Super Volume 2

The Black Arrow

Dylan's POV
Retro seemed skeptical about my idea. "Are you sure Riley is the best candidate?" She asked. "We've been over this, Ret. She has a troubled past, a shitty home life, and is one of our closest friends! Plus, she's braver than most kids our age. She's perfect!" I replied. Retro just blinked at me. "I don't know, Dylan. Would she even want that? You know how she is sometimes." She said. "We have the opportunity to truly save a life, Retro. Isn't it our duty to do this for her?" I asked. Retro looked away, still unsure. "You're the one that pardoned her, Retro. You saved her once. What's one more time?" I asked.

Flashback
The school went into lock down because someone had been spotted with a gun on campus. We were told to keep quiet and wait for the police to arrive. Riley was in my class when the cops burst through the door. They searched our bags and found the pistol in her bag. She seemed unfazed by it all. Riley stood up and held out her hands like this was nothing new. They cuffed her and dragged her away just like that. I was appalled, but I wouldn't let her get taken away so easily. So I texted Gold and asked her to save her.

Retro and I met with Gold when we got home. "Please tell me you have a good excuse for having me claim this random girl and bring her here?" She asked. "She's our friend! She wouldn't do something like this. I'm sure there's a good explanation." I replied. Gold raised an eyebrow. "She hasn't let go of that gun since she got here. If you're gonna talk to her, you better be sure that she's not as dangerous as she seems." Gold warned us. "We can see her?" I asked. "She's not my friend." Gold huffed. I looked at Retro and she sighed. "Stay back. You're not bulletproof." She ordered. I nodded and she walked into the room where Riley was.

Riley pointed the gun at Retro immediately. "I don't want to hurt anyone! Just let me go! I only have this for self defense!" She exclaimed. Riley's arms were shaking so bad that she couldn't aim straight. She kept shifting her feet, and her eyes were shooting all over the place. As she moved her finger over the trigger, Gold stepped in, and Retro stopped her. "Wait! Gold, let her go." She said. Gold stopped, confused. "Orange, I can't do that." Gold gestured to Riley. "You have to trust me. Trust all of us. This girl isn't a threat." Retro glanced back at me. Then she looked back at Riley. "Come with me. I'll take you home." She held out her hand. Riley just stared at her for a moment. "She's not gonna believe you, Orange." Gold said. Retro waited though. She stared directly at Riley, and waited for her hand. Riley slowly lowered the gun and took a step back. Retro didn't move. She just stood there, with her hand out for her. Then Riley sighed and took her hand.

We flew her home. "You need to tell us why you brought that to school." Retro said. "Self defense. My father is... a stalker of sorts. A deadbeat for sure. He'll hurt me again if he comes back. I don't have enough money or the legality to get protection for myself, but he left this here when he abandoned me, and I know how to use it. So I keep it with me just in case." Riley explained. "That's horrible! I'm so sorry!" I frowned. Riley looked away, sadly. Retro elbowed me. "I'm sorry that you're in this situation, but we can help! I'll pardon your actions today, and in the future, if you need a form of defense from your dad, use this." Retro created a phone and gave it to Riley. "A phone?" She took it. "It will directly call The Arrows to come protect you. It's our job to help save people like you, but there are some situations, like this one, that we don't get to see very often. We want to help you, Riley. Let us help you." Retro smiled. Riley glanced at me, and then looked back at Retro. "Thank you." She told us. "Be safe, Riley." Retro waved goodbye, and we left.

End of Flashback
Retro groaned in annoyance. "Fine! But we go as Arrows, and ask first. If she says no, we leave her be! And if she agrees, only then will we slowly tell her the truth about us." She explained. I smiled and squealed happily. "Yes! Ok! Thank you Retro." I said. "Don't thank me. This is your idea. Thank you for being such a great person." She smiled. I rolled my eyes. "Ew. I don't know how I feel about getting compliments from you." I admitted. She laughed and we went to Riley's apartment.

Retro silently opened Riley's door, and we slowly snuck into her place. Her room door was open, and we peeked our heads in around the corner. She was hunched over, in the dark, staring at her laptop. I looked over at Retro and shrugged. I don't know how to approach her. Retro sighed and walked into the room. "Hey there." She said. Riley immediately snatched up her gun and shot Retro. The bullet bounced right off of her chest and I flipped on the light switch. Riley's eyes widened. "Crap! I'm sorry!" She panicked. Retro rubbed at her chest. "It kinda tingles." She noted, and I laughed. Riley sighed heavily and closed her laptop. "What are you doing here? I didn't call you." She said. "I know. We're just here with a proposition for you." Retro explained. Riley raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how the original Arrows all came together? Why they were chosen?" Retro asked. "I'm on the internet, yes." Riley nodded. "Well, my team is looking to expand, and we were wondering if you wanted to join us?" Retro asked. Riley's eyebrows shot up. "You want me to be an Arrow?" She asked. I walked in and stood beside Retro. "You get to come live with us! We cover all your expenses, and we'll train you to the best of our ability. Plus, you get to join our family!" I explained. Retro elbowed me. "It's your decision, Riley. You can say no." She added. Riley blinked a few times. "What color?" She asked. "Excuse me?" Retro asked. "What color do I get?" Riley asked again. "Are you joining us?" Retro asked. "As long as I don't get a stupid color, sure." Riley nodded. Retro huffed a laugh. "I have just the color for you. Riley, you are now The Black Arrow." She handed her a black arrowhead. Riley took it and I looked over at Retro. "Can I do the thing now?" I smiled. She sighed. "Yes." She answered. I dropped my hood and took off my mask. "Welcome to the team!" I exclaimed. "Dylan?!" Riley shrieked. "Yeah! And this is Retro. It was us, the whole time. We're The Arrows!" I smiled. Riley stared at me for a moment and then looked at Retro. "Is she ok?" She asked. "I don't know. She's been jumpy all day." Retro shrugged. I rolled my eyes. "Come on! Let's get you packed so we can set up your new room at headquarters!" I exclaimed.

Riley was stunned, looking at our HQ. "And this is the live room. It's where all of our bedrooms connect." Retro let us in. "Wow. That's a big room." Riley pointed. Ella's jaw dropped, seeing Riley. She bolted over to us. "Hi! Hey! Your roommate and assistant over here. Aha- why the fuck is she here?" Ella snapped. Retro smiled and whistled for everyone's attention. "Arrows! Meet our newest member! Riley, The Black Arrow!" Retro announced. Ella's eyebrows shot up. "Here, Riley. You can have this room between Sean and Connor." I led her to the door. "Dylan, this is insane. I mean... I have no words." Riley laughed. I smiled and shrugged. "No words needed. I'm happy to help. Besides, I know you're gonna be an amazing Arrow." I told her. "Don't jinx it. I've never even held a bow." She said. "Don't worry. Sean is doing a good job teaching Bailey. I'm sure he can help you too! Or I can help you if Retro doesn't need me for something. There's plenty of us here to teach you." I replied. She smiled. "Well for now, can you help me with my room?" She asked. "Of course. Welcome home, Riley." I replied.