Working With Red

Divide and Conquer; or, However It's Supposed to Go

"While I admit it's not the greatest plan in world, it's all I've got," Oliver muttered through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to account for all ends of this, so please, if you've got any other suggestions, I'd like to hear them." 

You honestly expected Roy to retort with some kind of half-sarcastic, half-serious comeback, but with how tight the look of contemplation was on his face, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out he couldn't think of a viable alternative. 

"So, what's going to happen if we get caught?" Roy muttered; it was a question you'd been turning over in your head the past few minutes, but you were glad Roy had been the one to ask. "Oliver, this is more than just lying to the Justice League, you know. We're risking the League's trust in Flash, not to mention you and Dinah could both have your memberships revoked. What's more, the military could lose all trust in the Justice League, and we've been skating on thin ice with them for decades." 

After a moment of silence and a deep breath, Oliver replied unsteadily with a simple, "I know. I'll take care of it." 

It was clear that the four of you were uncomfortable with the entirety of this plan, but with time running out before Oliver and Dinah headed to Gotham and no other alternative options, your last couple of hours together were spent piecing together a makeshift suit for you to wear as Goldfinch, creating an "official" identification badge for you to present to the officers, and an ensuing argument in which Oliver furiously tried to convince Roy to wear a fake blonde mustache, because, "there was no way Roy could pull off being Green Arrow without Green Arrow's signature". In the end, while Roy agreed to wear a blonde wig in case his plan to remain hooded for the week didn't work out, he unwaveringly refused to wear the mustache, much to Oliver's disappointment.

You and Roy weren't expected in Sacramento until later that evening, so you spent the last of your time together sending Oliver and Dinah off to Gotham. Because the zeta tubes logged every verified member that passed through, Oliver had called in a favor from a friend to be escorted via private jet to Gotham, no questions asked. Oliver had even set up a private jet to fly you and Roy to a local airfield near the United States Marine Corps Base, where the two of you would be staying. It was close enough to the other locations on your list and one of the only places that had barracks offering to house you, since part of the plan was to remain on-site of the attack as much as possible. The two didn't leave without, once again, drilling the plan into your heads and handing over the files on everything you'd gone over in your meeting. 

Finally, as the sun began to peak over the skyline and turn dawn into morning, Dinah and Oliver said their goodbyes. As Oliver loaded his and Dinah's bags into the taxi, Roy lingered behind in the foyer, staring through the open front door at you and Dinah conversing in the driveway. 

You gazed up at the blonde nervously, who peered back down at you with empathetic blue eyes. Dinah then heaved out a sigh before scooping you up into a bone-crushing hug, one you tried your best to reciprocate. 

"Oh, sweetheart," she mumbled into your hair. "Please be careful. Come back to us in one piece." You only nodded your head slowly before pulling away, but before you could retreat to the manor, Dinah suddenly grabbed hold of your wrist and flipped your hand over. A short USB drive was dropped into your palm. 

"This is a message I recorded for the officers," Dinah explained. "It's from me as Black Canary introducing you and explaining in further detail why I was unable to accompany Green Arrow on this mission. If nobody on base believes the two of you, play this for them." You remained silent, only nodding again before slipping the USB into your pocket. Then, with one final hug, Dinah left you standing in the driveway as she joined Oliver in the taxi and the two left for the airport.