Thanks for taking the time to review, guys! I always appreciate your feedback. I know lots of you are trying to figure out Cooper and what he may be planning. It'll be interesting to see your theories as the story evolves. Hope you like this next chapter. This one and the next few coming up, in particular, were my favorite to write. Happy reading!

Chapter 9

Keeping her eyes on the screen in front of her was the hardest task Felicity faced all week. It wasn't like she didn't have work to do. She had plenty. Oliver's Bratva contact had finally come through and given them the location of Merlyn's supposed compound in Corto Maltese. Felicity was able to get a few photos of the site via satellite, but nothing as detailed as Oliver needed. The lack of results was frustrating. Hence, Oliver's very vigorous workout on the salmon ladder and the source of Felicity's current inability to focus.

Oliver was already a sight to behold with his shirt off. Watching him do the salmon ladder, dripping in sweat as his muscles rippled with the exertion of going up another level, conjured up a whole slew of inappropriate fantasies. The last time Felicity had seen bulging biceps and washboard abs had been her movie night watching Magic Mike.

Diggle, reviewing the photos Felicity had given him, stated, "From what I can tell, the structure of the compound is fortified. Sneaking in from the ground would be difficult."

"But not impossible," Oliver grunted in between pull-ups.

"I can't tell from the photos, but Merlyn probably has security, too. It would be foolish to leave himself unprotected. Did Leonov mention anything about the Dark Archer?"

"No. He didn't come up."

"Doesn't mean he's not there," Diggle countered.

"Who's the Dark Archer?" Felicity questioned, curious. It was a constant game of catch-up with these two. It was difficult to be on the same page with them when she knew so little.

Given that Oliver was preoccupied with his workout, Diggle responded, "Last year, there was another archer roaming around Starling City. He started killing several of our targets and was involved in the Unidac Massacre."

"If I remember correctly, Unidac was a subsidiary of QC. It developed the Markov earthquake device, right?"

"Right. The scientists who'd developed the device were all killed by the Dark Archer, and their research was destroyed. This was a couple of weeks before the Undertaking. It wasn't until we learned from Oliver's mom of Merlyn's plan that we realized the two were connected."

"So the Dark Archer works for Merlyn and is probably in Corto Maltese with him," Felicity surmised. "Is he good?"

"He's got skill. But I'm better," Oliver declared, jumping down from the ladder and landing firmly on his feet.

"Well, you certainly aren't lacking in confidence."

Oliver grabbed a towel and walked around the desk to join them. "This third-party information is getting us nowhere fast," he grumbled. "We can't plan an effective strategy on speculation."

"I'm trying as hard as I can to dig up more details, but Merlyn is like a magician. He knows all the right tricks to make himself disappear. Corto Maltese is so corrupt that it's practically a lost cause. Merlyn would blend right in with the rest of the criminals, because they're not going to rat each other out." Felicity turned back to the computer and huffed at the semi-blurry satellite images. "Short of climbing a nearby tree with binoculars in hand, we're not going to get a clear shot."

"So that's what we do."

"What?" Felicity frowned. "Become peeping toms?"

Ignoring her quip, Oliver explained, "The only way to know for sure what we're facing is to go to Corto Maltese and track Merlyn ourselves."

"You mean, like, now?"

"The sooner the better. He's not always in the same place for long. You said he flew back to Starling recently. Who knows when he'll be on the move again?"

"Actually, wouldn't it be easier to wait until he comes back to Starling? That way he's back on your turf," she pointed out. "Now that I know about the landing strip, I can monitor it for new activity."

"We have no guarantee that he'll return to Starling."

"He came back once. I'd bet money he'll do it again as long as Tommy's here."

Diggle asked, "Why Tommy? The two have never seen eye to eye, and now his son hates him even more."

"Because even though Merlyn sounds like a total monster, Tommy is still his flesh and blood. Merlyn already carried out his revenge on The Glades," Felicity explained to them. "Mission accomplished. What other reason could he have for coming back here when the risk of exposure is so high?"

"We're going to Corto Maltese," Oliver decided. "I don't want Tommy anywhere near Merlyn when I bring him down"

"I get that you want to protect your friend, but you're making this that much harder, Oliver. You not only have to infiltrate the compound, but then you have to take him down and drag him back to Starling. What are we going to do, tie him up and throw him in a suitcase for the flight home?"

"We're not bringing him back to Starling." The finality in Oliver's voice gave her pause.

She chose her next words carefully. "So how is he going to face justice if you're not bringing him back to Starling?" He and Diggle exchanged a look. Felicity had her answer. "So this is not so much about justice as it is revenge."

"Malcolm Merlyn murdered thousands of innocent people, including my mother, Felicity," he said without apology.

"So that makes it okay for you to do the same to him?" she challenged and stood up to face him. "Oliver, when I signed on to help you find him, I didn't realize I was signing on to be an accessory to murder."

"It's not murder."

"It's not justice either." Felicity turned to Diggle. "You're okay with this?" Felicity knew that Diggle had been a soldier in the army and had killed before. He'd once told her about the young man he'd unknowingly killed in order to protect a U.S. informant with a seedy reputation. It made him question if he was still a good person. Joining Oliver in his crusade to bring down criminals, he'd said, was the first time in a long time he actually felt good again. Diggle was without a doubt a man of honor. Felicity couldn't imagine him being okay with Oliver's plan.

Diggle's understanding eyes never wavered from her pleading ones. "Unfortunately, there are always casualties when you're fighting a war."

Felicity removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She knew that The Arrow had taken out quite a few criminals, but Oliver hadn't done anything of the sort since she'd joined the team. There had been a few close calls-The Hoods holding them at gunpoint being one of them-but it seemed like Oliver was showing restraint. Felicity had since let go of her trepidation and had been helping Oliver in his mission at full force. Hearing his plan for Merlyn now suddenly made the doubts she'd had before signing on with him start to creep back in.

"Felicity." Oliver tried to soften his tone and not give in to the residual adrenaline from his workout. Despite her usually sweet nature, one of the things Oliver had learned about Felicity was that she wasn't one to back down from a fight. She may be angry about his plan, but he could tell that she was equally upset. Becoming defensive would only set her more on edge. "Merlyn is evil, and he's dangerous. Just because he was successful in destroying The Glades, there's no assurance that he won't plan something else. I've already failed my city once. I can't fail it again."

His eyes implored her to understand, and Felicity found herself torn. She'd had to trust Oliver before she even knew him. Since becoming a part of the team, that trust in him had deepened. Night after night Felicity watched him take down the scourges of the city and save innocent lives. There were also the friendly, in-between moments when they would have a chance to talk and get to know each other a little better. The night they'd danced at the charity event and his kind words were proof that Oliver was capable of compassion.

Regardless of the light she'd seen in him, there were moments of darkness, too. Oliver was constantly broody and stubborn to a fault at times. He put everything on his own shoulders and was his own harshest critic when things didn't go his way. It was understandable given what he'd been through, but Felicity still wished that he would let her or Diggle in. Oliver practically never talked about his time on the island-the only small exception being during their breakfast with Tommy last weekend. Felicity had so many questions but could never buck up the courage to ask Oliver, sensing it wasn't anything he'd like to discuss. She'd practically had to drag the Bratva information out of him and even then she hadn't learned that much.

Worst of all was that when Oliver made a decision, that was it. There was no changing his mind, no matter how much Diggle might try to reason with him. That same stubbornness and blind determination were reflecting back at her now. Oliver was going to kill Merlyn whether or not she approved. The only difference her involvement would make is that Oliver had a better chance of winning against him if she helped. Hadn't he taken the same risk for her-a practical stranger at the time-when he agreed to help her take down Brother Eye? Didn't she owe him the same level of trust in return? Felicity could admit that Oliver wasn't completely unjustified in his reasoning for wanting Merlyn dead, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that this was the wrong course of action.

"For the record, I don't like this at all," Felicity said firmly and put her glasses back on with purpose. "I will, however, keep my promise to help you track down Merlyn but that's it. Once you've gotten the information you need to not end up dead yourself, I don't want to be involved past that point."

With a nod, Oliver said, "Fair enough."

"If you'll excuse me, I need some air." Before he or Diggle could say anything else, she stormed out of the Foundry.

The pinging from Oliver's computer meant that he had another email from Tommy. The Wi-Fi signal on the plane was strong, allowing him to get some work done for QC and send a quick message to his best friend. Tommy was going to throw a party over the weekend, which Oliver had to decline for both him and Felicity. Oliver, Diggle and Felicity were already on their way to Corto Maltese. It had taken a day to get their affairs in order and chart a private jet since taking the one owned by his family would be too conspicuous. If Merlyn caught wind of their arrival, their operation would be over before it started.

Of course, Oliver had told Tommy that they were going to Mexico instead. He'd made up an excuse that they wanted to get away for a few days to avoid all of the media attention. Tommy had then responded, sarcasm implied, that a trip to Mexico made perfect sense and would certainly quell the rumors, as it was a hotspot for either getting laid or engaged.

With a roll of his eyes, Oliver typed his response and said he'd talk to Tommy when he got back. It didn't matter how many times Oliver told Tommy he and Felicity were just friends, his best friend was not convinced. It was starting to wear on Oliver's nerves. If Tommy could see how Felicity was giving him the silent treatment right now, he wouldn't be entertaining such a ludicrous misconception. The temperamental blonde was sitting as far away from Oliver as she possibly could. The only time she spoke to him was out of necessity. Having grown used to her talkative nature, it was kind of throwing Oliver off.

Diggle set down a glass of clear liquid in front of him before taking a seat beside him. "You look like you could use a drink."

"I don't disagree."

"You should talk to her," his friend advised, cutting right to the chase.

"She's not too happy with me right now." Oliver spared another glance at Felicity. Her seat was partially reclined, and she had her nose stuck in a book. She hadn't put it down for at least an hour.

"Felicity's not used to this life, Oliver. Not like us. It's going to take some time for her to adjust. She's spent years behind a computer screen. Whatever atrocities Brother Eye had her commit, she's mostly been sheltered from the true evils in the world. Nothing she's ever done has resulted in taking a life."

"So what do I do?" He was unable to keep the frustration from his voice. "Merlyn killed my mother, John. I can't let this go."

"She'll probably never agree with you on this," Diggle said honestly, "but you need to at least help her to understand where you're coming from. She wouldn't be here if she didn't trust you. Show her that despite your disagreements, her faith hasn't been misplaced."

"How?"

"I don't know. That's something you need to figure out, Oliver."

It had been ten minutes since the pilot announced that they would be hitting a few turbulents. There had been more than a "few," Felicity noted, while involuntarily bouncing in her seat yet again. Her book cast aside, Felicity closed her eyes and counted to ten to keep from totally freaking out. Something brushed her arm, and she opened her eyes. Oliver had taken the seat next to her.

"I didn't know you had a fear of flying."

"I don't," Felicity denied with a slight hitch in her voice as they hit another invisible bump. "Well, that's not totally true. I am afraid of heights. Usually I can forget about it as long as it doesn't seem like we might crash and die." She exhaled a shaky breath. "Which suddenly feels like a very real possibility."

"We're going to be fine." He reassured her, "Even if we were in trouble, there are parachutes aboard."

"Yeah, the thought of jumping out of a plane doesn't exactly bring me much comfort, Oliver. With my luck, the chute probably wouldn't open."

"You wouldn't need to worry. I wouldn't let you fall."

His words caused her head to turn in his direction. It was the first time she looked at him since they'd boarded. The admission made her heart jump for an entirely different kind of reason. Felicity could see that Oliver meant what he said, not that she doubted he'd just let her die. He'd kept her safe thus far. Reminding herself that she was supposed to be mad at him, she retorted, "If I were Merlyn, it would be a different story."

Felicity heard Oliver sigh next to her. "Felicity, this isn't a decision I made lightly."

"You made it all the same," she countered. "You should've told me your intentions, Oliver. I had a right to know what I was being used for."

"I'm not using you, Felicity. We're partners."

"Partners discuss things, Oliver. You do whatever you want. It's your mission, so I can accept that to a point. But when those decisions involve me helping you take another man's life, I think I deserve at least some say in the matter."

"You're right," he said after a minute of silence passed between them. "And I'm sorry. It's been just Diggle and I for so long that sometimes I forget how different your perspective is."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"No. Complicated, yes, but not bad. This dynamic is new to me, too." He gave her a wry smile. "I was bound to screw it up at some point."

"Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Assume the worst of yourself." She was quick to clarify, "I'm not talking about your butt-kicking ability. We both know you're pretty adept in that department, and it's why I came to you in the first place." Oliver was watching her intently, and Felicity needed a moment to put her thoughts into words. She had to get this right. "I realize we haven't known each other for very long, but I can see how much you want to fix things in Starling. The good you're trying to do. I can also see the tremendous burden you bear, even when something isn't your fault.

"That night we first met at Verdant, you mentioned that donating all the money from the reopening was the least you could do to support The Glades. Like that gesture in and of itself was nothing. And since I already knew you were The Arrow and responsible for keeping the city safe in the chaos that followed the Undertaking, the guilt I detected surprised me. It keeps surprising me, because I see it every night when you put on that hood. Originally, I thought the hood and mask were to simply hide your identity so that you could protect others without complications. Now...I'm wondering if the person you're really trying to protect by being The Arrow is yourself."

Her words felt like a punch to the gut to Oliver. Not because they were hurtful but because they were true. It was like Felicity could see right through him, and he didn't know how to feel about that. Isolation for Oliver was like breathing. It's how he'd survived the five years he was away. It's how he continued to keep the ones he loved safe. They were a part of his life, but he never let them all the way in. Never let them see the internal scars that rivaled the ones visible on his body.

Felicity had known pain, but in many ways she'd managed to maintain her innocence. It was one of the qualities Oliver found most fascinating about her. The way she could laugh and open up to others so easily. The trust she had put in him from the start, despite all the years Brother Eye had taught her to be on her guard. Even with Cooper on the loose and threatening her safety, a day had yet to pass when Oliver didn't see Felicity smile at least once. Her resilience was unwavering, and Oliver didn't want to be the one take that from her. To burden her with the horrors he'd endured. And yet, Diggle was right. How could Felicity understand him if she didn't know him? Oliver had to give her something. One small piece.

"My father didn't drown." He said it so quietly, Felicity had to lean in to hear him. "After the Queen's Gambit went down, we were drifting in a life raft with another crew member for days. We were almost out of what little food and water we had. It wouldn't be enough to sustain one person for long, let alone three.

"My dad kept telling me that I was the one who would survive. That he wished he had more time. That I would have to be the one to make it back to Starling and right his wrongs. I thought he was delirious. I could barely think straight myself. I didn't know about the gun he had on him."

Felicity watched Oliver closely as he paused. He was staring straight ahead, lost in the memory. She sat unmoving, afraid that at any second he would realize what he was doing and close himself off.

"That first gunshot was the loudest sound I'd ever heard in my life. One minute the guy was sitting there and the next he was dead in the water. I barely recognized my father in that moment. He'd always been a good man-or so I thought. I knew what was coming next. I could see it in his eyes. All he said was 'survive' and then he was gone, too. It wasn't until I drifted to the island that I was able to give him a proper burial."

Oliver felt Felicity place a comforting hand on his arm, but he couldn't look at her. Not for what was coming next. "The first time I took a life was my second year on the island. I learned quickly that I wasn't alone. I met a man named Yao Fei, and he taught me how to survive. When he couldn't help me any longer, he sent me to a couple of people who could. One of them was his daughter, Shado.

"We had gotten close. She was the one who trained me to shoot an arrow. The green hood had actually belonged to her. She used to wear it when she went out hunting. For a time we thought that we were safe on the island, but we were wrong. Shado was captured by a group of men who were looking for something. We went to get her back and were waiting to make our move when one of the men hit her. He held a knife to her throat, ready to hurt her...and I lost it.

"I charged right at him, and I didn't stop. It was minutes later that I finally heard them calling my name. I couldn't face them after what I'd done. Not with the blood on my hands. It was like they didn't belong to me. I couldn't recognize myself. It doesn't necessarily get easier after you kill someone. You just learn not to think about it. You tell yourself that guilt has no precedence over survival. That you have a right to protect yourself and the ones you love. And each time you're able to go on living, even if it means sacrificing a piece of your own soul."

Felicity wiped at the tears that had fallen, in a state of both shock and sadness. She could tell how much it cost Oliver to reveal all of that. Despite his stoic exterior, there was an internal battle raging. The agony was in his words, and Felicity wanted nothing more than to offer him some type of reassurance. To let him know that whatever sins he'd committed in the past, they didn't make him a bad person. His perseverance to rise above it all made her admire him even more. Most importantly, Felicity wanted Oliver to know that he mattered, too. "What about your soul?" she murmured. "Does that not deserve to be protected, too?"

"Not when my family and friends are at risk," Oliver stated determinedly, finally looking at her. "Malcolm Merlyn already took my mother. He's been back in Starling, which means he's still holding on to something. Tommy, Thea, Laurel...they could all end up in his crosshairs. I refuse to let them suffer the same fate."

"What about Tommy?" Felicity softly replied. "Yes, he's angry with his dad but would he really want him dead? Can you honestly say you'll be able to look your best friend in the eye every day for the rest of your life knowing that you've killed his father? Because even though Tommy wasn't responsible for your mother's death, something tells me that if he knew the truth about what happened, he wouldn't be able to face you."

"I'm not Tommy," was all he said, resigned.

"No, you're not," Felicity acknowledged. She moved her other hand to place it atop his own. She needed to get through to him. "But you're not Malcolm Merlyn either, Oliver. As soon as you let the ends justify the means, that's the first step to becoming him."

Her hand grounded him while her eyes drew him in. "Felicity." Oliver hadn't realized how close she'd gotten to him. He'd hoped that Felicity would recognize where he was coming from but a part of him feared that it would drive her further away. The look she was giving him, unexpectedly, spoke of anything but revulsion.

"Whatever trials you've gone through, Oliver, have not made you any less worthy of the same protection that you offer everyone else. There is not a doubt in my mind that you are capable of so much more," Felicity told him, giving his hand a squeeze. "It's never too late to find another way."

She met his intent stare a moment longer before pulling away. The tension from earlier had vanished, replaced by an understanding despite their stark differences in opinion. Taking a moment to collect herself, Felicity noticed that at some point during their conversation the plane had stopped shaking. She breathed a sigh of relief. The worst was seemingly behind them.

Felicity stared in awe at the hotel lobby as Oliver went to check them in. The high, gilded ceiling reflected off of the white marble floor, which sparkled as if just polished. A large, comfy seating area with a man playing the piano was to the left. On the right was a giant fountain made to look like a cascading waterfall. It was by far one of the most glamorous resorts Felicity had ever been in. Oliver had chosen it because it was run by the Bratva, and it was safe to say that the Russian mafia didn't do anything halfway.

"Megan," Diggle called to her. They'd decided to check in under different names. Oliver wouldn't be known by his appearance here, but the Queen name would garner a lot of unwanted attention. She moved to join them at the front desk and gave her luggage to the bellhop.

"Right this way, Mr. King," the young man directed.

Felicity bit her lip to keep from laughing at Oliver's alternate identity. He'd chosen Jonas (his middle name) King. She'd been too annoyed with him at the time she was "legitimizing" it to tease him about the lack of creativity. They got on the elevator and went to the top floor, where the presidential suite was located.

She nearly gasped when they entered. The suite was humongous, but immediately Felicity's eyes went to the wide, open balcony across the room. They had the perfect beach and ocean view. The horizon was so bright and blue-a stark contrast from the sometimes dark and cloudy Starling skies. A set of plush couches was in the center of the room. On top of the coffee table was a beautiful fruit basket. To the left was a full bar and a couple of doors that led to the bedrooms. To the right was a small alcove with a mirror, table and a door leading to another bedroom. There were probably even little chocolate mints left on the pillows. Felicity loved those.

A warm, salty breeze blew through the suite. It made Felicity want to don her swimsuit and go lay in the sun on the sandy white beach. The last time she'd been in a tropical environment had been spring break in college. Her ID had been fake then, too, and generously supplied by her own mother. With a shake of her head, Felicity reminded herself that this was a mission and not a vacation.

"I trust everything is to your liking, Mrs. King?" the bellhop said to her.

It took a second for Felicity to realize what he was implying. Her eyes widened. "Oh, I'm not-"

"Everything is great," Oliver cut her off. "Just leave the luggage here, and we'll sort it out." He handed the guy a generous tip, which made him unload their things at a diligent rate.

Felicity waited until the bellhop was gone before raising her eyebrow at Oliver. "Mrs. King?"

Oliver shrugged. "It's easier to explain this way." There wouldn't be as many questions if they were posing as a married couple. Nobody would really care, and the least amount of complications was ideal. Oliver was glad that he and Felicity had worked things out on the plane, even if he did feel unnaturally exposed from opening up to her. Their updated status probably wouldn't have gone over well otherwise.

"Uh huh. You wouldn't happen to have a very large and beautiful diamond ring in your suitcase that you 'borrowed' from the jewelers, would you? Because I'd be totally fine with that," she joked.

"No."

"Bummer. You really know how to make a woman feel appreciated, Jonas, dear." The deadpan expression on his face made Felicity grin.

Diggle snorted and proceeded to gather his luggage. "I'll just leave you two to your marital bliss and get settled in."

"Be ready in a couple of hours. We're having drinks with Leonov's contact out here."

Felicity ran a hand through her hair. The humidity left her feeling sticky and in need of a shower. "Good. I could definitely use one."

"You're not coming with us," Oliver informed her.

"What? Why?"

"These men are dangerous. I don't want you anywhere near them."

"Then maybe you shouldn't go around telling people that I'm your wife."

"Doesn't matter. The Bratva is primarily a brotherhood. Their women aren't often directly involved in the business."

Felicity folded her arms. "Jeez, sexist much?"

"Take some time to yourself. Relax," Oliver told her while gathering his things. "The real work starts tomorrow anyway." He was walking toward the master bedroom before she could protest further.

Glancing at the mesmerizing view from the balcony once more, Felicity figured there were worse things in life than being excluded from a meeting with the Russian mafia. The circumstances for this trip sucked, but they were in paradise. Why not make the most of it while she could? Smiling, Felicity gathered her own luggage and took the last bedroom. She would freshen up and head down to the pool. The sun and a pina colada were calling her name.