The Ocean Arrow

Scars

Oliver

"I still don't understand why you had to get the D.A. involved with this," John grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. He clenched his jaw tight, the muscles in his face becoming tense.

"Chase owed me a favor, and besides, I gotta help my friend, right?"

Before Diggle could respond, Percy spoke up. "Can you not call him that? Why not Adrian or something?" Everyone in the room looked at him in question. "My girlfriends last name is Chase. It already bothers me enough that he has the same last name. But it would be super awkward if they were related, even though Chase is somewhat a popular last name, it just unnerves me."

Felicity eyes lit up, "Oh! I didn't know you had a girlfriend. What's she like?"

He paused for a second and thought, tilting his head at Felicity. "Sorta like you."

"How so?"

"Okay, let's not talk about Percy's girlfriend here.
As I was saying, we're your friend. We can't just let you rot in jail for something you didn't do," I continued, turning towards Diggle who looked at the table, averting eye contact with any of us.

He slid his cuffed hands on the table and I saw the security guard raise his gun up higher and stood still in his position. John behind his shoulder at the guard and sighed before turning back to us.

John didn't peep another word, and I was getting frustrated. "Come on John. What about Lyla? Or JJ? Your 2-year-old son. If you're in prison, you won't be able see him grow. Never watch him transition to Preschool or Elementary or be there for his first day of school. Never be able teach him how to play soccer or baseball or dance or whatever he wants to play. Never be able to see him at his science fair, standing proud next to his project. Think about that, John.@

"Don't you dare bring my son into this Oliver." He shouted and began to stand up, but he suddenly remembered the presence of the security guard in the room and calmed himself. "This isn't your decision to make," he placed his hands on his head and sighed.

"John-" Felicity began. But he shook his head, obviously angry. "No, Felicity."

She paused for a moment and stepped back in the corner of the room where Rene and Percy stood, they haven't said a word since they got here except when Percy mentioned his girlfriend.

"And want to know what's even worse?" John began in a low whisper. "It's that he's here," John side-eyed Percy who stayed in the shadows. "Why is he even here? The last I saw him- he was locked up. And now you guys are walking around with him like he's one of us!"

"He's helping us help you," Felicity said softly, her arms crossed tightly.

"Bullshit!" He slammed his arms against the metal table and the sound echoed across the room a bit too loudly. Felicity flinched and the security guard immediately ran over to John and held him down. Reinforcements ran in and held him down, pushing his head against the metal table and flailing their guns around him.

He was hauled off his seat and forced out of the room. He gave us one longing look before the door shut and we were left alone in the room.

It was barely a minute when Lieutenant Walker walked in. In uniform and all, he took his cap off and brought it to his chest. "I'm so sorry about that-" he started to say but I interrupted him. I was angry. I was angry at John. At the Lieutenant. At Percy. At everyone. "Stop. Just stop talking. I don't want to hear any excuses or lies you have next. I'm done with this." I stormed out of the room and I felt the eyes of everyone in the room on my back as I walked into the hallway. I soon heard a trail of footsteps come behind me. Nobody mentioned anything to me about it, and I was grateful.