Jacob ran across the rooftop, feet barely making a sound as he went. With a jump and a roll, he vaulted over to the next roof, turning and heading east.
"Why does my hood smell like flowers?" Jacob asked, tapping his chest to activate his comm unit.
"I told you I was going to clean it," Sin laughed, sitting in the chair back at the clock tower.
"What did you use?" he groaned, shaking his head.
"Doesn't matter, shut up and enjoy it," she shot back. "At least it doesn't smell like a burning cat."
"I'm nearing the target's address," he stated, changing the subject.
"The closest opium den is about two blocks to the west," she sighed, taking the hint and dropping it. "Best place to catch him would be the alleyway in between where you are and the den."
"Copy that," he acknowledged, leaning over the ledge and scanning the sidewalk. "Are you sure that's where he'll go?"
"The guy who runs it is notorious," she added continuing on. "Cheapest price, quickest high."
"What's this guy look like again?" he asked, spotting a male figure coming out of the building.
"Uhh," she paused, pulling up the mugshot. "Honestly he looks like a rat. Short, greasy hair, sharp face…"
"I've got him," Jacob confirmed, staring at the man; he indeed looked very rat-like.
Jacob took off across the rooftop, trailing the man as he stumbled and scampered down the street. Spotting the alleyway Sin mentioned, he sprinted off ahead of the man, jumping from the rooftop and catching the fire escape. Regaining his footing, he reached back and grabbed a cable arrow, knocking it and pulling back. A few seconds passed as Jacob waited. Finally the man started to shuffle across the opening in the alleyway. Jacob moved slightly, loosing the arrow. With a snap and a metallic twang, the cables shot out and wrapped the man up.
"Huh?" he gasped slowly, trying to move.
With a tug on the cable, Jacob pulled the man off his feet before snapping his end of the cable around the fire escape pole beside him. He stepped off the railing and fell down towards the street, the cable ripping the man into the air. With a crack, his head hit off the street, leaving a small blood trail behind as he flew. Jacob landed on the bottom of the alleyway, knees groaning in protest as the man's body swung closer.
"Michael Briggs," Jacob called out in his modulated voice.
"Oh shit," he heard the man groan, thrashing wildly in the cables.
Jacob stepped closer, stopping the man from swinging and leaning close.
"You like to beat women?" Jacob asked, looking the man directly in the eyes.
"What're you talking about…." he started before Jacob slammed his fist into his face, nose shattering in a splatter of blood and the crack of bone.
"You like to beat children?" Jacob asked, watching as the man's eyes watered and blood began to pool behind his hands.
Jacob reared back with his leg and slammed his foot directly into the man's balls. The man's hands shot from his nose to radle himself, groaning in pain.
"Holy shit," the guy groaned, eyes watering. "Who the fuck are you?"
"I am the man who gets called to deal with assholes like you," Jacob growled, slamming his fist in the man's gut.
"You think that can stop me?" the man laughed, coughing and sputtering, blood dripping down his face. "The police can't stop me. No one can. You can arrest me, throw me in jail. Nothing sticks!"
"I'm not going to arrest you," Jacob said, walking away, his right hand holding his bow in a death grip.
"I enjoy it," the man laughed. "The stupid bitch and those little shits deserve it."
Jacob stopped, turning on the spot and drawing an arrow. Knocking and pulling back quickly, he sighted in and released in one smooth motion. The arrow struck its target, the man letting a final gasp escape his lips before his body went limp. Jacob turned, leaving the dead body hanging there before climbing up the next building over.
"It's done," Jacob called, tapping his comm. "Let Henry know."
"I heard," Sin replied, her voice coming out as a sigh. "As much as i hate to admit it, the guy had it coming."
He grunted in agreement, stepping onto the roof and heading back towards the tower.
"You should come in," Sin went on. "You have a text from someone named Felicity. Want me to open it?"
"I'm on my way," he stated simply, clicking his comm off.
A few hours later, the red and flashing blue lights of SCPD patrol cards filled both the alleyway and the street outside. Several beat cops created a perimeter, stringing yellow caution tape around the scene. An all black unmarked car pulled up, flipping the siren twice and clearing a hole throughout the crowding media coverage.
Out stepped the Lieutenant, face showing her worries and her brown hair not in her normal style. As she approached the caution tape, she flashed her badge, sending the two closest patrolmen into attention.
"Take it easy boys," she called, waving away the formalities. "Who's running the scene?"
"Detective Heider," they both answered in unison, one pointing over his shoulder.
She nodded, walking past them and heading in the direction the second patrolmen pointed. As she got closer, she saw a black body bag laying in between two detectives, the one to her left sporting a buzz cut head tinted orange.
"Who is this guy?" the first detective asked, shaking his head at the redhead.
"I've seen arrows like this at the Los Harcones crime scenes as well," the redhead muttered, turning the evidence bag over in his hands.
"Maybe the Green Arrow's gone bad? His partner asked.
"Nah, these are black," the redhead muttered, shaking his head. "Those are green."
"Makes sense, but why would there be another archer?"
"Fuck if I know man," the redhead shrugged. "This city is freaking ridiculous."
"Report, gentleman," Lieutenant Drake called, walking closer.
They stood up, spinning around and snapping to attention.
"Single vic," the redhead, Heider, started. "Arrow through the heart. Multiple points of blunt force trauma."
"Do we have an ID on the vic?" she asked, kneeling down beside the body and pulling back the bag slightly.
"One Michael Briggs," Hediers partner read, flipping open a small notepad. "Aged 35, Married, two kids."
"Why does that name sound familiar?" she asked, flipping the bag back over the body.
"He's one of our frequent flyers, Lt," Heider explained. "Been arrested countless times, drugs, domestic issues. Our boys can't seem to get the collar."
"You mentioned an arrow?" she asked, standing up and turning back around to face the detectives. They nodded, one holding up an evidence bag with a black arrow, covered in blood and viscera.
"The M.E pulled it before you got here," the partner mentioned, handing it over.
"And you think it belongs to the Green Arrow?" she asked, looking it over. "You do realize his are Green, right? Like his moniker."
"Yes, mam," they both replied.
"I have seen other arrows like this while working one of the Los Harcones cases, mam," Hedier spoke up. "Maybe there's a copycat? In this town, it's not like it's unheard of."
"Possibly," she muttered, folding the evidence bag over around itself. "Keep me posted, we don't exactly need another vigilante or worse running around this city."
"Yes, mam," they replied again as she turned and walked away.
Walking down the alley, she turned around, digging out her cell phone and snapping a few pictures of the crime scene. She opened her contact list, scrolled down to Felicity's name and dialed her number.
"I've got something I need you to analyze," she started as soon as the call was answered. "Do you have a minute?"
She heard Felicity confirm before hanging up, a glint of metallic green catching her eye at the end of the alleyway. Drawing her sidearm, she headed down in the direction, raising her weapon as she got close. She paused at the corner, back hugging the alley wall. Steadying herself with a breath, she spun around the corner and raised her weapon…
Finding nothing but a vacant alleyway.
"Get a hold of yourself, Di," she sighed, holstering her weapon and turning around.
The man in the Green mask inched over the rooftop, looking down into the alleyway, watching as Dinah muttered to herself and walked back to the crime scene. Turning his head slightly, the scales on his mask caught in the light and gave off a menacing flare before he took off into the night.
Jacob stepped out of the elevator, taking his hood off and throwing it to the table. With an irritated grunt, he sat his bow down and unslung his quiver from around his shoulders.
"The SCPD is all over that body," Sin said quietly from where she sat at the computer.
"I expected as much," he grunted, shrugging off his league jacket.
"I let Henry know," she went on. "He sounded….relieved i guess? Maybe thankful to know it was dealt with."
Jacob grunted again in response, hanging his jacket and turning around, walking over towards the desk for his phone.
"Ya know," she pressed, spinning towards him and looking up. "I could use one of those myself, in case yours isn't around."
"Go buy one," he muttered, bringing up the text from Felicity.
"With what?" she asked, holding up her hands.
Without saying a word, he reached under the workstation and pulled out a small duffel bag, dropping it on her lap. She frowned, opening the bag and eyes growing wide when she saw its contents.
"Where did you get this?" she gasped, rooting through the bag.
"No point in destroying it all," he shrugged. "Some of it should be used for a better purpose."
"But aren't you worried about the Los Harcones finding out?" she asked, hesitating.
"Let them," he shrugged. "It'll save me time tracking them down."
"Are you alright?" she asked, spinning to face him.
"We have a problem," he grunted, reading the text on his phone and frowning.
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking from the phone to his face.
He handed her the phone and turned away in silence. Sin frowned even deeper, looking down at the text.
Camera in Thea's room. Oliver getting closer.
"Oh shit," she muttered, staring down at the text and re reading it. "Dude, I'm sorry, i didn't think…"
"Its fine," he sighed, hands going to his face and hiding his rage for a few seconds. "I don't blame you."
"So what do we do now?" she asked, tapping the screen off.
"Focus on Abernathy," he groaned, turning around to face her. "If Oliver had anything definitive, he'd be here already, chances are he's reaching. Maybe Felicity can slow him down, maybe even put him off our trail."
"I mean like now, now," she insisted, pointing at the clock on the bottom right of the computer monitor. Blinking back up at her was the time: 06:55. "He's going to be on shift in five minutes. You can't exactly go running around in that mask in the daylight."
He sighed, nodding his head till he caught the sigh of his batons out of the corner of his eye. Walking over, he touched them lightly, smiling when the sounds of Sara training him came to mind.
"Take some cash," he told her, turning around. "Get your phone, something to eat and some clothes, you're going to need something to run in."
"What do you mean?" she asked standing up.
"If your ribs feel up to it," he went on. "It's time. We can trail Abernathy and get you trained."
"Fuck yea," she laughed, grabbing money out of the bag. "I'm ready."
"Get to it then," he laughed, smiling before walking over to the wall and setting down to meditate. "I need to rest."
She nodded, tapping a few keys before heading towards the elevator. Stepping inside, she turned to look back, finding Jacob already slowing his breath and relaxing.
Dinah Drake walked into the bunker, the elevator doors sliding shut behind her. Her eyes were filled with exhaustion and a hint of concern as she looked up to find Felicity.
"Is he here yet?" she asked, approaching the blonde as she sat at her computers.
"Shouldn't be far behind you." she answered, looking up quickly.
"Better get to work then." she murmured, pulling the arrow still in the evidence bag out from behind her back. "Take a look at this."
Felicity snatched it up, ripping open the bag and pulling the arrow out. Holding it up to the light hanging above her, she pulled her glasses off and stared at it. After mumbling something to herself, she slid off the chair and walked over to a table with a magnifying glass. Staring at it for a few minutes, she put her glasses back on and looked up at Dinah.
"This looks like one of Olivers..." she muttered quietly, horror spreading across her face.
"See I thought that too," Dinah nodded, frowning. "But it's black, and unless Olivers running around behind everyone's back…"
"Which I'm not," Oliver grumbled, walking up behind the two ladies.
He stepped forwards, looking through the mounted magnifying glass before turning around and walking over to his weapons case. Pulling an arrow from the rack beside his suit, he returned and started comparing the two side by side. With an irritated grunt, he sat both arrows down.
"They're the same," he grunted, turning around and folding his arms.
"How is that possible?" Dinah asked, frowning even deeper now.
"I can't explain it," Oliver replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I could inventory every arrow we have but the answer would still be the same, that's one of ours."
"But again, it's black," she went on. "If they're not trying to frame you, why use one of your arrows?"
"I don't know," Oliver groaned before looking over at Felicity. "What do you think? You've been uncharacteristically quiet."
"Why ask me?" she sputtered, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm as lost in this as you are."
He paused, frowning at her and giving her a strange look.
"Well what we do know is that this same type of arrow was used on several of the Los Harcones scenes," Dinah added. "Possibly the same person who was at the diner?"
"Has to be," Oliver muttered. "Plus they're connected to the League."
"So who do we know that's connected to you, Thea, Los Harcones and can use a bow?"
"Roy? Maybe?" Oliver guessed, shrugging his shoulders.
"Nope," Felicity put in firmly. "He's hiding and living a quiet life out west."
"Do you think ARGUS might be able to help?" Dinah asked, looking at Oliver.
"I doubt it," he replied shaking his head. "This guy hit them as well, with Sara."
"Have you tried talking to her?"
"Tried," Oliver grunted, face instantly going sour. "She knows but won't tell, plus ever since she left, she wont answer her phone."
"So what do we do?" Dinah asked, growing frustrated. "This person is dropping bodies."
"Do we have any info on his victims?" Oliver asked.
"Other than random Los Harcones members, there's only been one," Dinah replied pulling out her cell phone and unlocking it, pulling up crime scene photos. "35 year old male, married, two kids, frequent flyer down at the precinct."
"On what charges?"
"Mostly domestic, some drug related," Dinah went on, clicking the phone screen to lock before putting it back in her pocket. "Possibly related to Los Harcones, but as far as i know it hasn't been confirmed."
"So he's going after criminals," Oliver muttered, scratching his face. "Keep an eye on anything Los Harcones related, maybe we'll get lucky and be able to get a hold of this guy."
"You got it," Dinah nodded. "You have a plan for Thea?"
"We've got that covered," Felicity sighed, getting another strange look from Oliver.
"Then I guess we'll wait," Oliver shrugged.
"You guys can wait," Felicity groaned, looking at the clock. "I want some breakfast."
"I can come with you," Oliver put in, moving towards the elevator.
"No need," she answered, shaking her blonde hair. "I'd like some fresh air, alone."
"Well alright," Oliver grunted, frowning as she walked over towards the elevator and headed up.
"Is she acting funny to you?" he asked Dinah after he was sure Felicity had left.
"No more than normal?" she replied, shaking her head.
"Hmm," he grumbled, folding his arms over his chest again.
Jacobs eyes snapped open, cold sweat clinging to his body and drenching what little clothing he wore. He stood up and stretched, joints and bones popping and permeating the silent air. He walked over to the window, opening it and looking out across the city, finding the sun high in the sky. Shaking his head, he shut the window and walked over to the shower, tossing aside the clothes he wore. Turning the knob marked C, he let the cold water crash over his body, massaging his bruised muscles. After a few minutes, he heard the elevator hum, opening once it reached the top. He looked over, seeing Sin step out, several bags filled with clothing and her other hand holding what he only guessed was food.
"Figured you were hungry," she called, holding up the bag as she entered.
He nodded, shutting off the water as he wrapped a towel around his waist. Stepping out, he watched as she pulled out several pieces of clothing, setting them out on the table in stacks. She turned around, seeing him pad over in nothing but a towel before fishing out a silver roll from the bag. Chucking it at him, she turned around and continued pulling out food.
"What's this?" he asked, partially unwrapping the roll and taking a whiff.
"Korean tacos," she answered, setting out three more rolls. "High protein, great for before a workout I hear."
He pulled the foil free, finding three stuffed tortillas side by side before taking a big bite. The Asian spices exploded into his mouth, causing him to sigh.
"Not bad," he mumbled, chewing before taking another bite.
"Cant have burgers all the time," she laughed, biting into her own roll.
He snorted behind his own meal, too busy devouring it.
"What's all this?" he asked after a few mouthfuls, waving a hand at the clothes piles.
"For me," she pointed at one stack, then another. "For you. All you wear anymore is that hood and that jacket."
"Not true," he argued through yet another mouthful of food, pointing at the motorcycle jacket and Rockets hat.
"You need to blend in better," she insisted, picking up a black shirt and jeans, throwing them at him. "Dress like a normal person and not an assassin."
"Been a long time since I've been normal," he grunted, catching the pair.
"Gotta start sometime," she shot back.
"Can you even run in that?" he asked, ignoring her comment as she held up a dark purple and black set of what looked like spandex shirts with accompanying running pants.
"It'll be a whole lot more comfortable than running in this," she replied, holding up her spiked leather jacket.
"Won't offer up much protection," he grunted, touching the material. "But i guess it'll do for now."
"So when do we start?" she asked.
"Get dressed," he grinned, grabbing his own pants and pulling them on.
She grinned wide, ditching her jacket on the chair in front of her and wasting no time wiping her shirt up and over her head.
"You might want to take those out," Jacob said, pointing out her bright silver nipple piercings.
"Ah damn, " she sighed, flinging her shirt on top of her jacket and looking down. After a few minutes of fiddling and several winces, she managed to extract both bars, leaving her breasts slightly pink. "Was fun while it lasted."
"Better to take them out now, then have them ripped out in a fight or get them snagged on anything," Jacob put in.
"Yea, I know," she sighed again, looking down at her breasts. "They just look so plain now."
He laughed, turning around to pick up the practice sticks as she grumpily slipped on a sports bra out of her pile and slipped on her shirt. Turning back to face her, he tossed two of the four sticks at her, watching as one tumbled to the ground. The clatter of bamboo filled the air as she blushed.
"Tomorrow you'll catch it," Jacob replied sternly. "Pick it up."
Sin frowned, slowly reaching down to pick it up as Jacob dashed in and swung across his chest with his right hand. Barely managing to react in time, Sin raised her own right handed stick, getting it knocked free. Jacobs' strike continued on, slamming into her arm as she tilted sideways. She let out a yep as the stick left a stinging red mark, rolling from her momentum and raising both sticks.
"What the hell man?!" she yelped, trying to stand up. "I wasn't ready."
"Do you think an enemy will wait for you to be ready?" he asked her, taking another step forward. "You should have been practicing."
He took another step forwards, throwing his left stick out and across, aiming to catch her right stick. She bobbled her block, raising her arm too high and catching the strike on her lower elbow, gasping in pain. Jacob showed no mercy, swinging hard and dashed in with his right to hit the same spot. She gasped again, sticks starting to fall as Jacob switched direction and caught her in the legs with both sticks. Sin hit the floor with a grunt, rolling over in pain.
"Goddammit," she groaned, trying to sit up but falling.
"You need to learn," Jacob stated, crouching down to look directly into her eyes. "Pain is always the best teacher. When Sara first taught me, she had knocked me into the dirt and unconscious several times before I learned."
"Is that where you got all those scars?" she asked, rubbing her lower elbow.
"Some of them," he grinned, recalling Sara's first lessons. "Now get up."
She grunted in response, groaning as she stood and faced him.
"Good," he said, tucking both of his sticks under his left arm. "Show me your stance."
She nodded, spreading her feet slightly and tucking her left stick under her right arm, her right resting just above her shoulder.
"Now, first strike, left hand," he called.
With a little wobble, she swung her left hand across her chest, ending up above her left shoulder.
"Good, now the right."
Again, she followed through, her right handed stick resting under her left arm.
"Again, but reverse, right then left."
This time, her swings were more confident, striking through the center cleanly and without wobble.
"Now, meet my strikes and try to keep it going," he instructed, resuming his own stance.
She had barely nodded before his left stick shot out from under his right arm, rocketing through the air before she met it in the center with one of her own. He grinned, swinging with his right. It too was met in the center as he continued the pattern. For a few strikes she managed to keep up, each strike being blocked with a crack filling the air. Jacob grinned, increasing the pace with each swing until she faltered, missing a connecting strike. With a quick twist, Jacob angled his strike, hitting her twice in rapid succession in the side before sweeping both sticks under her legs, sending her sprawling onto the floor. With a grunt and a clatter of sticks, she hit the ground and stayed there.
Sighing to himself, he knelt down and checked her pulse. Alive, just unconscious, he thought, standing up and fetching a canteen from under the desk. Uncorking the lid, he looked inside. With a little swish, he saw pieces of herbs floating inside, taking a drink from it. Grimacing at the taste, he sat it beside the unconscious Sin before setting the sticks to his side and sitting cross legged in front of her.