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The sun was scorching, its dazzling light flooding the entire sky with golden heatwaves.
Allen, who had just stepped out of the hotel, tilted his head slightly as the sunlight washed over him.
The rays bathed Laurel in a radiant glow, her long brown hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back, her delicate face tinged with a faint blush.
Her expression, soft and slightly lazy, carried a subtle charm that was hard to ignore.
"Shall we go back again?" Allen asked suddenly, his voice casual but teasing.
"Go back? We just came out. We've already checked out of the room," Laurel replied, visibly confused.
She turned to look at him, puzzled by the sudden suggestion.
But as soon as her gaze met his, she caught the expression in his eyes.
Allen was staring at her, not with amusement or detachment like before, but with something darker, more primal.
His dark eyes shimmered with heat, filled with both interest and a kind of possessiveness that made her body tense up involuntarily.
It wasn't the neutral gaze of someone overseeing training anymore, this was a man's desire.
That intense, unmistakable look that made her feel exposed even though she was fully clothed.
Laurel instinctively averted her eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat, not out of fear, but out of something far more complicated.
If Allen had forced himself on her earlier, right after booking the room, or even after training, she might have fought back in anger, maybe even cried.
But deep down, she would have submitted.
Because she had no power to stop him.
But now? Now that he was teasing her... now that he was giving her a choice?
She didn't know what she'd do.
And that uncertainty unsettled her more than anything.
"Forget it. It was just a joke," Allen said nonchalantly, noting the flustered look on her face.
"I won't supervise your afternoon training. You can arrange it yourself."
Laurel blinked, caught off guard by how quickly he let things go.
She nodded slowly, as if trying to process the sudden shift in tone.
Allen waved a hand and walked away with his usual relaxed air.
She watched his back disappear into the crowd, still dazed.
Not long after, Laurel spotted her mother approaching.
Dinah Lance looked both worried and livid, her eyes narrowing as they landed on her daughter.
"Are you alright? That guy didn't do anything to you, did he?" Dinah asked urgently, her tone sharp with concern.
Laurel quickly shook her head.
"Really?" Dinah asked again, skepticism lacing her voice.
She had seen them leave the hotel together.
Laurel's flushed cheeks, her wobbly steps... Any experienced woman would draw her own conclusions from that.
"Yes. Really," Laurel repeated firmly.
Dinah's frown deepened.
"He didn't tell you who the mastermind behind the Queen's Gambit accident was? Did he try to hurt you?"
"No. He just… supervised my training, he said as I am, I can't take get rid of the target…" Laurel said.
Dinah didn't buy it completely, but she decided not to press further.
She would observe for now.
After all, last night's events were already under investigation.
Several agents had died.
That wasn't something the agency could overlook.
Her orders from A.R.G.U.S. were clear: gather intelligence.
Watch. Do not engage yet.
For now, Allen was under silent surveillance.
After parting ways with Laurel, Allen didn't head back to the apartment.
Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets, letting the city's rhythm guide his steps.
Every proper hero needed the basics: a suit and some decent equipment.
He already had a plan.
The suit could come from Wayne Enterprises.
His identity as Talia al Ghul's "associate" hadn't been exposed yet, and in a way (since he can control Talia), he was the largest shareholder of the Wayne Group.
It wouldn't be hard to send over some sketches and request a custom uniform to be made for Laurel.
As for gear, batons, throwing weapons, and reinforced armor, Wayne Tech could supply that as well.
But her most iconic piece? The sonic device.
That would require a trip to Central City.
Allen figured Cisco Ramon could handle it.
Sure, they weren't exactly close.
In fact, they hadn't even met. And Allen had no money. But that wasn't a big deal.
He had other ways.
By the time he realized where his feet had taken him, Allen found himself in a city park.
Despite the sun blazing overhead, couples strolled by, people lounged on benches, and office workers enjoyed their lunch breaks in the shade.
He found a large tree with thick foliage and slumped into the grass beneath it, lounging with his arms behind his head.
Might as well kill some time and wait for Felicity to get off work, he needed her help contacting Talia anyway.
As the sunlight filtered through the leaves above, Allen noticed movement.
A woman appeared from behind the tree.
She had long burgundy hair that shimmered in the light, and she wore a form-fitting black dress.
Her heels clicked against the pavement as she half-ran half-walked, her head turning quickly over her shoulder as if people were chasing her.
Their eyes met.
Without a word, she rushed toward him.
Her steps were hurried, yet fluid, like someone used to improvising under pressure.
Before Allen could react, she dropped into his lap as if she belonged there, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Hard.
The kiss was deep, unrelenting, and burning with a mix of panic and wild energy.
Her hands locked behind his neck, holding on as if she were clinging to life itself.
Her lips moved over his clumsily, hungrily, not like someone who knew him, but someone putting on a performance that felt a little too real.
Her entire body trembled faintly, but her kiss was passionate enough to draw attention.
It felt like at any moment they might roll across the grass in a tangled mess.
Allen didn't resist.
But then he moved.
With a casual twist of his body, he flipped her onto the grass and pinned her there.
One arm braced beside her head, the other wrapped around her waist as he kissed her back, not roughly, but firmly.
She gasped softly in surprise, but quickly understood.
His position now fully shielded her from view.
Her heart, which had been racing with fear, slowed a little.
This stranger had caught on quickly.
And his improvisation was far better than hers.
She relaxed, letting herself melt into the kiss, no longer just acting, but responding genuinely.
For a moment, she forgot about the danger.
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Two men in black suits, and sunglasses, the typical "Men in Black" look, came rushing into view.
They scanned the area with sharp eyes, moving fast.
They spotted the two on the grass.
One man hesitated briefly, then nudged his partner.
"Keep moving," he muttered. "They're just a couple."
The other man glanced once, then looked away with awkward speed.
Even in a liberal city, stumbling upon a couple mid-makeout was still a cue to avert your eyes.
"Split up and search!"
The two agents exchanged low voices and quickly separated, heading off in opposite directions.
The woman beneath Allen exhaled softly and whispered.
"Thanks. That was close…"
Allen, still pinning her to the ground, raised an eyebrow and asked, "So... who exactly did you piss off?"
She gave a sly smile.
"Let's just say I have a gift for making powerful enemies."
Allen grinned.
"That makes you a bold girl."