Chapter 4 Living Again
Oliver was panting hard. He could only hear the crunching of leaves as he ran zig-zagging between the trees. Oliver was exhausted, but he had to keep going because he was almost there. His exhaustion of the run was finally taking its toll and that's all Oliver could feel now as he continued.
"Just a few more yards." Oliver thought to himself as he grew closer to the clearing. He began slowing from a run into a jog by the time it took him to reach the clearing. As Oliver exited into the clearing he came upon the same sight that for the last 6 months he had grown to love and appreciate once again. What Oliver had not realized how much he had missed it and how much it was a comfort for him. Queens Mansion.
Queens Mansion
November 14, 2015
Oliver was jogging back to the mansion finally finishing his morning run and waved with a smile on his face to the many staff members that were all working on the yard. Anyone that knew Oliver understood that over the last six Oliver Queen had changed drastically from when he had first arrived on this Earth. That the man had becoming happier, lighter, and not as cynical and dark as he once was when he arrived.
Oliver entered the mansion through the front before quietly making his way back to his room so that he could take a long shower to get the stench off him. It took him a few minutes to reach his room and when he enter he went directly to the bathroom and started the shower. Oliver entered the shower and let the hot water spray down on him allowing his muscles to relax from the feeling. These moments of peace and relaxation always allowed him to think on the last 6 months of his life. He had gone from being a dead man walking to being the happiest he had been in a long time. There was no looming danger, no promise to keep, no Hood, no Arrow, and most importantly, no mission. Oliver couldn't remember a time when he was just himself and not someone else. A time when he could just be Oliver Queen.
That's not to say it was easy for him. It had been a struggle seeing his parents again or their doppelgangers. The last time he had seen either of them was when his father had killed himself and his mother was stabbed as they both sacrificed themselves for him. These two may not have given birth to him and they may not be 'his' parents, but they looked, acted, sounded, and felt the same.
It had been hard for the first two weeks. Oliver had tried avoiding them, hoping that the Justice League would find a quick way for him and Ronnie to return home. But unfortunately, it was to no success as both of his parent's doppelgangers seemed to want to get to know him and try to connect with him. Oliver didn't understand that even though they had lost their Oliver, their son that they would still want to bond with him. Oliver wasn't their child, but he was still their blood and they had seemed to still refer and care about him like he was their own.
It had taken Oliver some time to understand why. For Oliver, he couldn't look at either without thinking of his dead parents. But Oliver later figured out and understood why. He had concluded that they weren't trying to replace their son with another. But they were trying to fill the hole that he left.
While his parent's doppelgangers had gotten comfortable with the idea of him living with them instantly Oliver had taken two months to get fully comfortable, adjusted, and accepting of this new world and his new life. Oliver had taken a lot of time to think of what the Martian said about taking advantage of the second chance with his parents that he had been given. The advice was useful but wasn't the only thing that he had gotten from the Martian. The Martian had also offered to help him work through his traumas and troubles since he had learned everything when he read Oliver's mind. Oliver had accepted the offer from the Martian and was visiting the man to this day ever since he had been offered it when he was released from the Med Bay.
Oliver found J'onn was a great counselor or therapists of sorts because it was easy to talk to J'onn since he didn't judge Oliver for the actions that he had taken or the traumas he had withstood and survived. Since Oliver had no use in trying to lie since the Martian knew everything it allowed Oliver to be more open with both J'onn and with himself. Oliver had been more open with the Martian than he had been with anyone in his life.
The counseling had worked for Oliver. He had never been so sure of himself, clear-headed and happier in his life. The clarity that Oliver was granted helped him over those first two months finally accept his circumstance. He was going to be on this new Earth for the foreseeable future, so he planned to not waste the chance he was given, and he slowly but surely had adjusted to this new world. Even taking to calling his parents from this Earth Mom and Dad, respectively and fully accepted that this world would be his home for the foreseeable future.
Turning off the water he stepped out of the shower and put a towel around his torso and walked over and stood in front of the mirror. Oliver raised his arm and used it to wipe the condensation off the mirror so he could get a better look at himself. When he finally got a good portion wiped off Oliver glanced up and down his uncovered body and stared at the scars that still riddled his body. The effects of the Red Death had finally worn off two months ago. Whenever Oliver touched one of them he didn't feel a phantom pain radiate from it. Unfortunately for Oliver before the Red Death had fully worn off and had flushed out of his system he had one final hallucination. One that he would never forget.
Flashback 2 months ago
Oliver was in the back of the mansion property keeping himself from becoming rusty by training. Oliver was going through the handful of forms of martial arts that he knew. He was midway through a form when he heard familiar sound of the whizzing of an arrow flying. Only his instincts saved him as he was able to roll to his right and turn around barely dodging the arrow that was coming for his back. Oliver looked up quickly and began to scan the area before he heard the familiar sound again coming straight for him. Oliver saw it coming for him this time and was ready as he turned slightly and as it went past he snatched it out of the air before dropping it to the ground. Easily tracking the trajectory of the second air Oliver saw movement in a tree and turned to face his attacker fully but it had Oliver freeze in shock and surprise as he saw who his attacker was.
"You failed our city!" The attacker bellowed at Oliver who was still frozen in place. The figure a moment later jumped down from his perch on a tree branch and then stood to full height and glared at Oliver. Oliver though did not register the glare and anger radiate off the man because Oliver was focused on the easily recognizable man stand in front of him. It was himself or more importantly the darkness inside of him that he tried to give an identity to. The Hood.
"It's you." Oliver said regaining his composure as he continued to stare at the man and the Hood growled at Oliver with pure anger in his eyes. The Hood angrily asked,
"Do you know why you failed?" The Hood angrily asked.
"You believe because I got away from you. Stopped being you, tried to stop killing." Oliver answered and The Hood started to slowly walk toward Oliver.
"You're right but do you know what is also true? We were never supposed to have partners. There was never supposed to be a John Diggle, a Roy Harper, a Sara Lance, a Felicity Smoak. There was never supposed to be The Arrow. There was only the List and the Mission. You lost sight of that vision and you lost your family, friends, and your city!" The Hood angrily growled before he stopped right in front of Oliver as they both stared each other down, neither backing down. Oliver though broke the stare down and shook his head before making eye contact once again meeting The Hood's glare with one of equal intensity.
"No. You are wrong. I didn't forget the mission. It evolved…" Oliver said before he took a step forward and was now right in the Hood's face as he continued, "...I evolved. My ways evolved. I went away from you, from the List but the mission, it never changed. It had always been protecting and saving the city! AND THAT IS WHAT I DID!" Oliver finished by yelling into the face of The Hood. The Hood snarled at the response and swung his bow over his head to hit Oliver. Oliver though sidestepped the swing quickly and elbowed The Hood in the chin hard. This staggered the Hood for a second which allowed Oliver to disarm him of his bow and slam the bow into the Hood's chest, hard, sending him to the ground. The Hood though was only down for a second before he was back up.
Oliver watched as The Hood get ready to attack and took a second to throw the bow away to his right and got ready to counter before making a come hither motion. The motion only aggravated The Hood before he ran and closed the gap between the two before they began exchanging blows. The fight though was more of The Hood on the offense with Oliver perfectly defending and countering every blow The Hood tried to make. Oliver landed yet again another hard counterattack which this time caused The Hood to staggered back. The Hood took a moment to regain control of himself before glaring at Oliver.
"Do you think you can beat me? I am you remember; I know everything you do but…" The Hood growled before pulling out a knife and rushed at Oliver again, "…without the weakness of mercy and all the edge you seem to have given up on." Oliver was ready as he dodged the first two attacks before rolling to his right and grabbing the bow off the ground and brought it up to block the incoming knife slice. The two held each other's gaze as neither gave up the force they were putting into the exchange.
"Your wrong." Oliver said as he shook his head before meeting The Hoods glare once again. "You and I aren't the same. You are right on some points like you were trained like me by some of the same people as Shado and Slade but…" Oliver then pulled quickly back on the bow and let of it which caught The Hood off guard as he fell forward losing his footing. Oliver grabbed the knife hand quickly smacking it away before he rolled The Hood over him getting the man in an arm bar and without hesitation breaking it. The Hood howled in pain as Oliver rolled away and grabbed the bow and arrow he had left on the ground and notched the arrow before pointing it at The Hood. "…I have become stronger than I had been when I first returned home. My experiences forced me to become stronger, gain new moves and techniques to be better than you could have ever been."
Oliver held the arrow still notched at the Hood as the man growled in pain from his arm as he sat up and glared at Oliver.
"Do it, we both know you want to. Kill me. Do what you do best. Do want you like and want to do." The Hood said. Oliver though didn't move and kept his gaze at The Hood which pissed him off. "DO IT, FINISH ME." Oliver glared at The Hood for a moment before releasing his hold on the string as the arrow flew down toward The Hood…and missed as it flew past and imbedded itself into the ground behind the man. Oliver's left arm dropped to his side with the bow in hand before dropping it to the ground. Oliver unwavering kept meeting The Hood's stare with one of his own as neither spoke.
"You're wrong about a lot of points but most importantly your assumption that I enjoyed killing. I didn't I never did. But know this I am done with you, forever." Oliver said and began to walk away. The Hood yelled back,
"No, you're not! You will come crawling back when you need me again. When you go and pick up the hood and bow again, you will need me! You found out years ago that you can't be Oliver Queen and something else at the same time. That's why you made me; I will always be a part of you. Or do you not remember, separate the monster from the man?" The Hood yelled which caused Oliver to stop and turn back and blankly stared at The Hood.
"You are right. I did learn that I couldn't be Oliver Queen and something else. But those were the teachings of a woman that didn't know what she was talking about. Just like Anatoli told me all those years ago. My darkness, you, will always be a part of me, and that giving you a name didn't keep it apart from me. You will always be a part of me, but not as the Hood, not as a name, but merely the darkness in me. But that doesn't change the fact that if I ever pick the hood up again that I won't be like you, I won't use you. Never again. If I do pick them up again I will be a better man than I once was. And you're wrong, I didn't make you. I was remade and molded together by people like Slade Wilson, Amanda Waller, and Talia. You were what was molded together by those three. The darkness, the monster. From the pieces of the boy that broke on the island and beyond. I began to slowly stop needing you the moment I took a step back into Starling City. Slowly start to heal. I started to change because I got better people in my life once again! People like my sister, my mother, Tommy, Walter, Raisa, Roy, Laurel, Felicity, John even Lance. It took me a long time to finally come to terms with that." Oliver said before turning back around and walking away.
"I am not you anymore. I never will be." Oliver gave one last comment before he continued to walk away back toward the mansion, not wasting a moment or thought to look back.
Flashback end
Oliver had not experienced any more hallucinations since. He had later gotten confirmation from Doctor Thorne on the check-up that followed the hallucination that the serum had been fully flushed out of his system.
Oliver's eyes though did not linger on his scars long, but on the left side of his chest that was now bare of his tattoo. He had a month ago gotten it removed. He didn't need it anymore. Oliver had only become part of the Bratva to use their organization to help his mission, his agenda and now that he was on another Earth it wouldn't help. And he wanted to distance himself from the actions he took in Russia.
Drying himself off he got into a new set of clothes and made his way down to the dining room and saw the silhouette of another person he had missed over the last year. Raisa. Not only was she employed on this Earth but her companionship with him was just as prevalent on this Earth. She was also one of the handfuls of people outside of the Justice League that knew the truth of what had happened to this world's Oliver Queen. Even knowing he wasn't from this Earth and not the same Oliver she knew. She still treated him like he had been of this world since he was born. She had also treated Ronnie with similar respect and motherly attitude as well.
Ronnie, the only other person from Oliver's Earth had taken some time to adjust as well. He was as depressed as Oliver originally was, if not more. Since he had been married to the love of his life hours before being transported to this Earth. And his wife was on a different Earth more than likely believing him dead. But Ronnie had adjusted faster than Oliver did, only taking a few weeks. Ronnie seemed to have more hope that the Justice League could find a way back home while Oliver didn't hold out much of it.
Ronnie though had faced his own struggles since arriving. He had come close to death in October when the instability of his molecules from a long period without merging put him in critical condition.
Thankfully though, scientists led by Ray Palmer had been working on a solution for this very problem. Seeing how Ronnie had been getting worse since the day they had arrived. The scientists had come up with a way to trick the Firestorm Matrix into merging with another half of a new Matrix. An artificial half of a new Firestorm Matrix. It would trick Ronnie's Matrix into believing it was its original other half that was in Stein. This was able to stabilize Ronnie's molecules. The artificial half of the Matrix had been bonded to the Quantum splicer because it would be impossible for the half of the Matrix to be transplanted into Ronnie. So, all Ronnie had to do was every week was put on the splicer to stabilize his molecules which would keep him from going into critical condition.
What Ronnie and the scientists didn't know would happen was that the artificial Matrix not only took the place of Stein's half of the Matrix to stabilize Ronnie's molecules, but it also took the place of Stein's Matrix that allowed him access to his pyrokinetic powers. Ronnie though hadn't been using them wanting nothing to do with being a hero anytime soon. Even though he distanced himself from his powers Ronnie had been given an invite to join the Justice League if he ever wanted to use his powers and help people again.
Oliver reached and entered the dining room and saw his mother eating alone. As he made his way toward his seat he saw Raisa walking in with some more food before setting it down at his seat before walking back toward the kitchen. Oliver took his seat and took a glance around the table at the chairs that were usually used by the other two occupants of the house which looked to be untouched this morning. Voicing his question, he asked,
"Mom, where are Ronnie and Dad?" Oliver asked and he watch his mother finished chewing her food before turning to address his question.
"Ronnie is still asleep, and your father had to go in early to the office. He had to talk with the District Attorney and his Deputy Mayor about the state of the city and what their plans are for the situation that we are facing." Moira answered and Oliver nodded to his mother before he began eating breakfast.
Even after 6 months, it would still take him some time to get used to this Earth's differences. While there were a few similarities between the two there were a greater amount of differences between the two Earths.
An example of such was the many differences between the life of Oliver Queen on this Earth and his own. Firstly, while they both had wild high school year the Oliver of this Earth though actually went to college and graduated with a degree which he would use to run Queen Consolidated later. In celebration of his graduation, he had taken the Queen's Gambit in 2007 to where it got sunk in a storm. Not sabotaged. Just like himself this world's Oliver Queen wouldn't die but instead of being stranded on Lian Yu was stranded on an uninhabited island.
This is where both lives begin to stray even further. This world's Oliver Queen was only on his island for a year before he was rescued in 2008. While he was thought to be dead it seemed that both Moira and Oliver had grown closer to each other after believing to have lost their only child. On the island, he had also honed and developed his skills with a bow to help him survive.
In 2009 Robert Queen began running for mayor of Star City, which was what Starling was called on this Earth. Robert would later win in 2010 and the consecutive election in 2014. This world's Oliver would become the CEO in 2010 after his father was sworn in. After the invasion of the Imperium seemingly inspired by the other heroes of this world he would take up the mantle of the Green Arrow and begin protecting his city. He would later be invited and join the Justice League in 2011.
In 2011 he and his parents would decide to sell their shares of the company, which was the majority shares of the company to Bruce Wayne of Wayne Enterprises for 3 billion dollars. Before selling they took full possession of Queen Mansion which is why they still lived in the mansion instead of it being owned by Queens Consolidated. The man would then later die protecting the Earth in 2013 as the Green Arrow. To the publicly neither Oliver Queen nor the Green Arrow had not. Oliver Queen would disappear from public life and many believed he had moved away to a quieter life and the Green Arrow had not been seen since. Oliver was taken out of his thoughts as Raisa walked in which drew his attention since she was looking toward him.
"Mr. Oliver, Mr. Merlyn was wondering if you were still on to go to dinner with him and his wife?" Raisa asked.
"Tell Tommy that should still work and I will meet them both at Mario's." Oliver answered with a smile which Raisa returned and nodded before walking back into the kitchen.
That was an example of another major difference in this world. His best friend, brother in all but blood, was still alive and he was married to an old friend of their and, Oliver wouldn't forget how he found that Tommy was alive on this Earth.
Flashback 5 months ago
Oliver had finally decided to venture out of Queen's Mansion for the first time after arriving on this Earth and had decided to take a drive around the city and see if there were any other differences about the city other than the name. Driving around he was satisfied with what he saw. Most of the city was the same except for the Glades. It seemed the Glades didn't take as much of a hit as it had originally on his Earth. It made him question if there had been a Tempest group here or if it didn't exist. It still was a little run-down, but it was a lot more livable. Queen Industrial Inc was even still running which was a pleasant surprise and brought a small smile to his face.
Oliver made his way around the Glades he decided to stop at the CNRI building. Stopping in a familiar alley Oliver got out of his car and walked a few feet so he could stare at the building. After a couple of minutes though Oliver turned back around and began walking back to his car. He hadn't stepped foot in the building after discovering Tommy's and Laurel's dead. Even if he was on another Earth the building itself still brought back painful memories.
As Oliver was about to enter his car he heard a silenced gun going off and felt a prick to his neck. Oliver raised his hand and grabbed the tranq dart that had hit him in the neck and pulled it out and turned around to see a man and woman both in demon masks which reminded him of a similar situation.
"Not this again." Oliver whispered before blacking out from the dart's effect.
Unknown Location
Oliver awoke to blurry vision before finally becoming fully aware. After Oliver became fully conscious he quickly began observing his surroundings and found it was dark and both his hands were handcuffed to the chair he was on.
They were also handcuffed to the chair and not to each other. Using two separate pairs of handcuffs, one for each hand. Oliver concluded that these people were more experienced than the last people who had kidnapped him. Before Oliver could observe any more he heard footsteps inching closer. It took a few moments of the sound becoming louder before Oliver could see the two who kidnapped him come into his field of vision and stand in front of him.
When they stopped Oliver quickly began to analyze the two. The man was 5' 10" and the woman was 5'7" both a little over average height and build. The male's body language spoke for him expressing he was the amateur while the female's body language told him that she seemed to be completely calm and was the professional between the two.
"Who are you?" The woman asked which caused Oliver's face to fill with confusion.
"I am Oliver Queen." Oliver answered with confusion laced in his answer. The woman though took a step forward before landing a solid hit across his face. Oliver recoiled a bit not expecting the hit and turning his face back to look at the kidnappers when he heard the woman growl in anger.
"No, you are not. Oliver Queen died 2 years ago when Darkseid's invaded, protecting the world as the Green Arrow. So, I will ask again. Who are you?" The woman spat which caused surprise to jump across Oliver's face. He hadn't been aware that anyone outside of his parents, Raisa, and the Justice League knew that Oliver Queen of this Earth had died. He also wasn't aware that anyone else knew his counterpart was the Green Arrow. Oliver broke out of his surprise as his face hardened and stared between the two that shouldn't have such information
"The real question is who are you? Not many people know that information." Oliver finally responded to the question breaking the silence.
"So, you are not Oliver?" The man asked finally speaking for the first time with what Oliver recognized was sorrow laced in his voice. Oliver shook his head.
"I am Oliver Queen, just not yours." Oliver answered and he watched as the two kidnappers looked at each other.
"What do you mean not ours?" The man asked in confusion after they both turned back to Oliver who sighed in annoyance. These questions were getting him nowhere and he knew that saying, 'I am Oliver Queen from another universe' would make him sound insane. So, the only option he was left with was to escape. Unfortunately, Oliver knew a way to get out, but it was going to be painful for a few seconds. Taking a deep breath to ready himself he looked back at the two in front of him before he quickly applied pressure to both of his thumbs using the chair he was sitting in. A semi loud sound was heard throughout the room as he dislocated his thumbs which had the male kidnapper swiveling his head looking around the room with confusion.
"What was that?" He questioned while his accomplice seemed to know what the sound meant as she went for a gun she had holstered.
"Oh shit!" She yelled but was too late to act as instantly Oliver pulled both of his hands out of the handcuffs and tackled the woman before she could bring her gun up. Using his momentum from the tackle Oliver rolled off the woman. He then set both of his thumbs back in place using the floor for support and grunted from the pain before turning his attention back to his kidnappers.
The woman still seemed to be reeling from the hit he gave her as the man squatted down quickly to help her up. Oliver glanced around quickly and saw the tranq gun near him that the woman had dropped, and Oliver reached for it quickly before aiming and fired it at the kidnappers. Moments after firing the two kidnappers slumped on the ground from the dart's affect and Oliver released a sigh of relief that had turned out better than he thought it would.
Looking at his downed kidnappers Oliver made his way to them and wanted a few of his questions answered. After their reactions to the name of Oliver Queen and the knowledge that the two had about Oliver Queen, he wanted to know who the two were. When Oliver reached the two he took off their masks and Oliver's jaw dropped in disbelief when he saw who the two were under their masks/
"McKenna? Tommy?" Oliver whispered not believing what he was seeing. This Earth's McKenna wasn't having trouble walking and on this Earth Tommy wasn't dead. After five minutes of just staring at them he regained control of his emotions and moved the two next to the chair he had been handcuffed to and handcuffed them both to the chair. When he finished handcuffing them he went searching for the keys to the cuffs so they couldn't use it to escape and was not surprised when he found them in McKenna's pocket. Oliver took a step away from the two and began to wait for them to wake up knowing that it was going to be an interesting conversation.
30 minutes later
Oliver had patiently been waiting to talk with these two when they finally started to stir. It took them both a minute to get fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. Though Tommy hadn't fully become aware of his surroundings as he tried to get up off the ground only to finally register that he was handcuffed before slumping back down to the ground.
"Shit." Tommy muttered while McKenna became aware that Oliver watching the two from a distance and Tommy followed as the three of them stared at each other in silence.
"Okay, we got off on the wrong hand. How about you just let us go and we can all talk about this like adults. Yeah?" Tommy said finally breaking the silence. McKenna turned her attention from Oliver to stare at Tommy like he was an idiot for asking such a dumb statement. Oliver on the other hand had to suppress a chuckle. God, he had missed Tommy's horrible negotiation skills. His skills had gotten both in trouble so many times that Oliver had lost count.
Oliver finally walked into their view from a table he had been leaning on and saw a flash of pain across both of their faces. For Tommy it stayed, while McKenna's expression shifted to anger.
"So, what the hell are you? Some clone, a shapeshifter?" She snarled at him and Oliver's right eyebrow rose at the accusation. This world was a lot stranger than he thought if clones and shapeshifter existed and was common knowledge.
"No, I am not a clone or a shapeshifter. As I said, I am Oliver Queen, just not yours." Oliver answered while shaking his head.
"What does that even mean, that you are Oliver just not ours?" Tommy asked still confused what that statement even meant which Oliver sighed knowing what he was about to say was more than likely not going to make much sense. before asking,
"Have either of you heard of the Multiverse Theory?" Oliver asked which had McKenna looking confused while Tommy's eyes lit up in realization.
"You…your one of them aren't you? An Oliver from another universe? A doppelgänger?" Tommy asked and McKenna swiveled her head toward Tommy and sent him a confused look as Oliver was struck in surprise. He hadn't expected anyone to believe that.
"I am. How did you know that?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah Tommy, why don't you share with the class?" McKenna asked in a slightly irritated voice and sent Tommy an equally irritated look which caused Tommy to slightly sweat from the glare he was receiving.
"Well you see Oliver, our Oliver told me about alternate universes. He found out from a friend of his from the Justice League, The Question guy. McKenna do you remember when the Justice League changed their uniforms a couple of years ago for about a week. But then they changed back, that was another Justice League from another universe. Or at least that's what our Ollie said, they called themselves the Justice Lords or something." Tommy answered and McKenna's eyes seemed to light up in realization before she turned to look back at Oliver. Oliver on the other hand hadn't heard of any these so called Justice Lords but if they somehow validated his explanation he would accept it.
"So, if you are Oliver Queen from another universe how did you get here? And how can we know you are an Oliver Queen from another universe?" Tommy asked Oliver took a moment before responding,
"About a month ago a wormhole opened above Central City. What almost everyone on Earth doesn't know is that the wormhole dropped the contents it had swallowed from my Earth and dropped it here on this Earth and for the foreseeable future, I am going to be living on this Earth." Oliver answered and both McKenna and Tommy nodded both accepting the answer.
"And the proof that you are Oliver Queen?" McKenna asked. Oliver responded,
"Well other than the point I don't think I would have made it off the Justice League's Watchtower if I was an imposter. But if you need proof. You,.." Oliver gestured to McKenna, "...Tommy and I met during our party years in high school and college. You got the three of us banned from the club Deville when you fully stripped in the club." Oliver answered and McKenna's face brightened in embarrassment as Tommy chuckled at the memory though it abruptly stopped as a red in the face McKenna began glaring daggers both at him and Oliver. Oliver unaffected by the glare continued. "And Tommy..." there was a slight pause as Oliver tried to think of the best words to say as he looked down before continuing, "...we met when we were kids. Our parents were friends, and we became best friends. Your favorite wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Your favorite sport is football. When we were kids you wanted a puppy so you could call him Arthur since your family's name is Merlyn. You once filled your whole pool in beer and swam in it for fun. And you are my brother in all but blood." By the time that Oliver finished he finally looked at the two and found that McKenna had tears that were forming while Tommy was slightly shaking with a few tears that were already falling.
"It's you, it's you!" Tommy exclaimed and Oliver nodded his head keeping control of his emotions and waited a few moments before he walked over behind the chair and unlocked both handcuffs. As soon as he unlocked Tommy's cuffs Tommy was up and flung his arms around Oliver into a hug as he clutched onto him like he was a lifeline. Oliver slowly reacted before he finally returned the embrace while trying to control his fluctuating emotions. He hadn't seen Tommy since he held him while he died. Even if this Tommy wasn't his they were so similar, and it was causing him so much trouble. Oliver was broken out of his thoughts when he felt another person hug him as he looked to his left and saw McKenna join the embrace. Oliver closed his eyes hoping that this wasn't a dream.
Flashback end
Oliver had over the last five months bonded with this world's Tommy and McKenna. The three had decided it was best to not give up on this chance. It had been awkward for the first couple of weeks, but over time the awkwardness faded to where it felt like they had grown up together.
This world's Tommy was different from the one he had grown up with. He was not the same party goer that he had been on his Earth. While they still had their party days, just like this world's Oliver this world's Tommy grew out of them and went to college. With Oliver's counterpart getting a business degree and Tommy becoming a Doctor. Oliver had been baffled by the discovery at first and found it strange. He hadn't remembered his best friend ever talking about ever wanting to be a doctor and Oliver stayed confused until he found the reason behind the huge change by his friend. Tommy's Mother, Aunt Rebecca hadn't been killed in this world.
Tommy had been raised differently because she was around to raise him. She also had another major effect on this Earth, Malcolm hadn't gone crazy. He hadn't made the Tempest group destroy the Glades. He hadn't become the deranged psychopath bent on genocide for revenge for her death. Or twisting his daughter and Oliver's sister into pawn for power and saving his skin. When Oliver had first seen Malcolm on this Earth Oliver had been tense but he had slowly come to understand that this Malcolm was the man he remembered from when he was a kid. A kind, funny, and caring man. His Uncle Malcolm.
Tommy had become a doctor and started working at Star General Hospital in January of 2010. It was at the start of his tender as a doctor where he had reconnected with McKenna as she had also become a cop before later being promoted to a detective and the two had started dating two months after reconnecting.
It was also around this time that Green Arrow showed up in Star City. Tommy had recounted how he had found out that his best friend was the Green Arrow. When this Earth's Oliver had showed up in Tommy's house wounded and bleeding out from wounds. Tommy also recounted how he had patched him up and would after a long time deliberating over the information continue to help him.
Tommy told Oliver that he eventually came to that conclusion because while he didn't like his friend out there risking his life, that this Earth's Oliver wouldn't stop. So, Tommy decided he would help in any way he could so that he wouldn't end up dead. Mostly as his resident medic and occasionally on the computers at the secret base. Which was where the two had taken Oliver when they kidnapped him and interrogated him. When they had left the base Oliver found that it was the same place where Brother Blood had his base originally (Arrow S4 base, same look, and equipment, except for guns and multiple uniform cases, there is only one case).
McKenna on the other hand had found out the Green Arrow's identity after following Tommy after he was skipping out on their dates. She was pleasantly surprised when she followed him to the secret base where she later learned Oliver's identity. Her reaction to the Green Arrow was the opposite of her counterpart. She accepted the truth and encouraged it. She had told Oliver that she had seen firsthand how Green Arrow's actions were positively affecting the city. So, she became the Green Arrow's ally in the police that helped him from time to time.
Both McKenna and Tommy would go steady until Tommy would propose in the summer of 2011. The two would then get married in the summer of 2012 with this Earth's Oliver as the best man. Unfortunately, May 13, 2013 occurred, and they lost their friend, Oliver Jonas Queen. They, unfortunately, did not learn about it for a few weeks since the world didn't know, and they had been the silent partners of the Green Arrow. They had learned when they visited the base and tried to get into contact with the Justice League about their friend.
Oliver had reciprocated to both McKenna and Tommy by giving them some details of their respective counterparts and some of the differences between himself and the Oliver they grew up with. Most importantly that on his Earth Tommy was dead and that McKenna had to do physical therapy after being temporarily paralyzed. One of the details that Tommy hated to ever be brought up in conversation was that on Oliver's Earth he had dated McKenna for some time. The first time that Oliver gave them that information Tommy groaned for a second before glaring at Oliver while McKenna just giggled at her husband's attitude.
Though there were a couple of events and details that Oliver had purposely left out. Specifically, Oliver had left out what happened to the Merlyns from his Earth's. And that Rebecca died and how that affected his father and the city. Oliver had also left out that his sister who Oliver had talked with the two about a lot since she did not exist on this Earth was also Tommy's sister. He didn't want to explain why she was conceived by their parents which would lead to the explanation of what happened to Rebecca and Malcolm from his Earth.
Oliver over the months had also revealed a lot to his friends about himself. Much more than he had revealed to anyone on his Earth. This Tommy's reaction was an extremely opposite to his Tommy's. Instead of anger and hate about what he had done, he got compassion and understanding. Oliver was dumbfounded by the difference. Oliver believed it was Tommy's training and education as a doctor and understanding of how trauma can affect a person. Which Oliver believed was the catalyst for why the reaction was so different.
McKenna, still like on his Earth, was understanding that the trials he faced changed him. But she had been wary of him for some time because of what Oliver had told the couple about some of the actions he had taken. She though had over time come to accept Oliver for who he was.
After Oliver had finished telling the couple about his Earth Tommy had bluntly said that his world was terrible and sucked. That not only was both of Oliver's parents dead, but Tommy was dead, McKenna had been paralyzed and the shit that Oliver had to deal with was the stuff of nightmares. McKenna had agreed with Tommy and even Oliver himself had agreed. On this Earth his father was alive, his mother, Tommy, Rebecca, McKenna hadn't been almost paralyzed Malcolm wasn't crazy, and... Laurel was alive.
Dinah Laurel Lance. Laurel was the first person he had tried to find information on this Earth after seeing her on the Watch Tower. It was originally extremely difficult to find anything. Unfortunately, he found out why. He had been initially confused why when he looked for the history of the Lances of this Earth in Star City it was almost nonexistent. It had made no sense until he looked deeper and found why.
Two documents dated December 25, 1987. Death certificates. For Dinah Drake Lance, the cause of death maternal mortality, and Sara Lance, the cause of death stillbirth. When Oliver found the documents, he felt great pity for this world's Laurel, she didn't get to know and love her little sister for all her quirks, passion, and loving heart. She also grew up without her mother and more than likely had very little memories of her mother who was always such a kind person especially to Oliver when he went over to the Lances to have dinner.
After finding the death certificates Oliver had then found transfer records for Quentin. From SCPD to GCPD. Quentin seemed to have packed himself and Laurel and transferred to Gotham to get away from the memories. Unfortunately, it was there where another tragedy hit a little over 12 years later. February 8, 1999, killed in the line of duty trying to stop an arms deal.
At the age of 13, she was put into foster care where she bounced from family to family until she graduated from high school. There was a partial law degree that was being worked on but after 2006 there was nothing because she disappeared. No trace of her name anywhere to be found. Other than the obvious of what Oliver had seen. That she was a part of the Justice League.
Oliver had seen Laurel's counterpart on this Earth a few times from a distance when he would go up to the Watchtower for his 'talks' with J'onn. He had also seen her on TV and the internet from interviews of the 'Black Canary', which was what she was called on this world. He found it ironic that both Sara from his world and this Laurel used the name Canary. He wondered if the name was multiverse used by the Lance family.
Unfortunately, when he would try to talk with her she would seemingly disappear into the crowd on the station. She seemed to be about the only person on the Watchtower that purposely avoided him. What Oliver found out very quickly was that the Oliver of this world was extremely friendly and had befriended much of the league because many of the heroes of this Earth wanted to bond with him just like Tommy, McKenna, and his parents.
Some of the most prominent were Zatanna Zatara, a sorceress and mistress of magic. Wildcat, an ex-boxer who he knew from his Earth as Ted Grant, though he was a good twenty years older and looked different here. Mr. Terrific, an extremely intelligent human being that he later learned was named Michael Holt. Green Lantern was another who was the doppelgänger of his friend John Diggle who was called John Stewart of this Earth. John was also married like on his Earth who also had a child. Though it was not to Lyla but with another member of the League. One Shayera Stewart or Hawkgirl as she was known to the world who Oliver had found to be an extremely aggressive person. When Oliver had first seen Stewart, he had been originally tensing around him. Oliver had not left on good terms with John, but Oliver had slowly warmed up to this John and found him to have many of the same qualities as Diggle. Lastly, and the most prominent of the bunch was Power Girl, or Kara Zor El the cousin of Superman. She seemed to try and spend as much time as she could with him when they both were on the Watchtower.
During one of his many sessions with J'onn, he had voiced the question of why Kara seemed to want to spend so much time with him. He was curious if his counterpart had a past relationship with the woman.
J'onn had answered that there were many reasons. First, Kara had been great friends with Green Arrow and that he was the first league member to think of her as her person and not merely the 'Cousin of Superman'. At the time going by the name of Supergirl instead of Power girl. J'onn also explained that Kara felt it was her fault that Oliver of this Earth was dead.
J'onn had explained that Kara had felt it was her fault that Oliver of this Earth was dead because during Kara's last mission before she had originally left the Justice League sent her to the future where she decided to stay. But she would later return, just not by her own choice. In the future, Kara had eventually gone searching for what happened to her friends from the 21 century. It had taken her years to get access to the records but when she did she learned a horrible truth that Green Arrow's death occurred a little over two months after her leaving. After learning the truth Kara had then tried to return only to be stopped by the Legion of Superheroes and then back in time to a week after the death of Oliver Queen.
J'onn explained that it was strange for much of the League when she first came back. For the League, it had only been 2 months but for her, it had been 10 years. She had gone from the 21 years old young woman to a 31-year-old woman in 2 months. Kara changed her name from Supergirl to Power Girl after returning from the future. J'onn explained that overtime everyone had adjusted to the change but Kara to this day still blamed herself for not being able to come back and save Oliver.
Oliver was almost finished eating when he broken out of his thoughts again as he heard the faintest noise of someone walking downstairs and heading to the living room. Taking a guess of who it was he quickly finishing up his breakfast and excused himself from the table and began walking toward the living room. When he entered Oliver saw a half-awake Ronnie watching the TV which Oliver was able to catch.
"The current gang war between the Chinese Triad, Culebra gang and the Los Halcones has claimed yet again more lives. The death toll just seems to be rising and there seems to be no end in sight." The newswoman said and the newsman nodded at her statement.
"I agree with you, Mary but the real question is what is our government planning on doing because we need something to stop this war." The newsman responded.
"Mark we know that the mayor, council, and police are working overtime to try and solve this problem. But what is on people's mind is where is the Green Arrow? No one has seen him in over 2 years and why isn't he stopping this?" The newswoman said which the man reacted by snorting at the statement.
"Come on Mary we all know why, the Green Arrow is dead. No one has seen him in over two years." The man stated but the newswoman shook her head.
"No, Mark I don't believe it. The Justice League would have announced his passing." The woman said.
"No, I don't think so. Remember what happened to Metropolis when Superman was thought dead. All his villains made the city their playground. If I had to take a guess I believe that the Green Arrow died protecting the world when Darkseid's invaded. That the League tried keeping his death secret to try and keep our city safe and it worked for over a year until the criminals noticed he was gone. But since they have found out crime has continued to rise since they figured that out. The Green Arrow for Star City was a symbol not unlike those of Batman and Superman for their respective cities. But when that symbol is taken away, the criminals don't have anything to fear." Mark replied and Mary nodded.
"That's true but the Black Canary and that new female archer we have been hearing about has been doing good work trying to stop this war." Mary responded.
"It doesn't matter, the Canary and this new girl, what did those Triad members call her again?" Mark asked.
"Tigress." Mary answered.
"Yes, Tigress. These two while they are making a difference they aren't the symbol that made the criminals think twice about pulling a crime in our city. They aren't the Green Arrow. They don't hold the same prestige in this city as he did. The gangs just aren't as afraid of them." Mark solemnly stated before the two sat in silence for a moment before Mary broke the silence.
"We will move on two to new stories coming out of Gotham City. Gotham City's most eligible bachelor seems to have finally been fully taken off the market ladies, and there seems to be a new bat that joined Gotham's roster of heroes, a Batwoman. And we will cover these when we ret..." The newswoman was saying before Ronnie turned the tv off and sighed.
"God, why is the news always so depressing?" Ronnie asked no one. Oliver didn't respond nor did he give any recognition of hearing the question as he was still looking at the tv and could still hear echo throughout his head the words of newsmen. Ronnie stretched lightly before getting up and jumping slightly and yelped in surprise when he saw Oliver.
"Damn it, Ollie! What did I tell you about being so silent, one of these days I am going to have a heart attack?" Ronnie nearly yelled while glaring at Oliver who cracked a small smile at him.
"Sorry, still just a habit. Breakfast is ready and I have get going I have an appointment to get to." Oliver nonchalantly responded and shrugged which caused Ronnie's shoulders to slump in defeat from the brush off by Oliver. Ronnie watched him walking back to his room.
"Hey say hi to J'onn for me when you see him." Ronnie said and Oliver raised his hand and he waved back at Ronnie as he continued back to his room. Reaching his room, he got his jacket and went to his nightstand and pulled out the communicator he had been given and placed it in his ear. Oliver then raised his hand to his ear.
"Oliver to Watch Tower, I am ready." Oliver said and only had to wait a moment for a response.
"Alright Ollie, see you in a second." Holt responded and Oliver felt himself being teleported.
Watch Tower II
Oliver blinked for a second when he arrived at the Watch Tower before walking off the teleporter and making his way toward the room where he would usually have his meetings with J'onn. J'onn a month ago had recommended that they take a little break for a month to allow Oliver to process what he had learned about himself. Arriving at the door Oliver stood there for a second before the door opened to a familiar scene of J'onn waiting for him. Oliver took a moment before walking into the room and sat across from J'onn. Oliver stared at the alien for a second before sending him a small smile. When he had first started he had been slightly intimidated by the green man. But Oliver had come to understand that while he looked intimidated that he was a very good listener and empathic individual. as J'onn said,
"It is good to see you again Oliver I hope during the last month you were well." J'onn said Oliver sitting down responded a little tense,
"Thanks, J'onn and I was." Oliver responded and J'onn nodded.
"That is good to hear. How are you feeling today, Oliver?" J'onn asked his normal first question.
"Tense." Oliver answered and J'onn slightly frowned at the statement.
"Why do you fell tense? Have you been overly stressed as of late?" J'onn asked and Oliver nodded his head.
"Yes, I have…been increasingly stressed as of late." Oliver truthfully answered J'onn stared at him before asking,
"Do you know why that is?" J'onn asked.
"Over these past 6 months, I have come to find Star City as my home. But with that comes other things such as caring for it being the most important. These feels have brought up emotions and thoughts that I believed I left behind on my old world." Oliver quietly answered J'onn took a second to think before coming to an explanation.
"The gang war in Star has brought up old feelings for you. Seeing your new city and citizens helpless to stop the criminals that rage on reminds you of Starling. And it brings up similar emotions that you had on your Earth, and it gives you thoughts of what you could do. Does it not?" J'onn asked.
"Your right J'onn. The gang war in Star has brought them up, but it isn't just that. Last week when my father held a benefit to raise money for the police to get better gear most of the wealthiest individuals of Star came to support it. Even a few from outside of Star like Bruce Wayne and Ted Kord. It was there that I saw someone that on my Earth was one of my...victims. I saw Justin Claybourne walking around shaking hands with some people from Star and when I saw him again it struck a nerve of sorts with me. After the event I had gone home and began looking into him again and found that he was involved in similar shady dealings like in Starling. I didn't stop with just investigated him I had gone and investigated more names from the List like Adam Hunt, James Holder, and Leo Mueller. Most of the names on the List here were like their counterparts and were involved in similar illegal activities. When I found that out and I see what is happening to Star city I think to myself that I should be doing something about them. And it scares me." Oliver solemnly said.
"Why do your thoughts scare you?" J'onn calmly asked. Oliver replied quietly,
"I…I don't know. It shouldn't." Oliver replied quietly. "I have done these kinds of things before fighting crime and I wasn't afraid before, I... I just don't understand."
"Oliver, even though you have done such things in the past it is different here. You have finally found happiness in life, something I know you believed was impossible for yourself and you don't want to risk that. You don't want to risk your newly found parents and friends having to bury another Oliver. You're afraid how taking up the bow and the hood again may affect your newfound family with them knowing. But Oliver what scares you the most is that you might fall back into the darkness that consumed you for the past 8 years." J'onn said. Oliver took a moment to contemplate before nodding.
"Yes, I think you are right. But that's also not it. I don't know if I could be a hero like my counterpart had been, like you and the rest of your League. J'onn, I am not a hero and I don't know if I could be. I was a killer and the ones I didn't kill I maimed and in need of surgery for recovery. When I didn't kill the person and gave them a window of time to fix their mistake some of them would hurt more people because of it. Wouldn't I be sparing people injuries if I just did what I needed to do without giving them that opportunity?" Oliver asked confused on what he should do.
"Oliver, your question is not...unique. I had such a query when I first arrived on Earth. Earth and Mars are different. On Mars, there was no war, fighting, bloodshed, segregation like on Earth. We were a peaceful people before we had to adapt to defeat and kill the Imperium. But on Earth humans kill, hurt, violate others of their species without remorse. So, when I became a part of this League I looked for such an answer. I questioned if it would be best to end the conflict at its core. So, I had asked this question to the founders. Four of the founders couldn't give me what I was looking for. But two of them had given me my answer and they were Superman and Batman. While the two are near opposites of each other in not just appearance, demeanor but how they go about fighting crime and dealing out justice their answer to the question was the exact same." J'onn answered and waited as Oliver took a moment to think.
"What was their answer?" Oliver finally asked.
"Redemption and hope. That the people that you would kill deserve another chance, to try again so that they can have the chance to change. That killing, it's too easy. That being a hero isn't about making the easy choice, but by making the right one, the harder one. Because if we give up on hope for humanity, for people, then what do we fight for?" J'onn answered.
"I think I understand." Oliver said solemnly before a silence between the two as Oliver began to think over what J'onn had told him and J'onn allowed Oliver time to process it.
"So, what will you do Oliver?" J'onn asked after a few minutes breaking the silence.
"I… I don't know. I know that I want to help Star City, but I still don't believe that I can be a hero." Oliver answered.
"In the past, I will not deny some of your actions were questionable. But in the end you had begun to redeem yourself and became a better person, a better man and I believe that you can protect Star City as a hero. You once gave Barry Allen advice, watching over your people like a guardian angel and making a difference saving people. I would recommend taking that advice to heart if you plan on becoming a hero for your city. So, if you decide to help don't be what you were, don't be a dark avenger coming from the shadows but become a beacon of hope for Star City." J'onn stated which resulted in Oliver scowling slightly from having his owner words used on him before sighing to himself.
"Thank you, for your words." Oliver said and sent J'onn a small smile which he returned and nodded.
"Is that all that is troubling you?" J'onn asked and watched Oliver take a moment before nod his head.
"Yes, that's it." Oliver answered still a little tense but both men stood up and shook hands as Oliver spoke another quick thank you before heading out the door and making his way back toward the teleporter. J'onn walked out the door of the room and watched as Oliver walked away.
"Bruce what did you need?" J'onn said after he saw Oliver was gone and out of nowhere Bruce seemingly materialized and walked beside J'onn.
"J'onn, how is he doing?" Bruce asked.
"You are aware I cannot tell you anything." J'onn answered.
"I am aware of that fact, but when Oliver leaves your sessions he is usually not tense. But today he seemed to be a little tense." Bruce stated J'onn peered at Bruce, not at all phased that he would rematch the security recordings on the Watch Tower of Oliver. Bruce had done the same thing when he had first arrived on earth on the first Watch Tower and had also done the same to M'gann when she had first arrived.
"Because I know what else is still bothering him and it seemed like he didn't wish to talk about it. When he left his city, Oliver gave flash drives to his doctor so she would deliver them 6 months after he left, that was yesterday. So, if anyone of his Earth was looking for him they would now believe he was dead." J'onn said solemnly which caused a silence between the two before.
"I…see. Is there anything you can tell me that won't break confidentiality?" Bruce asked breaking the silence.
"Yes, there is something that I can tell you. It seems that Green Arrow may rise again." J'onn answered and received a nod from Bruce before the two stood in silence.
"J'onn I am surprised you haven't asked me why I am not against such a thing." Bruce said breaking the silence.
"Because I know why you are for it. Above everything in the world, you believe in redemption, and you hope Oliver will as well. You forget I have read your mind before." J'onn stated which caused Bruce to scowl and send J'onn his patented bat-glare because he hates it when J'onn brought up reading his mind. After a few moments of glaring Bruce seized before sighing.
"Back to why I actually came to talk with you. I want an opinion on the schematics and plans for the contingency plan Ring of K. Clark and I have gone over them but before we bring them to the other founders we want a third opinion." Bruce said and playfulness left J'onn as he nodded to Bruce before the two began walking away.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the chapter sorry about the big information dumb in this chapter, but it needed to happen. I am hoping to begin updating both of my stories every other week. Please leave a review if you liked the chapter. Have a good rest of your day.
Notes:
Zatanna Zatara: Alexandra Daddario. I think she could play a good Zatanna.
Ted Grant/ Wild Cat: Bruce Willis. I think that he could play a good old Ted Grant well.
Moira Queen: Susanna Thompson. Same actress from Arrowverse
Raisa: Kathleen Gati. Same actress from Arrowverse
McKenna Hall: Janina Gavankar. Same actress from Arrowverse
Tommy Merlyn: Colin Donnell. Same actor from Arrowverse