Villain

The forest was silent, save for the rasp of wind through the broken tree branches. Twilight cast a blood-red glow across the clearing, setting the stage for a battle between Constantine and his seven year old son against the heroic Green Arrow and Black Canary.

The boy stepped forward, wrapped in a tattered, dark cloak, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning slowly like the calm before a storm. His breath was measured, his presence quiet. He could already see it: every twitch, every intention, every step before it happened. 'First hero fight', he inwardly winced, 'I'm a full blown villain now'

A giggle broke the silence, "whose the dwarf, Constantine?"

"Not a dwarf, I'm a healthy growing boy", his voice corrected, "his son"

A frown settled on Black Canary's face, "How old are you?"

"Seven"

"YOU BROUGHT A CHILD INTO THIS LIFE", the blond archer shot first, and the fight began

Constantine moved to engage the Green Archer, and Black Canary, stood in his path 

She crept forward with the silent steps. Marek's fist, cloaked in raw, violent cursed energy, cut through the air with a howl. The experienced hero sidestepped, graceful and clean, as if she knew where the punch would land. Bark shattered behind her.

'I'm still too predictable', Marek thought.

He adjusted his stance and like a ghost, slid across the terrain. A flick of his wrist sent three kunai streaking through the air—each wired, each aimed to control, not kill. The blonde woman swatted one aside, but missed the trap. The wire snapped taut around her boot.

The boy tugged.

She lost her balance, and fell. Marek launched himself forward but hesitated to hit. It was 'all' the time she needed to free herself and create distance

"You don't want to fight, do you?", she observed

"No", he chuckled, " I admire you. The people you saved from the off course train was masterful work"

"Fancy yourself a hero", she smirked, getting into a stance. His eyes studied her. Then they resumed the fight, albeit at a safer pace. He memorized her moves and her strikes, and she found herself enjoying the fight

"Why steal from Queen Industries?", she asked, but Marek stayed silent. Her elbow found purchase, but the boy slipped past the strike

'A quick learner', she deduced

"Cooperate Espionage. We were hired for it", Marek answered

"By who?"

Marek smiled, a knowing smile

"Why fight me, if you don't want to?", she questioned instead

"Got no choice", he sighed, "I'm a legacy villain"

"You don't have to be"

"Can't escape", he replied, "there are other parties interested in me. David Cain, Zeiss, Lawrence Crock, Merlyn" He suddenly locked her arm in his right elbow, and struck her abdomen. She doubled down in pain but wiggled out of his hold

"Why?", she gasped, catching her breath, "because you're stronger than a child is supposed to be"

"No", Marek moved again—sudden and fast, despite his size. He dashed forward, feinting left then pivoting right with a spinning heel kick aimed at her ribs. She leaned back just enough, the kick slicing the air in front of her like a blade missing its mark by inches. In one fluid motion, she caught his leg mid-spin, using his momentum against him, and flung him toward the ground.

But the boy twisted mid-air, tucking his limbs in and rolling into a crouch as he landed. He launched again with renewed energy, fists flurrying in a wild but clever barrage of strikes. The woman blocked many, but missed few. A raised forearm deflected a punch. A subtle shift of weight let a kick slide past her side.

Suddenly, Canary struck. Her palm darted forward, pinching his shoulder, a precise strike meant not to injure but to destabilize. The boy stumbled. She followed with a sweeping leg aimed at his ankles, but he leapt just in time, flipping backward.

As he landed, he slid, using the loose earth to lower his stance and attempt a low sweep of his own. This time, her eyes widened slightly—surprised at his creativity. She jumped over his leg, twisting mid-air, and came down with a sharp elbow aimed at his chest. The boy caught her arm—barely—and grunted from the impact, feet skidding back.

For a moment, they stood locked, eyes inches apart.

"Every fight sees me growing visibly stronger, faster, more durable. They wish to understand why. Lawrence sees me, a rival for his daughters Jade and Artemis. He thinks I can push them to greatness", Marek explained, "And I'm not leaving their side till I've had my revenge. I wish to burn my father to crisp. Cut open and watch Zeiss bleed to death, destroy David's mind and cut off Lawrence's limbs. I won't leave their side till I have exacted my revenge"

A tense silence took its place and an oppressive lust filled the air 

The boy stared at her, then slowly bowed, "Constantine is going to attack Ted Kord in the coming week. He might not be alone. Should you stop him, I might reconsider my plans"

"Why attack Kord?", she asked, only to receive a shrug in response

"Their fight has ended, and your partner's injured. This is goodbye"

The world shifted.

Marek's body burst apart in a flurry of crows, their wings slashing the air with a violent cry as they scattered into the night. The forest around Dinah twisted—the trees stretched like shadows in a nightmare, and the ground beneath her feet seemed to vanish. Then, without warning, the illusion shattered. The world snapped back into focus, and she dropped to her knees. She could hear the forest again, and Oliver's wheezing breath let her know he was present as well. Both Constantine and his son were missing.

She stood up and made her way to her slightly injured partner, one thought troubled her, 'Was the entire fight an illusion?'