I know I keep saying this, but I really am sorry for keeping you guys waiting. I've had writers block for quite awhile now but I think I'm getting out of it. Plus things have been a bit crazy, I've been going on family vacations and getting ready for school and a lot of other family stuff is happening as well. I really appreciate you guys sticking with the story even though I'm a bit slow. So here's a chapter that's a bit longer than normal. Enjoy!

That night a little after nine Alex heard a knock on her door. After quickly looking through the peephole, she opened the door.

"Hey," she said, smiling as Roy's face came into view.

"Hey," he replied, kissing her. "Good work today. It was a good idea going to Sin."

"Thanks," Alex said. "Now come on, we should get going."

As they left Alex's apartment and headed for Verdant, Roy put his arm around Alex, who smiled and laughed a little.

"What?" Roy asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Nothing, it just feels a little surreal now that we're actually dating," Alex explained. "I mean, I've spent practically my whole life dreaming of a moment like this, without the whole superhero thing, of course, but I never actually thought it would come."

"Why not?" Roy asked curiously.

"Well, I figured I'd spend years and years getting my career started, and by the time I could even consider settling down you'd have found some other girl. And besides, I was always afraid of ruining our friendship." Alex hesitated for a moment before continuing. "And, honestly, sometimes I still am."

"You shouldn't be." Roy stopped walking and stood in front of Alex. She could tell by looking at him that he was dead serious. "Listen, if, for whatever reason, we ever break up, I'll still be here for you."

"And I'll be here for you, too," Alex said, grabbing his hand. "We really should keep walking, though."

They continued heading towards Verdant and their conversation shifted towards the case. Still, Alex's mind was much more at ease. She knew now that no matter what Roy wouldn't leave her, and that meant that she'd keep what little family she had left.

Soon they arrived at Verdant. As they neared the entrance, they let go of each other's hands. Just as they did, Thea opened the doors to the club. Suddenly, Alex realized that she and Roy were still practically standing shoulder-to-shoulder. She took a couple of steps to the side, hoping Thea didn't notice. But both Thea and Roy looked at her.

"So, um, let's go inside," Alex said, awkwardly. Thea must have noticed something, she thought.

"Yeah," Thea agreed, eying her and Roy. "So, what have you guys been up to?"

"Not much," Roy answered.

"Just vigilante stuff, mostly," Alex said.

"Don't you guys have social lives?" Thea asked.

"Not really," Alex replied. "I've never really had time for one."

There was an awkward silence while Alex realized how her last comment had sounded. But it was true. She had spent her entire life working in one way or another, the only important people had been her family and Roy. Of course Thea couldn't understand that. She had always had everything handed to her on a silver spoon.

Luckily, they soon arrived at the basement door. They headed down the stairs and were greeted by Oliver, Felicity, and Dig.

"Alright," Oliver said, "here's the plan."

Later, the team sat in the bunker as they observed a man standing alone in an alley on the computers. Every now and then, someone would walk up to him and there would be a short verbal exchange, before they saw the two figures exchange money and a small plastic bag. They were sure they had found their guy.

Eventually, the man started walking away. They watched as he left the alley and started heading down the street. They turned to other parts of the screen where Felicity had hacked into various traffic and security cameras around the city.

"Let's go," Oliver said to Alex and Roy once they got an idea of the general direction that the man was headed and had given him a good head start. Their goal was to get wherever he was going a few minutes after him. "Felicity, keep us updated."

"Will do," Felicity said.

The trio left the basement and retrieved the motorcycles they kept hidden in the alley. Alex had only had hers for a few days, but with Roy's help she had learned quickly how to ride it.

A few minutes later they heard Felicity say: "He just entered what looks like an old warehouse."

"Alright, I see it," Oliver said. "We're going in."

A minute later they were entering the warehouse through an upper window. Looking down, they saw a large crowd of men. It was obviously a huge operation.

"The second we make our first move we give away our position," Oliver whispered.

"So make it count," Roy stated, loading his bow.

"Right."

Glancing at the scene below her, Alex noted that almost every man carried a gun. She slowly unsheathed her swords, suddenly unsure of her capabilities.

"Never bring a sword to a gunfight," She muttered shakily.

"You'll do fine, Katana." Roy caught her gaze. "This is what you've been training for."

Katana, she thought, he's never called me that before. But I guess I've never been that before. She stared at her katana's, held in her gloved hands. She wasn't Alex. She was The Katana. She knew she had to remember that, and she had to remember that Oliver wasn't Oliver, Roy wasn't Roy. That would be the hardest to remember.

"We have to figure out who the leader is," The Arrow said. "And then we have to isolate him so we can interrogate him."

"How do we do that with all these people around?" The Katana asked.

"We'll have to fight. But first let's find out who he is."

"I think it's that guy," Arsenal said, pointing towards a man several others were speaking to. "I heard someone call him Mr. Black, I think."

"Wait a second." The Arrow peered down at the men below them. "I know him. He was an associate of my father's. His name is Walter Black."

"What do we do now?" Katana asked

"We attack, and then we grab him."

Some men had already left, and there was a significantly smaller crowd. But they were still outnumbered. The Katana felt a pit of nerves growing in her stomach, but there was also adrenaline pumping through her veins.

Thanks to Um I lost my name for following and to PrewalShadeX for following and favoriting.

And thanks to Highlander346, Novaselena, and PrewalShadeX for reviewing.

Highlander348 said:

Thanks for updating! Is Alex finally ready now to go as Katana? :)

Cheers!

Yup! As you can see she's finally out in the field. Thanks for the review!

Novaselena said:

Cool new drug. Hey you know how Oliver always gets injected with vertigo while maybe Alex should get injected with this new drug and they have to save her.

Thanks! It's a great idea, but I've got something else planned, so maybe next time. But I always appreciate suggestions, so thanks!

PrewalShadeX

Awesome! Please update soon!

I'll try to update more often for you and everyone else. Thanks for the review!