Notes: Thank you to everyone who took the time to send me a comment or made the story a favorite. I appreciate your feedback.
As a thank you, I am posting two chapters today. They are both on the shorter side.
The Arrow characters and universe do not belong to me.
As Maseo drove over the 52nd Street bridge, Oliver couldn't help the lump that seemed to be forming in his throat. It had been seven and a half years since he'd sailed out of the Starling City Harbor on the Queen's Gambit. Over the years, the fantasies about his homecoming had been numerous and vivid, but none of them included him sneaking into town with no plans of reuniting with his family. Actually, his plans were the very opposite of a reunion. He knew that if anyone learned that Oliver Queen was alive, it would put his life and the life of everyone he loved in danger. The plan was to find Tatsu and get back to Hong Kong without being killed by the Triad or spotted by the paparazzi.
Even in the darkness, Oliver could tell his hometown had undergone dramatic changes. The skyline was no longer recognizable and where the light's of the Glades should be, was what appeared to be an ocean of darkness. His breath hitched as his eyes sought out the familiar outline of Queen Consolidated and saw that his family's company logo had been replaced by one for Palmer Technologies. All he had wanted from the moment the Gambit sank was to get to come home and now he felt like a stranger in a strange land. He knew that his time away had changed him into a different man, but he'd always taken comfort in the idea of the constancy of home. Starling City no longer felt like home. "What the hell happened here?" He asked absently.
Maseo sighed. "There was an earthquake two years ago. Much of the city was destroyed and many people died."
"An earthquake?" Pain squeezed around his chest and Oliver hated that his amnesia was forcing him to hear something that he knew he'd probably already grieved over. His eyes fixed on the blue sign mocking him atop his father's building, he asked, "My family. Are they okay?" He couldn't imagine anything short of a catastrophe forcing his mother to sell their company. He had never met Ray Palmer, but the sight of his name on his family's building was setting his blood afire.
"They were not injured in the earthquake." Maseo exited the highway and Oliver craned over his shoulder to watch the former QC building vanish from his sight.
Oliver redirected his focus back to their mission."According to Xi, China White is in Iron Heights and no longer in control of the Triad. I'm worried that this might be a trap to lure you here."
"We will be careful, but this is the closest we've come to finding Tatsu in over two years. If Xi is right, the Triad will be breaking Chien Na Wei out of prison when she appears in court in two days. Tatsu will be there."
"It would be a lot easier if we could hack into the District Attorney's office and figure out exactly when they are transferring China White." A series of images flashed through Oliver's mind, but they were too quick for him to grab hold of. He was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming feeling of loss. Ever since he woke up after his fight with the Triad, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. He knew it had to be a normal feeling for someone with amnesia but it didn't make the emotions any less powerful. It was hard to believe that he'd been away from home for more than seven years and he didn't remember four of those years.
Maseo pulled up to a dilapidated building on the edge of the Glades. "It's an A.R.G.U.S. safe house."
Oliver took in the building and the neighborhood. By the location of the building, he expected to see drug dealers and prostitutes selling their wares. Back in the day, this neighborhood would've been rife with the criminal underclass. He wondered if the earthquake had succeeded in pushing the criminals of the Glades out of the city or if they'd all died when the city was leveled. He couldn't think of another reason for this neighborhood to appear safe. However, even without criminals out front, the building still didn't look inviting. He turned his head to the east, towards his childhood home. He was less than twenty miles from his mom, sister and his own bed. Taking a deep breath to clear his mind of the tantalizing promise of home and family, he turned to Maseo with a wry grin. "Amanda sure knows how to spoil her operatives."
The inside of their safe house apartment was clean with sparse furnishings. There was a small Formica kitchen table, a sofa and four cots folded in half and against one of the walls. Oliver grimaced as he swung his duffle off his shoulder and onto the sofa. "Are you in pain?" Maseo asked with concern.
Oliver rolled his shoulders. It had been seventy-two hours since they left Hong Kong. Each leg of their journey became progressively more grueling and his chest and side were throbbing. "I'm fine. Just a little stiff from all the travel."
Maseo moved into the kitchen and began to rummage through the cabinets. "It's past time for your medicine. I will prepare it while you set up our gear."
"With you mothering me, I won't feel the urge to see my own while we're in town." Oliver joked. Maseo rolled his eyes and set a kettle to boil on the stove. "I'm still surprised Amanda gave you permission to bring me. With all the changes in Starling over the past seven years, I don't think I'll be too much help with native information on the city's infrastructure."
"Your knowledge or lack of knowledge of the city is irrelevant. I brought you for your other skill set. Having you with me is Tatsu's best chance of getting her out of here alive."
Oliver moved to the window and peered through the blinds. As he studied the street he really hoped Maseo's faith in him wasn't misplaced. He'd screwed up so many times and Maseo had always been there to help him clean up his messes and save his life. For once, he wanted to be the one who fixed their problems. Oliver set up two of the cots and dropped heavily onto one. He was so tired he felt like he'd be able to sleep for a week.
Notes: Thank you for reading. Your feedback is always welcomed.
Up Next: Lyla brings news about Oliver's past to Felicity.