The Legend of the Green Arrow

by ArlyssTolero

Oliver Queen has been granted a second chance at life by the combined powers of Mar-Novu/The Monitor and Jim Corrigan/The Spectre on the condition that he inspire the generation of heroes that are rising like never before. But Oliver soon finds that changing the timeline can have horrifying consequences to the inexperienced… (co-written with Nyame, full summary inside)

68. The Deal

A/N: Sorry for the late update. I completely spaced it.

Oliver Queen sat in the interview room, his hands chained to the table in front of him, the manacles quite tight. Clearly, the F.B.I. were taking no chances with the possibility that he knew how to slip out of his restraints, which, of course, he did. But that wouldn't be conducive to what he was planning to do here, and so he waited, silently, for Agent Trimble and Agent Danvers to arrive. He had seen Jean when he was led to the interview room and wondered idly if she would still represent him since he was no longer officially in control of the Queen estate. He supposed it would depend on how loyal she was to his family. Then again, she had represented him in the future when he had been accused of being Green Arrow, and he certainly hadn't had the money to afford her, in truth, and Felicity certainly hadn't seeing as Smoak Technologies was just beginning to take off. So, there was every chance that Jean would represent him out of loyalty to his family. Then again, he had also attacked his family, so she might not represent him out of loyalty to Moira. He supposed he would see soon enough.

The door to the interview room opened and Jean entered. "We have five minutes to talk, Oliver," she said briskly, "and then they're going to come in here and try to nail you to the wall. I hope that you have some brilliant plan to deal with this."

"I do, though maybe not in the way you think," Oliver said. "Be truthful with me, Jean: do they have anything solid, or is it all just circumstantial evidence and Tommy's testimony?"

"The latter," Jean said after a moment. "I encouraged the Lance sisters to take the offered deals, but they refused to do so, so all they have is suspicions based on what Green Arrow said and did during the mob war along with Mr. Merlyn's testimony about going to Green Arrow's base. Oliver, I need you to be straight with me: are you Green Arrow, or did you take off just because you wanted the publicity that would come with all of this?"

"I am Green Arrow," Oliver said calmly, meeting Jean's gaze. "Oliver Queen is Green Arrow, and Green Arrow is Oliver Queen. And thank you for telling me what they have. It means my plan will work, in the end."

"What is your plan?" Jean asked. "They won't give you immunity."

"I'm not looking for immunity for myself, Jean," Oliver said. "But in return for giving them everything they need to nail me to the wall, I want them to let Dig, Laurel, and Sara go and give them blanket immunity so that they can't be charged again in this matter."

Jean stared at Oliver, trying to fathom what her client was saying. "Oliver, this isn't like when you were younger," she began, but before she could continue, the door opened, and Agents Trimble and Danvers entered.

"Mr. Queen," Trimble rumbled as they approached. "You've led us on a merry chase. I'm glad you decided to do this the easy way."

"Well, if we're going for honesty," Oliver mused before saying, "you don't have the evidence for a solid case against me, Agent Trimble. All you have is some minor suspicions based on some of the things Green Arrow said in his base of operations, which were widely reported in the Daily Planet along with pictures exposing all of it for the world to see, and one man's testimony. Unfortunately for you, you haven't factored in one little truth."

"Which is?" Alex asked tightly, certain that Oliver had something up his sleeve.

"Tommy Merlyn also has feelings for Laurel Lance," Oliver said. "For three years before my return, Tommy and Laurel would get together and blow off some steam, something that Tommy admitted to the cops when Laurel was taken by Adam Hunt's thugs. It's a matter of public record. So, all you have is hearsay from someone after an expose from the Daily Planet revealed the inner workings of Green Arrow's base and his crusade, that someone having strong feelings for my girlfriend. I could make a much stronger case for defamation against Tommy if I so chose, and against the F.B.I. for organizing a witch hunt for me in this city based on hearsay and speculation."

"You fled Queen Consolidated, Mr. Queen," Trimble pointed out.

"No, I left Queen Consolidated, as I often do," Oliver replied. "I am not a C.E.O. who stays in his office all day, every day. I spent five years having an active lifestyle and I can't just sit in an office all day, scribbling my signature over and over until my hand cramps. I was not aware of Tommy's news conference until I got an alert on my phone about Green Arrow. Or, at least, that's what I would say in any court case if you tried to bring this to trial with only hearsay and speculation." Oliver leaned back in his chair, waiting and watching the two agents. *1*

"You smug son of a bitch," Alex hissed, only for Trimble to put a hand on her shoulder while Oliver quirked an eyebrow at her questioningly.

"You're clearly driving towards something, Mr. Queen," Trimble said finally. "What is it?"

"What you need, Agent Trimble, is a slam dunk case, a case so waterproof that nothing could leak from it," Oliver said. "You need evidence, you need confessions, you need everything that makes Green Arrow into what he is. And I could see my way to giving it all to you, in exchange for one thing. Blanket immunity for John Diggle, Dinah Laurel Lance, and Sara Lance. I do not ask for immunity for myself."

"And if we were to accept such an offer?" Trimble asked. "What would you give us?"

"Everything," Oliver said. "I would confess to every crime I have committed. I would lead you to my base of operations and turn all of my equipment and gear over to you. I would plead guilty to whatever charges you made and not put anyone through the hassle of a trial. But you will get none of those things and have to build a case based on hearsay and speculation unless Dig, Laurel, and Sara have full and unbreakable immunity."

Trimble stared at Oliver hard, studying him. Oliver stared back, expression passive. "I will call the U.S.D.A.," Trimble finally said. "They will work with Ms. Loring here to hash out the details of this deal. But if you screw with us, Mr. Queen, I am warning you now: I will send you, your girlfriend, your mistress, and your bodyguard to rot in Slabside for life."

"You won't have to, Agent Trimble," Oliver said calmly. "I promise you that I will do all that I have said… if the deal is made."

"Until then, you will remain in this room and a guard will be at the door at all times," Trimble said. "As it is lunchtime, you will be given food and drink, as will Mr. Diggle and the Lance sisters. None of you will be questioned further until the U.S.D.A. has arrived and worked out the details of the deal with Ms. Loring. When this deal occurs, Mr. Queen, you will do all that you have promised, or I will fulfill my promise."

"As I've said, I will do all I have said if the deal is made," Oliver said. "May I have a few minutes with my attorney to ensure she knows which points are not negotiable?"

"Of course," Trimble said. He and Danvers stood. "I look forward to finally settling this business, Mr. Queen." Trimble and Alex left the room.

Oliver turned to face Jean, who was frowning at him. "Now, listen very carefully," he began.

*DC*

Malcolm Merlyn gritted his teeth as he hung up his phone. That was Silas Cole, his contact in the S.C.P.D., who had just learned that Oliver Queen was in F.B.I. custody, having turned himself over to them. Malcolm didn't know if Oliver was telling them everything or just trying to save his little girlfriend. Either way, it was dangerous. But whatever was going to happen, if Oliver did give up Tempest, well, the case against Malcolm and his associates would vanish if Oliver were to suffer a tragic accident. While Malcolm didn't have anyone inside the F.B.I. who could deal with Oliver, he did have access to more than one group of mercenaries in this city, and Oliver wouldn't remain in the field office forever. He would be taken to the federal holding facility, the one Moira had killed herself in, this evening regardless of what else he did. That would be the perfect time for an ambush. The agents guarding him would have to die, as well, make it look like a hit on the Green Arrow, which ironically it was. Just they needed to make it look like organized crime, specifically the Bratva or the Triad.

Malcolm mulled that choice over in his head. In the end, the Triad's method of shooting up vehicles and executing the witnesses made more sense then the Bratva's brutal execution methods, especially for what would have to happen. Oliver was too skilled to be taken alive and hauled off elsewhere to be butchered like the Bratva would do to him. The Triad's method would have to do. But still the question gnawed at him… was Oliver telling the F.B.I. everything? Was he revealing Tempest and its membership to the F.B.I. even now in exchange for immunity for him and his loved ones, or was he keeping silent, allowing them to charge him out of fear of his beloved Laurel and her sister being charged for aiding and abetting him? Well, it didn't matter. He had to be alive for his testimony to be counted. If he was dead, all it would be was hearsay, and Malcolm's lawyer destroyed hearsay quite easily.

Malcolm picked up his Tempest phone again, bringing up the list of contacts. It was time to arrange a little ambush. It would take a couple of hours to arrange, at least, and they would have to guess the route the federal transport would take. But they would get him in the end. One way or the other, Oliver Queen died tonight.

*DC*

Oliver was dozing lightly when the door to the room opened, causing him to open his eyes and sit up in his seat. Jean was the first through the door, tight-lipped and frowning. She heavily disapproved of him giving the F.B.I. everything they needed to nail him to the wall, if only because it meant a client of hers was being sent up the river. Next through the door was Agent Trimble and Agent Danvers, followed by a third agent with a laptop and chair for himself. The final person through the door was a woman with reddish-blonde hair. "The deal's been made, Oliver," Jean said, "and we managed to get a deal worked out that got everyone what they want. You are to elucidate on your crimes and lead the F.B.I. to your base of operations, where you will hand over every piece of equipment in your base for them to process as evidence. In return, John Diggle, Laurel Lance, and Sara Lance have all been given blanket immunity from prosecution for any charges stemming from their knowledge of your vigilante activities. If you deviate from this in any way, the deal is void and all three will be charged to the fullest extent of the law." Jean gestured to the woman with reddish-blonde hair. "This is U.S.D.A. Casey Novak. She has been quite thorough and will serve as a witness to your confession along with Agents Trimble and Danvers. Agent Reid here will type up your confession, and once you have signed it, you will lead them to your base of operations." *2*

Oliver had listened to everything Jean had said. It sounded like the deal wasn't contingent upon him pleading guilty to the judge, one of the things he had offered, which meant the deal wouldn't be void even if Tempest had him abducted but staged it to look like a rescue. Good. "I believe I need to be out of these in order to sign the deal," he said quietly, lifting his manacled wrists. Trimble leaned forward and unlocked the cuffs as Novak produced a set of pages stapled together, the printed deal. Oliver accepted it and the offered pen, turning the pages of the document, quickly skimming it. He didn't understand legalese, but he got the general gist and confirmed that Jean had been telling the truth. The signatures of the U.S.D.A. and Jean were already present. All that was needed was Oliver's signature. He did so, then handed the document back to Novak, who took it, looking very satisfied, and for good reason. The takedown of a vigilante of Oliver's reputation was a nice feather in anyone's cap.

"Now, Mr. Queen, you will tell us everything that you have done as Green Arrow and how it started," Trimble said.

"Before we do that, there is one part of this that should not have any written record, or at least not one that's easily accessed," Oliver said. "It is central to why I am doing what I have been doing and the confession will make no sense without it." Oliver looked around. "But there's too many ears here. I will tell you and Agent Danvers alone, Agent Trimble. No written record. No D.A., no defense counsel, no scribe. This information is far too sensitive. Afterward, I will elucidate on my crimes and lead you to my base of operations as promised."

Trimble stared at Oliver for a moment, then said, "You are going to be re-cuffed if this is going to happen, Mr. Queen." In response, Oliver held up his hands, and Alex cuffed him once more. "Ms. Novak, Ms. Loring, Reid, leave us. We will call you in when Mr. Queen is finished telling us this 'sensitive information'." Novak and Jean left, both looking displeased, with Reid behind them. Once the door closed, Trimble met Oliver's gaze. "There you are, Mr. Queen. Now, what is this sensitive information?"

"Tempest," Oliver said. "After the death of Walter Steele, I was forced into their service as C.E.O. of Queen Consolidated. They didn't know I was Green Arrow, not until now. Because of this, I now know who every member of Tempest is and what they do for the organization. I hope now that you can see why this is sensitive information."

"Yes, I suppose so, if these people are in fact part of some conspiracy," Trimble said. "Continue."

"The leader and visionary of the group is Malcolm Merlyn, C.E.O. of Merlyn Global and my godfather," Oliver said. "My parents were both members, which is why Merlyn forced me into Tempest after he arranged for the death of Walter Steele. As I told you in your apartment, Agent Trimble, the Dark Archer is their enforcer, and now you have proof he exists beyond black arrows after his attack on the convoy carrying Daniel Brickwell. Councilman Gregory Kullens and Councilwoman Emily Pollard are associate members, and they pass laws favorable to big business, making it easier for such businesses to get away with horrific crimes against the people of Starling City. Carl Ballard, a real estate mogul, is the landowner of every tenement building in the Glades and ensures no one who Tempest has deemed a criminal would want to look for housing outside of the Glades. Wilhelmina Hollinger, the head of the Starling Heritage Society, provides what Malcolm called 'alternative means of employment and shelter' to the homeless. Those alternative means include being lab rats for companies like LuthorCorp. All those brain-dead people at LuthorCorp were homeless people. Thomas Wilkins, aka Thaddeus Cable, controls all blue-collar crime in Starling City and keeps it consolidated to the Glades. My duties were to ensure the construction of a specific piece of technology from Unidac Industries once the merger was complete in February."

"And what is their ultimate goal, Mr. Queen?" Trimble asked.

"They intend to use the technology in question to launch a terrorist attack on Starling City by the end of spring," Oliver replied. "They will kill thousands. That is what I am trying to stop."

"Anything else?" Alex asked after a moment.

"No," Oliver said, knowing they wouldn't believe anything about the earthquake device or that this was all because Rebecca Merlyn had been murdered in the Glades nineteen years ago.

"Then we'll bring the others back in," Trimble said, "and no more stalling, or I rip up the deal and take my chances in court."

"Of course, Agent Trimble," Oliver said smoothly. Alex stood and went to the door, calling them back in. Once everyone had taken their seats and Agent Reid was prepared to type, Oliver began. He detailed his short-lived time as Spartan, saying he paid for his initial actions with money he had made as a soldier of fortune prior to returning to Starling City, then his actions as Green Arrow. Stealing from Adam Hunt's estate (though not what he did with the money as that wasn't required for him to elucidate on), attacking Marcus Redman, saving Laurel from the Triad, crushing the Triad and exposing Martin Somers, attacking Holder and his own family (but again not revealing what happened to the money since that wasn't a required part of the deal), using Laurel to go after Brodeur and saving her from Ankov, finding the Queen's Gambit by having Insight look into Queen Consolidated, attacking the LuthorCorp facility and claiming he had used his contacts from his days as a soldier of fortune to give those people a proper service, attempting to stop the mob war by pulling rank as a captain, stealing the RQ-1141 Tactical Exosuit from the purgatory of Applied Sciences at Queen Consolidated, every single action he had taken during the mob war, his visit to Daniel Hollinger following the mob war, his takedown of John Byrne's human trafficking ring, his takedown of Daniel Brickwell and his men, and his intervening in the Dark Archer's attack on the convoy carrying Brick. "That's everything," Oliver finally said. "That's everything I've done as a vigilante in Starling City." *3*

"We'll have this printed up and you can sign it," Trimble said. 'Then you lead us to your base. Once we have begun processing everything there and know that you haven't been planning to stab us in the back, the Lance sisters and Mr. Diggle will be released, and you will be taken to the federal holding facility to await arraignment in the morning."

"I have a request," Oliver said quietly.

"Which is?" Trimble asked.

"Would you mind terribly if I got the chance to say goodbye to my girlfriend before you take me to the holding facility?" Oliver asked. "I'd like to see her one last time before it happens."

"I think that can be arranged," Trimble said after a moment.

"Thank you," Oliver said.

*DC*

Oliver entered the empty storefront with Trimble, Danvers, and an army of agents in F.B.I. blazers and boxes ready to catalogue and collect all equipment from the base of the infamous Green Arrow. Agent Trimble and Danvers were here to make sure this was the very same base they had been taken to, just in case Oliver was trying to pull a fast one. "So, what now?" Trimble asked.

"That panel right there is false, moves to the right," Oliver said, nodding in the direction of the panel since his hands were cuffed behind his back. "The switch to the elevator is behind it." Alex stepped forward and moved the panel aside, finding a switch. She flipped it, and jumped as the false wall moved aside, revealing an elevator. "The elevator can be summoned by the switch and it doesn't have any security measures like biometric scanners," Oliver said. "So, your agents can come and go at their leisure."

"Let's go, Mr. Queen," Trimble said, leading Oliver into the elevator, Alex joining them along with six other agents with boxes. The elevator descended, and then the door in front of them opened into the well-lit Bunker. The F.B.I. agents and Oliver exited. "Yes, this is the place we were taken to," Trimble confirmed for his agents. "Alright, people, begin packing it up. All of it." Trimble turned to Oliver. "Where's Insight?"

"I never said I would give you her, Agent Trimble," Oliver replied. "I released her from my service before Dig and I came to the field office. She's long gone."

"Shame, since we were sure she was Naomi Singh after what your friend Merlyn told us," Trimble said. "Singh's an infamous hacker that has a penchant for bleeding heart hacks. Right up your alley." Oliver hummed noncommittally. Trimble's eyes narrowed. "It was her, wasn't it?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny the identity of Insight," Oliver said calmly. "That wasn't part of the deal."

"Give it a few months inside, and you'll want to tell us everything you didn't tell us before," Alex said with a smirk.

"We'll see, Agent Danvers," Oliver replied. "And do you mind if I call you Alex? I get the impression I'm going to see a lot of you while you try and figure out what makes me tick so you can claim credit for cracking the shell of the man who's like no vigilante on record."

"It's Agent Danvers, Mr. Queen," Alex replied. Oliver shrugged. It had been worth a shot.

Oliver watched as his uniform, bow, and arrows were all packed away in boxes. The exosuit took two boxes. Spartan's gear was thrown in with the Green Arrow uniform. The computers were all taken and put in boxes, to be digitally torn apart at the F.B.I. lab. The arrow fabrication station was packed away, the tinter being wheeled to the elevator. The archery range was taken down and boxed up. It took two hours, but every scrap of evidence was collected, tagged, and put in boxes before being taken up to street to be put in an evidence van. Finally, the agents and Oliver returned to the surface. Oliver felt a weight fall around his shoulders. This was it. His final few hours. At least he would get a few minutes with the woman he loved more than life itself, even if he doubted that he would be allowed to hold her. Their meeting would be one where he was handcuffed, so he would have to make do.

Idly, Oliver mused that if he were to live, he would have to answer to Waller regarding the loss of the Bunker. *4*

*DC*

Dinah Laurel Lance was worried. According to her watch, it was almost five p.m., and she hadn't seen a single F.B.I. agent since her initial interrogation except for the one that had brought her a cold tuna salad sandwich and cup of apple juice for lunch. If they were trying to sweat her out, they were doing a pretty good job. Not that it would work. She wouldn't give up Ollie. She wouldn't betray him like Tommy had. And if she ever saw Tommy Merlyn again, she was going to give him such a hard slap he would be seeing stars, and that was just what she would do. The mildest thing Sara had talked about doing was breaking Tommy's nose. If Tommy met them while Sara was still pissed at him… well, he deserved whatever he got, for betraying Oliver like that, for betraying all of them like that.

Laurel heard a commotion outside of the door and straightened. Here it came, Round 2 with Agents Trimble and Danvers. The door opened and Danvers stepped inside the room. She turned to someone out of view. 'Remember, five minutes," she said.

"I understand, Agent Danvers," Oliver Queen said as he stepped into view. He looked at Laurel's hands, which were still cuffed to the table. "I think you can uncuff her now." Danvers grunted and came to the table, uncuffing Laurel, who was staring at Oliver numbly in shock. She stood as the door closed behind Danvers. "Hello, Laurel."

"Ollie," Laurel whispered, coming forward. "W-What are you doing here?"

"Keeping you safe," Oliver said. "You're going to be fine, Laurel. You, Sara, Dig… you've all got immunity. I made a deal."

"Ollie, you can't, the city needs you," Laurel said, placing a hand on each of his cheeks. "Starling needs Green Arrow to take down Tempest."

"I've put contingencies into place, so they'll still fall," Oliver said. "I know what I'm doing, Laurel. Let's not talk about Tempest right now. I need you to know something, if I don't get the chance to talk to you again. I need you to know that you are the most important person in my life, the one person I know that I can truly be myself with. You don't know how amazing it is that you accepted me for what I am, that you supported me being Green Arrow. There's not a lot of women who would do something like that. You are one special woman, Dinah Laurel Lance. My pretty bird."

"You haven't called me that for years," Laurel said quietly. "Why now?"

"It felt right," Oliver said, coming up to her and leaning down slightly to kiss her forehead. "Oh, how I wish I could hold you right now and tell you how much I love you. I can do the latter, at least. I love you, Dinah Laurel Lance. I love you so much. You are the love of my life, the other half of my soul. If I lost you, I would be a shattered wreck who didn't see the good in humanity anymore, who would stop giving criminals second chances to right their wrongs. You are the reason I do that, Laurel. You and that shining compassion of yours. It saved me that day on Lian Yu, and it has saved so many others since. Without you, I would've been more brutal, more savage." Oliver leaned down again, this time kissing her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Ollie," Laurel said, her voice choking up, going up on her toes and kissing him, arms wrapped around his neck, as the door opened again.

"It's time, Mr. Queen," Agent Trimble said. "Miss Lance, you're free to go. Your sister and Mr. Diggle are waiting."

"Goodbye, Laurel," Oliver said, his eyes brimming with tears as he smiled at her.

"I'll see you again, Ollie," Laurel whispered. "I'll be there at your arraignment, and your trial. I will stand by your side. I promise." Oliver merely smiled at her, and she reluctantly left the room, finding Sara and Diggle waiting with Agent Danvers.

"Laurel," Sara said, grabbing her and hugging her. "Come on. Before these guys decide to charge us with jaywalking or something out of spite." Laurel nodded wearily and followed Sara and Dig from the room, following Agent Danvers to the elevators. All the while, she was wondering why Oliver's smile had seemed so sad when she had told him she would be there for his arraignment and trial. Did he doubt that she would stick by him? Or was there something else he wasn't telling her? What kind of deal had he made? *5*

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.

Chapter Notes:

*1* Oliver is pretty accurate here. All they have is Tommy's testimony and their own speculations on Oliver's guilt, which wouldn't be enough for a judge to arraign him on, much less go to trial. Or if it was the former, it wouldn't be enough remand him to jail until trial.

*2* Casey Novak is the A.D.A. for "Law & Order: SVU" from Season 5 to Season 9 with some guest appearances later on. Agent Reid is another "Criminal Minds" shout-out, aka Dr. Spencer Reid of the B.A.U.

*3* Huh, Oliver sure has been up to a lot as Green Arrow, and it's only been six weeks.

*4* Waller would *not* be happy about losing one of her satellite bases because Oliver took the F.B.I. there and then had to give it up as part of his deal.

*5* Laurel's questions (and any readers' who hasn't guessed what Oliver and co think will go down) will be answered in the next chapter.