Oliver's POV

His bag was quickly packed with his essentials. Ra's was taking the initiates to a city four hours away. They would be doing a training there.

The training was a game of tag between initiates and mentors. Count on each side would be counted. Goal was to act completely normal and to not to be noticed; either by their mentor or by civilians.

Morris Panov would be heading with them as support. Oliver knew part of it was because of his mental state.

So far he had become better about his nightmares. They no longer woke everyone up. Though trying to wake him was still a taboo. That was left to Panov or Al Owal.

The two of them kept him grounded. Oliver was beginning to calm and have less episodes. His swordsmanship was still well below the others. He spent all of his extra time practicing.

In his extra practices he always felt as if he was being watched. Ra's scent always lingering. Though he never saw the older assassin.

It was disconcerting that the man could hide so well. Throwing Delta off his game was no easy task. Even the Medusan in him was uneasy.

Zach however thrived. He was well accepted by the assassins. He truly seemed happy and slowly the darkness had begun to recede.

Oliver doubted that he would leave in five months time. He had nothing to go back to. Oliver however had sworn to his family that he would return. Return he would if only for them.

With his bag packed he slung it over a shoulder and headed out of his room. Waiting outside was Zach with a similar bag.

They followed at the back of the pack of initiates. The others were talking about what their mentors were teaching them. From what he could tell most of them were stuck in archery and were struggling.

His own archery was refined by Al Owal. Both he and Zach were improving daily. In their practices Oliver had begun to notice that they weren't alone. With their respective mentors there was at least one other. Who it was he didn't know. Their scent was hidden and they stay in the shadows.

They walked a mile towards the airfield. There a cargo plane was waiting for them. Being the last ones on they found their mentors at the front of the plane.

They were immediately separated hwoever. Zach was sent to the front of the plane Al Thi'b. Al Owal had had him sit next to Panov.

The doctor watched him carefully. It wasn't with suspicion or anger. Just the same gentleness that the omega always gave off. Their journey was made in a stony silence.

Al Owal seemed to be meditating next to him. Oliver tried to follow his lead but as usual the omega's mind refused to silence. With his eyes closed he allowed his mind to wander he remembered.

Flashback

Madness. The explosions were all around him now, blinding, deafening, punctuated by ear-splitting screeches from the jungle that erupted with each detonation. The jungle! Tam Quan! The wet, hot stench was everywhere, but they had reached it!

The base camp was theirs! An explosion to his left; he could see it! High above the ground, suspended between two trees, the spikes of a bamboo cage. The figure inside was moving. He was alive! Get to him, reach him! A cry came from his right.

Breathing, coughing in the smoke, a man was limping toward the dense underbrush, a rifle in his hand. It was him, the blond hair caught in the light, a foot broken from a parachute jump.

The bastard! A piece of filth who had trained with them, studied the maps with them, flown north with them … all the time springing a trap on them! A traitor with a radio who told the enemy exactly where to look in that impenetrable jungle that was Tam Quan.

It was Bourne! Jason Bourne. Traitor, garbage! Get him! Don't let him reach others! Kill him! Kill Jason Bourne! He is your enemy! Fire! He did not fall! The head that had been blown apart was still there. Coming toward him! What was happening? Madness. Tam Quan...

End of flashback

He sat straight up his eyes searching the plane frantically. Where was he? Where was his team?

A warm hand touched his shoulder drawing him out of the memory. Looking over he met the hazel eyes of Panov. Taking several deep breaths he calmed himself.

Panov whispered in his gentle tones, "Are you okay?"

Oliver responded gruffly, "Just bad memories."

Panov didn't say anything instead just leaned his shoulder against Oliver's. The man's warmth chased away his own darkness.

The younger omega shot him a grateful look. Then he turned his attentions back inwards. This darkness could be beat. He was strong enough to beat to it with help.

So much had changed since he returned. Everything he had known about himself was a lie. Robert Queen was not his father. His father was not dead. Malcolm Merlyn was his father.

In the time he spent at Nanda Parbat he had time to consider this. Robert Queen was the man who he thought was his father. Robert had treated him like a son until Oliver presented.

At first Robert simply ignored him. He didnt show the boy Oliver had been an ounce of kindness. When he did go for any kind of acknowledgement or love he was beaten.

Oliver learned at a young age how to hide his pain. When he was offered a family that accepted him for who he was he readily accepted. Which led him into Medusa breaking apart his humanity.

When he came back he found out about Malcom. His father was cold but warm at the same time. Without his help Zach would have died.

There wasn't enough time for Oliver to decide how he felt about the man. Al Saher was a legend in Nanda Parbat. No one cared that he was the man's son. It was one of the few places where lineage meant nothing. Skill and loyalty meant everything.

His thoughts were interrupted by the plane landing. As the last one in he was the first one out.

All the initiates stood next to their mentors as Ra's addressed them, "Today each of you are to blend into the city crowd. Leave all weapons on the plane including knives. This is not a combat exercise. This is an exercise in stealth and blending. The one who tags the most mentors and avoids being tagged the most receive a reward. Good luck initiates. I'll be watching."

Under Al Owal's watchful eye Oliver left all of his weapons. If he was honest he felt vulnerable without his weapons. He trusted the League to watch his back. Just as they were trusting him to watch Al Owal's and the other mentor's.

This wasn't just a test of ability but a test of trust. Oliver was determined to pass it with flying colors.

Once they were all disarmed and in civilian attire they drove to the city. Oliver immediately fell back into old habits. He blended straight into the crowd.