"Palmer Tech soars under the reign of power couple"

"Felicity Smoak saved from hostage situation by newest Starling Vigilante - the ATOM"

"The Canary is here to stay"

"Palmer/Smoak announce their 'new addition.'"

He couldn't even bring himself to read the articles. Just the pictures were enough for him. A picture was worth a thousand words, in this case a thousand painful words. There stood Felicity in a black dress and fancy necklace he had never seen before - from the looks of it a necklace only a billionaire could have given her. Standing behind a podium with Ray, one hand on his as their shoulders touched. Ray wasn't wearing a suit, this had to be a personal announcement. She had moved on so quickly, he didn't have any intention of finding out what 'addition" the two of them had announced - or how they had added it...

He crumpled the papers and threw them into the fire just as Maseo walked in.

"Focus! Oliver Queen is dead. If you keep getting emotional about news from Starling I will stop bringing it. You need to be ready, you need to cut off the Demon's Head!"

"Why Ser-ab?" His voice was cruel, and Maseo was taken aback by hearing that name come from his lips. "Why do you even care? I was part of your life as Maseo, and you said he was dead. A man cannot live by two names – so… who the hell are you? Maseo, the man who was my partner and only hold on reality in Hong Kong, or Ser-ab, the heartless merciless assassin? Why am I here? What do you really want from me?"

"It is time you know the truth." He stood and walked away, hands behind his back as he stared at the katana on the wall. "When Tatsu and Akido were killed, there was no reason to help Amanda Waller anymore. When Chen Yeh Wei escaped Hong Kong - you could have gone home. You honored their sacrifice, honored me, and followed her to Russia. When the Bratva took you captive, I didn't stay, I didn't come for you as you had come for me. I was full of rage, and chased Chen Yeh Wei back to mainland China. When I lost her again, I found my way to Nanda Parbat. I trained and let what was left of my humanity be beaten out of me. I let Maseo die and became Ser-ab."

He swallowed hard, turning to look into Oliver's eyes, which reflected the heart break and sorrow he was speaking of. "I had no remorse. After Ta-er al-Sahfer was killed and I was sent to Starling, the pain came back. I was distracted. After you challenged the Demon's Head I realized I would have to see the last person I cared about on this earth die. The distraction was enough for me to be taken by the Magician.

It was he who told me why you were facing the Demon. He had a plan. He gave me an herb to place on the blades as I sharpened them for the duel- something that would stop the bleeding. That is why I told you to take off the demon's head, it would be the only way to ensure death. I was not the one who found you, the one who brought you to this place. The Magician did. He climbed to the summit - he found you, he shared with you the power of the pit. He saved you. But he needed me to lie to the League about your death - knew you wouldn't trust him.

The silence in the room was palpable. So much information but he still didn't know, "Why are you doing this, how did he convince you to help instead of turning him in?"

"He gave me this." The worn photograph thrown on the table made no sense, he was a teenager now, but it was definitely him, it was Akido. "When the Demon is dead I will be released from the League, given the choice of realigning myself with the new leader or going into a new life. In my case, my old life. Become Maseo once more and find my son. Now you know - I need this as much as you, so focus or I will kill you myself!"

With that Maseo slammed a dagger into the table, grabbed the photo, and left the hut in a fury of rage. If Oliver was going to process this, to have a second chance at saving Akido, to have one less death on his conscience, he was going to need a sparring partner, he was going to need to trust Malcolm. For now though, that fir tree out back would suffice...

-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-

AN- Sorry for the short chapter... this wasn't planned but as I got deeper into the story I couldn't stand hiding motivations anymore, needed this quick confession to help push things along.

Anyone need more info about the Lazarus pit?

Also, looks like it wont be switching between perspectives at each chapter break.