The Hood and Athena: An Arrow: Season 2 Fanfiction

Chapter 9: The Secrets I Carry

Evelyn Queen's POV 

Above us, dance music from the active Verdant nightclub was playing, rather loudly. Below, however, was a different story. Oliver sat on the chair, with his head bowed. I leaned against one of the tables, watching him, Felicity and Diggle all react to the exact same thing: that Sara Lance was still alive, not to mention a vigilante. 

'Sara Lance? Laurel's sister?' Felicity asked. Her voice was high, which meant she was getting stressed and flustered. Diggle leaned against another bench, saying nothing. Out of everyone, Diggle was taking this surprisingly well. So was I; at least I'd like to think that. 'The detective's other daughter, the one you took on 'The Gambit' with you even though you were dating Laurel at the time, which we never talked about -' 

'Felicity, please,' Oliver said. 

'I'm sorry, it's just - Isn't she - isn't she dead? You told everyone that she died when 'The Gambit' went down, that she drowned.' Diggle raised himself up slightly. 

'You lied,' he said. His tone brooked no argument. Then Oliver spoke, and his tone was solemn, somber - breaking. 

'When the Gambit capsized, uh... Sara was pulled under. It was so dark and cold. And I thought she drowned. About a year later I saw her.' 

'You saw her where - on the island? She drifted to the island too?' Diggle asked. 

'Not exactly,' Oliver said. 

'Why didn't you tell the Lances that she didn't die in that boat? Laurel and Mr. Lance, they blame you,' Felicity said. 

'It was my fault. What happened was my fault.' 

'Well, where has she been all these years, Oliver?' 

'I don't know!' Oliver shouted, and I immediately flinched from the force of his voice. Then he spoke again, and his voice was a lower register this time. 'Diggle, I swear to God. I was sure she was dead.' Felicity exhaled and spoke again, her voice shaky. 

'Do you have any happy stories?' I looked at her, but then Diggle spoke again. 

'All right, so just to make sure I understand this correctly, after not drowning when the Gambit went down, Sara didn't exactly make it to the island with you, where you would see her die yet again. Feel free to fill in the blanks.' 

'Not right now.' 

'You mean not ever,' I said. Oliver looked up at me, wearing a look of exasperation. 'Don't you, Oliver? Don't you think her family had a right to know that she made it to the island too?'

'These were five years!' he shouted again, and it took everything in me to not shrink back in fear. I saw Felicity flinch from the force of his voice once again. 'Five years...' he spoke again, his voice shaky as well, 'where nothing good happened. And they were better off not knowing.' 

'Do they deserve to know now?' Diggle asked. Oliver sighed and stood. 

'I need to take care of some business at the office.' He walked forwards to Diggle. 'Where are we with the Mayor?' 

'I'm in contact with some of my military sources. Trying to get a line on how he's getting his illegal army weaponry. I'll keep you updated,' Diggle said. Oliver walked away, but before he could get too far, Diggle spoke up again, making him stop in his tracks. 'You know, Oliver - someone once told me, secrets have weight. The more you keep, the harder it is to keep moving.' 

'You see how hard I work out,' Oliver said with a broken tone and tears in his eyes. He walked away.