Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto Or Arrow

"Attorney for shipping magnate, Martine Somers has confirmed his client has no intention of testifying maintaining his innocence in the wrongful death of victor Nocenti."

Dressed only in a pair of jeans, Nathan clucked his tongue and shut the television off. Somers had just made his last mistake. He had tried to give the man the chance to face the city's justice. Now, he was going to face a different kind of justice.

Grabbing he white collared button-up Raisa had laid out for him, he pulled it over his shoulders.

"Nate...?" Thea sat up. Her hair was sticking up in every direction.

He laughed, drawing her eyes to him. "I guess you never figured out how to fix your bedhead, huh?"

It had been one of her many goals before the Gambit sunk. The kind of innocent dreams a thirteen-year-old girl was supposed to have. How long did those dreams last after we all died? Nathan frowned. The drugs had been a clear sign that Thea hadn't coped well. He was going to have to help her move on. He might have come back to life, but Oliver and Robert Queen were still dead. And they weren't coming back.

"How did you get those?" Thea climbed off from his bed. She was staring at his chest. He looked down at the myriad of scars staining his skin.

He stood still as she walked closer, yanking his shirt open. She swallowed, running a finger over the scar above his hip. His first wound on Lian Yu.

"I...I'm...Nate? What happened to you out there?" She whispered.

Nathan closed his eyes.

(Flashback)

"Where did you learn that?" Sara asked.

Nathan looked down at the two men he had just dispatched. Sara was looking at him with disbelief, and he couldn't let her see his shock. Memories were one thing, but he hadn't spent a day of his life learning to fight. How could he have taken down two armed men?

"Nate, where did you learn to do that?" Sara repeated.

Nathan shook his head. He had to say something. "My dad. He had me take some self-defense classes after I was mugged. After the first few, I kind of dove into all things fighting."

"You were mugged?"

"Yeah, when I was younger. Twelve, I think." He lied. "My dad made me swear not to tell my mom. He didn't want her to worry, and I didn't either. It was our secret."

Nathan hoped Sara bought what he was selling. She had to because if she didn't, he had no idea what he was going to do. Telling her, he had the lives of over a hundred other people in his head was off the table.

"Nate!" Sara suddenly shouted.

Nathan jumped, turning around. He saw a glint of metal as one of the men charged him, tackling him to the ground. He grunted as pain exploded in his side. Grabbing the biggest rock, he could lift with one hand he swung his arm, smashing it over his attacker's head. The man flopped to the side. Ignoring the pain in his side, Nathan rose up on his knees and brought the rock down again.

"Nathan?" Sara grabbed his arm when he tried for a third hit. "You're going to kill him."

That's the point. Nathan thought. He let the rock drop and stood up. If he wanted to, he could have kept going. He was stronger than Sara, but he didn't want to accidentally hurt her if she kept trying to stop him. And I don't want her to see them die.

Whether Sara liked it or not, the men had to die. Nathan had known that the second he saw them.

"Sara, go down to the submarine." He said. "I'll be there soon."

"Nate..." Sara glanced at the men.

"Now, Sara."

(Flashback End)

Nathan opened his eyes and gently pushed Thea's hand away from his skin.

"I can't talk about it right now." He said.

Thea scoffed, trying to pull her hand from his. Nathan held tight. She was angry again. He didn't want her to leave angry.

"I'll tell you about the island, Thea." He promised, and she looked up at him.

"You will?"

Nathan nodded. He wouldn't tell her everything, but he didn't want to push her away either.

"I will, just not today, okay? I've got to meet Mom and Walter at the office soon and talking about the island before our meeting will throw me off." He explained. "Can you wait for me? Please?"

Thea's anger softened. She cradled his hand in his nodding her head.

"You know I will."

Nathan smiled. He leaned forward, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. I promise we will talk. But I've got to run." He said.

Thea smirked as she let go of her hand. "You know what mom wants to talk about, right?" She asked.

Buttoning up his shirt, Nathan sighed. He had an idea about what his mom wanted to talk about, and she wasn't going to like how the talk would end.

00

"As you can see, Nathanael, we've modernized quite a bit," Walter said as the elevator doors slid open.

Nathan stepped out behind him and whistled. He barely recognized Queen Consolidated. Everything had become so...shiny.

His mother laughed at his look of awe and squeezed his arm. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yes, I am." He said, even though he wasn't. There were a million other things he'd rather be doing at the moment. But his mom was smiling, so he'd play along.

"I remember when your father used to bring you and Oliver here when you were boys," Walter said, leading them to the CEO's office. "You two were always so excited."

"Dad, let us drink soda in the office."

"Ah!" Moira smiled. "Shat's why you enjoyed coming."

It's why Oliver enjoyed coming. Nathan thought and glanced at his mom. She knew that he had always been the one to take more of an interest in their company. Thea was too young, and Oliver was too flaky, so it was always him who went with their father on business trips. He had gone to Queen Consolidated after school instead of hanging with friends. He was the one who was being groomed to take over the company.

"The Queen Consolidated's success of late is a result of its targeted diversification. We have been making impressive inroads in cutting-edge fields like biotech and clean energy."

Nathan nodded. "That's neat."

"Sweetheart, Nathanael," Moira said and reached for her husband's hand. "Walter and I have something to discuss with you. Come, please sit."

"Mom, it makes me nervous when you ask me to sit down," Nathan said. "And I'm almost certain I know what you want to say, but Walter is doing a fine job running the company."

He looked at his new stepfather, who seemed shocked at the compliment. Not surprising, given that he hadn't been the most welcoming since he got home. He and Walter hadn't found common ground yet.

Moira looked at Walter. The CEO nodded, folded his hands behind his back, and stood taller.

"The company is about to break ground on a new site for the applied sciences division. And we would like to honor your father by dedicating the building in his name." Walter said.

Moria cut in before Nathan could speak. "And...we'd like to make an announcement at the dedication that you will be taking a leadership position in the company."

"No, not yet."

"No, Nathan, your company." His mom pressed.

Nathan shook his head. He knew it. The moment his mom had asked him about coming to the office, he had known this was coming. Running Queen Consolidated had always been his destiny. And once upon a time, Nathan had wished for nothing more than to continue building the empire his father had created. Things were different now. He had a more pressing mission. He had to save the city. Then he could take his rightful place as CEO of his family's company.

Of course, he couldn't tell his mother any of that, so he lied.

"Mom, I was alone on an island for five years. I've barely been back a week. I'm not ready to lead the company."

"You are Robert Queen's son," Moria stated as if that was the end of the conversation.

"I don't need to be reminded of that." He told her. Before she could reply, he kept talking. "Don't misunderstand my hesitation, mom. I do want to run this company. I always have, you know that. But right now, I can't. I don't have an MBA, I'm still trying to reconnect with the world after being gone for so long, and I don't want to cause any damage."

"Damage?" Walter asked.

"I don't know anything about this new Queen Consolidated. My father worked hard to build this company, and I won't run it into the ground by being selfish and taking over before I'm ready." Nathan said.

"Nathan!" She called when he walked past her, leaving the office.

He kept walking, ignoring the call. Later he'd deal with the consequences of his choice, but right now, he had to get out of the building and away from her.

00

Laurel froze as the sound of knocking filled her apartment. She set her dinner down next to her laptop and stood up. However, she didn't move to answer the door. Not until whoever was outside knocked again. Her father's words from earlier in the day echoed in her ears.

"These people are more dangerous than you are willing to admit. And you've made them angry."

She stopped next to the bookcase across from the door. The handgun her father had given her on her twenty-first birthday was hidden in the bottom door. Better safe than sorry. She decided and opened the drawer to grab it. If Somners and the Triad had sent someone after her, she was going to need it.

"Laurel? I can hear music. I know you're home!"

Nathan? Laurel frowned and opened the door. Standing outside in the hallway was her ex-boyfriend's little brother. He was frowning at her, and she frowned back.

"What are you doing here, Nathan?" She asked. They hadn't been close before the island, and she hadn't seen him since he and Sara came back.

"Are you okay?" He asked, completely blowing past her question.

"What?"

Nathan turned a bit and pointed down the hallway. "There are cop cars outside. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just my dad being overprotective." Laurel leaned against her door. "Did you need something?"

She knew she was being rude, but she couldn't help it. Seeing Nathan, it reminded her of Oliver. But he's not Oliver. He didn't cheat with your sister. He saved her life. She sighed and swung the door open wider, apologizing as she let him in.

"Sorry. I've had a long day." She said as she closed the door.

"Yeah, me too." Nathan agreed, looking around her apartment. It was a beautiful place. "I just came by to see if Sara was here. She wasn't at your dad's, and she's not answering her phone."

"Dad said she was catching up with some friends today."

"Oh, alright. Um, thank you."

Laurel caught Nathan's hand as he turned to leave. "Wait. I...I, um, want to thank you. For protecting Sara, and bringing her home to us."

"It was the right thing to do," Nathan said.

"You'd be surprised at how many people don't do the right thing when given the chance." Laurel retorted, thinking about Oliver.

"Laurel," Nathan said, flipping his hand so that he was holding hers instead.

He reached out and took her free hand with his. Holding both her hands, he took small steps forward, closing the gap between them. She held her breath as his blue eyes locked with hers, and she waited.

"I am sorry about what my brother did to you." Nathan apologized. "You didn't deserve the way he treated you. You're a wonderful girl, Laurel Lance. I hope you find someone who treats you like the gift you are."

Laurel swallowed a breath. Her chest heaved as her eyes burned, and she wanted to scream. It had taken her years to, not get over, but move on from Oliver and her sister's betrayal. Now, Sara was back from the dead, and her cheating boyfriend's baby brother was in her apartment saying everything she wanted someone other than her father to say.

"I...I'm sorry." She pulled her hands away. "I can't deal with this right now. I'm sorry."

Nathan smiled. It was a sad smile, and Laurel felt guilty. What he was saying couldn't be easy. Oliver might have been her boyfriend, but he was Nathan's brother. Who was dead. And he was here trying to make her feel better.

"I'm sorry." She repeated it again.

"It's alright, Laurel. You don't have to apologize." Nathan said, and he turned to leave.

Standing at the end of the hall was a Chinese man. Holding an assault rifle.

"Oh my god!" Laurel screamed.

Nathan pushed her back into her apartment, slamming the door shut behind them. He didn't bother locking it and grabbed the pistol he saw at the bottom of Laurel's bookcase. The footsteps in the hall grew louder as the man ran towards the door, no doubt planning to break the lock he assumed was there with his shoulder. Nathan pressed Laurel against the wall next to the door and waited. When the footsteps were right outside the door, he turned the handle and yanked it open.

Laurel gasped as the man barreled into her home, slamming into her bookcase. Nathan didn't hesitate. He lifted her gun and fired. Blood splattered all over the books. Somewhere in her apartment, glass shattered.

"C'mon," Nathan said, grabbing her hand.

He pulled her into the living room as another man came out of her bedroom. He saw them and tried to aim his gun. Nathan was faster, and Laurel closed her eyes as the little boy who used to follow Oliver around killed another man.

"Are you okay, Laurel?" Nathan asked. She didn't answer. He asked again. "Laurel, are you okay?"

There are two dead bodies in my apartment. Laurel thought. She glanced between the two men who had broken into her home, most likely to kill her. I should be dead.

She looked at Nathan. Speckles of blood from the first man spattered on his face. If it wasn't for him, she'd be dead. He killed those people for her.

"Oh my god." She breathed for the first time in what felt like hours. "I'm so sorry. I..."

Nathan wrapped one arm around her waist, dragging her body into his. She clung to him, clutching at the back of his shirt.

"It's alright." He whispered. "You're safe."

And you're a killer. Because of me. She wanted to shout it at him. He was high on adrenaline right now, but when that wore off, he would realize what he'd done. And what about Sara? How would she feel when she learned her savior was now a murderer? Would she even want to talk to her anymore?

All Sara had done since getting back was talking as if Nathan Queen hung the stars in the sky. It was all, Nathan did this on the island for me. Nathan did that. I'd be dead if it wasn't for him.

Laurel closed her eyes. She understood a small bit of what her sister felt. Without Nathan, she'd be dead too.

Nathan gripped the gun in his hand. Laurel missed the woman at the door, but he hadn't. Her would-be killers were Triad. No doubt sent by Somners. I guess I was wrong. He thought. That bastard had one more mistake left in him.

00

"Triad bitch screwed the hit up on Lance. Now, the Triad is gonna erase every ounce of evidence of their smuggling operation, including me." Somers shook his head, shoving more cash into his briefcase. "Except that's not gonna happen. Not to me. Tell Wallace to get the boat ready."

"Wallace?" Somners guard asked. "Wallace, do you copy?"

Nathan lifted the stolen radio to his lips. "Wallace isn't here. But I am." He said.

Somners froze. He dropped the cash in his hand and lifted his briefcase. "We need to move. Now! Move!"

Nathan dropped the radio, and it clattered against the ground at Somer's feet. Somers froze. His bodyguard moved for his weapon. Nathan put an arrow through his heart.

"Oh, god! No, no!"

"He can't help you," Nathan said, flipping out of the shadows above Somers.

The terrified businessman tossed his briefcase forward. An offering to let him live. Nathan stepped over it. He drew an arrow and pressed it against Somer's throat. Walking forward, he backed the corrupt businessman against the wall.

"You're going to tell me the truth about Victor Nocenti." He said.

Somer's shook his head. "I-I can't. The Triad will kill me."

"What do you think I'm going to do?" Nathan asked, pressing on his arrow harder, drawing blood from Somners neck.

"Alright...alright. It wasn't me that killed him. It was the Triad."

"Acting on whose orders?" Nathan demanded. "Whose!"

"Mine! It was mine, alright!" Somers cried. "Nocenti said he was going to testify against me."

Nathan stepped back. Somner shoulders sagged as the arrow threatening to kill him was removed. His relief was visible, and it was short.

"You shouldn't have tried to kill, Laurel Lance," Nathan said, pointing the tip of his arrow at Somner's eye.

He jerked his arm forward.

Quick Authors Note:

The way I am updating the story is by episode. What I mean by that is that when the chapters that tell the story of one episode of the show are all complete, I will post them all at once. If you don't like that and would rather have the chapters right when they are finished, leave a review. If enough people want me to update that way, I don't mind. For or now, it will be by episode.