Chapter 11 – An Honored Agreement

John Diggle was using both hands to spin the handle on the door to Slade's cell. Amanda Waller and Slade Wilson looked on. Waller turned to Slade now.

"I'm impressed Mr. Wilson. You did good," she said. "You didn't try anything, and accomplished the mission. I guess I misjudged you."

"I'm a simple man," Slade said. "I like my naps, my beer, my telly… MY TELLY!" Slade roared, his eye wide and mouth hanging open. Diggle had the door open now, and Slade could see the massive flat screen mounted on the wall, flanked by towering speakers.

"We even threw in a few more channels," Diggle said as they all entered the cell. "We would have gotten you more, but they told us there just weren't any more. At least not in English anyway."

"Sweeeet," Slade said, admiring his new 72" HD flat screen, A/V receiver, ten foot tall speakers, and Blu-Ray player. He went up to the television and stroked it. "So big..."

After a moment, Slade stumbled back and fell into the enormous overstuffed recliner facing the television, staring at everything with an awed expression.

"Oh, and you'll be needing this," Diggle said, handing Slade a remote control.

Slade took the remote, then looked Diggle in the eyes. "You're alright Dig-dug, I'd fight by your side anytime," Slade said, extending his hand. Diggle accepted it, and they shook hands. Slade had earned a modicum of trust in Diggle's eyes, and clearly Diggle had earned some respect in Slade's.

As Slade looked up at Diggle with his one eye, he thought to himself that surprisingly, he felt like he was kind of going to miss Diggle. When Diggle had first approached him with the offer of lending help, Slade had taken him up on it only so he could get out of his prison and get some television. But somewhere along the road, he'd realized that helping Diggle put away the bad guys, and saving a city full of people felt...good. And though Slade had had to put up with a lot of dirty looks throughout it all, he'd never felt as if Diggle was judging him. Perhaps he'd made a friend. After all, Diggle had taken Slade to the Big Belly Burger one last time.

"If I need you, I know where to find you," Diggle said, a little grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. I wonder what it means that someone as nutso as Slade thinks I'm "alright", Diggle wondered to himself.

Diggle walks away from Slade's cell to the clicking of ratchets as technicians mount the seventh and final satellite dish on top of it. It seems strange to Diggle that he is a meta-human now. I don't want to be called a meta-human, Diggle thinks to himself. Hmm... How about... "genetically modified badass". Yes, that's way better.

Heavy metal music starts playing, slightly tinny and muffled. Diggle pulls his phone out and touches the screen; the music stops.

"Hello," Diggle says, now holding the phone to his ear.

"John," Lyla says. "I'm back, where are you?"

"Uh..."

"You don't have to tell me, just tell me you're coming home."

"I'm on my way."

"Good, because I have something to tell you."

I've got something to tell you too, Diggle thought. "Good news?" He asked.

"Very good, now get your butt back here," Lyla said mischievously.

"I love you," Diggle said, a huge grin on his face.

"I love you too, and I'll see you soon," Lyla said, hanging up. Diggle put the phone back in his pocket. He thought he knew what she had to tell him. They had been trying to have a baby for a while now.

The sky was clear tonight, sending a shaft of moonlight onto the dirt mound of a fresh grave. Diggle stood facing it now, his face somber.

Oliver Queen 1983-2016.

He was too young. He had so much life left to live. This saddened Diggle to the utmost. Oliver could have lived a full life of love, laughter and family with Felicity. But instead, because he had chosen the life of a vigilante, he was gone. Nothing could change that. Diggle had lost a great friend and the world had lost a great man. But now, at least, his killer had been brought to justice. And Diggle wouldn't stop until he'd put an end to all of the men involved in helping or directing the Mamba.

"Now you can rest in peace, Oliver." Diggle whispered softly. Somewhere, wherever Oliver was, Diggle hoped he could hear him. "Your city is safe with me."

Not for the first time since the Black Mamba's death, Diggle contemplated the path his life was taking. Should he follow in his friend's footsteps or choose a different way? He had Lyla to think of, their baby now too. Would it be right to continue Oliver's work if he just received the same fate as his friend? But now, standing here at Oliver's grave, Diggle could not imagine another life for himself. He and Lyla had lived dangerous lives before, how had things really changed? Diggle was finally decided, he was willing to take the risk.

I will honor your death my friend, by continuing your work.

Diggle slid down his goggles and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

THE END

A.N: Hey! It's Slug Mamma! Hope you enjoyed the read! I wrote this story with my big bro so if you liked it I don't deserve all the credit.

I know we ignored a lot of main characters that are in the show, notably: Laurel, Thea, Roy and Ray Palmer, but they didn't really add anything to the story we were trying to tell and we didn't want this fanfic to be HUGE, so we cut back on characters.

We have always liked the Diggle character and wanted to write something that showed him reaching his full potential. I know that he does some in season four, but to truly become his best version, we believed we needed to eliminate Oliver Queen, something they could never do in the show.

For those of you who think that Slade would never cooperate, remember that Oliver and he had been like brothers on the island, and that Slade-minus-Oliver-minus-mirakuru= the Slade in our story, one much like the mercenary he was before all that island nonsense.

My brother and I are anxious to get reviews and see what people think, so PLEASE drop us a line in the comment box below. We really appreciate the feedback, no matter what you have to say.

Also, we are working (and considering) a sequel. So if you are excited, give me a follow and then you'll know when I get it up. We are also open to suggestions! Do you have any ideas for how a sequel should go? Any characters you'd like to see us write about? Let us know!

Oh, and, make sure your socks are on tight, because if we get this sequel rocking, you're going to be looking for them later.

See yah, Sluggies!