These Prison Walls (An Arrow: Season 7 Fanfiction)

Chapter 16: Emiko Queen

A newsroom. Star City. Present-day. 

'We're talking tonight with three former vigilantes turned public servants - Oliver Queen, his sister Evelyn Queen, and Laurel Lance,' the news presenter announced, then turned to Laurel. 'Ms. Lance, you've had an impressive start as District Attorney. Tell me what these last few months have meant to you.' 

'Well, Rich, when I first got this job,' she replied with a soft smile. 'I didn't think I could do it, considering the... trauma I had endured. But I wanted to honour my father's legacy.' 

'And I think you have.' 

'Well, I know she has,' Oliver spoke with a smile. Then Rich turned to us. 

'Mr. Queen, Ms Queen, I know you have talked before about how much your own father's sacrifice and your time in Russia inspired you two.' 

'Yes,' I replied softly. 

'Do you believe that's his legacy?' 

Hours earlier (outside the old Queen family home)... 

Oliver stepped forward. 

'Hello, Emiko. We know everything.'

'You're wasting your time coming here,' she replied sharply. I was next to step forward. 

'What our father did to you, to your mother, was unforgivable. I need to try and make things right. We need to make things right,' I said. 

At the newsroom... 

'My father did sacrifice himself for me, and... I'll always be grateful,' Oliver replied, slightly misty-eyed at the confession. 

'Still, that experience on the raft - just the two of you - watching your father commit suicide right before your eyes... that must have been harrowing. What a true hero your father was.' He turned his attention to me. 'And Evelyn, your experience in Russia... you've endured such pain and trauma - how did that inspire you?' 

'I just - I channelled my pain, my anger and my suffering, and through that, I tried to help others.' 

'And the foundation you started when your brother was the mayor, that was a part of that? Helping others?' 

'Yes. It was.' 

The graveyard. 

'I can prove to you that we're nothing like him,' Oliver said to Emiko. 

'You're Queens,' she spat. 'All you know how to do is leverage your own privilege to help yourselves.' 

'What happened to you was wrong,' Oliver replied. 'You should have been a part of our lives. You should be a part of my life - her life, now.' 

'Why do you think I want anything to do with the Queens?' she scoffed. 'Because your family destroys everything it touches.'

'We just want a chance,' I said softly. 'Just give us a chance. Emiko... you're our sister.' 

'I have no family,' she retorted. She turned and left the graveyard. 

The newsroom. Star City. 

'My goal has always been to serve this city,' Oliver said to Rich. 'I understand that there are people who - they disagreed with my methods before. So I - and my sister would like to assure the people of Star City, we will no longer be hiding in the shadows, and we promise to always be on the side of the law. I believe that trust can be built through transparency. And I'm gonna prove it.'