Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN: Thanks again tuning in to see who the mysterious visitor is and why they are there. Thank you again for all the reviews and follows/favs. Always, always appreciated!
Previously:
Diggle arrived at the lair only to hear Felicity mumbling and cursing under her breath. "You haven't found anything?"
Diggle jumped as Felicity flung the pen in her hand across the lair. He didn't know if she had aimed for anything in particular. The pen landed harmlessly in the middle of the work-out area. "No, not a thing. I couldn't follow where they took him. I lost the van transporting them to who-knows-where before they got very far from the place he left the crooks."
Suddenly a voice not usually heard in the Lair interrupted the teammates
Felicity shrieked and Diggle turned, gun drawn, only to meet Malcolm Merlyn walking calmly out of the shadow of the lair. Their visitor continued to walk toward them, seemingly not surprised nor offended by their reactions.
"We really need to improve our security," Felicity mumbled as she leaned towards Dig.
"Well, I guess I should apologize, Ms. Smoak, but I do believe the information I have to share will make up for any discomfort you may experience with my appearance."
"I'm not sure about that." At Dig's slight intake of surprise, Felicity said, "No, I will not apologize for my statement." Glaring at Malcolm, she demanded, "What do you know? And why should we believe you?"
Malcolm casually strode over to the desk and sat down in the remaining chair next to the other two. "Well, as you know, I don't lack for my share of enemies."
"Color me shocked," Felicity mumbled, meeting Dig's eyes without remorse.
Malcolm raised an eye brow at Dig, who solemnly remained silent. Malcolm shrugged. "You see, there's a powerful group which has remained hidden all these years. Neither of you were around years ago after my wife died, but I asked them to help me deal with my grief. With my actions regarding the Undertaking, I…I went back on my word to them. They…um…they placed a death threat upon me because of that."
"Can't imagine why."
Malcolm shot Felicity an angry look. "I'd appreciate it greatly, Ms. Smoak, if you will stop making such comments. Such interruptions will only lengthen my stay, something I'm sure you don't want."
Felicity had the grace to look ashamed, with a touch of pink coloring her face. She looked down and nodded, biting her lip.
"Anyway, Merlyn, thanks for bringing us up to date, but we know about the League of Assassins. What does this have to do with Oliver?" Diggle asked.
"Because Oliver prevented Nyssa from taking me back with her to Nanda Parbat to be punished for my so-called sins, Ra's has returned personally to inflict revenge upon Oliver because what he sees is insubordination for interfering in League matters."
"What?" Felicity asked. "That seems totally stupid. It doesn't make sense, for a legendary leader of a supposedly mythical group to travel thousands of miles to bicker about Oliver not believing in your guilt."
"If I were you, I'd worry if we'll be able to find Oliver alive at all, whether there'll be anything left to rescue. And not the logic of one seeking to punish Oliver for his supposed sins."
Felicity gasped, and Diggle appeared shocked by Malcolm's pointed reply as well. He asked in a strained voice, "What do you mean? That they would…they'd torture him? But why? He was only protecting someone he believed was innocent, something that should be admired. He never meant to offend anyone."
"They are an ancient civilization. One in whose existence you yourself didn't believe, did you, John? You're such a practical man, and yet you're being introduced to things beyond this world. People whose ideals are different from yours, whose beliefs go back centuries."
"How does that matter?"
"It matters because that is the belief which exists within the League, why Oliver is facing such a danger. Why we must find him as soon as possible. Before it means his death."
Diggle, being a practical man, asked, "Do we have any hope in rescuing Oliver, if this guy Ra's is here with a small army? Or if Ra's is such a great and powerful ruler, like you say?"
Malcolm nodded his admiration for such an appropriate question. "You're correct, John. Ra's did arrive with a small army. One which I believe, however, we can extract Oliver from, with a well-executed plan Because the soldiers who accompanied Ra's are not his usual bodyguards."
"What about Nyssa? Could we contact her, see if she would help us?" Felicity asked.
Malcolm turned and fixed upon Felicity a long, solemn look from under dark eyebrows. Felicity unconsciously sat straighter in her chair, as if she wanted to demonstrate courage. Her gaze never wavered from Malcolm's as she waited for his reply.
"Why would you think she'd help us, Ms. Smoak, against her own father?"
Felicity shrugged. "Perhaps because Oliver is a friend of her…girlfriend. Perhaps because she helped us out before and knows us. Perhaps…."
"Perhaps not."
"Okay then. It was only a suggestion." Felicity turned back to her keyboard. "I wanted to set up scans looking for this Ra's, but I can't find any picture of him whatsoever."
"And you wouldn't. He's been able to stay hidden from all authorities and news agencies for centuries." Catching the others' reactions, Malcolm hurried to say, "I'll explain another time for my use of the word 'centuries'.
"I assume you have several suggestions for us, then," Diggle said, trying to restrain his impatience.
"I have something better. I know where Ra's is holding Oliver."
"Why didn't you lead with that, then?" Felicity asked, not bothering to hide her impatience.
"Because you're so pretty when you're angry," Malcolm said, smirking at her.
As Felicity opened her mouth to reply, Diggle placed a warning hand upon her shoulder. She shook her head at Malcolm's attempt to get a reaction from her.
"Ms. Smoak, may I borrow your computer to show you and Mr. Diggle the plans of the building where Oliver is being held?"
Felicity held her hand out to Malcolm, silently asking for him to hand her the flash drive. Malcolm shrugged, handing it to her. She quickly placed it into her computer, ran security scans on it, and pulled up the plans. Diggle pulled up a chair, with Malcolm standing behind them to point out areas of interest as they discuss the plans for the rescue.
Thus a plan began to develop, and a reluctant alliance among former adversaries forged.
~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~
Previously:
Ra's stroked his chin in thought. "It leaves me in a quandary. Whether to look upon your tolerance as a challenge." His eyes bored into Oliver's, who fought his instinct to look away. "Should I test your limits, see if I can find them?" A short, cruel laugh escaped him. "I could find that very amusing indeed."
Addressing Oliver's silence with a cocked eyebrow, Ra's smirked. "You do amuse me greatly, Mr. Queen. However, I will leave you to recover from your ordeal while I consider what to do with you."
Oliver watched as the men accompanying Ra's broke formation to allow him to walk out of the cell. They turned smartly and followed their leader in silence. Oliver let out a heavy sigh as they left and laid back down on the floor. He wondered what were the odds of his team finding him before Ra's attempted any more tortures for his own "amusement", or for him to escape on his own. Despite his efforts to think about possible escape plans, Oliver fell asleep despite the pain from the torture.
After an undetermined time of restless sleep, Oliver was wakened again by a bucket of cold water thrown upon him. He sat straight up, sputtering, wiping the water out of his eyes. Turning, he scowled at the door of his cell as Ra's entered. Oliver observed with a curled lip a soldier stepping out of the way with an empty bucket in his hand.
Oliver glared at Ra's, who met the younger man's glare with a sardonic grin on his face. "How was your little nap, Mr. Queen?"
"Might you consider waking me up the old-fashioned way of shaking me awake instead of a cold shower? I'd really appreciate it."
Ra's nodded to the soldier on the other side of Oliver. The soldier leaned over and punched Oliver several times in the stomach. Oliver attempted to remain stoic, but his abdominal muscles were simply too sore. He grunted from the pain as he felt the fist hit his tender flesh.
"I shall consider the suggestion, Oliver. But remember, you need to ask permission before you ask a question."
Oliver scanned his memory for knowledge of such a request being made before this, but found none. He bit his tongue, however, to prevent remarking on it. He simply nodded his answer, unsure whether he was to speak out loud.
"You should have answered out loud, but I will let the indiscretion pass this once."
Oliver inhaled, ready to let out a heavy sigh, but instead quickly exhaled softly, remembering in time to hide any sign of rebellion. A small smile appeared on Ra's' face, letting Oliver know he'd observed Oliver's reaction to his little game. Oliver didn't allow his gaze to waver; instead, he continued to hold Ra's' gaze, remaining silent, waiting for Ra's to speak.
"You have no other remarks you wish to make, Mr. Queen? Perhaps even you can learn discretion and obedience, as uncouth as you are?"
Oliver held himself still, not betraying his reaction to Ra's' attempt at an insult. If he thinks I'd be insulted by being called uncouth, he doesn't know my past as a playboy.
"I am impressed. Perhaps you may prove to be useful to me after all."
Oliver didn't like the sound of that, but he bit back the remark he wanted to make. This might be just another one of his games, after all.
"You are now being vigilant with remaining silent, are you not? You may ask your question, now, if you like."
Oliver quickly debated which question to ask. "If I may, have you decided what your plans are regarding me?"
A slow smile crossed Ra's' face. He strode slowly back and forth along the cell several times before turning back to Oliver.
"Yes, I have decided on what I am going to do with you."
Oliver bit his tongue this time to avoid making a hasty remark as he waited for the man to continue. He dared not breathe so as to draw any untoward attention to his nerves.
"I have decided you are to fight us to the death."
AN: Oh, oh. It doesn't look good for Oliver by Ra's' use of the plural. Will Oliver survive this? I already have the chapter mapped out, so it shouldn't take as long to get out. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you soon.