Hey guys
So, this is a story I've been tossing around with various drafts for a good couple of years, well at least some point after 3x09.
Basically, this if Oliver really did die in his fight with Ras al Ghul and how that effects people back in Starling City, particularly Roy.
Don't own Arrow or anything in the Arrowverse but really by this point, that should be known.
Nighttime in Starling City
Roy Harper dressed in his red leather suit with the hood up overlooks an alleyway, while crouched on a roof top ledge. He's waiting for the three Garson bothers, a small group of thieves.
Nothing that hardly is news worthy, but it gets around the Glades well enough and he still has friends around here that keep him updated. After all he grew up in these slums and most people living here are just making an honest living while trying to survive.
Once upon a time he was an angry youth stealing to live but ever since being kidnapped by The Savior and becoming Oliver's partner Roy's changed.
Tonight, he's out alone since Diggle is at home with his wife and baby daughter. Felicity is probably off having a nine-thousand-dollar dinner with Ray Palmer at a restaurant.
Roy never will understand why Oliver loved her or at least claimed to. His mentor's love life was a jumbled-up mess he never wanted any part of.
Three months ago, Danny Brickwell took four city council men as hostages and forced the mayor to give him the Glades or they would die. Needless to say, the woman did exactly that.
The National Guard is not going to step in for the same reasons, despite that probably those men are already dead. So, the only hope around is Diggle, Quentin Lance and whatever police that are brave enough to enter.
Laurel began following in her sister's footsteps as the next Black Canary despite only have a short number of weeks of training from Ted Grant. That's led to quite a few arguments between them given that Laurel is very untrained.
Roy comes out of his thoughts when seeing the back door of a cheese steak shop open and three men in dark cloths with a young girl exit. He fires an arrow through the first man's left knee cap sending him to the ground painfully.
As the thugs look up in surprise Arsenal drops down from the roof ledge than grabs a hold of a drain pipe and uses that to slide to the floor.
"Hey, aren't you that Flash guy?" one of the men asked.
"Wrong city" Roy replied.
One of the men goes running towards the hooded archer who ducks a swing than gives a strike with his own to the man's gut before finishing him off with a right cross. The second man falls to the floor out cold.
Roy looks up to see the last man holding a handgun to the girl's head who is no older than fourteen years old.
Notching an arrow "Let the girl go" Roy orders angrily.
"Fat chance hero. I'm walking out of here with my money and maybe I'll let her live" the man said.
Without warning a red colored arrow files through the air and enters the man's right eye socket, he slums to the ground.
Roy looks upon the lifeless body this being the first time he's ever killed. Or at least being in control of himself unlike being on a Mirakuru rampage when killing that cop. Lester Buchinsky was an innocent man, who left behind a wife and two young kids. He knows it was the Mirakuru behind his actions but that doesn't make it any easier.
Hour later in an apartment
Roy dressed in casual cloths enters to see Diggle helping Lyla clean off the table which as he shuts the door as they notice his presence.
"I kind of need to talk to Diggle about something. I don't know what to do" Roy said.
"Alright just let me get this" Diggle said, going to move some plates.
"It's okay Johnny I can get it from here" Lyla said, briefly touching his arm.
A short while later Diggle and Roy are on the balcony looking out at the city.
Minutes pass before "I killed a man tonight" Roy said, his voice filled with guilt.
"What happened?" Diggle asked.
"It was the Garrison bothers. One had a hostage and I wasn't going to waste time trying to find a nonlethal spot because I don't think there was one." Roy replied.
"Like you just said there was no other choice to make. I learned in Afghanistan sometimes it's killed or be killed and no third option" Diggle said.
Sighing "Yea your right. Oliver killed Joseph Falk to save my life than even after Deathstroke there would be times where a criminal got death instead of prison" Roy replied.
"Having restraint is a good thing because it keeps the lines from getting to blurry. But Roy like tonight it's the only option" Diggle said, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
Facing him "Thank you for listening" Roy said.
"Anytime. Now let's go inside because there is still some dinner left and you need to eat" Diggle replied.
Roy thinks about protesting but decides against it when his stomach rumbles in hunger. Besides growing up in the Glades food wasn't always available so he'll will take it every chance he got.
Next morning in the Foundry
Roy dressed in simple blue jeans but shirtless is beating a punching bag to death.
Allowing his thoughts to consume him of everything. First, it's been three months since Oliver's death at the hands of Ras al Gul that Malcom Merlyn confirmed with the bloody sword. The two of them later actually met up with Maseo Yamashiro and his estranged wife Tatsu, who are old friends of Oliver from his time in Hong Kong were able to recover the body.
They had a private funeral for Oliver. It was one of the hardest things Roy ever had to do in his life. A few days later, Thea having had enough of painful memories left Starling and headed to Corto Maltese. Plus needing to be on the run from the League of Assassins.
Shortly after the funeral he was approached by a woman named Talia who has begun training him in furthering his combat and archery skills for the past months. Plus, Talia had a suit made, more like Oliver's original suit which the leathers are custom fit to his size, but for the time being told her to keep it.
His thoughts are interrupted "So I turned on the news this morning and saw that one of the Garson brothers was dead... from a red arrow" Felicity said approaching.
Stopping "He had a hostage. I didn't have a choice" Roy said.
"Oliver said the same thing after The Count. Still don't believe him. We don't kill people for any reason. When you wear that hood, it is an honor. One you don't shed with blood" Felicity said.
"You have not been out onto the field like we have. Not there every time when we get shot or struck on the back of the head and wondering if we will ever make it out alive" Roy replied, gritting teeth.
"No, you're right. I'm just sit the tech person who has gone out a couple of times and oh I shoved a needle into Slade Wilson's neck" Felicity said snarky.
"Fine you've gone out once or twice but it's different. Felicity I don't expect you to understand" Roy said getting ready to strike the bag again.
"Oliver wouldn't do what you're doing. He's better than that" Felicity said angrily.
Turning around "Remember that child kidnapper Al Muncie about a week after I joined? Oliver let him drown in the sewers" Roy replied.
"Maybe he just couldn't save him, but you don't" Felicity said but gets cut off.
"No, you've been in denial ever since he left to go fight Ras A Gul. It stops now. You've proved one thing you're not doing this for the city but because of a fantasy version of Oliver" Roy said.
"What is your point?" Felicity asked, harshly.
"Either you're in this team and are willing to live in this dark world or you're not" Roy replied.
Felicity steps back, crying in tears of shock as it's like the truth hit her full on. Unable to speak she rushes out slamming the door close. Roy lets out a sigh of relief and knows it had to be done.
Times have changed. Team Arrow has lost its leader now it's a matter of survival for everyone, for the whole city. Somehow, he's became the unofficial leader of whatever is left of this group.
"So, I'm guessing from no guy running around in a green hood he's gone" a familiar voice spoke approaching.
Turning around to see "Sin. How did you get here?" Roy asked.
"I do know the password" Sin replied.
"Oliver's gone. Why are you here?" Roy asked.
"I heard on the news and well it's been awhile since I saw you" Sin said.
Beginning to hit the bag again "Well I've been busy. Haven't had much time for anything else" Roy said.
"You can't be The Arrow, Roy. Pushing yourself until you break is not going to go well for anyone including you" Sin said.
"And if I don't people are going to die. I've lost enough people already and Brickwell has to be stopped" Roy replied, angrily.
Moving forward with gripping him by the arms "I get it ok. Here's the thing you're not him. Use his methods and teachings but don't let them break you" Sin said.
Nodding "How did you get to be so smart?" Roy asked, a tiny grin.
"You're not the only one who had a mask for a mentor Abercrombie" Sin replied with a teasing smile.
Shaking his head amused Roy walks over to the computers leaning against the table, wiping the sweat off his face with a rag.
"It's probably none of my business but you and Thea back together?" Sin asked.
"No, we're not. As long as she's happy I'm fine with that. I'm not sitting around hoping she'll come back to me" Roy said.
"Good" Sin replied, moving forward before kissing him on the lips.
Roy is momentarily surprised with fleetingly considering backing off but decides not to. Returning her kiss Roy, removes her jacket as Sin begins running her hands along his bare back.
In the docks at a shipping warehouse
Throwing a box into the back of a truck, Roy decides to take short break and well also discover why his supposed coworkers are spending so much time in the nearby break room.
However, it's not like he needs to work given Oliver left him all of his accounts. Despite Isabel Rochev and Slade's actions Oliver had money in off shore accounts that were separate from the Queen family funds.
Briefly Roy's mind drifts back to waking up on the small bed in the Foundry after having sex with Sin, who was already gone. Just left a note near his equipment saying that she would see him soon.
Really not sure what exactly was going on with Sin, but maybe it was just an attraction. It's not like he's doesn't have a connection with Sin due their similar backgrounds. Only since he was in a relationship with Thea, well they kept it strictly to friendship.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Roy hops onto the raised level with quietly making his way against the wall and approaching the open doorway. but doesn't get to close. Listening in, Roy determines the group of men are discussing a meet up between their gang and Brickwell's since they want to join.
Which is going to take place in a junkyard later tonight. Prefect Roy concludes since it's a chance to take out some gang members and maybe even get ahold of one of Brickwell's lieutenants. Looks like choosing this place purposely because of it's connection to the criminal underworld is paying off.
Hearing the men slowly beginning to head back this direction, Roy makes a quick hop down and heads back over to moving boxes with acting like not knowing a thing.
Later at a junkyard
Roy in his Arsenal suit is making his way around a stack of old freezers and typewriter from the 1920's. Following his lead is Laurel in her Black Canary suit with a police baton.
Notching an arrow, Roy comes upon a small group of gang members but is startled at what he sees. All six of the men are laying on the ground out cold like there's been a fight and have multiple broken bones. Exchanging a look with Laurel, Roy glances back at the men to notice some of them have a bat shaped pieces of metal sticking out of some of their body parts.
"Who did this?" Laurel asked.
"I don't know" Roy replied un-notching the arrow with placing it back in his quiver.
"That would be me, Roy Harper and Dinah Lance" a voice said from nearby.
Both Roy and Laurel turn to see a figure emerging from the shadows. The man is dressed in an all-black suit with mask and pointed ears. There's a red bat symbol on his chest and a sliver belt wrapped around his waist.
"Who are you?" Roy asked.
"Batman" the man said, his voice rougher due to a voice modulator.
"What do you want?" Roy asked, knowing the man's name sounds familiar.
"To help you take down Danny Brickwell" Batman said.
"Why should we trust you?" Roy asked.
After a moment of debate Batman, removes his mask. Revealing the face of a teenager in his later years, with black hair and a certain hard look in his eyes despite his kind of soft features.
"I'm Terry McGinnis" he replied.
"Well you know ours already. You want to help take down Brickwell, why?" Roy asked.
"Brickwell was trying to move his gun running operations into Gotham City and I shut them down" Terry replied.
"Ok. Let's work together then" Laurel said.
"Not that fast Laurel. I'll make this clear Terry I don't know you, so I don't trust you… yet. If you betray us I'll make sure you regret it, understand?" Roy asked.
"You sound like my mentor. I can agree with that" Terry replied.
"Alright, now let's get to work" Roy said.
Hope you guys enjoyed this
I figured with Oliver being dead it would be the finale breaking point for Thea for wanting to stay in Starling City so it's not out of the possibility that she would want to leave given how much bad memories are Starling.
Yes, I am doing a Roy and Sin romantic relationship since I think they would be a good pairing together. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a story with them as a couple.
Given Roy's age based off the Arrowverse wika being 1991 which would make him 24 in 2015 when this story is taking place, I am making Sin at the very least 18 years old.
Mostly so I can avoid having a whole bunch of issues and questions about the ages of them dating, etc.
Yes, I'm bringing in Batman or rather Terry McGinnis who took over the role as Batman in the future. Terry first appeared in the Batman Beyond cartoon that ran from 1991 to 2001 and Terry proved to be so popular they brought him into the main DC comics.
I've been waiting to use Terry in something, so I figured given this is focused on Roy protecting the city after Oliver's death then Terry would fit right in.
Also, it was confirmed in 6x03 that Bruce Wayne and Gotham City does exist since Oliver mentioned it during his speech to the news people. Edit as of 2/06/19 in Arrow 7x09 it's confirmed in conversation that Bruce is Batman on Earth 1.
Until next time