Starling City Police Department
Morning
"Detective," Nathan said as he sat across from Quentin in the integration room, "You hate me. I get that, but that doesn't make me a murderer."
"No, the security footage from the Unidac auction does that pretty well." Quentin sneered.
"And as I said, after the shooting, I was with my family the whole time so that obviously is not me" Nathan gave Quentin a pointed look.
"And what about harassing Adam Hunt? That just happened to take place across the street from your little Homecoming Bash?" Quentin sneered.
"These are merely coincidences." Nathan said with a mocking smile.
"No. When they pile up like that, it becomes evidence." Quentin sneered.
"Somebody with your conditions really should be more careful about throwing accusations like that, detective. You believe just because you have a few instances that 'might' connect me to this Hood character that it's viable grounds to arrest me? Don't kid yourself. You've been transferring your hatred for my brother onto me ever since I got back, and now you see an opportunity to punish Oliver by punishing me." Nathan mocked Quentin as the door opened and an officer peeked his head in.
"His parents are here." The officer said.
"Tell 'em to wait." Quentin said dismissively.
"I want to see my son!" Moira shouted before bursting into the room, Walter not far behind her.
"I'm in the middle of an integration!" Quentin protested.
"Detective Lance, I know you hate my family, but I had no idea you would go so far as to arrest my son without any grounds whatsoever!" Moira shouted.
"I have very solid grounds," Quentin sneered as he stood up, "I have plenty of evidence."
"Which you can present to Mr. Queen's attorney when he gets here," Walter cut in smoothly, "Until then, this integration is over Detective."
"Sure," Quentin said after a moment, gathering his things, "You have fifteen minutes."
Nathan closed his eyes as Quentin walked out before Moira and Walter turned to him.
"Detective Lance appears to be on some personal vendetta against you." Walter noted.
"He is. He blames Oliver for the death of his daughter and since he can't go after my brother, he's transferring his hatred onto me," Nathan said and there was silence, "He also thinks I dress up and shoot people. With arrows."
"The important thing is not to say anything until your attorney gets here." Walter advised.
"Fine, I want Laurel." Nathan said and the two scoffed.
"Nathan, I don't think your brother's ex-girlfriend can be counted on to be objective!" Moira snapped.
"She knows me better than anyone; she knows that I can never be this guy. Walter, you say Lance has a vendetta?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Walter confirmed.
"Well, I think Laurel can get him off it. He raised her to do the right thing, which includes representing an innocent man. So mom," Nathan looked imploringly at Moira, "please."
CNRI
Afternoon
"Laurel," Laurel looked up at the expected call, "I know this is-"
"I was there, remember?" Laurel pointed out and Moira flushed as she did recall that. "Is he okay?"
"At the moment. I'm here on his behalf Moira said and Laurel raised an eyebrow, appearing confused, "he wants you to represent him."
"I'm not sure that's appropriate." Laurel said, appearing hesitant, since she did not want to be accused of a conflict of interest.
"I know it's unfair to ask but, to be frank, I am desperate. He says if you won't represent him, the he doesn't want any attorney." Moira said and Laurel was shocked.
"That's suicide, he can't do that." Laurel said honestly horrified.
"I know, that's why I'm here. I know it's unfair to ask, given the circumstances, but…please. I am begging you. I can't lose him. Not again." Moira said.
"My own issues aside, he's my friend. I care about him and I can't let him do this. So…yes, I will represent him." Laurel said and Moira sighed in relief.
"Thank you." A grateful Moira hugged her.
Starling City Police Department
An hour later
Laurel came to Nathan in the interrogation room. "Hey, Laurel." Nathan greeted.
"Hey to yourself, Nate," Laurel said, "This is almost like old times, except now, I'm the one getting you out of jail."
"Well, it not exactly the same as 5 yrs. Ago. I'm actually not guilty this time," Nathan said with honest confidence.
Laurel sat down sighing, then reached out and grasped Nathan's hand tenderly, saying, "I'm sorry about all this. I really don't know what my father is thinking."
"He's thinking that he can use me to punish Oliver," upon seeing Laurel's confused expression, he elaborated, "Quentin hates Oliver for dragging Sara onto the Queen's Gambit. Since Oliver is dead, he is taking his vendetta out on me. And I'm not the only one. Thea won't talk about it, but I know he's harassed her before."
Laurel looked at him in the eyes, still holding his hand as she said, "Nate, I believe you and I want to help you. But I'm going to need proof of what you're saying to prove to the court that your word is legitimate."
Nathan pulled back and pulled out a flash drive, and gave it to her. "This has everything I have compiled on your father. If that bloody island did one good thing for me, it was giving me good survival instincts. I knew from the first insult he thrw my way, the moment you're father got a chance, he'd try something. I trust you Laurel, and personally, I know you could convince them without this, but if you want to have it just in case, then here." He finished as he handed it to her.
Starling City Court house
The next day at noon
"Mr. Queen, where's your attorney?" The judged asked, noticing the vacant seat next to Nathan.
"Right here your honor," Laurel entered, feeling her father's stunned eyes as she took her place by Nathan's right, "Dinah Laurel Lance, your honor."
"Welcome Ms. Lance. Mr. Queen, how do you plead?" The judge asked.
"I'm not guilty, your honor." Nathan said and she nodded.
"Very well, now onto the subject of bail." The judge began.
"Your honor," DA Spencer interrupted as she stood, "The Queen Family owns two private jets. And no amount of bail can promise Mr. Queen stays put."
"Well then I guess it's a good thing that the people's case is so circumstantial," Laurel interrupted as she got to her feet, "your honor, I would prefer not to waste anyone's time. You will be dismissing all the charges against my client."
"And why is that?" The judge raised an eyebrow.
"Because honestly, it is laughable how far this 'case' has gotten, if you can even call it that," Laurel announced boldly as several people turned to her in shock, "this is not about justice or the law, this is about satisfying one man's petty vendetta."
"Could you elaborate Ms. Lance?" The judge asked in confusion.
"Gladly. The arresting officer, Quentin Lance, has a vendetta against my client that goes back five years. He blames Mr. Queen for the death of his youngest daughter. When Mr. Queen was presumed dead, he took his anger out on Mr. Queen's family. Two years ago, there was a very public, drunken altercation between Detective Lance and my client's younger sister Thea Queen, who was only fifteen at the time, where the good Detective unleashed a slur of verbal insults on her. There were over a hundred witnesses, so I'm sure finding proof isn't that difficult. And now that's back, Detective Lance is able to focus all his anger on Mr. Queen. Less than two months ago, mere days after my client returned home, Detective Lance nearly attacked my client in front of multiple witnesses, myself included. He had to be dragged away from the scene by his partner, and was heard saying 'did you even try to save her?'
"But there's more than that," Laurel said as Quentin stared at he, betrayal and anger filling his eyes, "he arrested my client yesterday without a warrant, breaking several police protocols. And he has a history of being an alcoholic. Lord knows how many times I have had to pick him up from the bar at night. In case I have not yet convinced you yet of my clients innocence, I have this to prove it."
Laurel took out the flash drive and inserted it into an audio speaker, and everyone was suddenly hearing the audio on it.
"Yeah." Lance nodded before he glared at Nathan "It's funny, isn't it? One day back and somebody's gunning for you. Aren't you popular?"
"It's both a gift and a curse." Nathan shrugged nonchalantly.
Lance made to shout at Nathan but Moira spoke "Were you able to identify the men?"
"Scrubbed identities. Untraceable weapons. These were pros." Lance's partner said.
"Yeah. They figured you'd pay a king's ransom to get your boy back. Or a Queen's ransom, as it were. After all, a parent would do anything to keep their child safe." Lance said snarkingly as he glared at Nathan.
"Are you alright Mr. Lance?" Nathan asked looking the man in the eye "Maybe you shouldn't be the one leading this case since it seems you wouldn't give a rats ass if I would've died today."
"You listen here you son-"
"Quentin." Lance's partner hissed stopping his partner.
"Mr. Lance, you seem to share the habit of projecting your anger onto me, when I've done nothing wrong to your family. Oliver took Sara onto the yacht not me. Is your anger justified? Without a shadow of doubt it is, but the man your angry at is dead...so get the hell out of my house and go do your job."
Laurel paused to make an announcement, "This audio was from right after my client was first kidnapped. This next one is from the incident at the club."
"Who's Adam Hunt?" Nathan asked
"A millionaire bottom feeder. I'm surprised you aren't friends."
"Well I am a friendly guy, but I have no new friends seeing as I've been out of town for a while." Nathan shrugged as Tommy chuckled
"Yeah. Well, he just got attacked by the guy with the hood. The guy that saved your ass the other day." Quentin said still glaring at Nathan
"Really, did you catch him?" Nathan asked only for Quentin to glare, "Shame, I would really like to speak with him."
"Did you even try to save her?" Quentin asked stepping into Nathan's face
"Okay, let's go partner." Quentin's partner said starting to pull him away
"Did you even try to save my daughter?" Quentin asked
"I guess you'll never know." Nathan said causing Quentin to try to rush him but his partner and a other officer pulled him away
"Sara wouldn't want this. Let's go." his partner said
Laurel shut it off and continued, "Now, there is no actual evidence linking my client to the vigilante except one coincidence from his second day back and this video. This is not about the law or justice, this is about the fact that Detective Lance saw an opportunity to get revenge on the man he sees as his daughter's killer and took it. The fact we are even here is, to be blunt, laughable. I move to dismiss all charges."
"Your honor, the evidence, as circumstantial as the evidence is, it does raise some alarms. " The prosecutor protested.
"Evidence supplied by a vengeful alcoholic." Laurel pointed out and Quentin stared at her in disbelief.
"The prosecution has forty eight hours to come up with reasonable, non-circumstantial evidence," The judge said after a moment, "evidence not touched by Quentin Lance. If not, then Ms. Lance, your motion to have all charges dismissed will be passed." The judge slammed the hammer down.
"Your honor, he's a flight risk!" The prosecutor protested.
"Then minimize the risk. The defendant is willing to submit to home confinement and electronic monitoring through the wearing of a UKG45 administrated ankle device." Laurel said and Nathan frowned.
"No he wouldn't." Nathan protested and Laurel shot him a look.
"Yes, he would." Laurel said with a smile that said 'talk and I'll kill you' so Nathan wisely decided to shut up.
"Sold." The judge happily slammed down the hammer, to Spencer's dismay and Laurel had to suppress the smirk forming.
"Laurel," Nathan said as she began gathering her things, "I'm not happy about the ankle monitor, but…thank you."
"You were either going to have a stay in jail or be under house arrest. Besides, knowing you, I'm sure you already have a plan to get out of this," Laurel picked up her suitcase and looked him square in the eyes, "you just have to make some adjustments to make it work. And you don't really need to thank me. You're my friend, of course I'd help you out."
Laurel then walked out of the court room, refusing to meet her father's eyes.
Queen Mansion
Later in the afternoon
"Mom, it's not that bad." Nathan assured Moira as the two of them, along with Tommy, Thea, and Walter watched as the ankle monitor was attached to Nathan's leg.
"Okay," The cop said as the device was set, "this monitor has a direct line into the precinct. Stay on the property, you're golden. Any questions?"
"Yeah, I am having a sizable get together tomorrow evening and there is a better than small chance it spills into the outdoor poor." Nathan said causing Moira and Walter to look at him incredulously.
"Well that's fine. As long as you stay on pavement, you're golden. You step up on the grass; we're sending a SWAT team to forcibly subdue you." The cop warned him.
"Thank you officer." Walter said as he began to lead the cop out.
"A sizable get together?" Moira asked incredulously, her voice shaking with anger.
"I'm confined to this house for the foreseeable future, might as well make the most of it," Nathan said and Moira glowered at him, "and this party is gonna be themed, I was thinking…prison? Ah, burning man meets Shawshank Redemption and the invite says 'Come before Nathaniel Queen gets off!'"
"Nathaniel, perhaps a party isn't a good idea, considering the circumstances." Walter tried to reason as he walked back in to the room.
"I disagree," Tommy and they looked over at him, "the party will let people know Nate isn't worried in the slightest about this. And it will infuriate the police by making them look like ideas any more than Laurel already did. And people who are angry make mistakes."
"See, Tommy gets it!" Nathan exclaimed as they high fived.
Laurel's apartment
Same time
"How could you do that to me?!" Quentin demanded as he stormed into Laurel's apartment.
"You were trying to send somebody I care about to jail for a crime he did not commit. I did what any competent lawyer and friend would have done in my position." Laurel said coolly.
"You are defending the man who murdered your sister!" Quentin shouted.
"Did he put a gun to Sara's head? Did he force her into that boat?" Laurel demanded.
"What are you saying?" Quentin sneered.
"That neither Nathan or Oliver forced her to do anything, Sara made a choice. None of them could have known what that choice would bring," Laurel said, thinking on what had happened as a result, "Sara is not the saint you prefer to remember her as. She was selfish, spoiled, and cared only about herself. Nathan and Oliver are not the reason she died and he is not this vigilante."
"You know what? I don't need this." Quentin sneered as he turned and stormed out, leaving Laurel staring after him.
Queen Mansion
Later in the afternoon
"You know, when I signed on for this, I didn't think you'd get caught so soon." Lyla said as she closed Nathan's bedroom door.
"Yeah," Nathan drawled sarcastically as he looked down at his laptop, "I'm not sure how I could have possibly missed that security tape."
"You let yourself get caught?" Lyla asked in surprise.
"I return to Starling City, a few days later the vigilante shows up. Sooner or later, someone was gonna connect the dots." Nathan told her.
"Okay, well, what part of your plan is gonna get you to avoid going to prison for the rest of your life?" Lyla asked.
"There's more to it, but the mission comes first," Nathan as he flipped the laptop around to show Lyla a picture of a grey haired Caucasian man, "Justin Clayborne."
"Who's he?" Lyla asked confused.
"The owner of Clayborne Pharmaceuticals, which recently acquired the rights to Dycloseral, which fights a particular strain of Tuberculosis. Which recently had an outbreak in Lamb Valley." Nathan told her.
"Let me hazard a guess. As soon as the outbreak started, prices were inflated?" Lyla said and Nathan nodded.
"Prices for Dycloseral went from ten dollars to a thousand literally overnight. The people in Lamb Valley, they're working class, low income. They can't afford this." Nathan told her.
"And what do you plan to do about this while under house arrest?" Lyla inquired.
"If you go back to my base, you understand just how I already have that covered. I'm gonna find out where Clayborne goes and who he meets with tonight. I'm gonna need you to run the computers for me tonight." Nathan ordered and Lyla nodded.
Afternoon
"Hey, you okay? All this stuff, it's gonna be fine, I promise." Nathan said as he sat down across from his sister.
"Did you do this stuff Detective Lance says you did?" Thea asked as she looked her brother in the eye.
"Of course not." Nathan said immediately.
"If you say so, I believe you. But, if you did…that would be okay to." Thea said.
"Really?" Nathan asked, genuinely surprised.
"The vigilante, his methods are extreme, but he's done more good than the cops have all year. I may not like it, but he's a necessary evil I say." Thea said, unknowingly planting a seed in her brother's mind.
"Maybe." Nathan said, careful not to show how much his sister's acceptance meant to him.
Queen Mansion
Night
"If you think this is what Prison is like you're in for a rude awakening," Lyla told Nathan as they walked through the party, "let's go somewhere private."
Nathan nodded and the two walked up to Nathan's room.
"You're guy followed Clayborne to his factory. Apparently, there's supposed to be a big meeting there in a few hours." Lyla said and Nathan nodded.
"The perfect time for the Arrow to show up." Nathan said and Lyla raised an eyebrow.
"Nathan, you can't leave this house." Lyla pointed out.
"It doesn't have to be 'this' me in the hood." Nathan said giving Lyla a look.
"I'm not following, Nate," Lyla said.
"The guy from last night in my costume was me." Nathan said, causing Lyla to be more confused, "May I show you something?"
With Lyla's permission, Nate created a single clone of himself, causing him to drop to his knees, panting as he did since he already had one running around.
"H-how?" Lyla asked.
"Let's just say it's a little trick I picked up after China." Nathan said as he and his clone refused, "The guy under the hood is a clone of me."
"Listen Lyla," Nathan coming closer, "Out of everyone in Argus, I like you the most. I would prefer it if this did not reach Amanda's ears." Lyla nodded and assured him.
"Well, my job was to report on how you were doing and make sure you didn't become a threat to innocent people of Starling, so as long as that remains true, I can try to keep this quiet. In the meantime, I have a meeting to help bust up." Lyla said before she turned and walked out.
Later, Nathan was downstairs, getting a drink, when he turned around to see Laurel.
"Do we have a legal meeting, because I have friends over?" Nathan joked and she shot him an unamused look as she reached him.
"Can we talk, privately?" Laurel asked.
"You are not actually the first person to say that to me," Nathan joked before he saw the angry look on her face, "the first was Lyla. Just bodyguard related stuff."
Shaking her head in exasperation, Laurel followed Nathan up to his room.
"Look," Laurel said as she turned around to face him, "I would just like to apologize for my father's behavior the last few days."
"You don't have to apologize for him." Nathan told her.
"It wasn't just Sara, Nate." Laurel said and he raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked clueless.
"After Sara died, my father threw himself into his work. I think that's why I'm an attorney, he ran to the law and I followed. But my mother couldn't. So she left him…left us," Laurel said and saw Nathan look down, "I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty or to try and defend him, I just want you to understand."
"Why don't you hate me? You should. I failed her." Nathan asked since he still blamed himself for not saving Sara during his second year.
"I did," Laurel admitted, " hate Oliver I mean, for so long I did. But I realize that Sara made a choice. Oliver didn't force her to do anything, that was Sara's choice. You need to stop blaming yourself for Ollie and Sara dying. Whatever debt you owed me or my father, I think you've more than paid it with all that you've been through…"
At some point during their talk, Laurel had put a hand on the side of Nathan's face. Neither was sure who moved first, but they were suddenly kissing fiercely. Nathan ran a hand through her dark hair as Laurel wrapped her arms around her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried them over to his bed.
Lemon Time Lemon Time
Nate sat himself down on his bed, kicking off his shoes and socks, as Laurel unbuttoned his shirt and he did the same with her shirt tossing it to the side. Nathan moved from her lips down to her neck as he unclasped her bra and threw it to the side.
Nathan played with and groped Laurels breasts for a bit, eliciting sweet moans from the beautiful lawyer. Nathna worked his magic on her for several minutes before moving downward and slowing removing her blouse and panties.
Nate kissed his way up her leg, building her anticipation as he moved his mouth closer to her cunt. Finally, he reached his prize, inserting his tongue in her pussy and licking it.
"Oh, Nate," Laurel moaned, her voice filled with lust. She out her hand on his hand, urging him further onward as with every skillful lick, he was rewarded with a moan from Laurel bringing her closer to climax.
After 5 minutes of him licking her cunt, Laurel was ready for her climax. "Oh god Nate. I'm cumming!" She moaned as she came all over his. He eager licked up her love juices until she finished her organism.
Nathan pulled his head up, savoring her taste, "Mm, it like nectar." He said. As she lay on her back, leg spread wide, Nathan positioned himself over her, the length on his cock rubbing against her outer folds, teasing her as his mighty sword eagerly desired to be sheathed.
"Stop teasing me already, Nate," Laurel moaned.
"Ahh, but I remember you love being teased," Nate whispered as he nibbled on her ear playfully while still teasing her.
"Please" Laurel pleaded, and Nate relented.
"I'll start out slow." He whispered
Smiling lightly, Laurel nodded in appreciation, before her face scrunched up as Nathan began to bury himself into her.
Nathan smiled down at Laurel as he completely sheathed himself inside of her, before he French-kissed her, as she grabbed onto his shoulders paralyzed by the pleasure of his cock being buried in her cunt. "I-It's so much bigger than I remember." She whispered with a gasp.
"You're so tight, Laurel." Groaning, Nathan kissed Laurel again, lustfully, and began to pay attention to her breasts again.
After a minute of Nathan staying motionless and kissing Laurel, the women finally bucked her hips against his, showing she was ready. "Fuck me." Laurel smiled.
Nathan pulled out only until the tip was in and with a hard grunt, plunged his cock back into Laurel. The sudden hard thump made Laurel moan loudly, her mind losing focus.
Bracing himself on his fists, Nathan began to hammer away into Laurel, as he lost himself in her tight walls "Fuck." Nathan hissed, as he suddenly turned Laurel onto her stomach and laid atop of her, as he continued to pound away, as a moaning Laurel turned to kiss him, as the headboard began to slam into the wall, as they both lost themselves in their pleasure.
End Lemon
Starling City
While the real Nathan was having fun
Justin Clayborne was holding a meeting when suddenly, the lights all turned out. They all looked around in confusion before He was there. The Arrow jumped down, slugged on security guard, took his gun, and it was on. He fired three times, killing most of the guards as Clayborne's guests fled. The Arrow knocked the gun out of the last guard's hand and struck him across the face with his bow, knocking him out as the gun fired. It hit a gas tank before them, causing a small explosion and Clayborne backed up in fear, the explosion making The Arrow appear extremely terrifying.
"Justin Clayborne, you have failed this city!" The Arrow said in a disguised voice as he stalked over to him.
"I-I think you got the wrong guy pal. My company only makes drugs that help people." Clayborne stammered, trying to weasel his way out of this.
"And what about the people in Lamb Valley?" The Arrow challenged.
"It's not my problem some people can't afford it." Clayborne told him.
Snarling, The Arrow slugged him. Not hard enough to knock out, but enough to cause a lot of pain. Clayborne went down, crying out as he felt his bruised jaw. He looked up and paled as he saw the barrel of a gun aimed at him.
"Your days of holding this city hostage are over. Is that in anyway unclear?" The Arrow growled.
"Okay, I get it!" He said fearfully.
The Arrow tossed the gun away and started walking off.
"You have until eleven P.M. tomorrow to make this right." The Hood warned him as Clayborne stood up.
"Or what?" Clayborne challenged, seeming to regain some of his bravo.
Nathan whirled around, notched an arrow in his bow, and fired. It hit Clayborne in the shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain.
"The next one will go in your chest." The Arrow said before he turned and walked off.
Queen Mansion, Nathan's room
Later
Laurel put on her shirt and the silent was penetrating as Nathan, fully clothed, sat on the bed next to her, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.
"So," Laurel began, trying to find the words, "I…was not expecting that when I came here tonight."
"Can't say I was either," Nathan admitted, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Laurel asked confused.
Nathan sighed, "If I could go back and redo my whole life over again where you and Sara are concerned, I would. I spent so much time chasing other girls like Oliver….that I didn't realize that I could have had something great if I had just gone after you first. And I'm sorry that I can't be the guy you deserve right now."
Laurel looked at him sadly and asked him as she traced one of his scars with her finger, scars she hadn't noticed until they were done having sex, "Nate, what happened to you on that island? How did you get these scars?"
Flashback
Lian Yu
Nathan groaned awake to see that he was handcuffed being lead to some encampment taking note of the weapons being unloaded, before he was shoved into a tent into a pole, while a man sat with a glass of ice, and a soda
"Please sit, your making me feel rude." the man said as Nathan with a grunt sat down, "I do apologize for my men's treatment of you, they're trained to view any stranger as hostile." the man said opening the soda and pouring it into the glass slowly as he watched Nathan "I'm Edward Fyers by the way, and you are?"
"I'm Nathan Queen, I've been shipwrecked here. I don't know how long,"
"Interesting, let's talk shall we Nathaniel."
"About what?" Nathan asked
"Well for starters," Fyers reached back and pulled out a photo of Yao Fei "This gentle man, do you know him?"
"I've never seen him a day in my life." Nathan said causing Edward to frown "Who is he?"
'You see I've been nothing but polite, and in return you lie to my face." Edward said glaring at Nathan who raised an eyebrow
"Look buddy, I just lost my father, brother, and best friend, your men knocked me out after I buried my father, and brought me here, whatever business you have with that guy is your own, not mine."
"Do you know what this island is called?"
"I don't care." Nathan said
"Lian Yiu, it's mandarin for Purgatory, but I can make it feel like hell. Now I don't know why your protecting him, but your young, so that makes you foolish. Your going to tell me what I want to know." Edward said before he looked to the entrance "He's yours now!"
Nathan turned back to see a man in all black with half his mask being black and the other half being orange walk in.
End Flashback
"Laurel, I,"
"The truth Nathan." Laurel said causing Nathan to sigh.
"Few days, after I made it to the island, I was tortured by the people already there." Nathan said causing Laurel's eyes to widen in horror as Nathan got flashes of himself tied to a rafter as Wintergreen drove his sword across his chest as his old self cried out in pain.
"W-what why?" Laurel asked.
"I don't know, they were apparently looking for someone, and thought I knew where he was. I'd be dead if it wasn't for a man named Yao Fei another prisoner, he helped me get free." Nathan said before he looked to Laurel seriously "You can't tell anyone the truth."
"What why not?"
"There is a reason I don't talk about this with them Laurel. I can't sleep, because every time I do I wake up to a nightmare about when I was tortured. I barely eat. I been faking it he whole time so nobody suspects how screwed up I am. I don't want them to know, because the last thing I need is anymore pity." Nathan said, letting his vulnerability show "Promise me."
"I promise." Laurel nodded causing Nathan to nod slowly before she brought him into a hug "I'm so sorry for what you've been through."
"It wasn't your fault Laurel, you have nothing to be sorry for." Nathan said before he pulled back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "Besides, I'm alive, that's all I care about."
Nathan opened his mouth, an incredulous look on his face, but his phone rang. Digging it out, he saw it was Lyla. Breaking away from Laurel slightly, Nathan answered.
"Arrow one, Clayborne zero." Lyla told him and Nathan nodded.
"Hang on," Nate said as someone knocked on the door, "What?"
"Mr. Queen," Malcolm's assassin on the other side of the door said, equipping his pistol with silencer, "if you're entertaining guests upstairs, should I have any refreshments sent up here?"
Despite the tension, Laurel flushed. Nathan stood up walked over to the door.
"No, we're about to head back down," Nathan said before putting the phone to his ear, "good job, now get back here as soon as you can."
Nathan hung up his phone and opened the door only to get a gun in his face. Nathan quickly grabbed the man's hand that was holding the gun and dragged him inside, managing to disarm him. However, the man was no slouch and quickly moved for the gun. Nathan tried to stop him but it was apparent the man was skilled when he fought back.
"Help, somebody help!" Laurel cried out, playing the part of the frightened girlfriend to a T.
The two rolled of the couch as they struggled, Nathan pushing him off. Unfortunately, this put him in front of the gun, which he promptly grabbed. He stood up and took aim at Nathan only to get shot in the back twice. Quentin burst in, surveying the scene as he and Nathan stared at each other for a moment before Quentin spotted Laurel. Seeing the messed up bed, Quentin scowled before he looked away, holding his anger in check.
Later, in the sitting room, Laurel stood in the corner, watching as her father talked on the phone while Nathan and Laurel sat on the couch.
"How do you know I was in trouble?" Nathan asked.
"Because when you were fighting that guy, the ankle monitor broke." Quentin admitted sheepishly and Laurel rolled her eyes.
"Really dad?" Laurel asked annoyed as Moira and Walter burst in.
"Are you alright?!" Moira asked frantically.
"Mom, I'm fine." Nathan assured her and she stood up, whirling on Quentin.
"This is on you! By accusing Nathan so publicly, you've made him a target!" Quentin didn't say anything, knowing she was right.
"Have you any idea who attacked Nathan?" Walter asked.
"Someone with a grudge against The Hood obviously, we haven't identified him yet." Quentin said before he knelt down and began removing Nathan's ankle monitor.
"What are you doing?" Nathan asked seemingly confused.
"Just got a call from my lieutenant. Justin Clayborne, head of Clayborne pharmaceuticals, was attacked by The Hood tonight. Multiple witnesses put him there," Quentin stood up and faced Moira, "in light of that, all charges against your son have been dropped."
"I'm truly sorry for what's happened to your family Quentin. Now, would you kindly get the hell out of my house?" Moira told him, making it in quite clear this was a command.
Quentin looked over at Laurel, but her steely gaze let him know she wasn't going home with him tonight. Sighing internally, Quentin turned around and walked out of the sitting room.
"Mr. Lance," Quentin stopped as he heard Nathan call out, "Thank you."
Quentin gave the barest of nods before he left.
Next day
Queen's mansion, Nathan's room
Nathan was cleaning up his room when the door opened. He turned around to see Laurel walk in. Despite everything, he smiled.
"Hey." Nathan said as she walked over, closing the door behind him.
"Hey, I wanted to check in. I didn't think it was a good idea to stay last night." Laurel said and Nathan shrugged.
"Not the first time I've been attacked in the last 5 years." Nathan said nonchalantly.
"There is something concerning about how easily you just said that," Laurel said dryly, "Look, Nate about last night…before all the craziness-"
"As much as I want it to happen again, it can't. Not right now anyway. Maybe one day, when I am ready for it, we could be together…but today is not that day."
"Nate, you don't have to keep me at a distance, the only reason you are is because you're afraid. And I get it, after spending so long alone in this…darkness, you've lived in, you're afraid of anything else. But I'm here."
Laurel reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm just not ready yet, Laurel." Nate said.
"I understand." Laurel whispered in his ear before letting go and walking out, leaving him staring after her.
CNRI
Later in the morning
"What are you doing here dad?" Laurel sighed as she saw her father waiting for her at her desk.
"How long have you been screwing him? Since he got back?" Quentin demanded angrily and Laurel scowled.
"I'm a grown woman, I don't need to justify myself to you. But for your information, nothing happened between Nate and me until last night. And it may never happen again, so take that as you will. Now get out." Laurel said, having had enough.
Quentin stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face before he walked out.
SCPD
Afternoon
"You wanted to see me Frank?" Quentin asked as he opened the door to Pike's office.
"Take a seat, Lance." Pike growled and Quentin sat down in the chair offered to him.
"Look, I know, I messed up." Quentin said and Pike cut him off.
"That's putting it lightly. We are now the laughing stock of the city! Did you know Moira Queen threatened legal action against us? Nathaniel Queen, the guy you just tried to send to jail for murder, is the one who talked her down. But she wanted consequences and I agree. For the next month, you are on desk duty." Pike told him and Quentin started.
"Frank-"
"And you are now sentenced to court mandated therapy. No arguments, no loop holes, this is the bed you made. Now sleep in it." Pike stood up and walked out, leaving Quentin to pick up the shattered pieces of his life.
Arrow lair
Night
"You seem unusually tense." Lyla noted as Nathan worked out his frustrations on the training dummy.
"I'm pissed off," Nathan said as he punched the training dummy so hard it snapped in half. He picked up the towel and threw it over his shoulder, "So, did Clayborne comply?" (1)
"No, time's up," Lyla said and Nathan moved off to leave, "Nathan-"
"I hacked onto his private computer," Nathan turned to Lyla, "Clayborne created this epidemic. He is part of the AK Desmond group. They are black-marketers who specialize in bio-weapons. What do you think they've been working on?" Nathan demanded.
"Weaponized Tuberculosis." Lyla realized and Nathan nodded.
"He had his chance, Lyla." Nathan said firmly as he walked out.
Justin Clayborne's home
Later
Two arrows were shot at the building. One killed the power by hitting the fuse box, the other hit the side of the building and jammed all radio signals.
Nate burst into the building, having found it due to the tracer his clone had managed to plant on Clayborne's car, and immediately saw a guard. Acting quickly, he drew an arrow, notched it, and fired. It hit the guard in the forehead. The guard fell to the floor, dead, as another one came of a door and rushed Nate. He grabbed him with one arm and threw him through a glass wall. As he sat up, dazed, Nate walked over, pulling out a shuriken and flicking it towards the guy, causing his six-bladed shuriken to embed itself in the guards jugular. Nate then walked passed the two dead guards and saw Clayborne talking to a guard.
"Kill that Robin Hood son of a bitch!" Clayborne ordered before turning and running like the coward he was.
The guard pulled a gun but Nathan fired an arrow. Said black and red arrow piercing the guard in the subclavian artery, causing him to drop his gun as he bled out. As he went down. Nathan stalked passed him, his target vision only on Clayborne. He followed Clayborne's trail, seeing it led up an escalator. Multiple guards were coming down and Nate notched two arrows, firing them and hitting two of them in the larynx, taking them out. Nate rushed up the other side, holstering his bow, whilst unsheathing his sword decapitating two more guards, letting their corpses fall down the escalator stairs. Surrounded by three guards, he stabbed a guard in the heart before throwing the corpse down and stabbing the other two in the hearts and doing the same to them. His path cleared, Nate continued on his journey.
Nathan found himself on the roof. Clayborne was with two guards, running but having nowhere to run to. Nathan resheathed his sword, took out his bow and drew two arrows and fired, getting the two guards in the back, killing them instantly. As they fell dead, Clayborne turned around, fear written across his face.
"Don't bother trying to run. No one's coming to save you," Nathan said in voice modulator.
"You gonna tell me again I failed this city?" Clayborne mocked.
"You infected the people in Lamb Valley with tuberculosis to turn a profit!" He snarled snarled.
"You wanna make this city great again, this is how! With business!" Clayborne said, reminding Nathan of General Shrieve from China in his 3rd year with his Alpha-Omega Bio Weapon, and Konstantin Kovar from the 2nd half of his 4th year away with his Red Death.
"You are sentencing innocent people to death!" Nate snarled, feeling his rage grow unchecked.
"Nobody cares about those people! I'm just thinning the heard." Clayborne justified, not realizing he had pushed Nathan over his limit.
"So am I. You just lost your right to live." Nathan snarled. (2)
Rushing forward, Nathan Kicked Clayborne onto his back. Swiftly taking out two arrows, he stabbed Justin's hands, pinning him to the roof. He duck-taped Justin's mouth shut then stabbed his feet with arrows.
"Don't worry, I didn't pierce any major arteries, but that's the least of your problems." Nathan growled as he ripped Justin's upper body clothes off and pulled a kunai. "I was going to kill you quickly but now you've pissed me OFF! You're going to die, Clayborne, but not before I make you suffer for EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. You infected!" With that, Nathan took his kunai and began flaying the skin off of Clayborne, his screams muffled by the ducktape on his mouth, "So let's see how long you last."
The following morning the police arrived at Clayborne's home to find his guards slaughtered, and they found Clayborne on the roof, his body still pinned to the floor, but all the skin from his waist to his head was found floating in his pool.