The quiet of the Queen Mansion was almost surreal, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions and heated passion from the night before. Henry lay sprawled on the couch, his body surrounded by the warmth of both Isabel and Helena, each of them draped across him in their own way. The atmosphere was still thick with the aftermath of their night together, the intimacy between the three of them evolving into something deeper, unspoken but undeniable.
Isabel's fingers absently traced patterns on Henry's chest, while Helena lay with her head resting against his shoulder, her dark eyes fixed on the fire that crackled softly in the hearth. The faint glow of the early morning light was creeping through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over everything. But even in this moment of rare peace, there was a palpable tension in the air.
Slade.
He had been a constant shadow in the back of Henry's mind ever since his sudden reappearance. The man who had once been an ally—a mentor to both Oliver and Henry—had now become a deadly force, a threat they hadn't expected. And Henry knew that Slade's return wouldn't be just for revenge against Oliver. No, it would be a far more calculated and dangerous game.
As if reading his thoughts, Helena stirred slightly, her voice low but clear. "What are we going to do about Slade?"
Henry's gaze shifted from the fire to her, his expression hardening with resolve. "We prepare." His voice was steady, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes—an unspoken promise of what he'd be willing to do to protect those he cared about.
Isabel, still tracing her fingers on his chest, met his gaze. "I've worked with dangerous men before, but Slade is… unpredictable. We need more information." Her tone was calm, but her eyes betrayed a certain wariness.
Henry nodded, reaching for his phone on the nearby table. "I'll reach out to some contacts, see what I can dig up. But Slade's never been someone you can fully predict. He's dangerous because he knows how to turn the tables when you least expect it."
Helena's lips curled into a slight smile. "You're a lot like him in that sense."
Henry smirked, his fingers brushing against her hair as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I prefer to think of myself as a better version."
The playful exchange was interrupted by the sharp ring of Henry's phone. He glanced at it for a brief moment before swiping to answer. It was Oliver.
"Henry, you're not going to believe this," Oliver's voice came through, crackling slightly. "Slade's made his move. He's already targeting key people in Starling City, trying to throw us off balance."
Henry's gaze sharpened, and he sat up, the moment of comfort now gone as he fully engaged in the conversation. "What's he after, Oliver?"
Oliver hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice tight with frustration. "He's trying to destabilize everything. I'm not sure what his endgame is, but he's picking off people close to me—people who are important to the city. He's trying to get to me by hitting those around me. Felicity, Diggle, Thea…"
Henry's jaw clenched at the mention of his family, a surge of protectiveness flooding him. "We can't let him get away with this. We need to move quickly."
Oliver's voice softened slightly. "I know. But we need to stay one step ahead of him. Slade's always been good at using our weaknesses against us."
"I'll be there," Henry said, his voice a low growl of determination. "Get everyone together. We'll figure out how to strike back."
After ending the call, Henry turned to Helena and Isabel. "We have work to do."
Isabel nodded, her earlier playfulness replaced by a more focused expression. "We're with you, Henry. Let's take Slade down."
Meanwhile, across town, at the Arrowcave, Oliver stood with Diggle and Felicity, his jaw clenched in frustration as they gathered around the table.
"I don't like it," Diggle said, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the table. "Slade's been quiet for too long. This kind of attack—it's personal."
Felicity, who had been typing furiously at her computer, glanced up at Oliver. "We can't underestimate him. He's always one step ahead, and I don't think he's after just revenge anymore. There's something bigger at play."
Oliver ran a hand through his hair, his expression tense. "I don't know what he wants, but I have a feeling it's not just about me anymore. He's using everyone around me as pawns, trying to break me down from the inside out."
Felicity's brow furrowed as she typed rapidly on the keyboard, bringing up a set of encrypted files. "It's like he's following a playbook," she said quietly, her voice tinged with worry. "Everything he's doing has been calculated. I think he's trying to break us all—destroy our support system."
"We need to keep our heads on straight," Diggle added. "Slade's not just dangerous physically—he's dangerous mentally. He knows exactly how to get into our heads."
Oliver nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing with determination. "And that's exactly why we need to strike first. We can't afford to wait."
Back at Queen Mansion, the weight of the situation hung in the air. Henry had briefed Isabel and Helena on the plans to take Slade down, but the sense of uncertainty remained. Everyone knew this wasn't going to be easy, and they couldn't afford to make mistakes.
As Henry prepared to head out to join Oliver and the others, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were all stepping into a much larger game—a game Slade had already begun to master. The stakes were higher than ever, and with everything on the line, he wasn't about to let anyone take the people he loved from him.
Isabel stood from the couch, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached him. "We'll be ready. Just… be careful."
Henry's eyes softened slightly as he reached out, cupping her cheek in his hand. "I will. You stay safe, too. I won't let Slade hurt you."
Helena, standing a little further away, exchanged a glance with Isabel before stepping forward. "We'll keep things covered here. You just focus on taking Slade down."
Henry nodded, a brief smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll be back soon. And when this is over, we'll have time for ourselves again."
As he left the mansion, stepping into the night to join the team, the weight of what was to come settled heavily in his chest. Slade was coming, and this time, Henry would make sure the man who had once been his ally wouldn't get away with destroying everything they had built.
The war for Starling City was just beginning.