Just another normal night at the club working security, walking the floor to ensure no fights started. I saw Oliver and Dig talking, but did not go up to them. They were probably talking shop, something I was not privy to anymore. Nor did I want to talk to them. They would both probably try to convince me to come back.. And when I had no ill will towards Diggle, I was still mad at Oliver. I did however saw Thea looking distressed on the phone, so I walked over to her "Everything okay Miss Queen?" She looked at me "No. Its Roy.. He's been arrested again." I sighed "Trying to be the Hero again huh?" She nodded. I said "Do you want me to drive you?" She smiled slightly at me "Seems like I get to see what its like to have a body guard now." I chuckled "Guess so." and we left.

To my dismay, Oliver tagged along. We waited outside the interogation room in silence. Thea paced. Oliver and I sat across from eachother, staring eachother down. Then the door opened and Thea rushed Roy "Are you okay?" He replied "Fender bender" Laurel walked out and said "He totaled his car playing Hood jr." Roy then said "At least it wasn't my car." Thea hushed him "Don't say anything, I already called you an attorney." Laurel then chipped in and said "That won't be necessary, we're not pressing charges. So long as he stops getting himself into trouble." Thea then said "Might as well tell him to give up breathing." I then said "He keeps up what he is doing and he will be." I then turned to Laurel and said softly "Don't worry Ms Lance, I'll keep an eye on Roy." She then said "First you're looking after Ollie.. Now Thea and her boyfriend, you really take you job seriously don't you Mr...uuh" I finished "Shuter." Oliver then said "Oh David is more than just my security guard. He is a friend now." Laurel then smiled "Well then a friend of Ollie's is a friend of mine. Listen.. Ask Roy if he knows anything about the Vigilantes. He obviously has forged some sort of connection with them. I think it goes both ways. The Hood and the Ghost rescued him from the mad man a few months ago.. And just last week the Ghost saves him from the Hoods, that just doesn't happen." Oliver glanced at me before saying "Doesn't sound like the Vigilante's to have a groupie." Laurel then said "That's just it, we don't know anything about the Vigilantes.. Except for every time they show up, all hell breaks loose. They have to be stopped." Laurel then walked away.

Oliver and I walked up to Thea and Roy. Oliver then said "David, Thea, could you go bring the car around." I nodded and guided Thea out "He's not going to kill him, is he?' Thea asked teasingly I shrugged "You're brother ain't a killer is he?" Thea laughed "Ollie? Not a chance." I rolled my eyes "Then you have nothing to worry about Miss Queen."

A couple nights later I was working at the club, stories had spread about the Hood almost being arrested by the cops.. Caught in a fight with the motorcycle gang that was stealing fema shipments to Glade memorial. Was I a little worried about Oliver? Yes I was. Despite wanting to hate him, I did still care for him and wanted him to live, and not just because of the timeline. Did that mean I wanted to return to the team? No. Diggle and Felicity could watch Oliver's back, he did not need me. Thea needed me, Roy even needed me. My place was at the club, not underneath it.

I was not on duty for long before Felicity was suddenly in front of me "David, I need you to come with me, now." she said. I shook my head "No Fel.. I already told you I am out." She gave a stern look and said "Unless you want me to hack SHIELD servers to get your younger self to come help, you will come with me now." I sighed and did as I was blackmailed to do. I went downstairs expecting to see Oliver and John there, but the foundry was empty. I looked at Felicity and asked "What is so urgent?" She then said "First of, I know you have only been off the team for a week.." I cut her off "I've been off the team for months.. I only wore the hood one last time to save Thea." She shook her head "Either way, I need you to put it on one more time." I shook my head "If Oliver thinks he can get me to join back up through you he is sadly mistaken." She shook her head "Oliver and John do not know you are here. When I brought it up Oliver even said you had made your choice and we had to honor it." I sighed "Fel.. Cut to the chase" She then said "Oliver and John are stopping China White from stealing medical supplies headed for the Glades. White has teamed up with a big burly guy with knife claw.. Things." I furled an eyebrow and said "But Dig is out in the field with Oliver, so He will be fine. Oliver wouldn't have Dig in the field if he did not feel he was ready." Felicity then said "Or... He is doing the best with what he's got because the person he wants to watch his back is being stubborn. Besides.. Diggle isn't fighting. He is stealing the truck himself so the Triad don't get it." I held up a hand "Hold up. Oliver is taking on both White and the Claw guy.. When the claw guy kicked his butt the other night?" Felicity nodded "Thus why you are here." I looked at my suit, hesitating. Felicity then said "You know, you mentioned in the future Oliver is alive and well and we are team... we can't do that if there is no team." I continued to stare at my suit and said "What are you talking about? There is a team?" She looked at me "You once said, the original team arrow was Oliver.. John, me...and the Blue Lightning. Or so Oliver tells me." I chuckled slightly and said "Blue Lightning? Doesn't exist." She smiled and said "He could. Sounds like he just needs to make a choice... but make it snappy Lightning, Oliver needs his partner." I grinned at the name and chuckled, looking at the suit. I had to make a choice.. But I didn't have to make it right now.. Right now action was required.

I took my bike to the Fema site. When I got there the Truck was gone. I heard the unmistakable sound of arrows being fired and quickly ran towards it. It was in a second of the FEMA warehouse. I quickly climbed up the shelving units and leapt from unit to unit, getting closer. Finally I saw Oliver on the ground, Arrow notched with the Knife man closing in on him. The guy said "Keep firing those arrows.. You were foolish to face me alone" I notched a special arrow and fired, hitting him in the back. Tranqulizer ejecting into his bloodstream. I then said "He isn't alone." I jumped down and hit him with my bow on the way to the ground, knocking him out. I landed on one knee and stood up, holding a hand out to Oliver. He took it and I helped him up "Where's White?" Oliver replied "Probably chasing after Dig in the truck, come on." That was it. No thank you, no gratitude. Always focused on the mission. We split up each to get our own bikes. We then sped off to find Diggle.

Oliver got there first and used a bolo arrow to trap China White to the nearby post as she went in for the kill on Dig. I followed up with one of my own. Both Oliver and I got off our bikes. White said "What? Didn't follow up with the kill Ghost? You know, you two have changed. You would have both killed me by now." Oliver ignored her and told Dig "The police can take the shipment the rest of the way." Dig and I nodded at eachother and went to leave when White said "They still will not see you as more than just the enemy. You will never be anything bu a criminal to them, which means you will never be a hero." Oliver then said "As long as the city is safe.. It doesn't matter." I then said "But you are wrong. We can change.. They can change too. Think on that when you rot in prison." We then left.

I hung up my hood one more time. I did not say a word to anyone. Felicity gave me a look but I ignored her. Oliver stopped me "Hey.. Thank you for coming to assist. I know you didn't have to." I gave him a side glance "I may be trying to rewrite my destiny.. But I couldn't jeopardize the future for it. That being said it looks like you didn't need my help anyways." He pointed at me "That is where you are wrong David. I will always need your help. Think on that.. And if you want to talk... drop by my office at Queen consolidated later. The door is always open to you." I gave a stiff nod and walked out.

I didn't want to kill anymore... if I got the chance to wear the Iron Thunder suit again in a year in a half.. I wanted to wear it without tainting the name with blood. Being the Ghost.. I couldn't do that. One of the many reasons I had given up the hood. But something Felicity had said stuck with me.. I had to make a choice. Blue Lightning and the Ghost were different. Yes they were the same guy in the same suit. But the Ghost was a stone cold killer.. It had been my mark for hundreds of years. I relied heavily on that fear with the Templars. Blue Lightning was also a symbol of fear.. But he was also a hero. Someone the city was glad had returned when I donned the suit back in 2014. I could be the Blue Lightning.. I could be better.

I walked in to Oliver's office, passing Felicity at the coffee machine, who grinned at me. She had to know what me coming to talk meant. I entered just as Oliver was saying "I was blind to other people that could be suffering too." He then looked up at me. Dig looked at me too and he said "I will leave you two to talk... Not to mention we are getting dangerously close to hug territory so I need to fall back" He then patted my shoulder as he left. Oliver and I were alone. I began to say "Oliver I.." He cut me off "No.. You have nothing to explain David. I do. I know you are angry at me for something I will do.. Or more like will not do. I will not tell you about the second device therefore stopping you changing the timeline and saving this City. Believe me.. I was as baffled as you were. I lost Tommy that day.. I could have prevented that. Why didn't I? Honestly I didn't realize until very recently. If I let you change the timeline.. I have no reason to stop killing. I don't want to kill anymore.. That was why I wanted to give up the hood. Tommy dying was my motivation to find a different way.. Be someone else.. Be something else. I know killing holds the same weight for you.. That Iron Thunder was not a cold blooded killer. I don't tell you everything.. Because I want us to become the best possible versions of ourselves we can be. Plus I wouldn't want to lose my friend to the timeline." I nodded slowly, surprised by his honesty "You will sacrifice Tommy for me..?' He shook his head "For Starling City..and for you I guess yes." I nodded again "I am sorry Oliver.. I was angry at myself for failing.. And I put that on you. I realize I can't blame you anymore." He then said "We are all to blame for the undertaking... but we have a chance to right those wrongs. Starling City still needs saving... and I need my partner. I can't call all the shots by myself can I?" I smiled "Wait.. Like real partners? No side lining me, trusting me.. Equals?" He smiled back "Equals, For real this time." He held out his hand.. I hesitated and said "New approach.. New names right?" He nodded "The Hood and the Ghost are tainted. I am more than a Hood.. And you are no longer a Ghost. You already have your name of course, Blue Lightning. I still need mine. I was hoping you could help me out with that?" I chuckled "Well.. We are called Team Arrow... You are its head.. The Arrow of justice... or perhaps we should just shorten that to.. The Arrow." He rolled is eyes "First.. We are still not calling ourselves that.. Second.. Deal." I shook his hand and said "Deal." Felicity then walked in with 2 cups of coffee and gave one to each of us "Just one. Consider it a welcome back gift Lightning." I chuckled and sipped the coffee. I then said "So does Big man Boss Oliver need help with his work?" He raised an eyebrow "Got experience running a fortune 500 company" I chuckled and took a seat "No.. But I do have experience keeping a friend company." He smiled slightly and began to work "Deal."