Story, AU YJ

Start: boy is 13, haven't decided a name yet. This is before Independence day, about 2-3 years prior. My first story ever so, please give tips and constructive criticism, I still have alot to learn. Don't worry I will inlude way more YJ and JL later on, this is just main character setup.

I'm so dead. he thought as he bit his tongue. Vulgar language followed by slamming could be heard in the room next to him. His father, (adopted) was not happy when he found out he had been sneaking food when they went to sleep.

It's not like it was MY fault they don't feed me! Right?

"You, Get in here." His father had that tone. He always had that tone when he was angry, or wanted something. The boy slowly followed his father into the kitchen only to see his mother at the table with that annoyed look, like she was staring at a rabid animal.

"You're going to pay for the food you stole, you little rat." His fathers voice rang through his ears as he gulped down the lump in his throat.

"Yes, sir."

"You're lucky we even adopted you, no one else wanted you, heck we didn't want you. You just seemed like a good slave"

That word, it stung so much, but before the boy could slip a word out he was back handed. Then bashed once again once he had hit the floor. The mother only watched as the beating occurred, not showing any emotion whatsoever. She had seemed so nice when he was adopted, but after a while her true colors had begun to show. She stopped calling him son, and gave him more chores to do. The affection turned to acknowledgement, which soon became neglection after about two months.

The table shuddered as the boy was thrown against it. Upon it a lit candle fell, only to start the beginning of the adventure that awaited the young boy. The flame licked the table cloth only to set it ablaze. Before anyone could react the boy had darted to the back door, leaving his adopted parents to deal with the arising issue of fire. His heart was pounding and the split lip dripped, leaving a small trail of innocence the child still held within him.

A week later he had learnt that they had died in the flames. Only joy came over the boy as he found out. He had been travelling for the past few days, hopping from place to place. He had been lucky enough to salvage his old duffle bag from the wreckage of the fire without anyone noticing him. His best friend, Roy Harper had given it to him at the orphanage before Roy was adopted. He never really got to say goodbye, he just kind of, left.

5 years ago, that just feels so long ago. Was it in another life?

His mind began to wonder, but was jolted awake by a loud sound. The alley way he had been dozing off in became occupied with what sounded like a druggie. At Least by the sliding of the footsteps. The young man had grown accustomed to this the past few nights, after all this was supposed to be the "bad" part of Star City. After sneaking around the junkie, he realized that was the last place he had to go for sleep, all of his other spots had been found by thugs who saw him as an easy target for money, or even worse.

What seemed like hours of meandering around the city, he saw a corporate office that seemed easy enough to slip into. Queen industries, he had heard of it before, but he couldn't place a person, let alone a face to the name. He had learned how to pick the lock off an emergency exit, and how to not set off the alarm from countless attempts at his adopted "parents" house. They had the whole setup because they caught him sneaking into the house after curfew once. He had found a nice supply closet in the far corner of the office on the fifth floor. Is was small, but heck, it was nicer than any alley way. he wrapped his arms around the duffel bag hoping to get some comfort out of it, immense shouting and banging echoed through the halls, followed by shattering glass. instinct kicked in as he heard the noise in the office outside the closet. He grabbed his back and was ready to sprint for it when the time came. The gruff voice of man could be heard through the door.

"So you think you can steal from anywhere you want? Think again pal."

"I swear I only was only going to steal enough to put food on the table!"

a cocky snort could be heard from the other man. "hah, I doubt it. You've stolen enough to feed a king and his entire country."

Agh!

Loud shuffling and a thud could be heard in the room, as it sounded like a third person had tackled the other. The boy had to find something to create a distraction, enough to buy some time to escape. He scanned the closet only to find some paper clips, sticky notes, and a coffee mug that read "best boss around". He sighed, silently whispering "this will have to do". He listened through the door once more to get an idea of where the men were fighting. To the left, against the wall he was leaning against, all he had to do was dash for the exit in the far right corner of the room, a solid 20 feet. Simple, right?

The adrenaline kicked in and with a deep breath he opened the door and whipped the mug as hard as he could. It did its job and shattered upon one the mens face, easily taking him down, but what he young man saw shocked him for a brief moment. A man clad in a type of green hoodie, with tight green pants to match it, was being choked out by a mobster with with a tribal tattoo down his neck. Luckily they didn't notice him, but in an instance the man in green had successfully taken down his opponent to realize his other enemy had been taken care of. He picked up his bow and notched an arrow scanning the now empty room, only to hear fast paced footsteps fleeing the scene that had just occurred.

No witnesses, not tonight. The man thought, and chased after what he thought was his final target.