Post by adrini on Mar 7, 2013 3:35:43 GMT -5
“Sore?" Dinah winced as she moved, filling her bag. The tattoo was gone, though it had left angry red skin in its stead. Oliver didn't like the pain of the night before, though the court tattoo being gone was nice. It had taken until early morning. "We still have numbing cream."
"I'm fine, it's gone." She smiled in relief. "I know you had other ideas but it really means a lot that you did that."
"You mean a lot to me. But it's a one time offer, I give you nothing but pleasure from now on." He gently pulled her to him, she settled in close. "Soon as that skin heals it's all us."
"It sounds like a dream." She smiled, pulling him into a kiss.
"Better. Ready?" He still had trouble believing she was real.
She hoisted the bag over her shoulder and nodded. “Good to go.” She smiled as Oliver finished packing the last of their things, and they moved to the door. They would finally be sharing a room at night so it really didn’t matter what went in which bag. Oliver grabbed his rolling suitcase and opened the door for her, with a laugh she rolled her eyes.
Diggle was by the door double checking his own luggage. Looking up he saw the two and still couldn’t help but smile. “I know you're feeling better.” Diggle said with a knowing smirk. “They just finished fueling and checking the plane. We’ll be on time, which is good.” Ms. Lance was in street cloths now, Blue jeans and black tee, a step up from her field gear.
It was a short walk to the hanger, though one with a few check points. Diggle, Dinah and Oliver handed over passports, got their stamps and eventually got to the Arrow III.
Dinah stopped for a moment. “Wow. That is a plane.”
Diggle waved to the pilot. “Frank, this is Dinah, she’ll be flying with us for today.”
The pilot walked over. “Pleasure to meet you miss. Plane is fully stocked.”
Dinah politely shook hands. “Mr. Queen we should be arriving at half past four am saturday morning Star City time. I understand you want to use the West Gate air field?” Frank said, speaking to Oliver who was right behind her.
“The less press the better I think.” Oliver said as they walked to the plane.
Once inside Dinah took in the surroundings. There were leather seats, a kitchenette area, restrooms to the back, and a gaming area with several of her favorite games still in their plastic coatings sitting in the shelf. Small rooms fitted to the left and right for sleeping, which would be a good idea on this trip. It wasn’t as big as she had thought it would be but it was very nice.
“Everyone buckle in for lift off.” Diggle said. Dinah was startled from her examination when Oliver pulled her to one of the leather love seats, where buckles had been pulled from the cushions.
Dinah cuddled into his shoulder to distract herself from just how unhappy her back was as the plane took off. “What are you doing?” She asked pointing to the smart phone. The noise suddenly faded, they were in the air. “Work?”
Oliver opened one of the attachments, a time table for a convention two months from then. “Comes with the territory. Just wait till you meet Roy, he’s worse then I’ll ever be.”
Dinah looked at the pages of apps. “Sounds useful.” She said, she looked at a file bearing her name. “Dare I ask?”
Oliver laughed. “Roy saves my ass on a regular basis, granted half the time he forgot to tell me in the first place but he’s recovering from a loss himself.” He opened the file, filled with pictures of them and some of just her from his visits. She had forgotten it was a camera phone. “I couldn’t resist.”
She looked up. “What happened?”
Oliver and Diggle looked at each other. Oliver explained. “His father was Ambassador Harper.”
“The one the warlords killed. I had no idea.” Dinah knew the name but didn’t think the two were related. “How is he doing?”
Diggle unbuckled and went to the fridge. “Better now that it’s been awhile.” He pulled out a box. Dinah felt her stomach complain again, something smelled good. “What’s in there?”
Diggle looked in the box. “Seafood plate, Ollie usually grabs that one. Hamburgers, chicken fingers, and a few veggies for salad. Also a BBQ plate. I don’t remember that one.”
Before Dinah could say a word Oliver spoke up. “One seafood for me and I believe Dinah would like the BBQ.” She unbuckled and ran over to grab it herself. It smelled heavenly. Oliver laughed and got up to grab his own food as Diggle explained how to use the heater.
Once the food was eaten Dinah got up and started looking at the game titles. “So, who is first for the slaughter?”
--)->
Slade Wilson leaned on the stone pillar at the Star City International Airport and kept visual contact with his team. Business was slow so when he was offered a job taking out a spoiled rich brat and his man-nanny he figured it was worthwhile to keep him occupied. It helped that the money wasn’t too terrible.
His radio buzzed. Target should be here by now. Where is he?
The second was correct. Contacting intel. He responded and changed channels.
He turned on the channel. Deathstroke here.Target isn’t appearing. Confirm intel.
There was radio silence for a time. Intel was sound. Unknown change. Move out.
Slade motioned to his second to move out. Oliver Queen would live another day.
--)->
It was nearly three am when they got in the car to drive to Queen Manor. Dinah knew the place from growing up, it was in between the police station and the house her parents had been so proud of. It always looked grand from the street.
Oliver was forcing himself to check some last minute files before they got to the house and the chaos, leaving her free to loose herself in her thoughts. She had left Star City at the age of seven, after her father had been killed in ninety two. It had been just a normal day, until her Aunt picked her up from her play date and told her what happened.
As dark as the memory was she had to smile at the irony. She looked at Oliver, who was trying to yawn and write emails at the same time. Her father had been shot at the Star City Bank trying to free the young Queen family who had been taken hostage inside that day.
The Queens were very kind to all the families who lost loved ones. Their full pensions had been honored. They attended every wake and every funeral they were welcomed at, then started a fund to help the families of the fallen of Star City’s finest in the future. Dinah could still remember the red eyed little boy who had walked up to give her his “favorite teddy bear” to say sorry for taking her father away at her father’s viewing. She even remembered Thea, a shy, still terrified four year old who demanded to have her brother close by at all times. She remembered he had actually made her feel a little better.
Her mother was grateful for the kindness but didn’t have the heart to stay in Star City after the loss. She and her mother had moved to New York City where several of her mother’s team were close, so they could rebuild.
When word had broken out that the Queen heir was coming out to help with the earthquake personally all those years later she hadn’t known what to think. Yet the first thing he had done after his official duties was to seek her out and see how she was, thanking her again for her father’s and her family’s sacrifice. Even in the mist of his own grief, he had never forgotten.
--)->
“What’s in that room?” Dinah asked as the five of them walked out of the cardio room after a solid workout after the next day’s meet and greets. They had come to a mutual decision that there had been too much junk food as of late.
“The sparing room.” Diggle said. “Want to take a turn?”
Dinah sized up the ex-special ops. “Might be fun. Who uses it?”
Thea was wiping the sweat from her neck. “We all do. After the bank incident we decided we could do a better job of protecting ourselves. Save some lives that way.”
Oliver squeezed her hand at the mention, the others hadn’t made the connection. She opened the door. “Anyone up for it?”
“Do you fight? Taking up a school is done around here but -” Roy lost his breath when Dinah threw him against the padded wall. “Yes, yes she does.”
Diggle laughed and took position. “Alright, lets dance little miss.”
Dinah walked into position just a second before Diggle took a swing, Trapping his hand under her arm she attempted to throw him but as he rebalanced she turned the trap into a dodge. She used the air time to aim for his back when he spun quickly and grabbed her leg, trying to flip her. Diggle was extremely strong. She aimed low with her remaining leg and used the leverage to swipe his feet and bring him down. He laughed as she pinned him.
“You are good.” He got up slowly. “I am impressed.”
Thea had been watching and decided to walk up. “I think I got the gist.”
Dinah looked at Oliver for permission, which he freely gave. “Thea can more then hold her own, half of the trophies around here are hers.”
Thea’s small, thin frame moved into the circle. Dinah knew that small meant fast, and Thea was extremely fast.
In the blink of an eye Thea lunged with a swiping attack that Dinah barely dodged in time. Flipping into air space Thea followed with an air swipe that very nearly hit her back. Landing Dinah tried to misdirect Thea’s lightening attacks, not very strong but more then enough of them to make up for the lack. It It was only when Thea lost momentary balance that she got a solid push in that got the young teen vulnerable. Thea tried to rebalance but Dinah moved in quickly and tossed her in a thigh grip.
“Almost had you. We’ll have to do this again.” Thea said, excited at the thought as she got up.
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.” Dinah said, wiping up sweat from her own neck.
Thea went to stand next to her brother who beamed proudly. They shared a fist bump.
“My turn.” Roy said, walking over. “The first time could hardly count as a round.”
“Why aren’t the rest of you fighting?” She asked.
“We train all the time. It’s fun to watch the new blood.” Diggle said from his chair. “It’s no fun once you know everyone’s tells.”
“I’ll have to teach some new ones.” She walked opposite from Roy in the circle.
Roy hunched down, taking a street position, feet firmly balanced on the floor. She adjusted to a light footed position. Roy’s hits were strong and smooth, he telegraphed somewhat but did so with enough strength that it mattered less then it did with most of the people she had fought. She bobbed and weaved, dodging his attacks and looking for an opening to take her shot.
She weaved behind him and targeted his rear pecks, causing his body to automatically move to their defense. With his arms to his side she slid under his legs and landed a solid combo to his now undefended gut, falling him to the floor. He coughed slightly but was otherwise alright.
“Very well done.” He said.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Dinah hadn’t fought street style for some time.
“Ambassador families live with their service member, and there are alot of rough stations.”
She gave him a hand to pull him up. “I know it.”
The eyes in the room turned to Oliver, who was perfectly happy to keep watching. Thea nudged his side. “Go on Ollie.”
“I’m a lover, not a fighter.” he said with a wink. Diggle shook his head at the joke.
“We want to see this.” He said, Roy nodded in agreement.
She teased her partner with a beckoning finger. “Are you afraid?” She purred.
Oliver smiled but took the towel from his shoulders and walked to the center.
Dinah walked to the other side of the circle again and looked at the blond man. With the others she had found a tell, Oliver seemed to hide them better. He also opened with a few glancing hits, easily deflected. He was reading her reactions, her speed and form. She planted her feet and threw a top blow to his shoulder, while a second fist quickly aimed for his abs. He dodged the first and caught the second easily. He made a scolding sound and winked again. Her hand in his possession he flipped her to face the wall and she narrowly escaped a pin.
Breaking free she returned to her original position and formed a new attack. He seemed amused, whatever his code was she hadn’t cracked it. She lightened her feet and tried to misdirect with fast varied punches. He took several of them but his form was solid enough that it didn’t slow him down. She tried to flip over him and attack his back, but he was facing her when she landed. They exchanged blows for a time when she saw an opening in his left footing and jabbed his inner knee, She saw him fall, but he winked and a second later she was on the floor herself, leaning over him slightly. He had gotten her in the gut.
Oliver motioned firing an arrow in her direction from his perfect firing position with a grin.
“That's our Ollie." Digs said proudly. The young man looked at her and she smiled.
--)->
The weekend went too quickly, and Roy and Oliver found themselves once again at the office. Thea was at school while Dinah was out with Diggle getting clothing more useful for the cold february winds and the various functions to come.
The phone rang and Roy picked it up. “It’s Ms. Rivers for you.”
Oliver nodded for her to enter.
Tall, thin and sharply professional Adrien Rivers was Oliver’s executive assistant, and Roy’s business minded counterpart. She had found him at the paramilitary compound after his escape and gotten him home. She came in the room with a stiffness that told him the news wasn’t good. She sealed the door after she entered.
“I am assuming you found something, Adrien?” Oliver stood up and got drinks for the three, as there seemed to be a discussion coming up.
“Worse. I got the file you left and started looking in it, comparing it to the reports we got from the pentagon and my agents.” Adrien accepted the soda. “None of them match up. If we had caught this any later it would have crushed the wing, if not more. I already reported it to the proper authorities, and they know that we are looking into it.”
“It means a few heads rolling but-” She cut Oliver off.
“I said worse, Ollie. I contacted several of the board on a hunch and they sent me the same report I got from you. This goes deep. Deleon is buying up shares as well.”
“How close is he?” Oliver got up and sat on his desk.
“The good news is he alone isn’t, but the bad is that he may have partners. You and your sister still hold the majority but this can go bad easily.”
“ I know what heads need to roll now.” Oliver rubbed his temples. “What do you have in mind?”
“I can make it clear that stocks belong to top ranking employees only while in employ with the company, namely by taking away the top level jobs. But they have allies we haven’t smoked out yet. There is alot of money tied up in this, these could be dangerous men.”
“Secure the shares and the board. The report is a termination level offense, I want them out. We’ll need another head of the tech wing.”
“Jax knows who can be trusted. I’ll contact him. One more thing Ollie.” He looked up.
“I lost your mother and father already, and I don’t want to loose you two, especially now that life is coming back. Please be careful.” She took a deep breath. “I want to contact some help to keep you safe.”
Oliver smiled, the woman was two parents worth of protective. “I didn’t hear a thing, and tell Diggle.”
--)->
Putting down the phone in her own office Adrien went to get a cup of coffee. It was time to call in a favor, even if it meant facing a painful part of her past.
She went to her desk and, pulling a key from inside her watch, opened the small center box of the secretary. Inside was a phone.
She turned the phone on and dialed a number she would never have saved.
The line was picked up, though only one word was spoken. “Targets.”
Adrien Rivers began to speak. “Oliver Queen. Thea Queen. Dinah Laurel Lance. Two more who help them, Roy Harper and John Diggle.”
The voice waited a moment more. “When.”
“Effective immediately.”
“Accepted.”
--)->
Dinah had spent the day with Diggle cloths shopping for more winter friendly items, then picked up Thea. The last stop was picking up Oliver and Roy. A number of reporters were clustered by the entrance.
“Okay Dinah, big smile, try to pretend they aren’t there and say something easy like ‘It’s great to be back!’, got it?” Diggle unbuckled.
“What are you talking about?”
“The story about you coming back with Ollie broke this morning, by now they know you’re coming. Smile for the camera!” Thea said, far too used to this.
Swallowing deep she smoothed her clothing and walked out of the car to the small circle of reporters. Diggle deftly pushed them out of the way and got them inside. Oliver and Roy were leaning on the wall laughing when they entered.
Oliver pulled her in for a hug still chuckling. “We’ll have to work on your reporter skills. Got new things?”
“I’m done with shopping for awhile. Ready to head home?” Oliver pulled her close, beaming as he held her back freely with no sign of pain. Dinah smiled.
“More then ready. Stick with me, I can take them. Also, this is yours.” He was holding her possessively, she loved it. He laughed and dangled something on a cord over her head.
Dinah looked at the plastic badge. “An entrance pass. So I can kidnap you from the office and force you to have lunch with me.” She stole a kiss.
“Thank goodness.” A voice said.
Dinah blushed, she had forgotten this was a public place. Oliver was smiling.
“Adrien, good to see you there. Dinah, Adrian Rivers is my executive assistant. Adrien, Dinah Lance.” Oliver smiled at the woman.
“A pleasure.” Dinah said, shaking hands. “I owe you a great deal,
"I'm glad to finally meet you, Miss Lance." Adrien smiled warmly. "And I'm glad you're feeling better. Keep making this boy happy and you’ll be fine with me.”
"Least I can do, took long enough to track him down." Dinah shook her hand.
“Ms. Rivers was my mothers best friend, she’s an honorary member of the family. She’s a little protective.”
“I’m excessively protective. Nothing less. Till tomorrow.” Adrien pulled her keys from her purse and walked to the garage waving.
--)->
Slade sat in his small safe house and flicked ash against the wall. A small gig was nice only when it came through and this Queen kid had interrupted plans three times now. There were other jobs he was having to pass on when he waited.
The change of flight arrival had been found out easily enough with the next days’ newspaper. Little tyke had gotten himself a girlfriend and wanted to bring her home without allot of pomp. Down right gentlemanly, it seemed a shame to kill him.
Slade wished him well, it was good to enjoy the good things in life when you had them. Especially when you weren’t going to have them for much longer.
--)->
Oliver sat up and looked at the clock next to the bed. It was three am and he was wide awake.
He’d had a hell of a week, ex-employees demanding their positions back and reporters wanting to know the politics behind the move. The pentagon had called every single day for up dates on the investigations insisting they needed their own people involved. There was too much frustration to sleep.
With it being friday he thought he would be able to relax and enjoy his weekend, by all rights he had earned a good nights rest.
Dinah was still asleep so he slipped out of bed and changed into work out gear as quietly as he could so she cold stay that way. He knew from experience that the only thing that would help was getting rid of the extra energy.
Walking down to the ground floor he saw the door to the basement was open, but he dismissed his paranoia. Thea had left it open, or Diggle. In any case the irons were waiting.
The hallway light was on, cementing the Thea or Diggle theory. He took a towel from the closet and made his way to the archery room. Conversations and accusations filled his head as he picked up his bow and grabbed the quiver from Jax. He aimed the bow at the wall and the reflective glass behind the targets showing his form.
And a second form behind him.
His eyes slit to mere slivers and he quickly turned and let loose an arrow. The figure, seemingly female and in a face mask moved from her spot and opened a bow, a long slender one, of her own.
Under any other days stress he would give her a warning and let her leave. However her stance showed no sign of leaving. The frustration of the day melded with the urgency of the intruder. Roy was staying over while he worked on moving in. Diggle was just a short walk away. Thea and Dinah were asleep upstairs with no idea their lives were in danger.
Something hardened in his mind. They weren’t in danger, he would see to it.
They circled each other for mere moments when Oliver clashed his bow against hers, she remained balanced but he could see the sudden fear in her eyes.
Good.
Her bow was of bamboo, japanese make. They clashed bows, his metallic alloy and hers traditional bamboo. It took moments for her bow to crack, threatening to split. Seeing an opening he swiped the bow under her legs falling her to the ground. She spread her arms to jump back to standing but he used his heal to crush her bow at the crack and it splintered.
She jumped up, her eyes now filled with anger, taking a fighting stance. She pulled two daggers from her pockets. He opened his bow with a new arrow.
She tried to move in close but he rolled under her and fired from behind. The arrow fired and a large net opened and enveloped her. She tried to open the net with her daggers. Oliver shot holes closed with arrows as she made them while deflecting thrown daggers with his bow.
Getting free of the net a moment later she tried to run at him. He fired a second arrow mere yards before her feet and a large oil slick appeared. She took an anchoring stance, it kept her standing but stopped her movement. He took aim with another arrow but she regained enough balance to jump out of the slick and got closer he fired at her feet as she ran. She attacked in the hallway daggers swinging as fast as Thea’s. He blocked her at her wrists, aiming his wrist bones to jolt sensitive points and damage her attack strength. She began to spare her wrists, aiming more aggressively with the blades, weaker attacks. He formed his hands into flat plates and when she next attacked targeted the weakened joints. She winced and dropped the daggers.
She formed her own hands into plates and he charged. She hit his face but the blows felt light and passing. He returned with a series of hits to the gut and sides, hitting whatever she left unguarded. She made a bold attack to grab him with his quiver strap, he tripped her in her distraction and quickly pulled an arrow from from the bag. In a flash he held the steel diamond sharpened point to her throat.
He nicked the skin slightly. “Speak now or never do again.”
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