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Chapter Text

The cool city breeze blows against his face as he walks through the streets of the Glades, a black backpack draped over his shoulders and a black bag in his left hand. His face is hidden by a hood, making it impossible for anyone to recognize him after more than fire years away from the city. It also plays a role in the fact that the world believes he's disappeared into the vastness of the sea.

The streets of the Glades are much worse than he remembers. The city has fallen into a deep pit where corruption, crime, and drugs have taken over.

Surviving that island was easy. Once trapped within the walls of Nanda Parbat, it was the beginning of his hell. In order to fulfill the promise he made to his father, who sacrificed his life so he could live, he had to forge himself into a weapon. One he would use to clean the streets and save the city.

During his first year in the League of Assassins, he met a man from Gotham. He was the one who trained him. They weren't very different; both came from wealthy families. Both had a fiery way of blaming themselves for their respective fathers' deaths.

Finally, he stopped walking, looking at his father's old factory where he would be hiding, carrying out his mission to save the city.

He threw the bag he was carrying in his left hand over the padlocked wire gate. The Queen factory had closed just as Robert and Oliver's deaths were confirmed in the gambit. For years, the factory had been abandoned, which made it perfect for setting up his own base of operations without risk of being discovered.

Central City 2014

The explosion at the Harrison Wells particle accelerator at S.T.A.R. Lab had left scars throughout the city, creating the famous metahumans. Barry Allen, the forensic scientist, had been in a coma for nine months, and when he finally opened his eyes, someone else had also been born: a hero who could run at the speed of light.

Barry Allen wasn't the only one affected; a Starling City resident named Dinah Laurel Lance had also arrived in the city on a law case. Since the death of her longtime lover, she had become a lawyer to try to save the city. But the accident in Central City had changed her forever. She couldn't run like the Flash. She also couldn't fly or shoot laser beams from her eyes like Superman could, but she had a voice, more like a canary's cry, that could severely damage criminals and even Superman himself.

Flashback

5 years ago

He had killed his first man with an arrow to the throat. He finally avenged the death of the man who had kept him safe for almost a year.

His near-death body was rescued from Lian Yu after defeating the mercenary Edward Fayers and his army with the help of Slade Wilson and Sara Lance. He could have sworn he had seen the figure of a woman and a man dressed in black before slowly losing consciousness, and it was definitely not Slade and Sara.

He was thrown hard against the ground, slowly regaining consciousness. To his surprise, he was no longer on the ground of Lian Yu. He carefully observed the walls of what appeared to be an ancient fortress. His eyes lingered for a few seconds before the figure of a dark-haired woman dressed in a black suit with some red details. Her arrows were also different from the rest. The tips of their arrows were red.

"What is this? Where am I?" Oliver frowned before standing up and looking at nearly a dozen men dressed in black. They had bows in their hands, arrows on their backs, and swords at their sides.

"Welcome to Nanda Parbat, Mr. Queen," a woman said walking toward his position. "My name is Talia al-Ghul, and this is my partner, Bruce Wayne. We got you off the island."

"Where are Sara and Slade?" she asked, remembering what had happened on the island.

"They aren't here," Talia replied coldly. "And forget those people. They're not your problem anymore."

Before he could answer, the figure of another man appeared from the darkness, causing the men to kneel before him.

"Is that him?" the man asked. Talia nodded in affirmation.

"That's right, Father," Talia replied, watching her father walk toward Oliver. "He's the killer of the mercenary Edward Fayers, who killed our man Yao Fei Gulong."

Oliver turned his head toward Talia, frowning. Yao Fei had never mentioned her before.

"He's just a boy... What's your name?" Ra's al-Ghul asked.

"I'm Oliver Queen," he answered. "Who are you all?"

"We are the League of Assassins," Ra's al-Ghul replied. "And I am the head of the demon."

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked.

"That depends on your answer," Ra's al-Ghul asked.

"What answer?"

"He has only two options." Ra's al-Ghul replied. "You can be executed and end all the pain quickly, or you can join us, and we'll transform you into something else, into someone else."

end flashback 

News about Adam Hunt.

Attorney Laurel Lance alleges that Hunt committed various types of fraud and theft against the city's less privileged people.

She opened a small book with a list of several names, and among them was Adam Hunt.

Adam Hunt, his crimes are worse than theft and fraud. But he has been able to intimidate and bribe anyone who has opposed him.

She walked to a wooden suitcase and took out a green hood. She filled her quiver with several arrows, enough to take out a small army of guards.

He must face justice, only this time it will be different.

She walked toward the building's exit, holding her bow. Adam Hunt began walking alongside the city's new judge through the parking lot, followed by two security guards. Remember, Mr. Greet, that I made him a judge, and I can also remove him and turn this into a cautionary tale. I mentioned Hunt walking toward a limo. Yes, Mr. Hunt, replied the judge, following his steps. And that Laurel Lance girl... Hunt interrupted, not pausing his pacing. "You said she wouldn't be a problem anymore, and I remember telling you to fix that problem." Adam Hunt stopped his pacing and turned to the judge, staring coldly. "Why are you still here?"

As if on cue, the judge left the scene, leaving a hunt in the parking lot with his guards. They continued on their way until they finally reached the limo.

Before anyone could move, an arrow lodged itself in the first guard's chest, causing him to fall to the ground, seemingly lifeless.

Get in the car, now. The second guard ordered, pulling a gun from his black jacket.

He began firing blindly into the darkness from where the arrow came. There was no sign that the shots would reach their target.

"Hey! Failed!" the archer spoke from the opposite direction to where the guard had fired.

Adam Hunt heard the scream of pain from his last guard before an arrow shattered the glass of the limo he'd entered for protection. Hunt stared at the arrow embedded in the leather of the back seat before being grabbed and thrown from the limo.

Just tell me what you want. Hunt spoke, terrified, staring at the archer leaning on top of the limo.

The archer didn't respond and jumped into Hunt's position and grabbed him by the shirt, lifting him into the air.

"You're going to transfer 40 million dollars to Starling Central Bank to Account 1141 by 10:00 tomorrow night". The archer threatened.

"Or what? Hunt retorted.

"I'll take them, and you won't like them". The archer replied, throwing him to the ground before heading toward the parking lot exit.

If I see you again, you'll be dead. Hunt threatened as the archer turned to him, shooting an arrow through the limousine's window. Hunt turned his head toward the car and then back toward the archer's position, who had already disappeared from the scene.

The next day, at Adam Hunt's main building, Detective Quentin Lance and Spike had arrived.

"He was wearing a hood and using a bow and arrow. Hunt spoke."

Quentin and Spike shared a confused look at the report from one of the most influential men in the city.

"I don't believe it?" Hunt took the arrow he had brought with him and handed it to Detective Lance. "That maniac put both of my guards in comas."

"Thanks for the report," Detective Lance replied, looking at the arrow. "We'll file a report against... Robin Hood?"

"Hey, buddy!" Hunt took several steps toward Detective Lance. "I'm not just a small store that got robbed. I'm important. He said he'd be back at 10 pm, and I want you to arrive before then. Coordinate with Mr. Drakon, my head of security."

Hunt walked toward his desk, leaving the detectives confused.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks for your time," Quentin replied before walking toward the building's exit.

Laurel's Apartment

Quentin paused in the doorway, listening to Laurel's laughter. He sighed and took a few steps forward to knock on the door. After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened, revealing the figure of a blonde, blue-eyed girl, approximately 7 years old.

"Grandpa Quentin," the girl said, jumping up to hug him.

"Hi, Ivy," Quentin replied, smiling, wrapping her in a hug. "Little one... Where's your mom?"

"She's in the kitchen with Tommy," Ivy replied, taking his hand to lead him to her mother.

Quentin walked with Ivy toward the kitchen, hearing the masculine voice of Thomas Merlyn, much to his discomfort. He's never been a fan of his daughters being with men of her type. First, Oliver Queen, who was in a relationship with Laurel and led Sara on a gambit that left her stranded for two years, and now Merlyn. Something he wanted to avoid at all costs. But unfortunately, today wasn't the right day for him.

"Mommy!" Ivy shouted excitedly as she entered the kitchen. "Look who came to visit us."

Laurel and Tommy turned their heads toward the kitchen entrance, seeing their daughter standing next to Detective Lance, who gave them a sour look.

"Dad!" Laurel spoke, surprised.

"Hello, Mr. Lance!" She mentioned Tommy as she took several steps forward to shake Quentin's hand, who awkwardly took hers.

Tommy nodded before walking toward the little blonde. He bent down to her eye level, placing his hand on her blonde hair.

"How about you and I go get some ice cream?" Tommy said, making the little girl smile from ear to ear.

"Can we go, Mommy?" Ivy asked, waiting for Laurel's approval. Laurel simply nodded closer and looked at Tommy.

"Don't say anything. I promise to protect her with my life." Tommy replied, smiling before leaving the kitchen, leaving Quentin and Laurel alone.

"Is everything okay, Dad?" Laurel asked, observing her father's attitude.

"Yes, I am," Quentin replied. "Where's Sara?"

"She went to visit Thea," Laurel replied.

"Adam Hunt was attacked last night," Quentin mentioned, placing some photographs of the crime scene on the table.

"What?" Laurel asked in shock, taking the photographs. "But who would attack one of the most powerful men in the city?"

"I don't know," Quentin replied, sitting down in the chair and placing his hand on his chin. "Maybe a suicidal person or a madman. Hunt mentioned he wore a green hood and used a bow and arrows."

"Robin Hood?" Laurel asked.

"No, definitely not," Quentin replied. "This guy doesn't seem to just want to rob the rich; he seems to want to murder them." He placed another photograph on the table. "These two were his guards, and that maniac put them in a coma. The doctors say there's a 74% chance they won't survive."

Laurel took the photographs, observing the guards on the floor with arrows embedded in their chests.

"Whoever it is, they're dangerous," Quentin mentioned, causing Laurel to raise her head toward him. "He said he'd be back for Hunt tonight at ten."

"Good!" Laurel said, placing the photos on the table. "Then I'll help you catch him. That guy is too much of a killer to let loose. I'll tell Sara."

End of chapter

Chapter Text

†The Man Under the Hood†

Part II

In the restlessness of the night, Oliver lay on a stretcher, trying to close his eyes.

"He's surviving," Robert said, bringing his gun to his head, taking one last look at his son before making the sacrifice so he could live.

"No! No!" he screamed in desperation, using what little strength he had left, trying to stop him in vain. They had been shipwrecked for several days in a row; hunger and thirst had done their work. Those words would remain etched in his mind until his last breath. Not even the ritual of the League of Assassins could erase them. He clung to those memories so as not to lose the last remaining part of the man he once was.

the next day in the glades

"I just want to help you." He mentioned Thea, sighing at the boy's attitude.

There was a time when he would have laughed at those words. His life lately has been surrounded by "saviors." First, it was Black Canary, who saved him from some drug dealers he was investigating, or rather, trying to stop, and now, a young woman from high society, Thea Queen herself.

"Go back home, miss," Roy replied, wearing his famous red hoodie. "These streets aren't safe for someone of your kind."

Roy's life was definitely dangerous. He lived in the worst part of the city. Where drugs were abundant, criminals did whatever they could to survive on the necessities the Glades offered.

For a time, she believed she was destined to become just another criminal. But her life changed radically the moment Black Canary saved her life. She believed she had the same responsibility to fight for the city as both vigilantes. Despite Detective Lance's repeated warnings to avoid trying to be a hero, she clung to it as if it were her last chance at a normal life.

"Why are you so obsessed with the fact that I have money?" Thea asked, annoyed. "You know, money isn't everything in the world."

A small, amused laugh escaped Roy's lips before he observed the young woman's seriousness.

"You sound like someone who has a lot of money," Roy replied with a hint of mockery. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my life of crime."

His words were the final straw for Thea, who sighed before turning and walking toward the exit of the neighborhood.

Thea continued walking through the neighborhood, her hands tucked into the pocket of her expensive leather jacket.

"Hey!" a man mentioned, stepping out in front of her, causing her to stop completely. "Can you help me? I think I'm lost and need to get downtown..."

"I... I..." Thea couldn't continue before she felt the presence of several men surrounding her to prevent her from running away.

"Maybe you can give us some directions?" the man mentioned before pinning her against the concrete of a column.

Before anyone could say anything, Roy's attack knocked the man holding Thea to the ground. The criminal's partner pulled out a knife and tried to stab Roy, who acrobatically managed to avoid the criminal's attack before throwing a powerful punch at the criminal's rib.

Thea watched in horror as the fight unfolded before her eyes.

Roy lunged at the criminal's body, throwing several punches at his face. The other robber recovered and tried to stab him.

"Watch out!" Thea screamed, terrified, imagining the worst-case scenario.

The attack never came, as an arrow lodged itself in the criminal's chest, causing him to fall to the ground dead. Roy raised his gaze to the height of a two-story house and saw the figure of an archer who disappeared, leaping in the opposite direction.

"You're hurt," Thea mentioned, observing a bloody mark on his lower abdomen.

"That's what happens when you get stabbed," Roy replied before placing his hand over the wound. "I told you these streets aren't safe."

"I'll take you to the hospital," Thea replied with an implacable voice that prevented Roy from denying anything.

Star City Hospital

The doctors have examined and closed Roy's wound, which fortunately wasn't that serious. However, he had to stay there for a few hours before leaving the hospital.

Sara and Dinah quickly arrived at the hospital after hearing what had happened from Detective Lance.

"Thea..." Dinah said before hugging Thea. "I heard what happened... Are you okay?"

Thea nodded before pulling away and turning her head toward the room where the doctor was finishing his final examination of Roy.

"Is he your friend?" Sara asked before raising her eyebrow.

"Yes, he saved my life," Thea replied, smiling slightly.

The doctor left the room and came to their side.

"The boy is fine," the doctor said, handing some papers for Thea to sign. "The injury wasn't serious, so the boy can go."

"Thank you," Thea said, nodding before taking the pen and signing the papers.

Queen Factory

Oliver sat in front of the monitor, looking at the criminal record of the young man who saved Thea's life. Roy Harper, a young man from the Glades with a minor theft record.

In recent years, he's been involved in various criminal acts. Ever since the vigilante Black Canary saved his life, he's been very close to the fire, fighting crime.

Oliver smiled before shutting down the computer. He had a plan for him and the boy.

The sound of his alarm brought him out of his thoughts, and he grabbed his phone to check the time.

Account balance 0%

He put his phone down on the desk and started walking toward a piece of furniture where his suit was. Adam Hunt was already counting the hours.

Adam Hunt's Building

Hunt raised his glass, sipping on the building's finest whiskey as Drakon, his head of security, and more than a dozen armed men surrounded the top floor.

"It's already 10," Drakon said, his weapon fully loaded. "They won't be able to get in here."

Hunt nodded as he headed to his desk.

Below the building, police sirens blared. A considerable amount to arrest this new... vigilante?

"All in order." He mentioned Detective Spike arriving at Quentin's position, watching from the top of the building.

"If that vigilante is looking for trouble, he'll get it," Quentin replied before stealthily turning his head toward the building's entrance, where the figure of a blonde woman had entered undetected by the police.

A rope arrow lodged itself in the building's wall. The lights had completely gone out, putting the guards on alert.

Silence had completely taken over the place, to the point where the heavy breathing of some guards hiding outside the office entrance, waiting for any movement from the vigilante, could be heard.

The noise of the elevator was heard, and an arrow was shot into the chest of one of the guards standing in front of the office's main door, causing him to fire several involuntary shots toward the ceiling.

The archer entered, striking two guards guarding the elevator with his bow, knocking them unconscious. He threw his bow at the face of another guard who approached him and fired several shots without success. He leaped against one of the columns to propel himself forward and leaped into the face of the guard who had shot him. He knocked him down and, with a knife he had pulled from his suit, stabbed him in the left shoulder, causing him to scream due to the sharp pain in his shoulder.

He quickly hid behind the next column to take cover from the gunfire. The lack of fire made Hunt and the rest of the guards uncomfortable, unaware of what was happening outside.

The body of one of the guards smashed through the glass door, causing the last guards inside to fire continuously, killing the man instantly. An arrow lodged itself in the guard's chest, causing him to fall to the ground.

Drakon had tried to shoot him, but was unsuccessful. He ducked to avoid a cut. Drakon attacked again, but was stopped by the archer's right arm, who kicked his supporting leg, breaking it before plunging the knife into his heart.

He took an arrow and fired it at Hunt, grazing his cheek and embedding it in the wall.

"You missed," Hunt said from behind his desk.

"You think so," the archer replied, aiming another arrow at the businessman's face.

A movement in Hunt's eyes gave him the necessary message that they weren't alone. The figure of a woman dressed in black with a gray cane appeared on the scene.

"Today's not your lucky day," the woman mentioned before running to his position.

He frowned at the situation. He knew who was behind that wig and mask; he knew their nocturnal movements perfectly. He had no plans to hurt her, so he looked for a way out of the building. To make matters worse, the police had entered the building, covering every inch of space to prevent him from escaping, leaving him only one option: jump through the window.

Canario tried to hit him with her cane but was stopped by the arch. Canario continued to press, launching several continuous blows, looking for an opening in his defense.

"He's here," Hunt warned, quickly leaving his office.

Quentin and Spike hurried up the stairs, trusting the vigilante to buy them enough time to arrive and arrest him.

Canary grabbed his arm before slamming it into a glass table. Luckily, he fell right next to her bow, hitting her and getting off her.

The police finally arrived, observing several guards with arrows embedded in various parts of their bodies. The sounds of a struggle became audible. Quentin led several police officers with him to the scene of the struggle.

"Drop the gun or we'll shoot," Quentin threatened, pointing his gun at the guard who had taken Canary by the neck as he walked toward the window. "Drop it or I swear I'll shoot."

He simply ignored the detective's warnings and took several steps toward the window.

"I told you to let her go," Quentin repeated.

"I'm sorry, Laurel," he whispered before launching it at the detective's position and running to the window and leaping into the void.

He launched another nocked arrow at the building across the street, hiding in the darkness.

Quentin approached the woman, helping her up while Detective Spike approached the window, watching the archer's figure disappear.

"You saw him, right?" Spike asked, turning to look at Quentin. "Tell me what you saw."

"We have nothing to do here, let's go," Quentin ordered.

Chapter Text

"Roy Harper," the vigilant spoke through a voice modulator, emerging from the darkness of an alley.

"It's you. You're the one who saved me the other day," Roy replied, watching the green figure emerge from the darkness.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you," the vigilant replied, lowering his bow to the ground.

"What do you want from me?" Roy asked.

"I want you to help me save this city," the vigilant spoke, approaching him. Roy looked at him curiously; he never thought he'd meet someone who felt the same. "I know what you feel. This city doesn't work anymore. It fell into a pit, and only you noticed. And you feel anger, fear, fear that anger will burn inside you if you have to live one more second knowing you could save the city. I'm offering you the chance to do the right thing for the city."

Before Roy could respond, Black Canary's presence alerted Oliver.

"What's wrong?" Roy asked, watching the archer's demeanor change.

"We're not alone," Oliver replied, turning slowly, observing the figure of Dinah and Sara dressed in black.

Oliver frowned. Once again, his path collides with the people he loves. Since arriving in the city, he's avoided dealing with them, which is why he's decided not to reveal his arrival. But fate seemed to be against his own plans. Could he continue to keep that secret?

"This time you won't escape," Dinah said, clenching her fist.

"We don't have to fight; we're on the same side." She replied, lowering her gaze to the ground where she held her bow.

"You use violence and murder to carry out your crusade," Dinah replied. "That's not justice."

"There's more than one path to justice," she replied coldly.

Her bow was far from her hand; the two Canaries wouldn't give her time to turn and grab it. She reached behind her back toward her quiver, pulling out a sword.

"It's not my wish to harm you. But if you insist on getting in my way, you'll leave me no choice." She mentioned, positioning herself behind her sword.

Without waiting for any kind of signal, the two Canaries ran toward Oliver's position.

Oliver ducked to dodge Dinah's kick before using his own sword to shield himself from Sara's attack with her cane. With a kick, he knocked Sara away from her position.

Before Dinah could attack, he pulled some kind of gunpowder from one of his pockets and dropped it on the ground, creating a smokescreen that made both Sara and Dinah lose sight of their position.

The smoke cleared as Dinah searched for the archer's position. But before she could advance further, he fell behind her, placing his sword against her neck.

"Black Canary!" Sara cried, seeing her sister with a sword at her throat.

"The man you think I am would kill you now..." He said coldly, pressing his sword against the skin of her neck, causing a small drop of blood to flow.

"Wait..." Roy interrupted desperately. "You said you want to save The city, and you won't achieve anything by killing one of her heroes."

"I know, kid," he replied, looking at him before forcefully pushing Dinah towards Sara. "That's why I'm not going to kill her."

Before anyone could say anything, he threw himself to the ground to grab his bow and launch a nocked arrow toward the top of a building, disappearing into the darkness

flashback

"I was 11 years old when I killed my first man," Ra's said, drawing a sword and examining its blade. "I can only remember the look on his face when the light went out in his eyes. It was such a sudden, almost imperceptible shift between life and death..."

Talia stared at her father, along with her sister Nyssa, Bruce, and the rest of the assassins who were there.

"And I felt ashamed. I had robbed that man of his most precious gift: life," Ra's continued before placing the sword against Oliver's neck. "But I also felt something else: pride. Because I had stood up to a man who wanted to hurt my family, and then I understood that what I did was necessary, and that's why the League exists. I've killed thousands since then, and the world is better off without them."

"Are you going to kill me?" Oliver asked, his tone filled with fear and confusion.

"No, Mr. Queen," Ra's replied, removing the sword from his neck. "But you have lived your last day. Your old life still haunts you. Oliver Queen must be erased from your memory. From tomorrow on, you will be Al Shah Him."

The League ritual had begun, as had his training. The sound of clashing metals became apparent.

"Oliver Queen is gone, you are al sah him."

The cold water fell on his face, awakening him from his slumber. The ritual to erase his past life continued for hours, days, and weeks.

He quickly showed improvement in his use of the bow, as if he had been born with a skill.

"Oliver Queen only exists in the past, he is gone."

The training continued. The sound of clashing metals continued. He fell heavily to the ground due to Bruce, who had been in charge of his training.

"You've improved in three weeks, al sah him," Bruce spoke, offering his hand to help him up from the ground.

Oliver stood up, removing a kind of black mask from his face before nodding his head in approval.

Break time arrived, and they both sat on the ground.

"How did you get here?" Oliver asked curiously, sitting in front of a campfire.

The answer didn't come immediately; Bruce wasn't the type to share his emotions. But, ever since he met Oliver, he knew they were similar beyond money.

"My parents were killed in front of me when I was a child," Bruce replied tersely.

"I'm sorry," Oliver apologized; he knew the feeling of watching a parent die. "Are you planning to find their killer and kill them?"

"I came here to find the means to fight injustice and instill fear in those who prey on the weak," Bruce replied, looking at his sword. "Crime in my city is increasing due to the indulgence of those in power, and someone, someone, must stop it."

Oliver looked at Bruce intently, remembering his father's last words and the promise he made before arriving in Lian Yu.

"There are few things stronger than memory..." Bruce spoke, turning his head toward Oliver. "There are things that cannot be forgotten. Am I wrong? Come on, I'm ending my break."

End of flashback

Queen Factory

Things aren't going as planned. He didn't expect Sara or Dinah to be hunting him like some kind of rat. But the injustice in the city won't wait for things between him and both sisters, and even the city police, to reach some sort of agreement. He needs a new plan, a new distraction. The time has come to reveal his secret: that Oliver Queen has returned home after five years.

He pulled out a kind of wooden suitcase containing a long, dirty wig, along with old, torn, and equally dirty clothes. It was all part of a plan. The first lesson he received from Talia al-Ghul was "Create a difference, find an identity for the monster. Only then will you free the man beneath that monster."

The difficult part will be reconnecting with the people he loves after so many years. But they will never know who he really is. Oliver Queen is just a facade; he means nothing.

Búnker canary

"How much of that conversation did you hear?" Roy asked, watching Sara bandage the small wound on Dinah's neck.

"Enough to see why you're considering joining that maniac," Sara replied.

Roy frowned in disapproval; he knew a moralistic speech about what's right and what isn't was coming.

"Forget the speeches, they won't work," Roy protested. "The city is getting worse and some of us are just trying to help."

"You and that hooded man?" Dinah asked.

"There's something about him that makes me feel like our lives are connected," Roy replied, staring at Dinah. "And I think you feel it too, or for some other reason, you avoided using the canary cry."

"I'm not a murderer, Roy," Dinah replied tersely. "He is, and how can you be sure he won't do who knows what to you? We don't even know who's under that hood."

"I'm confident, and if they won't help me, then I have to go," Roy replied firmly before leaving the room.

Roy walked in the silence of the night along the Glades pier. The night had become long. His encounter with that The vigilant, feeling connected to that man, and the Lance sisters' warnings had left him with a lot to think about. As much as he hated to agree with Sara and Dinah. They had a point, he didn't know that man. He couldn't just trust him.

"Help me, kid," that pleading voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see where the voice was coming from.

He saw a dying, wounded man on the ground. As he usually did, he ran without looking to help him and lift him up.

Roy quickly took him to his home to try to close his stomach wound.

"This should be enough," Roy said, placing a bandage over his abdomen. "But you still need medical attention. I'll call a friend who has many resources to help you. But I need you to give me your name."

"Thanks for the help, kid," he said in gratitude before slowly getting out of bed. "I'm Oliver Queen, a pleasure."

Roy opened his eyes in surprise. That name was very famous in the city. But it hadn't been heard from again since the Gambit accident more than five years ago.

Chapter Text

Star City Hospital

She had never run so fast in her life. The hallways of Star City Hospital seemed endless. As she approached the designated room, she swore to the gods herself that she could hear her own heartbeat. It was the first time she'd heard her name called since "Oliver's death" in the Gambit accident.

She could see the figures of Moira, Thea, Sara, and even Tommy standing in front of the door where Oliver Queen was being treated by the doctors.

"He's late," Dinah said, agitated, as she stood in front of Moira and Thea. "Where is he?" she asked.

"Over there," Thea pointed at the room.

Before anyone could say anything, the door to the room began to open slowly. The doctor was the first to walk out in the direction of the Queen family.

"How is my son, Doctor?" Moira asked, a tone of concern in her voice.

"Twenty percent of his body is covered in scars, second-degree burns on his back and arms, and several fractures that never healed properly." The doctor replied, looking at Moira.

"Hasn't he said anything about what happened?" Moira asked.

"Not a word," the doctor replied. "Moira, you need to prepare yourself. The Oliver who returned may not be the Oliver you remember."

Moira was the first to walk over to Oliver, who was staring out the window at the city, lost in his own thoughts.

"Oliver," Moira said, feeling a mixture of emotions at seeing the son she thought had died five years ago again.

Moira's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he began to turn toward her position.

"Mom," he replied, forcing a smile, knowing he had to continue his facade.

"My beautiful boy," Moira said through tears before hugging and kissing her son's cheek.

Her eyes ignored all the other people in the room to focus on the person she longed to see.

"Oliver," Dinah said, hugging a mini version of himself as her eyes scanned his body as if inspecting him.

"Dinah, I..." The awkward silence took over his body. He was ashamed of what he had done, leading Sara on the gambit and betraying the woman he loved most—the one he loves most in the world. Only the movement of the little blonde could snap him out of his trance. "Who is the little girl?"

"Her name is Olivia Lance," Dinah replied firmly before taking the little girl and placing her in front of her. "Ivy is the Ollie, he's your father."

The impact of those words made him take several steps back. All those years he was out of town training with the best assassins on the planet to save the city. It wasn't something he planned.

"Is that my dad?" Ivy asked. He approached her slowly and began to crouch down to her eye level.

He brought his hand to her cheek and smiled genuinely. The first genuine smile he'd given since returning to the city.

"Let me look at you, Ivy," he mentioned, inspecting her from head to toe. "You have your mother's eyes."

"Daddy," Ivy mentioned, grinning from ear to ear before throwing herself at him. He hugged her back before sighing and pulling her away.

"Ivy... Can I have a moment with your mom?" he asked, while the girl nodded.

Pakistan Airport

People were standing there, waiting for the signal to board the plane that would take them to their respective destinations.

A brunette woman walked with her suitcase in hand, ready to hand over her ticket and board the plane that would take her to Star City. She placed her passport on the table where the guard on duty took it before pointing it at the computer. The Argus alert sound activated.

"My computer is freezing." I mentioned the man. "May I have a moment?"

"Sure," the woman replied with a smile. She quickly noticed the presence of several guards approaching her position.

"Everyone on the ground, now," the officer ordered, walking with his gun pointed at the woman. "You on the ground, now."

The woman begins to reach for her head. It was a facade that quickly interrupted her by reaching for the guard's arm holding the gun, quickly disarming him, then grabbing the back of his head and slamming it against the glass.

She grabbed the pen on the table and jammed it into the arm of the next guard, dropping it on the ground and hitting him hard in the face. The guards' attempts to hit the woman were fruitless; she dodged every blow she threw. She kicked a guard's leg and held him with her arm, strangling him until he lost consciousness from lack of air, and that's what happened. She turned her head, looking at the guards lying on the ground, moaning in pain. She picked up her suitcase and walked toward the plane..

star city

Nothing remained of that spoiled brat who squandered his money on parties and women. Now, every time he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he could see the shadow of the murderer he had become.

He could see in Dinah's eyes that the love still existed within her, and a part of him as well. He had accepted the League's vows of "no friends, no lovers, no family." Having a daughter could make him vulnerable, especially when there were dangerous people out there stalking him.

"Dinah," he said, searching for the right words to avoid hurting her again. His life was dangerous, he was dangerous, and he wouldn't let his daughter be a part of that. "You always saw the best in me, and that's what you're doing. You look at me and wonder if those years I was away made me a better person, and the answer is no..."

He could see the pain in her eyes. But sometimes the best act of love is to walk away from the people you love to spare them pain and suffering.

"I don't want to hurt you again, much less your daughter. Please, stay away from me," he finished.

"You're wrong. Ollie, those years really changed you," Dinah replied, hurt. "At least you're honest now."

She watched as Dinah left the room, annoyed, as she approached Sara and Ivy. The figures of Dinah and Ivy disappeared from her sight.

The hours passed quickly. The doctor finally discharged her, and the Queen family returned to their luxurious mansion.

The plan he had outlined the night before was following the course he had hoped for. The city and the world were focused on the return of Oliver Queen, the son of billionaire Robert Queen, and not on the hooded man's nocturnal activities.

For his family, the name Oliver Queen meant something: the return of a son, a brother, a friend, or a lover. For him, it was just a facade. Oliver Queen died a long time ago.

Chapter Text

Being away from the city for almost five years, living as a masked vigilante, had its advantages. Traveling through a city that was practically dead had become a habit.

"There is more than one path to justice" was the first lesson he learned in Nanda Parbat. The League of Assassins were more than just thugs; they were a group of people fighting to eliminate evil by any means necessary.

Star City was riddled with corrupt and greedy people. Even with the two vigilantes named Canary, who only fought the symptoms, not the disease. This is where it comes in; all those years of absence were for a reason. Cancer can be dispelled; all it takes is a good doctor and the right tools.

Chapter Text

Star City News

Martin Sommers, the businessman under investigation for the murder charge filed by attorney Laurel Lance, alleges that the businessman has stolen more than $30 million in recent years from the pension account. The prosecution has stated that they have investigated the case and found no illegal evidence. Attorney Laurel Lance alleges that the businessman has bribed the judges.

"Mr. Sommers, a question..." said a reporter approaching the crowd.

"I don't know why I'm on a hunt for Ms. Lance and her friends in the NCRI. But I'll just say this..." Sommers said into the microphone. "I am an honest businessman, and I will fight with all my resources and strength against this defamation. I'll just say this, thank you."

The businessman began walking away from the reporters who followed him to ask him several more questions.

An honest businessman? She asked ironically. "As far as I know, this is his fifth bribery complaint."

"Five years out of the city, and yet you still know his every move?" Thea asked.

"He updated me, sister. It's good to know the city hasn't changed at all," she replied with an amused smile.

"When do you think that vigilante will attack him?" Thea asked. Everyone turned to look at the younger Queen sister, confused. "What? We've all thought about it."

"What vigilante?" She asked, pretending not to know what has happened in the city in recent days.

"He's a dangerous guy who steals from millionaires," Tommy mentioned, entering the living room of the Queen mansion with Sara. "He looks like Robin Hood."

"The city was different; you could feel safe," Moira replied.

"What's wrong, Mom? Are you worried you're next?" Thea mentioned, giving an amused smile.

"I have to go to court, Tommy," he mentioned, placing his hand on his friend's left shoulder.

"I know, that's what I'm here for... We're here," Tommy replied, gesturing to Sara's position. "My best friend will be judicially revived."

"Good!" he replied, looking at Sara.

Before anyone could say anything, the Queen family's bodyguard, former military officer John Diggle, entered the courtroom.

"Mrs. Queen! The car's ready," Diggle mentioned.

Moira nodded, and the entire family began walking toward the mansion's exit to head toward the limousine.

Courthouse

The Queen family had arrived at the courthouse where Oliver was to testify about what had happened during his disappearance. Unfortunately for him, Sara had already shared some of what had happened on the island where he had disappeared after his first year. In his training on Nanda Parbat, he had mastered the art of deception. He wasn't at all worried about them uncovering the facade he had created for this moment.

"There was a storm, the ship sank." He began his statement before the judges. "Only Sara and I survived. My father didn't survive. For a year we were on that island, surviving the cold and hunger. Then there was an explosion in a container on that island, and I became separated from Sara... I thought I died in that explosion." When I woke up, I knew I would have to live, and for the past five years, it was the thought of returning home that saved me."

Moira, Walter, and Tommy wore anguished expressions as they heard what she had to endure in the last few years. Sara knew it wasn't the true story, after all, when she returned home thanks to Slade Wilson, she did the same. Everything they had to do on that island to survive was an experience they wanted to forget.

"Your Honor, we're asking to annul the death by absence petition filed after the Queens' gambit accident five years ago..." The Queens' attorney spoke. "Sadly, we'll only ask for one. The Queens only have one miracle."

Oliver stood waiting for the judge's signal so he could leave the courtroom. Finally, it was all over. The Queens began to leave the courtroom. Sara walked along with Tommy and Oliver before stopping and catching the attention of both men.

"Tommy, can you give us a minute?" Sara asked tersely. "I want to speak with him alone."

"Oh yeah, sure..." Tommy mentioned, walking toward the stairs. "I'll wait for you outside the courthouse."

Sara smiled before turning to Oliver. She knew Sara would have questions about what happened to her.

"What happened to you that time?" Sara mentioned, remembering the explosion on Lian Yu. "We searched the entire island with Slade and found no trace of you... You weren't on the island. Where were you all those years?"

Silence filled her body. She knew that question would come sooner or later. She couldn't, and didn't want to, tell her secret about training with the best assassins in the world. That secret she would keep inside her until the end of her life.

"Sara, I don't want to talk about it," she replied coldly, forcing a smile. "What happened to Slade?" I tried to change the subject.

"He's going back to Australia after keeping his promise to bring me back," Sara replied, frowning at Oliver's attempt to change the subject. "Ollie, I'm here for you... If you need to talk about what happened to you."

Oliver simply smiled before leaning in and kissing his ex's cheek. "I know, thanks, Sara," he replied, looking into his eyes. "Tommy's waiting for us, let's go."

Oliver and Sara walked toward the courthouse exit where an army of reporters were waiting to get news about his return.

Oliver walked coldly without answering the reporters' questions before getting into the limo.

The car sped off, leaving Diggle, Tommy, and Sara behind.

Hours had passed, and the darkness of night had taken over the city.

Queen Factory.

He opened the small book where several names of the city's most powerful people were recorded, and among them was the name of...

"Martin Sommers"

Laurel attacks the city's worst as a lawyer and vigilante alongside Sara. It's no surprise Sommers's name is on the list. The prosecutor and the police can't stop them, or they don't want to.

Laurel and Sara believe that they are the only ones who want to save the city by bringing criminals to justice; they are wrong.

Star City Pier

"Listen to me," Sommers said to the judge on duty. "The longer this goes on, the more likely the media is to crucify me... Fix this. Did you hear me?"

Before anyone could say a word, the lights were destroyed by an arrow. The lighting in the place began to fail as screams of pain arose.

A hard blow to Sommers's head caused him to lose consciousness. Once he began to wake up, he could see that he was upside down; a rope was holding his feet on the bridge. Seeing that there was nothing to hold on to, he panicked.

"Martin Sommers, you failed the city," the archer said.

Chapter Text

Flashback

4 years earlier

His own clothes were scattered haphazardly around the room. The metallic sound of the bed creaking echoed their first night together. They had a strange connection ever since he was brought from that cold island in the North China Sea.

It's been three months since he arrived on Nanda Parbat. He quickly adapted to using the bow as if he had been born with a special skill, and it was the first thing that caught his attention.

"Won't we be in serious trouble if your father finds out?" Oliver said in a low tone, kissing her neck.

Nyssa moaned before letting out an amused smile, her hands running down her lover's lower back. "You're the one who'll be in trouble, al sah him," he replied, whispering near her ear. "You'd better improve your stealth skills."

Oliver grabbed her waist before turning their bodies and joining their lips again. Before they could continue, the sound of the bedroom door slammed.

"Al Shah Him, Ra's orders you to go to the dining room immediately," one of the assassins behind the door said.

Nyssa was quick enough to move away from Al Shah Him's body before grabbing her clothes and hiding his naked body. The guards entered the room to see Al Shah-Him's lonely body.

Nyssa had grown up in this place; she knew how to hide undetected.

"I'll be there immediately," replied coldly.

Oliver finished putting on his armor, his sword strapped to his left hip. He left the room and headed toward the fortress's dining hall.

"Sit, Al Shah Him. We have things to discuss," Ra's ordered before bringing the food to his mouth. "You will have your first mission."

Al Shah Him nodded before sitting next to Ra's. He waited for his mission instructions.

"You will go to a small village in China..." Ra's mentioned between bites. "This man has committed unforgivable crimes and must be brought to justice." You will go with Sarah and Bruce and make it clear that justice always comes regardless of social class."

"Yes, my lord," he replied to al sah Him.

"Before you go, let me be clear, al sah Him," Ra's said, lowering his fork onto his plate. "I will not allow any mistake. You must kill that man by whatever means necessary."

"I will not fail, my lord," he replied to al sah Him.

Ra's gave him the signal to leave and prepare the things he would need for this journey.

He returned to his room hoping to find a sign of life. But the room was empty; Nyssa had already left. He grabbed what he needed and left the room where Bruce Wayne and Sarah were waiting for him.

Hours passed. He stood with his eyes closed, concentrating on the mission he had to carry out. The training has been tough. The good side that survived on that island has been erased. But Ra's is a cautious man; he won't make the same mistake he made with Malcolm Merlyn. It was already deep into the night when they reached the target's location.

Both Bruce and Sarah stayed behind; they had, obviously secret orders from Ra's, been ordered to observe and analyze whether Al Sah-him loyalty was real. If they noticed any doubts in him, they were ordered to finish him off.

He entered the building stealthily without making any sound that might alert the guards. He continued advancing before landing in front of them.

He landed in front of the main office before taking a black arrow and firing it at the first guard standing at the door. The next arrow penetrated the weapon of one of the armed men. They watched as he began to charge, getting closer and closer to where they were standing, and the other gunman began to fire, missing miserably.

Al Sah Him was not only very skilled with the bow, but also agile enough to avoid the guards' shots. He shot two arrows, piercing their weapons, disarming the guards. He was too fast for those slow strikes, and in comparison to the way he kicked and threw his own punches. He grabbed one of the guards' faces before repeatedly slamming him against the concrete wall before dropping him to the ground and advancing in the direction of his target.

"Bring you to justice." Al sah Him replied, lowering his bow to the ground, drawing his sword and raising it toward his target's throat. "The blood of your victims demands justice, and the world will be better off without you," he finished before burying his sword in the left side of his chest, killing the man instantly.

He watched the body of his first victim fall to the ground like a trained assassin. The first time he murdered someone on that distant island, he felt guilt and remorse for weeks. This time was different; he felt nothing, no guilt or remorse, only the satisfaction of bringing to justice a man who didn't care who he hurt for his own gain.

Chapter Text

The last thing left of his past life was the promise he had made to his father, who had made the ultimate sacrifice. He had spent the last few years as an assassin, bringing justice to various parts of the world. Now he was back in Star City as someone different, someone willing to do anything to save the city from the hands of corrupt men.

His return had a purpose: the name of a young billionaire believed lost in the Queen's Gambit shipwreck more than five years ago would be the main news, not the activities of a murderous archer. His return wasn't meant to hurt anyone. But he should do it anyway. His family and friends would search for the man they remembered, and he knew the first to do so would be Laurel, and that's what happened.

He had hurt her so many times in the past, but now he was different. His words stung her. But it wasn't for selfish reasons, it was for her own good.

Flashback

Star City General Hospital

He could see in Dinah's eyes that love still existed in her, and in him too. He'd accepted the League's vows of "no friends, no lovers, no family." Having a daughter could make him vulnerable, especially when dangerous people were stalking him.

"Dinah," he said, searching for the right words so he wouldn't hurt her again. His life was dangerous, he was dangerous, and he wouldn't let his daughter be a part of it. "You always saw the best in me, and that's what you're doing. You look at me and wonder if those years I was away made me a better person, and the answer is no..." He could see the pain in her eyes. But sometimes the best act of love is to walk away from those you love to spare them pain and suffering. "I don't want to hurt you again, much less your daughter. Please stay away from me," he concluded. "You're wrong." "Ollie, those years really changed you," Dinah replied, hurt. "At least you're honest now."

End flashback 

Queen Factory

Oliver sat at the table in front of his monitor, listening to the debate between a prominent journalist in the city and the police captain and his former father-in-law, Quentin Lance.

"The funny thing is that the police want to arrest the vigilante, who's doing a good job." A reporter spoke into her microphone. "Since he appeared, the crime rate in the last month has dropped considerably. At this point... can we consider the vigilante a positive force in the city?"

"He's not a positive force, he's a murderer," interrupted Police Captain Quentin Lance. "Businessman Martin Sommers was killed with an arrow to the head. Whoever is under that hood thinks he's above the law. When we catch him, we'll make him understand that no one is above the law."

"What about the two vigilantes who work with your department, Mr. Lance?" The journalist asked, "They've fought with us for the city and haven't taken a single life," Quentin replied.

Oliver turned off the monitor and leaned back in his chair. Those words might hurt, but that's the least of it. The belief that there is only one path to justice is wrong. There are people in this world who don't care about the law. Some police officers and council members are corrupt, using their influence to ensure their own comfort and that of the people they love.

He was trained to dispense justice equally, no matter who it is.

The Verdant Club opened its doors today. The club belongs to Tommy Merlyn, the son of the CEO of Merlyn Global. He had become a different man than he used to be, the son of a millionaire, a playboy who liked to count on the women he spent the night with. Now, he was a different man, a responsible one, and there were reasons for that. The death of his longtime brother and a woman named Dinah Laurel Lance.

Tommy watched from afar the figure of Laurel and Sara, who had come to the club's opening. The sisters talked about the events of the past few days.

"I talked to Ollie a few days ago," Sara said before bringing her lips to the glass and tasting the alcohol. "He doesn't seem the same. Something's different."

"You think so?" Dinah replied coldly, bringing the beer to her lips. "I tried to talk to him that day he came back, and he told me to stay away. I don't think he's changed."

"I was alone on that island for a year, and it made me a different person," Sara replied, recalling one of the events on that island. "He was gone for five years. Maybe he's changed more than we can tell."

Those words made Dinah react. She knew Sara had a point. But that didn't make things easier. There's something between her and Tommy, but she silently knows she hasn't forgotten her longtime lover.

"Excuse me... Are you the Lance sisters?" A woman with black hair interrupted, extending her hand in greeting. Sara and Dinah turned to face each other. "My name is Nyssa Radtcoo, and I'm new in town."

"Yes, we're sisters. But you can call me Dinah," she replied with a smile before shaking the woman's hand.

"I'm Sara," she said with the same smile, observing the woman's athletic body. "So, you're new in town?" "Is it temporary or permanent?"

"It's temporary. I just came looking for someone important to me who got lost in this city," Nyssa replied before ordering a drink from the bartender.

"You know, I'm a lawyer, and my father is a police officer. We can help you find that person," Dinah quickly replied.

"I don't know. I don't want to cause any trouble for you," Nyssa replied, clearly pretending to be weak and innocent. "Besides, I have a feeling I'll find him sooner than expected."

You won't be any trouble, and we like helping people," Sara replied before raising her glass and drinking to the last drop.

Nyssa smiled widely. Clearly, her plan to use the Lance sisters had been a success. She'd been following them for a few days, knowing about their nocturnal activities and their desire to help others.

Roy walked toward the Verdant exit to drop off some things he wouldn't be using. After so many pleas from Thea to accept the job offer, he finally did. But there was also the archer's proposal. He couldn't do his job properly because of it. He wanted to find him and tell him he was willing to work with him. Dinah had left him with a doubt about that. Maybe he'd end up like his victims; to work with him, he'd need proof that wouldn't happen.

As if the gods above had heard him, the green figure appeared from the darkness, holding his bow and staring at him.

"I've been looking for you," Roy mentioned, observing the archer's figure. He definitely had an intimidating presence. Roy wasn't the type of man to be intimidated, so he simply walked toward him and glared.

"I've thought about your offer and I want to help you," Roy mentioned as he walked toward the security guard.

"But..." The vigilant mentioned.

"You're asking me to trust you, but how could I trust you if I don't even know who you are?" Roy replied, watching the security guard emerge from the darkness. "How do I know I won't end up as one of your victims?"

Roy had a good point. He knew it wouldn't be easy to convince him, especially with the two Canaries guarding him. After thinking for a few seconds, he lowered his bow and placed his hands over his head, gripping the fabric of his hood. He began to lower it slowly, revealing his face little by little.

Roy's face froze when he saw the figure of the same man he had found in that alley, dirty and injured. The vigilant was Oliver Queen.

"I'm doing this because I know I can trust you," he replied coldly. "But if you tell anyone, you'll definitely end up like my victims

Chapter Text

Queen Factory

The loud metallic noise caused by the clash of two bars in Oliver's lair, where he was undergoing intense training with his new partner, Roy Harper.

Roy tried to punch him, but his blows lacked the speed to even graze him. With his great speed and experience, Oliver was able to avoid every blow Roy threw.

"Never forget to twist your hips; that's where your strength comes from," Oliver said before using his bar and hitting Roy on his supporting foot, knocking him to the ground.

"Great advice... Who taught you that?" Roy asked, standing up and returning to his fighting stance.

"An old friend," he replied coldly, taking a defensive stance.

Roy attacked him again, trying to use his speed, which was obviously useless. His blows were too slow for someone with years of fighting experience.

Roy's curiosity was intense. Minutes and hours didn't go by without him asking where he learned to fight or use a bow. Each time he did, he received the same cold response from his mentor. Yes, he was a living wall; he couldn't even get a simple answer.

Roy felt his body fall onto the cold, hard floor. Once again, he was defeated without even landing a single blow.

"Shit," Roy groaned from the floor in sharp pain. "I almost hit you."

"Liar, it'll be a hundred more years before you can hit me," Oliver replied, placing the barbell on the table before checking the schedule on his phone.

Roy got up from the floor, leaving the barbell in its place.

"Workout over," he said before placing his phone on the table. "I have to go talk to Laurel. You have the day off."

"Do you think this is a good idea?" Roy asked, raising his eyebrows. "The last time I saw them, she left the hospital very angry."

Oliver said nothing. He simply turned his head and glared at him. A shiver ran through Roy; he knew he'd touched on something that didn't concern him.

"I'm sorry," Roy apologized quickly before putting on his famous red hooded coat and heading toward the factory exit.

Several hours passed. Diggle and Oliver had arrived in the limo to the building where Dinah Laurel Lance was.

Things were only going to get ugly from here; perhaps their chances of fixing things were nil. In the hospital, he had hurt her with his words. But unlike in the past, this time it was for a good reason. However, he had to take a risk, and he had wanted to do it days ago. But his life as the hooded man didn't allow it.

"You can go, Digg," Oliver ordered, observing the man. "I don't know how long I'll be here, and I don't want to waste your time."

"That's refreshing, Mr. Queen," Diggle mentioned. "At least I know for sure this time you won't run off and make me wait for you in the bathroom like an idiot."

Oliver smiled amusedly, punching his shoulder in apology.

"What are you doing here, Ollie?" Dinah asked, leaning against the door, observing the figure of the man she least expected to see, the one who had told her to stay away from him.

"A friend made me realize I've been acting like a jerk and that it would be a good idea to open up to someone," Oliver said, forcing a smile.

"And you decided to start with the first one you rejected," dinah replied, frowning.

"I just wanted to protect you from me," she replied sincerely. "But then I looked at you and Ivy and realized I hurt you."

A small memory came to Laurel's mind. She remembered Sara's words at the bar, and she decided to let him in so she could enter her apartment.

Oliver walked slowly into the apartment, standing in front of Laurel.

"Thank you," he said with a smile

Oliver walked into the living room, inspecting every inch. The place hadn't changed much, unlike him.

"This place certainly hasn't changed," he mentioned, smiling.

"I didn't have time to decorate," dinah replied.

Oliver froze when he looked into her eyes. He wanted to apologize; she deserved to hear the apologies in her own voice. But the problem was, he didn't know how sincere he could be after so many years away from the city. He might admit it was easier to kill a thousand men than to let his feelings out. It was too late to regret it.

"I'm an idiot," he mentioned, causing Laurel to turn toward him. "Before that island, I was, but now I'm a damaged idiot."

"What's in the bag?" Dinah asked, noticing how stiff he was.

"You have no idea how much I've thought about this. There were even times I dreamed about it..." He replied, unable to hold back a smile. "And I promised myself that if I ever came back to the city, I'd do it with you. Well, I thought maybe we could be the three of us."

He lifted his hands to take it out of the bag, to show her the ice cream with the flavors she liked.

"Eating ice cream," he mentioned.

They both sat on the couch and began to enjoy the ice cream.

Oliver let out a deep sigh. Since he arrived, he'd been under the pressure of many things. The press, his mother wanting to pass the company on to him, Thea in bad company, and possibly drugs.

"Is something wrong?" Dinah asked worriedly.

"Yes..." He replied, faking a smile. "Things in the city are probably just as I remembered. My mother is pressuring me to take over the family business, Thea is lost, and I can't stop thinking it's my fault."

"Hey..." Dinah interrupted, placing her hand on his. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Then there's you," Oliver mentioned, stroking her hand. "Always seeing the best in people, you still see the good in me, when in reality you should hate me for what I did to you and your family."

Oliver had learned from Tommy about what happened to the Lance family, the consequences of having taken Sara. Yet another thing that was his fault.

"I know I don't deserve it, but I hope one day you can forgive me, since I truly want to be a part of your life as a friend and father to Ivy," he answered as honestly as he could. "I... I'm sorry. I think I got carried away."

He expected some kind of rejection from Laurel. But it was the opposite. He felt the soft skin of Laurel's fingers against his cheek.

"Ollie, I'm here for you. That will never change, and Ivy will always be a part of your life, just like me," Laurel replied, bringing her face closer to his.

Things had gotten out of control; he didn't want to get to this point. But what he wanted to avoid happened. Ever since the hospital, he knew love still existed within her.

He felt her lips crash against his. He wanted to stop her, but for the first time in so many years, he felt a few beats in his heart, and it felt right. He brought his hands to her hips before collapsing with her on top of him on the couch.

"Mom... Dad?" A little girl's voice shocked them both.

In one of the many abandoned houses in Star City occupied by the League of Assassins during their mission in the city, Nyssa was sharpening her sword. Her plan was going perfectly. However, it wasn't yet time to unleash war on the city. But with each passing day, the moment drew closer.

Nyssa took several steps forward. She could tell she wasn't alone in that room; someone had tracked her.

"Lower your head and raise your hands above your head," said an Argus agent and former military officer. It was the same man in charge of the Queen family's security, John Diggle himself. "We know who you are, daughter of Ra's al-Ghul, and you're under arrest for murder worldwide."

Nyssa smiled, lowering her sword to the ground and pretending to raise her hand above her head.

"We know that League members always have someone in their company," Diggle said, walking slowly toward her. "Where's your partner?"

Nyssa spun around quickly, giving him no time to react, grabbing his arm and breaking it, causing him to scream in intense pain. With a powerful kick, she knocked him to the concrete.

Nyssa threw the agent's weapon to the ground before bending down, picking up her sword, and walking over to his position.

"I'll never tell you my husband's location," Nyssa replied, bending down to look him in the eye. "No one can touch him except me.

"Why are you in Star City?" Diggle asked. "I've come for what belongs to me, and then I'll leave," Nyssa replied coldly. "It's a shame you interfered. I didn't want to hurt anyone. But if I let you go, it'll ruin my plan, and I can't allow that." Nyssa plunged her sword into the agent's abdomen. He fell to the ground, spitting blood. She could swear his life was flashing before her eyes. Could this be the end of John Diggle?

Chapter Text

"I know I don't deserve this, but I hope that one day you can forgive me, because I truly want to be a part of your life as a friend and a father to Ivy," he replied as sincerely as possible. "I'm... I'm sorry. I think I got carried away."

He expected some kind of rejection from Laurel. But it was quite the opposite. He felt the soft skin of Laurel's fingers against his cheek.

"Ollie, I'm here for you. That will never change, and Ivy will always be a part of your life, just like me," Laurel replied, bringing her face closer to his.

He felt her lips crash against his. He wanted to stop her, but for the first time in so many years, he felt a heartbeat, and it felt right. He placed his hands on her hips before collapsing with her on top of him on the couch.

"Mom... Dad?" A little girl's voice surprised them both.

With a superhuman reflex, he got up as quickly as possible, straightening his suit. The little girl had a confused expression. The first time she saw her father in that hospital, her mother had taken her hand and they left the hospital very angry, and now she was on top of her, doing whatever they would...

"Ivy, you can come here for a while," Oliver said, trying to ignore the awkward moment. "I have something I want to give you."

Ivy didn't move a muscle. Maybe the man is her father. But she's just not sure she trusts him. Dinah gave her a nod of approval and walked over.

"You know, when I was lost, I found this..." Oliver pulled a rock carving out of his pocket with some kind of symbol written on it. "And I want you to keep it for me."

"Why do you want me to keep a rock?" Ivy asked.

"It's not a normal rock," Oliver replied as he sat down on the couch. "If you want, I can tell you the story while we eat ice cream. Do you want to?"

Unable to help herself, Ivy nodded in approval and beamed before running over to her mother on the couch.

"This rock is called a hōzen, and it has a lot of meaning in budu," Oliver replied, craned his neck toward Ivy and Dinah. "The meaning of this stone is powerful; it signifies reconnection, so I kept this in case one day I returned home and could reconnect with my family."

"Did you find that stone on the island? Were you trapped on the same island as Aunt Sara all these years?" Ivy asked with the innocence of a child.

The question had caught him off guard, his body tensing, something that didn't go unnoticed. His past life was buried and would remain that way, and it was best for them not to know about his past.

Luckily for him, the ringing of his cell phone snapped him out of the awkward silence he'd fallen into due to his daughter's question. He apologized before grabbing his phone and answering the call. A few seconds passed, and Dinah was hugging her daughter.

"What?" Oliver said, making Dinah look at him. "Okay, I'll be right there."

Oliver ended the call before walking over to Dinah and her daughter.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go," Oliver said.

"Did something happen?" Dinah asked.

"Yes, Mr. Diggle was seriously injured and is hospitalized," Oliver replied. Seeing Dinah's state of shock, he approached his daughter to stroke her head and say goodbye. "I'll come back tomorrow to talk about what happened."

Without Dinah being able to say anything, she watched as Oliver walked towards the exit of her apartment.

Flashback

Nanda Parbat 2011

Being a trained assassin wasn't an easy task. It was a lonely life. In the short time he'd been on Nanda Parbat, he'd made "two" bonds: one with Ra's's daughter, though he wasn't sure if it was a bond or simply a chance encounter. And the other was with a man similar in many ways, who barely opened his mouth to speak. A millionaire who lost his parents at a young age and came here looking for a reason to validate his existence.

Yes, in some ways, you could say they were similar, but... There was something different about him, and not just the fact that he was Ra's al-Ghul's favorite, but the fact that he simply wasn't willing to let go of his humanity.

On one of the League's many missions, he arrived at a monk's temple. The man had done so much harm to a small town, unaware that justice would come at the end of the day.

Oliver walked toward the man's lifeless body, noticing the small detail on his neck. A kind of stone shaped like an arrowhead with a strange symbol written in the middle. He bent down to retrieve the piece and then left without a trace.

In their chance encounters, Nyssa, who was lying on his bare chest, had explained the meaning of that rock to him. "Reconnection

Was he really anyone other than he is now? Looking back, he's never been anyone different. He cheated on the woman he loved most with her own sister, condemned her to that terrible island, and who knows where she would be now? Possibly suffering the terrible things the island had to offer, or in the worst cases, already dead.

He lost his humanity long before reaching Nanda Parbat

Lian yu 2011

"Kid! Ollie!" The desperate screams of Salde and Sara could be heard after the terrible explosion that occurred on the island.

Slade bangs hard on the tree in frustration. It's been six damn months since Edward Fayers' death and Oliver's disappearance. They continued searching for any sign of Oliver's life without any success. All they could hear was the sound of birds singing and the crash of the sea against the rocks.

"We're not going to get him back," Slade said, turning his head toward Sara.

Are you really going to give up that easily?
That's not the Slade I know.

"We have been searching for several months without any success, Sara" Slade replied, his voice tired and frustrated. "We have to think of the worst option..."

"Oliver is your friend. You can't think like that," Sara retorted angrily.

Sara had no intention of giving up on the search for the man she had fallen in love with. But things had gotten worse. The resources they had on the plane were exhausted. If they didn't leave the island, they would end up the same way as all the dead bodies the island had to offer.

The word "friend" stirred a memory, the promise she made to Oliver. No matter what happened to him, he would find a way to bring Sara home. Slade Wilson was someone with great honor and a strong word. That promise was etched in their memory as they shook hands and drank like brothers that night

Slade walked over to Fayers's body, bending down to retrieve the arrow embedded in her throat.

"It's a promise, kid," Slade said quietly.

"What did you say, Slade?" Sara said, confused.

Slade stood up and walked over to Sara, putting the green arrow away. He continued advancing on Sara before grabbing her by the neck, applying force with the intention of knocking her out.

"I'm sorry about this, Sara." Slade apologized, noticing the woman's lack of protest. "But I made a promise to Oliver, and I'm going to keep it."

end of flashback

Thea was walking with Sara. Seeing all those scars on her brother's body had disconcerted her. She wanted answers. She tried countless times to talk to him, but always received the same response. "I don't want to talk about it."

Maybe talking to Sara could find some answers.

"You don't have to push him, Thea," Sara replied, trying to hide her concern. She knew of only a scar caused by Jao Fei's arrow on their first day on the island, and she could guess at one or two burns from that explosion the last time she saw him. "When he's ready, he'll talk about what happened to him."

Sara's thoughts wandered. She still had feelings for him. Only Thea's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"He reminds me of you when you came back from that island."

Flashback

Star City 2012

International News

Sara Lance, daughter of Detective Quentin Lance, is alive. The Starling resident was brought back by a soldier, a year after the Queen's Gambit accident in which she was believed to have disappeared. She joined the Gambit of millionaire Robert Queen and his son, Oliver Queen, who are now confirmed to have both died in the accident.

Star City Hospital

Quentin Lance had arrived as quickly as he could. He had probably violated a few traffic laws and red lights, but that didn't matter to him at the moment.

Finally, he reached the room where the doctor had given him some directions. He could see the figure of the blonde woman staring out at the city streets. She didn't seem to be the same Sara from a few years ago. The doctor informed Detective Lance that she hadn't said a single word about what happened on that island or the accident.

"Sara," Quentin said, his voice breaking.

The detective has been through too much this past year. He didn't just lose his marriage or think he'd lost Sara forever. Not long ago, the accident happened in Central City. The explosion at Dr. Harrison Wells' particle accelerator left Dinah in a coma, and her prognosis isn't very encouraging. It's impossible to say when or if she'll ever wake up. Those events had caused Detective Lance to fall into a deep depression that led him to lose himself in alcohol. However, Sara's return now sparks a kind of hope in him.

"Daddy," Sara replied, smiling sadly, before rushing over and hugging her father.

Quentin hugged him back, unable to hold back tears of joy.

"It's all my fault, I'm sorry," Sara apologized. She knew she made a mistake getting on that ship; she didn't want to ruin the family's life.

"No, it's not your fault, honey," Quentin replied, trying to calm her down. "Everything's okay now, my girl."

Sara could see Thea and Tommy staring, but her eyes were searching for one person in particular. She survived that island to return and apologize to Dinah. But he wasn't here. She thought that would be common.

"Where's Mom and Laurel?" Sara asked.

"It's a long story. But I'll take you home. You need to rest," Quentin replied.

"I'm fine. I want to talk to Laurel," Sara insisted.

"Sara, Dinah's out of town," Quentin replied.

Sara could see the pain in his eyes; she knew something had happened to her. Fear gripped her, worried that something bad would happen.

"Daddy... Where is she?" she asked.

Quentin let out a deep sigh. He still had to tell her the truth, even though he didn't want to drop a bombshell upon his arrival, but he had no choice.

"Dinah's in Central City and she's in critical condition," Quentin replied, pain taking over again. "She's been in a coma for four months and probably won't wake up again."

As expected, the news didn't sit well with Sara. He could swear the weight of the world fell on his shoulders. He was in shock.

Chapter Text

Flashback

Sara Lance returned to the city after being lost for a full year on an island in the North China Sea. She had confirmed the death of Robert Queen, who had sacrificed his life so they could both reach the island.

However, Oliver disappeared almost a year later. His body was never found; no one could confirm what had happened to him. He decided it was right to confirm his death to avoid giving false hope to the Queen family.

Before deciding to sacrifice himself, Robert Queen confessed to having failed the city. Oliver promised to make amends for his mistakes, and it was that promise that kept him alive for that year. And it was Oliver who kept her alive.

She wasn't the same girl who nearly drowned in the Gambit and barely survived that cold island. Oliver was gone, but that didn't mean she was ready to accept him. To honor his memory, she decided to fight for the city just as he would have.

Sara arrived at a gang of dealers selling what appeared to be drugs. She ran toward the dealer, using an acrobatic leap to slam her gray cane into the dealer's hand.

Her next move was to strike the gunmen's leg and prevent the shots from reaching her. The other gunman began firing, missing due to the canary's quick movements. Not only was she very skilled with her cane, but she was also trained in combat. She was quick enough for the slow strikes and the way she kicked and threw her own punches. They were like flies trying to avoid the inevitable honey traps. She felt the weight of her elbow against the forehead of one of them, knocking him unconscious. She wasn't a skilled assassin like Slade Wilson was on that island. To save the city, she didn't need to become part of the problem; the city needed someone who would offer them hope, and she was determined to give them that

"I dropped out of college and law school, so I don't know what these criminals' rights are," Sara jokingly replied.

"Who are you? Why are you wearing a black leather suit?" Detective Lance asked. Possibly the best detective in the city, but whoever was behind that black suit and blonde wig knew how to hide their identity.

"Someone like you, who cares about the city," she replied with a smile before running off into the darkness.

Quentin could sense that her words were sincere. He wasn't a fan of vigilantes, but there were plenty of hero stories in the world—a man dressed in a batsuit in Gotham City or Superman in Metropolis. He had a strange feeling he could trust her.

Central City

The months passed quickly. The news about the woman in black leather and the black mask had gained incredible reputation and fame, even reaching Central City. He could hear some nurses talking about it.

He came to Central City not to dispense justice, but for personal reasons. He had been visiting Dinah, hoping she would wake up. Maybe she didn't deserve to be there; after all, she had betrayed her with her own boyfriend. But his concern had won out, and here he was again, hoping to apologize, while holding his niece, who was only a few months old.

After four months, Dinah began to wake up from the coma she had fallen into after the particle accelerator explosion. She began to open her eyes and could blurrily see the figures of two blond people, one older and the other who looked just like a child. She could swear she had seen her sister Sara Lance, but that was impossible. The last thing she had heard from her was that she had joined the Gambit with her boyfriend and that they had shipwrecked. She thought Sara had died.

The first thing she felt was the girl's weight on her. She didn't know what was happening. Her mind began to faintly remember. She had arrived in Central City for a case that required her skills as a lawyer, and now she was waking up in a bed in what appeared to be a laboratory.

Dr. Caitlin Snow had been checking her condition, as had Barry Allen, who, unlike her, had not yet awakened.

"Her system is responding well, but I need to run more tests," Caitlin mentioned to Harryson Wells, who was sitting in a wheelchair.

"Is she also a human meta?" Harrison Wells asked.

"Yes, she is," Caitlin replied, jotting down a few things in her notebook. "But her abilities are still uncertain. We don't know how the particle accelerator affected her."

Harrison Wells moved toward the room in his wheelchair. He saw Dinah hugging the girl before turning his gaze to Sara. It was definitely her, not an illusion. Before they could speak, they were interrupted.

"You shouldn't get up yet, Miss Lance," Harrison Wells mentioned in his wheelchair.

"Who are you?" Dinah asked.

"I'm Harrison Wells, owner of Star Labs." He answered, turning his head to Sara. "We'll explain what happened to your sister, but we need you to stay a little longer for some tests."

"Tests?" Dinah asked.

"Approximately four months ago, you arrived in this city for a law case... Can you remember that?" Harrison Wells asked, carefully observing Dinah's features. Dinah nodded in agreement. "You were hit by the particle acceleration blast and have been in a coma ever since."

"Four months?" Dinah asked, frightened.

"That's right, welcome back, Miss Lance."

After several hours, Dr. Snow and Wells finished testing her and determined that she definitely had the metagene. Thanks to her rage toward her own younger sister and her presence in the lab, they were able to determine her new powers: a sonic scream capable of shattering glass and even bending steel. Before she could leave Star Lab, Cisco Ramon built her a device that would help her control her scream until she found a way to live without harming anyone.

She finally left Star Lab with her daughter in her arms. After being in a coma for the past few months, she felt the warmth of the sun again. Sara had left early because of the argument they had. She was upset, and seeing Sara again, she inevitably thought that Oliver had returned as well. They had a daughter; she had dreamed of it, of having a family with him.

But things between them would never be the same again.

End of Flashback

"What happened to you and Ollie?" Sara asked, intrigued, hearing Ivy cheerfully mention her father's name. "Did Romeo and Juliet get back together?"

"Nothing happened with him, Sara," Dinah lied, recalling the events with him the night before. She wanted to convince herself of this, that it was just a mistake. "There's nothing between him and me except your niece."

Sara smiled before lovingly stroking Ivy's blonde hair. The first time Dinah woke up from her coma and their argument in the Star Lab, she thought she'd lost her sister forever. Luckily, that wasn't the case; now they were closer than ever. Not only as sisters, but also as the city's two vigilantes.

Chapter Text

Three months had passed since his return home. He'd found his groove as the vigilante. His plan had worked out well; the city was focused on his life as Oliver Queen, putting his nighttime activities on the back burner. Still, things weren't easy. His connection with his own family wasn't good. He almost never spent the night at the mansion; whenever Thea asked him about his absence, he simply ignored her or changed the subject. Even his relationship with Tommy was different. His nighttime activities at the beginning weren't easy either. The vigilantes were a problem in his crusade. It seemed like a curse of fate; they always appeared to try to stop him. Maybe if he didn't know their identities, he would have made a different decision.

The arrival of Christmas brings with it the opportunity to improve his relationship with his family, or at least try. The word "Christmas" lost its meaning in his life a long time ago. In his life as an assassin, he had no room for things as trite as Christmas or birthdays. His daily life was battle and murder.

But tonight, pretending to be someone he's no longer is could be his toughest fight since arriving in the city.

He opened the door to the mansion and began walking toward the entrance of the luxurious mansion. Thea came down the stairs as if she were waiting for him.

"You look so pretty," he mentioned, adjusting his suit and looking at Thea, dressed in an elegant black and red dress. "Why is that?"

"Mom's throwing a party with the town's most important people," Thea replied with a smile at her brother's gesture. "That's right, it's going to be a very, very interesting evening."

Thea walked toward the dining room where everyone was having dinner. Oliver stood still for a few seconds, gathering his strength to face the night. After letting out a deep sigh, he followed Thea's steps and headed toward the dining room.

"Welcome, Oliver," said the CEO of Merlyn Global, Malcolm Merlyn himself, who stood up to shake his hand in greeting.

"It's good to see you again, Mr. Merlyn," he replied as they both shook hands in greeting.

"Sorry I couldn't see you at the hospital..." Malcolm apologized, his words seeming sincere. "I didn't have time, you know, the company is very busy."

"That doesn't matter, Mr. Merlyn," he replied with a smile.

They both sat at the table to dine. As Thea said, important people were sitting at this table. CEOs of the city's most important companies, the chief of operations of the police department.

"What people forget is that Robin Hood is a criminal. He steals from the rich to give to the poor, like the Democrats," the commissioner mentioned, causing laughter from those present.

"Joking aside, Commissioner. The crime rate is at an all-time low." Malcolm interrupted.

"That's because of the changes I implemented in my department," the commissioner replied.

"You call working with two masked vigilantes an implementation?" Walter Steel, director of Queen Consolidate, asked.

"And what about the other vigilante?" Malcolm asked, his gaze shifting to Oliver's position. "The hooded man... What's your opinion of that vigilante, Oliver?"

"My opinion is he deserves a better name than 'hooded man,'" Oliver replied, making those present laugh.

"Okay," Malcolm replied without taking his gaze off him. "What do you think... Green Arrow?"

"Boring," Oliver replied.

Dinner continued. Malcolm glanced at Oliver occasionally before picking up his glass and sipping his wine. His cell phone rang, drawing the attention of everyone who turned to look at him.

"It's a work call, I have to take it..." He quickly excused himself before standing and walking away from the dining room. "What's going on?"

Remember Adam Hunt? The man you stole 40 million dollars from. Roy spoke, hiding in a building where the police couldn't find or hear him. "He was found dead in his apartment with two arrows in his chest."

"Give me the address and get out of there," Oliver ordered before heading toward the mansion's exit.

Adam Hunt's Apartment

Adam Hunt's body was lying on the bed with two black arrows embedded in his chest. The police had arrived at the crime scene, and the coroner began taking photos of the body. Detective Lance and the two Canarios walked toward the body, looking for any trace of the perpetrator.

"The daughter arrived, used her key, and found him like this," Detective Lance explained to the commissioner. "Two arrows in the chest."

"The hooded man," the commissioner said.

"I thought so when I arrived," Lance replied, turning to the commissioner. "The arrows are black; his are green. It doesn't make sense either. The hooded man stole 40 million a few months ago, so... Why kill him now?"

"What do you mean by that?" the commissioner asked.

"I don't think this is the work of the hooded man. Maybe he's a copycat," Canario replied, causing those present to turn toward her.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the vigilante's green figure was hidden behind the walls, listening to every word and also watching the arrows in Hunt's chest. Aside from him, there was only one organization that was skilled with a bow and arrow. There was also the former member of the League of Assassins, the Dark Archer.

Whatever the case, the city is at risk. If it was a Dark Archer, he couldn't let him go free; he had to find him and kill him. If it was the League of Assassins, he couldn't let Sara or Laurel get involved, or they'd end up dead.

Arrow Bunker

"Who would kill Adam Hunt with arrows, besides you?" Roy asked before regretting his words and receiving a murderous glare from Oliver.

"Maybe it's a trap..." Oliver replied, not going into too much detail. "Someone who wants to cover up their actions and blame the hooded man."

"That's something... Sinister," Roy replied, watching Oliver's body tense. He knew he wasn't telling him everything he knew, but he wasn't going to push him.

"Whoever it is is very good," Oliver replied, looking at the photos Roy had taken. "Look, the shots were straight. There's no doubt about it, he's a legitimate archer."

"Do you think he's killing people to get your attention?" Roy asked, confused by where this is going. "Do you think he's challenging you to some kind of archery duel?

"I don't know," Oliver replied, thinking about all the possibilities. He wasn't sure if it was the League or the Dark Archer.

"Because I have a feeling you know more than you're telling me," Roy said, staring at Oliver.

"For the sake of the city, I hope I'm wrong," he replied.

"Fine, I'll hit the streets and find information about this archer," Roy said. But he was interrupted.

"No, Thea's been looking for you all day," Oliver lied. He wouldn't let anyone close to him confront the League of Assassins or the Dark Archer. "Go home and take care of her."

Roy looked at Oliver, confused, but decided to listen to him. He'd go home with Thea in case that maniac decides to go after the Queen family.

Oliver grabbed his hood and bow. He was determined to end this tonight. But he had something to do before he went out to hunt down the archer or the League, whoever was behind it. The deaths in the city. This fight was hers; she didn't have to involve Sara or the mother of her daughter.

Sara found herself alone in Dinah's apartment; there was no Ivy or Dinah, just her. The lights in the apartment went out, causing Sara to quickly take a defensive stance.

"Get away from here," he threatened Sara, grabbing a knife that was on the table.

"I'm not here to hurt you or your sister..." the vigilante said, activating his voice modulator and then lowering his bow to the ground as a sign that he was telling the truth. "You have to listen to me, your family is in grave danger."

"I told you not to come any closer," Sara repeated, getting into defensive position to attack him.

"Hunt's killer calls himself Dark Archer. He's a professional assassin who has killed many people who get in his way," the vigilante spoke, ignoring Sara's threats. "You have to keep your sister and your father away from this case, or he'll come after your family and show no mercy. Sara, you have to trust me."

"Why should I trust you?" Sara asked.

Her hands traveled to her chest, turning off the voice device, and then she reached for the hood and began to lower it down her back. She thought quickly; she didn't know if it was the right decision. But maybe it was the only way to protect them and her family.

"Because you've always trusted me, Sara," Oliver replied, showing his face to Sara's.

Shock seized Sara's body. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't move. She dropped the knife to the ground, her eyes shining. She had faced him on several occasions and never suspected it was him. How could it be him? Where did he learn to fight? These were the questions that ran through her head.

"O... Ollie... Are... Are you?" she said, her voice trembling.

"Yes, I am," Oliver replied coldly. "Please don't tell anyone. And as for the Dark Archer, leave him in my care. I'll do what's necessary to stop him."