The Emerald

Chapter 36 - Siblings

Andrew sat transfixed on his screen as he listened to the speech that the Dealer was giving the Arrow. He knew the man was a good liar, he just didn't realize how good until he started talking about a son in Starling City, which Andrew knew to be a lie. He was curious, as he watched the video feed, as to who really was under each of those hoods. If he was honest with himself he admired the Arrow, and now the Arsenal. They fought for what was right, for those who couldn't defend themselves. He understood the Dealer's reasoning behind hunting the Arrow, but that didn't mean he agreed with it.

To say that Andrew was surprised at who the man under the green hood was would be a huge understatement. Of all the men in Starling City Oliver Queen was the last person he would have expected. He didn't know how or why Mr. Queen had become the Arrow, but Andrew suddenly looked up to the man, the hero, even more. No one would suspect a billionaire playboy of being a hero!

Andrew continued to watch as the Dealer then moved on to the man in red, the Arsenal. This man was obviously younger than Mr. Queen, probably in his early twenties, and yet he seemed to have the same passion for protecting Starling City that his older counterpart did. Andrew found himself wishing that he had had another option for his occupation. Unfortunately there had been no other option. The Dealer had found him his senior year of MIT and threatened his adoptive family if Andrew didn't work for him.

Andrew watched intently as the Dealer reached up to pull back the Arsenal's hood. He was dying to know who it was that worked so closely with the Arrow. The answered made him breathless.

"It's not possible!" Andrew said quietly to himself in astonishment. The man on the screen was a mirror image of himself three years ago. He stared, surprised, as the Dealer called the man his son. "He never mentioned... he didn't say... I have a brother?" He stammered to himself as he worked through all the emotions that were swirling inside him at this revelation. He was clearly related to the man in chains, just as clearly as he was related to the Dealer. He had never thought it possible, but from the looks of things he had a brother, a real brother!

Andrew watched in horror as his dad didn't miss a beat. He quickly pulled his belt free of its loops and proceeded to give the Arsenal quite a beating with the belt. He knew that the younger man had to be in pain despite the fact that he didn't make a sound. He could see the extensive bruising on the younger man's body, and that sight, coupled with the beating that his dad was doling out, made him furious. He quickly shook himself to gain his senses back and turned to another computer monitor. It was time to do what he had been warned not to do, he started doing thorough research on the man who was his father.

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Felicity was typing furiously on her computer and Sara wondered how much longer the keyboard would be able to take the abuse before bursting into flames from the speed that Felicity was typing. She knew that Felicity was desperate to find Oliver and Roy and therefore didn't say anything. It was right after Diggle left to go find Sin and Thea that Felicity's computers sounded an alert.

"Interesting." Felicity said quietly to herself, not slowing her typing for a moment.

"What's interesting?" Sara asked curiously.

"I put a trace on all files dealing with Roy and his family just in case someone else tried to access them." Felicity explained. "Well, someone is accessing them now. I'm trying to back trace their signal, but they are hiding pretty good."

"Any idea on who it could be?"

"Nope, they're gone." Felicity answered. "They just downloaded the files then went off the grid again." Felicity continued to type for a few more seconds before stopping and turning to Sara. "This guy is from MIT." She stated simply.

"How do you know?" Sara was beyond curious now.

"Gut feeling."

"We have another problem." Diggle said, clearly frustrated, as he descended the stairs. "Thea and Sin are gone. They made it to the office but they are no where in sight. I've searched the club twice."

"How do you know they didn't just step outside for air?" Felicity asked, pulling up the feed from upstairs.

"Thea's phone was on the ground. If I remember correctly, she wouldn't be caught anywhere without it." Diggle answered.

"You're right, that is a problem." Felicity said worriedly.

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Andrew turned as his dad walked back in, threading his belt back through its loops.

"You never told me I had a brother." Andrew commented nonchalantly.

"You never asked." The Dealer answered simply. "I have a meeting with the Bratva. Keep an eye on them and make sure they don't do anything stupid." He said, gesturing to the men on the security feed. "I shouldn't be gone too long. I just need to meet with another Captain or something just in from Russia. David should be back soon." He turned to walk out the door, coat in hand. "Make sure you find me that tech!" He called over his shoulder on his way out.

Andrew turned back to his computer, thankful for the silence. He quickly pulled up the files that he had downloaded. He normally wouldn't risk putting files like this on his computer, but, someone had caught him probing for answers and was trying to follow his signal. He had gotten out quick and locked his computer down once again to keep whoever it was out. He suspected, though, that it was the tech behind the Arrow.

As he browsed the files Andrew felt sick to his stomach. He read all the medical reports, his mother's autopsy report, and the files from the DA where they had inquired about how his dad was treating his brother. Andrew still couldn't believe he had a brother. Roy Harper, just three years younger than him. Apparently the Arrow had saved him from the Savior a while back, and obviously taken him under his wing since then.

Andrew wasn't entirely sure why his dad had chosen to capture Roy as well, or what he intended to do with him. He also didn't know if he could just stand by and watch as his brother, who he had only just learned about, got the crap beaten out of him by their dad. He hadn't even officially met his brother yet and he already felt incredibly protective of him.

Andrew had known all along that his dad was an evil person, however, he was just now learning what extent the man was willing to go to in order to get what he wanted.

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Roy and Oliver had been in contemplative silence for quite a while. Roy suspected that Oliver had fallen asleep for a short time on a couple of occasions and that hadn't surprised him given the fact that his mentor was constantly breathing in a sedative. Roy had been thinking about the threats from the Dealer and was sincerely hoping that Thea and Sin were staying within sight of Diggle and Sara at all times. The last thing he wanted was for them to get caught up in this whole mess.

Roy was brought out of his thoughts as the door opened. He and Oliver both looked up to see David Wilson walk in with an unconscious Thea and Sin in tow. He tied each woman to a chair before walking over to Oliver.

"The Dealer won't let me kill you, yet." David said with a smirk. "But that doesn't mean I can't beat you up a bit." He then proceeded to land several punches to Oliver's torso. After a few moments he stepped back, a wicked grin on his face. "I hope you enjoy your new cell mates."

Once David finally left the room Roy turned to Oliver.

"You okay?" Roy asked.

"Fine." Oliver answered, slightly out of breath.

"I wanted to keep them out of this." Roy commented quietly as he looked to the two women in the room. "They don't need to be here, to see this."

Oliver's was about to respond but was cut off by Thea who had just woken up.

"Ollie? Roy?"