Lessons: Becoming the Green Arrow

Episode 1 - Pilot

Episode 1 

AN - It's a bit slow going to start but I promise that the action and fun does pick up if you'll give it a chance!  ;)

DISCLAIMER - While the cat is away, the mice shall play...but I still don't own Arrow!

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Team Arrow had survived Slade's assault on the city and they had even survived Felicity taking a vacation day shortly thereafter, however, they were all still adjusting and learning to deal with the numerous recent changes. Oliver had lost his mother to death and his sister to disappearance. The Foundry had been comprised and locked in legal issues forcing them to relocate their headquarters. QC and all the Queen family assets were also embroiled in legal drama which had left Oliver without money until Felicity tracked and liberated Slade Wilson's hidden assets and funds. Even more people knew about Oliver's secret identity and Team Arrow which put them all at risk. Detective Lance was in a medically induced coma due to the injuries he sustained when he joined their fight against Slade. ARGUS remained a tentative and dangerous ally even if they were now keeping a respectful distance. Lastly, Starling City faced the necessity to rebuild and re-establish law and order for the second time in as many years. 

There were even bigger changes for them personally resulting from subtle shifts in alignment as the outside world had become even more dangerous. Team Arrow found stability within themselves in the midst of a city in chaos. They found security within themselves while others were kept at a distance. They found respect and trust within themselves even though others doubted them. Their bonds became stronger each day as each one made the choice to stay together. Each one acknowledged and accepted that they were stronger, better together than they could ever be apart. 

Without the burden of their day jobs, the Team was able to fully dedicate themselves to training and missions without their previous time constraints. They were forced to adjust their cover stories and public personas though as while Diggle could remain as the black driver, Felicity was no longer Oliver Queen's EA at QC. They also needed a way to keep Roy close without Thea unintentionally providing an excuse. They were working on the problem and Felicity had already leaked intel to the gossip mags and reporters that Oliver Queen was forming a new consortium (JLA Industries) to restore his family name and fortune. 

This story allowed for Felicity to remain close without arousing too much suspicion. Felicity even used part of the funds she had recovered from Slade to purchase an office building. The upper levels would fulfill the need for the appearance of business while the bottom levels were being renovated to be their public Team Arrow headquarters. As many more people now knew Oliver's secret identity as the Arrow as well as the roles played by Diggle, Felicity, and now Roy, the Team knew a second hidden location was also required for their protection and peace of mind. 

Felicity had again utilized Slade Wilson's assets to gain possession of another warehouse in the Glades. This became their "second location" that they kept private and hidden just as Oliver had once kept his second location hidden from them. This time though, Oliver, Diggle, Felicity, and Roy knew its location as well as the security measures in place to stop outsiders from gaining access. The second location served not only as the Team's real headquarters but it also quickly became a second home for them. As there was much work to be done to rebuild both Team Arrow and Starling City, the Team often found it easier to spend the night so more times than not at least one member and sometimes two would stay. 

The second location was still a work in progress, but the Team had applied all that they had learned to make their new headquarters better. Felicity improved their security and technology - she even accepted some ARGUS computers and software, even though she remained suspicious of them. Diggle and Oliver revised and improved the security of the physical structure. Roy's continued quest for archery precision dictated the need to locate that area far from Felicity's computers and work space. They also revamped their med and research labs with the latest courtesy of the now defunct S.T.A.R. Labs. The training area had also been expanded so all could retain and improve their skills (though Felicity still refused to train with them). Additionally, all four contributed to the living area space to ensure they could all stay there comfortably if they needed to do so.