This was a fun chapter, simple but it gives me a good feel for things.

Not every episode will be a million chapters, but some have to be...

Soon, Oliver and Austin were leaving the mansion together, both ready and willing to begin the crusade Oliver started. They were both armed, Austin with a book of protective spells, and Oliver with his wits and experience. Oliver felt quite reassured by Austin's presence, like there was a far greater chance of success than before.

"Oliver," Moira's voice called out, stopping him in his tracks, he turned to see his Mother, Walter, and a tall, well-built black man. "I want to introduce you to someone," she was saying. "John Diggle. He'll be accompanying you from now on. And Austin as well, when you are together but since you were the one they interrogated, I feel like this is the best course of action."

Oliver smiled. "I don't need a babysitter." He argued.

"Darling, Oliver's a grown man." Walter added. "And if he doesn't feel he needs armed protection…"

"Yes, I understand," Moira interjected, "but this is something I need." Oliver smiled at his mother, then looked once more at the bodyguard.

Soon, Diggle was driving the Bentley downtown, with Oliver and Austin in the back. Austin gave Oliver a look, and Oliver gave one of pure mischief back, winking at him. He grabbed his arm and whispered in Russian. "Be patient."

"So…what do I call you?" he asked. Diggle glanced in the rear-view mirror at his principal as he drove.

"Diggle's good." He said. "Dig if you want."

"You're ex-military?"

"Yes, sir." He replied. "105th Airborne out of Kandahar, retired. Been in the private sector a little more than four years now." The man glanced in the mirror again and Oliver readied himself, the moment Diggle looked away, he opened the door and pulled Austin out, rushing away. He was grateful that his new friend was experienced enough to follow suit. "I don't want there to be any confusion, Mr. Queen. My ability to keep you from harm will outweigh your comfort. Do we have an agreement? Sir?"

Austin giggled. "That was fun, what next?"

Soon he and Oliver were walking down in the heart of the Glades. He had picked up new clothes and gear from an abandoned warehouse, and now together they made their way back to the abandoned Queen steel mill. Oliver tossed his bags over the high fence, and then jumped the fence himself. " Do you need help, Austin?" Austin rolled his eyes, and just repeated Oliver's actions. Picking up their bags, they calmly walked into the mill. Long abandoned, the mill was an empty husk. Trash littered the floor, and Oliver stopped when something caught his eye. Bending down, he found an old Queen Consolidated annual report, his father's face on the cover. He picked it up and stared at it.

'The abduction was unexpected.' His voice sounded. 'It forced me to move up my plans, but what I told the police was true. The man in the green hood was there in that warehouse, and he's just beginning.'

Austin frowned as he started to build his lair, but did not argue. He actually proved extremely helpful, knocking down walls, setting things up and cleaning away debre. After Oliver started to get his generator and computers set up, telling Austin. "I have contacts, I told you I was not always on that island." When he asked how he got them. Then the boy, the witch took out sage and other herbs, bundled together and started smudging the space.

"It is not real smudging, it is a spell based on the Indigenous concept. I cannot remember what tribe or tribes do this, but some Wiccans made a magical version of it, with mugwort and other herbs for protective magic." After that the boy lined the room in salt that Oliver had had delivered for him. "Gotta say, your contacts seem useful. Tutela dea arma, hoc spatium benedic, moenia tuta Iacuere et da pacem." He finished and the salts started to glow, before rising off into nothing. "There this space is protected with quite a few things. No illegal entry bar us, since our blood was added to the magic, and no violence can be inacted within."

Oliver smiled. "Very useful, what about sparring? I did promise to teach you?"

"As long as your intent is not to cause harm, we are fine."

Soon, Oliver had several tables set up, lights over each of the tables flickered on when he powered up the generator. He set up his computer system at the forefront and started uploading and sorting files. While the computes worked, he worked to first on creating new arrows with the machine tools, then on working out his body- doing several reps on the salmon ladder, inverted crunches, and other exercises. Austin did the same, and to his credit did really well, only having trouble with the Salmon Ladder.

"You'll get there." he said, and Austin nodded back.

Finally, Oliver pulled his munitions box out and set it on a table, opening it up. He pulled out his custom recurve bow, strapped his quiver to his back, and loaded up a bucket with tennis balls. Steadying himself, he knocked over the bucket and let the balls bounce out onto the floor. At once, he started drawing, nocking, and firing arrows, one after the other, until all of the tennis balls were pinned to the wall, each with an arrow dead center.

"That was impressive." Austin said, pleased. "I assume that will be part of my lessons?"

"Of course."

Later, Oliver and Austin were sitting at the new computer station watching a news report about Hunt. "The suit alleges that Hunt committed multiple acts of fraud and theft against the city's underprivileged. Laurel Lance, an attorney for the city necessary…" the news report tuned out as Oliver began speaking his thoughts once more.

"Adam Hunt his crimes go deeper than fraud and theft, but he's been able to bully, bribe, or kill anyone who's gotten into his way." Oliver moved from his weapons table to the crate and pulled out a familiar green hood. "He hasn't met me yet."

Austin sighed. "Just be careful, I would rather you not die."

Oliver smirked at him for a minute then shot off into to get dressed and ready for the fight.

"Oh and Oliver, I will be telling your mom that any bruises I cannot heal to be from my teaching you kickboxing. That is an excellent cover, no?"

"Awesome." And he mean it. " I just realized, I never thought of a cover... oops."

"""

As Oliver left, Austin remained wondering. "Will he come back okay?" he had no desire to see Oliver hurt, the idea was painful by itself. Partially due to the bond born of magic, but also because just liked Oliver. He was a good man, and deserved better. "If any of you gods exist, help guide him... help him come back to me okay...a nd to his family." He dug then into his book, looking for anything that would help Oliver...

Anything to keep him safe.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a blast.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.