The air in the Queen mansion was heavy with tension, the kind that seemed to seep into the walls and linger, waiting to erupt. Henry sat at the dining table, sipping his whiskey as the faint hum of the city night filtered through the open windows. His mind, however, was far from the peace of the moment.
Ra's threat loomed larger than ever. With Malcolm dead, the delicate balance of power in Starling City had shifted, and Ra's al Ghul was bound to make a move. The Demon Head didn't leave loose ends, and Malcolm's death would only provoke him further. Henry had to be ready. They all had to be ready.
Oliver entered the room, his face set in a grim expression. Behind him followed Diggle, Felicity, and Roy, the makeshift family of Team Arrow. It had been a while since they'd all been in the same room together, and the gravity of their gathering wasn't lost on anyone.
"Henry," Oliver said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "We need to talk."
Henry leaned back in his chair, gesturing for them to take a seat. "Go on, little brother. I'm all ears."
Oliver's jaw tightened at the casual tone but continued. "Ra's will retaliate. Malcolm's death wasn't just a personal vendetta; it was a declaration of war. And he's not going to let it slide."
"I'm counting on it," Henry replied smoothly, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "But I won't sit back and wait for him to come knocking. If Ra's wants to play his games, I'll play better."
Felicity looked nervous, her fingers tapping against her tablet. "We're talking about the League of Assassins here. They're not exactly known for being easy to outmaneuver. And Ra's… he's on a whole different level."
"And so am I," Henry said, his tone cool but firm. His eyes locked onto Felicity's. "Don't underestimate what I'm capable of, Felicity. I've been preparing for a fight like this my entire life."
Roy leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "What's the plan, then? Do we just sit here and wait for them to come to us?"
"No," Henry said, standing and pacing the room. His movements were calculated, almost predatory. "We take the fight to them. Ra's expects fear. He thrives on it. But what he doesn't expect is someone willing to face him head-on. That's where I come in."
Oliver stepped forward, his voice firm. "You're not doing this alone, Henry. We're a team."
Henry stopped, turning to face his brother. "Are we? Because last I checked, you've been keeping me at arm's length ever since I came back. You've been running this show on your own, Oliver. Let me remind you—I've been fighting battles you can't even begin to imagine. This isn't just your fight. It's mine too."
The room fell silent, the tension between the brothers palpable. Finally, Diggle stepped in, his voice calm but authoritative. "We don't have time for this. If Ra's is making a move, we need to be unified. Otherwise, we're as good as dead."
Henry nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Fine. But make no mistake—I'm leading this charge. Ra's is my responsibility now."
The next day, the team convened in the lair beneath Verdant. Felicity had pulled up every bit of intel she could find on the League's recent movements, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she pieced together a map of their network.
"We've got sightings of League members near the docks," she said, her voice steady despite the weight of the situation. "They've been moving shipments of… well, something. I can't figure out what yet, but it's big."
"Explosives," Henry said, his tone flat. "Ra's doesn't play small. If they're moving shipments, it's because they're planning something catastrophic."
Nyssa, who had joined them in the lair, stepped forward. Her presence was commanding, her gaze sharp. "My father doesn't move without purpose. If he's deploying resources here, it's because he sees this city as a threat. And that means we're running out of time."
Oliver looked at her, his expression cautious. "Do you know what his next move is?"
Nyssa shook her head. "No. But I do know where we can find answers. There's a safe house near the docks. It's where the League stores its intelligence for local operations. If we can infiltrate it, we might find what we need."
Henry smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Infiltration? That's my specialty."
Later that night, the team moved in under the cover of darkness. The safe house was heavily guarded, League assassins patrolling every corner. Henry led the charge, his movements fluid and precise as he took down guards with a mix of martial arts and cold efficiency.
A blade came swinging toward him, but Henry sidestepped with ease, disarming the assassin and driving his own dagger into the man's chest. His movements were a dance, calculated and deadly. Beside him, Oliver fired arrows with pinpoint accuracy, while Roy and Diggle provided backup.
Nyssa fought like a force of nature, her strikes lethal and unrelenting. Together, they carved their way through the guards, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.
When they finally reached the central chamber, Henry hacked into the League's system with practiced ease, pulling up files and maps that detailed Ra's' plans.
"Got it," he said, his voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "He's targeting the city's water supply. If we don't stop him, he'll poison half the population."
Oliver's jaw tightened. "Then we move. Now."
As they returned to the lair, the weight of their discovery settled over them. Felicity immediately began devising a plan to counter Ra's' attack, while the others prepared for the battle ahead.
Helena arrived later that night, her expression unreadable as she approached Henry. She didn't say a word, just wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"I'm not losing you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Henry held her close, his voice steady. "You won't. I promise."
But as he looked out over the city, his mind was already racing. The storm was coming, and he knew that this fight would test them all in ways they couldn't yet imagine.