A/N- I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, or a Happy Holidays. I would also like to thank the Lauriver Discord once again for their advice.
Laurel walked up to Kelso's hospital bed. "Let's start with the obvious. Why would someone want to kill you? Besides the fact that you and your company being parasites that feed on the vulnerable people in The Glades."
"I have no idea. This whole thing is insane." He said, trying to play the innocent victim, he wasn't fooling her.
"Mr. Kelso. Despite what you may have heard, homicides at the hands of strangers are rare." She said, folding her arms and pacing slowly up and down the length of his bed. "So, imagine, despite what the media would have you believe, how rare homicides by bow and arrow are."
"Yeah, the guy is a sicko. A nut case like The Emerald Archer, The Dark Archer, and The Ruby Archers."
He really had no idea who she was. He was trying to garner sympathy with her by unknowingly slandering her fiancé, her sister, and a young man that she now saw as the brother she never had. Her family.
"You're a liar." She said walking closer to him.
He pointed at himself, as he straightened his back against the pillow behind him. "I'm the victim here!" He said glaring at her.
She scoffed, as she took a final step towards his cot. "You're also a witness to a crime and have charges pending for the illicit drugs that were found on your person and in your belongings. So, you better give me something more useful, or as your lawyer. I cannot defend you against obstruction of justice charge if you don't help me, help you."
He smirked, smugly, his victim persona disappeared into a puff of smoke. "I think that I want to talk to my public defender, Thanks."
"Oh really, you want to talk to your lawyer?" Laurel grabbed the man's arm and bent it awkwardly over the railing of the bed. "How's your arm feeling!?" She raised her voice, before bringing her mouth towards his ear, and speaking a low growl; "It hurts, doesn't it, being in pain, being afraid?"
It was a slice of what she has felt since Sara's body was thrown down in front of her and her son. The fear that her family would be targeted by Lacroix. That her baby boy's life would be snuffed out by an arrow before he could walk, or speak. A rogue tear escaped from her eye.
He cried out in pain. "What are you doing?"
She jerked his shoulder while keeping his arm pinned in the awkward comfortable position, causing pain to hoot up and down his arm. "John Burke, and Tim Kaufmann, they were also shot dead with arrows." She then relaxed, her hold without giving leeway. "They're too dead to tell me why. So, you will."
"I can't." He whimpered.
She then slammed his arm back down against the stainless-steel bar of the railing of the bed. Causing him to cry out in pain, the cast on his arm now sporting a dent and a large crack that traveled up and down the arm. "Burke and Kaufmann! What do they have to do with you?"
He was tearing up, at the pain, of his already broken arm being slammed into the steel bar, and his arm held in a painful, awkward position. "We're all working on a deal, but it was supposed to be hush, hush."
She quickly released his arm and watched him cradle it as if it were a newborn baby. "What kind of deal?" She asked in a gentler voice.
"To build an oil pipeline, For ArmerTek…" Before he could continue, she watched helplessly as a black arrow found itself lodged in his chest, and his eyes glassed over. She closed her eyes, and put her hand over her mouth, as she recalled Sara looking eerily similar to the dead man in front of her.
She rushed over to the shattered window, to see the Komodo, on the opposite side of the street on a rooftop. He gave her a mock salute, as he walked off into the darkness.
She was taunting her. And she was going to give him justice. Lex Talionis. An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth.
The team was in The Bunker, talking about ArmerTek industries. A company that she had interned at with Jo. Things were simpler back then, it was just her, and Ted out in the field.
Lately, she had to remind herself that things just seemed better then, and despite the dark cloud that has been following her lately she had things to live for. Ollie, Connor, Speedy, Roy and even her one-person firm.
Thea had taken up the management of Verdant after Oliver had tried to run Queen Consolidated before Isabelle Rochev had taken advantage of Ollie's lack of business knowledge. CNRI had since moved, the new landlord had given the building to house people who had lost their homes, Laurel now often used the empty nightclub in the late morning, early afternoon.
Felicity typed rapidly on the keyboard. "Okay, I just merged all of Lacroix's victims' records. I can now run an algorithm to see who received money from ArmerTek.
Laurel brushed a tendril of hair off of her face. "How long will that take?"
Felicity shrugged. "Not long."
Diggle leaned against one of the tables. "A million to Kelso, one more to Burke. Two more to Kaufmann."'
Felicity continued, explaining that all the funds originated from an ArmerTek subsidiary from Qurac, which possesses the largest untapped oil field on the planet.
Laurel bristled at the mention of the company she interned with; it seemed her past was coming back to bite her in the ass. Even if it did feel like she should feel validated that ArmerTek was up to some shady business deals but she couldn't.
"It seems like ArmerTek was attempting to strike an oil deal."
Laurel clenched her fist. "Someone paid Lacroix to stop it."
Oliver walked closer to Laurel, and gently rubbed her back in small, gentle circles, knowing that she was under a lot of pressure and anxiety. He then spoke, not leaving Laurel's side. "None of that explains Sara."
Laurel turned her head to look at Oliver, whose hand was resting at the small of her back. "She told me that she worked in Qurac."
Roy folded his arms. "You think she brought work home with her, or perhaps work followed her home?
Oliver looked at the monitors, still trying to maintain his rational mind, while desperately trying to comfort his wife-to-be. "Who authorized the payments?"
Felicity brought up a dossier of a man named Tom Weston, a board member of ArmerTek.
"He's Lacroix's next target. What's his location?" He asked, feeling Laurel tense, he had to be ready for a fight. Either in the field or a verbal confrontation with her. He had to prevent her from being reckless in the field. At the same time, he saw Thea, who had sneaked in sometime during their briefing, slowly making her way to the suit displays to prevent Laurel from suiting up.
The monitor then displayed Star City Pledge Event, at Palmertech. He sighed, as he felt Laurel leave his embrace, and march past Thea. He almost took a sigh of relief, until he saw her marching to the cabinets holding pistols.
He quickly followed. "Laurel, where do you think you are going?"
In a blink of an eye, she had pulled out a firearm, and "I'm coming with you, one way or another." She said, glaring at him with a fiery determination.
She shook his head and took the gun from her hands. "Absolutely not."
"The only reason you know how to find him is because of me, not computers, nor tech. Me!"
Oliver squared his shoulders. "You were reckless, Laurel." Why didn't she understand that she had could have been killed, as well as risked exposing herself as a vigilante, or at the very least, could be facing charges and disbarment? She didn't seem to care about her life or realize that her anger was consuming her, and could lead to their son growing up without a mother. "The bastard almost put an arrow in you, Laurel."
He then slammed the Glock on a nearby bench. "If you want to go back in the field, you have to get your head in the game, and be able to keep up with me in a spar, and takedown either Thea or Roy. Until then, grieve for Sara, Laurel. And let me handle this."
He then walked away, but Laurel marched after him, hot on his heels. He sighed, couldn't she just let him do this for her, while she grieved? He is doing his best to help her grieve by trying to solve some of the issues, namely getting justice for Sara and giving Laurel closure.
"Don't tell me to stay put, and think I'll listen. You know me better than that!"
Oliver spun on his heel and walked towards her. "Sara was trained by the greatest killers in human history. Lacroix put her down. So, what do you think he will do to you? You are so consumed with anger and hate that you can't see the danger in front of you!"
"I only care about getting him." She fired back. "He's a threat to our family!"
"And I will." He promised. "I will get him."
"You couldn't before!" It was because of her that he now had a lead on him, her sister's killer. Shouldn't that grant her some benefit of the doubt, along with the training she already possessed? She had beaten Malcolm, so at the very least, she should be able to handle him, if it came to a confrontation.
He took a deep breath, to avoid saying something to her that they would both regrets, in a softer tone of voice Oliver spoke; "I won't let him escape again." He then moved closer to Laurel to squeeze her hand. "I promise."
After Oliver had left, and Diggle and Felicity attempted to ignore the tension by looking at the monitor. Laurel discreetly picked up the pistol and left. She didn't need the gun to make the hitman wish that he had never touched a hair on someone she loved. Even with her cry and skills, her Dad had told her to keep a gun handy in case the plan went sideways.
Dr. Palmer's pledge speech was interrupted when Komodo smashed through a window, sending small shards of glass everywhere around the decorated room from the floor, tables, and even into the platters of hors d'oeuvres, and champagne.
As the mercenary landed, many of the affluent patrons started fleeing the office space that was converted into a function room for the night. Komodo shot a grapple arrow at Tom Weston, the arrow pierced through the man's thigh "Come over here, Weston." He then proceeded to drag Weston, towards him, until a red arrow broke the rope, courtesy of Arsenal, allowing Weston to flee.
Komodo drew an arrow, and aimed Weston again, only to receive a red arrow from Speedy, who then started assisting the evacuation of the patrons who were too scared, or too shocked to flee. And to ensure that all the party members were able to escape and to ensure that the people were safe from any potential back-up plan that this assassin possessed.
Green Arrow then ran up to him and sent several hard strikes with the front of his bow to Komodo. The mercenary dodged a sweep kick and traded several punches to the Green Archer before Arsenal joined in using his Kali sticks to avoid being hit by Komodo's bow.
Eventually, Komodo rolled out rolled away from the archers and dived out the remains of the window, he had entered earlier, and fired a grapple arrow, and swung down to a lower level of the building.
Green Arrow ran over to his quiver, a sprinted to the window, simultaneously while he ordered Arsenal to help Speedy evacuate and ensure that Weston is safe. He then dived out the window, and emulated his foe, by swinging down to the lower level.
Green Arrow, silently swept the dark office room, until he finally caught a glimpse of his target. He hoped that by getting Lacroix, it would give Laurel closure, and he would be able to help her.
He eventually walked down the down to a dead end, he spun around when he heard Komodo's footsteps. Komodo had his bow drawn and aimed at him.
"So, you're the Emerald Archer, and they were you're Ruby Archers? I got to say, I thought you would be taller, more intimidating. Instead, all I got were Robin Hood and his Merry Men rejects."
He had him. Oliver thought. He could finally help Laurel start to grieve for her sister, and they could move with their lives, without the specter of Sara's killer looming over them. They wouldn't have to keep looking over their shoulders to ensure that their family was safe, that this killer wasn't hunting them down. "It's over. Lower your bow, and live."
Komodo scoffed. "We both know that is a lie."
Both archers fired their arrows, which ended up colliding with each other, and harmlessly fell to the wayside.
Komodo quickly pulled out a second arrow and almost instantly fired the arrow at his foe. Green Arrow deftly caught the arrow and fired it back, which pinned Lacroix through the shoulder to the wall behind him.
Green Arrow then marched over to Komodo, and snatched the bow from his hands, and ripped off his black mask. "Who hired you?" He growled.
Lacroix gestured with his head behind Oliver. "Who's the broad?"
Oliver squeezed his eyes shut, and prayed it was Speedy, despite already knowing it was Laurel. She had the gun that she had earlier, aimed at Komodo's head. He slowly took a step towards her, and used his body to shield Lacroix, knowing that Laurel would never shoot him. "You don't want to do this."
"Yes, I do. So, you better move, Robin Hood!"
He had to resist smiling at the nickname; she had used that name whenever she was angry or disappointed in him when they didn't know who was beneath their masks. it eventually became a term of endearment for him, in private or when she was in the field, during The Undertaking.
"Killing him won't bring her back." He said, trying to appeal to her better nature. She was always the better of them. Even his mother had shared that sentiment when he asked his mother for her engagement ring to propose to Laurel.
Her eyes glared at him, before trying to spot an opening to shoot Lacroix, an opening that never appeared, "I know it won't bring her back, she's dead!"
He desperately wanted to lower his hood and pull down his mask so that he could speak to her face to face. "I've stood in your boots. Where you are so consumed with rage that you can hardly breathe. And you think that taking revenge will make it better. But Laurel," He gave her a small shake of his head. "It won't." He bit his lip, before continuing. "It will make it worse; it will consume you."
She shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, he murdered Sara."
He was in some way relieved that in her rage, she had forgotten about cry. He supposed it was a mixture of her not growing up with her powers, and trained without them, and her blind rage forcing her to rely on a firearm, rather than her enhanced ability, or her martial prowess.
"Who's Sara?" Muttered Lacroix from the opposite side of the room.
She took a few large steps towards him, which Oliver quickly moved in front of her, blocking her field of view on Lacroix. "My Sister! You, sick son of a bitch!" She yelled. "Two nights ago, you put an arrow in her chest." She said, blinking to prevent herself from crying. "My baby saw his Aunt fall from the building above us!"
Oliver could hear her unspoken fears, the same ones that he shared. That this man could be targeting his family. His heart thumped against the walls of his chest.
Komodo chuckled. Not seeming to care about the dangerous predicament he found himself in, "Two nights ago..." He grimaced from the arrow pinning him to the wall. "I was drunk off my face in Blüdhaven."
"You're lying." She said with disbelief.
"I'm proud of my work. I wouldn't lie to inflate my tally."
"Big words, when you have a gun to your face!" She snapped back at the incapacitated man.
Oliver took a step towards her, still blocking her view of Lacroix. Laurel didn't deserve blood on her hands. The guilt. "You need to stop and listen to him. Think about your training. Anger doesn't help, take a breath and listen to him."
She shook her head. "No." She said, "No, he killed my sister."
"Laurel, Sara wouldn't…"
She shouted at Oliver, interrupting him. "Don't you dare tell me that this isn't what Sara would have wanted! And don't tell me to think of her, because that's all I have been thinking about, my family!"
He gritted his teeth and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, a gesture that was the polar opposite to what people thought of when they heard the name Green Arrow.
He hated pulling this card, but she had to know what was at stake, "And what about your son, Laurel? What of Connor? What about yourself? Your baby sister? Your fiancé?"
Laurel swore as she shoved the pistol into Oliver's gloved open hand. He then grabbed her hand and gently walked her out of the area.
"We have to go." The Green Arrow said. Laurel nodded, and whispered her assent, and followed him out. It was at that moment, Oliver realized that Laurel was hanging on by a thread, that only he and their family was keeping Laurel from falling into the dark abyss.
The next morning, Oliver got off his phone with Felicity and saw Laurel feeding their son in the highchair. He smiled at the scene before he frowned. Her anger was getting the best of her, and he hoped that she wouldn't snap, if another bad event occurred, with this city, and their luck it was only a matter of time.
"Laurel, they confirmed his alibi. There were two homicides in Blüdhaven that match his M.O. The same night Sara was killed."
She froze, looking at the man that she loved, the man that had prevented her from spending life in jail away from her baby, and what was left of her family. "I almost killed Lacroix."
He took hold of her hands and rubbed her knuckles with his thumbs, not caring about the sticky syrup from the canned peaches that coated her hands. "The only thing that matters is that you didn't."
"Because you were there." She mumbled.
"No, it was because you have a good heart. It is one of the many reasons why I love you, and our life together. You had the strength to resist the temptation." He sighed, and looked at his son who was making a hand-painting with some of the fruit, then back to her. "Pretty Bird, the trail has run cold. And I promise you that I will find whoever did this. I will" He vowed. "But I don't know when."
Laurel blinked away tears and used Connor's bib to clean their son's syrup coated face and hands. After Laurel had cleaned him up, she picked him up and placed him in his playpen. She looked back to see Oliver behind her and felt his arms wrap around her, as they watched Connor play, and babble with the hawk his Aunt gave him before she was killed.
"Okay. Ollie." She whispered and smiled when she felt him kiss her head.
