Chapter 2: Malcolm Merlin

Thea ignored the people comforting her, maintaining a cold expression. In truth, she didn't know many of them and had no memory of these relationships. It was clear that the original Thea had little contact with these families. No one found her behavior particularly strange, though. After all, she was a fifteen-year-old girl who had just lost her father and brother. Her somber demeanor was expected. It would have been more concerning if she had greeted everyone with a smile.

"Thea, what a shame," a young man said, disregarding her icy demeanor as he patted her shoulder.

The young man was Tommy Merlyn, the only person Thea recognized at the scene. He was her brother Oliver's best friend, practically a brother himself. Tommy was the son of Malcolm Merlyn—his only son and, by blood, Oliver's half-brother. The relationships were complicated, to say the least. Oliver, Tommy, their shared father, and their respective mothers created a tangled web of connections.

Despite the complexity, Thea nodded quietly and murmured, "Thank you."

Tommy was visibly heartbroken. He had grown up with the Queen family, and Robert had been like a second father to him. Oliver's death hit him hard. Among the hundreds of mourners, only two and a half people were truly grieving: Tommy, Moira, and Thea—who, knowing Oliver was still alive, could only half-count herself among them.

Thea gave Tommy a gentle hug before slipping away from the crowd and returning to her car alone. Moira noticed her departure and quickly followed, the two riding back to the Queen mansion in silence.

Back at home, Thea declined Moira's suggestion to spend the night together and retreated to her room. She had much to think about. There were still five years before the main storyline would begin, and she couldn't afford to waste that time. The world was dangerous, and during the Green Arrow's saga, someone close to Oliver was always being kidnapped. The cycle of rescue and retaliation repeated endlessly for five seasons—a nonsensical pattern she wanted no part of.

And this was after Oliver's return. What about the five-year gap before he came back? As the sole heir to the Queen family fortune, she was a prime target for kidnappers. The Queen family's bodyguards were notoriously ineffective. Even John Diggle, their strongest guard, was no match for the assassins who seemed to operate at a kindergarten level of competence.

Most concerning was Malcolm Merlyn, the master manipulator. Would he be tempted by the Queen family's wealth? Thea suspected he might try to marry Moira and eliminate her. If he didn't know Thea was his daughter, there was a 70-80% chance he'd go through with it. The thought of being killed by her own father, unaware of their connection, was horrifying.

In the original timeline, Thea had spiraled after the deaths of her father and brother. But now, with a different soul influencing her, she had no interest in self-destruction or reckless behavior. The idea of romantic entanglements, especially with men, repulsed her. Still, she had to consider her options carefully.

If Malcolm saw her stepping up to lead the Queen family, how would he react? Would he see her as a threat or an opportunity? Thea rubbed her temples, overwhelmed by the complexity of her situation. She glanced at Moira, who was preparing for the funeral, and realized she might need to start carrying an umbrella—both literally and metaphorically.

Moira was a tragic figure, blind to Malcolm's true nature. She didn't realize he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, a man who saw only allies and enemies. Oliver had confronted him multiple times in the original storyline, and even though Malcolm claimed to see Oliver as a son, he showed no mercy when Oliver stood in his way. Thea, as his biological daughter, had suffered greatly at his hands. Fortunately, Malcolm wasn't yet at the height of his power. As long as she didn't interfere with his plans, he might leave her alone—provided he knew she was his daughter.

For now, Thea wasn't in a rush to learn martial arts. Survival was her priority. Did Malcolm know the truth about her parentage? That question kept her up at night.

Exhausted, she eventually fell asleep, only to dream of Superman and Batman battling in a Justice League crisis. She died in the chaos, crushed like an ant. Waking in a cold sweat, she couldn't fall back asleep. She lay in bed, lost in thought, until Moira called her for breakfast.

"Oh, Thea, you look terrible. Should we call a doctor?" Moira asked, concerned.

"It's nothing, Mom. I just didn't sleep well last night. I'll rest a bit more," Thea replied.

During breakfast, Tommy joined them. He had been spending more time at the Queen mansion than she had. Watching him interact with Moira, Thea realized something: Tommy didn't know the truth about her parentage. Moira, however, likely did. Thea needed to confirm whether Malcolm knew as well. If he did, he might intervene if she got too close to Tommy.

The idea of being intimate with a man made her uncomfortable, but it was the only way to test Malcolm's knowledge. Fortunately, Tommy was familiar and not entirely repulsive. For the sake of her survival, she would have to play along.

In the original storyline, Thea had harbored feelings for Tommy. Thankfully, the writers hadn't taken that plotline to its worst conclusion. Tommy, unaware of their blood relation, had rejected her, insisting they were like siblings. It was a small mercy in an otherwise dramatic mess.

In the days that followed, Thea began subtly drawing closer to Tommy. On one hand, it was a way to gauge Malcolm's awareness. On the other, it served as a protective measure—keeping Tommy close might deter Malcolm from acting against her. It was a calculated move, but survival required pragmatism.

Fortunately, being Malcolm's daughter gave her some leverage. As long as he knew the truth, she had a chance to stay safe.

Thea's behavior didn't go unnoticed. Those around her assumed she was still reeling from the loss of her father and brother. They expected her to recover in time. Meanwhile, Thea packed away her short skirts and high heels, vowing never to wear them again unless Superman turned evil.

Tommy, to his credit, was a loyal friend. Despite her constant attention, he never complained, believing she was still grieving. He went out of his way to cheer her up, even neglecting his girlfriend, Laurel Lance. Thea felt a pang of guilt but reminded herself that survival came first.