Hey guys, I'm back!Here it is, the season 7 AU of my creation! Other than that, let's get going!
Oh and Disclaimer (cover your ears) I DON'T OWN ARROW OR ANY OF THE CW CHARACTERS!
If William Clayton had a list of the worst days of his life, this would be #2 under the day his mother died, which also happened to be today, May 17. He was outside of the interrogation room, waiting for Felicity to let him in. More than anything, William wanted to shut himself in his room and block out anything that indicated that his father was going to prison-for real this time. He just didn't understand, his father had done a lot fo good for this city, his case was dismissed and he saved a lot of people? Wasn't that supposed to be good enough not to go to prison?
If William didn't know better, he would think that law enforcement agents had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Felicity's tear stained face. No words needed to be spoken to know that Oliver was ready for his son.
Slowly, he walked in, feeling the air being punched out of his lungs at the sight of his father in chains.
"What's happening?" William asked softly. "I don't understand."
"Don't worry." said Oliver. "I'm gonna explain everything."
William nodded, bracing himself for the worst. In a way, it was. Oliver explained that in order to get help to stop Ricardo Diaz, he had to sacrifice his freedom. He had to sacrifice his happiness for the safety of the city. During the whole explanation, Felicity just stood against the wall, holding back tears, unable to watch her step-son as his face morphed into a picture of horror and fear.
"No." William said defiantly. "They can't do this. They can't take you away from us!"
"I didn't have a choice." said Oliver. "Diaz might have gotten away but at least the corrupt officials are being arrested as we speak."
"I don't care about corrupt officials." William insisted. "I've already lost my mom, I'm not gonna lose you too."
"I know, buddy." Oliver smiled sadly. "You won't. Remember what I said at the trial? I'm right here with you." He pointed to the wounded heart inside William.
"No." William choked out through tears."No, no, no, no!" He pulled his father close to him, holding onto him as if his life depended on it. "I don't want you to go. Don't go, please. Don't leave me, Dad. Don't leave me."
"I'm sorry, buddy." Oliver kissed his son's head. "But I have to."
"Mr. Queen?" Agent Watson stood near the door. "Let's go."
Oliver nodded, getting up only to be restrained in handcuffs by the FBI Agent. Even when Watson saw the look on William's face, her stone-like face didn't show the slightest bit of emotion.
For William time was slowing down, and Felicity led him out of the door where the media reporters were waiting for him, like a pack of hyenas waiting to devour their next meal.
While Oliver gave a small speech to the world about how much the city needed to be fixed, William tuned out all the sounds around him and fiddled with his fingers. Felicity of course, gave him a small pat on the shoulder but no amount of comfort in the world could make up for the frustration and pain weighing in his stomach like a dumbbell. If that wasn't enough, it wouldn't be for at least a few days before William would see his father again. But this time he would have already been beaten and bruised by anyone who had the chance to do so. He was the Green Arrow, so of course Oliver was going to be the Slabside's bitch before he would be taken inside the thick walls.
But he's a tough man. His Auntie Lyla had once told him. In all the years of I've known him, there is nothing that man won't do to survive.
The only thing that would make William feel better, was if the FBI suddenly changed their minds and let Oliver go.
But that would be unrealistic. There was no way they were gonna let his dad come back to his family.
After Oliver was hauled into the prison transport van, the Queen-Smoak-Clayton residence was submerged in melancholy. When Felicity unlocked the doors, she wasn't surprised to find that William had the walking pattern of a zombie. She wanted to give him his space as he slowly made his way into his bedroom. He closed the wooden door behind him and plopped on his bed. Apart from his nose, William's face was buried in his fluffy pillow. For a prolonged amount of time, he just lay in his bed, dead to the world. Until he heard a knocking on his door.
"Go away." William grumbled from his pillow. He would never normally snap at someone for no reason but after the day he had, he was pretty sure he had a solid excuse to spend hours brooding.
To add the cherry on top of this emotional rollercoaster, this day marked one year since his mother was killed in the same explosion where his aunt was put in a coma. It was a cruel irony, that William lost both of his parents on the same day in two years.
Yes, Felicity would have custody over him, but it didn't ease the pain any less. But at least he wasn't an orphan.
Minutes turned into hours and by then the moon was at its peak. Except for having to go to the bathroom a couple of times, William hadn't moved from the bed, preferring to stay under the covers and wake up from this nightmare. But it would have been pointless anyway, that nightmare of his parents being gone was a cold harsh reality, a reality that Ricardo Diaz seemed to embody.
The door slid open and Raisa came in with a plate of hot dinner. "William?" She asked. "I normally would detest against having food in your room but here's some dinner."
Right on cue, a roar erupted from William's stomach and he clenched the bedsheets, not wanting to eat. He was too upset to swallow.
"I know it's hard." said Raisa. "But Mr. Oliver is a brave man. Have hope for him."
"How can I?" William lifted his head from his soaked pillow. "Dad just went to prison for the rest of his life which means he won't come home again. And Mr. Lance is dead. How can I possibly have hope?"
"It is a most difficult time." said Raisa. "But your father will never leave here." She pointed t his heart. "I know it seems ridiculous but I think things will get better for you."
A pregnant pause settled on the two people in the pre-teen's room before William asked, "What do you think is happening to Dad right now?"
"Move it!" The guard pushed Oliver into the cafeteria, the last place he wanted to be, besides actually being in prison. The second he put his foot out of his cell, everyone was eyeing him like a hawk. Even the cooks cast him a dirty look as he went to get his food.
"Well look who it is." A man with rotting teeth grinned near him. "Don't you remember me? You once busted my business."
"You were selling drugs." Oliver kept his fingers glued to the tray that had his dinner on it, hoping to restrain himself from making a scene. But even he knew the chances of him not being involved in a fight were nonexistent.
"Been waiting a long time for this, Green Arrow." One of the man's buddies cracked his knuckles.
Before Oliver knew it, he was throwing punches left and right, just to shoo his attackers away. Even when the guards arrived just to handcuff him, Oliver didn't count on them helping him. Why would they? This was the Slabside, the lion's den of the baddest of the bad. Which meant it was every bitch for themselves out there. At least on Lian Yu, in a way, he had some form of a companion. Yao Fei and Shado, then Slade and Sara, then Tania when he returned to the island. But even so, it wasn't like there weren't long periods of time when Oliver wasn't fending for himself; he had only one goal then: to survive
This time, he had a new goal-to live. For his wife, his son and the man who was as close to him as a father would be since Robert's suicide.
Looking back now, whilst in solitary confinement (as punishment by the Slabside's rules), maybe he should have told Felicity, at least to prepare her for life without Oliver. Knowing her, she would viciously chew him out about not telling her his deal with the FBI, for lying to her.
And William. God, he was about to be 13 next month and he would miss it. He would miss everything. His first date, teaching him how to shave, driving him to science fairs, making pancakes with him and so many of the little things that made him cherish every moment of being in his child's life. Oliver was so proud of his boy, that he could burst. The next time he would see his son, he wouldn't be allowed to hug him. Probably forever.
"My boy." He whispered, a faint tear rolling down his cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Oliver Queen wasn't too happy with the bargain he had to strike just to save his city. But to protect his friends and family? He wouldn't have done it any other way. In fact, he couldn't have done it any other way.
Parents aren't perfect, and Oliver wasn't any different. But he did everything in his power to protect the ones he loved and cared for. Especially his own son. His flesh and blood. His pride and joy.
And there it was, the first chapter of many. At this point, season 6 isn't really over yet, there's still things to be settled and words to hash out. After that, then the story will be going into season 7. As for the action, don't worry. We just entered the restaurant. Next up, the menus will be handed out.