[AN: This chapter contains smut toned down to M level. To read the E level or to make sense of it when I cut so much out, go to , RoczaDeb, Arrow Redesigned: The League, Chapter 3]

TIBET, NANDA PARBAT - TRAINING: 1 FEB 2013

Aldire, Qadar, and Sah-him fell into a new training routine. The days started early with a quick meal. Then they trained for six hours in ranged weaponry and unarmed combat.

The trainees were expected to become proficient in all forms of ranged weapons. The longbow, the short bow, the crossbow, darts, throwing stars, the sling, the blowgun, the bola, and the throwing ax. As soon as they showed proficiency in one weapon, they moved to the next. Once they had gained proficiency, they were expected to master at least one ranged weapon. This would become their preferred ranged weapon.

While many of the trainees were learning the ranged weapons, the instructors pulled two trainees off the range to learn unarmed combat. The instructors rotated through all the trainees before they started the cycle over again. This was like the instruction that they had received with the escrima sticks and the swords. They were taught by being brutalized. Punched, kicked, thrown, elbowed, choked. The instructors would commend them for a successful block, punch, or kick. The other trainees were encouraged to observe and gain knowledge when not practicing the ranged weapons.

Sah-him had a little advantage at first because he learned how to use a bow on the island. But that advantage was soon lost. Sah-him learned that Yao Fei's bow was neither a longbow nor a short bow. It was an expedient version used to survive on the island. Nothing more.

Instead, Sah-him focused on his aim. Soon, he could find and hit his target with all the ranged weapons. That skill served in those weapons and in unarmed combat. No matter what was used, even a fist, he would unerringly hit the target. After the instructor was confident that he was knowledgeable in all the ranged weapons, he focused on mastering the ranged weapon of his choice. He preferred the bows. He placed all his focus on the longbow, the short bow, and the crossbow. His skill in targeting already served him with the darts, either hand thrown or using a blowgun. His ability to master multiple ranged weapons was noted by the instructors.

Aldire was not as quick to pick up all the ranged weapons. She took forever to gain proficiency in the ranged weapons. This shortened her time to focus on her mastery. Aldire opted to stick to the blowgun and the darts for mastery after struggling with her proficiency. She could see how those would be the most useful in the field. Her focus was on the unarmed combat.

Aldire was drawn to this type of combat more than Sah-him or Qadar. She watched as often as she could and would practice against shadows. When her turn came, the instructors would commend her willingness to learn. Of all the trainees, she progressed faster than the others in unarmed combat. Though Sah-him seemed to fall not too far behind her. Qadar noted that they both absorbed the knowledge by watching.

Qadar didn't find his proficiency in ranged weapons as quickly as Sah-him. But he didn't struggle with it either, as Aldire did. He chose his ranged weapons for mastery based on what he decided would be his primary weapon. Swords. He wanted to complement his sword skill. He didn't think he would be able to carry a longbow and more than one sword. But he did like the penetration power of the bow. He finally decided on the crossbow with throwing stars and darts. He could see how he needed a ranged weapon when a bladed weapon was ineffective.

Qadar took longer to learn unarmed combat than the other two. While they ate their light meal before their evening classes, he regularly worried that he would be useless in the field. Sah-him told him not to worry. Aldire reminded him that neither of them could match him in a bladed weapon. They couldn't even fight the instructors at the pace that Qadar was using. That comment eased his worries. It made him feel less useless and more capable of holding his own.

Morning training was separated from afternoon training by a short meal. The afternoon weapons training took the next three hours of their schedule. This was divided between bladed weapons and pole weapons. The trainees were taught how to use one type of bladed weapon against another type of bladed weapon. A sword against knives. A kukri against bladed claws. A longsword against a machete.

This type of challenge intrigued Qadar. It drove his tactical and strategic mind into overdrive. He relished the chance to test his new tactics. He routinely threw similar challenges out to the other trainees. Both trainees learned more about the limits of their bladed weapon and gained from the experience. The instructors made note of the additional challenges and Qadar's leadership abilities.

The pole weapons presented their own challenge. At first, the quarterstaff was used to train every trainee. Once mastered, they were instructed to master the other pole weapons. After becoming proficient at moving and striking with the long pole, all that remained was learning how to utilize the weapon at one end.

Aldire preferred to use the quarterstaff. However, she felt that the balance of the pole was upset by the presence of the weapon. She preferred to use it without an additional weapon. Sah-him didn't like any of the pole weapons. He gained proficiency, but he only mastered the halberd. He preferred to use the bow. If he had to get close, the short sword. Qadar was of a similar mind to Sah-him. He had a preferred weapon. He gained his proficiency and mastered the pike. But he still preferred his swords.

The next three hours were an intensive study of various topics. The trainees from more civilized parts of the world had no problem learning how to use computers and smartphones. The technology came easy to them. But they were not as proficient in learning how to operate and maintain a car engine, motorcycle, boat, or plane. The larger mechanical devices needed. The trainees from more rural areas excelled in this knowledge.

The League touched on every subject. They all learned Arabic. At least the ancient version of Arabic used by the League. Even those who could speak Arabic soon learned the differences.

Everyone learned about basic medical first aid. Both for themselves and for their allies. As well as how best to determine if death had been achieved… for evil and for allies. They were taught to never assume the death of evil. To verify it.

Sah-him's vision of Fyers being alive haunted him. He was disturbed to learn that Fyers could have survived an arrow to the neck. Arrows generally didn't penetrate deep or do as much damage as firearms. While the target was surer, it was less likely to be fatal. He took extra time to learn this skill. It made him more determined to ensure that his targets were dead, not appeared dead. Sah-him conducted an extensive analysis of the human body to determine the most efficient and painful areas to hit. But he swore to himself to use his sword to ensure his targets were truly dead. To ensure a successful hunt.

The trainees also acquired an extensive knowledge about the effects of nature. They learned how nature was employed to produce medications and drugs. They were also given basic instruction on how to produce various compounds and elixirs from the plants in the area. They were shown how to identify various plants and animals in different regions of the world. What animal venoms and plants were available and how to use them. They were told which parts of the plant held what elements they could use for different elixirs or drugs and how to prepare them. These elixirs could be used as drugs to induce paralysis, poisoning, healing, anesthesia, or a coma like appearance.

Sah-him also learned more about Yao Fei's Herbs. These herbs were a natural plant that had been found on the island. If dried, they served as a powerful antibiotic and aided healing. They even served to remove most toxins from the body. Sah-him learned that most of these herbs were available to everyone on the Asian continent.

After their last class instruction, they were sent to wash, eat, and retire for the evening. Most of the trainees were in solitary rooms, but Aldire, Qadar, and Sah-him all shared a room. They preferred it this way.

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – BATHING ROOM: 1 MAR 2013

The three Americans were immersed in the League culture. It was this immersion that produced the most shocking of their experiences. The League held to no single religion, believing that all religions held the truth of the Source. For this reason, any cultural or societal norm from the outside world was shed. The League considered them imposed views.

Americans are by nature reserved and prudish. This was largely derived from the founding of America by Puritans and criminals. The legal side of American culture followed the Puritan religious views. While the social side of American culture followed the laxer criminal views.

For example, American society required the most 'personal space' of any civilization outside of its own. Personal space was a zone that a person maintained in polite conversation. Although younger Americans are less reserved than older ones, they would still cover a significant amount of their body to be considered 'decent.' They also are more affronted when they are touched without their consent.

Decency, or the amount of the body that was covered, varied by culture and by religion. None of these standards held in the League. The League refused to conform to any outside culture or religious standard. It held only the balance of good and evil as its purpose. All other considerations were weighed against that measure. Respect was more important than covering the body. Each League member was responsible for their every action. They were taught restraint from indoctrination. Every action was considered measured and thought out.

For the first month of their basic shadow training, Aldire, Qadar, and Sah-him were too worn out and battered to be aware of their surroundings. They barely shuffled from their room to the bathing room, to the dining room, and back to their beds before they fell into an exhausted sleep. The first few weeks were rough and brutal. They were exhausted in mind and body.

As their martial skill improved, they became more aware of their surroundings. They no longer shuffled from their room too tired to notice where they were. They began to take notice of their surroundings. The most shocking thing to them was the bathing room.

The bathing room was designed as one long pool. The water flowed from one end to the other and exited. This kept it clean. The pool was carved from stone. Gentle steps leading into and out of one end. The whole pool was kept warm from underground hot springs. It was perfect for bathing. The pool was surrounded by a rock surface of several feet. Most of the other members of the League would use this area to place soap or towels on this surface. The bathing room was lined with hooks to hang their robes and a shelf with stacks of soap and towels. Bins for the used towels were next to the stack of clean towels. It was a very efficient way to provide bathing for a large group of people.

The League members, regardless of sex or age, stripped off their robes and went into the pool unclothed. They carried only a towel and soap with them. This shocked Aldire, Qadar, and Sah-him. They were used to bathing alone. Even parents did not bath with their children after they proved proficient at an early age. The older members of the League showed no modesty. Even in the presence of children of all ages. There was often a group of children in the care of an older League member.

Like all the new recruits, they learned that they shouldn't feel self-conscious of their bodies. They should respect others. A lack of respect would not be tolerated. If they did not want to look, then they should not look. They needed time to become familiar with this new awareness of their environment. To be aware and alert, but not to stare at the other members of the League. They succeeded and adapted quickly.

The next shock came when they walked into the bathing room to see a couple engaged in sex at one side of the pool. But the others, including the children, ignored them. They eventually learned that this was also a common experience in their new culture. They learned to ignore this as well. The three of them established a pattern of witnessing and ignoring various acts of sex, closeness, and intimacy. Over the months, regardless whether the act included men and women, two men, or two women. Because their new culture held to no outside world influences or religious practices. Love was love and respect was respect.

American culture only accepted one pairing. The other two were tolerated, but largely ignored. Discrimination against gay men or lesbian women was frequent and seldom prosecuted. In the League, a pairing was between two souls. The body the soul was housed in didn't matter. It took the three only a short time to adjust their thinking to their new League culture.

Sah-him was curious. Sexually curious. He knew beyond any doubt that he loved Aldire. But he also loved Qadar. He needed them both on a visceral level. He began to wonder if he was more bisexual than heterosexual. Is my love of Qadar the love of a brother? Could it be more? He has been with me my whole life. Aldire and I would frequently include him. Not only some activities, but all activities. He wanted to find out if he had a sexual interest as well. He wanted to bring Qadar closer to him. Let him know how needed he was. How important he was.

Aldire was fighting her own demons. She was still struggling with the demon of Ivo's violent rape. She still wanted Sah-him. She craved him sexually, even if she couldn't perform the act yet. Her mind knew that he would never hurt her in that way. But she still hesitated. The ghost of Ivo made her flinch.

Likewise, Aldire didn't want to exclude Qadar. He had become much more than a friend. A best friend. A partner. He was a part of them. He had been her sanity on the Amazo. She knew that Qadar felt distant from them before the Gambit. That he wanted more from them, but didn't know what he wanted. She didn't him to feel that way. She wanted to include him. But if I am not ready to be with Sah-him, how can I be with Qadar? Can I be with both?

Qadar wanted to be with his friends in any way they would accept. He needed to be included. He acknowledged that his friends were meant to be together. Together in a way of a man and a woman. They had always been together. As a couple. He would always support them. He was glad that they didn't want to push him to another room. He needed to be near them too much. He needed them too much. He would take whatever they offered. If I am not alone. I won't be alone.

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

TIBET, NANDA PARBAT – BATHING ROOM: 29 MAY 2013

Four months had passed since indoctrination. All the trainees were feeling confident in their martial skills. They had achieved mastery in their chosen weapon as well as overall skill in all the weapons. They had learned the ancient Arabic used by the League, even if they were not skilled in its use yet.

Sikiyn took the place of the priest that had taught their evening class at the end of the lecture. "Good evening, Trainees," he greeted them.

"Good evening, Sikiyn," they replied with a practiced response. Sikiyn frequently addressed the trainees like this when he was announcing a change in the next day's routine. This was a frequent occurrence during their training.

"You have all made good progress in your training," Sikiyn complimented them. "You are now ready to put the stealth and infiltration skills you learned in the prior lesson into practice. To make this a challenge for you, we will be relocating to the city of Hong Kong. We will depart from the airfield after the morning meal. Now, go. Wash, eat, and rest." Sikiyn then quirked his lips.

"It will be done," the trainees replied with another practiced response.

Sikiyn smiled and walked out of the room through the students. The trainees quickly followed him.

Once they changed into their robes and headed to the bathroom, Qadar commented, "Hong Kong."

"Sounds like," Aldire replied.

"None of us will blend in there. Even in our civilian clothes," Sah-him commented. "Four of us are lily white, two of us are middle eastern, and the last is black. Only our one Asian will blend. We will all stand out," he said. He paused. "I think that's the point."

"That makes sense," Aldire replied. "We must try to blend in and use stealth to infiltrate. It will challenge our skills."

They walked into the bathing room and hung up their robes with practiced ease. They grabbed towels and soap and started walking to the pool. Aldire just walked past the spectacle of Nyssa in oral sex with another woman at the top of the stairs. Qadar tried to follow her lead, but then the woman moaned in pleasure. He hurried past and joined Aldire at the side of the pool. Sah-him stared briefly before he hurried past. He quickly washed to the sounds of the woman's pleasure and her eventual climax.

Sah-him finished drying himself and wrapped himself in his robe as quickly as he could. He needed to get back to his room. He moved past the door to the room and closed it. He leaned heavily on it. He was panting. He imagined the two women. A sound made him turn.

Qadar was laying on his sleeping mat on the floor. It was his soft moan that had made Sah-him turn. It looks like I am not the only one affected by the two women. The sight aroused him.

I have thought about my attraction to Qadar before. This proves it's a sexual attraction. Do I want to do this? Sah-him asked himself. I don't know if he will accept or reject me. What about Aldire? I still love her. I still want her. He stood in silent contemplation when Qadar let out another groan of pleasure. I need to find out. He strode forward and dropped his robe. He settled down at his friend's ankles. He smiled in anticipation.

"Wha'?" Qadar asked. His eyes were already glazed in confusion.

"Let me," Sah-him told him. He leaned forward and pushed his friend's hand away.

"Shit!" Qadar swore as he threw his head back. Both hands clenched the blankets on his sleeping mat.

Sah-him took it as a gesture of approval and continued.

"FUCK!" Qadar swore louder. "Oh, fuck!"

Sah-him continued to pleasure him.

"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!" Qadar screamed.

Sah-him smiled as he took in the relaxed features of his friend. Yes. Definitely bisexual. At least for Qadar, I am. I loved it. But will Qadar?

"Feel better?" Sah-him asked his friend with a smile. Hiding his anxiety.

"That was fucking amazing," Qadar answered, closing his eyes in contentment.

"That was hot," Aldire said with amazement from behind Sah-him.

Sah-him turned to look at her with wide eyes. "Uh…" he started. She's not upset? I want her too. I don't want to lose her with this.

"What about you?" Aldire asked Sah-him, looking pointedly at him.

"I don't…" Sah-him started to reply.

"I want to take care of you," Aldire replied, echoing his thoughts. "I just... I'm not ready yet... for stuff... But I can take care of you." Then she looked over at Qadar. "Do you want to help?" she asked him.

"Help?" Qadar asked. This is intriguing. How can I help? "Okay, sure," he replied. She always has a plan. Her plans are always the best.

Aldire smiled. "Good," she replied. She examined the scene with the two men in front of her. She felt calm. I love them both. I want them both. I need them both. I won't lose them. They know how to share. "You, on your back," she told Sah-him. I know his skills in that area are exceptional.

"Alright," Sah-him replied. He lay down next to Qadar. His eyes darkened with lust.

"You, down here," Aldire told Qadar. "You spread," she told Sah-him. They both obeyed her instructions. They had reversed their positions. "Good," she replied. Then she climbed over Sah-him.

"I know what I am supposed to do," Sah-him replied with a smirk.

"Oh... yeah," Aldire replied with a soft moan. She started to pant. "God, so good," she moaned. "Qadar," she said as she tried to focus on him. "Help me... God!... I'll take the front. You take the back," she panted between breaths.

"The back," Qadar replied as he considered Aldire's statement. I'm not sure.

"Oh, fuck!" Sah-him swore as his two friends moved to pleasure both sides of him. God! It all feels so damn good.

Qadar took that as a good sign.

Aldire pleasured Sah-him.

Qadar loved listening to the moans of both his friends as they pleasured each other.

Sah-him's whole body tensed and he gave a wordless cry.

Aldire let Sah-him slide from her mouth as she released him with her hand. She slowly sat up beside her two boys.

"Oh, my fucking God!" Sah-him swore from the mat as he came back to himself after his release.

"Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?" Qadar asked. He still wasn't sure about what he had done. It seems like he liked it. But… best to hear it.

"Absolutely, a good thing," Sah-him replied. He looked up and blue eyes met blue eyes. "I mean it."

Qadar smiled.

"Boys," Aldire chastised. Then she turned to Sah-him. "You really liked it?" she asked. She was unsure about what they had just done.

"I did," Sah-him told her. "I liked it better because it was Qadar." He looked down at Qadar. "I trust you in ways I don't trust anyone else. I need you," he said looking at Qadar. "I always have."

"I... I need you too. Both of you," Aldire admitted while giving soulful eyes to Qadar. "I want you to be a part of us. In all ways. Partners. Is that something you want?" she asked him.

Qadar was stunned to silence. They want me? They want to include me in their relationship? But... I don't want to interfere in their relationship. Is it possible? "I… I have always wanted that," Qadar admitted slowly. "I didn't know how. You two… you were meant for each other. I could tell. Well, outside..." he stopped. He didn't know how to continue. His thoughts jumbled.

"But we are not in the outside world any longer," Sah-him replied firmly as he sat up. "Here, we can be exactly what we were meant to be. The three of us. Together."

"I asked Dusan," Aldire added after some hesitation. "Why... Why we were together when the others had their own room. He said that we had a bond. That Nyssa could see that bond." She glanced between the two before she continued. "When people are drawn to each other like we are... They call it being soul bound." She collected her thoughts as she moved to sit next to Sah-him. "According to the Qas, when two people are so close, their souls are tied together. I think that our souls are tied together. The three of us. Always… Not even death can separate us."

"Yeah," Sah-him continued. "When... when I thought you both died... I was lost. I struggled. I had to decide to live... for your memory."

"I… I thought my world had ended when we thought you died," Aldire admitted. "But that made me realize how much I needed Qadar. No matter what, I needed him to be okay. I needed him."

"I… I can live with that. I have always needed both of you. You have always been there for me," Qadar replied as he contemplated what his friends had told him. Then he smiled, "Does that mean we are going to be doing more of this?" he asked. He was eager. He had always wanted to be with Aldire. But she was with Sah-him. He refused to hurt his friends that way.

"God, I hope so," Sah-him replied.

"Well, we may have to take it slow," Qadar replied with his eyes wide. He wasn't quite sure how to take these new feelings yet. But he wasn't against them either. Not with Sah-him at least. "Work up to it. You know."

"Good thing we are going to Hong Kong then," Sah-him replied. Sah-him had been thinking about being with Qadar for months. He was tired of waiting. He wanted to act.

"God," Aldire swore.

"You want to watch?" Sah-him asked with a smile. The thought of Aldire watching them both made it even better for him. He liked that thought.

"Oh hell yes," Aldire replied. "The sight of two men is hot as hell. Make them MY two men... Oh, yeah."

"I like the sound of that," Qadar said. "Your two men." He smiled at how possessive Aldire had become of the two of them. He didn't mind if she claimed him. Him and Sah-him. Best friends forever. She always had the best ideas.

"It does sound good," Aldire replied. "Come on. We need to eat and rest. Hong Kong is waiting."

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~

USA, WA, STARLING CITY - BERLANTI PREPARATORY: 29 MAY 2013

"Sara!" Thea exclaimed as she rushed over to her friend. "How does it feel to be beyond all the drama of High School?" she asked.

Berlanti Preparatory Academy had just finished the final ceremony for the graduating class. Sara's class of 2013. The family members were collecting their graduate before leaving. It was in this mass of humanity that Thea found her.

"I feel... exhausted," Sara grinned at her young friend. Her sister. "I could sleep for a week."

"No. You couldn't," Thea snarked back at her. "You would get bored and hunt down entertainment."

"Yeah. You're probably right," Sara agreed as she reached over to tickle her 12-year-old sister.

Thea roared with laughter as she tried to evade Sara's clever hands. Her giggling only stopped when Sara did.

Dinah strode over to Sara and Thea having finally found her daughter. Quentin was walking behind her. She ignored him. What is she doing here? She was angry at just the sight of that Queen girl. She stopped and took an aggressive stance. How dare that little twit laugh. Her family is responsible for my baby's death. She has no right to be happy. She glared at Thea for a moment before turning to Sara. "Have you changed your mind yet?" she demanded of Sara.

"No, Mom. I haven't," Sara replied with a tired sigh.

Sara had been fending off her mother's attempts to choose another college after she had been accepted to the University of Starling City. Her mother had gone from insisting on her attending Central City University to any other University or college… if it wasn't U of SC. Sara refused. U of SC was where her friends had attended. Where Laurel had attended. She didn't want to go anywhere else. It was an old argument.

"Fine," Dinah replied with anger. "If you want to waste your life, it'll be on your head."

"I'm not wasting my life," Sara replied tiredly.

"Why would Sara have to change her college?" Thea asked innocently.

"I don't," Sara quickly replied.

Dinah turned on Thea. "To get away from YOU and the duplicitous nature of your family," she snarled at the young girl.

"That's enough, Dinah," Quentin interrupted his wife. "You know damn well that Thea had nothing to do with Laurel's loss. That her family had nothing to do with Laurel's loss. It was a storm... Blame nature. It can be ugly and cruel. But I will not allow you to attack an innocent child in your spite."

"She is far from innocent if she was born into THAT family," Dinah retorted as she spun around and stalked away.

"I'm sorry, Thea," Quentin told the girl softly. "No one blames you. I certainly don't blame you."

Tears had started to from in Thea's eyes as she grabbed a hold of Sara and buried her face in her chest. "Why does she hate me?" the little girl stuttered out between sobs. "What did I do?" she begged to understand Dinah's anger.

Sara wrapped her arms around Thea and shushed her as she rubbed her back. "Nothing, little one," Sara reassured her. "You have done nothing."

Quentin leaned down. "It's not you, Thea," he started. "Dinah... She wants to blame someone... Your family... You... Those are the targets she has chosen. It's not fair. It's not right. It just is."

"Does this mean that I can't see Sara anymore?" Thea's muffled voice asked as she clung to the older woman.

"Not at all," Sara replied. "I am not going anywhere. You are my sister. I refuse to let that bitter, old woman tell me what to do."

"Sara," Quentin started. "She is still your mother. She should have some of your respect."

"I'm an adult now," Sara said with a glare at her father. "She is too. She has made her choice. I have made mine. Any further respect will only be given if it is returned. I won't allow her to attack my sister... Hell, Raisa has been more of a mother for this last year than she has."

"And she makes the best cookies," Thea mumbled in her chest.

"That she does," Sara agreed. She gently pushed Thea back far enough to see her face. "Feel better now?" she asked.

Thea nodded. "I'm sorry I made a mess of your shirt," she apologized.

"Not a problem," Sara replied. "That's what sisters are for. Just wait until you discover boys... That's when I pull out the big guns... Ice cream from the tub."

"But... You'll be away," Thea said with a trembling lip.

"Nah," Sara replied. "I'll have my own place near school. You are always welcome there. Always. You need me and I'm there."

"Really?" Thea asked as her face brightened.

"Really," Sara agreed.

"Come on, girls," Quentin replied as he guided the two girls through the crowd of people meeting their graduates. "Let's go find Thea's driver. We have a party to get to..."

~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~