I've been considering this one for awhile, prompted by comments the EPs have made about Laurel-"Is she her sister?" I know Laurel is a touchy point for many. Anyway, the promotional pics released of Sara, Roy and Oliver in costume finally prodded me to write this one down. Taking prompts on tumblr- chaos-is-welcome
Laurel Lance pursed her lips as she watched the nightly news. It seemed that "The Canary" was back. The reporter on screen told an overly zealous narrative of how heroes dressed in green, red and black had stopped an attempt to take an entire train hostage.
Her sister was back in town, and she hadn't bothered to pay her a visit yet. But she was already back into the fold with Oliver and his team. She didn't understand how it had happened, that everyone in her life was directly in league with vigilante justice. Even her father, who had been promoted to captain of the force last night, played a huge roll in bringing justice to Starling City.
Sure, she got to "help" too. Once the Arrow brought them in, she made sure that the dirt of Starling City's underbelly stuck to them in a court of law, and that they went down for their crimes. But every other person got to be on the front lines. Oliver and Sara. Thea's criminal ex-boyfriend. Whom she had started dating after he had stolen her purse. Oliver's body guard, who always seemed to look at her with an edge of disdain in his eyes, despite his polite and calm demeanor. Even Oliver's technical analyst got to be closer to the action than she did. It didn't make sense, and it wasn't fair. She didn't want to be on the outside looking in, she wanted in on the action too. But no one would support her in that-not her father, not her sister, and certainly not Ollie and his team.
She powered off the television with a huff and walked to the kitchen. She knew all too well that there was a bottle of wine on the bottom shelf. She'd bought it after the Arrow had freed her from Slade-the night Slade had declared Ollie loved his little tech girl. That explained a few things, she supposed-not that he'd bothered to explain himself. Why start now? As usual, she was always the last person out of the dark in these matter. She'd thought of drinking it often in the months since then, but she'd worked too hard to pull herself out of the hole Tommy's death had put her in.
Just then, a card on the top of the stack she had brought home from the office caught her eye. A business card for the fighter-turned-philanthropist who had come to her office a few days ago seeking help for one of the at-risk youth he mentored. Ted Grant was a handsome man who happened to own a boxing gym for at risk youth. An idea formed, and she reached for the phone. Maybe there was another way for her to get the training she needed in the field . . .
"Hi, Ted? It's Laurel Lance, from the DA's office. Look this is going to sound strange, but you have any plans for this evening?"
Ten minutes later she was headed for Grant's gym in the Glades in her workout gear. She was tired of being on the outside looking in.