Of Ashes and Embers

Adventures with Arrows

I stare at the three adults in the mission room. Are they actually serious? Or is this some sort of joke I don't understand? I search each of their faces quickly, trying to find anything that lets me know if this is false. They can't possibly trust me that much already, even with the inhibitor collar on. Can they?

"You want me to patrol with Green Arrow," I ask, somewhat slowly, which was unintentional.

"Yes, and I might be involved somewhat as well but it might not happen tonight," Canary answers. I blink. Why? What's the purpose? There's a point to it really. No specific result that I would be aiming for. I've never simply just run around a city with the supposed mission being 'don't let crime happen'. Why the hell do they want me on this?

"Okay," I respond. "When?"

"You'll be joining me tonight, we'll go to the base before we start and Canary may be joining us later on," Green Arrow answers me. I nod but don't verbally respond. I'm guessing it's a test to see if I'll run away or to test my abilities. I eye Batman. Probably both actually.

(Timeskip)

I stand next to Green Arrow in front of the zeta tubes. Apparently, though no one has actually told me, we'll be taking the tubes to his base and then going into the city from there. I've never personally been in a zeta tube. Well at least not that I'm aware of anyways. I don't really know how it's going to feel. I'm in the same uniform I was in about a week ago, when I went on the mission to save the team. I have to admit I like the fact that I only have the domino mask and not the whole demon one. It felt clunky honestly and was just aesthetic. Well, it did filter gasses if needed but most of the time that was unnecessary. Green Arrow puts a hand on my shoulder, I suppress the automatic flinch.

"You ready kid?" I shrug and walk with him into the tube. We appear into what I can only assume is the supposed "Arrow Cave". Honestly between him and Batman there's no originality in the League. I can hear muffled music and voices and a lot of movement. Wait a minute. Out of all the places Oliver Queen owns and frequents I would have never guessed he would put it here. Arrow sees me looking at the ceiling where the noise is coming from.

"Sorry about all the noise but no one will come down here tonight," he tells me.

"I just didn't think you put your base underneath your club," I say without thinking, more interested in examining some of the weapons and equipment he has laying around.

"Yeah, it was the easiest place to," he pauses, turning towards me sharply. I tense. Fuck, I shouldn't have said that. "How did you know I have a club," he asks tone sharper and more serious. Well, too late to back track now, I think. It won't hurt anything for him to know.

"I know you're Oliver Queen," I admit, probably sounding sheepish. "I have for a while honestly, you were kinda easy for me to figure out." I can see him narrow his eyes. "I didn't tell Sportsmaster," I add quickly. My pulse starts to race. I don't want to get into trouble now. I actually want to see this city again. And it would be nice to train will Oliver as well. "I mean I don't know if he knew already or not but when I figured it out I didn't tell him cause I didn't want him to know that cause if he knew that I think he might have tried to kill you. Even though Ra's already knows that right? Cause some stuff went down between you guys and it involved one of his daughters" I glance at him once more. "Sorry Sir," I say and stand at attention. He says nothing for several moments making me even more nervous.

"You didn't want Sportsmaster to try and kill me?"

"No sir"

"Well then," he starts, "good to know. How long have you known?"