Lessons Learned

Chapter 3 - Team Arrow

Chapter 3 - Team Arrow 

AN - A shoutout to Mic RiddyBanon for again being my beta and providing some wonderful additions/ changes! 

DISCLAIMER - I would love to claim ownership over something but alas I cannot (at least not legally)!

-----------------------------------

Roy couldn't help but laugh as when he realized Felicity had actually posted a laminated a copy of the Lessons that now included the title "Lessons from Team Arrow". He had heard Oliver tell her (again) to stop using the name Team Arrow but as usual it seemed Felicity did what she wanted instead. 

It was also apparent she didn't appreciate the notes and changes that would sometimes and mysteriously appear on the posted list. It wasn't something they ever discussed but Roy had come to realize a lot was left unsaid by this group. Most conversations were even in a short hand that he was still trying to figure out. The fact that they often completed each other's sentences continued to throw him off as well. Even if Oliver didn't approve of the title this group was certainly a Team. 

Roy couldn't help but think back to the first time Oliver brought him to the lair after he had revealed his identity to him. That night was just a blur but Roy did remember Oliver stating that these two people were the only ones that mattered as he had introduced him to Diggle and Felicity. He hadn't understood that then but even though it had only been a few weeks since he met them that statement made much more sense. That first night though he had been too blown away by the lair set-up to pay too much attention to the people though. 

Even since the Arrow had saved his life, Roy knew he saw the hooded figure as a mythic hero that was larger than life and even finding out that hero was his girlfriend's older brother hadn't changed that view. That was as far as his thought process had gone though so seeing the "man behind the curtain" kind of thing with the lair, Diggle and Felicity had been totally blown his mind. This was a highly developed and sophisticated set-up that rivaled anything he had even seen in the movies. 

It had taken several weeks for Roy to let go of the awe he felt and truly start to become a member of the Team. Despite his rocky start when first training with the Arrow, Roy had thrown himself into training with both Diggle and Oliver and was working hard at learning to control his strength. Oliver advised that while thinking of Thea, was a great starting point Roy needed to find the control within himself and that only he could do that. It still sounded too much like a mystic kung fu movie line and Roy had even waited for Oliver to call him "Grasshopper" but Oliver had simply returned to training after saying that. It had stuck with Roy though and he had also instinctively felt the truth of the words. It wasn't easy and Felicity teased him unmercifully at the amount of equipment they had been forced to replace since bringing him onboard but he was making progress. 

As he made this progress, Roy found his mind cleared as the fear receded and was replaced with hope for his future. It was Thea who first brought hope into his life so as the feeling returned he couldn't help but think of her more often even during training. Of course, losing your concentration while training with Oliver normally resulted in pain so Roy wasn't surprised he saw stars dance before his eyes after Oliver landed a particularly brutal blow to the side of his head. 

"Get your head in the game Harper." 

Roy forced thoughts of Thea to the back of his mind as they continued sparring. He couldn't help but be surprised when Oliver stepped back suddenly turned to Felicity a few moments later. It took a moment for Roy to realize that one of her computers was beeping a familiar sound of results. He had been so focused on Oliver that he hadn't even heard it so it was a little annoying to see that there were still so many lessons for him to learn.