And another chapter...
I finally made up my mind about the ending, and I'm gonna warn you guys, it's not happy...
When he arrived back to Krasnoyarsk, Argus agents dropped him off back at his apartment and reminded him to call Waller.
As much as he didn't wish to talk with her at the moment, he found himself picking up his phone and dialing the phone number she left for him.
She answered almost immediately.
"Oliver. I assume the mission went well."
He scoffed.
"You sent Alex with me. She is crazier than most of your agents."
He heard a slight snort from Amanda.
"Then I'm sure you worked well together. I was informed of what was found in Tsarov's office."
Oliver closed his eyes, he was beginning to regret calling Waller.
"That is none of your business. That is Bratva business, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it."
Amanda let out a heavy breath.
"Alright then. So what did you think of the mission. Aside from Bratva business?"
Oliver clenched his jaw.
"Do you expect me to say that I enjoyed it? Do you expect a thank you?"
But he already knew what she expected. He knew exactly what she wanted.
Waller stayed silent. She was waiting for him to admit the use of such missions. She wanted him to admit that Argus had a good use.
"I know what you want Amanda. You still want me to join Argus."
"Yes. I've told you before that you have rather unique skills. And those skills could be put to good use."
Oliver rolled his eyes, even if he knew that what she said was true in some sense.
"Alright, what if I do work for Argus? What is in it for me? I would simply be another one of your soldiers, going around doing your dirty work."
Waller smirked.
"Exactly. You would be doing dirty work, to save people. Innocent people like your sister."
He clenched his jaw.
"Don't mention my sister."
Waller waited a few moments before speaking.
"Actually your sister is what I wished to talk to you about. How would you like to see your family again? Or even return to Starling city?"
"What do you mean?"
He heard a slight chuckle.
"Not all Argus agents have to live undercover. Or at least their real life serves as a cover for their activities. You would return home as Oliver Queen. Legally you would be part of Argus, training new agents. As an Argus agent you would be untouchable by the police. You could continue your nightly activities, and even your Bratva business, while also being with your family. Is that not what you want?"
Oliver took a deep breath.
"It's too good of a deal. I don't see how this would benefit you?"
"Well you see, I would have you as one of my agents, with all your skills at my disposal."
Oliver sat down. What Amanda was offering him was the best deal he could ever hope for.
He would be able to bring a bigger part of Bratva to America, make them more powerful, especially with his connections as Oliver Queen. And he would also be able to be with his sister and mother. He would be there to protect them instead of being on the other side of the world.
Yet he would be serving Waller. And anytime she told him to go on any mission, he would have to obey.
He took a deep breath and thought of Thea.
Then he thought of his brothers.
He clenched his jaw and let out a heavy breath.
"I will think about it. I need to speak to some people before I make any choices."
He could practically see Waller's smile at her small victory.
"Of course Oliver."
Then she hung up, leaving him to think about the deal.
It would seem too good to be true. But in reality it was worse than it seemed at first. He would officially be required to obey Waller, and he would have to use his real identity as a cover for dirty work.
But this deal was better than anything else he could do.
Of course he could stay with Bratva, but he knew it wouldn't be long before he would be needed in Starling City.
So he would speak with Anatoly, and then make his choice.
Grabbing his jacket, he dialed Anatoly's number, asking him to organize a meeting with the brothers. The potential expansion would affect them too.
When he arrived at Anatoly's office, a few of the more important members of Bratva were there waiting for him.
Anatoly was looking at him confused, but Oliver gave him a quick nod in reassurance.
He looked around and sat in the empty seat.
"Спасибо что пришли. Нам нужно обсудить расширение в Америку."
(Thanks for coming. We need to discuss the expansion to America.)
Anatoly raised an eyebrow, and one man, named Vlad scoffed, drawing everyone's attention to himself.
"И что же там обсуждать?"
(And what is there to discuss?)
Oliver let out a heavy breath and looked at Anatoly, knowing that his friend would most likely be against it.
"У меня появился шанс вернутся в Америку к семье."
(I have a chance to return back home to my family.)
Vlad huffed in annoyance.
"Так и знал что ты скоро свалишь домой."
(I knew you'd run back home after a while.)
Anatoly glared at Vlad and turned back to Oliver.
"Я думал что мы твои братья, твоя семья."
(I thought we were your brothers, your family.)
Oliver looked at the ground for a second, thinking of the best way to explain it.
"Так и есть, поэтому я и хочу распространить часть нашего бизнеса в Америку. Как Оливер Куин, я смогу использовать личные ресурсы чтобы продвинуть Братву."
(Yes, exactly, that's why I want to expand our business to America. As Oliver Queen I could use my personal resources to further Bratva.)
Anatoly clenched his jaw and leaned back in his seat.
"И как ты планируешь вернутся к жизни?"
(And how do you plan to revive yourself?)
"Аргус мне предложил сделку. Я официально буду их агентом, и вернусь домой. Благодаря моему статусу как агент, полиция не сможет меня контролировать. А без полиции, Братва сможет распространится по всему городу без всяких вмешательств."
(Argus offered me a deal. I will officially be one of their agents, and I'll return home. Thanks to my status as an agent, law enforcement won't be able to control me. And without police, Bratva Will spread through the city without any intervention.)
The seven other men in the room looked around at each other, considering what he just said.
Anatoly was the first to speak.
"И что же ты хочешь перевезти в Америку?"
(And what do you wish to bring to America?)
Luckily he had already thought of that.
"Наркотики. Когда я узнал что моя сестра подсела, я начал избавляться от наркодилеров. Поэтому в Старлинг Сити соревнования практически не будет."
(Drugs. When I found out my sister is an addict, I started getting rid of her drug dealers. Because of that in Starling city there is barely any competition.)
Some of the brothers nodded while others still seemed skeptical. So Anatoly stood up and turned to face them all.
"Мы должны проголосовать, и решить что делать."
(We will vote and decide what to do.)
Oliver nodded and looked around the room. He didn't know if he wanted them to vote for it or against it. He didn't know if he wanted to see his family. Bratva has become a family of a sort, and Russia has become his home. Here they didn't care what he did. He killed, tortured, and drank, and they accepted him.
In Starling city they would do no such thing. They would be disgusted with the man he has become, and with all the darkness he would bring with him.
"Если вы согласны с капитаном встаньте."
(Stand up if you agree with the kapitan.)
Oliver stood up beside Anatoly watching as tension filled the room. Two men stood up right away, and two more quickly joined them. Vlad narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Oliver, but then he took a deep breath and stood up.
Oliver knew that many wished to expand business to America, but he underestimated the numbers.
Majority was for the expansion, and Oliver's return to Starling city.
Anatoly clapped him on the back and smiled.
"Отлично а теперь надо это отметить!"
(Great, now we have to celebrate this!"
All tension left the room at the mention of celebrations. Oliver even found himself smiling lightly. He turned slightly to Anatoly, as the men started slowly leaving the office.
"надо обсудить детали."
(we need to discuss the details.)
Anatoly huffed and pushed him slightly towards the door.
"обсудим детали после прощальной вечеринки!"
(we'll discuss the details after the celebrations!)
Oliver snorted and began walking towards the door, knowing very well that his brothers wouldn't let him leave Russia, until they got him completely wasted at least one last time.
He would enjoy one more party with his brothers, and then he would call Waller to let her know that he agreed to take her deal.
Then he'd make sure everything here is set, prepare a few men to go with him to Starling City, and for the first time since the mission with Maseo, he would return home.
Returning would be tough. For him and for his family. And he knew that as much as he loved his family, he would be tempted to go back to Russia, and live out his days as a gangster.