Chapter 11
AN: Thank you for the support. Hope you like the changes, please let me know what you think.
AN2: IMPORTANT: Okay, so I have managed to write/edit chapters quicker I was expecting, so I am updating 5 chapters now, then I will update more on Saturday before I go away.
A few days after Thea saw Laurel stich up her own side, Thea, who has been avoiding her brother, and who has snuck off school grounds during her lunch break, is walking into Ted's Gym. Ever since seeing Laurel treat her own injury Thea has been trying to think up a way to make things safer for Laurel. While she has an idea Thea hasn't been able to figure out how to obtain what she needs and so she has decide to go to, as far as she knows, the only person who can help her get what she needs.
"Ted? You here?" Thea calls as she walks into the gym.
"Thea? What are you doing here?" Ted asks as he walks out from the back room. "Shouldn't you be in school?" Ted asks, as that's what he assumes.
"Yeah, I kind of snuck of school grounds," Thea explains.
"Why would you do that?" Ted asks shocked, knowing from Laurel that it has been a long time since Thea skipped school. "And why would you come here?" Ted asks.
"I needed to talk to you, about Laurel," Thea says, looking around the room to make sure no one is close enough to hear what she is about to say. "About her night job," Thea adds in a voice that is barely above a whisper.
"Let's go talk in my office," Ted says and he and Thea head towards the office, Ted making sure to close the door behind them. "If you want me to try and convince D not to go out at night then you should know I won't succeed. We both know she is too stubborn and wants to help people too much," Ted informs Thea, feeling that it is important that she understands that.
"That's not why I'm here," Thea assures Ted as she knows he is right. "Laurel keeps getting stabbed or grazed by bullets, and I was thinking that her suit could use some ballistic upgrades, you know, something more than just leather, but I have no idea where you would get something like that," Thea admits. "I was hoping that you do," Thea says to Ted.
"Yeah, I do, but It won't be cheap," Ted says, causing Thea to give him a 'and?' look. "Right, I forget that sometimes," Ted says, as Thea barely gives away just how rich she really is. "I guess it won't be a problem," Ted realises.
"Really wouldn't be," Thea assures him. "Can you arrange it? What do you need?" Thea asks curious.
"Yeah, I can arrange it," Ted tells her. "You'll have to pay cash, and they'll need specifics about what you want the suit to look like, and the sizing," Ted explains and once he does Thea opens her bag and pulls out a piece of paper.
"Will this work?" Thea asks as she hands the paper over. "The sizing is on the back,"
"Yeah, it works," Ted assures her. "Did you draw this?" Ted asks curious.
"Yeah," Thea responds.
"It's good,"
"Thanks," Thea says with a grin, feeling rather proud of herself as she put a lot of time into the design as she wanted it to be perfect for Laurel. "How long will it take to make?" Thea asks.
"I can only guess, but I'd say about a month, maybe less," Ted answers.
"Oh, okay," Thea says, slightly disappointed by that as she was hoping that Laurel would have more protection well before then.
"It needs to take so long because it needs to be done right," Ted explains to Thea. "I know you want the best for Laurel," Ted says.
"Yeah, I do," Thea confirms. "I've got to get back to school. Let me know how much money you need and when," Thea requests.
"Will do," Ted says before Thea leaves.
Unaware that Thea has skipped school to do something for her, a fact that she would be less than happy about, Laurel is at CNRI reading a news report about Oliver opening a club as even though she tries to stay way Laurel finds herself drawn back to Oliver.
"Hey. Do you have the depos on the Jergens case?" Jo asks as she walks over to Laurel.
"Yeah, they're around here somewhere," Laurel says, though she doesn't really look.
"What are you doing?" Jo asks surprised that Laurel is so distracted. "Really Laurel?" Jo asks, seeing what's on Laurel's screen and she quickly closes the tab she is looking at.
"It's nothing," Laurel quickly says.
"You know, I might believe that if you weren't trolling for articles on him and then to make matters worse you closed the tab like it was something illegal as soon as I saw," Jo comments.
"I was not trolling," Laurel says as she starts to look for the depos so that she can get Jo to leave.
"I don't want to have to be the one to remind you that he cheated on you, Laurel, with your sister," Jo says, giving Laurel a reminder that she does not leave.
"I appreciate your self-control," Laurel says sarcastically.
"You're stuck in the past, and the reason I know that is the fact that the only physical relationship you've had since Oliver was a one-night stand, with his best friend, years ago, unless of course you're doing a lot more than just seeing an old friends when you go visit Bruce Wayne in Gotham," Jo tells Laurel, believing that there is more than just friendship between Laurel and Bruce.
"Bruce is just a friend, and he isn't the only person I see when I go to Gotham" Laurel responds, being pretty sure most people won't believe that, and also knowing that she wouldn't describe Bruce as 'just' anything, but it's the simplest way to describe their relationship.
"Then my point stands," Jo responds, causing Laurel to search quicker as she really wants this conversation to be over as the night she spent with Tommy when they were both hurting wasn't a high point in her life, but it only happened once. "It's time to move on. No actually, it's past time," Jo says.
"I've been busy," Laurel defends. "I work a lot, and I have a teenager at home," Laurel explains.
"Yeah, you do, a teenager who agrees that you need to have fun," Jo argues.
"Have you been talking to Thea?" Laurel asks surprised.
"We may have discussed the fact that you need to have more fun," Jo comments. "We're going out tonight, and we're going to have some shots, and we're going to dance with men that we don't know, and we're going to stay out way too late," Jo informs Laurel, who really doesn't want to do that. "And here are the depos," Jo says, finding them.
"I really don't think I can go out tonight," Laurel says.
"It's adorable that you actually think I'm giving you a choice," Jo says, before waling away.
"Great, just great," Laurel mutters, really not wanting to go out as with everything that is going on, everything she has to do, she really doesn't have time to go out.
A few hours later Laurel arriving home and as she walks into the apartment she finds Thea sitting on the couch doing her homework.
"Hey, long day?" Thea asks.
"You can say that," Laurel says as she closes the door. "Have you been talking to Jo about my social life?" Laurel asks curious.
"What social life? You don't have one," Thea comments. "Which is exactly the problem," Thea informs Laurel. "You need to go out more, Laurel," Thea says, feeling concerned about her.
"Jo wants me to go clubbing tonight, which is a horrible idea," Laurel says as she sits down next to Thea.
"Since when are you against casually going clubbing? Isn't that how you and Bruce met?" Thea asks curious.
"Not exactly," Laurel mutters, her voice barely above a whisper as that story isn't one she particularly wants to talk about.
"What?" Thea asks, having not been able to make out what Laurel said.
"Doesn't matter," Laurel says as she really doesn't want to tell Thea the story of when She, Tommy Oliver met Bruce met for the first time, in fact she is pretty sure that it would be better if Thea never heard that story. "Even if I was okay with going clubbing, she wants to start with Max Fuller's club and that is extremely bad idea," Laurel explains.
"Why? What's wrong with going to Max's club?" Thea asks curious, not understanding why that would be a big deal.
"That's a very long story," Laurel answers, and honestly that is another story that she doesn't want to tell Thea.
"Okay then," Thea says, wondering exactly what she is missing, but being pretty sure that she is missing at least a few things. "You should go. I mean seriously Laurel when was the last time you did something other than go to work, be the Women in Black, go to Ted's, talk to Bruce, or Barbra, or be here?" Thea asks, feeling that Laurel should do more.
"Ollie's welcome home party," Laurel answers.
"Doesn't count, you left after about five minutes," Thea informs Laurel.
"Fine then, last month. Ted and I spent the day together," Laurel argues.
"You guys went Clift climbing. That doesn't count as having fun," Thea argues. "You need to have fun, go out with Jo, relax for once," Thea instructs.
"I don't know," Laurel says, as she really doesn't think it's a good idea.
"Yes, you do," Thea says. "You are going out tonight even if I have to kick you out of this apartment myself," Thea says, the look on her face making it perfectly clear how serious she is about this.
"Fine," Laurel says with a sigh.
"Great. Let's go figure out what you are going to wear," Thea says before getting up and heading to Laurel's room.
"Thea!" Laurel calls after her. "I can dress myself," Laurel says as she gets up and follows Thea into the other room.
"If I let you pick it's probably going to involve a leather item, and while that could be interesting, I'm pretty sure it's not the message you want to send," Thea comments with an amused look on her face.
"You're going to make me regret this," Laurel comments as she walks into her bedroom.
"Please, I'm pretty sure that you already do," Thea says with a grin. "But that doesn't matter because you're going out and you're gonna have some fun," Thea says, putting on a stubborn voice that, to Laurel's annoyance, she is pretty sure that Thea learnt from her.
After about an hour of trying on clothes Laurel is pretty sure that she has tried almost every outfit in her wardrobe, and even a few of Thea's, but she still hasn't found an outfit that Thea actually approves off.
"I'm not trying on another outfit," Laurel informs Thea.
"Fine, I guess that will do," Thea says as she looks up and down at what Laurel is wearing.
"I better go. I'm already late for Jo," Laurel admits. "If you need anything, just call," Laurel says.
"I won't," Thea responds, but Laurel knows the tone all too well as it is the one that makes Thea sound the most like her brother.
"Thea," Laurel says in a warning tone of voice.
"Okay fine," Thea says, rolling her eyes. "If something happens and I need you I will call, but otherwise, go, have fun," Thea tells Laurel as she basically pushes Laurel to the door.
"Fine. I'll be home later," Laurel tells Thea as she heads out.
"Have fun," Thea calls as Laurel leaves.
After Laurel finally leaves Thea heads back over to the couch, planning on ordering the food that Laurel hates while watching the TV shows she despises.
About forty minutes after Laurel was basically forced out of the apartment Thea is sitting on the couch, finishing the food that she ordered for herself when she hears footsteps, and she turns to see Roy and Sin coming into the living room from the way they always get into the apartment; through the window.
"Hey, I was wondering when you two would show up," Thea comments as she knew it wouldn't be long.
"What are you eating?" Sin asks, pulling a face.
"Something great," Thea says with a smirk.
"Where's Laurel?" Roy asks curious as he looks around the room being pretty sure that Laurel has banned the food that Thea is currently eating.
"You're gonna love this," Thea says, with a grin. "She's gone clubbing with Jo," Thea explains.
"Laurel's gone clubbing?" Roy asks shocked, knowing how out of character that is for her, and Thea nods.
"Wow, I'd pay to see that," Sin says, her tone of voice being one of both shock and amazement as that is so unlike Laurel.
"Well, you know, I know the club she has gone to, and one of the perks of being a Queen means I could get us in," Thea reveals, smirking slightly.
"Really?" Roy asks, feeling surprised by that.
"Yeah, and you know I think seeing Laurel clubbing would make all the trouble I would be in worth it," Thea says with a smirk.
"It really would," Roy confirms. "So, why exactly are we still talking about this?" Roy asks.
"We're not, we're going," Sin says, there being no room for argument in her voice. "Let's go," Sin says and after exchanging looks Thea, Roy, and Sin head out of the room, heading towards the fire escape even though the front door is closer.
A while after she left Thea at the apartment, Laurel, who is counting down to when it would be acceptable for her to leave, is at Max Fuller's club. As she looks at Jo, from where she is standing at the bar waiting for her drink, Laurel just feels completely out of place, and she is positive that going clubbing isn't what she does anymore.
Wondering if she can sneak away without anyone noticing Laurel looks around and as she does Laurel spots two people who she really shouldn't be surprised to see, but who really shouldn't be at this particular club.
"Oh, wow! Doesn't you going out and having fun violate some kind of law, you know, like the ones that are carved on a stone tablet?" Tommy teases, clearly glad, but amused, to see her.
"That's cute, Tommy, thanks," Laurel says, sarcastically. "I can see you two are up to your old hunting patterns," Laurel comments, not overly surprised.
"Just seeing what passes in Star City after five years," Oliver explains.
"Right, well I'm sure you'll find that it just hasn't been the same without you," Laurel says with a smirk, and as she does, she notices three particular people walk in. "You've got to be kidding me," Laurel says, sounding annoyed.
"What?" Oliver and Tommy ask together, as they turn to see Thea, Sin and Roy.
"Excuse me. I have three teenage asses to kick," Laurel says, before walking over to the teenagers, knowing that only Thea and Sin are underage so technically they are the only ones who asses she can kick, but that won't stop her from giving Roy a hard time.
"Wow, I really wouldn't want to be those three right now," Tommy comments amused, and as Oliver watches Laurel walk away, he would really much want to join her in punishing the three teenagers, but he doesn't want to overstep.
"What are you doing here?" Laurel asks Thea, Roy, and Sin, once she is close enough.
"We wanted to see what you having fun looks like," Roy explains. "It seemed like an impossibility," Roy comments.
"Gee thanks," Laurel says sarcastically. "You three shouldn't be here," Laurel says, as she looks between the trio.
"Maybe not," Sin admits. "But you have to admit that you having fun is a big deal," Sin comments.
"As true as that may be two of you are underage. You need to go," Laurel informs them.
"Please, we all know that you snuck into many clubs when you were our age," Thea reminds Laurel, who knows she has a point. "And don't deny it, Tommy's told me stories, plus I remember from when I used to spy on you guys," Thea admits, causing Laurel to frown and as she does, she notices something out of the corner of her eye.
"Excuse me, there is something I have to do, and you three need to leave," Laurel informs them, and then to Thea, Sin, and Roy's surprise Laurel walks away.
"So, should we leave?" Sin asks curious and feeling confused, wondering what happened, as she looks between Thea and Roy.
"Maybe," Thea answers, sounding uncertain.
"It might be best. She looks close to breaking point," Roy comments, knowing that it can be fun to push Laurel to her line, but that it is not good to push her too far.
"That she does," Thea confirms and the three of them head out of the club, having come to the conclusion that testing Laurel right now would be a bad idea.
After leaving Thea, Roy, and Sin, Laurel heads straight to the back room where Tommy and Oliver have been taken and without any trouble she manages to kick the ass of the Body Guards that Max Fuller has, as well as Mas himself, resulting in all of them being on the floor; in pain.
"So, is this over, Max? or are you going to have your boys pound on me next?" Laurel asks, as Oliver and Tommy look at her in amazement from their own positions on the ground.
"You three consider yourselves banned for life. Get the hell out of my place!" Max says before leaving Laurel, Oliver, and Tommy alone.
"Your club sucks anyway!" Tommy calls after him.
"You guys okay?" Laurel asks, looking between them and wanting to make sure they are okay.
"So, boxing isn't the only thing you've learnt in the last five years," Oliver realises, looking at Laurel in surprise.
"It's really not. If you would excuse me, I have a teenager to ground," Laurel says before walking away, leaving Tommy and Oliver alone, both watching her go with amazed looks on their faces.
Not long after leaving Max's club Laurel, who is feeling both extremely annoyed and frustrated, arrives back at the apartment where Thea, Sin, and Roy are sitting on the couch, clearly waiting for her.
"Hey Laurel," Thea greats with an 'I'm innocent,' smile.
"Don't even start," Laurel says, not even managing to hide her annoyance. "What were you three thinking? Roy it's okay for you to be in a club, but Thea and Sin are underage, at least for a few more months," Laurel says, looking between the three teenagers.
"That doesn't matter in Star City," Sin comments, knowing that for a fact.
"Really doesn't," Thea confirms. "Look, Laurel, we just wanted to make sure that you actually had fun, it seems like everything you do these days is either work, or for me, us," Thea explains, there being a level of guilt to her voice.
"Hey, look at me, Speedy," Laurel says, walking over and squatting down in front of Thea. "I like spending time with you, with all of you, and I do consider the things we do together fun," Laurel assures her, reaching over and taking Thea's hands. "You don't have to worry about me, or feel guilty, I love very second, I spend with you guys; even when I'm annoyed. So don't feel guilty, any of you," Laurel says, looking between the three teenagers.
"Okay," Thea says, though she still feels a little bit of guilt.
"Now, I've got to go out and handle something," Laurel reveals, being vague on purpose. "I'll be home in a few hours,"
"You mean you've got to go be the Glades Guardian, the Women in Black," Roy comments, causing both Laurel and Thea to look at him, and Sin who doesn't look surprised by the comment, in surprise.
"How'd you figure it out?" Laurel asks, as Thea looks at her, trying to figure out what they should say, not realising that Laurel already decided not to lie.
"For a long time, I didn't, but then I was watching some of the footage of the Woman in Black that has been captured and I saw the moves that I watched you learn, and I knew," Roy explains. "You already knew, didn't you?" Roy asks, looking at Thea, as that is what he assumes.
"Yeah," Thea confirms.
"Thea and Ted know," Laurel says, not mentioning Bruce, or the people he works with who also know now, as that will raise a whole lot of questions that aren't her place to answer. "I didn't tell either of you because I wanted to protect you," Laurel explains, looking between Roy and Sin, meaning that completely, and hoping that they understand.
"We thought so," Sin admits, which is why she is not angry.
"But now that we know I want to help," Roy reveals. "I want to fight with you out there," Roy says, as ever since he realised what Laurel has been doing, he has been thinking about ways to help her.
"Roy…" Laurel starts to say.
"Look, you've looked out for me since we met and I can honestly say that I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you," Roy says, feeling uncomfortable at admitting that, but feeling the need to. "Which is why I need to help you out there. You're good Laurel, an incredible fighter, but everyone needs backup. You can't save this city alone," Roy informs Laurel, the person who he basically considers to be his big sister.
Being completely touched by Roy's words Laurel moves from her place in front of Thea and over to Roy where she pulls the teenager in for a hug. "Thank you," Laurel whispers as she hugs him.
"You don't have to thank me, just let me help," Roy requests as they break apart. "I've been training with Ted, and I've been to Archery classes with Thea, not to mention all the training I've done with other weapons. I can help you," Roy says. "And I'm going to whether you agree or not," Roy adds, meaning that completely, as he feels like there is now way he can let Laurel continue to do this alone.
"Okay," Laurel says, doing so because even though she wants to protect Roy she knows that he is telling the truth and that he will fight for the city with or without her permission and chances are he'll be safer, they'll both be safer, if they fight together.
"What? You agreed to Roy fighting but not me!" Thea objects, sounding annoyed.
"You're still under eighteen," Laurel reminds Thea. "But I have a compromise for you both," Laurel says, knowing that now she has agreed to let Roy fight she isn't going to be able to keep Thea away from fighting for long. "You too, Sin if you're interested," Laurel adds.
"Nah, I'd prefer to just monitor things, no fighting," Sin comments, not sure if she will stick to that, but at the moment that's what she wants to do.
"Okay," Laurel says with a nod, feeling that that is Sin's choice. "My proposition is simple. You spend a few weeks monitoring things, just like Thea's been doing for me, so that you can understand what it is really like out there," Laurel explains, looking between Thea and Roy. "And then, in a few weeks, I'll talk to Ted and ask him to help me create… well an obstacle course for you," Laurel explains, knowing she might ask Bruce's opinion next time she sees him in person. "It will be like what things are like on the streets and we can make it to make sure you can handle it," Laurel explains to the teenagers.
"You mean you're going to assess us," Thea realises.
"Exactly," Laurel tells her. "I want to protect you, all three of you, which means even though I know I can't stop you I don't plan to let you fight without making sure you're all as safe as possible," Laurel says, looking between them. "Okay?" Laurel asks.
"Okay," Thea, Roy and Sin say together.
"Good," Laurel says, smiling at them. "I've got some people to beat up. I'll be home in a couple of hours," Laurel says to the three of them before getting up and heading out of the room.
"Don't die out there," Thea says to Laurel as she leaves, and once she does Thea turns to the others. "I'll show you how I monitor Laurel," Thea explains, collecting the laptop that she uses to monitor, and keep in contact with, Laurel.
For the next couple of hours Laurel is out on the streets of the Glades fighting the criminals who use the city to do their illegal business, but, for the first time, Laurel hears the voices of all three of her 'kids' as she fights. As she hears them it reminds Laurel of why she started being the Woman in Black, which makes her fight harder.
Arriving back at the apartment, by climbing through the window, Laurel heads straight to the living are where her kids are.
"You three should be in bed," Laurel says to the teenagers, though honestly, she didn't expect them to be in bed when she got back.
"There was no way we were going to go to bed before you got home," Sin tells Laurel, standing up and walking over to her. "Here," Sin says, handing Laurel an ice pack and a bag of frozen peas. "Put the pack on your wrist and the peas on your ribs. From that blow it looked like you need it," Sin explains as Laurel takes off her wig and mask.
"Thanks, but how'd you see what happened?" Laurel asks curious.
"Sin hacked the street cams," Roy says, sounding rather proud of her friend.
"You did?" Laurel asks, looking at Sin with a smile.
"Yeah, a friend taught me how," Sin reveals, deciding not to mention that it was Barbra Gordon, who is one of Laurel's oldest friends, who taught her, nor mentioning that Barbra taught her so that she could have an added way to protect herself when walking the streets of the Glades "It took me a while, but I think I might be able to make it quicker in the future," Sin explains.
"Nice," Laurel says, smiling at her as they both walk back over to the couches.
"Anything broken?" Sin asks concerned, as Laurel sits down.
"No, just bruised," Laurel admits, putting the arm that is not hurting, around Thea.
"You know, it might be a good idea to set up a place for you, and us, to work out of," Roy suggests, and even though Laurel mentioned to Bruce that she was working on it she never got around to it. "If you keep climbing in through the window in leather you might get caught," Roy says, looking a little concerned as he can't help but think that there might be a day where Laurel is too hurt to climb in through the window.
"I think it's definitely something we should look into," Laurel admits as ever since she and Bruce talked about it, she has felt like her days are numbered, but she hasn't had the chance to rectify it. "But right now, I need sleep, and so do you three," Laurel tells them.
"Keep the ice on," Sin tells her.
"I will," Laurel assures her. "Get some rest you three," Laurel says, slowly getting up and heading out, placing a kiss on Thea, Roy, and Sin's heads as she goes.
After a rather slow start to the morning, thanks to her bruised ribs and wrist, Laurel has headed into work where she has been all morning working on difficult cases.
"Do you always work through lunch?" A voice asks and Laurel, who has been so focused on what she was doing, looks up and sees Oliver.
"Not all of us can spend our time going clubbing and call that work," Laurel responds, trying to make her arm move as little as possible as both the ribs and bruised wrist cause her pain at the smallest movement.
"True," Oliver says, with an amused laugh. "Do you have some time for coffee?" Oliver asks as while apart of him wants to protect Laurel by staying away from her another part of him wants to be as close to her as possible, and at the moment those two desires are in conflict with each other.
"Yeah, I think I do," Laurel says, standing up, trying her best to hide a winch, but unfortunately for her, Oliver notices. "Let's go," Laurel says, and before Oliver can ask what is going on the two of them head out of CNRI.
A few minutes later Laurel and Oliver have gotten coffee, which Oliver paid for, and the two of them are walking together. As they walk Laurel is doing her best to hide her pain something she would have succeeded at if Oliver wasn't as observant as he is.
"Thanks for last night," Oliver tells her.
"No problem. I did what I had to do," Laurel says, with a shrug, honestly feeling that it wasn't a big deal.
"Still, thanks," Oliver responds as he continues to watch for a few seconds, and he knows exactly what he has to do. "Are you okay, Laurel?" Oliver asks concerned.
"I'm fine," Laurel says, forcing a smile. "I tripped when I left the club last night. I guess I had more to drink that I thought," Laurel lies, being pretty sure that it is a convincing lie, at least it would be if Oliver wasn't one of about three people who know how much she can actually drink without a problem; something which in itself is a problem.
"Are you sure that is it?" Oliver asks, doing his best to hide his concern as while he doesn't know what is going on he has a bad feeling about all of Laurel's injuries lately.
"What else would it be?" Laurel asks, not wanting Oliver to become suspicion.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking," Oliver admits. "Look Laurel, I know that things are complicated, and I've been an ass, but if something is going on with you, I can help, I want to help," Oliver assures her, it being the closest he's been to showing Laurel the new version of him.
"I don't know what you think is going on, Ollie, but nothing is, I'm okay," Laurel assures him, doing her best to lie but Oliver knows her so well that he can tell that she is lying. "And I should get back to work, thanks for the coffee," Laurel says with a smile before walking away.
"LAUREL!" Oliver calls and she turns back around. "Do mind if I pick Thea up from school?" Oliver asks curious.
"Of course it's okay, you don't have to ask," Laurel says, before walking away, though she knows she will have to fill Thea in on her latest lie, so she doesn't accidently contradict her.
"Someone's hurting her," Oliver realises, feeling anger grow inside of her. As he comes to that realisation Oliver becomes determined to find out who is hurting Laurel, because he knows that once he does, he will use everything he's learnt in the last five years to make them pay.
A few hours later Oliver, just like he said, is waiting for Thea outside her school. As she walks out of school with Sin Thea sees Oliver waiting and she sighs.
"I'll see later," Thea says to Sin, who nods, before walking over to Oliver. "What do you want Ollie? Are you going to explain what the hell that was the other day?" Thea asks curious. "Because if it's anything else I don't want to hear it," Thea admits, as even though Laurel explained why Oliver acted the way he did it still hurt.
"That's exactly what I want to talk to you about," Oliver admits. "But I'd rather not do that here," Oliver explains.
"Okay, lead the way," Thea requests, and the two Queen Siblings walk away from Thea's school together.
A little while later Oliver and Thea are walking into the start of what is going to be Oliver's club, which actually hides the foundry below.
"Why did you say those things? That building was for Dad! Did you really have to do it like that?" Thea asks, pain in her voice, not being able to stay quiet much longer.
"Yes, and that was because of Dad," Oliver reveals, as he has decided that there is something he will tell Thea, but he won't tell her everything, as he pulls over two chairs for them. "Speedy, there was something I didn't tell you, something I didn't tell anyone," Oliver reveals. "Sit down," Oliver says, and feeling curious about what he is going to say Thea sits down across from her brother. "Dad didn't drown, he made it to the life raft," Oliver explains, having decided to tell Thea that even if there is so much more that he can't tell her.
"What?" The asks shocked.
"We both made it, but there wasn't enough water for both of us," Oliver reveals. "Dad told me that our family company, everything we had, had been built on the backs of hurting innocent people. He told me to right his wrongs, told me what needed to be done, and then he shot himself," Oliver says, and Thea is feeling both horrified and upset, not sure what she is feeling more. "That's why I did what I did. I can't run the company and fulfill his last wish, the ladder is more important to me" Oliver reveals, and as he does, partly due to the fact that she knows about Laurel, a lot of things fall into place for Thea, but she wonders if Oliver is going to confirm it.
"So, to make sure the Board left you alone, you made a show to confirm everything they believed," Thea realises. "But the truth is you're actually doing exactly what Dad wanted," Thea realises, trying to make sense of things, trying to put the pieces together.
"I have to Speedy, I owe that to him," Oliver reveals, not wanting to tell Thea the entire truth, but needing to tell her enough so that she understands the way he acts sometimes. "I need you to know that while it might seem like I'm betraying Dad, and even Mom, I'm doing everything I can to honour them," Oliver explains.
"I get it," Thea says, knowing that she probably wouldn't if she hasn't been through the last few years, and see everything she's seen. "I'm proud of you," Thea says, leaning forward and hugging her brother, something which means everything to him. "So, how about you show me what you have planed for this place," Thea suggests.
"Sure," Oliver says, and that's exactly what he does, though he leaves out the foundry as that's a secret he's not ready for Thea to know, though what he doesn't realise it that she has already figured it out.
Two days have passed since Oliver opened up to Thea, and since he came to the assumption that someone is hurting Laurel, and because of the ladder Oliver has started to look into everyone Laurel is close to while Thea wonders if Oliver is ever going to tell her what she suspects is true.
As it is late night Laurel is once more in the Glades dealing with criminals, despite the pain she is feeling. As she leaves a mugger for the police Laurel notices a figure on a nearby roof and right away she knows who it is, and so she heads up there.
"Following me now? You know that won't help you figure out who I am," Laurel, using her voice change, says to Oliver as the Hood once she is on the same roof as him.
"I didn't expect it to," Oliver says to the Woman in Black, using his own voice changer, honestly he would be a little disappointed if it was easy to figure out who the Woman in Black is.
"What do you want?" Laurel asks.
"Your help,"