing him into the wall. Blood dripped out of his mouth as he recovered, twitching from the shock. "Speedy, r-run..."

Ollie, where you at? I need you, now... I can't reveal who I am. Need, need a distraction. Something to where I can get Thea to safety and draw them away. C-can't, let her get hurt.

Harry coughed hard, reaching for the nearest table, and spun, smashing it against Electrocutioner's back as he tried to get up. Thea began to move, but was met by Drakon at the stairs, gaining Harry's attention.

Drakon pulled a gun out from behind his back, making Thea gasp in horror and Harry rush to his feet. "THEA!" he screamed as he bolted forward, using inhuman speed to do so, covering the ground as quickly as he could.

Everything seemed to freeze as he suddenly heard Oliver's voice appear in the background, screaming Thea's name, and as he raced to get in front of Thea, he heard the gunshot go off...

"NO!"