Stunned.
That was the only word running through Thea Queen's mind as she watched Helena Bertinelli quietly dress in her purple Huntress uniform and slip out of the room. Her steps were uneven, her expression conflicted, yet she still left without a word.
Thea found herself recalling a phrase she'd once overheard—"No on the lips, but the body says yes." The thought left her shaken.
An hour earlier, Jack Kadere had taken a hard, commanding tone with Helena. At first, Thea was convinced it was force, that Jack had dropped his teasing charm and revealed a rougher, crueler side. But as the moments passed, Thea realized she was wrong. Helena resisted only briefly before giving in—and then, shockingly, taking the initiative.
It was wild, chaotic, and passionate. For the entire time, it was as though both Jack and Helena had forgotten Thea was even standing there.
Thea could only whisper to herself, "This… this is possible?"
Lying on the bed, Jack caught her wide-eyed look and chuckled. "Why not? There's nothing that can't be solved with one round. And if there is… then two."
Thea flushed, shaking her head. "I'm actually starting to believe what she said about you earlier," she admitted. Then, hesitating, she added, "But… what exactly happened at the restaurant? I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."
Jack leaned back against the headboard, his expression calm. "Your biological father and your half-brother tried to team up to save you. Malcolm Merlyn and Oliver Queen. But their alliance was fragile at best. Complicated loyalties, hidden grudges."
Thea stiffened. She had only just begun to learn the truth about her family.
"Malcolm's plan has always been clear," Jack continued evenly. "He wanted to destroy the Glades. He conspired with others, played his games, pulled strings. Back then, your stepfather—Robert Queen—was one of his allies. But later, Robert grew a conscience. He realized how wrong it all was. He tried to pull out, and for that, Malcolm had him killed. That was the Queen's Gambit incident."
Thea's eyes widened. Her brother had told her pieces of the story, but hearing it spelled out so plainly made her stomach twist.
"Oliver," Jack said with a wry smile, "is trying to atone. To protect this city, to make up for the mistakes of his family. Which means he and Malcolm will be at each other's throats for a while."
With that, Jack stood and disappeared into the shower. When he returned, towel draped across his shoulders, Thea was still frozen where she stood, the weight of the revelations heavy on her.
Jack stretched, casual as ever. "Malcolm won't die. Not yet. The Birds of Prey will definitely pick up on the fallout from that restaurant mess. With Catwoman back in Gotham, Black Canary will take the lead. That's why I told Helena earlier that I had something lined up for Canary. I'll also make sure Laurel learns the truth—that Malcolm was the one responsible for her sister's death. Imagine what that will do."
His grin widened. "Malcolm's about to have his hands very full. He'll be pulled in every direction."
"And Oliver?" Thea finally asked.
"Oliver will be stuck juggling everything," Jack replied. "Trying to find you, clashing with Malcolm, and keeping Canary from stealing his vengeance. He wants to be Starling City's protector? Fine. I'll give him all the work he can handle."
The amusement in Jack's voice made Thea shiver.
Because the truth was simple—Jack Kadere could crush Oliver with a flick of his wrist. But that wasn't the point. "If he dies, time erases him. Poof. No fun in that," Jack muttered. "This world is my playground. I'm not here to destroy it, or rule it, or run around like some mindless killer. I just want the thrill. The entertainment. Unlike Reverse-Flash, I won't waste years living in boredom."
He glanced at Thea, his expression softening slightly. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Want to come with me, or go your own way?"
Thea swallowed, still unsure of everything. "Where… where are you going?"
Jack smirked. "First, back to Central City. There's fun waiting for me there. Then maybe somewhere even more interesting." His eyes gleamed. "Soon enough, Harrison Wells' real body will be revealed. Reverse-Flash's cover will blow wide open. He'll be stuck—can't kill Barry, can't abandon him, has to keep helping him just to preserve the timeline. The frustration must be unbearable."
"If I dragged villains from Earth-Two into this mess," Jack thought, "the chaos would be even better."
Of course, there was a catch. His speed had already reached terrifying levels—he could blitz across cities in seconds if he wanted—but breaking into parallel Earths required more than just speed. It demanded precision, skill, and time. Still, Jack was in no hurry. The game was half the fun.
"I don't want to go home, and honestly, I don't know where to go," Thea admitted quietly, her voice carrying the weight of someone who had lost her footing.
Jack smirked. "Then come with me." He made the decision for her without hesitation, as though the matter was already settled.
…
By the time the sun dipped low across Starling City's skyline, Jack had made his way to the Birds of Prey's base.
The place had grown more advanced since its early days. Computer terminals lined the walls, surveillance feeds flickered across monitors, and special glass cases displayed uniforms and gear—Black Canary's suit and Catwoman's sleek outfit, both standing like silent sentinels of their owners' double lives.
Felicity Smoak sat at the main console, her fingers flying across the keyboard, clearly immersed in her research. A short distance away, Laurel Lance was dressed in shorts and a tank top, breaking into a sweat as she punished the training equipment.
Then came a flash of red lightning.
Jack Kadere materialized in the room, his sudden arrival making Felicity nearly topple out of her chair.
"Jack?!" Felicity gasped, stunned.
He didn't hesitate. He strode up to her, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her firmly. Felicity stiffened for only a second before instinctively melting into the embrace.
Laurel had stopped mid-rep, her face unreadable as she watched them. Emotions flickered across her expression—complicated, unsettled, but impossible to miss.
Jack finally released Felicity and turned toward Laurel with an amused grin. "What? No hug?"
Before she could respond, he stepped forward and embraced her too.
Thump-thump-thump.
Laurel's heartbeat echoed in her ears, far too loud for her own comfort.
"Now," Jack said lightly as he stepped back, "I can tell you who the man behind all this really is."
Laurel's eyes snapped toward him. "Who is it?"
"You investigated the restaurant attack, didn't you? Besides Oliver Queen—Green Arrow—there was someone else. The assassins dressed like the League of Assassins weren't random. They were trained by Black Arrow. His real identity? Malcolm Merlyn." Jack laid it out casually, as if discussing tomorrow's weather.
Both Felicity and Laurel froze. Their eyes widened at the name.
Malcolm Merlyn. CEO of Merlyn Global. A titan of Starling City's elite, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Queen family in power and influence. And now, revealed as a cold-blooded mastermind.
While Laurel was still piecing together the implications, Jack led Felicity into the adjoining chamber where the body of the real Dr. Harrison Wells had been secured. The corpse was mangled beyond recognition, but the DNA results had already confirmed his identity.
"I'll be taking the body with me," Jack said smoothly, his smirk never fading. "Tomorrow, I'm heading back to Central City."
Felicity blinked, startled. "You're leaving already? What about Thea?"
"She's coming with me," Jack replied without hesitation. "Let Oliver waste time chasing shadows. Speaking of which—Laurel, did Oliver come looking for you after he returned?"
Laurel exhaled sharply. "Yes. He wanted to apologize."
"And?" Jack tilted his head.
Her lips curved into a grim smile as she raised a hand and mimed slapping someone across the face.
Jack laughed and gave her a thumbs-up. "Nice. That's the Laurel I know."
Laurel's eyes narrowed. "What exactly did you think I'd do? Crawl back to him? After everything—after what happened to Sara—it was already pushing my limits not to kill him outright."
Jack didn't argue. He simply chuckled, the look in his eyes both teasing and approving.
…
Author's Note: The Green Arrow arc is always tricky to balance. Some storylines are too tame to hold Jack Kadere's attention, which is why the focus has shifted toward Thea and the Birds of Prey for now. Once this section wraps up, the Reverse-Flash conflict will come to the forefront, followed by Earth-Two's villains and the multiverse chaos Jack craves. Some readers might think the plot feels scattered, but remember—Jack is far beyond the level where everyday threats matter. For him, it's about chasing power, stirring trouble, and testing how far the world can bend around him. Stick around, and let's dive into the storm together.