The click clack of heels against the marble flooring attracts his attention, his eyes breaking from their vigil against the white door he saw his friend disappear three hours ago. His eyes move up the shapely legs, watching the porcelain skin gleam against the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital, past the plum colored office dress she had on in the morning to her similarly colored lips. He notices a slight frown marring her beautiful face, crinkling her eyes on the sides, pulling down her normally smiling mouth, and creasing her eyebrows. A smile stretches across his face as he picks himself up from the uncomfortable metal chairs to greet the rushing blond, noticing her lips move. Words are tumbling out of her mouth as she comes to a stop in front of him, her hands gesturing frantically as she continues to talk, words rushing out of her a mile a minute, "Sorry I'm late…I was in the middle of something and got caught up. How's Lyla? Is she in labor yet? Oh wait, how's Diggle doing? Is he ok? He didn't vomit or faint, right? And where is he? Speaking of which where is Roy? And Sara? She's coming too right? I mean she has to…oh and what did the doct…"
"Fe-li-city," Oliver interrupted, emphasizing the syllables in her name as he placed both his hands on her shoulders, giving her a slight tug to break her out of her ramble and get her attention, he finally spoke, an amused but fond lilt to his voice, "Lyla is fine and already in labor, Diggle's there in with her. He freaked out for a minute before he rushed out and got to her and no he didn't vomit or faint. As for Roy and Sara, well Roy volunteered to keep an eye on things tonight and Sara offered to stay as backup. So they probably won't be here for the birth but they'll come to visit when they're done for the night."
"Oh ok," Felicity said gulping in air, a smile finally lighting up her features, she launched herself into Oliver's arms, squealing, "Digg's baby's coming!"
"Yeah yeah he is" Oliver exclaimed chuckling with her, his delight at the impending arrival of the new addition to their family apparent through the smile adorning his stubbled jaw that refuses to dim. He picks her up a little his joy leaking out in the presence of her, her toes lifting off of the marbled floor a small squeak leaves her mouth in surprise, feeling glad that he didn't swing her around in the bustling ward.
He disentangles their bodies his hand moving up to cup her cheeks, his bowing down when she stops him. His forehead creases in confusion at the anxious expression on Felicity's face. She hesitates before exhaling a breath to calm herself, and speaks, "I…there's something I need to tell you…"
"Ok…Felicity you know you can tell me anything."
"Yeah," Felicity nods, her eyes locking onto his she continues, "Yeah, I know I can. Ummm…it's about Thea…" Oliver stiffens at the mention of his baby sister, his eyes turning somber as he drops his hand from her face and leans against the wall behind him clutching onto the hand of the woman standing before him. His grip hard and unforgiving as he attempts to control his raging emotions and tether himself to the present, regrets and past mistakes wash over him unrelentingly, knocking off his equilibrium.
"I met her…"
"When?" Oliver asks her confusedly.
"Just now…that's where I was when the call came and that's why I couldn't pick up…'
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because…well first of all, I didn't think she would come. And I thought if she did she might not want to talk to you, so I thought I should try, you know. Try to get through to her…and it almost worked too…Oliver I…" Felicity continued trying to explain.
"Hey Felicity," Oliver interrupted tightening his grip just a bit to attract her attention, he soothed, "it's ok. I get it…I don't understand yet but I get it. And thank you for doing this you know…"
"Of course, always Oliver," she smiled. Threading her fingers through his she tugged, making him focus his eyes back to hers from where it had strayed down to their joined hands, a small content smile gracing his lips, the emotional onslaught of before pushed away for the time being locked in a box only to be opened when the time came for it to be unleashed. "Roy was right the first time Oliver. She's different whether we want to accept or not, she is. Not dark but not as light as she was before either. There's anger in her and its eating her up. She almost listened to me you know she agreed with me, she's still there but not completely. We need to be careful when it comes to her you know. How we approach her, what we say to her everything...we need to be really careful…"
"Felicity what happened?"
"She's hell bent on killing you," Oliver's sharp intake of breath had her reeling back her words, "Not you exactly, I meant the Arrow side of you. She doesn't think you have wronged her but in her eyes you are standing between her and her victory. She wants to prove herself, especially to Malcolm and she'll do anything to win…"
"Felicity I'll be fine…"
"It's not you I'm worried about I know you can take care of yourself. But Oliver she can't. She thinks she can but she's taken one bad decision after another and think about how it will affect her if she succeeds and finds out that she killed her own brother. It'll break her Oliver, it will completely destroy her."
"Hey, shh shh," Oliver soothed his hands making their way up to her shoulder blades, calming her, as her breaths regulated the panic subsiding for the moment Oliver cupped her cheeks once again, his head bowed and came to rest a few inches away from her face, his blue eyes gazing into hers he spoke, his voice down to a soothing whisper, hoarser than usual with the weight of the emotions bubbling inside him, every emotion fighting for dominance the regret fighting with hope, anger with peace, grief with happiness and the hate fighting with love, "it's alright…everything will be alright isn't that what you say. Nothing will happen to Thea or me, I do happen to have the best team support after all," Oliver smiled softly at her.
The answering smile in return purging all conflicts within him he bent down, his mouth dropping open to put in whispered words the peace, happiness and love he felt then for the woman in front of him, his lips a mere inch away from hers before they closed the distance. The background hustle of the hospital dimmed to a bass as they lost themselves in a world of their own making, the smell, sound, taste and touch of each other taking over their senses. The soft caress coming to an end with the clearing of a throat beside them, breaking them out of their daze as they disentangled themselves to look at their intruder, the displeased scowl disappearing from Oliver's face when he noticed the happy face of his friend standing before then a grin so powerful stretched across his face that it held the danger of breaking his face into two. Slipping his arms from the blushing form of his love he crossed the small distance to their friend in one long stride, dragging Felicity with him, her hand grasped tightly in his larger one.
"It's a boy!" Diggle announced happily, his arms falling open to accommodate the squealing blonde shrieking her congratulations into his chest, squeezing her arms around his waist in a gesture of love and happiness. Oliver stood beside his partners a grin only slightly smaller than the new father's adorning his face, a feeling of contentment taking over him as he waited his turn to congratulate his friend.
The laughter that rang from the corner booth attracted the attention of the rest of the patrons of the small quiet restaurant, the late nighters at the bar looking to the corner, their eyes landing on two blond heads, a man that sat facing the door, a big smile lighting up his face as he looked to his laughing companion secretly priding in himself for getting such a reaction out of the bubbly blonde. It felt a long time to Oliver Queen since he had made someone laugh, truly from the depth of their hearts and the bottom of their belly.
Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak sat in a corner Chinese Restaurant and bar, the red lighting of the narrow space reflecting off of their faces as they waited for their order, the plum of her dress clashing ridiculously against the garish lighting. They sat hands held above the table as they came of the high of the night, the new addition to their family making them dizzy with happiness. All their problems and set aside for the night the couple had come in for a late dinner, choosing to spend the rest of the day together instead of away from each other eager to bask in the blessings the day had bestowed upon them. A look into Thea's psyche and an exciting new member to their family, lifting off the weight they held on their shoulders for the day.
"Did you really do that?" Felicity asked gaping at the man across from her.
"I really did do that unfortunately…"
"Oh my god," Felicity exclaimed giggling, "I can't believe this and the press or your mother never got a sliver of that story?"
"Hey we swore we would never tell anyone, I think there even was blood pact somewhere in there…" Oliver then backtracked with his hands raised palms up as he clarified, "totally Tommy's idea."
"But you did it…"
"Hey I was drunk!"
"Yeah yeah party boy, whatever," Felicity dismissed away his mock incredulous excuse in a hand wave a giggle escaping her at the end of her sentence. The server arrived with their order and as they dived into the steaming plates of Lo Mein and Kung Pao Chicken the lighter parts of their pasts came unraveled, their mischief's and misdeeds served as small talk and laughter at the others' stories of antics as music.
"So…"
"So…" Oliver reiterated, his smile refusing to slip even a little as he walked out of the restaurant Felicity's hand held firmly in his.
"It's been some day hasn't it?"
"Well yours has been I have just had one exciting thing happen to me today…"
"Just one?"
"Well apart from what you told me yeah just one, although I have a feeling it maybe the best one yet."
"I feel so too."
"So…how does it feel becoming a godmother?"
"I am sure it feels the same as becoming a godfather…"
"Ecstatic?"
"Unbelievably so."
3 weeks later
Oliver sat on the metal table near Felicity's station his face tired, eyes downcast and half lidded. He felt defeated his insides were curling up on each other as he loosened his tie from around his neck, the top button already undone. His crisp blue suit felt constricting as a defeated sigh left his lips. The past three weeks had been uplifting, he hadn't felt this happy and light in a long time and deep inside him he had known it wouldn't last long, but now faced with the reality of the same he couldn't bear the weight that had settled on his shoulders, sagging them under the weight, since his meeting in the afternoon.
At the sound of heavy leather boots hitting the metal of the stairs behind him drifts his attention away from the depths of his mind, turning his head he spots Diggle, a relaxed and content smile on his face as he descend the stairs, his shoulders held strong with happiness, his steps light and sure.
"Hey man, how's it going?"
"Everything's good, how's Lyla?" he asked, stepping away from the table and coming to stand in front of his friend, hands shoved in his pants pockets, lips upticked in a small smile, he asked, "And Jacob ?
"They're good, the little guy's healthy and pooping every chance he gets and makes sure we don't get a decent night's sleep. But let's talk about you. You don't look so good, man…"
"I'm fine…"
"We all know what that means," Diggle scoffed, interrupting Oliver.
"I'm fine, Digg," Oliver sighed, raking a hand through his close cropped hair, pulling the short strands at his nape before dropping it to rest beside his thigh.
"Meeting didn't go well huh?"
"Felicity called you didn't she?" he asked softly.
"She said she was called in and couldn't be here yet and I was coming in anyways, I think I have had enough of a vacation, don't you? So tell me was it really that bad? You could of course try again…"
"I could but it's starting to look like I might never win…" Oliver sighed, both his hands coming up to massage his forehead staving off a headache that seemed to be setting in suddenly, "They think the company should stay with Palmer right now, and no other investor is ready to put their money behind me, they may not be completely confident with him right now but they sure as hell don't want me at the helm," he sighed as he muttered further, "can't say I blame them though."
"That's harsh. But Oliver, just don't give up yet ok…everything will sort itself out in its own time."
Oliver snorted, disdain dripping from his action as he turned to take a step away, looking back to his friend he exclaimed, "Really Diggle? My sister is out there running around with Malcolm Merlyn and she's convinced I'm the villain in this story and not only that she has not once, not once called to talk to me and I can't call her myself because how am I supposed to know she's back in town, and also I don't even have a number to call at. And on the other hand, my family's company, my family's legacy is in some strangers hands and doesn't look like will ever be mine again, how am I supposed to wait and watch and pray for something good to happen. Every time one good thing happens a thousand bad things line up to balance it out…"
"Oliver relax…do you think maybe you're overreacting?" Diggle held up a hand stopping Oliver's protest before it began, taking a deep breath he continued, "Let's just take a deep breath ok?"
Oliver released an anguished sigh, his body sagging some more as both his hands dropped to his sides unmoving, feeling the weight of the world and past mistakes and regrets settle on them, burdening them, taking away what energy they had left, his red rimmed eyes glistened with unshed tears as he raised his eyes to look into his friends with as much defiance as he could muster, "There is nothing left to do."
"Maybe there is. For now though, there is still the city to save and protect, no one can take that away from you. And we are all here for you man…"
"I know."
"Then let's go get some more bad guys off the streets shall we?" Diggle joked.
"Diggle I…"
"Come on Oliver, snap out of it man," Diggle ordered irritated with his friends hard headedness, "We'll find a way but for now the city needs us…"
"No it's not…that," Oliver sighed, his body stiffening as he willed himself to look his friend in the eyes.
"Ok…" Diggle trailed his arms coming to cross in front his chest, his forehead scrunching in confusion, trepidation taking over his body as he watched Oliver steel himself.
"I can't have you in the field anymore…" Oliver said his face straight, all signs of his previous anguish disappearing as he slipped on a mask.
"Damn it Oliver!" Diggle felt anger take over his body, his feet moving the three steps towards the man in front of him of their own accord, his folded arms coming undone as he pointed a finger at his face in anger, his voice rising an octave as he stated, "You would be dead ten times over if it weren't for me."
"Dig, you need to understand…"
"No Oliver you need to understand! This is as much my fight now as it is yours…"
"I know Diggle, for god sakes I know!" Oliver shouted out the last word, his voice hoarse as emotions rushed back out breaking the wall he had erected to shut them out, flooding him, taking his breath away as he tried to explain, "I know it's your fight too. But I won't…I can't see your family ever lose you. I can't have that child of yours to ever go through the pain of losing his father. I can't have you out there not because I think you are weak or a liability, I can't have you out there because I am afraid our life will one day tear you away from your family!"
Diggle watched silenced as Oliver turned, his outburst filling him with a new energy as adrenaline coursed through his veins, the events of the day filling the man's body with anger and frustration as he dived into the glass case that held his uniform, yanking it onto his body and strapping on his quiver Oliver was out, speeding away, eager to let go of the energy buzzing under his skin.
The thug had escaped just as he rolled out onto the familiar concrete tiling of the roof. The triangular glass panel in the middle of the roof bringing back memories he had run to escape from. Sound of the metal door of the roof opening from behind him broke him from his thoughts, his body whirling arrow nocked and bow held down, ready for an attack.
"Our last encounter on this roof didn't end so well did it?" Malcolm Merlyn sneered, appearing in the doorway that he had entered through roughly two years ago, their positions now reversed. Oliver raised his bow, his eyes sparking with anger as he looked upon the smug face of his nemesis. Malcolm Merlyn stood before him, his black League uniform on but face unmasked as he directed conceited eyes at him, smile smug at catching him at his weakest moment.
"For you it didn't, for me it wasn't so bad…" Oliver countered.
Malcolm tutted as he advanced, bow held at his side, he took a step to the right interrupting Oliver, "Now, now, we both know that's not true. You failed and ran, I came back alive," Malcolm shrugged as the men circled each other.
An arrow soared through the air as Malcolm finished talking, his bow held up as he waited for the black projectile to embed itself in his opponent's heart, revenge for the arrow that he had shoved into him at this very roof. The quick motion of Malcolm's hand hadn't gone unnoticed by Oliver and he ducked away in time to avoid the arrow his own palm closing around an arrow in his quiver. Pulling it out he nocked and let go, the arrow missing its target as he stepped out of its way. Malcolm came charging at Oliver his bow held out in front of him, he pivoted as he neared Oliver, banging the side of his bow against Oliver's left cheek as he came to a stop.
Recovering from the blow instantly Oliver delivered a punch to Malcolm's face dropping the smug grin off of his face, retaliating he reared his arms back fists clenched, delivering a one two punch combo, hitting Oliver in the chest and stomach. Blocking the following punches from the older man, Oliver caught hold of one arm and twisted it turning Malcolm away from him; he grabbed his nape bending him forward as twisting his arm further back.
A snarl escaped Malcolm's mouth, extending his free arm behind he caught a hold of Oliver's palm that held his nape, dislocating his thumb from its socket he broke out of the man's grip as Oliver drank in a yell of pain. Malcolm cackled, pivoting on his toes he hit Oliver, his left foot connecting with the other man's right knee. Oliver dropped, pulling his thumb back in place he ducked, dodging Malcolm's incoming hit to the top of his head. He grabbed the dark archer around the waist flipping him over onto his back as he stood up arrow nocked pointing at the dark haired man lying on the concrete floor.
Malcolm jumped back on his feet as Oliver let loose his arrow, hitting the man in his right shoulder, a painful growl escaping his lips, the sound transforming into a mad cackle as he pulls the shaft out, his voice taking a menacing edge as he taunts, "Do you really think you can beat me?"
"I have done it before," Oliver shrugged, pivoting once on his toes and his bow held out to hit the man on the temple. Malcolm caught Oliver's wrist just as he neared his head, Oliver retaliated, his left fist connecting with the dark archers jaw, a satisfying crack echoed around the empty roof.
"Oh but I came back didn't I?" Malcolm sneered, rubbing his throbbing jaw. His fist came up as Oliver ducked, his arms banding about his knees ready to trip him when Malcolm grabbed him around the waist, flipping him, making his grip on the man's knees loosen as Oliver fell on his back. Trapping him in a choke hold, his arms in a voce grip around his throat he continued, "Its Déjà vu, except this time you don't leave this roof alive!" Malcolm exclaimed tightening his hold earning a choked grunt from Oliver, as his right arm scrambled to find purchase around his opponents head in an effort to free himself, his left arm clutching at the forearm bound around his throat choking the life out of him.
"Oh wait I forgot!" Malcolm said suddenly his voice laced with glee as he loosened his grip a little, bending to talk in Oliver's ear, "It's not really my place to kill you, it's Thea's…after all she has her eyes set on defeating you. I think I'll have to satisfy myself by killing those you hold most dear. Your very capable bodyguard, the new father…what's his name? Ahhh, Mr. John Diggle him and your little protégé, Mr. Harper, I'm going to delight in gutting them. And of course how could I forget your beloved computer expert…I hear she's quiet feisty, must be great in bed too huh?!" Malcolm taunted, growling the words in Oliver's ears as he struggled. "She'll definitely get special treatment. Do you want to know what I have planned for her?" He asked contemptuously, a mad cackle once again escaping his lips at the angry roar that ripped out of Oliver's chest. Releasing his grip from the arm banded about his throat, Oliver reached back, his palms open and grabbed a hold of Malcolm under the nape and flipped him over his body, a bout of unprecedented adrenaline shooting through his veins as he slammed the older man's body on the concrete.
He stood, his legs apart, his fists clenched tight at his sides bow held in one as he looked down upon his nemesis, his body heaving in anger, he reared his left foot back and slammed it into the fallen man's side. Panting he knelt on one knee getting in the wheezing man's face he spoke in a quiet growl, "Do you remember what I said to you the last time we were on this roof top? I thanked you for teaching me what I'm fighting for…but now I have more than that, now I have something to live for," he finished rising back on his feet, his bow coming down to slam against his temple, knocking the archer out.
The steady staccato of typing echoed around the basement as fingers hit the plastic at lightning speed mixing in seamlessly with the clang of metal and the sounds of sparring, the thud sounding from the entrance brought it all to a complete halt as a thud sounded from the entrance. The shocked occupants of the underground hideaway rushed in tandem to the body that lay in a heap on the cold floor of the lair clad in green leather, his bow held tight in a fist. Oliver was panting but conscious when the team reached his side, grabbing John's proffered hand he hauled himself up, his body sagging in exhaustion, the bruises forming around torso throbbing and his legs hurting from the fall he had taken.
Dragging himself, his team trailing behind him, he propped himself up on the metal gurney in the medical area clutching his side as his ribs protested the sudden movement. Felicity busied herself helping him get his quiver off working the closure on the leather belt as Diggle readied supplies, Roy hovering in the background ready to help if needed, Sara watching in from the sidelines.
"So who's responsible?" Diggle asked lightly, now busy taping his bruised ribs as Felicity stood watching alongside Sara, chewing on her thumbnail, her worried eyes fixed on the
"Ran into Malcolm…" Oliver grunted out.
"What!" Felicity exclaimed, bolting ahead to stand beside Oliver once again, her hands roaming over his bruised face and torso she continued "Are you alright? Wait…bad question I can already see you are not…"
"You should see the other guy…" Oliver shrugged attempting to wipe the worried frown off of Felicity's face.
"Seriously?" Felicity questioned displeased.
"He threatened all of you, I couldn't hold back," Oliver replied.
"Oliver that's not what I…"
"So you called Lance and asked him to pick the scumbag up, didn't you?" Roy interrupted Felicity his voice hopeful as he stepped forward his hands busy fidgeting with his t-shirt, impatience oozing off of his form as he waited for Oliver's answer.
"No."
"What? Why?" Roy roared, stomping the two steps to close the distance between him and the older man. His hands tightened into fists at his side and jaw clenched, he gritted out, "So you let him go?"
"Yes," Oliver nodded once tightly.
"Why would you do that?" Roy exclaimed angrily.
"Because we need him to reach out to Thea…"
"And he's going to let you? Have you forgotten how well this strategy of yours worked last time? Last time you let Slade go for the same reason and it worked against us!"
"This time it's different…"
"How?" Roy interrupted, anger and disbelief coursed through his veins, his eyes conveying his displeasure to the rest of the team.
"Roy, just have patience…"
"That's what you said last time…"
"I'll tell you when the time is right," Oliver bit out feeling irritated.
"Just like you were going to tell me that I did more than just sleep last year after you rescued me from Slade?" Roy bellowed, angry tears slipping down his cheeks, his eyes jumping from one team member to another, assessing and analyzing the blank faces of the occupants of the hideout.
"What…what...how…" Felicity choked out finally, the silence getting to her nerves. She stared wide eyed at the young boy, her heart beating erratically inside her chest.
"What you didn't think I would ever find out that you were lying to me?" Roy spat out, stepping closer to Oliver as the man stepped down from the gurney, a grunt at the movement escaping his lips as he focused on the enraging young man before him. "I stood by you," he pointed to Oliver, his index finger poking him in the chest, "I came back and you let that mad man steal her away…and now, now when you had the chance to capture him, to kill him once and for all, you let him go!"
"No one stole Thea, Roy and you're right we should never have lied to you. We should have told you the truth but we were afraid that you won't be able to hold the weight of the truth, that you would drown under it, it was our mistake to think that you couldn't handle this and we're sorry," Oliver's voice softened with every word, his apology belting out in a soft whisper. "But Thea," he continued just as softly, "she left on her own terms no one stole her, kidnapped her or dragged her away. And that is exactly how she's coming back," Oliver stated his voice strengthening, directing stern eyes at the shorter man. "We can't bring her back kicking and screaming, it won't work…she is not a child anymore."
"Maybe you should tell yourself that!" Roy gritted out turning about and storming out of the silent lair, his gym bag in tow.
5 days later
Her keys jingle as she pries one out of the keyhole of her door stepping in the warmth of her little brownstone home she sheds her pea coat, hanging it on the rack beside the entrance, her purse joining it. Her keys landed in the bowl she kept on the rack table, toeing of her three inch heels on the way in. The small hairs on the nape of her neck tingled alerting her to the presence of another in her seemingly deserted home, bringing her feet to a sudden halt.
With quiet assured steps she advanced, her training her biggest weapon as she readied herself for a fight, her eyes alert as they moved around the interior of her living room, ears perked up for any sound that may give away the location of her intruder. She was startled when a deep voice rumbled from her office chair, it's back to her, " كيفحالكياحبيبي؟(How are you Darling?)"
" والد؟ (Father?)"
Ra's Al Ghul turned, his face relaxed, he got up from the chair his arms wide and inviting, enveloping the petite form of his daughter as she crashed into him. "ياحبيبيانهاجيدةجدالرؤيتكمرةأخرى(Oh my darling it's so good to see you again.)"
" أنتأيضاالأب. لقدغابلكوالنيصي(You too father. I have missed you and Nyssa.)"
"ثملماذاتركتمذلكقريبا (Then why did you leave so soon?)," he whispered into his daughters blonde hair, "هليمكنأنأقاموافترةأطول،والسببالوحيدالذيتسمحلكتركهولأنكأصر(You could have stayed longer, the only reason I let you leave is because you insisted.)"
"تعرفمكانيهنا،الأب. (You know my place is here, father), Felicity insisted. "كانعليأنأعود،أرجوأنتفهم(I had to come back, I hope you understand.)"
"بالطبعأناأقومتاليا،بالطبعأفعل (Of course I do my Talia, of course I do.)"
"حتىيقولليالأب (So tell me father)," Felicity said disentangling herself from his arms, her eyes meeting the shadow blue of his, " ماذاتفعلينهنا؟ (What are you doing here?)"
" أناهنالرؤيةأصغربلدي،غيرأنذلكخطأ؟(I am here to see my youngest, is that so wrong?)"
"بالطبعلا،انهابخيرتماما(Of course not, it's perfectly alright)," she smiles waving a hand away, resting her palms back on her father's shoulder and leaning away a little she narrows her eyes playfully at the taller man for a moment, her lips still pulled up in a smile that reflects in her eyes she speaks, her voice loving, "أحبكوأثقبكولكنأعرفأيضالك. أنتلستهنابالنسبةليولكنلل،ليستلك؟(I love you and trust you, but I also know you. You are not here for me but for Merlyn, aren't you?)"
Ra's sighs his head hanging down for a moment before directing fond eyes to his youngest, a rare smile stretches across the older man's face as he cups his daughter's cheek and place a soft chaste kiss to her forehead, bringing her back into the safety of his wide arms, "أنتتعرفنيجيداملاكيالصغير(You know me very well my little angel.)"
Felicity laughs lightly into her father's chest, a flood of memories attacking her as tears pool in her eyes, "هلليأنلايسمىمنذأنكانفيالثالثةعشرة (You haven't called me that since I was thirteen)," she says sniffling.
"لالمأفعل. أعتقدأنكقدألقيتمناسبا،وعبسورفضتالتحدثمعيحتىتوقفتيدعوكملاكيالصغير (No I haven't. I believe you had thrown a fit, pouted and refused to speak to me until I stopped calling you my little angel)," Ra's chuckled lightly at the memory of a thirteen year old Talia pouting, giving him the silent treatment at being called a childish nickname. Leaning away from her he cupped her cheeks, her arms still banded about his waist, he looked down at her apologetically, "وأناآسفأننيكذبتعليكياحبيبي. أنتلاتستطيعأنتعرفلماذاكنتهنا (and I'm sorry that I lied to you my darling. You couldn't know why I was here.)"
"هلنسيتأناابنتك؟ (Did you forget I'm your daughter?)" Felicity asked teasingly.
"أبدا (Never.)"
"لأقوللكالحقيقة (To tell you the truth)," Felicity asked, her curiosity peeking with every word as she focused on her father, "أنامندهشأنهااتخذتلكهذاوقتاطويلاليأتيإلىزرزور،كنتأتوقعكنتهناقبلأسابيعبحثاعنه (I am surprised that it has taken you this long to come to Starling, I had expected you here weeks ago hunting for him)," the man in question turned his face away at the inquiry, disentangling himself and walking a few steps away, his fingers skimmed the titles on her bookshelf as he moved to the end of the shelf divider.
"كانليبعضالأعماللحضورل (I had some business to attend to)," he said not looking at her.
"الأب،نحنفقطأنشأتأنهمنغيرالمجديبالنسبةلكلمحاولةتكذبلي (Father, we just established that it's futile for you to try to lie to me.)"
"...تاليا(Talia…)," He started looking over his shoulder, his eyes guarded as he waited for words to come to him.
"... هناكشيءآخرأليسكذلك؟لميتغيرشيءالتيجلبتلكمهنا(There is something else isn't it? Something's changed that brought you here…)"
His back straightened as he turned, his eyes hard not giving away anything as he looked upon his daughter, her determined stance contrasting against his rigid one. He moved another step away, his eyes remaining focused on his daughters, the shadow blue of his eyes darkening as they drained of all emotions, his soul sauntering away to hide in the dark recesses of his heart. Felicity raised a hand the moment she noticed her father start to speak, speaking over him, "كلماأريدههووعدمنك (All I want is a promise from you)," she spoke, her feet moving forward she came to stand in front of her father, toe to toe, looking into his eyes she continued, "وعدأنكلنيجلبأيضررعلىزملائيفيالفريقأوهذهالمدينةفيأيحال (a promise that you won't bring any harm to my team or this city in anyway)," she demanded. "وهيالطفلالذييمرفيمرحلةالخاموأريدكأنوعدانهالنتتضررفيمطاردةللحصولمجنون.وأنكلنتدخرثيا (And that you will spare Thea. She is a child who is going through a rough phase and I want you to promise that she will not be hurt in your hunt for a madman)"
"أعدك (I promise)," Ra's nodded slightly. "ليسلديتجاريةمعالفتاة،وقالتانهالاتزالبريئةولكنأنالنأعدبأيشيءحول Merlyn (I have no business with the young girl, she is still innocent but I won't promise anything concerning Merlyn.)"
"لنأطلبمنكمأنوالد (I won't ask that of you, father)," Felicity replied. "ولكنيجبأننعرفأنوالد،فريقيوأنا،ونحنسوفتتبعلهكذلك (But you should know father, that my team and I, we will be pursuing him as well)," Felicity said determinedly, her voice as hard as her father's, "وانهسوفيذهبإلىالسجنإذالمننجحفيفراشالموت(and he will be going to prison if we succeed not the deathbed.)"
"ليسمنالعدلأنيصبحالقاتلللتكفيرعنالذنوبوقتلالمئاتمنالأبرياءوكنتترفضالسماحلهإلىالعدالة؟ (He killed hundreds of innocents and you refuse to let him be brought to justice?)" Ra's suddenly roared, exasperated by his daughter's insistence on not killing, even a man as repulsive as Malcolm Merlyn. "كنتتعتقد (You think)," he started, his voice hard as he growled in a low timbre, desperate for his daughter to understand, "أنبابالحديدوالصلبيمكنأنتعقدفيرجلمثل Merlyn? (that a door of iron and steel can hold in a man like Merlyn?)"
"...والد (Father…)"
"كنتبقدرماهوجزءمنالجامعةوأنا،أنتتعرفأنالسجنغيرمهيأةلعقدواحدمنافقطلأنهاسوفتفشلفيعقد Merlyn (You are as much a part of the League as I am, you know that a prison is ill-equipped to hold one of us just as it will fail to hold Merlyn.)"
"ليسمنالعدلأنيصبحالقاتلللتكفيرعنخطاياأخرى (It isn't justice to become a killer to atone for the sins of another), Felicity gritted out. " !وسوفنجدطريقةلاعتقالهولكنلنأسمحفريقيلتصبحالقتلةلرجلمثله(We will find a way to hold him but I won't allow my team to become murderers for a man like him!)"
My amazing Beta Mathlover15 ( ) had a suggestion and through her encouragement I have been able to write a prequel to HoBH and DoB, it's called Temple of Blood. This story chronicles Felicity's life with her family the Al Ghul's and her path to becoming Talia Al Ghul. Oliver and the team will not be showing up in it. If you're interested go on over to my profile ( ) or the Series tag (AO3) and give it a go. Until next time =)