Laurel squinted slightly, her face showing a mix of anger and confusion as Su Sheng grinned at her.
"Are you in love with me?" Su Sheng asked, clearly enjoying her reaction.
"What? No, of course not… This was about Oliver, why are you involved now?" Laurel stammered, instantly breaking her composure. She panicked and quickly denied it, looking at Felicity to ensure there was no misunderstanding.
Felicity simply pouted, saying nothing, but the look on her face suggested she wasn't entirely convinced.
"Are you really trying to tell me you don't like me?" Su Sheng asked again, feigning innocence.
"Of course not! When did I ever like you?" Laurel shot back angrily.
"Oh? My mistake then," Su Sheng shrugged, pretending to be disappointed. "So… you really don't like me?"
"I…" Laurel hesitated. She wanted to say she didn't like him, but the words got stuck in her throat as if they were glued there. She couldn't deny the strange feelings she had developed, feelings she didn't fully understand herself. When did this start? Was it when Su Sheng trained her? When he disappeared? Or was it all the times she found herself talking about him, not realizing how much space he had taken up in her thoughts?
Su Sheng had become a constant topic of conversation between the three women of the Birds of Prey. Each time his name came up, Laurel didn't think anything of it. Even when Felicity returned from Central City, Laurel was more focused on finally getting answers about her sister's murderer. But when Su Sheng kissed Felicity and hugged her, Laurel realized her feelings for him were not so simple.
Just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, Su Sheng's laughter snapped her back to reality. She realized that she had been dazing off, practically confirming in front of Felicity that she liked Su Sheng. Panicked, she wanted to defend herself, but before she could, Su Sheng activated his Speed Force and grabbed the body bag containing Harrison Wells' remains.
"I'm off," Su Sheng said with a mischievous smile. "Felicity, keep an eye on her—she totally likes me, haha."
In a flash of red lightning, he was gone.
Laurel stood there, on the verge of tears from the mix of emotions she was feeling, while Felicity couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"He was messing with me," Laurel said, her voice filled with frustration as she turned to Felicity.
Felicity, still smiling, replied, "Not entirely, right? Maybe I should really be more careful."
"Felicity!" Laurel exclaimed in embarrassment, lunging at her friend playfully.
Laurel knew deep down how she felt, and Felicity could see it too. As for Su Sheng? Whether he was aware of her feelings or not didn't really matter to him—it wasn't like he needed anyone's affection. Leaving the Birds of Prey base, Su Sheng quickly took Harrison Wells' body next door to where Thea Quinn was waiting.
Thea's curiosity got the best of her as soon as Su Sheng sat down beside her. "You went to see some women again, didn't you? I can smell two different perfumes on you. Was it the Birds of Prey team? Did you make the Huntress and the others fight over you? I heard there are several members—have you been with all of them?"
"Kids shouldn't gossip like that," Su Sheng responded casually.
"Kids? Really? Aren't I the same age as you?" Thea teased, not backing down. "The Birds of Prey and the Huntress are legends in Starling City. How did you manage to get involved with them?"
Thea Quinn, ever the rebellious teenager, was fascinated by these stories. She wasn't necessarily interested in them for their sense of justice, but because they were… cool. It was a shame she had been too caught up in her own troubles to ever get the chance to meet them.
Seeing her excitement, Su Sheng lay down, suddenly pulling her close. Thea wasn't particularly nervous, finding herself next to him.
"What now?" she asked.
"You have two options. You can shut up and be my pillow until we leave for Central City tomorrow, or I can put you to sleep in the room next door," Su Sheng said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"The room next door? I'm not scared. You don't think I'm too old to be sleeping alone, do you?" Thea responded dismissively.
"Really? There's a dead body that's been in the room next door for over ten years. If you're not afraid, I can send you there," Su Sheng teased, starting to get up.
But Thea quickly clung to him, holding him back. "No, I won't go! I won't ask any more questions!"
"Are you taking advantage of me?" Su Sheng chuckled, patting her lightly as he joked.
"Are you taking advantage of me?" Thea shot back, raising her head to meet his gaze.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. They could feel each other's breath, hear the quickening of their heartbeats. Thea's green eyes showed a mix of shyness, nervousness, and something else—expectation and fear. Her makeup had long since faded, revealing her natural beauty. Her high nose, slender cheeks, and trembling lips all hinted at her anticipation of what might come next.
"Want to try something more exciting than drugs?" Su Sheng whispered softly.
Thea's breath caught in her throat as she slowly closed her eyes, letting out a barely audible hum.
And then, like thunder and fire colliding, they were swept away in a powerful storm of emotions. Thea, bold and eager, felt like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon, eager to understand this new world and show off her beauty. Despite her small size, she bravely faced the fierce winds, her body showing incredible endurance and determination.
In the midst of the storm, she boldly met Su Sheng's advances, her small but resilient form unyielding. And when the storm finally subsided, though she was exhausted, Thea felt something new and indescribable inside her cocoon. Even with the traces of the storm still on her face, she wore a satisfied smile.
"I think I know why the Huntress hates you but stays with you," Thea said slowly, pointing to her arm with a weak smile. "It's worse than a hangover!"
Su Sheng smirked, "I think you should take a shower first."
"I need a break," Thea whispered, barely able to keep her eyes open.
After resting for nearly half an hour, Thea finally got up to take a bath. As she walked, she moved with the same exhaustion as Helena had earlier. Half a day later, she returned and curled up next to Su Sheng, falling into a deep sleep in his arms.
...