[ Local Café, Star City ]
Tommy, who used to be cheerful, was like an eggplant hit by frost this time. He was listless and barely said hello. "Hey, Thea, you must be waiting for some time."
Looking at the man in front of her wearing sunglasses and leaning on a cane, it was hard to believe this was the same energetic Tommy from just a few days ago.
What have you been doing, Daredevil? You must've walked into the wrong set, Thea thought wryly. Their face shapes were strangely similar—long, sharp, and familiar. She remembered that when she met Laurel a few days ago, Tommy had been full of life. What had happened in just three days?
The original plot had clearly gone off-course. Was he blind now? My little butterfly effect couldn't possibly be this powerful, right? Thea stared at his sunglasses for a long time, torn on whether to stand up and help him sit.
She asked cautiously, "Your eyes?"
"Oh, it's okay, just a bump," Tommy said as he removed the sunglasses briefly to show her he wasn't blind—then quickly put them back on.
One glance at his eye sockets and Thea nearly spit out her coffee. His left eye had clearly taken a punch, and his right eyelid was swollen too. Was this Laurel's doing? Is there domestic violence in their relationship?
"Did you have a fight with Laurel?" Thea asked, testing the waters.
"Fight? No—oh, yes..." Tommy stammered, then caught himself and quickly clarified, "My dad found a master to train me. You know I want to protect Laurel, right!"
Tommy still had a basic sense of discretion. He couldn't very well admit that Malcolm was the one personally training him, so he invented a mysterious "master."
But how could Thea believe that? Star City was basically the starter village of the DC world. There were only so many who could be called true masters. Lady Shiva showing up had already been surprising enough—now there was another?
Realizing that Malcolm had started training Tommy and the story was straying further from canon, Thea wasn't sure if she should be relieved or worried. Her emotions tangled, she decided to focus on business.
When she mentioned needing to contact a few media outlets, Tommy perked up. That, at least, was something he could handle. After years of being a carefree playboy, he might not have built an empire, but he definitely knew people—station directors' sons, anchorwomen's nieces. A few quick calls and meetings were arranged.
Thea didn't bother commenting on Tommy's help. Whether they were friends or family, there was no reason to be formal.
Watching Tommy sway unsteadily in his chair, Thea quickly decided to send him home. If he collapsed in the cafe, people would think it was a setup.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Thea asked. Since Malcolm hadn't told him the truth, she stuck to a vague "you."
"No, no. I can do it," Tommy said, wobbling to the door. The cafe staff and customers instinctively cleared a path for him, afraid he'd faint mid-step. A kind soul even held the door open, clearly relieved to see him exit.
Tommy paused at the doorway, turned, and lowered his voice. "Thea, be careful. A dark force is rising in Star City. My father was injured by them."
"Who beat him up again?" Thea asked without missing a beat. Malcolm may not have been a saint, but compared to the terrifying Lady Shiva, he was practically a teddy bear. If he was hurt, she cared.
"Again?" Tommy frowned, clearly caught off guard by the word.
"Oh, I mean... where is Uncle Merlyn injured?"
"His ribs. Got stabbed. It was serious—ten centimeters long."
Oh, this old liar, Thea thought. Isn't this the same stab wound I gave him? Dark forces, my foot. Clearly, Malcolm had taken advantage of his injury to spin a story and draw his son closer. She couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer nerve of it.
Thea inwardly criticized Malcolm's shamelessness, but truth be told, she was misjudging him. This was all improvised. The man was now wondering how to continue the lie without getting caught. Often, one small lie begets another until the entire story collapses under its own weight.
Despite Tommy's protests, Thea drove him home. She was tired of the farce and decided to confront Malcolm directly. Whether he confessed or not, at least she'd know where things stood.
...
[ Merlyn Mansion, Star City ]
Malcolm was resting with his eyes closed, utterly exhausted. Between work and secretly training Tommy, he hadn't had a moment to think about the Star City Slum Extermination Plan. If nothing else, the energy spent on building a relationship with his son felt worth it.
"Hey, Uncle Merlyn, I heard you were injured. How bad is it? I came to visit!" Thea's cheerful voice broke the silence.
Malcolm's eyes snapped open. Thea? Why is she here? One look at her amused expression, and he knew she'd figured it out. The stab wound had given him away. She now knew that Malcolm and the Black Arrow were the same person.
Still, when his eyes fell on Tommy beside her, he realized the full weight of his situation. His carefully crafted lie was about to unravel in front of both of them.
"Thea, long time no see. Thanks for checking in. I feel much better now," he said, forcing a smile.
Thea gave him a pointed look and gestured toward Tommy with her chin, her eyes saying clearly, Better start talking. Everyone's here.
Malcolm had thought about this moment often. Tommy cherished the memory of his late mother, and if he found out about Malcolm's infidelity, their already fragile bond might shatter completely. It was a delicate line to walk, and all he could do was stall for time.
Catching Thea's look, Malcolm shook his head subtly from an angle Tommy wouldn't notice, signaling not now.
Though Thea was unimpressed, she respected his unspoken plea. If she pushed too hard, it could backfire. Better to play along. She changed the subject with theatrical sarcasm. "I heard you were attacked by some mysterious dark force? Care to elaborate?"
"Yes, Father. When I asked, you said a woman did it—but you never explained who," Tommy added helpfully.
"Oh? Which woman beat him? Please, I'd love to hear every detail," Thea said, dramatically looking up at the ceiling.
Malcolm had never been more embarrassed in his life. He'd been cornered by the very people he was trying to protect—with lies, no less. Now, standing in front of his two children, both expecting honesty, he was at a complete loss. To lie again felt impossible. And yet, the truth was still too dangerous to speak.
To Be Continued...
---xxx---
[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]