Sidekicks
By MaryKent
Chapter 2: Diggle
"Diggle. Look at Roy," both Felicity and Diggle turned to look at Roy squaring off against Oliver. The younger boy was clearly outmatched.
Diggle looked sideways at Felicity and quirked an eyebrow, "That boy is going down, and no outfit he wears will prevent it."
Felicity squirmed. "Well, he needs a little more practice-"
Diggle cut her off. "A little?"
Diggle had been skeptical of Roy's presence since he first found Oliver.
Roy had redoubled his efforts to find the Hood after the news stories about how the Hood assisted a Starling City detective to deactivate one of the earthquake triggering machines and took down Malcolm Merlyn. For the Hood's commitment to helping the city by trying to eliminate the Undertaking that had recently become known to the people, Roy worshiped the Hood. Meanwhile, Oliver was anguished by his actions and their inability to prevent widespread destruction. For nearly a year he had been crossing off names one at a time from his notebook. All the while, his mother knew exactly who to eliminate in order to stop the Undertaking. What was more, Oliver had stopped Malcolm's assassination under the assumption that he was actually saving Tommy's father.
The aftermath of that dark night was no better for Oliver. He had witnessed Tommy's death but refused to talk with anyone about it. His mother was arrested for her involvement in the Undertaking. Thea had run to Roy for comfort when it was clear that Oliver was too distraught to console her. And Oliver's rage had consumed him.
Rather than behave in the calculated and deadly manner Diggle was familiar with, Oliver fought with a brash disregard for his safety or need for justice. He would pick a fight with anyone he encountered.
Diggle nearly became Oliver's babysitter. Oliver was skilled at ditching body guards, but Diggle used every trick he knew to keep Oliver within his reach. Ultimately, Diggle's skill at following Oliver allowed him to break up fight after fight that Oliver instigated as the Hood. None of the fights actually targeted Oliver's foes; they were excuses to release his rage on an opponent.
Roy realized that the Hood was frequently fighting petty men in the Glades and therefore lurked around some of the darker streets in the remaining portion of the Glades. His diligence at searching out the Hood paid off when he ultimately found the Hood. However, instead of having the opportunity to offer to fight crime with the Hood, Oliver attacked Roy with a wicked punch to the face. Roy fought back and managed to dehood the Hood before Diggle arrived to break up the fight. Roy froze in shock as he recognized Oliver beneath the Hood and was rewarded by a sucker punch that knocked Roy out cold by the fist of the enraged Oliver.
When Roy awoke at the foundry, he was greeted by chaos from Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity. For weeks, Diggle and Felicity had been trying to hold together the group, but mostly trying to temper Oliver and his rage. They were at their wits end. Roy immediately insisted that he wanted to help the cause, fight crime alongside the Hood. Instead of further enraging Oliver, it somehow focused his anger on continuing to fight the corruption in the Glades. With a sinister, one track mind, Oliver regrouped into a calculating weapon fighting for justice in the Glades. But Diggle continued to question Oliver's morals and purpose after seeing his angry rage against everyone he encountered while in costume. Felicity struggled to maintain her composure while Oliver and Diggle were out and she was only present as a voice in their ear. A voice Oliver tuned out daily. Only Roy seemed to be enthusiastic and filled with a sense of worthwhile purpose.
Felicity tried to refocus Diggle on what she could influence, the gear. "The beauty is that his outfit is made from fabrics designed for athletes. It has built in body armor, and will provide a recognizable image."
"My outfits are comfortable for fighting in. They have the added advantage of blending into a crowd because they are street clothes," defended Diggle.
"And you could have a wardrobe malfunction if you were attacked and performed an extremely high kick to disarm your opponent," fired back Felicity.
"My outfits are fine. I even wear my protective vest underneath them so that I will not be hurt. It's the top of the line vest YOU insisted was the best."
Diggle was trying to get under her skin with that statement. But Felicity was persistent. "The costume would be just that, a costume. You can take it off."
Diggle just glared at Felicity.
Before Diggle could become defensive, Felicity hurried on, "We are not taking you to a tattoo parlor and insisting you get inked to match Oliver."
"Felicity, you understand that I have committed to protect freedom before? This time I am not just another new recruit fresh out of school with the liberty to risk my life every day," stated Diggle resolutely.
"That is why you should wear the suit. It's not a spandex cartoon suit. It is tailored for you with the ultimate in protective gear and communication within its seams. Wearing it will not only help protect you, but also give you your own identity. An identity separate from the Hood which will allow you to receive the recognition and therefore satisfaction that you are doing good for the city, not just babysitting Oliver."
Diggle turned away from Felicity and brought his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Felicity reached out for his arm to gently pull him back around. In a teasing tone she resumed, "now Detective Lance will probably still want to arrest you, but he is still suspended so you don't have to worry. The people will receive hope from knowing another person is out there protecting them." Felicity knew that as the Hood's IT girl she wasn't likely to get recognition, but that couldn't stop her pride in knowing that her boys were giving people hope.
"That's just it though Felicity." Diggle struggled to relate his feelings. The feelings he continued to feel but tried to suppress. He suspected Felicity had noticed anyway. "I am not making this choice for me. I am making this choice for Carly and A.J. Before when Andy and I first joined the army, we were single and free. Then I saw what Carly went through when Andy died. I know that I am A.J.'s father in all but the legal sense now. And … I still want to be more for Carly. Instead, I have been spending my time here, and it used to be for a good cause, but since the earthquake I feel like my role is just to pull Oliver back when he becomes too emotionally involved in a mission."
Felicity could hear the honesty in his voice and depth of his anguish over his dilemma to continue on the mission or retire to family life. "You are more than just the person holding Oliver back from being carried away. Finding out what had been planned by Oliver's parents and Merlyn tore us all apart – Oliver most of all. And there have been many times when I was thankful you were there to restrain Oliver's desire for vengeance. But you, in and of yourself are so full of potential that I want people to see that when you protect them. And they will only know it is you if you give them an image to recognize you by."
Diggle shook his head. "It's not the costume, or outfit, or image I am hung up on. It's what happens to Carly and A.J. I can't keep lying to them. They need a commitment. I want to continue to help Starling City. The destruction to the Glades has shown how badly the city needs heroes, but I am not a new recruit to the Special Forces or an idealistic and ignorant kid like Roy over there. I have matured and I want to make a relationship with Carly work and have a family with them. I can't do that while lying to her about who I am and what I do. Some nights it feels more like I am sidekick to a psycho." Diggle looked away while he fiddled with an arrow but maintained the posture of a soldier that he never seemed to lose.
Felicity waited for him to look her in the eye. She could be patient. After all, he had finally laid down his pride and confessed what had been troubling him for weeks since the Glades had been destroyed and their little group had tried to rebuild itself before rebuilding the Glades. When he looked at her, she suggested, "Maybe it is time that Carly know the truth of what we do."
Diggle just stared at her. How could she suggest that he wondered.
Felicity allowed Diggle to digest what she had said. But it was reasonable she believed. Since the disaster in the Glades, the city's population finally understood why the Hood had arrived in Starling City. It had not taken long to trace nearly all of his targets back to the Undertaking. Additionally, Moira's testimony that the Hood had been working to prevent the destruction of the Glades added to their heroic standing. And Moira was an example of how having someone know who Oliver was benefited them. Her testimonies were sculpted to direct the attention away from questions about the Hood's involvement in the attempt to prevent the Glades destruction.
Allowing Carly to know the secret could allow her to assist with cover stories, feed them, and ease the tension John felt. It was clear that Carly knew John was keeping secrets from her for months.
"Oliver would never agree to that idea," stated Diggle. He was really trying not to become excited about the idea though.
"We both know that you and I serve as Oliver's conscience on many issues. This is weighing on your heart and has been ever since Merlyn's devices shook the city and our little team along with it. Oliver understands the importance of family and I think he will support you. Give it a chance. You don't have to choose between protecting your family and protecting the city. We all just need to find the balance. A middle ground where everyone can remain happy and safe."
"Thank you," whispered Diggle.
"Now, how do you like this charcoal colored fabric swatch with green accent trim? Or do you want your own identifying color?" Felicity asked as her ponytail bounced with her enthusiasm.
Diggle chucked easily for the first time since the Glades were shook.