[ Merlyn Global HQ, Star City ]
After receiving the photo sent to him by his subordinates, Malcolm was deeply unsettled when he saw Thea drinking alone. He had always cared about this girl, albeit subconsciously. From the moment he first laid eyes on her as a baby, he had watched her grow from afar. It wasn't until today, after Moira Queen spoke the truth aloud, that it all clicked. His instincts didn't need DNA results—his battle-hardened soul just knew. This was his daughter.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Malcolm looked out at the city nightscape. What once had inspired dreams and ambitions now seemed muted, dull.
He poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one shot. Frustration boiled inside him. He wanted to let off steam—maybe fight someone. But who? He was invincible in Star City. Should he hop over to Gotham City for some excitement?
No. Malcolm knew the truth—his reputation in Star City meant little in Gotham. There, he'd be second-rate at best. Gotham was a different breed entirely. The citizens were "simple and honest"—read: violent and unpredictable. And Batman? That so-called good son-in-law who even earned the League of Assassins' respect? Not worth the headache.
As he mulled it over, his phone rang. It was the bar owner.
"Boss, the girl you asked about—she's drunk," the man said carefully, unsure how to refer to her.
"Keep an eye on her. Don't let anything happen to her. Warn your men—no one touches her, got it?" Malcolm growled into the phone.
"Y-Yes, boss! Understood!"
...
[ Bar, Star City ] [ Some Time Later ]
The bar owner knew what that meant—don't lay a finger on her. He wasn't psychic, so he couldn't levitate Thea into a room himself. So he ordered all the rough-looking male staff to back off like they were biohazards and summoned his mistresses to carry Thea into a private guest room. They were tasked with essentials only: handing towels, pouring water, brushing hair.
He dragged a massive chair to sit by the door himself. With a pistol in his lap, he looked like an ancient warlord standing guard. He might not be the best fighter, but tonight, no one would get past him.
He was right to be cautious. Malcolm was, in fact, watching from the rooftop, dressed in full League of Assassins regalia. Bow and arrow in hand, he was ready to eliminate any fool who made the wrong move.
Meanwhile, Thea wasn't fully unconscious. Her awareness was fading, but she saw the chaos around her—the worried bar owner, the women gently helping her into the room—and she felt safe enough to finally sleep.
...
[ Next Morning ]
"Ugh, my head..." Thea groaned, sitting up slowly. "So even good wine gives you a hangover." She rubbed her temples and looked down. Her clothes were still perfectly in place—even her shoelaces were tied.
"Well done, Dad," she thought wryly, appreciating Malcolm's iron control over his men.
"Do you... need anything?" asked one of the two women stationed in the room all night. They had been standing vigil like loyal maids awaiting their lady's orders.
Thea squinted. One of them had enough makeup to startle a horror movie cast and chest padding that could rival a storage locker. The clack of her heels on the floor grated on Thea's nerves.
"You. Water," she pointed.
The woman scrambled to obey while the other gently helped Thea freshen up. Face washed, hair combed, and all in order, Thea strutted out of the bar. The bar owner was standing at the door had already called a car to take her home to Queen Mansion.
As for the bill? Thea didn't give it a second thought. She had too much on her mind to worry about minor details.
The bar owner stood at the door waving goodbye until the car disappeared down the street, his face stuck in a nervous smile. No one dared to bring up what happened. They were all grown-ups—and some things were better left unsaid.
...
[ Queen Mansion, Star City ]
"Oh, darling, you're finally back!" Moira Queen burst into tears and wrapped her daughter in a tight hug the moment Thea walked through the door.
Thea froze. Her mother was truly a paradox. Moira's influence wasn't as dominant as Malcolm's, but she had her own formidable web of connections—enough to run for mayor later. There was no way she didn't know Thea had spent the night at a bar.
But the concern in Moira's eyes wasn't fake. Thea sighed, returning the hug with a soft pat on the back. "Mom, I'm fine. I just need some space. I'm going to rest in my room."
Back in her room, Thea changed into pajamas and sank into her bed. Her mind buzzed with the stress of the past 24 hours. Even fake acting took a toll when it was wrapped in real stakes. She curled up, uneasy. What if she talked in her sleep? Revealed secrets that shouldn't exist in this world?
Still, her mission was a success. She'd opened the "Malcolm Merlyn Camp" with full worship-level favor. The skill-learning requirement? Complete. Now it was time for the real grind:
Leveling up.
...
[ S.T.A.R. Labs, Central City ]
Meanwhile, at S.T.A.R. Labs in Central City...
Dr. Wells—no, Eobard Thawne, aka Harrison Wells—entered his secret chamber.
"Gideon," he called. "Have you located the anomaly causing the timeline shift?"
A shimmering blue AI form materialized on the wall. "Doctor, the time variable is too faint to pinpoint. I can only detect a vague presence in Star City. Further narrowing requires additional computational resources."
That made Thawne frown. Gideon, after all, was a miracle—crafted from technology a century ahead of its time by Flash. He had built it from scratch in a technological wasteland which is this era. Asking for more processing power in this era was like asking a caveman to build a satellite.
Still, the timeline anomaly appeared minor—for now. Not enough to threaten his master plan. He sighed.
Ten years trapped in this era. No Speed Force. Pretending to be paralyzed. Coaching his own worst enemy. Being a villain had never been so exhausting.
"Continue monitoring Star City," he ordered. "Alert me to any changes."
With that, Dr. Wells—no longer needing to feign his disability in his secret chamber—walked briskly out of the chamber.
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]