#we’ve all separately come to bunker down in a nowhere town because we’ve all been accused of a noble’s murder

[totally-not-an-awkward-okapi]

New campaign and two sessions in I’m obsessed with these freaks, we’ve got:

Selenia Sungazer, a vampire paladin straddling the line between elegant Dracula and monstrous Nosferatu…

Jaina, a human rogue doing her best to bring some common sense to this group…

…and my very own Corvus Mirrin, a grave cleric who’s already managed to inflict more damage on their fellow party member (Selenia) then they’ve healed.

[olicitysecretsanta]

OSS @lageniuswannabe (LisaAnn) Fan Fic Gift from @bandanab310

Hello @lageniuswannabe (LisaAnn), it’s your secret santa @bandanab310 (Ariel). Happy Holidays!! Here is your present: a fanfic. I like to write good amount of my fics like episodes. I think it’s because I hardly get the chance to actually write ;) Since this is a Christmas fic and we didn’t really get a Christmas episode for the midseason finale (but hey I guess a wedding reception made up for it), this is my desire for next year’s midseason finale. So it’s going to be angsty, no one’s going to die (I never want anyone to die) but some people are going to get hurt. I mean this is a made up midseason finale episode. But it’s also going to be fluffy. The title comes from one of my favorite Green Arrow comics, The Sounds of Violence by Kevin Smith. This comics villain (Onomatopoeia) is a bad guy that I would love to have on Arrow some day. He has no agenda, no ties to Oliver or his past. He is just a killer who wants to kill, and Team Arrow just represent the biggest game in town. As in the comic, which I highly recommend, he comes out of nowhere. So I hope you enjoy and once again Happy Holidays! >—>AO

Ratings/tags: Mature, mentions of graphic violence, people get hurt, but it ends incredibly happy, fluff, Olicity (Oliver/Felicity), Theroy (Thea/Roy), Wildcanary (Rene/Dinah), Next season’s midseason finale wish, Next season’s villain wish.

The Sounds of Christmas

>—>

This was going to be the first Christmas Day that Felicity and he were going to spend together with no sadness or conflict or hurdles between them.

Not spent in a hospital waiting for her to wake up and finally believe that she’s still alive.

Not separated across town from each other grieving the death of a man that she never did love the way she did him.

Not in an empty bunker with an impending conviction hanging over their heads and their team fractured and no idea what to do next.

No this Christmas Day was just going to be them and their family celebrating the love & happiness that they had fought so hard for. That they earned after all those past Christmases.

They had celebrated Hanukkah last week. Oliver and William having learned a couple more Jewish prayers and accompanying Felicity and Donna to temple on the last night. Donna jokingly saying it was a start to make up for not having a traditional Jewish wedding. (Oliver is already planning for Felicity and he to renew their vows during next year’s Hanukkah.) Oliver would forever continue to cherish and celebrate his wife’s heritage and traditions as much as she does his and their son’s.

Their son. He might never get over the happiness that he always feels when he thinks about this family of his that he thought he could never have. What a foolish man in so many ways he was. That’s another reason why this Christmas has to be perfect.

He has a plan. He’s going to surprise his two favorite people and skip his morning run (something that Felicity would probably say is the marker of the apocalypse) and make a big breakfast. They are going to than open presents and enjoy some time just the three of them lounging around watching more Christmas movies, the ones they haven’t seen yet during this holiday season. At night they will all head down to the bunker where Thea and the rest of Team Arrow were decorating for their team’s Christmas party, with all their families invited.

Oliver was flipping the last peppermint chip pancake when he heard his and Felicity bedroom door slide open. A quick rhythm of bare feet was immediately followed by his wife’s arms around his stomach and her lips on his upper spine. Turning off the stove he turned in her arms to face her.

“Merry Christmas, Hon.” Oliver said before giving her a kiss that she lazily reciprocated, moving her hands slowly up his body until she was framing his face.

“Merry Christmas, Babe.” Felicity replied breaking off the kiss. She looked him over noticing that he was still in his sleepwear and then the large breakfast that spread behind him and on the kitchen table before looking back at him with a questionable look. “Are you or someone else dying?”

Oliver shook his head and chuckled, “Close enough” he said more to himself before replying with more volume and lightly, “No I just wanted today to be perfect and give you and William an incredible Christmas.”

She immediately smiled and kissed his lips quickly again before stepping away and walking towards Williams room, “Don’t worry it will be.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Oliver asked

“You’ll see” Felicity answered with a wink.

Oliver turned back and placed the plate of pancakes on that table as he heard Felicity jumping on William’s bed shouting, “IT’S CHRISTMAS!! IT’S CHRISTMAS!!”

Yeah today was going to be the perfect Christmas.

>—>

The team holiday party was in full swing. Thea and Curtis had decorated the bunker amazingly.

Oliver watches as he leans against one of the pillars at Roy twirling Thea in the center of the main platform to the light Christmas music. Roy coming back to help earlier that year and him being cleared of charges (being Mayor did have some perks) was the best thing to happen to his sister. Thea had not looked or felt as happy as she did now in so long.

The rest of the team were still sitting at the large conference table eating the berry cobbler that Oliver had made, exchanging various presents with one another.

Zoe opened the gift from her dad. “New Headphones. Thanks Dad.” She says kindly trying to play off her air of disappointment.

“Ah Ah no pouting Zo. You know you get your big gift on Dia de Los Reyes.”

“What’s Dia de Los Reyes?” Curtis asks.

Before Rene himself can respond, Dinah next to him answers, “Day of the three kings. It’s a catholic celebration of when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem to meet Jesus.”

“Thank you, mamacita” Rene says placing a quick peck on her lips then turning back around to Curtis, “See Di cares enough to know about my traditions. I thought I could have expected the same from all my teammates.”

Before an argument, however friendly in nature, can start, Dinah interjects, “Now boys, as much as I know you two are an old bickering married couple let’s keep it civil…for the kids”. Pointing to William and Zoe who are seated next to each other.

“It’s fine Aunt Di, I think its funny anyway.” William answers before turning to Zoe. “So I guess we’re both lucky to celebrate two holidays filled with gift giving.”

“Yeah,” Zoe responds “it’s pretty cool but also frustrating because Papa waits till day of the three kings for my big gift and I know this year he got us season tickets to the Star City Wild Dogs.”

“That’s so cool, I’ve never been to a hockey game actually. Central City never had one and my dad hasn’t been able to take me. That’s usually the busy season. For both jobs.”

“You can join us for a game….I mean if you’d like too, that is.”

“I’d like that a lot….Hey also Felicity built me a PC for my Christmas present and downloaded PUBG and of course Overwatch. You should stop by and play.”

“Awesome, next week before Christmas break is over for sure.”

The slight blush rising on his daughter’s face during this whole exchange does not go unnoticed by Rene. He quickly rises from his seat and rushes over to his team leader.

“Considering who his father is, your boy there best not be getting any ideas, Hoss.”

Oliver knows that William is nothing like he was with girls at his age and is about to reassure Rene of this fact when an alert goes off throughout the bunker. Damn it this was not supposed to happen tonight.

Reluctantly Oliver walks up the platform and towards the computer that Felicity is already in front of. “What do we got?”

“Apparently our bad guy of the year doesn’t believe in the holiday spirit. Facial recognition picked up his creepy masked face.”

“Where?”

“What? Why would he be there?

“Where Felicity?

“He’s at Verdant.”

The team share confused but also worried looks after the mention of the old headquarters. Oliver breaks the spell when he starts to dictate his orders. “Thea take William and Zoe to the apartment please. Quentin can you go with them. Everyone else suit up.”

The team move together. Oliver is about to step away to get ready himself when he feels Felicity’s hand on his wrist causing him to look back at her.

“Be careful out there. This one is not like anyone else we’ve dealt with.”

Oliver knows this. This particular bad guy has so far killed and attacked randomly and has been gruesome. Leaving his victims in pools of blood or head shots in the center of the forehead. The people that he has left alive describe him as never saying a meaningful word, only mimicking the sounds his torments made.

“It’s going to be ok.” Oliver reassures his wife before leaning down to give her a kiss and turning away to get ready for the field.

>—–>

The team take various positions throughout the exterior of the abandoned nightclub.

“Green Arrow, you know this is probably a trap.” Arsenal says through the comms

“I know. Which is more reason to be as vigilant as we can.” Green Arrow responds “Overwatch how does it look inside?”

“Considering that there is no longer any workable technology in there, all I can go off of is heat signatures. Which only indicating that there’s one person in the office upstairs. Besides that you’re going in pretty blind.”

Things go wrong from the very start. As they bust in together, from their various entry points, they are all met with C4 explosions rigged with archaic (but incredible fine) tripwires. The explosions are not enough to cause fatal damage but enough to disorient and cause a few scraps on all of them. Mr Terrific and Arsenal, both entering through the upper windows, gingerly pull glass shards out of their arm and leg. By the time the team is regrouped on the bottom level, their ominous foe casually walks out of the upper level managers office above them as if he’s a simple home owner opening the door to a messenger ringing his doorbell. He greets the heroes with a simple monotone word.

“Boom” Black Canary acts first sending a powerful sonic cry towards the old and worn scaffold platform which doesn’t have a chance and immediately begins to crumble. Their bad guy effortlessly flips himself over the railing as if this is all part of a pre-orchestra stunt and lands in front of the team. Returning to his causal stance of hands in his trench coat pockets he looks back at the crumpled mess he was once on before turning back and addressing the group once again. “Screech” arbitrarily mimicking Black Canary’s Cry The team move as one beginning their attack on the masked villain, who in incredibly immediate response pulls out guns from his pocket and counters their assault.

He moves like he’s expecting their shots. Dodging. Flipping. Shooting Green Arrow’s and Arsenal’s arrows out of mid flight. “What the fuck!” Arsenal exclaims Finally Green Arrow finds his opening in the chaos and with a quick deep breath releases an arrow. It goes through the full masked foe’s left shoulder, seemingly taking him by the slightest surprise from the subtle grunt of discomfort that he makes. Green Arrow considers its enough as the masked man makes a break for it towards the back of the club. Realization of where he is heading towards immediately hits Green Arrow and he’s the first to move as he announces, “He’s going down towards the foundry.” >—>

He is the first to make it past the threshold of the door of his old headquarters, the rest of the team a few steps behind. But those few steps are enough for things to get even worse when Oliver feels more than see another thread like tripwire being triggered and a heavy door slam behind him. He immediately turns around and bangs on the door. He can hear his team on the other side. Hears Dinah’s Scream and blasts from Curtis’ T-spheres. But he knows this is not the same door that was here when this used to be his domain. No they’re in the twisted world of a madman. Oliver activate his comms, “Overwatch, any chance you can get this open” He knows the answer before she gives it. “No there’s no tech to hack. Guys there’s another entrance down there, Arsenal knows where it is.” “Copy that.” Oliver here’s Roy answer “Hang tight, Hoss.” Rene muffles through the door “We’ll be down there to save your ass in no time.” The sudden sound of static filling the space below brings Oliver back to the threat at hand. He slowly descends the stairs, an arrow already nocked ready to fire. He halts halfway down the steps when he hears his own name. “Oliver Queen is Alive.” “Oliver Queen runs for mayor.” “Is Oliver Queen the Star City Vigilante?” “Mayor Oliver Queen to run for second term. A sure fire win predicted.” “Oliver Queen freed of all charges after FBI investigation thrown out” Surrounded by several televisions playing various news reports about Oliver stands the masked man, the arrow still in his shoulder and a simple remote control in his hand. Head tilted up at Oliver on the stairs curiously waiting to see what he does next. “Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak finally tie the knot in a secret ceremony. Congratulations to the first couple of Star City on their nuptials.” This final sound bite is what causes Oliver’s grip on the bowstring and jaw to tightly set. The message is loud and clear to him. “You know who I am.” It comes out as a statement from Oliver’s mouth not a question. The silent mask only nods in answer. “Why are you doing this? What is this all about? Revenge?” A shake of a head his only answer “Then why!!” With a click of the remote all but one of the televisions turn off. The remaining TV with a clip of Oliver himself during the press conference he held after the repeal of the anti-vigilante act in May answers “With The Green Arrow and his team, Star City will always be protected. No threat will stop them from continuing to make our city safer and a place to be proud to live in.” A twisted realization dons on Oliver “Is this a challenge for you? Some sort of game?” The masked man just shrugs as if to say, “Well…” There’s a pause before he then gives an assertive nod. “Yes”

All at once there are bullets flying towards Oliver, who immediately vaults over the stairs and lands behind one of the discard steel tables. The mirage of bullets continue for another minute before the clicking of empty gun chambers sound out in the old lair. “Click?” “Click?” The villain questions as Oliver raises from his shelter. “Drop your guns.” The mask man obliges and raises his hands above his head. “Now take off the mask.” The foe begins to lift it but stops when it reaches the base of his nose only exposing his mouth. He then lifts his hands up once again. Oliver moves swiftly forward placing the arrow directly in front of the man’s face. Inches away. “I said. Take. It. Off.” Instead of moving his hands towards his face the masked man moves one hand down towards his coat pocket. “Don’t” Oliver warns. When the hand continues to move down, Oliver releases his grip on the bowstring… The shock of the image of the masked man’s hand around the arrow, the tip barely pressing into the skin below his eye, is short lived when Oliver feel three sharp pains suddenly in his abdomen causing him to sink to the floor. “Bang. Bang. Bang.” Gripping his side. Already losing the natural rhythm of his breathing, Oliver feels more than sees the shooter stalking towards him, then bend down and place the still warm barrel of the gun in the middle of his forehead. “Who are you?” Finally a meaningful word is said by this masked man. “Onomatopoeia.” Oliver closes his eyes expecting his end to come. But it doesn’t. Instead when he opens his eyes he’s alone. Keeping one hand pushing down on his side he presses his comm link on with the other. “Felicity?” He says weakly Immediately she knows something is not right, “What’s wrong?” She answers. As if on cue Oliver hears the rapid footsteps of his team. He give a grunt of pain when they take over his hands feeble attempts of stemming the blood flowing out of him. “Overwatch, Green Arrow’s been shot we need you to call the hospital.” Roy immediately orders taking charge of the team. “Mr Terrific bring the van around the back entrance of Verdant we aren’t going to have much time once we stop the bleeding as much as we can.” “Dig’s calling Dr. Schwartz, she’ll have a team prepped for surgery.” Felicity answer Roy before silencing everyone else’s comms but Oliver’s. “Oliver. We are going to get you help. Everything is going to be fine ok, Hon.” “Felicity…I’m sorry.” Oliver answers in between breaths. “Sorry. Sorry for what. You have nothing to be sorry for.” “Today was supposed to be…perfect. I jus…I just wanted us to have a…perfect Christmas.” “It is going to be perfect once you come home to me Oliver. Remember you are always going to come home to me. To William. To our family.” Felicity exhales a quick steadying breath before she continues. “To our baby. Yeah that’s right I’m pregnant. I mean we’re pregnant. That’s my Christmas gift to you. So you better not die on me Oliver Jonas Queen. Because you have one more life to keep on fighting for. You hear me?” Her question is answered with silence. “Oliver?” Suddenly static fills her ear, “Blondie,” “Blondie,” both René and Roy answer followed by an annoyed huff from Roy before René continues, “we stopped the bleeding for now. Hoss lost a lot of blood and is unconscious but I think he’s going to be ok. We’ll be at the hospital in ten.” “Thank You” Felicity answers with as much strength as she can muster “we’ll meet you guys there.”

As she turns off her comms she catch Roy no doubt addressing René “you know I was here first. Right.” >—->

Oliver stirs awake gradually. The warmth of his wife’s hand in his the final anchor that brings his eyes to finally open.

“Hey, Hey. You’re ok. You’re ok.” Felicity gentle greets him, running her hand through his hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” Oliver answers. He hates being groggy from the anesthesia of surgery but he feels more safe with Felicity here with him. “What happened?”

“Our bad guy shot you three times close range in the abdomen. Two went through and through but one wanted to be a prick and stick around inside you and cause some damage. Good thing you don’t need all of you spleen.”

Oliver gives a little chuckle at his wife’s babble before he winces in pain from his recently open stomach. Felicity responds by gentle rubbing a hand up and down his arm as if to take away his pain.

In a way it does.

“What about Onomatopoeia? Did they catch him?”

“Who?”

“It’s what he called himself. Onomatopoeia.”

“Of course it is. I should have known. No. He was gone by the time the team got to you. The creep that he is though left the bloody arrow you shot him in the shoulder with in the middle of two circles made out of your blood. Just like his equally creepy mask. So yeah creepy monotone voiced bad guy who only says words of sounds.”

“Any DNA results from the arrow?”

“Not yet. But we should know soon.”

“Good.”

Felicity rests her head on his shoulder and they stay silent for a moment just looking at their joined hands, their wedding bands making that subtle clinking sound Oliver always finds peace in. He is the first to break the silence.

“So you’re pregnant?”

“Oh you heard that?” She shyly asks looking up at him

“I did.” He answers looking back down at her with a gentle smile that reflects pure love and happiness and wonder all at the same time.

“Believe me that was not how I wanted to tell you, but I had to make sure that you’d come back to us.”

“Us.”

“Yeah, me, William, and the baby.”

A slight wave of guilt comes over Oliver at the mention of his, now oldest, remembering the promise he had made to him to always be there for him, how is he supposed to keep that promise for two children when he doesn’t know if he can do it for one.

“Is William ok?” Oliver asks

“See for yourself.” Felicity answers moving slightly to give him a view of a sleeping William on a cot next to the bed.

“Is he mad at me?”

“No Oliver, you know he got over that months ago. He understands now why you do what you do and that these incidents might happen. Just as long as they don’t happen too often, he’ll be ok.”

“Good.”

“I’m sorry.” Felicity mumble into his shoulder

“For what.”

“This wasn’t the Christmas that you planned. I know it wasn’t perfect.”

“Who says it wasn’t. This is our life. We are together. All four of us. Being the best people that we can be. And accepting each other for who we are.”

Felicity tilts her head up to give him a kiss and he tilts his head down to meet her lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Now get some sleep. I’m right here.”

“Always.”

“We’ll get him, Felicity.”

“I know we will, I’m just glad that you came back home to us.”

>—>

Unbeknownst to the Queen Family, Onomatopoeia watches on from the ledge of the building across from the window. His mask is once again lifted just enough to reveal his mouth as he chews gum and blows a bubble.

“Pop”

He leaps from his perch, landing on the ground below and stalks back into the shadows.

[End Episode Title Card. Wait Till mid-January. ;) ]