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Jerome sat alone in his apartment. Mara was at work, as was Tristan. Edmon was probably off getting drunk with a range of beautiful girls. He sighed, there was only so much exercise he could do in a day. And the lies he'd told Mara were still bugging him. Jerome picked up the ring, that had shown him things he never wanted to see again. It had sent him to an alternate universe, not back or forwards in time. And curiosity was coursing through his veins. "Just another go," he whispered, to try and take his mind off things "Surely it wouldn't hurt,"
1998 Melbo Orphanage
Jerome watched, invisible, and fell to his knees when he realised where he was. The first home he could remember.
"Shut up, Jenna!" the ten year old boy screamed. Jerome watched, memories sparking in his mind "My parents are dead!"
"Not dead, Jerome!" she cried back, she was crying too "They didn't love you! That's why you're here!"
"That's not true!" both the ten year old and the 25 year old whispered. But only the ten year old was heard "Jenna, our parents are dead. They would never leave us,"
Jenna shook her head, wiping the tears away harshly "Jerome, if that's what gets you through each day,"
Jerome didn't stick around to see what would happen next, he spun the ring, and was rushed away.
2025-possible future
Jerome's eyes widened as he saw himself, twelve years older, hair still the same but slicked off to the side. He followed himself into the building, and into the elevator, and into the almost all white apartment. It was nice, expensive.
"Hey babe," future Jerome called walking in, he set his satchel down on the chair
"Hello handsome," Mara smiled, the current Jerome smiled back at her, she was still as beautiful. And they were still together, and he felt complete. "How did the talk go?"
"I think they'll invest. Tristan was there, thank god, I'd forgotten by notes,"
Mara rolled her eyes, and the current Jerome set himself on the sofa, watching. "Of course you did, meanwhile your wife was looking after our son," at that moment, a ten year old came running out from behind Mara and current Jerome leapt up. His was tall, pale and slim, with fluffy black hair, with Mara's curls. "Daddy's home, Marcus,"
The young boy ran to the older Jerome who patted him on the back and gave him a sideways hug "What'd you do today?"
"Mummy took me down to the archers club again!"
The current Jerome's heart almost melted. And he wasn't sure how to react. This was it. The life he always wanted, a beautiful wife, a wonderful home and a son…who loved archery. Icing on the cake. The future Jerome just laughed "Hit the target bang on,"
"He gets it from you," Mara smiled secretively. And the current Jerome's eyes widened. In the future…Mara knew? Mara knew about him being the Green Arrow…and…she didn't mind? She still…loved him?
Line Break
Jerome stayed in the future for a while. He observed while they all had lunch, eyes flittering over everything, scanning body language and behaviour. He was enthralled. He watched them tuck his son into bed, and then watched the two of them walk into another room, where books covered the walls.
"Archery club?" the future Jerome smiled, snaking an arm around Mara's waist "Really?"
"Really," Mara nodded "I mean, I can't teach him can I? I'm a terrible shot,"
The future Jerome pulled at a book, and the wall slid apart. Current Jerome watched in fascination, he still loved sliding walls then. He followed the two of them inside. His green arrow costume was modelled as it was now, except this room was much larger, with a target at the end. Future Jerome handed Mara the bow and arrow "Give it a shot," he winked. Mara rolled her eyes
"Your puns are appalling."
"Probably why I'm an archer not a journalist."
Mara arched the bow and both Future Jerome and Current Jerome laughed at her stance. But then current Jerome shifted as jealousy took over, Future Jerome was correcting her posture. His hand rested on her waist, the other lowering her elbow, and Jerome tried to reason with himself. They were the same person. "Almost there," Future Jerome whispered, he guided her and she released. It hit the bulls-eye
"Thank you, Green Arrow, but I still prefer the safety of my computer screen," she kissed Jerome on the cheek "Now let's go to bed," she headed out of the room. But future Jerome stayed, he turned and looked directly at Jerome, as if he could see him.
"Hey, I know you're there," he said "I'm you, remember?"
"Can you hear me?" Jerome asked
"No…it just…seems that way, because I can remember what I said when I was you…it's a little confusing Jerome,"
"You're married,"
Future Jerome paused, as if he was unsure the current Jerome had spoken yet "Yeah, twelve years ago. Best day of my life. Also the day I told her I was the Green Arrow."
"How did you do it?"
"I'm not allowed to tell you," Future Jerome admitted "Because…I'm not sure this reality will happen for you…for me….for the past me," he ran his hand through his hair "That's all I know, you should really talk to Tristan, he knows more than anything."
"Tristan may be my best friend, but he's also competition."
Future Jerome frowned in concentration "Sorry, I don't remember what I said after 'how did you do it?' just…spin the ring and go home, you don't stay for much longer. Just remember…if you don't get want you want…know that somewhere, in one of the universes, Mara Jaffray is happy with Jerome Clarke, and he's all she'll ever need,"
Line Break
Jerome had spun the ring, but he wasn't home. He was…in a place he didn't recognise. And there was a baby in a crib, sleeping. Jerome frowned, edging closer to have a look. Where was he? He headed out the door, looking around, it was a small house, and he could hear voices down stairs. He followed them, and he was puzzled. Who were these people? He watched them from the stairs
"John! Y-you just don't care! That's our little boy! You've just jeopardised your life! His life! Our lives!" the woman cried, she was tall with long straight blonde hair. This John was slightly older, with brown, greying hair.
"Sarah, I had to kill him! Kill him before he killed us!" he clutched her shoulder "I did this to save our lives, not to put them in jeopardy!"
Jerome's eyes flickered over their faces, wondering how this affected him or his past, when the door blasted open. And a young, strong man walked in, carrying a gun. Sarah and John froze. Jerome recognised this person, this was Mr Oke. The head of the Times building, Mara worked for him. He looked a lot younger here.
"Bill," John whispered upon seeing him, standing protectively in front of his wife
"Jonathon Clarke," Bill whispered, shaking his head. Jerome froze. No…No this wasn't. They weren't. "I saw what you did today,"
Sarah started sobbing loudly and John breathed heavily "You don't understand, Bill. H-he was gonna kill us, gonna wreck the new life we're building for ourselves! We have a son-"
"He was my best friend," Bill whispered, shaking his head "You didn't have to kill him, but now… I have to kill you. No one can ever know what you've done." He lifted the gun, and without thinking, he fired. Jerome roared a
"NO!"
But no one could hear him. Sarah's scream echoed, and she ran, ran right past Bill and up the stairs past Jerome who followed as she ran towards the baby's room. Towards…his room. "Don't do it, Sarah. Don't go into his room,"
"Don't hurt her!" Jerome cried, wishing he could do something. Wishing he wasn't here. Wishing he had never put on the ring, yet he couldn't find it in himself to spin it.
"He's a baby, he's my baby, my Jerome, please," she wept, her back against the door, but not going inside. "Please don't hurt him,"
"Your whole family has to go away, you're blood…is poison. You're murders, you've killed innocent people, and I tried to overlook it, but today…John killing him…you won't go unnoticed anymore, someone will realise and I'm helping you dammit!" he started to yell at the end
"Not my baby!" Sarah screamed "No! Please! Please Bill! Raise him as your own! Just don't kill him,"
"I'm not raising him," Bill shook his head in disgust "He's got Clarke blood running through his veins. He's a killer. He's tainted."
"He hasn't killed anyone! He's a child! Please! He's innocent," Sarah could hardly breathe, choking on her own tears. "He hasn't done anything wrong, give him a chance to prove you wrong,"
"You want me to give the kid to an orphanage? What about all your money? With him?"
"The world won't take care of him, our rewards of our lifetimes will have too. All our money, to him, Bill Please,"
Bill raised the gun and she died instantly. Jerome ran to her, but he couldn't touch her, he was a ghost. The tears erupted from him and he was shaking. Such grief finally out in the open in his mind…in his heart. He curled on the floor beside his mother, trying to hold her hand. It felt like a lifetime, but about fifteen minutes later he noticed Bill move, and he moved with him, in the baby's room. Jerome's room.
Bill carried the gun in his hand and looked down at the sleeping child. His face crumpled and he threw his gun to the floor, lifting the little boy up. Staining the white sheets with his parents blood. Jerome watched, tear stains on his cheek as the baby smiled in his sleep.
Jerome was broken.
Bill rocked him slightly "Jerome Clarke…look at you," he sighed, talking to the child who didn't understand "I did this for the greater good. Y-you couldn't have been raised by them. They're evil. They've killed innocent people,"
Jerome turned away and spun the ring.
Line Break
"Jerome!" Tristan glared, he had just got out of the elevator and saw Jerome appear. He was wearing the ring. "You still haven't learn your lesson of jumping universes, how do-" Tristan stopped when he saw Jerome's face. His eyes were red, and tears stained his cheeks. His hair was tattered and there was a dark look on his face. "Jerome…what happened?"
"Did you know, Tristan?" he whispered, standing up very slowly "That Bill Oke killed my parents?" Tristan looked down at his shoes, and licked his lips. Jerome cursed under his breath, tears catching in his throat "Why didn't you tell me? W-were you ever going too? I…"
"Jerome," Tristan was beside him in a flash, leading him to the sofa "I've known for a long time, I'm the Vision, remember?" Jerome said nothing, burying his head in his hands "I couldn't tell you…Bill Oke is a good man, he was trying to save people,"
"Good man?" Jerome roared "He murdered my parents, Tristan!"
"Jerome," Tristan's voice was calm and gentle "Your parents were murders, they would have killed hundreds more-"
Jerome glare silenced him. He ground his teeth together "I…"
"Hey," came a bright voice, Mara walked in, shoes clicking against the floor, Tristan sped away before he was seen. Mara's expression turned once she saw Jerome. She raced towards him "Jerome? Jerome what's wrong?"
Jerome looked at her, and just her face made him feel slightly better. But he was still dying "My parents were murdered, Mara," he whispered
"What?"
"They were shot,"
"Oh Jerome," Mara hugged him tightly "I'm so sorry, you must be…devastated," Jerome sat there limply while her arms clung to him tightly. She noticed. "Jerome?" her hands pressed on either side of his face "Cry, let it out,"
Jerome hugged her tightly, his chin resting on her head. And he finally grieved for his parents.
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