Arrow: Visceral Barrage Part 1

Keeping Appearances

"Felicity." Oliver calmy said, slowly pronouncing her name to catch her attention. She stopped and looked to him, realizing she had been rambling.

"I took some of the...island tea, which helped alot. And I put on a brace to help me with my knee." He explained, tapping the metal supports underneath his pants that were wrapped around his wound. Felicity glanced down and saw the faint outline of the knee brace, slightly relieving her.

"And, I can walk by myself." He added, smiling to her.

"Oh." Felicity replied, beginning to blush as she recognized that she was holding his large arm over her shoulders. She quickly released his arm and took a half step away from him. Oliver smiled, internally greatful that she was so caring and concerned for his well being.

"But really Oliver, you shouldn't have risked hurting yourself more for a meeting." She reminded him, still angry that he had put himself at an unnecessary risk yet again.

"Felicity, you risked alot by letting me back in the company. And I'm not about to let you face those jackasses alone." He reassuringly countered, laughing as he repeated her description of the board members. Felicity cracked a smile, forgetting that she had actually called them that.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you did show up, because I didn't have on my save the day pants." Felicity joked, stepping out of the meeting room. Oliver gave her crooked glance asking.

"What kind of pants?" The mention of the word pants quickly made Felicity think back to last night when she had to remove Oliver's pants to secure his wound, sending a warm sensation throughout her body and turning her cheeks bright red. She breathed in a large breath of air in an attempt to combat the rising heat she felt within her.

"Do me a favor. Never say the word pants again...like ever." Felicity stated, looking straight ahead and avoiding Oliver's quizzical expression. She moved to step forward and stopped.

"Oh and thanks for not going commando last night." She added, playfully patting his on his chest. She quickly turned and walked off, not allowing him the time to question her about the statement. Oliver tilted his head to the side and watched her leave, confusion from her last statement taking hold of him. He felt a quick sense of embarrassment flush his face as he limped after her and nervously asked.

"What...what'd you mean commando?"

The street lights did their best to illuminate the dark streets, acting as islands of safety in the darkness filled neighborhood. Thea cautiously walked down the sidewalk, making sure to keep her distance. She kept her eye on Chase as he crossed the street up ahead, quickly jogging in front of a passing car. Thea waited a few moments and crossed the street to follow him, doing her best to remain hidden as her father had taught her. Merlyn may have lied to her and used her in his own devious plan but he had passed on everything he learned from the League of Assassins to her. Chase casually looked around, as he continued toward his destination. As soon as he had informed Thea that he was taking the night off, she had decided that tonight would be the night she followed him and discovered what he had been disappearing for. She passed an alleyway, somewhat hiding herself in it incase Chase decided to look back. He jumped up a few steps and moved toward the building on his left. Thea moved up and slowly approached the steps, making sure to stay back behind the bushes that seperated the main sidewalk from the patio of the large building Chase had just entered. Thea watched as he entered the front door and she spotted the large sign hidden behind the bushes to her right.

Starling Community College

Upon reading the sign she smiled, relief passing over her. She was still upset that Chase hadn't informed her of his private activities but now that she knew what they were she felt a weight come off her shoulders. She happily moved across the street and headed back toward Verdant. A group of three men turned the corner to follow her as soon as she was out of their sight. Thea heard the hurried footsteps and quickly judged their speed, approach angles, number of threats, and even a rough estimate of each man's size all by the sound of their footfalls. The first man wasn't going to ruin the element of surprise with a cheesey one liner as he viciously grabbed Thea's shoulder and jerked her to face him. Her reflexes took over as she grabbed the man's hand and twisted it upward before bringing it slamming down onto her shoulder, breaking it. The man screamed in pain as he fell to the sidewalk with the other two men charging Thea. They attacked in unison, thinking the small girl wouldn't be prepared for that type of attack. Thea quickly dropped low and kicked the feet out from under the first man while she deflected the second man's attack and struck him in the throat with her palm. The man recoiled as he reached for his now aching throat. Thea capitalized on the opportunity as she kicked the man in the stomach while bringing her knee upward into his face as he bent forward. The man instantly snapped backward into the air before crashing into the ground. Thea quickly anticipated the final man's attack as she turned to meet him. He held the knife low as he rushed her and prepared to guide the blade into her stomach. Thea grabbed the man's wrist and twisted the weapon away from herself as she stomped the man's foot and leapt up on his shoulder, quickly spinning her body around the man's chest until her legs wrapped around his neck. She snapped her legs downward, pulling the man unwillingly face first on top the sidewalk. Thea jumped to her feet as her adrenaline quickly subsided and her senses came back to a normal state. She craned her head around as she heard a single round chamber into firing position. Another man stood facing her, a pistol aimed at her head. Thea wasn't close enough to successfully disarm him, her tactical brain searched for an alternative. Suddenly Roy jumped from the dumpster in alley beside them and swatted the gun out of the man's grasp as he landed. He quickly followed up by striking the man a few times and ending with a powerdul uppercut, sending the man into the dumpster behind him. Roy caught his breath as he turned to face Thea.