(DC Multiverse Adventures)
"-even with his parties and his playboy act-"
Zoya starts chuckling out of nowhere then proceeds to laugh quietly.
Dick looks at her. "What?"
She shakes her head. "Nothing."
"No, what?" He presses.
She pressed her lips tog...
Summary: Zoya reminds Barry, Iris and Caitlin what it means to be a hero.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Arrow Cave
Zoya's sword cut through the air with fluid precision, each strike sharp and powerful. Her movements were effortless, as if the weapon were an extension of herself. Oliver leaned against the doorway, quietly watching her practice.
"You've been watching," Zoya said, her voice calm as she continued her rhythm.
Oliver pushed off the doorframe and stepped into the room. "You're a natural."
Zoya sheathed her sword, turning to face him. "I suppose that's in my blood." Her eyes glinted with a mixture of curiosity and challenge. "May I ask you something?"
He nods. "Yeah."
"You killed my father... but you don't kill anymore. Why?"
Oliver's face tightened for a moment before he replied, "It wasn't about 'why,' Zoya. It was about stopping him. He was a threat to everyone."
She raised an eyebrow. "And yet, you say killing's wrong."
"It is." Oliver said quietly. "And it changes you. Every time you take a life, it takes something from you."
Zoya's gaze was steady. "So, what do you do when you don't have another choice?"
"You always have a choice," Oliver said, his voice firm. "Killing isn't strength. Mercy is."
Zoya looked down at her sword, her fingers brushing the hilt. "But what if they don't change? What if it's either them or you?"
Oliver paused, meeting her eyes. "Then you do what you have to. But it should never be the first choice. Never the easy way out." He stepped closer, his tone softening. "You've got the strength to find another way, Zoya. I know you do."
Zoya looked at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I'll remember that."
Oliver gave a small, approving smile. "Good. It's not about being perfect. It's about being better than who you were yesterday."
Zoya's gaze turned back to her sword, a thoughtful silence between them. "We'll see, Oliver. We'll see."
***
S.T.A.R. Labs
The team sat in stunned silence at STAR Labs. Chester, Allegra, and Cecile exchanged uneasy glances while Barry, Iris, and Caitlin stood resolute, their decision ringing in the air like a death knell.
And Zoya.
She just stayed silent, thinking over the words they've just said.
"You can't be serious," Chester finally said, breaking the tension. His voice trembled slightly, not from fear but disbelief. "You can't just let Thawne die."
