Chapter 1: The future
Chapter Text
Prologue
My name is Mia Queen. For five years, I’ve lived in an apocalyptic future where corruption rules everything. I’m trying to fulfill my father’s last wish: "Save the city, save the world." I use what he taught me and take down those who poison the Earth, with the help of my team. But my team is dead. And all hope seems lost. To finish what we started, we need someone else. We need something else.
Star City, 2046
The once-bright city of Star City is now a broken shadow of its former self. Towering skyscrapers, now just skeletons of shattered glass and twisted steel, stand like ghosts against a perpetually gray sky. The streets, abandoned by honest people, are littered with rusted car wrecks, overgrown with wild plants and debris. Flickering screens broadcast propaganda in eerie silence, while the few souls brave enough to venture outside skulk in the shadows, rushing through their tasks. Every gust of wind seems to carry away more of the hope that left the city long ago. Star City is dead, and with it, the promise of renewal offered by the sacrifices of the heroes nearly twenty years ago.
A shadow moves through the city. She knows she’s not fast enough. She doesn’t have Nora’s speed, but she runs, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, climbing down a ladder, landing in the filthy streets of the city’s underbelly, and running—running until her breath falters. Between gasps, she tries one more time to reach her friend.
“XS, come in, respond.”
Only silence answers her. She checks the coordinates on the small screen of her handheld GPS. Almost there—300 meters.
Mia finally arrives at the spot where Nora should be, but the sight that awaits her is horrifying.
“Noooo,” Mia wants to scream, but she knows that any noise will alert the enemy. She presses her fist to her mouth, stifling the cry.
Nora Allen, known to the people of Star City and Central City as XS, is still standing, but the signs of battle are etched across her body.
Mia’s hand reaches for her quiver, searching for an arrow to knock into her bow. She knows she has no chance of defeating Dax Novu, and no reinforcements are coming. There’s no one left. Nora and Mia are the last two heroes on Earth. Dax Novu, the father of all Monitors—the Vampire Monitor—had managed to eliminate every hero in the universe. Batwoman, Flash, the Canaries, even aliens and metahumans like Green Lantern and Superman, all had fallen to Mandrakk. Some were dead, others left unable to fight. The last of them had fallen in the final battle. Roy, Connor, Zoë, even John Jr. All had banded together against this evil, but without Superman, without Green Arrow, without Flash, without Batman, without Supergirl, without the heroes of the Golden Age, their successors had failed.
Even though the timeline had changed after her father’s sacrifice, Mia remembered the events of the Crisis thanks to Laurel, Sara, and Dinah. She remembered the bravery of each hero, all willing to sacrifice themselves to save the Earth, the universe. Sara... another person who could’ve helped, but was lost. Dax had planned his attack well, picking off the isolated teams, the other planets, before coming directly for Earth.
Five years. It had only been five years since her adventure through time, and yet Mia was no longer the same person. Losing everything that matters can do that to you.
Mia took a deep breath. She secretly hoped that once she died, she might at least see the people she loved again. Did the Monitors have power in the afterlife too? She should’ve asked Constantine while he was still alive, or Lucifer when he was still on Earth.
Mia was about to step out of the shadows when suddenly a fog rose around her. Her hesitation cost her, as a second later, she heard Nora’s scream. She tried to rush to her friend’s side, but an unseen force held her back. Fighting with everything she had, Mia struggled against her invisible opponent. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the fog dissipated, and the force that restrained her was gone.
Mia lunged forward, running toward Nora.
Dax was gone, his task complete. All that remained was Nora.
A thin stream of blood trickled from Nora’s mouth. She was still alive, but barely.
“Nora,” Mia whispered, tears filling her eyes.
She knelt down, cradling her friend’s head in her lap.
“Mia…” Nora’s voice was barely more than a breath.
“Shh, don’t speak, it’s going to be okay. You’re going to make it. We’ll find a doctor,” Mia said, glancing around, desperately searching for a way to get her friend out of the filthy alley.
Mia didn’t see Nora’s hand move, but she felt it gently rest on hers.
“It’s... okay... Mia... I’m going to see... Mom and my brother…” Nora whispered, her hand weakly squeezing Mia’s.
“No, no, Nora, you can’t leave me. You have to fight, do you hear me? Fight!” Mia pleaded, locking eyes with her, tears streaming freely down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry... to leave you... tell Dad... tell him... that...” But Nora couldn’t finish her sentence. Her breath slowed, and then stopped.
Mia broke into heart-wrenching sobs. Like the city, Mia was now nothing but a shattered memory of who she once was.
Central City, 2046
The once-automatic doors of STAR Labs groaned heavily as Mia pushed them open, their rusted mechanisms struggling to respond. Inside, the lab—once the nerve center of Team Flash—was nothing more than an abandoned wreck. Collapsed ceilings let in the fading light of a dying day, illuminating destroyed consoles and cracked screens. Cables dangled from the walls, occasional sparks flying in the oppressive silence. Each of Mia’s steps echoed against the cracked tile, shattering the eerie calm.
She slowly descended the stairs to the basement, the only part of the lab still powered. Flickering lights cast strange shadows on the faded walls, a haunting reminder of the glory days long gone. At the end of the corridor, she saw a door ajar. Pushing it gently, she found Barry Allen sitting on a worn-out couch shoved into a corner, his gaze empty, his elbows resting on his knees.
The once-legendary Flash was unrecognizable. His hair, once kept short, now fell messily across his forehead, and his eyes—once full of life and hope—were now dull, marked by deep, dark circles. Around him, old monitors blinked weakly, displaying data that was probably long out of date.
"Barry..." Mia murmured, but he didn’t even look up.
Mia slowly approached, her heavy steps echoing in the oppressive silence of the basement. She knew that what she had to say would be the final blow to Barry. He had already lost Iris, Bart, and now... Nora. Mia herself wanted to cry, but she had to stay strong, at least for now, for Barry. She stopped in front of him, her gaze lowered, her fingers nervously clenching.
"Barry… I need to tell you something." Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced the words out.
He remained still, as if frozen in time, barely aware of Mia’s presence. His hands clenched around an old photo resting on his lap. A picture of his family. Iris, Bart, and Nora, all wrapped in Barry’s arms.
Mia took a deep breath, holding back her emotions, knowing there was no way to soften the blow that was coming.
“Barry, last night… there was trouble in Star City. René called us for help, and Nora and I went…”
Suddenly, it was as if her words finally pierced Barry’s consciousness. He straightened on the couch, his gaze snapping to Mia.
“Mia? You were talking about Nora, right? Nora? Nora... she’s not with you, is she, Mia?” Barry asked.
Mia felt her throat tighten, but she had to tell him.
"Barry, Dax Novu was there last night. Nora... he was going to kill both of us, and Nora... she drew him to her. She... she didn’t make it, Barry. I’m sorry," Mia managed to say, her eyes avoiding the gaze of the father who had already lost so much. Mia’s hand reached out toward Barry, but she pulled back at the last moment, unsure if the gesture would be welcome.
Her words echoed in the room like a thunderclap. The silence that followed was crushing. Barry didn’t move, his body frozen, almost inert.
"No..." he murmured, his voice broken, so weak it was almost inaudible. "No, no, no... Not Nora... Not her too..."
Mia looked away, feeling the overwhelming pain radiating from Barry like a dark wave.
"I’m so sorry, Barry. Truly."
Suddenly, he turned toward Mia, his voice filled with a quiet, powerful rage.
"You're lying..." His eyes, once dead, were now filled with fury and despair. "She can't be dead. She... she was my last hope." Just as quickly as the anger had come, it drained out of Barry, leaving him empty once again.
Mia watched him, helpless, knowing there was nothing she could say to ease his pain. Barry collapsed to his knees, his face twisted in agony, his hands pulling at his hair as if he could tear away the reality suffocating him.
"Nora... I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to..."
Before Mia could do anything, Barry shot to his feet and rushed toward the door with determined steps. Mia didn’t hesitate and followed him.
"Barry!" Mia called out as they sped through the corridors of STAR Labs, but it was in vain. Barry continued on, heading straight for the time vault.
With a wave of his hand, the vault opened, and Barry entered with a resolute air.
Mia arrived just in time to see him take the ring that contained his Flash suit. *This is impossible*, Mia thought, *he barely has any Speedforce left*.
Mia rushed to Barry, her heart pounding. "Barry, you can’t do this! If you use what’s left of your Speedforce, you’ll kill yourself!"
Barry paused, his back still turned to her, but Mia could see his clenched fists trembling with rage. He didn’t respond, his thoughts chained to a single image: Dax Novu. Mandrakk, the Dark Monitor, the monster who had taken everything.
"Barry, I understand your pain, but this won’t bring Nora back. Nothing will bring her back..." Her voice broke slightly.
He turned suddenly, his eyes full of despair, his face twisted with rage.
"What do you understand, Mia?! You don’t understand anything! I lost everything because of Dax Novu. He destroyed everything, and I have to stop him before he causes more harm."
"Don’t you dare say I don’t understand, Barry!" Mia shot back. "He took everything from me too!"
Mia shook her head, tears threatening to spill. "If you do this, you’ll die for sure! And for what? For nothing!"
"For revenge," Barry responded coldly.
He gripped his ring, ready to activate it, but before he could say another word, a strange fog filled the room. Mia instinctively stepped back as the fog gathered into a vaguely human shape.
Suddenly, the fog solidified, revealing Oliver Queen—the Spectre—his eyes glowing with a green light.
"Barry," Oliver said in a deep, resonant voice. "Remember what I always told you. You represent hope, not vengeance. Vengeance isn’t your mission. It’s mine."
"Oliver… I have to do this. He took Nora from me. He has to pay for that," Barry replied, barely fazed by seeing his old friend after years of silence.
"I understand your anger, your suffering," Oliver said. "But vengeance is my burden, Barry. It belongs to the Spectre, not to you. You have another mission waiting for you."
Barry stared at Oliver, a mix of confusion and rekindled hope in his eyes. "What mission, Oliver? What am I supposed to do?"
Oliver looked at him gravely, then slowly turned to Mia. His expression softened, his eyes glowing with a warmth she had never seen from him. "You have to protect what’s most precious to me," he said calmly, but each word carried immense weight.
Mia narrowed her eyes, confused. "What do you mean?"
Barry furrowed his brow, the truth beginning to dawn on him. "Oliver, there’s nothing left. Dax Novu destroyed everything. The cities are in ruins, there’s no one left to save. There’s nothing left..."
"You’re right," Oliver responded softly, his piercing gaze locking onto Barry. "This era is doomed. The world is in pieces, and most of those we loved are gone. But there’s still a way."
Barry stepped back, suddenly understanding what his old friend was implying. "Wait... You want me to...?"
Oliver nodded, the silence between them heavy with meaning. "Yes, Barry. It’s the only way."
Mia, watching the exchange between the two men, frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about? What solution?"
Oliver turned to Mia, his face filled with tenderness. "Barry will explain everything. But know this, Mia... I’m proud of you, more than you’ll ever know. And I know you’ll succeed." He approached her, pulling her into an embrace warmer than she had ever experienced from him. "I can’t stay here any longer. Dax might sense my presence."
Mia’s eyes filled with tears. "Succeed at what? What am I supposed to do?"
Oliver smiled gently, pulling away. "Barry will tell you."
Barry, still reeling from the revelation, turned to Oliver. "But how can I… how could I possibly send her to the right time?"
Oliver turned one last time to his old friend, a light smile on his lips. "It’s simple. Run, Barry. Run."
And with a breath of mist, Oliver disappeared, leaving Mia and Barry alone in the time vault.
The weeks blurred together in a stifling monotony, marked by the repeated failures of their project. Every day, Mia and Barry worked side by side, adjusting circuits, tweaking algorithms, but with no tangible results. With each failure, Mia felt her hope slipping away. Yet Barry seemed driven by a new energy, relentlessly pursuing a goal with an almost blind determination.
Mia gave one last turn to a wrench on a connector before letting it drop with a thud. “Another failure,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion. She glanced over at Barry, who, despite the endless hours and circuit explosions, appeared almost... optimistic.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Barry said, not lifting his eyes from the screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “I can feel it, Mia. We’re close.”
Mia stared at him, her face frozen in growing frustration. “Close? Barry, we’ve been ‘close’ for weeks now. Every time we touch a button, everything either explodes or nothing happens!”
He nodded, still focused on the formulas and data scrolling before him. “I know, but that’s normal. We’re in uncharted territory here. We have to keep trying.”
She gritted her teeth. “Don’t you see that we’re just going in circles? Every day, it’s the same thing! And every time, it’s just another failure.”
Barry finally stopped and looked up at her, a tired but sincere smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Mia, we’re going to find the solution. We have to.”
The certainty in his voice threw her off. How could he still believe? How could he get back up after every failure, with that almost unshakable faith? To her, everything was blending into an exhausting void. With every failed attempt, her hope crumbled a little more, and seeing Barry persist—smiling even—only deepened her own despair.
“And what if it never works, Barry? We can’t just keep hoping. We have to be realistic too.” Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her emotional exhaustion.
He shook his head, refusing to give up. “No. We’ll find it. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon. I’m sure of it.”
Mia turned away, unable to bear his firm conviction while she felt increasingly powerless. Every day, she spent more time watching Barry work, seeing him adjust, recalculate, smile at every minor advancement. Meanwhile, she couldn’t stand still, watching their repeated failures.
One day, after yet another explosion that left the room filled with smoke and debris, Mia abruptly stood up. “That’s enough, Barry. Do it without me.” She turned on her heel and left the room without waiting for a response.
She retreated to another part of the ruins of STAR Labs, far from the machines and glowing screens, where she could be alone. Her training sessions became her only escape. Every punch thrown at a sandbag or a training dummy was an attempt to channel her frustration, to fill the void she felt from their fruitless efforts.
In the following days, she trained harder than ever, leaving Barry alone to his work. Her frustration grew with each failure, while Barry seemed almost revitalized by every new challenge, every new attempt.
When she returned after hours of grueling training, she always found him hunched over his plans, his fingers stained with grease, sweat beading on his brow. He never stopped. His determination was almost unsettling, as if each failure only strengthened his certainty.
“You could at least take a break,” she said one day as she passed by him, breathless after an exhausting workout.
He smiled, his eyes still glued to his screen. “Not now. I think I’ve found a way to improve the efficiency of the Speedforce conduits.”
Mia sighed, despairing at how deeply Barry had immersed himself in this never-ending quest. “I don’t understand how you do it,” she murmured, more to herself than to him.
He looked up, his expression softened by a flicker of compassion. “Because I have a reason to fight, Mia. And I know this will work. I feel it deep inside.”
She remained silent, shaken by his almost supernatural conviction. While her own hope was withering, Barry seemed to be reborn with each attempt.
Eventually, she shrugged and turned away, returning to her exercises.
In the dim training room, Mia adjusted her bow, her gaze fixed on a moving target. Her body moved instinctively, every muscle taut, every action calculated. She had never needed these moments to vent her frustration more than now. The bowstring tightened, the arrow poised to fly.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, startling her. On reflex, Mia turned toward the noise and released the arrow, her heart skipping a beat as she realized it was heading straight for Barry, who had burst into the room.
But before she could shout or move, Barry caught the arrow mid-flight, his fingers closing around it with disarming precision. “Thanks for the training, Oliver,” he muttered with a grin, handing the arrow back to a stunned Mia.
“Barry... I’m sorry!” she exclaimed, still in shock, hurriedly putting away her bow.
He shook his head, still smiling, and handed the arrow back to her with a relaxed air. “No worries. But next time, try to be nicer than your father and give me a heads-up before shooting.”
Mia let out a nervous laugh, still unable to believe what had just happened. “What are you doing here? I thought you were buried in your calculations.”
Barry took a deep breath, and his expression shifted, lit by a new energy. “I’ve found the solution.”
The words echoed in the room like a thunderclap. Mia’s eyes widened, almost dropping the arrow in surprise. “What? You’re serious?”
He nodded, his smile still there, though more subdued. “Yes. This time, I’m sure. I’ve finally figured out how to stabilize the Speedforce so it will work. Now we just need to build a vehicle that can handle the trip through time.”
A rush of pure joy washed over Mia, like a wave of relief that finally swept away weeks of frustration. “Barry, that’s amazing!” She rushed toward him, ready to hug him, but stopped halfway, noticing the more reserved look on his face. “Why the long face? This is good news, right?”
Barry smiled, but the hint of hesitation didn’t leave his eyes. “Yes, it’s good news,” he confirmed, tense.
In her excitement, Mia didn’t fully notice the nuance. For the first time in weeks, she felt light, as if a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “So, what are we waiting for? We should get started right away!”
But Barry gently stopped her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Wait, before we begin, there’s something I need to show you. And something I need to give you.”
The serious tone in his voice made her frown, her curiosity piqued. “Give me? What do you mean, show me what?”
“You’ll see. Come.” He gestured for her to follow.
Barry led Mia through the corridors until they reached the massive door leading to the Time Vault. The last time they’d been inside, the place had been utter chaos, a symbol of their desperate struggle. But this time, as Mia crossed the threshold, she froze, surprised by the transformation.
The Vault was impeccably organized, its light gray walls revealing metal alcoves. But what caught her attention was the soft, mechanical voice that resonated as soon as they entered.
“Hello, Barry Allen. Hello, Mia Queen,” greeted Gideon, its robotic tone strangely warm.
Barry responded immediately, smiling slightly. “Hello, Gideon.”
Mia hesitated for a moment, never having truly interacted with Gideon this way. Sure, she had seen Nora use a version of Gideon, but seeing it on a small screen versus hearing its voice in this room was a different experience. Then, with Barry’s encouraging look, she nodded and responded, a slight timidity in her voice. “Uh... hi, Gideon.”
Gideon’s voice fell silent, patiently awaiting the next move as Barry turned to Mia, his expression more serious. “Listen, Mia, while I’m working on building the vehicle, there’s something crucial you need to do.”
Mia furrowed her brow, puzzled. “What?”
Barry gestured toward the AI. “Gideon knows all events, from every possible timeline. She’s going to teach you everything you need to know about the past—every decision, every pivotal moment that shaped our present. If we want to succeed in this time travel mission, you’ll need to understand what came before, so we don’t repeat the same mistakes.”
Mia glanced at the screens, her thoughts already spinning. She understood the importance of this, but the weight of responsibility began to settle on her shoulders.
“Alright, I get it. How much time do I have?”
Barry lowered his gaze, his expression growing distant. “Not much. I hope to finish building the vehicle by the end of the week. Once it’s ready, we’ll have to leave immediately. We can’t risk being detected by Dax Novu. If we wait too long, everything we’ve done up until now will be for nothing.”
The urgency in Barry’s tone reinforced the gravity of the situation. Mia nodded, determined, knowing she had to succeed to save the Earth. “Okay. I’ll get it done. And besides, I’ve already got some experience from my previous time travels. That should help a bit.”
Barry couldn’t help but think back to the young Mia, still Smoak at the time, whom he had met during the Crisis. The young, uncertain woman was still there at times,
but she had been replaced, for the most part, by a seasoned warrior, shaped by trials and losses. She reminded him so much of her father. He just hoped she wouldn’t end up like him.
Snapping out of his memories, Barry began to turn away, ready to return to his work, but Mia stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. “Wait, Barry. You said you had something to give me too. What is it?”
He hesitated for a moment before turning back to her. Was it a good idea to give it to her now? He wasn’t sure anymore. She looked so much like Oliver.
“I... I’ve changed my mind. I’ll give it to you right before we leave.”
Mia
remained silent, curious, but didn’t press him. Something in his gaze told her she’d get answers in due time.
Barry left the Vault, and as soon as he crossed the threshold, Gideon’s voice echoed through the room again, drawing Mia’s attention.
“It all began in Starling City, on the Queen’s Gambit…”
The week passed as quickly as lightning. On the final evening, Barry and Mia stood in the lab. At the center of the room stood the time machine, a complex assembly of cables, glowing screens, and a translucent plastic bubble with a single seat inside.
“Come,” Barry said softly, his gaze shifting toward a table in the corner. Mia followed, her eyes fixed on him, wondering what he was about to show her.
Barry led Mia to a table where several objects were neatly arranged. He hesitated for a brief moment before reaching for an old, worn notebook lying among the other items. The leather cover was cracked with age, and the yellowed pages looked as though they had survived years of battles and secrets. Barry picked it up delicately and handed it to Mia, his expression melancholic.
Mia took the notebook, her brow furrowing, before realizing what she held. "Is this..." she murmured in disbelief.
"Oliver’s list," Barry confirmed quietly. "The names written in it... the men and women responsible for the corruption of Starling City. The crusade he waged during his early years."
Mia looked at the notebook with a sense of reverence. This list had been the heart of her father’s mission when he returned from Lian Yu, the reason he became Green Arrow. But why was Barry giving it to her now? She looked up at him, confused.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
Barry took a deep breath, taking a few moments to choose his words carefully.
“For years, Felicity, Diggle, me... everyone who loved him, tried to change him. We all tried to make him different. Softer. Less brutal. We wanted him to become someone else... someone better.”
Mia listened silently, memories of her father resurfacing—his battles, the sacrifices he had made.
“But it didn’t work,” she concluded quietly.
Barry nodded slowly, his gaze distant.
“And where did that lead us? Losses. Mistakes. Gaps in his plan that allowed people to rise again, time after time. Maybe Oliver was right from the start... His crusade shouldn’t have changed. He knew what needed to be done.”
Mia gripped the notebook a little tighter, remembering how much she had wanted to honor her father’s legacy.
“You’re telling me I should... kill everyone on this list?”
Barry shook his head immediately, his eyes shining with determination.
“No, of course not. It’s not about killing them. But... all these criminals must be neutralized. Permanently. If not, corruption will return. And with it, Dax Novu will find a way to regain control. If you truly want to save Star City, the Multiverse... you have to finish this crusade, as Oliver originally envisioned it. You have to help Oliver complete what he started.”
Mia nodded, touching the notebook reverently. This notebook. It was her father’s legacy, and his father’s before him. This notebook had created Green Arrow and had already saved the world many times.
Barry then moved toward another object on the table—a wooden crate with a carefully sealed lid. “Open this,” he said, an enigmatic smile on his face.
Mia stepped forward, intrigued, and lifted the lid. Inside was a brand-new bow, its flawless finish gleaming under the room’s light. She picked it up gently, immediately feeling its perfect balance. “It’s... beautiful,” she whispered in awe. She noted how light and maneuverable it was, almost as if it had been made for her.
Barry watched her reaction with satisfaction. “I built it for you,” he explained, pride in his voice. “I wanted something special. I would’ve loved to include all the advanced technology we have at our disposal, but I couldn’t risk revealing something too futuristic too soon.”
Mia examined the bow more closely, running her fingers over its smooth surface. Emotion welled up inside her as she realized how much time and energy Barry had invested in making this bow for her, despite the weight of everything else on his shoulders. “Thank you,” she said sincerely, looking up at him. “You didn’t have to do this.”
Barry shrugged modestly, a small smile on his face. “It’s the least I could do. You’re my partner in this mission, Mia. I need you to be ready, to feel ready. This bow, it’s more than just a tool. It’s a symbol of what we need to accomplish.”
Barry then approached one final item on the table—a small silver ring that gleamed faintly. Mia, curious, eyed it, recalling their discussions about suit-compression technology. She knew Barry had mastered this technology, but she couldn’t help but wonder if this might be too advanced for the present time.
Barry rubbed the back of his head, a gesture that betrayed a hint of awkwardness. “You know, the bow was too obvious to integrate new tech. But the ring, it’s discreet. And you can always keep your suit outside the ring when you’re around other people.”
Intrigued, Mia turned to him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You made me a suit?” she asked, her voice revealing her impatience.
Barry nodded, an amused smile on his face. “Yeah, a suit.”
Mia narrowed her eyes, almost suspicious. “What does it look like?”
Barry just smiled, his expression mysterious. “You’ll have to try it on to find out.”
Mia eyed the ring with growing excitement, her heart racing. With a determined gesture, she slipped it onto her finger and, with a simple motion, activated the hidden technology inside. In a flash of light and mechanical sounds, a suit materialized, forming around her.
The suit unfolded into an elegant and sleek silhouette. It was entirely black, designed to fit her body perfectly, each piece interlocking with surgical precision. The high boots, made from a flexible yet durable material, hugged her legs without restricting movement. The fitted pants provided both comfort and agility, while the jacket opened slightly to reveal a black star emblem at its center—a symbol of her new identity. Finally, a hood unfurled, adding a touch of mystery to her appearance.
Mia ran her hands over the fabric, in awe. This wasn’t just a suit; it was a symbol. She had worn the Green Arrow suit before—her father’s suit—but this time was different. She wasn’t just wearing Oliver Queen’s legacy; she was becoming Blackstar, the person she had been on the path to becoming before everything went off course.
She realized that she wasn’t just Arrow’s daughter or his legacy. She was her own hero. She finally had control of her story, of her destiny. Tears filled her eyes as she turned to Barry, her heart overflowing with gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
Barry, touched by her gratitude, smiled, proud of her determination.
Barry looked at Mia with a mix of determination and sadness. “Mia, I think it’s better if you stay in civilian clothes for now,” he explained. “I’m not sure where exactly you’ll end up. The last thing I want is for you to find yourself in a difficult situation because of it.”
Mia nodded, understanding the wisdom in his suggestion. She stored the suit back in the ring, her heart heavy but ready to do what was necessary. She slipped Oliver’s notebook into her pocket, then picked up the bow, her gaze settling on Barry. “So, what do we do now?” she asked, eager to proceed.
Barry smiled encouragingly. “Take a seat in the transport bubble,” he instructed. Mia complied, pressing herself against the wall to leave room for Barry.
But as she settled in, Barry’s next action caught her off guard. Instead of joining her in the bubble, he approached and sealed the door, locking it with a soft metallic click. Panic instantly gripped Mia. “Barry, what are you doing?!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with fear.
With a sorrowful expression, Barry met Mia’s gaze, his heart heavy. “I haven’t told you everything,” he murmured.
Mia’s heart raced, a cold fear creeping over her. “Barry, what do you mean?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Barry lowered his eyes, his expression grave. “I wasn’t able to create a time machine that would allow us both to travel together, let alone guarantee your existence if Felicity and Oliver don’t end up together,” he explained, each word weighing heavily.
Mia began to understand the gravity of what he was saying. “So, that means...?” she hesitated, seeking confirmation of her worst fear.
“Yes,” Barry interrupted firmly but gently. “It means you’ll have to travel back in time alone.” He paused, letting the impact of his words sink in. “To make this journey possible, I’ll have to use all the Speedforce I have left, with a little help from a friend.”
At those words, a mist began to form before them, gradually solidifying into the familiar shape of Oliver. His face was calm, radiating a serenity that contrasted with the gravity of the situation.
Mia froze, her emotions swirling. She knew she had a mission to complete, but now she also understood that this mission came at a great cost—Barry’s life.
“Barry, you can’t do this! There has to be another way!” she cried, despair evident in her voice.
“I’m sorry to place this burden on you, Mia,” Barry responded, his gaze shifting to Oliver. “But this is the only way. My Speedforce will allow you to travel through time, and Oliver will help stabilize you in the timeline. That way, no matter what changes you make, you won’t disappear.”
Oliver nodded slowly. “Mia, you’re stronger than you think. Barry believes in you. I believe in
you too.”
Tears filled Mia’s eyes as she looked at Barry. “I never wanted anyone to sacrifice themselves for me!”
Barry gave her a sad smile. “Your father sacrificed himself for me and Kara, to save the multiverse. If it helps you accept this, think of it as repaying a debt. It’s my turn to make a sacrifice. But Mia, it’s also your turn to become the hero you’re destined to be. You have the potential to change everything. Do it for us.”
By then, Oliver had moved closer to the transport bubble. His green eyes met Mia’s tearful gaze as he placed his hand on the
bubble. Mia mirrored his gesture, placing her hand where his was.
“Dad,” she began, but her voice broke. She steadied herself, took a deep breath, and nodded. “I’m ready.”
“It’s time, Mia. Remember who you are. The world needs you,” Oliver said softly, stepping away to join Barry.
The last thing Mia saw before a vortex of lightning engulfed her was Barry’s kind smile and her father’s gentle gaze.
Chapter 2: Episode 1 : Chapter 1
Summary:
Thank you a lot for the kudos and comments. It's make my day. We are not going to meet young Oliver right know but i promise, this will be comming very soon.
Before we meet Oliver, we are gonna meet other allies and foe of Mia in the past.
I choose to write this story like the show was in the early season, with flashback bc i fall in love with the show back then and well ... i liked to not know exactly what happend when i was watching the show so i told myself, why not do it for the fic. I hope you like it too.
I'm not gonna write all of what happend in the show when thinks didn't change. And a first, you not gonna see a lot of change ( for the first '10 chapter i would said) but after that, think gonna change a lot from the show.
After all, like Barry learn with flashpoint, if you change one think in the past, it's can change everythink.I talk enough for now, let go to the story and hope you like your read.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Notes:
For the titans show timeline, we are before the start of season one, just when Garth ( Aqualad) joint the titans.
Chapter 3: Episode 1 : Chapter 2
Summary:
In this chapter, we gonna see who will be with Mia on Lian Yu, and Mia gonna make a big mistake in Gotham that will send her in a other way.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in a hellish post-crisis future, I’ve come back to the past with only one goal: to save my Earth. But to succeed, I have to become more than the hero I wanted to be. To honor my father’s legacy, I have to become someone else. I have to become something else.
Gotham City, 2012
Gotham City sprawled beneath her feet, a web of gray concrete and neon under a clouded night sky.
Mia, dressed in her Blackstar costume, stood on the rooftop of a building, observing the city with keen concentration. She was thinking about the first time she wear this suit with Dick, here, in Gotham. The both come a long way in 6 years.
Exiting her tough, Mia's eyes scanned the shadows, alert to any movement. The night promised to be eventful like always in Gotham.
Suddenly, a stir at the exit of a building caught her attention. Her senses on high alert, she activated her communicator without taking her eyes off.
"Things are starting to move here," she reported in a calm yet determined voice.
"Copy that, Blackstar," replied Robin, his tone betraying a mix of excitement and focus. "Team, confirm!"
Mia could hear the voices of her teammates through the communicator. Hank and Dove responded quickly, their confirmations overlapping.
"Copy!" Hank said.
"We're ready!" Dove added,
"Staying sharp." The voices of Wondergirl and Aqualad followed, each marked by a certain impatience, confirming that they were all on edge.
Without hesitation, Mia drew her bow, holding it firmly in one hand. She observed the scene below, evaluating her options. Then, in one fluid motion, she fired an arrow toward the roof of the building across from her. The bow vibrated in her hands, and the arrow flew, embedding itself precisely into the concrete.
With agility, she grabbed the rope attached to the arrow and, in an instant, swung through the air. Using her bow as a balance, her feet touched down on the opposite rooftop before she propelled herself forward, landing softly on it.
Now on the adjacent building’s roof, Mia carefully watched the group finally emerging from the building. She focused, trying to catch a detail that would help them identify the men. Suddenly, she had a clear view of the car. She wasted no time and signaled via her communicator:
"Three targets in sight. They're getting into a black car, unknown make." She squinted to read the license plate. "Plate is 7GTH-932."
"Copy that, Blackstar. Stay in position and await instructions," Robin replied.
Mia hesitated, scrutinizing the scene. The car started quietly, quickly disappearing into the night. They were about to lose them, and they had spent so much time trying to identify the members of this new group.
"They're going to slip away completely, we'll lose them. I'm going after them," she announced, her decision already made.
"No, Blackstar, don’t! That’s an order!" Robin insisted, his voice growing louder in the communicator.
"Can't just stay here and wait for something to happen, Sorry Rob'" she responded, determined. She rushed toward the edge of the roof, ready to pursue the car.
"Blackstar, wait!" Robin shouted, frustrated. But Mia was already off, leaping from one rooftop to another using her bow. Gotham's lights flickered around her, and adrenaline gave her wings.
She managed to weave through rooftops and then dark alleyways, running like the wind, her bow held tightly against her. Every movement was fluid, calculated.
Some time later, She activeted her coms again.
"I still have them in sight, do you have my position?" she asked.
"Yes. I have it.Blackstar, you’re playing with fire! You're more than five minutes out from any backup!" Robin reprimanded.
"Don't worry about me, Rob'. I've got this under control," she replied with feigned confidence, though nerves mixed with excitement.
"Hank and Dove are on their way. Wait for them and please, be careful," Robin said, his concern evident. But she wasn’t listening. She had made her decision.
Watching the road, she noticed the car slowing down at a red light. It was now or never. She took a deep breath and launched herself gracefully onto the car's roof, balancing herself.
When the light turned green and the car started moving again, she clung tightly, her heart pounding. However, the car's sudden acceleration made it harder to maintain her grip. She tried to stay as quiet as possible, but her bow hit the roof with a dull thud that sounded like an alarm to her.
"Frack!" she muttered, realizing she might have alerted the occupants. The car zigzagged through Gotham’s streets, and Mia had to focus to keep her balance.
"Blackstar, are you still there?" Robin asked, his tone revealing growing concern.
"Yeah, but I think I've been spotted," she admitted, the tension rising.
The car suddenly braked, sending Mia tumbling forward. She managed to get up quickly, but the impact threw her off balance, leaving her on the ground right in front of the three men who were stepping out of the vehicle.
Yeah, definitlly spoted.
Lian Yu, Date Unknown
Mia faced the two men standing before her, but she wasn’t about to be intimidated.
One of them, a hulking figure with a hard gaze, lunged at her with surprising speed. Without wasting time, he aimed a punch at her, which she narrowly dodged. However, the second man approached, and with a well-placed baton strike, knocked her to her knees in the mud.
Mia shoot them both the darker look she can, trying to stand up at the same time, but the bigger of the two push her down with his feet, making her eat the mud.
"So, kid, is that all you've got? We are not finish here." the large man taunted when Mia couldn't stand up quick enough.
Mia, knowing she had to regain her composure quickly, tried to stand, but the two men were already raining down blows.
She knew she was outmatched in numbers and strength. She had to turn the situation around. She blocked their strikes as best she could, studying their movements for an opening. After a few moments, the smaller man attempted to grab her arm, but she feinted . Seizing the opportunity, she turned and struck the larger man in the gut, knocking the wind out of him.
The brute staggered back, groaning in pain, but the smaller man tried to strike her again, in the shoulder—this was her opening.
As his fist came down toward her shoulder, Mia reacted. She rolled to the side, partially dodging the blow that grazed her shoulder. Taking advantage of the slight imbalance, she quickly grabbed her opponent's extended arm, pulling him closer.
In an instant, Mia pivoted her hips, rotating swiftly to his side, sliding her arm under his throat. Her movements were fast, fluid, as if etched into her memory by years of training.
She locked her opponent’s forearm against her chest, her muscles tensing as she pressed his throat against her elbow, applying immediate pressure. The man groaned, his breathing becoming labored. Mia tightened her grip, forcing him to bend forward, his torso now parallel to the ground.
Using her body as leverage, Mia shoved her hips into his ribs, making him bend further while keeping his arm locked. The mercenary, caught off guard, lost even more balance. His feet slipped in the mud, leaving him hunched over, struggling to stand but unable to counter the deadly hold Mia had on him.
Mia tightened her grip even more, her other arm bracing her wrist to reinforce the chokehold. The pressure on his neck intensified. The mercenary’s face turned red, his eyes wide in surprise. He struggled, trying to break free, but Mia was relentless, her muscles pulling tighter, her entire body committed to this power struggle.
After a time, he understood that if he move one inch, he would hang himslef or she will break his neck so he stop struggeling.
Addressing the other man, who had recovered from her earlier gut punch, Mia, in an unyielding voice, said,
"Move a muscle, and I snap his neck. Now, drop your weapons and tell me who you are."
The large man, still catching his breath, watched the scene with a mix of astonishment and rage. He couldn’t believe this young woman had turned the situation around so quickly. He hesitated, unsure of whether to comply.
Mia applied just a little more pressure on the neck of the smaller one wich grunt in return.
"I won’t say it again," she said, her voice full of determination. She knew she had the upper hand.
"Okay, kid," he finally growled, his rough voice breaking the tense silence. "You’ve won. Let the old man go, and we’ll let you walk away."
A sarcastic smile crossed Mia's face, and a cold laugh escaped her lips.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid? You think I'll fall for that?" Her voice was low, threatening, and dark amusement gleamed in her eyes. She tightened her hold slightly, hearing the man beneath her groan in pain.
"Now, tell me your names and what you want with me."
The large mercenary didn’t respond right away. He seemed to be weighing his options, the muscles in his shoulders tensing as he thought. Finally, seeing no other way out, he relented.
"Fine kid," he sighed. "Don't know how this gonna help you but the man you're holding is named Yao Fei, and me... I'm Slade Wilson."
The name echoed in Mia’s mind like a thunderclap. Her eyes widened in shock, though she didn’t release her hold, even as her concentration wavered for a moment. Slade Wilson. Deathstrook. Here, in the flesh? On Lian Yu? What year was she in?
Slade noticed the slight loosening in her grip and thought he saw an opportunity. "And we should be the ones asking you the question," he continued, his tone sharpening. "What do you want? Were you sent here by Fyers?"
The man Mia still held stirred slightly, and she almost released him. Yao Fei. This wasn’t just any mercenary she had under her control. This was Yao Fei, the man who had helped her father survive on this island.
The implications of their presence here on Lian Yu hit her hard. Oliver hadn’t even set foot on the island yet and now, the two men are angry at her and she can't kill them or she will maybe kill her father.
Starling City, 2012
Mia had positioned herself strategically. Just around the corner, near a group of homeless people, a barrel served as an improvised fire pit. Right in front of her stood the old steel factory belonging to Queen Consolidated. If the information she remembered was correct, today was the day Oliver and Tommy would be kidnapped.
She knew she couldn’t just show up in front of Oliver and expect his trust. Not after everything he had gone through during those five years. She would have to earn his trust, just like she had earned Dick and Bruce's over the years.
Dick. Mia grimaced at the thought of him. They hadn’t parted on good terms. Mia had had no choice but to eliminate the three men in the car. They were armed, and despite her efforts, she hadn’t been able to simply neutralize them. Dick had been furious. He’d been chasing that gang for weeks, and it was the first solid lead he had. And all that work had been lost because of Mia. And well, Dick didn't like Mia brutallity.
Bruce was mad at her too. Her actions in Gotham could have had unexpected repercussions. And the police will probablly be more angry than ever. Gordon will probablly trow a fit. She knew almost nothing of Gotham’s history he had tell her.
Bruce was right. Mia know it. And she was ashemed of breaking the trust of Dick.
But Mia knew the history of another city, of another person all too well. So, with that in mind, Mia make a decision. That was what had made Mia leave for Starling City the same night.
She had arrived the next morning in Star City, know nom on the name Starling City. Taking refuge in one of the many abandoned buildings in the Glades, she waited.
She didn’t have a precise plan yet. But she knew she had to make sure the Undertaking didn’t happen. Many potential heroes had died that day, including Tommy Merlyn. She had to ensure that Oliver stopped the event. But Malcolm was a cunning and dangerous man. Oliver wasn’t ready to face him yet. First, they needed to reduce Malcolm’s circle, take down his allies. She had to work through the list first.
Mia briefly gripped the notebook that never left her side. She knew Oliver had a twin version of that notebook. Maybe she could use it to gain his trust. But first, she had to set him on the right path. And for that, she must meet him, and for thatk, she had a plan.
Suddenly, a black Mercedes appeared. It was them. From her vantage point, Mia could see the two occupants of the car. Tommy Merlyn was driving, exuding his usual aura of confidence, but Mia didn’t focus on him. No, her eyes were on Oliver.
Tears welled up in her eyes. He was there. In the flesh. Alive and so so young. She had see footage of cause. And she even had some time in the past with him, before the crisis. But now, now, she can have not only a couple of week but years to know him. To know the old him. The Hood, The Arrow, the man he was before the hero.
His face was tight, wearing a severe and rigid expression, far from the last image she had of him when he died on Earth-38 or during his appearances as the Spectre. This was the face of the Hood, the face of the vigilante, not the father or the supernatural being.
It was for him, for this vigilante, and for all those to come, that she had made this journey through time. It was time for her to act. This time, Oliver Queen wouldn’t be alone in his mission.
And suddendly, her mission take a new shape. She will not only save the univers, , she will not only save the multiverse, no, before any of this, she would save her father and with him she will save this city.
Notes:
I thanks you all for the very kind comment. I hope that this story will be like you wanted.
For info, the Gotham part will mix the event of Batgril ( season 1) with the event of Titans but you don't need to have watch this two show to follow the story.
In the next chapter, we gonna have the meeting of Mia with Oliver.With the vacation coming, i will probally post the next chapter in this week.
See you all next time.
Chapter 4: Episode 1 : chapter 3
Summary:
On Lian Yu, Mia need to escape Slade and Yao. In the present, she need to meet Oliver but she will meet someone else first.
Notes:
Thank you all for the kudos, comments and bookmark. For my first fic in this fandom and my seconds in english, you are all very welcoming, thank you.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in a hellish post-crisis future, I’ve come back to the past with only one goal: to save my Ear .. my dad ? I don't know. But to succeed, I have to become more than the hero I wanted to be. To honor my father’s legacy, I have to become someone else. I have to become something else.
Starling City, 2012
After quickly passing by the steel factory, the car continued on its way. Mia had begun chasing the Mercedes, but she was struggling to navigate this part of the city. Despite studying the area with Gideon and Bruce, the Glades looked nothing like what she remembered from her time—this part of the city had been destroyed and rebuilt after the Undertaking.
For a moment, she thought of William. That’s the reason they had met, in the end: to save Felicity, and with her, the city. Mia couldn’t afford to think about her William. It hurt too much. William hadn’t disappeared in this timeline. He was perfectly happy with his mother in Central City.
"Focus," she thought.
Suddenly, the car stopped in front of a shabby law office. Oliver had gotten out, his face serious, and headed towards the entrance. Mia had been waiting ever since. After a few minutes, her phone rang. It was Dick. He probably wanted to know where Mia had gone, but she didn’t have time to dive into the conversation because Oliver was already leaving the law office.
When he stepped out, he was accompanied by a woman Mia didn’t recognize at first. Her short blonde hair had been replaced with long, wavy brunette locks. It was Laurel. Mia’s eyes widened in surprise. She had never known this Laurel. Mia knew this wasn’t the Laurel who had saved her, the one from Earth-2. No, this was Laurel Lance from Earth-1. The brave young woman who had taken up her sister’s mantle and became the second Black Canary before dying at the hands of Damien Darhk.
The differences between the two Laurels weren’t subtle. Laurel’s face radiated life and a fiery spirit that Mia had never seen on her counterpart. That hope, that optimism—it was what Earth would need after the Crisis. Even before. Mia now knew that Laurel was part of the second list, the one of people to save.
Mia then turned her attention to the second person: Oliver. She still didn’t know how to pinpoint exactly what she felt while spying on her future father. Sadness for his fate? Pride for what he had accomplished? No, Mia knew that the deepest feeling Oliver evoked in her was regret.
This version of Oliver seemed darker, more determined, more self-assured.
"What happened to you in those seven years, Dad?" Mia wondered.
Despite all the lessons and studies with Gideon, Gideon was still an AI—she could recount the facts, but she hadn’t spoken to Mia about Oliver’s psyche. Now that Mia was witnessing it firsthand, she was even more convinced that approaching him directly with the truth wasn’t the best solution.
She needed to rethink her plan. Barry had told her that the man Mia met wasn’t the same man Barry had known. But Mia hadn’t expected the difference to be so visible, so immediate. She thought the changes would be more subtle.
Mia was deep in thought, watching Oliver and Laurel from afar. Their conversation seemed tense. Mia couldn’t help but observe them, noticing the pained expression on Oliver’s face. As all her attention was focused on them, Mia suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
Without even thinking, Mia spun around, her hand instinctively reaching toward her "attacker," but the person jumped back and raised both hands in surrender.
“Hey, easy there, sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to introduce myself,” the man said, keeping his distance.
Mia was confused and embarrassed. As usual, she had overreacted. Her gaze landed on the man she had almost attacked, and her eyes widened in surprise. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She needed to recover quickly.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who should apologize. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I was lost in thought, and you startled me,” she said.
The man gave her a small, ironic smile as he continued the conversation.
“Yeah, Oliver has always had a way of making ladies lose their focus. And I’m sure it’s only going to get worse with his return. I know, with all this ‘coming back from the dead’ business, Oliver Queen is even more of a ladies’ man right now, but let’s not forget to notice the best friend. Tommy Merlyn, at your service,” Tommy said, extending his hand this time, a more natural smile on his face, followed by a playful wink.
Was Tommy Merlyn... flirting with Mia? Silently apologizing to Earth-2 Laurel, Mia quickly realized the opportunity before her. If she could enter Oliver’s civilian life through this small door, she needed to take it.
She plastered a smile on her face and shook the hand extended to her.
“Nice to meet you, Tommy. Name's Mia. I admit, having seen the news, I couldn’t help but recognize Oliver Queen. But if I had seen you, I’m sure I would have recognized you too,” she said, trying to keep a casual tone.
“Oh, a little flattery, I like it. But we both know who you were really looking at. If you want, I can introduce you. I’m sure, after being alone for so long, Oliver would love to have such charming company. And who knows, the best friend might also have a chance,” Tommy replied, his tone unmistakably suggestive.
Mia had to suppress a shudder and wave of nausea when she realized what Tommy was implying. Oh god, had he really just said that?
“What? No, no, no!” Mia began, but she didn’t have time to be more horrified by the thought. Laurel had just arrived, walking toward them with a determined stride.
“How did you think this was going to go, Tommy?” she said aggressively to him, without even glancing at Mia before continuing on her way.
“Pretty much like that,” Tommy replied into the air, then turned back to Mia.
“Hey, listen, I’ve gotta go, but you know what, give me your phone. And take this card,” he said, pulling a business card from his pocket while grabbing Mia’s phone and typing in a number. Suddenly, Tommy’s phone rang.
“And there we go, now I’ve got your number. In a few days, we’re throwing a party to celebrate Oliver’s return. I’ll send you the details. You should come. I’m sure he’d be happy to see some friendly faces. Oh, looks like he’s leaving without me. Gotta go, bye Mia! See you soon,” Tommy said in one breath before rushing off to join Oliver, leaving Mia no time to respond.
Mia stared at the card in her hand for a moment. She was completely thrown. What had just happened?
Lian Yu, date unknown
Mia studied the two men before her, her mind in turmoil. Where—no, when—had she landed?
Slade Wilson. Yao Fei. These weren’t just names to her; they were pillars in her father’s story. If she interacted with them, if she changed even one small thing, she risked unraveling Oliver’s entire history on this island. Everything her father would become, everything he would accomplish, depended on these moments on Lian Yu. If she upset that balance…
Mia took a deep breath, forcing down the panic threatening to rise within her. She had to get away from them. Fast.
Slowly, she released her hold on Yao Fei. Free from her grip, he rolled to the side, catching his breath, while Slade Wilson eyed her warily, his sharp gaze assessing her every move. Mia could feel his stare—a killer’s gaze, cold and calculating, ready to react to the slightest hint of weakness. It was the early shadow of Deathstroke. A look that reminded her too much of JJ and Grant. For a split second, she could almost see a mask flash over Slade’s face, and her instincts screamed: danger.
Without wasting another second, Mia sprang to her feet.
“There’s no reason we need to be enemies,” she said, her voice almost trembling. She had to get out of this situation quickly. Slade started to reply, but she didn’t give him the chance. This was her moment. Without hesitation, she kicked up a spray of mud toward him, hoping the surprise would buy her a few seconds. She didn’t wait to see if it worked; she turned and dashed into the dense forest.
Branches whipped past her face as she ran, the wind rushing in her ears, her steps slipping on the mud-slicked ground as she sprinted. Every branch and fern that lashed against her skin grounded her in the cold reality of her situation: she had to get away, to put as much distance as possible between herself and those two men, and to avoid them at all costs. Mia ran until time felt irrelevant, the forest of Lian Yu stretching endlessly around her—thick, wild, and impenetrable. But she knew that if they didn’t give up the chase, they’d eventually find her. They knew this terrain better than she ever could. She had to outsmart them, to disappear into the island.
Lost in her thoughts and breathless, Mia didn’t see the slope ahead until it was too late. She stumbled and slipped down the incline, sliding several meters before grabbing onto a twisted root to stop her fall. She barely managed to catch hold of her bow as it slipped from her shoulder. Okay, this was far from ideal, but she couldn’t afford to waste any time. Moving swiftly, Mia swung herself from the root and managed to leap to a lower tree. She landed hard, grimacing at the impact, but she’d made it. After scrambling down as quickly as possible, she checked her surroundings. No sign of her pursuers. After ensuring she hadn’t left any obvious trail, Mia continued onward without looking back. Her entire body screamed from exhaustion and pain, but she couldn’t stop.
After what felt like an eternity, she risked a glance over her shoulder, squinting into the shadows. No sign of Slade or Yao Fei. Still nothing. A faint glimmer of hope sparked inside her. Maybe she’d managed to lose them.
Mia took a moment to catch her breath and collect her thoughts.
She was on Lian Yu. Slade Wilson was here. Yao Fei was here. Was her father here as well? No, she thought. If her memory was correct, Shado would also have been here if Oliver was present. But Mia couldn’t be sure. Gideon hadn’t covered the pre-Arrow years, but if her memory of her father’s stories from their time here was right, Yao Fei and Slade were no longer together when Oliver arrived. Oliver isn’t here. Not yet.
That thought struck her like a flash of Barry’s lightning. She’d arrived too early, way too early, and clearly in the wrong place. At this point in his life, her father was still a careless playboy, completely unaware of the harsh path that awaited him. Everything that was destined to happen on this island—the isolation, the suffering, all that she didn’t fully know—would eventually transform him into the man he’d become. If she interfered, even for a second, it could destroy everything.
Was it really such a bad thing if those events never happened? she wondered suddenly. She was tempted by the thought that she could save her father from all the agony he was about to endure. She could go to Starling City and ensure he never boarded the Queen’s Gambit, or she could wait here on the island and be there to help him. The idea was tempting.
No. She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t be selfish. Barry had sacrificed himself to give her this chance to save Earth and the Multiverse. And Green Arrow was essential during the Crisis. If she denied Earth one of its defenders, she might doom them all. Was that why Sara Lance had never come into her life before Mia’s first journey into the past? Was it because of the fear of making a choice so huge it would alter the fate of the world?
Mia had always admired Laurel Lance, the former Black Siren turned Black Canary, the defender of Star City. But now, a new admiration blossomed in Mia. She understood that what she’d always seen as weakness in the original Black Canary was actually strength. Because, right now, Mia was fighting with everything she had against herself. The temptation was overwhelming—to turn back, to find Slade, to hunt him down, to kill him, to keep him from turning Oliver into the man he would become.
But Oliver wasn’t just a man who’d suffered. He was a hero. A hero who’d inspired others. Yes, Mia Queen would have loved to have Oliver Queen in her life, to grow up with him, but Earth needed its Green Arrow. She couldn’t be selfish.
In the distance, she heard the snap of branches underfoot. Someone was close. She had to run. Every instinct rebelled against the idea. She wanted to fight, to take down Slade, to talk to Yao Fei, to use her knowledge of the future to her advantage. But she wasn’t here to rewrite history. At least, not this part.
Reluctantly, she started running again. After a long while, she reached a clearing, panting, her heart pounding like a drum. The dense forest around her felt oppressive, every bird’s call sounding like an alarm.
Mia tried to focus. Where was the sound coming from? High up in the trees. She used the concentration technique Nyssa had taught her, and slowly she realized there were no footsteps nearby. Exhausted, Mia knelt for a moment, closing her eyes to pull her thoughts together.
“What am I doing here? Why did I arrive so early? And how am I going to leave?” she asked herself.
Barry had sent her here to save her father, to save the world, but the brutal reality was sinking in. She couldn’t act—not yet. If she tried to intervene directly, she could destroy everything. There had to be a reason she was sent to this specific time… but what was it?
A sudden crack from the nearby bushes startled her. Her instincts took over, and in a flash, she was on her feet, ready to defend herself. But it wasn’t Slade or Yao Fei. A small animal darted out from the underbrush, scurrying into the shadows. She relaxed slightly, but she couldn’t afford to linger. She knew that if she stayed in the area, Slade and Yao Fei would never stop searching for her.
Where could she hide on this small island? Talia! She likely wasn’t here yet, but the old temple would be. Biting her lip, Mia stood, forcing herself past the fatigue weighing down her muscles. Keep moving. Always keep moving.
She began running again, plunging even deeper into the island’s heart. With every step, she tried to recall the maps and the stories her father had told her about Lian Yu, looking for landmarks that would lead her to the temple. This island wasn’t just a nightmare—it was a hunting ground. And Mia knew that right now, she was not the hunter. She was the prey.
Starling City, 2012
Mia stared at the card in her hand.
Tommy Merlyn.
Tommy was one of Mia’s prey, one of the people whose fate she intended to alter, and here he was, presenting himself to her, inviting her to the party celebrating Oliver Queen’s return. She didn't even need to hunt him.
Mia more or less knew what was going to happen at that party. At least, the major points that Gideon had provided. Time had erased some of the details, but Mia fully intended to attend—she had specific plans for the event. And now, her plan wasn't the same but she have a way in.
Her thoughts were interrupted once again. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Tommy and Oliver heading down a darker alley, where they had parked the car. Just behind them, she saw a van pull into the alley. This was the moment.
Notes:
Well, the chapter was write with the Oliver/Mia meeting in but with the reworke, well i got carried and the chapter was too long. So there is part one and part two should come end of next week at the very least.
Chapter 5: Episode 1 : Chapter 4
Summary:
There we are, first time Oliver and Mia gonna see and talk to each other.
Notes:
I make some change in the last chapter, nothing big, but if you want, you can reread the Lian Yu bits.
Warning: well like the tag said : Oliver and Mia are ruthless, if you don't want to see that, skip the last part in the usine.
Chapter Text
Starling City, 2012
Mia studied the card in her hand.
Tommy Merlyn.
Tommy was one of Mia’s targets, one of the people whose fate she intended to alter—and now, her target had practically walked up and handed her an invitation to Oliver Queen’s return party.
Mia knew more or less what would happen at this party. At least, the broad strokes she’d learned from Gideon. Time had erased the details, and even an AI as advanced as Gideon couldn’t know everything, but Mia planned to attend the party. She had precise objectives, and Tommy had just given her a way in.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Tommy and Oliver heading toward a dimly lit alley where they had parked the car. Right behind them, a black van pulled into the alley as well. This was the moment Mia had been waiting for. The Hood was about to make his first appearance in Starling City.
Tucking Tommy’s card safely into her pocket, Mia darted toward the alley, but she was a few seconds too late. The two men had already been hit with tranquilizers, and the kidnappers had killed a passerby.
“Damn,” Mia muttered. She’d let herself get too distracted and let the situation escalate. Focus, Mia. Focus, she reminded herself. She needed to keep her emotions in check. With no other choice, Mia took off after the van, still in her civilian clothes. Not ideal, but she wasn’t about to let her target slip away.
Ten minutes later, Mia silently thanked Roy for his rambling stories during too many late-night bar crawls. She never would have kept up with the van if she hadn’t known all the shortcuts in the area.
The kidnappers had taken Tommy and Oliver to an abandoned warehouse. Typical. Mia knew a frontal attack would be suicide. They outnumbered her, they were armed, and she wasn’t even in her gear. Left with no other option, she slipped up to the rooftop, found cover in the rafters, and observed the scene, waiting for the right moment to act.
Mia analyzed the setup. Tommy was bound on the ground, while Oliver was tied to a chair, his arms restrained behind him.
As if that would stop her father. Mia knew exactly what to expect. She was ready.
Time passed and Mia watch, worried. Theoretically, Oliver could get out of this on his own; he’d done it before. But that didn’t stop Mia from worrying. What if her presence had altered something? What if the kidnapping went sideways? What if Oliver turned against her the moment she appeared?
A plan formed in Mia’s mind. She would “rescue” Oliver and Tommy. First, she needed to shift around to let Oliver know someone was up there. Then, she’d intervene at the right time. Maybe, just maybe, it would help her earn a bit of Oliver’s trust.
“Mr. Queen! Did your father survive that accident?” one of the kidnappers demanded, his voice low and taunting.
Mia repositioned herself as silently as possible. She hoped Oliver wouldn’t hold back because of her. But it was a risk she had to take. Now positioned across from Oliver, hidden from the kidnappers’ view, behinf them, Mia waited for her moment.
“I ask the questions. You give the answers,” the same man’s voice echoed.
Mia knew Oliver wouldn’t stay idle for long, tied up as loosely as he was. She focused on his hands. Yes. Already, he’d dislocated his thumbs to slip his wrists free.
One of the kidnappers stepped closer and tasered Oliver. Mia winced at his pained cry. She knew firsthand how painful those jolts were, thanks for her little run with the Bratva in Russia with her father some many years ago. She glanced at the other men. No, she had to wait. They were too close, too alert, weapons at the ready. She needed the element of surprise, which her father would provide.
“Did he reach the island? Did he tell you anything?” the man asked, tasering Oliver again.
“Yes, he did,” Oliver finally replied.
That voice—this wasn’t Oliver Queen. That was the Arrow. Mia knew it was time. As she’d anticipated, Oliver’s hands were suddenly free, and the kidnapper made the mistake of stepping too close.
“What did he tell you, Mr. Queen?” the man asked.
“He told me I was going to kill you,” Oliver said, feigning captivity.
“You’re delusional. You’re handcuffed to that chair,” the man laughed.
“Not anymore,” Oliver replied, showing his freed hands before lunging into action.
This was it. Mia didn’t hesitate.
As Oliver used a chair leg to knock out the first assailant, the other three men drew their guns. Leaving Oliver to handle the two closest to him, Mia dropped down behind the other man, sweeping his legs out from under him. She caught a quick glance from Oliver, both of them acknowledging each other before refocusing on the threats at hand.
Reacting immediately, the man on the floor raised his weapon and fired. Mia barely rolled out of the way as bullets riddled the room, darting for cover behind some barrels. When he paused to reload, she sprang forward, disarming him and knocking him out with the butt of his own gun. Oliver had already dealt with the second assailant.
Taking advantage of the commotion, a fourth man bolted out of the warehouse. Mia and Oliver exchanged a glance, silently agreeing before they both took off in pursuit, each flanking him from opposite rooftops, closing in like hunters.
As they chased their target, Oliver found himself glancing at the young woman who had emerged from the shadows to fight alongside him. He’d noticed a figure on the rafters earlier and assumed it was another accomplice, possibly a sniper. He’d been surprised to see her not only join the fight but aid him directly. And now here she was, keeping pace with him on this high-speed pursuit, showing agility that left him both impressed and unsettled. Who was she? Why had she intervened? And what was she doing in Starling City?
Lost in thought, Oliver nearly missed a jump. Focus, Oliver, Focus, he reminded himself. These questions were important, but they could wait. For now, he zeroed in on the target, pushing himself faster. The man ducked into an old factory. Perfect.
Mia’s pace was starting to flag; the two men were faster than her, and even though she was more nimble through obstacles, she entered the factory a few seconds behind. By then, Oliver already had the man in a deadly headlock.
“Stop! Wait!” she yelled, rushing toward him.
Oliver snapped his gaze toward her, his expression tense and wary.
“Who are you? Why are you here? Why did you follow us?” he shouted, clearly irritated by her presence.
Of course, Oliver had just come back from Russia, Mia thought. This was likely one of the most paranoid phases of his life. She knew how the Bratva could do that to anyone.
Slowly, as non-threateningly as possible, Mia raised her hands, keeping them in plain view to avoid pushing Oliver into attacking her instead and maybe killing his prisoner for doing it.
“I promise I’ll answer all your questions, but we don’t have time. The police probably heard the gunshots and will be here any minute. Tommy will be waking up soon too,” she said calmly, stepping toward him cautiously.
“Stay where you are,” Oliver ordered.
Resigned, Mia took a step back, hands still raised. Oliver seemed to relax a fraction.
“What do you want?” he asked, his tone dark.
“Let me handle your prisoner. I’ll get the answers you need,” she offered, nodding toward the man in his grip.
“Even if that were a good idea, why would I trust you to do it?” Oliver shot back.
“I’m standing here in front of you, no mask, no hidden identity. You could easily tell the police I’m the one who took down the others in the warehouse, pinning the murders on me. Even giving them information about me, my face, my hair, my look. I trust you there, trust me to handle this part,” she replied, hoping to show him they were on the same side. Oliver seemed to consider her words.
“No one can know my secret. Not him. Not you,” Oliver warned.
“I understand. And I agree. I promise he won’t talk once I’m finished with him,” Mia replied evenly.
“And how do I know you won’t talk?” Oliver challenged.
Mia had only seconds to think of a convincing answer. The police would be here any moment, and everything could go south. She knew Oliver was cautious and isolated in his early days as the Kapuchon, but she hadn’t expected his distrust to run this deep. Taking a gamble, Mia reached for her pocket.
“What are you doing?” Oliver demanded sharply.
Raising her hands again, Mia said, “I’m taking something out of my pocket to show you. A reason to trust me.” Waiting for his nod, she slowly drew out a small, worn notebook.
Oliver froze. He recognized it immediately; it looked just like his father’s, though it was far more weathered.
“Where did you get that?” he asked, torn between anger and curiosity.
“It belonged to my father,” Mia said. It was close enough to the truth. This notebook was her inheritance.
“Who was your father? Where is he?” Oliver demanded, growing anxious. How many people knew about this notebook?
“Knowing who he was won’t help. He’s dead. He died years ago trying to right the wrongs he thought he’d done. This notebook is my legacy—my mission. And if my information is correct, it’s also yours,” Mia replied.
She knew she was bending the truth. The notebook wasn’t her entire mission. But she hoped Oliver would be curious enough to want to know more. The man Oliver held captive began to fidget, clearly anxious.
“We don’t have much time. Decide. Kill him or leave him to me,” Mia pressed.
Oliver glanced from the man to Mia, then sighed. With a swift, precise motion, he struck the man’s temple, knocking him unconscious. Without a word, he dropped him to the floor. Wasting no time, Mia quickly bound the man’s hands, then stood to face Oliver.
Oliver studied her. He’d seen how easily she’d kept pace with him across the rooftops, and how she’d taken down the other assailant in the warehouse. She wasn’t even fazed by his readiness to kill. Her stance, her movements—there was something familiar, yet he was sure he’d never seen her before.
She didn’t seem like a threat. At least, not to him. No, what she wanted, it seemed, was information. Oliver’s thoughts were interrupted as Mia spoke up.
“You should go to Tommy. He’ll have questions if you’re not there when he wakes up, and the cops could show up any minute,” Mia said, her gaze on the man sprawled on the ground.
“No. I want to hear what he has to say,” Oliver replied, his tone resolute.
“I promised I’d tell you everything he says,” Mia replied in the same tone, crossing her arms.
“And I don’t trust you,” Oliver countered, unconsciously mimicking her posture.
Mia sighed. In a battle of wills, she had a good idea who’d win. But they didn’t have time for that.
“Fine, but we need to be quick. And if we hear sirens, you’re out of here,” she conceded, shrugging. She’d let Oliver win this round.
He simply nodded.
( Trigger Warning)
Without another word, Mia pulled a knife from her pocket and stabbed it deeply into the man’s leg. He woke with a howl of pain.
“Ahh! Who the hell are you, you psycho?” he shouted, his eyes wide as he spotted the woman holding the knife and struggling against his restraints.
“ Like you said earlier, I’m the one asking questions. Who sent you to kidnap those two men?” Mia demanded, unbothered by his attempts to free himself.
Oliver took a step back, ready to intercept the prisoner if he somehow managed to break loose.
“Screw you, you crazy—! I’ll kill you!” the man spat at Mia, struggling harder.
“Wrong answer,” she replied calmly, twisting the knife in his wound.
“Ahh, stop-it your Bitch! Stop!” he cried.
Oliver watched, feeling a strange unease. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen worse just months ago. But there was something about this scene, something unsettling. I didn't know why, but something is telling him, he shoudn't see that.
“You know how to stop this. Maybe, I can make you ... a enuque? Last chance—who sent you?” Mia demanded.
She could feel Oliver’s gaze on her. He was judging her. What was he seeing? A monster? A mirror image? An ally? An enemy? Mia didn’t have time to care. Whatever Oliver’s opinion of her might be, the only thing that mattered was saving Earth—saving him, no matter the cost. She yanked the knife out of his leg and drove it into his hand.
Oliver stepped forward instinctively, unsure why. Suddenly, Anatoly’s words from months ago echoed in his mind: One day, you’re going to see what lies beneath theis Kapuchon, and you won’t like what you find. Was Anatoly right? All he knew was that he didn’t like what he was seeing now. This young woman, about his own age, torturing a man. It shouldn’t be happening; it made him uneasy. But why?
“Marcus Jackar. It was Marcus Jackar. That’s all I know!” the man finally blurted out.
“Thank you,” she said with a dark smile, then swiftly snapped his neck.
(End of warning)
Oliver flinched as the body slumped to the ground, paralyzed with shock. What had just happened?
“As you can see, I kept my promise. He won’t reveal your secret. When the police ask, tell them Blackstar took down the three assailants. And if you could keep the physical description vague, I’d appreciate it. But under no circumstances—absolutely none—should you mention the Hood. We’ll meet again soon, Oliver.”
Oliver snapped out of his daze. How did she know about the hood?
“What—?” he started, but she was already gone.
“So, that’s the story. Blackstar showed up and took down all four attackers. Why would she do that? And what business does she have in Starling City?” Detective Quentin Lance asked.
Sitting on the couch, Oliver could only shrug and answer, “I don’t know. Find her, and you can ask her yourself.”
“Yeah, right. And you? You get a look at Blackstar? Anything to describe?” Lance pressed, turning to Tommy.
“I saw… movement, mostly. It was all a blur. I was still pretty out of it,” Tommy replied hesitantly.
“Funny, isn’t it? Back in town one day, and already you’ve got people hunting you down. Popular, aren’t you?” Detective Lance said with a dry smirk.
“Were you able to identify the men?” Moira interjected, trying to redirect the conversation.
“Wiped IDs, untraceable weapons. They were pros,” replied Detective Hilton.
“And this woman?” Moira asked, clearly nervous. Oliver noticed her tension but didn’t think much of it. After all, she had no idea what Oliver was capable of, and she must have been rattled after nearly losing her son just a day after he returned.
“We’ve reached out to Gotham PD. Detective Gordon, who’s handling vigilante cases there, confirmed Blackstar hasn’t been seen in Gotham for days. She vanished after leaving a hell of a mess behind,” Hilton responded.
“What do you mean?” Oliver asked, intrigued and eager to learn more about the young woman.
“She and her friends have been playing vigilante for some time now. Usually, they don’t interfere much in Gotham’s affairs, that's the big Bat territory, but three days ago, they tried to intercept three men. All of them ended up dead. Two by arrows, one with a broken neck,” said Detective Lance, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Oh my god. She could have…” Moira began, but Quentin, satisfied with his dramatic effect, continued for her.
“Could have killed those two as well? Taken them for ransom? Worse? Without a doubt. After all, a parent would do anything to protect their child,” Quentin replied, his tone making it clear he wouldn’t have shed a tear if that had happened to the Queen family.
“I don’t appreciate your tone, Detective,” Moira responded, clearly annoyed.
Sensing that tensions were about to escalate, Walter took charge of the situation.
“If Oliver remembers anything else, he’ll let you know. Thank you, gentlemen, for coming,” Walter said, guiding the officers toward the door.
Watching closely, Oliver caught the look Tommy gave him. Tommy had been fully conscious when Oliver returned to him in the warehouse. He knew Oliver hadn’t told the full story. But why hadn’t he contradicted him? And that bit about arrows… something didn’t add up. It was settled. Oliver needed to find Blackstar.
Chapter 6: Episode 1 : Chapter 5
Summary:
So, we gonna have a glitch of Bruce and Mia daughter/father relationship, Yao Fen gonna need some help and a big meeting between Mia and her actual father.
You know what we said : Take one to see one.Good read and thank for the comment
Chapter Text
"My name is Mia Queen. After being catapulted into the past, I spent several years navigating that world before finally returning to Starling City with one goal: to save the Earth. But I’ve realized there’s another goal. To save my father. To do that, I’ll have to push beyond my limits. I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar."
Lian Yu, Date Unknown
The soft crackle of a fire echoed through the stillness, its glow flickering against the stone walls of the ancient temple. Mia had found temporary refuge here, in the heart of the island. Though it appeared abandoned, signs of relatively recent use were scattered about—likely by one of the Al Ghul sisters or another associate of the League of Assassins. Mia had no other choice.
She had spent days evading Slade Wilson, Yao Fei, and the other unexpected inhabitants of the island. For a place once thought to be desolate, Lian Yu—Purgatory—was alarmingly populated.
Was the Devil here too? The thought triggered a flashback to the enigmatic man she’d once encountered with Diggle and Constantine. She couldn’t suppress a brief, humorless laugh. No, there was no chance, well in hell, that Lucifer Morningstar had taken up residence on this island.
Mia knew she was starting to lose it—alone, freezing, stranded out of time on an island with no clear way of escape.
She forced herself to focus. Her hands moved steadily as she crafted arrows with painstaking care. After countless failed attempts, she’d finally figured out the right technique to shape the wood, balancing the shafts for accuracy. She had improvised arrowheads from sharpened stone fragments, fashioning a rudimentary but functional arsenal. The bow Barry had given her before her departure had proven invaluable.
Lost in her task, Mia paid close attention to every detail: the weight, the balance, the alignment. Her breathing was slow and steady as she whittled the shaft of a new arrow. The process had become meditative, giving her a sense of purpose amidst the chaos.
Then the silence shattered.
A branch snapped near the temple entrance—a sound so faint, it might have gone unnoticed by less trained ears. But Mia froze, her senses immediately on high alert. Her eyes darted toward the doorway as her hand reached instinctively for her bow. She moved silently toward the sound, her steps light and deliberate, the string of her bow already taut with an arrow notched.
Peering out from the shadows, she scanned the area. Movement. An outline, shifting through the faint moonlight, about twenty meters away.
Mia didn’t hesitate. She kept her arrow aimed, creeping closer until the figure became clear. Her heart skipped a beat as recognition set in.
Yao Fei.
Conflicted, Mia hesitated. She considered retreating—he hadn’t seen her yet. But as she squinted at him through the darkness, something about his posture caught her attention. His movements were slow and labored. He wasn’t just exhausted—he was injured. Blood streaked down his torn clothing, and his breathing was shallow and uneven.
Then she heard them: distant voices growing louder. Men. Pursuers.
In that instant, Mia made her decision. Pushing her doubts aside, she lowered her bow and moved toward Yao Fei. She reached him quickly, slipping an arm under his to support him before he could fall. He tried to protest, but his strength was waning fast.
“Not a word,” she whispered sharply, her eyes darting toward the encroaching voices. There was no time to waste—they had to hide.
The footsteps grew louder, closing in. But Mia knew the temple. She’d explored its hidden alcoves and crumbling passageways. Dragging Yao Fei behind her, she led him inside, finding cover behind a cluster of weathered columns. She eased him to the ground, quickly assessing his condition. Blood soaked his left sleeve—a gunshot wound. Mia grimaced.
“The bullet’s out. It’s messy, but not fatal,” she muttered, grabbing her water flask to clean the wound.
Yao Fei groaned, his jaw clenched against the pain. “Thank you,” he rasped, his voice rough but sincere.
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so now you speak English. Good for you. But now’s not the time for gratitude,” she shot back, tearing a strip of fabric from her shirt to wrap the wound. Her movements were quick but efficient, the bandage holding firm as she tied it in place.
They sat in silence, listening intently. The voices outside were hesitant, reluctant to enter the temple. Mia strained her ears, tracking the sound of footsteps. Slowly, they began to fade. Their pursuers were retreating.
Letting out a slow breath, Mia turned her gaze to Yao Fei. Her voice was calm but demanding.
“Who are they? And why were they after you?”
Starling City, 2012
The crisp night air of Starling City bit sharply against Mia’s skin, but all she felt was the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Around her, four armed men moved with purpose, their determination clear—they thought they could stop her. Mia laughed. They had no idea who they were dealing with.
The first man lunged, his rifle raised, trying to take aim. Mia moved faster than his reflexes could manage. In one fluid motion, she ducked low, spinning on her heel, and drove her foot into his wrist. The weapon flew from his grasp, and her momentum carried her upward as her heel crashed into his knee. He staggered, and before he hit the ground, Mia struck his temple with her elbow, rendering him unconscious.
The second man wasted no time, charging her with his weapon drawn, hoping brute force would overwhelm her. She anticipated the move. Leaping into the air, her feet found purchase on a nearby wall, using the momentum to launch a kick that cracked into his jaw. The dull thud of bone on bone echoed, and as he faltered, she grabbed his arm, twisting it sharply until his weapon clattered to the ground. A swift blow to his neck dropped him beside his partner, unconscious on the asphalt.
Without hesitation, Mia rolled to the side and sprang to her feet, already facing the third man. He’d seen enough to realize her speed and skill were beyond him. His eyes widened as he raised his pistol, desperate to get a shot off. But Mia was faster. Her arrow flew in the blink of an eye, striking the barrel of his gun and deflecting his shot wide.
She closed the distance before he could react, grabbing his arm and wrenching it with brutal efficiency. A punch to his gut forced the air from his lungs, and a final blow to his temple left him crumpled on the ground.
One left.
The last man’s hands trembled as he looked between Mia and his fallen comrades. He raised his weapon, firing wildly. Mia darted behind cover, waiting patiently as his shots rang out, each one missing its mark. When the telltale click of an empty magazine echoed, she didn’t waste a second. Another arrow flew, this time embedding itself in his hand, forcing him to drop the gun with a scream.
Mia was on him in an instant. A knee to the abdomen doubled him over, and she grabbed him by the throat, driving him backward until his body slammed into the wall. With her forearm pressing against his windpipe, she ensured he couldn’t move. Her other hand raised an arrow, aimed at the soft flesh of his throat.
“Who ordered the abduction of Oliver Queen? Talk!” Her voice was low, deadly, carrying the promise of violence.
The man—Marcus—hesitated, his terror evident.
“I... I don’t know,” he stammered, his voice shaking.
Mia’s grip on the arrow tightened. She pressed it just enough to draw a bead of blood from his neck.
“Wrong answer,” she growled, her piercing gaze locked on his.
“You’d better start talking, or your night’s about to get a lot worse. I’ll ask one more time. Who are you working for, Marcus?”
He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around in panic, seeking a way out.
“I swear! I... I don’t know who he is!” He raised his hands in surrender.
“He hides his face. Always wears some kind of suit. We’ve never seen him without it.”
Mia’s expression didn’t soften. Her voice turned colder.
“Describe him.”
“I... I don’t know much...” Marcus hesitated, trembling as he tried to piece together fragments of memory.
“He’s always in black... with a hood. And... and he carries a bow. Like you.”
Mia’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t need any more information. A hooded archer, dressed in black—there was only one man in Starling City who fit that description.
Malcolm Merlyn.
She closed her eyes briefly, forcing herself to focus. Her mind raced, but she knew her next steps. Marcus was no longer useful. Without a word, Mia released him. As he slid to the ground in a daze, she gripped her bow and swung the edge of it hard against his temple, knocking him out cold.
Taking a deep breath, Mia stood and slung her bow across her back. She knelt briefly to check the small recorder tucked into her belt, ensuring it had captured their conversation. She remember Williams and how he showed her how to use that at the time. She allowed herself a faint smile.
“Thanks, Williams,” she muttered before slipping the device into her pocket.
She glanced at Marcus’s unconscious form sprawled across the ground, then turned toward the shadows. She had what she needed. The recording would serve its purpose, a warning for Oliver. If she was lucky, it might make him more cautious during his nightly crusades.
But in her gut, she knew her presence in this timeline could provoke Merlyn to escalate his attacks. Oliver wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. She had to prepare him for what was coming.
With one last glance at the scene, Mia disappeared into the night. The mission was far from over, but tonight had been productive.
Starling City, 2012
Quietly unbuckling his seatbelt and slipping out of the car without making a sound had been tricky, but avoiding his bodyguard was a necessity. He knew his mother meant well, but Diggle’s presence was a risk to his mission.
The day before, he’d also dodged an uncomfortable conversation with Tommy, redirecting his attention to the upcoming party after the police visit. But Oliver knew he couldn’t avoid these confrontations forever.
For now, though, he pressed forward. Walking through the city with purpose, head down, he carried two heavy bags filled with supplies and gear he had stashed nearby the night before. At least his sleepless night had been productive.
Reaching a tall, rusted chain-link fence, he tossed the bags over with ease and grabbed onto the metal. Climbing swiftly, he landed on the other side with practiced agility.
In front of him loomed the abandoned Queen Consolidated factory, its decrepit walls and shattered windows a stark reminder of the city’s decay. It stood as a relic of a better time for Starling City—now a symbol of the Glades’ decline.
Oliver’s heart pounded as he approached the hidden entrance he had uncovered the previous night. The building, neglected and forgotten, would serve as his headquarters—a place to plan his crusade against those who had failed this city.
But as he stepped inside, something made him pause.
A feeling.
Years of survival since Lian Yu had sharpened his instincts, and they screamed now: he wasn’t alone.
His eyes swept the shadowed interior of the factory, searching for movement, a sound—anything. And then, he saw her.
A figure leaned casually against one of the building’s old columns, her posture relaxed, almost as if she’d been waiting for him. A young woman, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, dressed in dark, practical clothes that blended into the shadows. On her back was a bow.
The woman from the kidnapping. Blackstar.
Oliver froze, narrowing his eyes as he analyzed her. He didn’t know who she was, but he knew one thing: she wasn’t just anyone. Her actions the previous night had proved that.
“Blackstar,” he growled, his tone sharp with distrust. “Hands where I can see them.” His voice was calm but commanding, his body tense as he prepared for an attack but with a bit of curiosity about how she can be there and why.
Mia didn’t move immediately. She studied him, her gaze assessing his every movement, his posture, his demeanor. She knew this man better than he realized, and now, she can see than he is half defensif, half curious.
She sighed lightly, straightening from the column with a deliberate slowness. Her voice, when she spoke, was calm but resolute.
“Mia,” she said simply, breaking the silence.
Oliver’s brows furrowed, suspicion flaring in his eyes.
“What?”
“Mia,” she repeated, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
“That’s my name.”
The admission caught Oliver off guard. Why offer her name so freely without something in return? Perhaps it was a fake name, but something told him it wasn’t. He held her gaze for a long moment, weighing her words. She didn’t seem hostile—at least not right now. Maybe it's was just what it's seem? A peace offering?
With a measured breath, Oliver relaxed his stance slightly, lowering his guard just enough to drop the bags he’d been carrying. But his eyes never left hers.
“How did you know I’d be here?” he asked, his tone still wary but now laced with curiosity.
Mia stepped away from the column, her movements deliberate but unthreatening. Her gaze wandered over the abandoned factory, as if taking in every detail before returning to him.
“I know a lot about you, Oliver,” she said quietly, her voice steady, her eyes meeting his. “More than you think.”
No need to hide that from him. Now or later, Mia gonna make a mistake. Telling or knowing something she's not supposed to know. Better have that cover now.
Her words hung in the air, deliberate and unsettling. Oliver’s instincts screamed at him that she was hiding something—something big, but he can't say what.
If she want to play game, they can be two to play, so Oliver decided to enter the game.
“Funny,” Oliver replied, his tone cold but calculated. “I’ve learned a few things about you, too.”
Mia arched a brow, intrigued.
“Oh? Like what?”
Oliver let the question linger in the silence, watching her reaction carefully. Finally, he uttered two words:
“Gotham City.”
A small smile played on Mia’s lips. She knew exactly what he was referring to.
“Ah… Gotham,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “A charming city, really. Full of… animals.” There was a glimmer of mischief in her voice.
“But yes, I might have left a little trace of my time there.”
Oliver exhaled slowly, frustration evident in his expression. He’d hoped the mention of Gotham would throw her off balance, but it was clear she had expected him to dig into her past. She was an enigma—calculated, poised, and frustratingly elusive.
“What are you doing here, Mia?” he asked bluntly, cutting through the verbal chess match.
Mia’s smirk faltered for a brief moment, her expression darkening. That was the one million dollars question, isn't it. What was she doing here. Telling Oliver the truth, than she was her because Earth and all the univers gonna be destoyed in seven years and even after Earth will be a nightmare, so she came here to gain his trust to help him to save the universe, and himself in the same time, wasn't the answers than she can give Oliver. Focus, Mia, Focus.
Oliver, watching Mia like a Hawk, had see her posture shifted, becoming more guarded, more focused. She crossed her arms, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that matched his own.
“I’m here to give you intel on Marcus Jakar,” she said finally, her voice calm but firm. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small recorder and tossed it to him.
Oliver caught it reflexively, his eyes narrowing as he examined the device. He hadn’t yet had the chance to gather much on Jakar himself, still too consumed with establishing his base and tracking his own leads about Adam Hunt and .. well her. Her sudden offering surprised him.
“You already have information on him?” he asked, skepticism lacing his voice.
Mia shrugged, her expression one of feigned nonchalance.
“I didn’t have anything better to do last night.”
Her sarcasm brushed against his patience, but Oliver focused on the recorder in his hand. He had to admit—this woman was thorough. Still, there was a question that gnawed at him, one he couldn’t ignore.
“Are the people you ‘interrogated’ still alive?”
The question hung between them, sharp and accusing. Mia’s face hardened, her posture stiffening as if he’d struck a nerve. Than one hurt like hell. Him, from all the people, him judging her for that? Yes, that hurt bad, really bad. Her jaw tightened, and she looked at him, her eyes flashing with anger.
“Are you seriously judging me, Oliver Queen?” she snapped, her tone cutting. “Because if you are, that’s pretty hypocritical, don’t you think?”
Oliver see the change in Mia. The brief hurt before the righness. She didn't want a respond to her question, she wanted a fight and he didn’t rise to her bait, keeping his gaze steady.
“I know about the three men you killed in Gotham.”
This time, Mia’s mask slipped for a longest moments, her expression tightening with a flicker of regret. She broke eye contact, her voice softer but no less firm when she responded.
“It was… a mistake,” she admitted reluctantly, her tone genuine but tinged with frustration.
Oliver didn’t let it go. “A mistake?”
Mia took a deep breath, holding his gaze once more. Her voice was quieter now, but it carried the weight of her past decisions.
“I didn’t listen to my team. I didn’t trust them. And I paid the price for it.”
"This kind of crusade... it can't be fought alone."
Her words carried weight, spoken as much for herself as for Oliver. The statement seemed to strike a nerve, and he studied her for a moment, trying to decipher the deeper meaning behind her comment.
"Is that a hidden message?" he asked, his tone almost defiant, eyes narrowing.
Mia couldn’t suppress a faint smirk, tilting her head slightly, amused.
"I'm just saying, being alone means making mistakes. What do you think?" she replied, her tone teasing but pointed.
Oliver exhaled sharply, his patience waning. The conversation was veering into territory far more personal than he was prepared to admit.
"I prefer working alone," he finally declared, his voice laced with bitterness. It was a truth he'd accepted before returning to Starling City—more so after his abduction and everything that followed with Tommy. His mission was something he’d resolved to handle on his own. Solitude was his shield, his way of protecting those he cared about. But this Mia…
Mia raised an eyebrow, a faintly sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. The situation was far from ideal, and the conversation had taken an unexpected turn, but the opening was there. She wasn’t about to waste it.
"So… does that mean you’re not interested in my intel on Marcus Jakar? I can take the recording back if you’d like."
Oliver clenched his jaw, gripping the recorder in his hand a little tighter. He was tempted to refuse, to toss it back and walk away. But deep down, he knew he needed the information. No matter how enigmatic Mia was, no matter how infuriatingly cryptic her remarks, she had something valuable.
With a resigned sigh, he relented.
"Yes... I’m interested," he admitted, crossing his arms at last. "What do you know about Marcus Jakar?"
Mia straightened slightly, her expression growing serious. She uncrossed her arms and took a step closer to Oliver, closing the distance between them.
"I interrogated Marcus," she began, her voice firm yet measured. "It’s all on there if you don’t believe me. Long story short, he said he doesn’t know much. The person he works for always wears black—a hood, a mask. Keeps his face hidden. And he’s got a bow and knows how to use it."
Oliver froze. His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing, his mind racing. Another archer in Starling City? This was bad—very bad. Then again, maybe not the only other one, his gaze falling momentarily to the bow slung across Mia’s back. His jaw tightened, betraying his concern.
"Another archer... here, in Starling City?" he murmured, almost to himself, trying to piece together the implications for his newly begun mission.
Mia nodded curtly but held back, silent for a beat. She knew exactly who this archer was—Malcolm Merlyn. But she also knew that dropping his name without hard evidence would only make Oliver skeptical. He wouldn’t trust her—not yet. Not after just meeting her. Not without more proof.
Clenching her jaw, she suppressed the urge to blurt it all out or take an arrow to Merlyn’s chest herself. Not that her aunt Thea would appreciate that—Mia didn’t need to add that to the timeline mess. And if Oliver found out who Merlyn really was, it could spiral out of control. He’d confront Malcolm, maybe even get himself killed. No, it wasn’t time.
"Apparently, yes," she said simply.
Hoping to shift the focus, Mia glanced around the dilapidated space. She took in the cracked walls, the broken windows, and the industrial remains scattered throughout the abandoned factory.
"So... is this where you’re planning to set up your lair?" she asked, arching an eyebrow, her tone tinged with sarcasm.
"Doesn’t exactly scream operational headquarters... I’ve seen better. Hope you’re planning to set aside space for a kettle, i need my thea." She almost laughed. Alfred would have a stroke if he saw this place.
Oliver turned toward her, intrigued by her tone. His arms crossed as he studied her, curiosity flickering beneath his guarded expression.
"Seen better?" he repeated, a faint edge of interest slipping into his voice. "Been to a lot of hideouts, have you?"
Gotcha. Mia’s smirk deepened slightly. She could tell she’d sparked his curiosity, at least for now. She pushed off the pillar she’d been leaning on and wandered casually through the space, her fingers trailing lightly over a dust-covered table as her eyes swept the cracked ceiling above.
"A few. I’ve seen... some pretty impressive setups. But if it helps, I’ve also seen worse," she said, her tone deliberately nonchalant, though the playful smile on her lips betrayed her.
Oliver remained silent, his gaze tracking her every move. He didn’t trust her—how could he?—but he couldn’t deny his curiosity. Who was she, really? And how much did she know?
Finally, conceding that she had the upper hand, he gave in with a faint sigh.
"Alright," he said, stepping closer. "You win this round. I’ll bite. Where, exactly?"
Mia turned slowly, her expression playful but poised. Crossing her arms once again, she leaned back slightly as though savoring the moment before delivering her answer. Her words were deliberate, calculated.
"The Titans Tower. And the Batcave, among others," she said as if she’d just mentioned the corner café.
She could have added your future hideout, STAR Labs, and a dozen other places, but not now. Not yet.
Oliver barked a laugh. Not a mocking or sarcastic laugh, but genuine disbelief. She had to be joking.
But as he looked closer, his smile faded. Her expression hadn’t changed. There was no trace of humor in her face. She wasn’t joking.
"Wait..." he began, his voice losing its earlier mirth. "You’re serious?"
Mia nodded, a grin teasing her lips.
"Completely."
Gotham City, Early 2012
"If you keep using the same codename, he’ll quickly connect you to Gotham. From what you’ve told me, your father wasn’t exactly stupid, Mia," Bruce said, his ever-present tone of judgment sharp as ever.
"I know, Bruce, but I don’t want to change my name—at least not more than I already have," Mia replied, pacing back and forth in the Batcave.
"Hmm," was Bruce's only response.
Mia let out a loud sigh she couldn’t hold back. It was always like this with Bruce. You’d give a long-winded explanation, and he’d respond with a single, dismissive hmm, as if you were an imbecile compared to the great detective. Thankfully, her time spent with her father during her trip to the past had given her some training in dealing with non-communicative brooding types. Otherwise, she might’ve thrown caution to the wind and tried to shake some sense into the grim billionaire, regardless of the bruises she’d earn for her trouble.
"You know," Mia blurted out, finally losing patience, "for someone who judges Oliver so harshly, you’re a lot like him in a bunch of ways!"
She could tolerate the brooding and the cryptic one-liners, but even she had her limits.
"You’re right. Tell him," Bruce said flatly.
"What?" Mia replied dumbly, caught off guard and completely lost as to where Bruce’s mind had gone.
"Tell him. Tell him you know me. Tell him Batman exist. Tell him about Gotham," Bruce explained, his voice laced with that familiar exasperation, as if he were stating something obvious.
"Huh? Why? Wait, Bruce, where are you going?" Mia asked, spinning around to see Bruce—no, Batman—heading toward the Batmobile.
"Poison Ivy’s making headlines. I’m going to see what she’s up to. And this way, when I meet your father someday, I won’t have to introduce myself before I kick his ass," Bruce replied, his predatory grin audible in his voice, even if his mask hid it from view.
Before Mia could say anything, Batman was already in the Batmobile, speeding off into the night.
Fitting into the lives of millionaire vigilantes was exhausting sometimes.
Chapter 7: Episode 1 : Chapter 6
Summary:
In this chapter, we focus heavly on present time. Mia start her journey as Blackstar in Starling City just before Oliver as the Arrow.
Oliver and Mia finish there talk and we gonna see the start of a .. partnership
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"My name is Mia Queen. After being catapulted into the past, I spent several years before returning to Starling City with one goal:
saving the Earth. But I’ve realized I have a second goal. Saving my father. To save him, I’ll have to go beyond my limits. I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar."
Starling City, 2012
The silence in what would one day become the Arrow team's lair was palpable. Oliver was still processing the revelation. He could have asked a thousand questions, demanded proof or details, but deep down, he didn’t need any. What she said felt true. He had seen enough in the news to suspect that Batman might be more than an urban legend. Though, if Oliver was honest, he’d have preferred if it weren’t true.
How could anyone trust someone who hid behind a mask like that? Was it really about justice, or was it just an outlet for violence under the guise of heroism?
Oliver wasn’t naïve. He knew that the crusade he was about to embark on was his own way of channeling his latent violence into something productive for his city. But did Batman share the same code? And what about Mia?
One question burned on his tongue, and before he could stop himself, it escaped, almost involuntarily:
"You know who’s under the mask, don’t you?"
Mia didn’t look away. She didn’t answer immediately, but her silence spoke volumes for Oliver. She knew. Slowly, she nodded in confirmation.
What are you gonna to do about it dad? she ask herself. Are you gonna ask me to tell you? Don't make me lie to you for Bruce.
Against all expectations, Oliver didn’t press further. He didn’t need to know. Not yet, at least. Mia seemed sincere since the start of this conversation, and Oliver could only assume she’d made a promise to Batman to no tell.
Still, another thought clawed its way to the forefront of his mind. Narrowing his eyes, Oliver studied Mia carefully. Did she know so much about him because of Batman? Or had she told him about Oliver? Did she betrayed him before even him knowing of her?
"Does Batman… know about me?" Oliver asked, his voice tight, barely concealing his irritation.
Mia nodded calmly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and no some eart shaking new for him.
"Yes, he knows."
Oliver froze in place, his arms dropping to his sides. His expression hardened as the weight of the revelation sank in. His anger spiked, and he stepped toward her, his voice sharper now.
"You told Batman about me? You—" he growled more than asked.
But before he could finish, Mia raised a hand to cut him off, meeting his gaze with a firm resolve.
"No," she snapped back. "I wasn’t the one who told him about you first."
Oliver’s frown deepened, irritation and paranoia intertwining. Who else could have said something? The number of people aware of his plans was incredibly small, which left little room for speculation.
"Then who? Who told Batman about me?"
Mia let out an annoyed sigh, rolling her eyes. How could Oliver not recognize the patterns and methods of Bruce? It was so obvious they had a shared foundation of training.
"One of our… mutual acquaintances," she said, deliberately vague, the ambiguity only fueling Oliver’s frustration.
Straightening up, his nerves fraying, he muttered,
"Mia, I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop dancing around every question I ask if you really want us to be .. allies."
Mia studied him. He was so different from the father she had known. Where the older Oliver she remembered had been calculated and deliberate, this Oliver was raw and volatile. It was unsettling. He really would trow away a allies before even really knowing them.
Shrugging in mock surrender, she decided to put him out of his misery.
"No need to get so worked up," she admitted, her tone casual before locking her gaze onto his. "It was Talia al Ghul who told Batman about you."
Oliver froze. The moment Talia’s name left Mia’s lips, a wave of silent panic coursed through him. He averted his gaze as his thoughts spiraled. Talia knew. Mia knew. And now, Batman knew.
"What the hell?" he whispered, his voice barely audible under the weight of rising anxiety. "You… you all know about my connection to Talia?"
He took a step back, his hands trembling slightly, hidden beneath the sleeves of his jacket. That was bad. Really bad. His mind was clouded, tangled in an onslaught of doubt. What if they knew all? Did she know about Russia, Japon? All the stuff? Was his crusade doomed before it even had a chance to begin? If Batman, Talia, and Mia knew, how long before everyone else discovered his true identity?
"Am I going to be unmasked before I even have the chance to fight for Starling City?" he murmured, almost to himself, his doubts crashing over him like a tidal wave.
Mia observed her father, her sharp eyes noticing the anxiety that had begun to take hold of him. There ! She had see this before ! In Russia. The fear of the other knowing what you are doing or going to do. For the first time, she realized just how deeply he feared losing what he was trying to build here. But she couldn’t let him spiral into paranoia.
"Oliver," she said gently, taking a step closer to pull his attention back to her. "Talia isn’t around, if that’s what you’re worried about. She has nothing to do with what’s happening here. And she didn't much."
Oliver turned to look at her, his eyes still clouded with uncertainty.
"But she and Batman were close for a while," Mia continued, her voice steady as she tried to ease his growing fears. "Talia’s father, Ra’s al Ghul, trained Batman. the familly story is quite messy but in short, her father want Batman to replace him. Talila, all she told Batman was that she had another promising student. Someone she thought might surpass him. That’s it. Batman put the pieces together and figured out who it was. He just made the connection. Talia didn't even tell him your name. She had talk to him about your list, but it's was me than show him my list before and that make him connect all of that together. "
Gotham, 2008
"So, it's why you are, now in Gotham?" ask Batman, his voice deep and menacing
"No, I swear, i didn't want to take Robin away from you" respond Blackstar, deeply affraided.
"Don't try to lie to me!" said Batman
"I don't lie, i promise. Look, i can't tell you how I ended here, but i can show you why" said Blackstar, going into her backpocket.
"What are you doing" said Batman, advencing of her.
"Here. Look" she said, trowing him a little book.
Blackstar can't see the look of surprise that his face take, but she ear it in his voice when he said
"I know this symbole"
Starling City, 2012
Oliver lowered his head slightly, taking a deep breath in an effort to steady himself, though his thoughts remained in turmoil. The weight of this revelation unsettled him more than he wanted to admit. And who is this guy capable fo connecting the dots so easly?
"So," he said finally, his gaze fixed on the floor, "if a vigilante suddenly appeared in Starling City right after my return… Batman would connect me to that vigilante." It wasn’t a question, but a cold, calculated statement.
Mia nodded solemnly, her tone measured. "It’s likely, yes. If you start patrolling the streets wearing a green hood, it won’t take long for him to figure it out. And he won’t hesitate to do so."
Oliver gritted his teeth, trying to keep his composure. "And then what? He could expose me?"
Mia shook her head firmly, her eyes locking onto his with quiet confidence.
"No," she said with conviction. "He won’t say a word."
Oliver furrowed his brow, skepticism written all over his face. "How can you be so sure?"
A small smirk tugged at Mia’s lips. "Because I know who Batman is."
Oliver crossed his arms, incredulous, his gaze unwavering as it bore into hers. The situation felt like it was slipping further out of his control.
"And what then?" he asked with a bitter laugh, tinged with disbelief. "If Batman decided to reveal my identity, would you tell the world who he is?"
Mia nodded without hesitation, her expression unwavering. "Yes."
Oliver blinked, momentarily stunned by her unflinching response. She hadn’t hesitated—not even for a second. No doubt, no uncertainty. Just pure, steady resolve.
"Without a second thought?" he pressed, clearly unsettled by her certainty.
"Without a single moment’s hesitation," she replied, her voice calm and deliberate.
Oliver stood in silence for a beat, his mind racing. This kind of promise seemed reckless—dangerous, even. Why would she risk betraying one of the most tightly guarded secrets in the world for him? And how could she be so at ease with the decision?
"Why?" he finally asked, his tone serious, almost wary. "Why would you do that?"
Mia held his gaze, her expression resolute and unyielding. For a fleeting moment, Oliver thought he saw a flicker of pain in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, hidden beneath her steely exterior.
"I have my reasons," she said, her voice lowering, becoming softer, more intimate.
Oliver opened his mouth, ready to push further, to demand answers. But before he could speak, Mia raised a hand to stop him.
"Oliver," she said firmly, "we all have secrets. Things we don’t want to talk about. Things we can’t talk about."
Oliver frowned, his instinctive distrust surfacing once more. He didn’t like being left in the dark, especially by someone who seemed to know so much about him. But he simply stared at Mia, letting her continue.
“If I’m not giving you my reasons now,” she resumed, her voice steady and deliberate, “it’s because it’s not the right time yet. The right moment will come, but not now.”
Her words were measured, controlled. She wasn’t holding back out of selfishness or reluctance—it was something deeper. Oliver recognized that feeling, the need to keep certain truths to oneself until they could be revealed without causing irreparable damage. He had felt it himself, many times before.
Oliver exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to push further. “And when exactly will this ‘right moment’ be? One day, will I actually know your reasons?”
Mia met his gaze with an intensity that was almost disarming. “I’ll tell you everything one day, I promise. But you’re not ready to hear it yet.”
The certainty in her voice, so calm and sincere, forced Oliver to pause. She spoke with the conviction of someone who had seen and endured things difficult to explain. He recognized that guarded tone, that careful distance. He had been there himself.
He took a deep breath, a strange mixture of frustration and reluctant understanding settling over him. Perhaps, like him, Mia was trying to protect a truth until the moment was right to reveal it.
“Sometimes,” he said quietly, almost as if talking to himself, “the truth has to wait for the right moment.”
Mia gave a slight nod, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Exactly.”
Oliver looked at her in silence for a few seconds. For the first time in what felt like ages, he sensed he was with someone who genuinely understood him—not partially, like Anatoly or Talia, but completely. Mia seemed tough, confident, and unyielding, yet there was a vulnerability beneath her exterior that mirrored his own. He didn’t know much about her, but he could feel the beginnings of trust forming between them.
As he studied her, Oliver felt a strange certainty stirring within him. He couldn’t explain it, but something deep inside told him that Mia wasn’t a threat. Not to him.
“I don’t know why,” he said slowly, weighing every word, “but… my gut tells me I can trust you.”
Mia froze. For a moment, she seemed unsure how to respond. Her eyes glistened slightly, betraying a flicker of emotion she hadn’t intended to show. She lowered her gaze briefly, as if trying to compose herself, a single tear threatening to spill.
For Oliver, it was baffling. He had seen countless reactions to trust—loyalty, gratitude, relief—but never such raw vulnerability. Why did those simple words affect her so profoundly? He frowned, uneasy with her reaction, which he couldn’t understand.
Mia, meanwhile, felt her chest tighten. Those words, that small acknowledgment of trust from Oliver, were more than she had ever dared hope for. Growing up in his shadow, admiring him from a distance, she had wondered endlessly what he would think of her. Would he accept her? Reject her? Would he even recognize her as his daughter? And now, standing here with him, he was trusting her—without knowing who she truly was. It was overwhelming.
She blinked rapidly, forcing herself to rein in her emotions. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible. “Thank you.”
Oliver, caught off guard, looked at her with visible confusion. Why was she reacting like this? It was just a simple statement of trust. Yet Mia seemed deeply moved, as though his words had struck a chord she wasn’t ready to face.
He cleared his throat, trying to dispel the thick tension in the air. Emotions weren’t his strong suit, especially with strangers—or even with people he knew.
“Uh… yeah, well…” He waved a hand awkwardly. “Don’t mention it.”
Sensing his discomfort, Mia seized the chance to redirect their conversation. She wasn’t any more comfortable with this charged moment than he was. “Anyway,” she said, shifting to a more practical tone, “speaking of Marcus and this archer, we need to focus on the list too. And we’ll need a proper base of operations for all of it.”
Oliver latched onto the change of topic, grateful for the reprieve. “You’re right. I’m expecting a delivery later today,” he replied, already planning out the logistics in his head.
“And in the meantime?” Mia asked, curious about what he had in mind. Oliver always seemed to have a dozen plans brewing at once, and she wondered which one he’d prioritize.
He turned to her with a sly smile. “Have you ever knocked down a wall?”
Mia raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “Surprisingly, no. That’s not something I’ve done—at least, not without explosives.”
Oliver chuckled, the tension lifting slightly as he headed toward the supply bags they’d brought in. From one, he pulled out two large sledgehammers, holding one out toward Mia with a mischievous grin.
“Congratulations,” he said, his tone light. “Today, you get your first lesson in demolition.”
Lian Yu, Date Unknown
Yao Fei lay on a makeshift bed of leaves and wood. His wound appeared to be healing and scabbing over, but it was clear he was feverish. Mia didn’t know what else she could do to help the man. She only knew one thing—he couldn’t die. He was vital to her father’s survival.
Weakly, Yao Fei gestured for Mia to approach. She didn’t hesitate, stepping closer to him.
“Herbs,” he said in a faint voice.
“Herbs?” Mia repeated, confused by his request.
“Herbs. Heal,” he elaborated, his words slow but deliberate.
“Herbs? Yes, of course! Okay, I’ll try to find them. What do they look like?” she asked eagerly.
Yao Fei, moving slowly, began to describe the necessary plants and where Mia could find them.
And so, Mia received her first lesson in herbal medicine.
Starling City, 2012
Mia stood in the shadows, her eyes sharp as she watched her target. Her mission for the afternoon was twofold: delay the Undertaking by intervening directly against one of its key players, and ensure that Blackstar made a daylight appearance, drawing attention to herself and leaving Oliver free to act tonight. With some luck, the fallout from Adam Hunt’s downfall might even get pinned on her.
Paul Jordon. His name had never been crossed off Oliver’s list, and Mia knew why he mattered. During her time in this era, she hadn’t been idle. With Bruce’s help, she’d uncovered enough information to understand Jordon’s connection to the Undertaking. Though he hadn’t yet committed the atrocities he would become known for, Jordon was already rotten to the core, selling cutting-edge technologies to the highest bidder. Mia remembered the late nights combing through files, unraveling his illegal connections. His company was on the verge of developing nanotechnology capable of rendering materials resistant to metahuman powers—a breakthrough that, in her time, had led to the deaths of countless heroes.
Stopping him wasn’t just necessary—it was essential.
Mia crouched on the rooftop of a building across from Jordon’s office. Inside, he was mid-conversation with what she assumed were potential buyers. She observed patiently, waiting for them to leave. Moments later, the men exited, leaving Jordon alone with his bodyguard.
Her moment had arrived.
Silently, Mia drew her bow, her heartbeat steady, and aimed directly at Jordon. The string released with a sharp twang, the arrow slicing through the air—but at the last second, it bounced harmlessly off bulletproof glass. The sharp impact sound sent a jolt through the room, immediately alerting the bodyguard.
“Damn it,” Mia hissed under her breath.
There was no time to think. Her window of opportunity was closing fast. Scanning the building, she spotted an open window further along. Without hesitation, she nocked another arrow and fired, embedding the projectile into the wall beside the opening.
Her entry point secured, Mia hooked her bow onto the line and slid toward the window, her adrenaline spiking as she slipped into the building. The interior was quiet—for now. She moved swiftly but cautiously, her senses on high alert.
As she turned a corner, her heart skipped a beat. A hallway she was sure had been empty moments ago was now filled with five armed men, undoubtedly backup called in by Jordon’s bodyguard.
Her eyes darted left, spotting an emergency exit. Too far. And running wasn’t an option—not tonight. Paul Jordon needed to be crossed off the list.
The first man charged, his confidence betraying him. Mia spun on her heel, dodging his swing and delivering a precise kick to his legs. He crumpled to the floor, stunned. Wasting no time, she brought her bow down hard against his head, knocking him out cold.
Another man lunged at her, his fist aimed for her face. She grabbed a vase from a nearby table and used it to deflect the blow. The glass shattered in her hands, but it bought her enough time to shove him backward. She drove her elbow into the ribs of a third attacker, slamming him into the wall.
Now only three men remained. Frustrated, they regrouped. One tried to grab her from behind, but Mia ran up the wall, flipping over him. She landed gracefully and fired an arrow into his leg, sending him to the ground with a cry of pain.
The next man swung wildly, aiming to seize her by the collar. She ducked under his grip, wrapped her arms around his, and used his momentum to hurl him down the hall. An arrow followed, embedding in his thigh.
The last man, now alone, smirked, drawing a knife. But Mia was ready. Feinting an attack, she waited until the perfect moment before delivering a sharp kick, disarming him. The blade clattered against the wall.
Seconds later, all five men lay sprawled across the floor. Mia paused to catch her breath, the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The first skirmish was over—but she knew the real challenge was still ahead.
Pushing open the door to Paul Jordon’s office, she finally found her target. Jordon sat behind his desk, his face paling as the hooded figure stepped inside. He glanced up, startled.
Mia didn’t hesitate. Her bow snapped into position, releasing an arrow that flew straight for Jordon’s bodyguard. The man barely had time to react before it buried itself in his arm, forcing him to drop his weapon. A second arrow immobilized him completely.
Now it was just her and Jordon.
For a fleeting moment, Mia remembered her father’s words: killing isn’t always the solution. She thought of Iris’s warnings, of how taking lives had nearly destroyed Oliver. But this wasn’t a time for hesitation. She knew the cost of “maybe.” Paul Jordon could not live to complete his work.
With grim determination, Mia nocked another arrow, drew back the string, and let go. Paul Jordon would never finish his nanotechnology.
The silence in the lair was oppressive, broken only by the steady tick of the clock. Mia stood in the center, her eyes fixed on its hands. It was past 9 PM. Oliver had promised to stop by before heading to the party, but he was late.
She crossed her arms, releasing a quiet sigh. She hated social events. The crowds, the facades, the endless games of appearances—it all felt alien to her. Once, in another life, she had thrived in such settings. Back when she was carefree and naïve. But everything had changed once her memories returned.
Mia shook her head, banishing thoughts of her past with Bianca Bertinelli. Those memories felt like they belonged to someone else entirely. Her real memories—her time in the cabin with Nyssa and her mother—always rose to the surface, eclipsing the rest.
If Oliver wouldn’t come to her, she’d go to him. She wasn’t about to sit around waiting. Straightening her posture, she reached for the dress folded neatly in her bag. Tonight, she would play her part.
The techno music pounded through the air, pulsating with energy.
Mia stood at the entrance to the party, adjusting her dress with a slightly uncomfortable tug. It had been far too long since she’d worn anything like this. She approached the doorman, her steps deliberate.
"This is a private event. Do you have an invitation?" the doorman asked, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
Mia pulled out the card Tommy had given her a few days prior, handing it to him with practiced confidence.
"Yes, from Tommy Merlyn. My name is Mia... I’m sure it’s on the list," she replied, her tone dripping with irony, which the doorman completely missed.
He glanced at the list, then back at her, before stepping aside to let her pass.
"Alright. Go on in."
As she crossed the threshold, the party hit her like a wave of sound and color. Lights flickered and danced over the faces of the guests who laughed, drank, and swayed to the music, lost in their revelry. Mia weaved through the crowd, her movements tense. There were too many people, too much noise. She wasn’t used to these kinds of scenes anymore, but she had a purpose—she needed to see Oliver. To reassure herself.
As she pushed further into the chaos, a hand suddenly gripped her arm. Her instincts flared, and she nearly reacted with force before recognizing the jovial face in front of her.
"Hey, Mia! Not than i didn't like it a little rough, but i prefered it into more intimate ... space. So, not a fan of crowds, I take it?" Tommy Merlyn grinned broadly, completely unaware of how his world gonna take Mia into psy for the rest of her life if he didn't stop, like now! Where are the speedsters when you need to earase the timeline again !
Mia gave him a tight smile, her nerves still frayed.
"You could say that."
"Don’t worry. Come on—I need to introduce you to someone." Without waiting for a response, Tommy began guiding her through the throng of people.
They stopped near a small group where Oliver stood, a drink in hand, deep in conversation. When Tommy called out to him, Oliver turned, nearly choking on his drink when he saw who Tommy was bringing over.
Tommy burst out laughing, do misunderstandig why Oliver choke.
"Whoa, easy there, man. Don’t spill it all at once!" He gestured dramatically between Oliver and Mia.
"Oliver, meet Mia. Mia, Oliver. I met her last week while you were… well, let’s just say busy." Tommy caught himself before talking about Lauren.
Mia extended her hand, a small, playful smile curving her lips.
"Mr. Queen," she said politely, though her eyes betrayed her amusement.
Oliver shook her hand, masking his surprise with a practiced smile.
"Please, call me Oliver."
Tommy clapped his hands together, delighted.
"Great! Now that you’re acquainted, Mia, what do you think of the party? First time at one of my events? You like the music? Want to dance?"
Mia’s stomach turned at the thought of blending into the crowd again. She pushed down her discomfort and forced a polite smile.
"Actually, I was about to grab a drink."
Sensing an opportunity to speak with her alone, Oliver jumped in.
"I’ll go with her. Don’t mind, do you, Tommy?"
Tommy waved him off with a grin.
"Not at all! Go ahead. I’m sure I’ll find someone else to keep me company." He winked at Mia, making her inwardly cringe. How many therapy sessions would it take to scrub that out of her memory?
Oliver and Mia moved toward the bar, leaving the raucous crowd behind. As they reached the counter, the pounding music still vibrated around them, though it was slightly quieter here.
"How’d you get in?" Oliver asked, his tone low and pointed, cutting straight to the point.
Mia grabbed a glass from the bar and took a sip, hesitating only briefly before answering.
"Well, you ear. Tommy invited me."
"And, You know him well?" His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her reaction.
"Not really," she admitted, keeping her voice casual. "Fine! We ran into each other in the city, and he got my number. I can explain later if you want," she added, gesturing around at the noise. Talking here was practically futile.
Oliver nodded, his suspicion not entirely eased but willing to let it go for now.
Taking another sip, Mia shifted the conversation.
"Did your delivery come through?"
Checking his phone, Oliver shook his head.
"Not yet," he said flatly.
Mia wasn’t surprised. "People like him always think they’re above the rules."
Oliver gave a wry smile. "You’re not wrong."
Mia glanced at his phone. "How long until you have to leave?"
"About twenty minutes," Oliver replied, his gaze briefly flicking across the room. He noticed Diggle standing nearby, his eyes subtly but unmistakably watching Mia. That wasn't good. If someone connect Mia to Blackstar, they would be comming for him too. It's why Oliver wanted to work alone. He need to make his plan about his secret in action.
Mia noticed Diggle too, her feelings about him conflicted. She respected what the man had to has Spartan during crisis. But she couldn't forget that he refuse a greater call only to spend his time with his familly. And when the Vampire Monitor show up in the future, she didn't even ear from him.
She smirked at the irony. She resented him for doing exactly what she had once wished Oliver would do. Making his familly his priority. But that was a long time ago. She knew better now—Earth needed its heroes. Each eradcated menace is a other one on the corner. You can't stop be a hero or a vigilante, because bad never stop.
Turning back to Oliver, she resisted the urge to offer her help with tonight’s mission. She want to much to be sure all is good. But she know better. He needed to walk this path alone, start his journey to become the hero he need to be, at least at first. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from saying,
"I’ll be near if you need backup."
Oliver gave her a faintly amused look.
"From the way you’re handling this party, I think you’re the one who might need rescuing."
Mia let out a laugh.
"Fair point."
Before the conversation could continue, Tommy returned, brimming with excitement.
"Oliver, come on, I have to show you something!"
"I’ll be right there," Oliver said, turning to Mia.
"Catch up later?" she asked.
"Probably," Oliver replied with a small nod before walking off with Tommy.
Mia’s eyes followed him as he disappeared into the crowd. She couldn’t help but smile faintly as she watched Oliver and Tommy interact. They had the easy camaraderie of true best friends—a bond that reminded her of her own connection with Nora. She let the memory of her friend slip before it make her too sad.
Her smile faded slightly as she spotted Oliver approaching a young woman. Mia didn't reconnize her first. That was her aunt Thea ! She looked so young, so carefree. When Oliver subtly disposed of whatever he had stole from Thea, and Thea is searching everywehre in her pursh, Mia chuckled to herself. Still playing the overprotective big brother, I see.
Then her eyes caught Diggle again, watching everything with that laser-focused gaze of his. Mia sighed. She knew how important Diggle would become to Oliver’s mission, but she also knew their principles would clash. That bridge would need to be crossed eventually nut this time, Mia is going to go against him. Even against her mother surely.
Her attention returned to Oliver just as Laurel approached him. Their chemistry was undeniable, though it was different from his bond with Tommy. Mia asked herself, not for the first time since hearing the story of Eart-1 Lauren, if she isn't the real truth love of her father. Mia watched as their conversation grew tense before Oliver abruptly ended it. He checked his phone, his expression hardening and seem to end his conversation with Lauren. Well, like Mia had learn the hard why, love is not for vigilantes.
Oliver left the party with quiet determination, his first mission as the Hood ahead of him.
Mia stayed behind for a moment, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. She knew exactly where he’d be afterward.
Green Arrow had taken his first step tonight. The future was in motion. Now, she just had to make sure it was a better one.
Notes:
for thos than don't remember, Bianca was the adoptif daugther of Helena that was abduct in the "green arrow and the canaries" episode.
Chapter 8: Episode 2 : chapter 1
Summary:
Mia have some errand to make and people to see ... in Gotham
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in the past, I came back to Starling City with one goal: to save the Earth.
But I realized I have a second goal—to save my father. To save him, I’ll have to push beyond my limits.
I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar.
Lian Yu, date unknown
A few days had passed, and Mia had learned to recognize and gather the herbs necessary to heal Yao Fei, who now seemed to be on the road to recovery.
The man’s wound had stopped festering, and while his fever hadn’t completely subsided, he was able to move more freely. That morning, he slowly sat up on his makeshift bed, his features etched with fatigue but also carrying a sense of quiet serenity.
Mia approached, satisfied to see her efforts paying off. “How do you feel?” she asked, watching him closely.
“Better,” Yao Fei replied, his voice still weak but steadier than before. “You did good work.”
Mia nodded. In truth, Yao Fei had been the mastermind behind it all; Mia had merely been the muscle. She had no prior knowledge of herbal medicine—she had always been more interested in the action side of things—and Yao Fei’s guidance had been indispensable.
After finishing the latest concoction Mia had prepared under his instruction, Yao Fei turned his head toward her, his gaze serious. “I should leave and rejoin Slade.”
Mia frowned, a little surprised. Yao Fei wasn’t fully recovered. “Why?” she asked.
Yao Fei began to rise from the improvised bed, slowly placing his feet on the ground and straightening up. “Slade… impulsive. If he finds me here, it could go badly. For him. And for you.”
Yao Fei was undoubtedly right. Mia knew, and had seen, what Slade Wilson was capable of. Even though she had learned to fight, she knew her chances of handling him if he lost his temper were slim. Even Oliver had struggled against him. And in any case, Mia knew she couldn’t kill Slade—not before her father had completed his journey on the island. She nodded, acknowledging Yao Fei’s point.
“You’re right. It wouldn’t do any good. But are you sure you’re fit to leave?”
Yao Fei gave a curt nod as confirmation and rose from his bed.
He accepted the bundle of herbs Mia handed him and carefully tucked them into his pocket.
As he made his way toward the exit, his gaze fell on the arrows resting on a makeshift table. He approached them, picked one up, and held it at eye level, examining every detail.
He slowly turned it between his fingers, weighing and assessing it. Finally, he turned to Mia. “Good weapon. These arrows… will keep you alive. But if you want wood for hunting… use palmwood. Easier to work with, lighter, good for small animals.”
Mia gave a small smile, appreciating both the compliment and the advice.
“I’ll remember that,” she replied.
“Where did you learn to make these?” he asked, carefully placing the arrow back down.
Mia hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting into the distance. A flood of memories swept through her mind. She thought of her father, of the long lessons in the bunker in Star City when she wasn’t even supposed to be there. Of everything she had learned in such a short time at his side. Of all the hours she had spent perfecting her aim in the future to honor his memory.
“My father taught me,” she finally said, her voice softer, almost as if speaking to herself.
Yao Fei nodded, asking no further questions. A father who had evidently passed down vital skills to his daughter in a world where survival was the greatest lesson of all.
“Shēngcún,” he said at last.
“What?” Mia asked, not understanding what he meant.
“Shēngcún. It means survival. Your father taught you shēngcún,” he explained.
“Yes, I suppose he did,” Mia replied, picking up one of her arrows and losing herself in her memories.
Starling City, 2012
Mia stood motionless in front of Oliver’s workbench, an arrow in hand, lost in thought. The cold, smooth metal of the arrowhead against her fingers stirred memories far more distant than she would have expected. Behind her, the television played a clip of Oliver, visibly drunk, giving his speech to reject joining Queen Consolidated. Mia had tried to convince him that joining the family business was a good idea, but Oliver was stubborn—far more so than the Oliver she had met during her previous trip to the past.
Mia sighed. She would have to find another way to prevent Isabel Rochev’s takeover.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Oliver’s footsteps echoing through the lair. He entered, a grimace forming as his eyes landed on the television screen. Without saying a word, he gave a small shake of his head.
Mia watched him for a few seconds before breaking the silence. “Well… you seem pretty sober for someone who was supposed to be drunk just a few hours ago.”
A faint smile crossed Oliver’s lips. “I wasn’t really drunk,” he began, as if he’d already prepared this explanation.
But Mia cut him off, her gaze steady. “You don’t have to justify yourself to me, Oliver.”
A brief silence followed, a hint of tension hanging in the air. Oliver approached her, his eyes immediately catching something different about the arrow she still held in her hand. The arrowhead was black, unlike the ones he usually crafted. His brow furrowed slightly, curiosity lacing his voice.
“That’s not one of mine.”
Mia nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “No, it’s not. I made it.”
He examined the arrow more closely, scrutinizing it with a practiced eye, impressed. “Good work.”
“Thanks,” Mia replied, her smile broadening this time. Another pause settled between them, though it was less heavy than before.
Mia eventually broke the quiet, her tone more serious. “I’m going to have to leave for a few days.”
Oliver glanced up at her, his expression unreadable. He gave a slight shrug and replied calmly, “You don’t have to justify yourself to me.”
Mia smirked, her amusement flickering briefly in her expression. She pulled a small device from her pocket—a sleek, advanced-looking communicator—and held it out to Oliver.
He squinted at it, intrigued. “What’s this?”
“A communicator,” Mia explained. “If you ever need help, press this button. It’ll send me an alert with your location.”
Oliver turned the communicator over in his hands, examining it from every angle. “Handy,” he murmured, nodding in approval at the ingenuity of the device. But after a moment, another thought crossed his mind. “And what about you? Do you have one of these in case you need help?”
Mia shrugged slightly, replying calmly, “Yeah, I’ve got one.”
Oliver looked up, intrigued. “How will I know where you are, then?”
Mia shook her head gently. “My communicator is linked to someone else.”
Oliver paused, raising an eyebrow, clearly irritated by her answer. “Who?”
Mia briefly averted her gaze, carefully choosing her words. After a moment’s hesitation, she looked back up at Oliver. “Batman.”
Oliver groaned almost instantly at the mention of Batman being her emergency contact. He crossed his arms, frustration and suspicion evident in his expression.
Mia couldn’t help but sigh. Honestly, Bruce and Oliver were more alike than either would ever admit. When Mia had brought up the idea of making Oliver her emergency contact, Bruce had gone so far as to threaten not to provide the communicator at all.
“Look, Oliver, it’s not that I don’t trust you,” she began calmly, her eyes fixed on him. “But you have to understand something. I’ve known Batman for a long time now. I’ve worked with him and Robin for years. And besides, he’s closer and more likely to respond quickly if something happens.”
Oliver, still slightly tense, remained silent for a few seconds. Finally, he nodded, begrudgingly accepting the explanation. He knew Mia was more than capable, and the fact that she had worked with one of Gotham’s most feared figures reassured him… somewhat.
He don't know where this protectiveness come from.
“So, you’re heading to Gotham,” he said at last, his tone more relaxed.
“Yes,” Mia confirmed. “Robin contacted me. He needs my help.”
Oliver smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes. “So you’re going to babysit.”
Mia frowned, clearly puzzled. “Babysit?” she repeated, not understanding the remark.
Oliver shrugged. “Robin… He’s a teen, right?”
A burst of laughter escaped Mia, catching Oliver off guard with its spontaneity. She shook her head, amused. “Oh, I am definitely using that against him! No, Robin’s over 20, Oliver.” She deliberately kept Dick’s exact age vague; Oliver didn’t need to make the connections—not yet.
Oliver blinked, his mouth slightly agape. “Over 20?” he murmured, stunned, as if that detail upended his entire worldview.
Mia, still smiling, crossed her arms.
“You really shouldn’t judge people before knowing them,” she retorted playfully. “After all, who would guess that a single millionaire spends his nights prowling the streets as a vigilante?” Or two, she added silently. In truth, she couldn’t wait for Oliver and Bruce to meet. It was bound to be… explosive.
Oliver stared at her for a moment before reluctantly conceding, “Touché.”
Satisfied, Mia turned back to her workbench and picked up the batch of arrows she’d just finished crafting. She slipped them into her bag, carefully checking that they were all securely stored. Oliver watched her silently, his eyes tracking her every move. He hadn’t expected Mia’s departure to bother him much—after all, he was used to being alone, and he’d only known her for a few weeks—but he was surprised to feel a faint pang at the thought of her leaving the lair for a few days. He tried not to show it.
“When are you planning to come back?” he asked at last, his tone deliberately detached.
Mia turned to him, tightening her bag’s strap. “I shouldn’t be gone too long. A few days at most. I just need to see what Robin wants. And what about you? What are you planning to do while I’m gone?”
“There’s a name I want to cross off the list,” he replied with a casual shrug.
“Which one, if you don’t mind me asking?” Mia inquired, hoping her timing was right. If she wasn’t mistaken, the days ahead should be relatively quiet for Oliver.
“James Holder,” Oliver answered with another shrug.
“The one we researched? The fire alarm guy?” Mia asked, seeking confirmation. In her future, Mia had never heard of the man or Holder Industries, and Bruce hadn’t uncovered anything significant about him or his company. A low-risk target, then.
“Yes,” Oliver replied simply.
Reassured, Mia stepped forward to grab the bag containing her bow.
“I thought you were just going to see what Robin needed?” Oliver asked, amused.
“You never know what might happen on the road,” Mia replied matter-of-factly.
Oliver nodded, a hint of worry hidden behind his stoic expression. “Safe travels, then.”
Mia offered him a soft smile in response. “Thanks. Be careful, especially at night.”
One corner of Oliver’s mouth lifted into a faint smirk. “Promise.”
She gave him one last look, then, without another word, turned and left the lair.
Gotham City, Dick's penthouse, 2012
The hushed silence of the penthouse stood in stark contrast to the usual chaos of the city streets below. Mia was standing near an office chair, watching as the screens displayed an unending stream of victims’ profiles, bank accounts, and a video of a recent robbery. The technology they using was not advanced, yet there was something oddly familiar—almost intimate—about it but Mia can't put her finger on it. Something isn't right with all of this.
Dick Grayson, seated in the chair with his eyes fixed on the screens, spun it slightly to face Mia.
“Last night, the gang slipped away into tunnels. They seemed to be heading toward Blüdhaven, but Hank’s pretty sure he saw one of them hop on a bus to Starling City.”
Mia narrowed her eyes, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
“And you really have no intel on who they are or their leader? They are not link to the ones from four weeks ago?”
Dick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.
“No, nothing. The ones we’ve caught all say the same thing. They were hired anonymously through a middleman. No direct contact with the boss, and anyone who might’ve known more isn’t alive to tell the tale.”
Mia shook her head, her expression hardening. “That’s troubling.”
Dick nodded, his face grim. “For now, we’re only reacting when crimes happen. We can’t seem to get ahead of their movements.”
Mia crossed her arms, her face growing more severe with every revelation. “That’s a dangerous method. You don’t know the locations in advance; you’re walking in blind. Anything could happen.”
Dick sighed again, visibly caught between frustration and resignation.
“I know, believe me. I don’t like taking the team into situations like this. But for now, it’s all we’ve got. I’m thinking about heading to Blüdhaven to see what’s going on.”
Mia nodded silently, turning the situation over in her mind. In the future, she had spent all her time gathering information on Starling City and Oliver, a decision she had regretted for years. She should’ve paid more attention to the events in other heroes’ lives. Now, she had no idea who could be manipulating Gotham’s criminal underworld. Mia sighed. Dick had called her for help, and yet she was useless to him. It felt like a dead end.
Shifting the topic slightly, she asked, “Speaking of the team, how’s Garth settling in?”
A smile instantly lit up Dick’s face, and he let out a soft, almost teasing laugh.
“Really well, actually.”
Mia raised an eyebrow, amused, inviting him to elaborate. “Oh? Do tell.”
Dick’s grin widened. “If you ask me, I think we’ll be seeing Donna and Garth’s wedding by the end of the year… if those two finally admit how they feel about each other.”
Mia smiled, picturing Donna and Garth together. “An Amazon and an Atlantean. You don’t see that every day.”
Dick chuckled, his mischievous smile still firmly in place. “No, you don’t.”
After this brief moment of levity, Dick’s expression turned more serious.
“And you? How are things going in Starling City?”
Mia’s demeanor shifted slightly, her features tightening almost imperceptibly. She took care to choose her words.
“Things are going as planned.”
A short silence followed as Dick studied her closely, as though trying to decode what she wasn’t saying.
Mia remained quiet, clearly lost in thought. But Dick wasn’t about to let her off the hook so easily.
“You know, you can say more than just ‘things are going as planned,’” he said gently, his tone encouraging.
Mia sighed, knowing he wouldn’t drop the subject that easily.
“You remember that Bruce sent me to Starling City on Talia’s recommendation?” She paused, avoiding his gaze. “It was to monitor and assist one of Talia’s former students.”
Dick nodded. “This two. Someday we all gonna learn they made a child together. And it would be the devil reincarneted. But, yeah, I remember. Talia always keeps tabs on her former students.” He leaned back in his chair with a faint smile, though Mia could sense the curiosity in his gaze. He knew this was only part of the story.
"Well, i know the Devil and he is not Bruce child if that confort you" responded Mia with a big smill. Yes, Lucifer Morningstar is defenetlly not a child.
"Very funny Mia. You don't need to lie if you don't want to respond" replied Dick, used to Mia wierd jokes.
Mia bit her lower lip, guilt flickering through her. She was lying to Dick, and it bothered her more than she expected. Dick didn’t know about Mia’s past. He had no idea. Bruce was the only person in the entire universe who knew the truth about her and her connection to Oliver. Dick didn’t know Mia was from the future. That was one of the main reasons she had begun distancing herself from the Titans.
Dick was her best friend, and she was blatantly lying to him. And Dick knew—or at least, he knew she wasn’t telling him everything.
“Well?” Dick’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, breaking the silence. “Did you find Talia’s student?”
Mia nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Yes, I found him.”
Dick looked both impressed and unsurprised. “Quick work. But then again, I expected as much. You’re almost as good as Bruce at tracking these things down. It’s like you’ve got a sixth sense.”
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing with a mischievous glint.
“That student… it’s the guy in the hood, isn’t it?”
Mia raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “How do you know that?”
Dick smirked knowingly. “China White. That’s where I heard about him.”
That answer surprised Mia even more. “Since when is China White back in Gotham?” she asked, her tone tinged with mild exasperation.
“Ever since she faced that hooded man, actually, seen like it's creep her and she made a quick exist.” replied Dick with a shrug. He observed Mia for a moment before continuing with a teasing smile. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”
Mia rolled her eyes, knowing she couldn’t dodge the subject any longer. “Yes, the man in the hood is Talia’s student.”
Dick stared at her with a playful grin. “You must be thrilled—finally, someone who appreciates the art of archery as much as you do and isn’t part of the League.”
A faint smile crossed Mia’s lips, masking her unease. If only he knew. “True.”
Dick leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. “So? Is he as good as Talia said?”
Mia shrugged. “He’s very skilled, yes.”
A sad smile formed on Dick’s lips. “Skilled like you, or skilled like Bruce?”
Mia’s tone shifted instantly. She sighed, already irritated by the direction of the conversation. “You know, I really don’t feel like arguing with you again.”
Dick raised his hands in surrender. “I’m just asking, that’s all.”
Mia crossed her arms, the tension between them growing. “No, you’re not just asking. You’re judging him outright.”
Dick straightened in his chair, his tone turning more serious. “ No need to be all work up. In my defense, this new archer has already left a trail of bodies behind… like you.”
That was it. Mia abruptly stepped away from Dick’s chair, her footsteps echoing against the floor as she headed for the exit.
“I didn’t come here for this,” she said sharply, grabbing her jacket.
Dick immediately stood and followed her.
“Mia, wait.” His voice softened, devoid of any confrontation. “I didn’t mean for us to fight. Stay.”
Mia took a deep breath, staring at the door ahead of her. She genuinely cared about Dick, maybe to much, and deep down, she knew he was right. But that was precisely the problem. She care to much for Dick and what he think of her. The guilt from her actions gnawed at her every day, and she didn’t need him reminding her.
She didn’t voice any of that, though—not now. She wasn’t ready to admit, even to herself, that she knew her methods were immoral but felt she had no other choice. She had seen what Bruce and Dick’s way of doing things led to. She would never let Earth end up like it had in her future. Instead, she simply replied in a calmer but distant tone, “I have to leave anyway. I need to see Bruce.”
Dick, though visibly regretful, knew when to concede. “Alright. But… will I see you before you leave Gotham?”
Mia nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Yes. Unless something urgent comes up.”
She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, “And you? What are you doing tonight?”
Dick gave her a small smile. “Same as every night—keeping an eye on the comings and goings between Blüdhaven and Gotham.”
Mia gave him a worried look, stepping closer. “Be careful, please.”
Dick nodded, an assuring smile on his face. “I promise.”
Before leaving, Mia leaned in and placed a light kiss on Dick’s cheek. “See you soon.” She turned the handle and closed the door gently behind her, leaving Dick alone in the room, thoughtful.
Chapter 9: Episode 2 : Chapter 2
Summary:
In this chapter, we learn why Bruce called Mia to Gotham. Mia need to make a hard decision that could change the future.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in the past, I came back to Starling City with one goal: to save the Earth.
But I realized I have a second goal to save my father. To save him, I’ll have to do think i don't want to.
I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar.
Gotham City, Batcave, 2012
Mia stepped out of the elevator into the Batcave, her footsteps echoing softly in the vast underground chamber. The cool air and the familiar smell of damp stone and equipment welcomed her like a home. She knew that this wasn't home, far from it, but she also knew that she feeled safe there. As she entered the light, Bruce turned from his position at the control console, his gaze full of curiosity, a brief flicker of interest passing through his eyes.
“Alfred told me to come straight down,” she said, preempting any questions.
Bruce nodded, accepting the explanation without further comment, and returned to his work for a moment to save his progress. The silence between them was familiar, but far from uncomfortable. Mia settled into the chair beside Bruce, watching the blinking screens while he finalized his recording.
“So, how’s it going in Starling City?” he asked, turning toward her, his expression more concerned than he wanted to let on.
Mia crossed her arms, adopting a relaxed posture despite the intensity of the question.
“As if you haven’t been spying on every move I make. It’s going as planned,” she replied with calculated neutrality. She knew Bruce would read between the lines, as always.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, as if signaling that he was waiting for more details.
“Have you managed to get close to Oliver Queen?” he added.
Mia gave a slight nod.
“You know Blackstar has already approached Oliver. But that’s not what you really want to know, is it?” she answered, her annoyance showing. First Dick, now Bruce—couldn’t they ask a direct question for once?
“Mia,” Bruce growled.
Mia’s patience was also wearing thin. Her conversation with Dick had left her frustrated and on edge.
“I’m tired of this, Bruce. You and Dick keep playing this guessing game, and sorry if I’m not receptive. If that’s what you want to know, yes, I met Oliver, and it’s going pretty well,” she exploded.
A flash of surprise crossed Bruce’s features. Mia was impulsive, but she usually had great control over her emotions. But it wasn’t worth commenting on now—she was too upset for him to make that point. Bruce decided to focus on the facts. Mia was already in contact with Oliver Queen. He had to admit, he was impressed. It had only been three weeks.
“Already?” he asked.
“It’s not total trust yet,” she explained, clenching her fists slightly, her mind replaying the first conversations with Oliver. “ We are not friends, more somethink like allies. But ... I think he just feels... lonely. He has to lie to everyone. Maybe just finding someone he can be himself around has encouraged him to lower his guard, even if just a little.”
Bruce nodded slowly, recognizing that feeling from his own experiences.
“That’s possible,” he said in a softer voice, almost compassionate. “Our lives are so solitary that sometimes, just having someone who understands... it changes everything.” Selina was a perfect example of that for Bruce.
Mia looked down for a moment, her fingers nervously fiddling with the sleeve of her jacket. She seem like she want to said somethink, but didn't know how to tell it. Bruce seeing that, don't file the blank and let her talk when she want to.
“He told me he didn’t know why, but his instinct told him to trust me,” she murmured, her voice slightly cracking with emotion.
Ah. There it was, the explanation, thinked Bruce
Bruce watched her for a moment before finishing the sentence for her:
“Like, unconsciously, he recognized you,” he said, his voice deep but full of empathy.
Mia nodded gently, a tear escaping despite herself. With an angry gesture, she wiped it away, frustrated with losing control of her emotions in front of Bruce.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t be so emotional about this.”
Bruce, without hesitation, stand up and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Mia... do you honestly think I, of all people, would judge you for your feelings for your father?” he said softly. “If I had the chance to have one last conversation with my father or my mother i would ...nevermind but Mia. I understand.”
Mia sighed, calming under his kind gaze. She knew he was right, that he understood better than anyone what she was feeling. Dick would probably understand too. Except Dick thought Mia’s father had been dead for over twenty years, which was technically true.
“Thank you,” she replied sincerely. “Sorry, Bruce, I didn’t come here for you to be my therapist.”
Bruce cracked a rare smile, a glint of mischief passing through his eyes.
"Indeed, that would be a bad idea. I'm not pretty enough to pretend to be Dr. Quinzel and putting her arquelquin dress," he joked.
Mia laughed heartily and understood that it was time to change the subject. She moved on without wasting any time:
"Speaking of her, how is our dear Harley, what’s she up to these days?"
Bruce's expression turned serious again.
"No word from her since the Joker was locked up in Arkham six months ago," he said. "But silence is never a good sign with her."
Mia frowned.
"Yeah, that’s not a good sign at all," she murmured.
"Don't worry about it, I'm keeping an eye on the situation," Bruce replied.
"I don’t doubt it for a second," Mia answered. She knew Gotham was in good hands with Bruce. Speaking of Gotham, Mia changed the subject, returning to one of the reason she was here.
"Speaking of that, do you know anything more about the group moving between Blüdhaven and Gotham?" she asked.
Bruce looked up at her, a sigh escaping his lips.
"I take it you saw Dick before you came?" he said, his tone slightly weary.
"Yeah," she admitted, a sly smile crossing her face.
Bruce sighed more deeply this time.
"No, I don’t know anything more. Dick made it very clear: he doesn’t want me involved."
Dick had forgotten to mention that detail when they had seen each other. Mia nodded, watching Bruce silently for a few moments before murmuring:
"Things still aren’t getting better between you two?"
"No," he replied flatly. "He’s still angry with me."
Mia bit her lip, once again regretting that, in some way, she had been one of the reasons for their rift. She had never wanted that, and even less so for Bruce and Dick to become near strangers. She knew Dick was meant to fly on his own one day. But she didn’t know the personal history between Dick and Bruce. She never should have gotten involved in their issues.
"I’m sorry," she whispered, her eyes lowered. "Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten involved back then."
Bruce shook his head.
"You don’t have to apologize. Dick had to gain his independence someday. You were right on that point—it was his destiny. It would have happend on way or another."
Mia didn’t answer immediately, uncomfortable with the idea of having played a role in their earlier separation. Trying to change the subject, she remembered the larger mission she was focused on.
"And speaking of destiny... Have you had any luck with the Book of Destiny or the Paragons?" she asked, leaning slightly toward him.
Bruce clenched his jaw.
"No," he replied with frustration. "It’s incredibly frustrating."
Mia sighed, straightening in her chair.
"And the multiverse transporters? Still nothing?"
"None either," he confirmed, his face grim. "I’m at a standstill."
Mia let herself slump back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling.
"We’ll have to wait for Cisco Ramon to become Vibe so he can create his transponders..."
Bruce nodded seriously.
"Chances are high..."
The lack of progress on the crisis was depressing. After all these years, still nothing, or not much. Mia changed the subject again, returning to the reason she was in Gotham in the first place.
She sat up in front of him, crossing her arms, "So Bruce... why did you really have me come here?"
Bruce slowly turned to a screen, his expression serious. He didn’t waste time with explanations. He pressed a button, and a new video appeared in front of them. The image showed a man that Mia didn't recognize immediately.
Mia leaned forward, watching the screen. Her gaze grew more focused as the details of the man’s face started to feel familiar. But it wasn’t until Bruce said his name that she understood.
"Justin Claybourne." Recognition hit Mia instantly. "I know that name..."
Bruce paused before looking at her seriously. "Yes, you would, That's Adrian Chase father and he is on the list. That's not all. Claybourne has just buy a biological virus and the med to cure it. He plans to spread it in the coming days. We need to stop him"
Mia froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She already knew the consequences of such actions. It was going to lead to a massacre, countless lives lost. But the question that plagued her wasn’t the scale of the disaster—it was whether this would change Oliver's future.
She turned to Bruce, a heavy hesitation in her voice. "Dad, ... Oliver. He will kill him in months to come. If we stop Claybourne now, if we prevent this virus from being released... What does that mean for Oliver?"
Bruce didn’t respond immediately. He stared at her, his dark eyes betraying his own dilemma.
"I know this could affect his future," he said finally. "But saving lives... that’s what we have to do. We talking thousand Mia."
Mia closed her eyes for a moment. Saving lives... But what if it could change so much for Oliver, for her, for William? Adrian Chase might act sooner, or differently. It was a huge risk. Unless...
Mia straightened slightly, a new determination in her eyes.
"You're right, Bruce. We can't sacrifice innocent lives to preserve Oliver's future." She took a deep breath, fully aware of the weight of the decision she had just made.
Bruce slowly nodded, his intense gaze still fixed on the screen showing Justin Claybourne.
"I thought the same thing, Mia. But..." He paused for a moment, searching for his words. "Batman can’t show himself in Starling City just yet." He finally turned his gaze toward her, his expression grave. "Not for now."
Mia looked at him, instant understanding taking over her. She knew that Bruce couldn’t risk coming to Starling City. She placed a hand on the desk, her fingers slightly tense, her tone calmer but just as firm.
"And that's why you ask me to come. ... I understand." She paused, her gaze piercing his. "Some alliances can’t be known to everyone. You can count on me, i will do it. Goodbye Bruce"
Mia know what she must do. Without looking back, she just walk and exist the cave. Blackstar was needed in Starling city.
Lian Yu, date unknown
The dense jungle of Lian Yu was barely disturbed by the breath of the wind and the rustling of leaves. Mia moved through the bushes, searching for the herbs Yao Fei had shown her a few weeks earlier. She had memorized them and was trying to find a little bit every day, just in case.
As she bent down to pick a sample, a sudden sound made her heart race. Without hesitation, she grabbed her bow from her back and aimed it in the direction of the noise, ready to react to the slightest threat. In front of her, a figure moved in the shadows of the trees. Mia adjusted her grip, her sharp eyes trying to make out the form. A quick movement, and the man stopped, an arrow ready to be fired, just like hers. They stood there, a few meters apart, each on alert, bows drawn.
Then, after a moment, Mia recognized the figure. She lowered her bow but kept her eyes fixed on Yao Fei. He also lowered his, an expression of relief, but also caution, on his face.
"Yao Fei," she said, breaking the silence. "I wasn’t expecting to run into you here."
"I could say the same about you, Mia," he replied in a calm tone, still on guard. "You’re far from your safe haven."
"Indeed," she replied with a slight smile. "I was just looking for some herbs."
"Good initiative," Yao Fei nodded, eyeing the plants in her hand.
A silence settled between them.
Mia turned her eyes to the dense forest, focused on the atmosphere around her. Her heart rate slowed, but the feeling of an imminent presence lingered. A glance at Yao Fei confirmed what she had sensed.
Yao Fei gave a slight nod toward the spot from where he had appeared, his expression growing more serious. "Slade is coming," he said simply.
Mia immediately understood. While Slade was an ally of Yao Fei, he remained a potential threat to her. Although she knew Yao Fei and Slade were working together, she wasn’t sure of the level of trust between the two men. And clearly, some alliances shouldn’t be known to everyone.
Mia know what she must do. Without looking back, Mia take her leave, her steps blending into the dense foliage.
Starling City, 2012, Justin Claybourne's Penthouse
Night had fallen over Starling City, and the moon cast its silver beams across the rooftops. The pool at Justin Claybourne’s penthouse shimmered as a man lounged in its waters. Blackstar observed silently, well hidden in the shadows.
Her eyes were fixed on Justin Claybourne, immersed in the water of his pool. He seemed carefree, unaware of the danger lurking just a few meters away. She could see the silhouette of the bodyguard inside the apartment, casually scanning the surroundings. Mia tightened her grip on her bow, the weapon drawn and ready to fire. The arrow was there, ready to split the air, but something held her back.
She knew this action would have heavy consequences. If she killed Claybourne, she could potentially alter the course of events, but at the same time, she couldn’t allow a man like him to live, knowing what he was planning. The hesitation gnawed at her, a part of her fighting against the other, questioning whether she could truly do this, whether it was really necessary.
Suddenly, the sound of a slamming door broke her thoughts. A man emerged from the apartment, weapon in hand. Mia felt her heart race. The moment had become critical. The bodyguard spotted her silhouette barely a second before firing. Mia ducked instinctively. She rolled to the side while releasing a first arrow mid-flight. The arrow lodged in the bodyguard’s chest before he could react.
Claybourne turned his gaze, finally aware of the threat hanging over him. He sprang to his feet in haste, but Mia no longer had time to waste. In one swift movement, she rose, her bow drawn before her, and with a quick, precise motion, released a second arrow. This time, the arrow struck Justin Claybourne squarely in the heart. He staggered from the impact, before collapsing heavily into the pool.
Mia turned on her heel and vanished into the night, knowing she had made the right choice. Now, she had to hurry to complete the next part of the mission.
As screams echoed from the apartment, Mia know what she must do. Without looking back, she walk away, there is a other place she need to be tonight.
Notes:
Some change are start to happended. Like i said at the start of the fic, the more we will advance in this story, the more the change gonna be big.
I don't promise to publish the next chapter this month with the all the new years feast coming, it will depend on my shedule.
Chapter 10: Episode 2 : Chapter 3
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in the past, I came back to Starling City with one goal: to save the Earth.
But I realized I have a second goal to save my father. To save him, I’ll have to do think i don't want to.
I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar.
Starling City, 2012
The sound of keyboard keys echoed in the dark lair. Mia, seated in front of one of the computers, typed furiously, her gaze fixed on the bright screen. Impatience and determination were written all over her face. Each second seemed to stretch on endlessly as she waited for the search to finish.
"Come on… Come on…" she murmured, her foot tapping nervously on the floor. She need to move fast, she know it.
Finally, the word “Result” appeared in green on the screen. Thanking her mom for all the "old tech" complaines speech, she leaned forward, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and a touch of apprehension. The address she had been looking for now appeared clearly before her: Simon Morrison. Futur Adrian Chase. A name that carried as much weight as a sentence in her mind.
She took a deep breath, analyzing the location. It wasn’t far—just a ten-minute drive. She glanced quickly at the clock on the wall. She had time. She know what to do. Samantha don't need to died this time and William will maybe have a much more normal life this time around.
With a precise movement, she stood up and grabbed her bow, holding it instinctively in her hand. She moved swiftly toward the table where her Blackstar suit lay, not being put in the ring since she came in Starling City, ready to put it on. But just as she was about to pull on her hood, a hurried noise sounded at the entrance of the lair.
The door swung open suddenly, and Oliver appeared, supporting John Diggle, who was barely able to stand. Diggle looked weak, his face contorted in pain.
“Oliver?!” Mia exclaimed, dropping her bow. She rushed toward them but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Diggle’s condition. Ho ! She know what happend, this is the moment. The big reveal.
Oliver, breathing heavily, carefully laid Diggle on the nearest table.
“He’s been hit,” Oliver explained, his voice tense. “A poisoned bullet. Curare.”
Mia froze, her eyes widening slightly. But Oliver had said that his target for the week was James Holder, the siren guys. Lawton was after Walter. She missed big time ! Oliver had face Deadshot ! Alone ! Her gaze quickly shifted from Diggle, whose breath was ragged, to Oliver, whose urgency was palpable.
“Curare?!” she repeated, making sure she had heard correctly.
She could have lost Oliver. She wasn't there and she could have lost him. No. Oliver face Deathshoot before and make it alive. But what if she had change something. For the first time for a long time, Mia feel fear enter her body.
Oliver, not knowing what happend in Mia head, nodded as he rifled through one of the metal cabinets in the lair.
“He doesn’t have much time. I need to prepare a tincture to stabilize him.”
Him? Yes, Diggle of cause. Mia glanced at Diggle, his breath shallow, his complexion ashen. She knew what she had to do. Help Oliver. Save Diggle. But her gaze almost involuntarily drifted back to the computer screen where Simon Morrison’s address still blinked.
She felt a violent conflict stir within her. What if she change that too. What if Adrian Chase emerged way before his time ? What if he decide to start his cruisade earlier?
And Diggle. If he dies tonight… Oliver will be alone. No Felicity, no Spartan. He’ll continue to act like he did at the beginning: direct, relentless, effective. Wouldn’t that be better for saving the Earth, for saving him?
She clenched her fists, her fingers trembling slightly.
Diggle is against the expedient methods. He’ll temper Oliver, make him believe there’s another way. He let target lived, making treat of them. But Mia know there isn’t. She have seen what happens. All the compromises he’s made... And it’s only led to failures, deaths, irreparable losses.
For a moment, a dark thought crossed her mind: Maybe I shouldn’t do anything. Maybe letting him die is the best solution.
“Mia!” Oliver’s voice snapped her back to reality. He was staring at her, his eyes full of urgency and concern.
Mia’s gaze returned to Diggle, whose breathing was growing more and more labored.
Then she remembered. Diggle is also Connor's dad. He is also a good man. A god father. Diggle wasn’t just a hindrance. In her future, he was a pillar. A trusted man, a guide for Oliver in his darkest moments. And the man that had agree to go see the Devil himself to save Oliver. Spartan must live.
She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. No. she can’t sacrifice Diggle. Not like this.
Mia finally nodded and rushed toward Oliver.
“What can I do?” she asked, determined.
Oliver placed a small pouch of dried leaves on the table.
“Take this. They’re herbs. I was going to have him drink them cold, but it’ll be more effective if we brew them.”
Mia immediately reconised the herbial for what it was and got to work, searching for a pot and water, her movements precise but slightly jerky from the tension. As she boiled the water and added the leaves, she hear Oliver checking Diggle’s pulse.
The liquid in the pot darkened, a strong smell spreading through the room. Mia poured the infusion into a cup and handed it to Oliver.
“Here.”
Oliver took the cup, leaned over Diggle, and gently lifted his head.
“Drink this,” he murmured softly.
Diggle groaned, clearly at the end of his strength, but managed to swallow the brew. A palpable tension filled the room as seconds ticked by, but slowly, his breathing began to stabilize.
Mia let out a sigh she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
Oliver gently laid Diggle’s head back down and turned toward her, a mixture of gratitude and relief on his face.
“Thank you, Mia. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She shrugged, knowing it wasn't true, trying to mask the turmoil still swirling inside her.
“He would have survived even if I hadn’t been here.” She didn't know why she said it, but she need to said it.
Oliver gave a small smile, but his gaze fell on the bow and the hood from the Blackstar suit still on the table.
“Were you going somewhere?” he asked, his tone curious.
Mia hesitated for a fraction of a second. She glanced quickly at the computer, then replied calmly,
“It’s nothing. It can wait.”
Simon Morrison didn't did anything bad, for now and he wasn't in the list. She can't talk to Oliver about him.
Oliver stared at her for a moment, but eventually nodded, too exhausted to press further.
"Alright. You’re staying? I’ll need you if his condition worsens. And probably once he wakes up too."
Mia crossed her arms, her gaze briefly falling on Diggle, still unconscious on the table. A grimace crossed her face. Being there when he woke up wasn’t an appealing prospect. She know the tense conversation that would follow and she didn't think her be here gonna help. But Oliver had asked her to stay, and she couldn’t said no to him.
Sighing, she finally replied, "Okay, I’ll stay."
Oliver nodded, too focused on Diggle’s condition to notice the slightly unsure tone in Mia’s voice.
She returned to the computer, quickly writing down Simon Morrison’s address in a notebook before clearing her search. But just before she closed the screen, she felt a presence behind her. She closed the window and the screen turn black.
Oliver was standing there, his gaze fixed on the now-blank screen. "Simon Morrison?" he said slowly, his voice laced with suspicion. That wasn't a name from the list. He know then from heart, having read it so many time now.
Mia tensed, her whole body becoming an instinctive barrier. She slowly turned her head to him, her expression perfectly neutral despite the turmoil inside.
"It’s nothing," she replied, her voice controlled. "A search I did for a Gotham ally."
Oliver crossed his arms, leaning slightly toward her. "Batman or Robin?" he asked, his tone both direct and teasing.
Mia subtly clenched her fists. She knew Oliver wasn’t stupid. He always asked the right questions, and that made her even more defensive.
"It’s none of your business, Oliver," she snapped.
Oliver frowned, his gaze becoming sharper. Why did she got all defensif from one go? But he knew when to push and when to pull back. This wasn’t the time for a confrontation, not with Diggle injured and needing help.
He finally shrugged and turned to go back to Diggle. "Alright, Mia. Do what you want." But deep down, he knew he’d look into this Simon Morrison himself.
Mia watched Oliver walk back to Diggle, her mind flooded with a cacophony of thoughts. Her gaze drifted to the man lying on the table, his breathing more regular thanks to their intervention. She bit her lower lip slightly, guilt gnawing at her despite herself.
Did I make the right choice? she wondered. Saving Diggle… was that really the right decision?
She knew her presence would influence Oliver, change the way he operated. And what if that meant he would be as direct, as ruthless as he needed to be to succeed? How Diggle gonna take it if Oliver don't smooth his methode?
Mia turned her eyes away, getting up from her chair and walking away from the computer. She leaned against a wall, her arms crossed, her gaze lost in the distance.
No, she repeated to herself, trying to convince herself. Diggle is an ally. A pillar. Oliver will need him, even if she don’t agree with everything he stands for.
And yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if saving Diggle was the best decision to protect Oliver’s future.
Lian Yu, unknown date
The light breeze brushed the trees of Lian Yu, but the island was far from peaceful. Mia moved cautiously through the dense vegetation, her bow in hand, ready to react at the slightest threat. Every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves could mean danger. She had learned to never let her guard down.
She had planned to gather fruit to strengthen her supplies, but a sudden noise froze her in place. Gunshots rang out nearby, followed by screams. Mia instinctively crouched, scanning her surroundings. She moved slowly, her steps calculated, until she spotted a chaotic scene through the foliage.
Slade Wilson, the man she had avoided since her arrival on the island, was in trouble. Three heavily armed men, mercenaries were chasing him through the jungle. Slade was skillfully dodging the bullets with deadly precision, but his lead over his pursuers seemed to be shrinking by the second.
Mia hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to stay back. Slade wasn’t her ally, and his alliance with Yao Fei meant nothing to her. But at the same time, she knew what he represented in the future: a formidable enemy for her father, but also a mentor, a man broken by the events but he teach Oliver all he needed to know for surviving. If she did nothing, this man, he might die here, long before he played his part in Oliver's story.
The shouts and gunfire grew closer, forcing Mia to make a decision. She pulled an arrow from her quiver, nocked it on her bow, and took aim. One of the armed figures collapsed before he even understood where the attack had come from.
Slade looked up at her, surprised, but he didn’t waste time asking questions. Taking advantage of the opening, he lunged at one of the remaining mercenaries, dispatching him with a quick and precise blade strike.
Mia, on her part, aimed at the third man, but he turned around, spotting her position. A bullet whizzed past her ear, forcing her to dive behind a tree. Slade slash his leg, giving time to Mia to recoverd. She took a deep breath, adjusted her bow, and fired an arrow that hit her target square in the chest.
A tense silence fell as the echoes of gunfire faded. Slade stood up, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand, his gaze fixed on Mia.
"Well, that was unexpected," he said in a neutral tone, but his expression remained wary.
Mia emerged from her hiding spot, her bow still in hand, a arrow ready.
"Don’t get used to it," she replied coldly, her piercing gaze unwavering.
Slade nodded, offering a bitter smile. "I guess I should thank you kid."
"Don’t get carried away," Mia retorted. She put her bow away but didn’t relax her vigilance.
"If you’d died here, it would’ve caused more problems for… Yao Fei."
Slade frowned slightly, but didn’t respond. He looked at the bodies of the mercenaries around them, then turned his attention back to Mia.
"You’re good with that bow. Who taught you?"
Mia gritted her teeth. She wasn’t in the mood for a conversation, especially not with Slade.
"Not your buisness," she answered curtly.
Slade stepped closer to her, his movements slow and deliberate, as if evaluating every detail about her. "Fair enough. What I really wonder is, who are you, kid?"
Mia held his gaze, but her heart raced. She needed to steer the conversation away before he started asking too many questions.
"All you need to know is that, I’m not your enemy today, Wilson," she said, gesturing to the corpses. "But that doesn’t mean we’re allies."
Slade laughed, a deep and gravelly sound that echoed through the jungle. "Just today, huh? Fine, I can live with that."
He stepped back, retrieving a weapon from one of the mercenaries. But before leaving, he turned one last time toward her.
"Next time we cross paths, we’ll see if you still hold your bow so firmly."
Mia didn’t reply, her eyes fixed on him until he disappeared into the shadows of the forest. She felt a mix of relief and concern wash over her.
She whispered to herself, "I hope I don’t regret this."
And yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if saving Slade Wilson was the best decision to protect Oliver’s future.
Starling City, 2012
The silence in the lair was almost palpable, disturbed only by the sound of the idle computers and Diggle's steady breathing as he lay on the makeshift operating table. Mia, seated at a distance, observed every movement. Her fingers tapped nervously against her thigh, betraying an impatience she was trying to suppress.
Oliver, still in his Green Arrow costume, didn't said a word since their earlier conversation. The two were in the own world, their head full of trought.
A grunt escaped Diggle, his eyelids fluttering heavily as he emerged from unconsciousness. He tried to sit up but faltered, barely catching himself on the table.
"Easy, John," Oliver said but keeping his distance, not knowing how Diddle gonna react to seeing the lair.
Diggle blinked, clearly disoriented. He looked at Oliver, then his expression froze as he registered what he was seeing: Oliver, in costume, a green hood attached to his back.
"Oliver?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and tinged with disbelief.
Oliver stepped back slightly, standing taller, but didn’t deny it.
Diggle pushed himself up a bit more, looking around the room. The blinking screens, the stacked arrows, the bow resting on a workbench... Everything started to make sense in his foggy mind.
"So, you're... the archer," he said, his eyes locking onto Oliver with increasing intensity.
Mia crossed her arms, silently observing the scene from her corner of the room. She knew this moment would come, but she hadn’t expected to be involved. It was so strange seeing event she hear about taking live in front of her.
Still groggy, Diggle continuted to scanne the room with his eyes. His gaze eventually landed on Mia. He frowned, trying to focus on her. Something in her posture, in her black outfit marked with a dark star, triggered a vague sense of recognition.
"Who is she?" he asked, his voice cautious, almost sharp, pointing at Mia.
Mia tensed. What's gonna happend now?
Oliver glanced at her, but before he could respond, Mia took the lead.
"Just an ally," she said coldly, hoping to cut off any further discussion and distancing herself from Oliver. Maybe if Diggel was thinking she and Oliver weren't friends or big allies, think can go smooth.
Diggle continued to watch her, searching his memory. Then, suddenly, everything clicked. His face hardened, and his tone lowered a notch, now filled with suspicion.
"Blackstar," he said, almost in a whisper.
Mia slightly clenched her jaw, her eyes fixed on him without flinching, saying nothing.
Despite still being weak, Diggle forced himself to stay awake, his gaze locked on her. In his mind, one word seemed to echo: Blackstar.
Chapter 11: Episode 2 : Chapter 4
Summary:
Sorry, i'm late but with the end of the years, i have a lot of thing to do.
In this chapter, we gonna see how Diggle react to Oliver and Mia. Let just said that things not gonna end well for eveybody.
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in the past, I came back to the past with one goal: to save the Earth.
But I realized I have a second goal to save my father. To save him, I’ll have to do think i don't want to.
I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar.
Starling City, Arrow's Lair, 2012
Diggle tried to push himself off the table where he had been lying, but his body still trembled from the effects of the curare. Despite his obvious weakness, he made a clumsy swipe at Oliver, who backed away just enough to avoid the hit. Mia, still standing off to the side, crossed her arms and watched the scene unfold, her expression impassive, though a flicker of suspicion shone in her eyes.
Oliver gently grabbed Diggle’s arm, forcing him back down into the chair.
“Diggle, calm down!” he ordered firmly but without aggression.
Diggle struggled for a moment, his muscles tensing from the effort, before finally giving in to his weakness. He leaned back in the chair, furrowing his brow, his gaze filled with confusion.
“Calm down? You’re kidding, right? You brought me to your secret lair with...” He turned his head toward Mia, eyeing her with disgust. “Her.”
Mia gritted her teeth, ready to snap back, but held her tongue, preferring to observe what would happen next. Oliver stepped between them, raising his hands slightly to defuse the tension.
“Listen to me, Diggle. I could have sent you home, but I didn’t. Do you know why?”
Diggle stared at Oliver, incredulous.
“No, but I’ll take a guess: You’ve finally lost your mind from running around in that ridiculous costume with your bow. You had lose your head in this island of you.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes, his tone growing more serious.
“No, Diggle. That island didn't make me lose anything. In the contrary, it had give me something.”
“Oh yeah?” Diggle shot back with biting sarcasm.
“And what did it give you? Archery lessons and...” He shot a pointed look at Mia, his voice low and growling. “How to team up with a murderer?”
Mia opened her mouth, ready to respond with a mix of anger and sarcasm, but Oliver was quicker. He stepped forward, his tone as sharp as a blade. “No. I found clarity there.”
Diggle raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Clarity, huh?”
Oliver nodded, crossing his arms.
“Yes. Starling City is on its last breath, poisoned by criminals who will stop at nothing to stay rich and powerful. They exploit the innocent and leave them to died.”
“And what do you plan to do about it?” Diggle shot back, a hint of defiance in his voice. “You two gonna kill them one by one?”
Oliver let a dramatic pause hang in the air, his expression darkening. “I will not said kill them. Neutralize them.” He straightened slightly, his voice taking on a new intensity. “And not just the two of us. I want you to join us. You’re a soldier, a special forces guy who’s fought in real combat. You’re perfect for this. You are a soldier Diggle, just like me.”
Diggle took a step back, incredulous and furious. “Oliver, you’re not a soldier. You’re a criminal.”
Lian Yu, date unknown
Like all the other days, the jungle of Lian Yu was oppressive. Mia moved through the trees, her bow in hand, her eyes scanning the area. For months now, the island had become her world, a hostile place where each day was a lesson in survival. She had think a lot about her Dad and his journey in this island. How did he survive here it's beyond her. She had training before, she had live crisis, she had lost her brother, her dad, her mom, her bestfriends, everyone. And even all of that hadn't prepared her for this island. Here, every rock, every tree, every sound can be a treath. She had become paranoiad.
She had learned to trust only herself… well almost.
She briefly crossed a familiar trace: an arrow lodged in a tree trunk. Not any arrow. She knew this sort of arrow. Yao Fei wasn’t far. In the past months, their paths had crossed again, forging a sort of silent truce. Slade Wilson, though unpredictable and often threatening, was also part of this complex equation. Some days they want to kill each other, other days they work together. While these temporary alliances weren’t real partnerships, they were enough to maintain a fragile balance.
These memories swirled in Mia’s mind when she heard voices in the distance. She stopped dead in her tracks, her heart racing. That was not Yao Fei or Slade voices. The mercenary, they had come again, she was sure of that.
Curious, she swiftly climbed a tree, concealing herself in the foliage to observe the scene. Below, she spotted Yao Fei and Slade, surrounded by three armed men.
Slade was on the ground, a pool of blood spreading beneath his left leg. He had clearly been shot. Yao Fei, standing a few meters away from him, had one of the men in his sights with his bow, but he was outnumbered. The other two men had their rifles aimed at him, ready to shoot at the slightest misstep. They were not the same that before. This one, they are clearly her to kill.
Mia felt a wave of panic rise within her. She knew this situation might not have happened if she hadn’t traveled to the past. Was it the butterfly effect? Had her presence altered the natural course of events? If Yao Fei died here, what would happen to Oliver? What would happen to Earth?
She clenched her teeth, her rapid breathing betraying her inner conflict. She knew that every decision she made could have irreversible consequences. But she couldn’t just stand there, motionless, watching Yao Fei die. She was sure of that.
She instinctively nocked an arrow, but her hands trembled slightly. She knew that if she intervened here and now, she wouldn’t have a choice. She would have to kill the assailants. It's them or we. Kill. That word petrified her. Until now, she had always managed to avoid that irreversible act. Nyssa’s training, her meeting with her father—everything came rushing back. Oliver had taught her to neutralize, not to take a life. Even when she had want to kill Grant, he had talk her out.
A cold sweat ran down her back as her mind scrambled under the weight of the decision. She didn’t want to, but could she really look away? Can she take this huge risk? Can she play with Oliver life?
Her moment of reflection was broken by a scream. One of Fryers’ men struck Yao Fei hard, throwing him to the ground. Anger and instinct took over.
Without thinking any further, Mia released her first arrow. The projectile pierced the throat of one of the men, who collapsed with a gurgle. The other two turned toward her, their weapons ready, but she didn’t hesitate. A second arrow struck the second man square in the chest before he could fire.
The last man hesitated for a fraction of a second. That was enough for Mia to notch a third arrow, which embedded itself in his forehead. The silence fell abruptly.
Mia remained perched on her branch, frozen. Her heart pounded in her chest, her ears ringing. She had just killed. Not in immediate self-defense, not by accident. She had chosen. She had killed. She had killed three man. In cold blood.
She slowly descended from the tree, her legs trembling slightly under her weight. As she approached the bodies, the sight of the arrows lodged in their flesh made her feel nauseous. Her hands shook as she put away her bow. She's gonna be sick.
Yao Fei slowly straightened up, casting a heavy look at her.
"Thank you," he said simply, but his tone was far from reassuring, his tone had the weight of what happend in.
Slade, despite the obvious pain from his wound, managed a bitter smile. "Congratulations, kid. Welcome to the real world."
These words hit her like a slap. She took a step back, breathless. It wasn’t relief she felt, nor pride. It was something else, a dull, visceral pain that twisted her stomach.
She turned her back on Slade and Yao Fei, walking away from the scene without a word. Her steps were heavy, her mind clouded. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she shoved them back with rage. Crying wouldn’t help. She did what she had to do. What Oliver needed of her. What Earth needed of her. She was on Lian Yu, and here you had to survive by any means. Oliver had to survive by any means.
But in the back of her mind, a voice lingered, low and cruel: she had crossed a line. A line that could never be erased.
Starling City, Oliver's hideout, 2012
Oliver sat at his table, his fingers idly playing with the pages of the notebook containing "the list." His eyes scanned the names, a mixture of concentration and uncertainty on his face. He seemed lost in thought, struggling with something.
A sudden noise startled him. He sat up quickly, ready to grab his bow, but he relaxed slightly when he saw Mia enter. She was dressed in her Blackstar costume, the hood pulled over her head and the mask covering half her face. Oliver frowned, his gaze hardening briefly.
Mia, unfazed, continued to approach. As she reached him, she removed her mask and hood, revealing a calm but closed expression.
"John isn't there? You are sure about that? There is no risk? What are you doing?" she asked, glancing at the notebook.
Oliver diverted his attention from Mia and turned his gaze back to the list.
"John is not a treath. But, I noticed that one of the names was crossed off earlier tonight," he said softly. He turned the notebook so she could see. The name was in black letters: Justin Claybourne.
Mia crossed her arms, her posture defensive. "You knew perfectly well I was targeting the names on the list, Oliver. I told you that from the start."
Oliver nodded slowly, but his expression remained tense.
"Indeed, but..." He trailed off, grabbed the computer mouse, and brought up a page on the screen.
A name appeared in capital letters: Simon Morrison.
Mia felt her heart race. Oliver slowly turned to her, his gaze piercing. "Simon Morrison. You were looking for that name when I arrived with Diggle."
Mia stood still for a moment, trying to control the emotions threatening to break through. "So what?" she replied, feigning indifference.
Oliver stood up, his tone becoming firmer.
"That name isn’t on the list, Mia."
She didn’t respond immediately, looking away to avoid his gaze. But Oliver didn’t give up. He pressed on, his voice laced with anger and disbelief.
"The list is about criminals who are destroying this city. People who only care about their wealth and power. Simon Morrison doesn’t belong on it. His father was but not him. He hasn’t done anything. He’s innocent."
Mia clenched her fists, struggling against the urge to tell him everything. She knew who Simon was—or rather, who he would become: Adrian Chase, the future Prometheus. She knew the horrors he would inflict on Oliver, on Williams. Williams didn't have his mother because of this monster. She want to scream it at Oliver. Make him understand that Simon is anything but a innoncent. But she couldn’t say a word. These events were part of a future Oliver shouldn’t know about. Not now.
"It’s not that simple," she finally said, her voice lower than she wanted it to be.
Oliver stepped forward, his anger rising. "Then explain it to me, Mia. Explain why you’re trying to kill someone who’s done nothing."
She wanted it to bad. Tell him everything. But she couldn't. She want to save him, but she know that he must first really start is journey before she could save him from the pain that come. He is now only the Hood. And this is not the Hood that the universe need, it's the Green Arrow. Her heart broke, because she know how this night will end. She know it but maybe there is hope. Maybe. So, she responded to Oliver.
"I don’t owe you an explanation," she retorted, her own voice rising.
Oliver stared at her with relentless intensity, his words cutting through the air like a blade.
"What you said to Diggle, is it true?" he asked, his voice rough and sharp. "You claim to kill to protect the innocent. But is that really what you're doing, Mia? Or is it just an excuse to convince yourself that your actions have meaning?"
The words of Adrian Chase. Oliver used them against Mia without knowing. Was Adrian right? Did her dad really enjoy killing? Did sje enjoy killing? Mia opened her mouth, searching for an answer, but nothing came out. She felt her throat tighten under the weight of her emotions. Her gaze, unable to hold Oliver's, turned away, focusing on the floor as if she were searching for an escape. No, she don't enjoy killing.
"Look at me!" Oliver's voice rose, laced with burning anger.
She slowly lifted her eyes, but the hardness she found there pinned her in place. This look. It's the one that he give to all this criminel that hurt the city. And this look, he is giving it to her. That's hurt. that's hurt so much.
He shook his head, struggling to contain the disappointment evident on his face. "Simon Morrison is innocent, Mia. Killing an innocent is becoming exactly what Diggle thinks you are. A cold blood murderer Why Mia. Why do you want to go against him. Juste tell me why."
The words hit her like an arrow straight to the heart. She felt her breath quicken, her mind faltering. Oliver, her dad, he was thinking that she was just some murderer. She didn't even did it yet. She wanted to scream that he was wrong, that he didn’t understand, but she knew she couldn’t tell him everything. Not now. She must be strong. She need to forget her feeling. This is not her dad. This man is not her dad. He is Oliver Queen. Not him. She need to tell herself that or she gonna cry.
She briefly closed her eyes, trying to stifle the turmoil that threatened to consume her. Not dad, not dad, not dad. She keeped telling herself that.
When she opened them again, her pupils gleamed with a cold intensity, her gaze hardened by the years of experience she had forged on her earth, on Lian Yu, in Gotham, and with Bruce.
"it's not your buisness Oliver. One day, you'll understand why I do what I do, but for now, i don't own you anything." she finally said, her voice icy, distant, controlled. Each word was an armor, a shield to protect her shattered heart.
Oliver furrowed his brow, his expression revealing only cold, unyielding anger. "If you don't want to explain yourself, I think we had say to eatch other all that was to said. I don't want a murderer in my city. Blackstar is gonna leave my city tonight or she will be added to the list. "
The words shook her mask. She felt a sharp pain spreading through her chest, but she gathered everything she had learned on Lian Yu, in Gotham, from Bruce, to keep standing. She couldn’t falter now.
"I see" responded Mia.
She took a step back, her shoulders straight, her face closed off. She grabbed her bow and quiver, slow, calculated movements. She know what she have to do. She will not break in front of him. With heavy step, she strat to walk out. But when she turned toward the door, a crack appeared in her armor.
Her hand trembled slightly as she grasped the doorknob. Without turning around, she spoke, her voice barely audible:
"You still have the communicator if you ever need me. I’ll be come for you, Oliver, if you need me. Always."
Her voice betrayed a desperate sincerity, and Mia knew she was croying but she will not show it. She opened the door and vanished into the shadows, her heart heavy.
Oliver stood still, frozen, his mind in turmoil. He didn't think it will come to that. His thoughts swirled around his own words, his own choices. He wondered if he had been too harsh, but he refused to let guilt take hold and silenced the little voice whispering that he was a hypocrite.
Blüdhaven, Dick Grayson’s temporary apartment, a few weeks later, 2012
The dim light of Dick's apartment bathed the room in a warm atmosphere. Mia sat on the couch, her legs crossed beneath her, a carton of Chinese noodles in one hand and a pair of chopsticks in the other. On the coffee table in front of them, a dozen half-empty cartons testified to their feast.
"...and then Garth turned to her and said, 'My hero.' You should've seen Donna's face," Dick was saying.
"Seriously, those two. Do you think Garth will ever have the guts to talk to Donna?" Mia asked between bites, raising a mocking eyebrow.
Dick, seated in a nearby chair, shrugged with a smirk. "Garth? No. I’d give him at least another year before he admits anything. At this rate, Donna will probably have to make the first move."
Mia burst out laughing, setting her carton down on the coffee table. "An uber-powerful Atlantean scared of Donna Troy… It's almost cute."
Dick chuckled. "Cute, yeah. But also kind of pathetic. If he can fight giant sea monsters, surely he can confess his feelings, right?"
They laughed heartily, forgetting all about the eveyrthing around them for one seconde. But soon, the sound of the TV reminded them of the harshness of the outside world.
"...in a surprising turn of events in Starling City, Derek Reston, a member of the Quinte Flush Royal gang, was shot by the vigilante known as 'The Hood.' Reston was wanted for several armed robberies..."
Mia stopped laughing, her smile fading. She stared at the screen, a brief flicker of emotion passing through her eyes. Mia quickly looked away from the screen, her jaw tightening imperceptibly. Dick, noticing the change in her demeanor, furrowed his brow but said nothing. He knew something had happened in Starling City, something big. He didn't see Mia this close off since he meet her. But Mia refused to talk about it, and Mia was stubborn, more that Dick, maybe more than Bruce when she want it. Yeah, Bruce, a other one close off.
Meanwhile, on the TV, the news anchor continued: "Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Attorney General and two key witnesses in the Rothman case were killed in the federal building. Authorities suspect organized criminal involvement, though details remain scarce."
The anchor went on: "In Gotham, the situation remains tense as local authorities..."
Dick sighed loudly and turned off the TV with the remote control.
"Hey!" protested Mia, looking exasperated. "Why'd you do that?"
Dick leaned back in his chair, raising a hand to calm her. "If you want to know what's going on in Gotham, go ask Bruce."
A heavy silence settled, laden with unspoken meaning.
"Still pissed at Bruce?" she finally said, crossing her arms and sinking further into the couch.
"Always, and that’s not about to change," Dick replied, his tone sharp, but his expression betraying a hint of weariness.
Mia stared at him for a moment before responding, her tone biting: "You could at least try talking to him, you know. He's sort of your dad. I would do anything if this mean that i can talk to my dad."
Dick gritted his teeth, clearly irritated. "Bruce is not my dad ! It's not the same. And, your dad is dead Mia. Like mine. Bruce and I… it’s complicated. You know it. Oh, sorry Mia, i souldn't have say that."
Mia raised an eyebrow, a sarcastic smile barely touching her lips. "Oh, so now you go all big bat on me when i try to be the gentle one. No kidding Dick, you and Bruce? Complicated? Trust me, I know. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid all of Gotham like this. Have you even heard from Barbara recently?"
"No. Barbara and I… it's... it's complicated," Dick replied, clearly uncomfortable.
"And i'm the cold one. Seen to me that you, Dick, give the cold shoulder to everyone in Gotham. You know you can talk to me about it, right? " Mia offered, but she didn’t press. She knew Dick didn’t need much encouragement to talk when he felt the need.
Dick stared at her for a moment, his irritation gradually giving way to fatigue. He wasn't fair to Mia. She is always here for him since years. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "It’s not just Bruce, Gotham, and Barbara... It’s this gang I’m trying to take down. They’re organized, smart, and always one step ahead. And the number of their victims just keeps growing. No matter how hard I chase them, they always slip away. And I have this bad feeling, like… I don’t know. Never mind, I’m rambling."
Mia set down her takeout carton, her expression growing more serious. "And know, i have a bad feeling about this. Your gut feelings are rarely wrong, Dick."
He nodded, his face grim. "Yeah. Well, this one... it's really bad Han."
A silence settled between them, but the atmosphere had shifted, becoming heavier. After a moment, Mia gently placed a hand on his arm.
"You'll make it through. Well, If you stop comparating me to scroundel. I’ve known you long enough to know you always find a way. I have complete faith in you, Dick."
Mia knew the hero Dick was destined to become, the hero he already was. Dick was a man of integrity, honesty, and deep goodness. He seemed to be a beacon of positivity in this dark world, even though the past few months had made him seem more on edge.
Dick’s gaze briefly met Mia’s. He saw in her eyes all the trust she had in him. Their eyes locked, the space between them suddenly feeling much closer.
" I..." start to tell Dick but Mia withdrew her hand, slightly nervous, and leaned forward to grab another carton of noodles. Before either of them could say anything else, the apartment doorbell rang.
Dick stood up quickly, breaking the tense moment.
"I’ll go see who it is."
Mia nodded, her demeanor feigning relaxation, and returned to her food.
When Dick opened the door, he found Hank and Dawn standing there.
"Hey!" Hank called with a teasing grin. He looked over Dick’s shoulder and spotted Mia. "Are we interrupting something?"
Dick, apparently oblivious to the insinuation, simply replied, "No."
However, Mia put down her chopsticks, standing with a cold expression. "Dawn, do you want to be a aunt?"
Dawn frowned, confused. " I don't have a brother or sister. Why?"
"Because if your dear Hank keeps making questionable jokes, he might lose the ability to have kids."
Dawn burst out laughing, shaking her head.
"Hank, you really should stop teasing Mia. She’s going to hurt you for real one of these days."
Hank took a small step back, raising his hands in surrender, but a sly grin still lingered on his lips.
Dick closed the door behind them and turned to Mia, Dawn approching Dick to place a kiss in his cheek.
"Come on, calm down. It’s just Hank."
"Exactly," Mia retorted, crossing her arms and shooting Hank a sharp look, which he wisely chose not to respond to this time.
Chapter 12: Episode 2 : Chapter 5
Notes:
Well, i'm a little late for this one but true to be told, i rework some of my plan and change thinks, and before i know it, one month had passed and i had only work on the later stuff and forget to published earlier stuff.
So, I'm sorry.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter
Chapter Text
My name is Mia Queen. After spending five years in the past, I came back to the past with one goal: to save the Earth.
But I realized I have a second goal to save my father. To save him, I’ll have to do think i don't want to.
I must become someone else. I must become something else. I must become Blackstar.
Blüdhaven, Dick Grayson’s apartment, same day, 2012
"So, what are you doing here? Aside from making Mia upset?" Dick asked, placing a hand on Dawn's hip, clearly uncomfortable. He hadn't forgotten what had almost happened with Mia just moments ago.
Hank, oblivious to Dick's discomfort, loudly set down the large box he was carrying before answering:
"Seriously, man, you forgot?"
Dick turned to Mia, who shrugged just as lost as he was. To be honest, Mia didn’t really care about the reason for their visit. All that mattered was that they’d arrived at the right moment to interrupt... something. She wasn’t quite sure what had almost happened between her and Dick, but one thing was certain: it was better if it didn’t go any further.
"God, Dick, it's Garth's birthday. You don’t celebrate a fish turning 90 every day! You said we could do it here," Hank explained making great hand gesture toward the box.
Right, Garth's birthday. They ask if they could celebrated it here weeks ago.
"Right. I forgot."
Dawn shot him a worried look.It was not like Dick to forget something about a teammate.
"You should get some rest, Dick. You've been way too tense lately. You are working too much "
She took his hand, trying to guide him toward the bedroom.
Mia immediately took the opportunity to divert attention and ease the atmosphere:
"Good idea. You and Dawn should go take a nap. Hanky and I will take care of getting the apartment ready."
Hank, who was rummaging through the box, and was about to said sometgink about " a nap" looked up, outraged.
"Hanky? I never told you you could call me Hanky!"
Mia raised an eyebrow mockingly.
"What? Maybe you prefer Hankychou?"
"Mia..." he warned in a cautious tone, armed himself with a banner, not very treatenning in Mia's opinion.
With a sly smile, she pressed on relentlessly:
"Oh, wait, I’ve got something even better... Hankynounet."
Dawn sighed, amused by the exchange, then pulled Dick along with her before the conversation could derail any further.
"Come on, Dick. Let’s leave the kids to play with the balloons."
Dick take a last glance toward Mia. She was alright, totally cool. Maybe it was him that had see to much in what happend earlier.
Withou any further resistance, he followed Dawn. A nap sound good.
In the living room, Hank grabbed a bunch of balloons from the box while Mia watched the hallway door close behind Dick and Dawn. The apartment fell into a brief silence, only disturbed by the rustling of plastic and the sound of tape crinkling.
"Hey, if you ever decide to go all in with Boy Wonder, I’ve got your back."
Mia, who was about to tie a banner, stopped dead in her tracks and sighed, already tired of Hank.
"What are you talking about?"
Hank tied a balloon to a weight, let it float slightly before stabilizing it, and said, feigning innocence:
"Well, you know. You and Dick. What we interrupted when we arrived..."
He raised his eyebrows exaggeratedly, his expression more than suggestive.
Mia raised an eyebrow in return before turning away to head toward the kitchen counter. A heavy silence settled in. Then, suddenly—
BANG
The balloon Hank was holding exploded, and a knife lodged itself into the wall just behind him.
"FUCK, are you crazy?!" he shouted, quickly releasing the other balloons, which soared toward the ceiling. "You could’ve killed me!"
Mia stepped forward slowly, her piercing gaze fixed on him. Her voice, calm, only made it sound more threatening:
"If I’d wanted to kill you, Hank, you’d already be dead. Never forget that."
She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.
Hank, still in shock, watched her go before reacting:
"Hey! Where do you think you’re going? There are still plenty of decorations to put up!"
Mia slipped her jacket on, placed her hand on the doorknob, and, before leaving, shot him one last look.
"You’re a big boy, Hank. You’ll manage on your own."
The door slammed behind her before he could say anything.
"I don't know how you do it Dick. This girl is more bitchy that Bruce" he said to himslef before going back in his baby blue balloons. He hope that Garth would appreciate the gesture and it will remind him of Atlantis.
Lian Yu, years earlier, date unknown
The mission they had set for themselves was relatively simple. Fryer had left the island, according to Fei and Wilson’s observations. They had offered Mia to join them in an attempt to steal one of the seaplanes and try to escape the island.
They should have suspected that the planes were heavily guarded.
The fight had been long, despite the few mercenaries present. The acrid smell of gunpowder and blood still lingered in the air, and Mia could still feel the adrenaline burning through her veins. Her bow was still raised, an arrow nocked. Suddenly, a noise caught her attention. She spun around sharply and aimed at a mercenary who was trying to flee.
This time, Mia didn’t hesitate. She didn’t want to risk him coming back with reinforcements. Her fingers were about to release the string when suddenly, a knife flew through the air and sank brutally into the mercenary's forearm. The man screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground.
Mia froze, surprised, and turned to find Yao Fei standing a few feet away, impassive.
"What was your intention? To kill him?" he asked, his tone calm but firm.
Mia pressed her lips together and lowered her bow slightly, frustrated. Yes, that was what she gonna do. Find the need to explain herself, she responded :
"He was going to escape. He would’ve probably come back with more."
Yao Fei approached the wounded mercenary, placed a foot on his chest to pin him down, and yanked the knife out of his arm. The man groaned in pain but didn’t move.
"See? No escape. You had take a liking to killing very quick. Dead, he’s of no use. Alive, we can interrogate him."
Mia opened her mouth, ready to protest, but Yao Fei cut her off with his words:
"You and Slade don’t get along, yet, you’re a lot alike."
It wasn’t even a judgment from Yao Fei, just facts, but those words froze Mia in place, her stomach twisting instantly.
"Why, why would you said that?!"
Yao Fei only take a quick look at her before looking back at the mercenary.
"You strike quickly. Hard. Without merci."
Behind them, Slade burst into laughter, amused.
"The old man isn’t entirely wrong, kid. You’re effective, and you’re starting to get interesting. I’m thinking we might keep you after all. Well, if you drop the killing for Fei and me."
Mia felt a shiver of disgust run up her spine. She shot a furious glance at Yao Fei.
"I’m nothing like him!" she spat.
She isn"t a murderer. She wasn't like him or Grant or JJ. She didn't kill teamate like Zoey.
Yao Fei didn’t respond immediately. He wiped the blade of his knife on the mercenary’s pants, then locked eyes with Mia.
"There’s nothing wrong with being like Slade."
Mia couldn’t help but respond.
"But he’s a murderer, a monster!"
"Really? Why do you say that?" Yao Fei asked, a mock expression of interest on his face.
"He’s just waiting for the perfect opportunity to kill me!"
"Like you want to do to him?"
"No ! It's not the same !"
Yao Fei didn’t contradict Mia’s words, but the next sentence, one from Slade, stayed etched in Mia’s mind for years to come.
"Really? Kid, that guard would have had time to put the bullet he was aiming at your pretty blonde head if what you’re saying was true. If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead, kid. Never forget that." Slade had said, pointing to one of the guards who had clearly been shot by Slade’s sword.
Silence fell.
It wasn’t just the comparison to Slade that haunted her, but the fact that he was right. He could have killed her. He didn’t. And that thought made her sick. Not only did Slade approve of her methods, but she owed him her life.
Without another word, Mia placed her bow on her back and walked away from the camp. She needed to think.
Blüdhaven, Dick Grayson’s apartment, same day, 2012
The atmosphere was strangely calm, despite the birthday party that was supposed to start. The decorations were in place, balloons floated gently with the air currents, and a faint smell of cake mixed with the scent of beer. Hank and Dawn were chatting casually on the couch, while Garth kept casting lost glances toward the rooms.
Rooms where Donna had taken refuge at the start of the festivities.
And Mia... Mia was sitting on one of the lounge chairs on the balcony, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out at the city in the distance.
She was there, but at the same time, she wasn’t.
Dick had noticed her through the large window. When she come back after whatever happend with Hank, she had go straigth there. She had been there for a while, alone. Her distant look, clenched jaw, the way she seemed to close herself off... It was subtle, but after so many years of being by her side, he could spot the signs.
So, while the others were distracted, he opened the sliding door and slipped quietly to her side, taking the adjacent lounge chair.
"Hey. If you don’t hurry up, Hank will have his ass kick by Garth over beer instead of you."
Mia blinked and turned her head slightly toward him, surprised, clearly not having heard the words he just spoke.
"Huh?"
"It’s not like you to not pay attention to everything around you. Want to talk about it?"
She frowned.
"Talk about what, Dick, Hank’s beers?"
Dick didn’t respond right away. He shrugged lightly, leaned against the wall next to her, and crossed his arms.
"About what’s bothering you. It's not Hank. You are too smart to take anythink he said for the true."
Mia turned her gaze back to the horizon. Dick was an angel. No wonder all of Gotham called him Boy Wonder. And he was right, it's was not about what Hank said. It was about her, and Dick. She knew how many times Dick had gone back on his principles since she’d come into his life. Despite his brutal and vengeful side, Dick was a good man, a truly decent person, someone who didn’t kill. Mia couldn’t hold a candle to him. She was ruthless, and dangerouse. She was like Slade. Acte fist, think later once she is in the move. Dick already had enough on his plate with the gang he was tracking, defending the city, his fight with Bruce, and trying to find his parents' killer. He didn’t need to carry her problems too.
"I’m not bothered. I’m fine. You should go back to the others."
"You know I was partly raised by ‘The’ detective, right? I know when someone’s lying to me."
Dick flashed a wry smile and moved to her lounge chair to sit next to Mia, gently nudging her shoulder as he spoke. Mia couldn’t suppress a smile, half-amused, half-annoyed, and shook her head slightly.
A silence settled between them. Mia didn’t know what to say to Dick, and Dick didn’t push her, he waited. He knew Mia, he knew that right then, she was sorting through her thoughts to decide what she could say and what she couldn’t—or didn’t want to. It had been this way since she came into his life. Mia was an enigma that couldn’t be solved. It's one of the many things that he like about her. Try to solve the puzzle.
"I... I don’t really know." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "I have questions. About myself. About what I’m supposed to do. About... about my father."
Mia couldn’t say more to Dick. She wished so badly that she could tell him everything. Tell him that being rejected by Oliver had hurt her deeper than she was willing to admit. Tell him that she no longer knew if her mission was the right one, if what she does is right or wrong. That she know that she need to become something else, but that she fear to totally lose herself.
Dick tilted his head slightly, attentive.
"He’s in Starling City, right?"
Mia froze. This couldn’t be, Dick couldn’t have connected the dots. He couldn’t know that Oliver was her father.
"What?"
"The one responsible for your father’s death. He’s in Starling City, isn’t he? That’s why you’ve been obsessed with that city for years?"
Dick was too close, far too close to the truth. Was it so wrong if she told him everything? Bruce have warn Mia about it. He will stop helping her if Dick become involved . Not knowing what to said, my open her mouth but before Mia could speak, Dick spoke again.
"You know, if I had the chance to get my hands on the person responsible for my parents' death, I want to ... honestly, I don’t know what I’d wante to do. I don’t know. I’d probably make sure they never get out of prison."
Of course, he understood that. It wasn’t the truth, but it was close enough. After all, Oliver was responsible for his own death; he had sacrificed himself for the universe. In a way, Dick was right—Mia was obsessed with Starling City, with Oliver. But things weren’t that simple.
"And what if prison wasn’t an option? What if you knew that no matter what you did, this person would still tear themselves apart, if you knew that no matter what happened, no matter what you did, the outcome would always be the same?"
Dick studied her for a moment, as if trying to figure out what she wasn’t saying. He could tell there was more in her words, something deep that she wasn’t sharing. It was hard to give proper advice with only this much to go on. So Dick simply said what he thought.
"Listen... I don’t know what’s out there, what happened. I don’t know how I’d react if I were face-to-face with the person responsible for my parents. But I know one thing: I wouldn’t run."
Mia clenched her fists. She hadn’t run from Starling City—Oliver had banned her. He had forbidden her to set foot there.
"It’s not what I’m doing. I was forbidden to set foot there."
"So what?"
She looked up, wary.
Dick stepped slightly away from the wall and looked her directly in the eyes.
"Mia, do you remember what you told me the night I decided to leave Bruce? You told me that Bruce didn’t get to decide for me. That I was an adult, and if I wanted to work with Hank and Dawn, he didn’t have a say. You told me that if I wanted to be independent, I should just do it. You told me I didn’t owe him anything."
Mia stood frozen in place. Dick was right; that was exactly what she had told him. Anb she know where Dick is going. Why was it so hard to go against Oliver? Was it how Dick had feel when he had against Bruce? How had Dick done it?
"That day, why did you listen to me, Dick? Why did you leave?"
"Because I knew that unlike Bruce, at that time, what you were telling me was in my best interest. You didn’t want to protect me or spare me or keep me under your wing, you wanted me to find my own way. You trusted that i could take the right decision about my life and you had trust in me. And i know that if had I fall, you where there to catch me. "
Mia could only nod. She had always had Dick's best interests in mind during their conversation. And of cause, she would be there for him. Anytime. He is her only friend.
Seeing that Mia accepted his words, Dick decided to go all in.
"Mia. Being here is eating you up from the inside. You’re not someone who can just passively wait for things to happen. And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you always find an excuse to not join us on our outings. You don't know who you are anymore. That's ok, not knowing. But what is not ok is to hide. "
Dick was right. Since she had taken refuge at his place, she had avoided going out with the Titans; she didn’t want her reputation to rub off on them.
"I don't know if i can do it" she finally said honnestly.
Suddenly, she felt Dick’s hand on hers.
"Simple. You go and fly. And if you fall, I would be there to catch you"
That was her word to him. Two years ago, that night. Before she can said anything, Dick said :
"Go fly little bird. I’ll make an excuse for your absence with the others."
Mia turned to Dick and locked her gaze with his. Her words. She rememberd what she was thinking that night. And she know that he was thinking the same now. They would always be there for eatch other. He wasn’t judging her, wasn’t condemning her. He understood.
Starling City, Arrow Lair, 2012
"Diggle?" Oliver's worried voice echoed.
Someone was in the lair. Oliver could feel it. He suddenly saw Diggle, slumped in a chair, unconscious. Oliver rushed toward him, but a voice froze him in his tracks.
"He's just unconscious," Mia said, stepping out from the shadows.
Before Oliver could respond, and unfazed by the arrow aimed directly at her, Mia continued:
"We need to talk."
Chapter 13: Episode 3 : Chapter 1
Chapter Text
Lian Yu, date unknow
Mia wandered aimlessly on the island, lost in her thoughts. She hadn't returned to Slade and Yao Fei since what she guessed had been weeks. She was still shaken by the comparison Yao Fei had made between her and Slade. It was as though the old warrior's words kept echoing in her head. Slade... She owed him her life. But that didn’t make her any less disgusted by what he would become, by what she knew of him. Deathstroke, the monster of the future. The first stone in Zoe’s death.
She stopped for a moment, her eyes fixed on the horizon, but everything seemed blurry. Mia wiped away her tears angrily, but their flow had already started.
This island, this place, these men... Everything reminded her of those she had lost. Zoe, Oliver, Nora, William. She had been on this island with William.
Where was William now? How old was he?
Why had she ended up here, on this damn island with this man?
She would have preferred never to cross paths with him, never to see him again, never to think about what he would become. It would have been so easy to put an arrow right through his heart. But Mia knew she couldn’t. She had to keep him alive, for Oliver, so that Green Arrow could exist.
Her thoughts were a storm in her head, and Mia tried to figure out what she was supposed to do. Save the future... Don’t change anything until the right time... But how could she not intervene when the end was already written in her memories?
A sound of breaking branches made her jump. She looked up too late. She felt the dart lodge in her neck.
Everything happened in a total chaos. Mia tried to run, but she already knew her chances were slim. A mercenary lunged at her, grabbing her violently by the arm. She reacted instantly, landing a powerful kick to his stomach, but her attacker didn’t let go.
“Let me go!” she screamed, trying to break free, but the grip of her opponent was too strong, and she felt the drug already taking effect on her body.
She elbowed him in the face. He grunted in pain but didn’t release his hold. Another man came up from behind and locked her in a bear hug, forcing her to be captured.
Rage boiled within her, but a part of Mia knew that struggling more violently would only worsen her situation. Her eyes scanned the scene, looking for an escape, a solution.
She couldn’t afford to give up.
“Let me go, damn it!” she screamed again, thrashing like a wild animal, but she could feel her mind starting to shut down. Before she could attempt a final move, she felt a sharp blow to her head. Darkness enveloped her.
Starling City, 2012, four weeks later.
Mia was jerked awake when a bucket of icy water splashed over her.
She emerged from unconsciousness, trying to sit up, but the pain in her wrists stopped her cold. She was tied up. And the ropes were tight, efficient. Impossible to break free. She gritted her teeth, focusing on her breathing. Breathe and analyze.
Alright. What did she remember?
Her last contact with the outside: Simon Claybourne. She had managed to track him down, still in Starling City. She’d followed him from the rooftops, and then... everything went black.
No, there had been something before that. A dart in her neck. She’d just had time to grab it before the poison took effect. Fast, efficient. She hadn’t seen her attacker.
Mia closed her eyes for a moment, trying to piece her thoughts together.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes again and made a move to stand up, but sat back down abruptly.
Now, she had to know where she was, and to do that, she needed to know who had done this to her.
The options weren’t that many. There were only four people who could have surprised her like this and had reason to do so.
The first was Talia al Ghul. But Mia shook her head. No, Talia and her didn't cut their ties in a good way, but Talia would have approached her first, and would have drugged her only if she had refused to cooperate. Or kill her. Anyway, this wasn’t Talia.
The League of Assassins, maybe, but unlikely... The League souldn’t had made its appearance in Starling City yet, and wasn’t supposed to for another two or three years. Mia's actions could have changed the timeline, but not to that extent. Ras wouldn't send his people just for a simple archer in Starling City street. Impossible.
Third hypothesis: Oliver. Mia clenched her fists. The very thought that Oliver might be responsible made her blood boil. She really hope it wasn't him. Their last encounter, several weeks ago, hadn’t been very conclusive but she didn't think he would do something like that. Each had stood their ground—Mia refusing to explain why she was tracking Claybourne, and Oliver refusing to let Blackstar stay in Starling City. Mia had pretended to accept his terms, but since then, she’d been roaming the city’s streets at night in a different outfit, a gift from Talia when their paths had parted. Oliver couldn't know that she was one of the two black archer roaming the street of Starling City. But, one persone could reconnized the outfit she use. And this outfit brought Mia to her fourth hypothesis.
Malcolm Merlyn. He was the only one in town who could know that the crimes attributed to the second archer couldn’t be his. He must have realized that someone was impersonating him in the streets of Starling City. Damn.
She was certain now—it was Merlyn.
She didn't think he will catch up so fast.
Her heart skipped a beat in her chest. If it was him, she knew she was in serious trouble. He had no mercy, no limits. And she couldn’t kill him. Not now. Not until Thea knew the truth about her father. She couldn’t rob her aunt of the chance to know her real father, even if he was a psychopathic archer who would use her.
If she didn't play this well, she could broke the entery timeline.
Frack
She had to get out of here, faster that she was thinking first.
Mia scanned her surroundings. The place had all the clichés: an abandoned, dusty factory, just like the dozens you could find in The Glades. Rusted machinery, broken windows, and a heavy silence. Nothing too surprising.
She tugged at her bindings, but to no avail. She was going to have to figure out a way to make Merlyn untie her himself.
And then what? She focused on the room, taking in every detail to find an escape, or at least a weakness in the layout.
She didn't see any.
She needed to be carefull. Buying time. Speak with him.
Suddenly, the door opened, and two men walked in. They approached her with threatening looks.
"Well, well, well. You see that Josh? What a beautifull sweetheart we have here. So, Bella, things are pretty simple. See my buddy here? He’s been given orders to mess with your pretty little face if you don’t answer my questions, but you gonna answer rigth? Would be a shame to broke your so nice face." one of them growled, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he nodded toward his accomplice, who held a wrench in his hand.
Mia could have rolled her eyes if the situation weren’t so dire for her. The cliché.
Not backing down, Mia replied confidently,
"I bet your buddy won’t be able to play mechanic with me. Your boss will want to talk to me himself before he could get his dirty hands on me."
The man stepped closer to Mia, placing his hands on the arms of the chair, touching Mia's arms.
"You don’t get it, sweetheart. I’m the boss here," he said, bringing his hand to her face and starting to play with a lock of Mia’s hair.
Unimpressed, Mia raised an eyebrow.
"If you put another finger on me, I’ll make sure to rid the Earth of your future offspring."
"And how do you plan to do that, sweetheart? Let me remind you, you’re tied to that chair," the man replied, resting his hand on her face.
Mia wasted no time and twisted her face to bite down hard on his hand. The man jump back.
"Shit, you little bitch, I’ll teach you some manners."
The man grabbed the tool of his friends and start to approched Mia, but before he could go any further, Mia, with a sly smile, simply said,
"I want to talk to Al Sa-her."
The man didn’t pay attention to her words, playing with the wrench from his friend, but before he could take another step toward Mia, the door opened abruptly. A man entered the room. The two thugs froze instantly.
"Leave us." The voice was calm, but the underlying threat was clear.
The two men didn’t argue. In an instant, they turned and left, the door slamming shut behind them with a dull thud. Mia turned toward the intruder, her eyes scanning him intently. She knew his story all too well. There he was, standing before her, in the guise of the Dark Archer. Malcolm Merlyn.
"How are you." he simply asked, the treath clear in his voice.
"You would believe me even if I tell you" Mia replied.
"Oh, i don't know. I have see enough to believe in a lot." he replied, some intresse in his eyes.
Game on, she thinked, giving Malcom a big smile.
Joey_De on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Sep 2024 05:29AM UTC
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