Darkness. A familiar sight to him almost like an old friend to him. Especially these days. Days where he would hold up inside of his rundown apartment only going out when he needs to. Long and tiring days filled with nothing but misery remembering the days that brought him up to this point. This point of only having the darkness accompany him every single day and night but the darkness that surrounds him now? Something is different about it. Something that doesn't feel comforting. In fact it feels the opposite. A darkness that even as he opens his eyes he finds himself staring at. Finds himself feeling nothing but his hot breath striking him back in the face. A feeling that makes his eyes widen in surprise before they widen even further when he feels something preventing his hands from coming up in front of his face. A feeling making him start to squirm in his seat where he also can feel his legs being prevented from moving forward. A thrashing that draws the attention of another as the sound of heels clanging off what sounds like empty walls is heard until before he knows it Quentin is forced to snap his eyes close as a blinding light hits him square in the face. A light that makes his eyes burn as an unamused scoff is heard directly in front of him making him crack open his eyes finding her standing before him with an emotionless look. A woman that looks down upon him like he is the biggest scum in the world. Looks down upon him like he is the biggest piece of shit in the world and he couldn't blame her.

He had failed her. Plain and simple. He had failed to save her. He had failed to protect his daughter even if she is a daughter from another world. A doppelganger of his Laurel. Of his babygirl. A doppleganger so different from the one of this world. So much more guarded as though trying to protect herself from allowing anyone through the barriers that have come up over the years. Is so much colder to those around her. Even to her allies. A coldness he can feel radiating off her even now. A coldness he can feel when in a flash Quentin's head snaps to the side when he feels her delivering a vicious slap across his face making him taste his own blood. A busted up lip that starts to drip blood to the pavement down below before the feeling of her hot breath breezing the bruised forming across his cheek makes him grimace.

" And to think i was only trying to do the right thing and protect you from Chase and what do i get in return? Only for you to stab me in the back and leave me for dead."

A truth he knew was anything but a lie. He had betrayed her. He had left her for dead when he should have brought her with them. When he should have somehow tried harder to get through to her. Get through to the daughter he knows is there deep inside. This guilt that can be seen in his eyes right now as Laurel leans back and looks down for him expecting for him to defend himself. Expecting him to open his mouth with an excuse already made up. An excuse she would not hear but surprisingly it doesn't come. Instead she just stares down at him silently staring down at her feet. A surprising revelation but no matter. What's done is done only leaving one thing left to do.

" But I forgive you. The past is in the past and I'm not one to hold a grudge….for long."

A statement that he looks up only to grimace in pain when he feels the end of her heel striking him clean in the chest sending him and the chair he is strapped to barreling down to the pavement with a thud. A chair that does not budge as he lands back first with his chest throbbing while Laurel slowly starts to circle around him as though she is stalking a wounded animal.

" But you made me realize something. I still kick myself about it to this day. You may look like him. You may talk like him but you are not my father. You will never be him so thank you. Thank you for attacking me from behind. Thank you for leaving me for dead on that island. If it wasn't for you none of this would even be possible."

Coming to a stop directly in front of him looking down as she sees silent tears trickling down his face letting out a snort with a shake of her head Laurel turns her head to look away and stare straight ahead.

" Like I said, I forgive you. Like I said, I don't hold grudges. Why hold a grudge when I can simply solve the problem myself."

Unable to keep his tears at bay watching her like a hawk as she retreats into the darkness before he can mutter a single word Quentin's eyes widen when the sound of screeching wheels is heard. Wheels coming from an old medical table being steered in his direction with so many familiar contents resting on top. So many full bottles resting on the top. The very same bottles you would find littered across his living room floor if you were to adventure inside. The same bottles he sees Laurel looking down towards with disgust as though picturing his everyday life. A look that turns his way before it disappears into a smirk.

" Why do you look surprised? You shouldn't be. Aren't these the very same good company that you drown your sorrows with every single night?"

Ignoring the way he shakes his head plucking a couple of bottles off from the table lowering herself down so that she is almost eye level with him giving him the best smile she can muster up uncapping the bottle in her right hand without a second thought Laurel leans back and takes a big swig from the bottle before she lowers it down from her lips and lets out a content sigh.

" Ahhh that's the stuff. Nothing like a good drink to drown your sorrows away with."

Nodding her head in approval at the bottle in her hand turning her sights down towards a silently weeping Quentin with her smile remaining across her face Laurel offers the bottle down to him. An offer that is met with a shake of his head making her smile drop before instantly his eyes widen when she grasps his throat tightly in a vice grip.

" That wasn't a request."

Without any warning increasing the pressure on his throat causing his eyes to get even wider with nothing but defiance in them a scowl comes across Laurel's face.

" Open your mouth."

A request she knew he would abide by but no matter. If he wasn't going to freely do as she says then she will make him. Even if it causes him pain. Such pain she can see in his eyes as she increases the grip on his throat. As she sees his face getting darker by the second until he croaks out a gasp as his mouth flies open. An opportunity she doesn't waste as without any delay she pours down the bottle's contents into his waiting mouth. Contents that spill all over as he starts to cough violently from underneath her. Coughing that continues even after the bottle empties before she tosses it away carelessly into the darkness and grabs a hold of a fresh bottle.

" Done so soon? We're only just getting started."


Beep….Beep….Beep….

The only sound filling the room. The only sound echoing off the walls. A sound coming from a nearby machine as a lone occupant occupies the room. A dark room with only the faintest of light coming from the outside world lighting up the room. A beeping that doesn't last for long as the sound of a door silently opening and closing breaks the mood. Breaks the silence as a pair of heels slowly make their way over towards a hospital bed. Make their way towards a sleeping man hooked up to a machine with an oxygen mask covering his face. A sight she can't stand to look at. To see him looking so weak. To see this strong man look so vulnerable. A man Laurel can't keep her eyes off of as she makes her way over to sit in a vacated seat by his bedside. A seat she can only stare at for a brief few moments before changing her course and instead choosing to move around the hospital bed and occupy the vacant space to his right instead. To gently lay her head down on his pillow until they are sharing it.

" Hey, I'm back."

Not daring to move a muscle, remaining content on just remaining perfectly still watching his chest rise up and down as the sound of the machine he is attached to does its job the faintest of smiles comes across Laurel's face. A smile that slowly drops as she takes in everything. Takes in the way he is in a deep sleep. Takes in the way his face is nearly covered up in bandages with only a few spots left untouched. A few spots showing the slightest of burnt skin underneath.

" Everything has been going to plan. I just have a few more loose ends to deal with here and we can leave this city behind us for good."

Scooting over closer to the point where their sides are barely touching reaching out gently Laurel lays her hand down on the side of his face and gently starts to stroke his exposed skin through the bandages.

" I still can't believe all of this has happened. When I heard all the explosions, I thought it was all over. That i was gonna die all alone on that damn island."

She could still remember it like it was yesterday. Explosion one after another erupting all around. How the building she was in began to shake. The terror she felt when she found herself unable to move from the fallen debris that had covered her. Of the roaring flames that were surrounding her with no chance of escaping. Snapping out of her thoughts blinking away the tears that have started to form in her eyes turning her sights back down towards the man laying next to her a faint smile starts to form across Laurel's face.

" But you came like a knight in shining armor. You emerged out of the flames for me."

A moment she would never forget. Never forget how she struggled to break free as the flames got closer and closer. As the rumble of the building coming down echoed in her ears. All until suddenly a figure bursted through the flames making a beeline towards her. A familiar face underneath a familiar emerald hood. A face that made her heart pound so loudly in her chest. Made her feel so relieved as he started removing fallen debris from her allowing her arms to get free. But relief that wouldn't last long. Relief that would turn into horror at what happened next. A thought she can't bear to think about as she once again snaps out of her thoughts with a lone tear trickling down her cheek. A tear she feels making her smile disappear into a scowl before she turns her sights to look back towards him.

" That was so fucking foolish of you. Why would you come back for me when all I've done is caused you trouble?"

She knew she wouldn't get an answer. At least not for a while but why? Why did he come back for her? A question she has often wondered about since that day. Why would he come back for her when all she has done is caused him trouble? When all she has done is threaten not only his life but the lives of the people under his command? An answer she knew deep down inside but would need to hear from his lips themselves. Lips she stares at through his oxygen mask as she scoots closer until their sides are touching before she gently rests her head down on his shoulder and closes her eyes to hide the tears that want to fall.

" You came for me when nobody else would have. Not my allies. Not even my doppelganger of a father. You were the only one and for that i will always be grateful. "

Opening her eyes tilting her head slightly to get a better look at his bandaged face with the hints of a sad smile forming gently Laurel once again starts to stroke his exposed skin. It was now the moment of truth. Better now than never to get it out in the open. To have her intentions heard. Even if he won't register them. Even if he won't remember them.

" I honestly don't know where we go from here. In a sense we're still strangers to each other. We've allowed our pasts to guide us to where we are right now but I know this. I don't want to feel that way. I want to have the life, I always dreamed about having….with you. I want us to grow old together. I want us to have our own little family like we talked about before. I want those things and so much more but not unless you are right there by my side."

Lowering her hand away from his cheek down to the bed to gently grasp a hold of his bandaged hand closing the distance between them leaning up gently Laurel leaves a lingering kiss on his hairline before she pulls back and whispers out.

" Please don't wake up. Not yet. Not until I do what needs to be done."

Silently removing herself from the hospital bed turning on her heels heading for the exit just as she is about to exit the room Laurel stops at the open doorway to take one last glance over her shoulder towards the lone occupant with a sad smile before she quietly exits the room closing the door behind her.