What if I was the Green Arrow

THE START

The waves crashed against the rocks, their relentless rhythm echoing in Adrian's ears.

Five years.

That's how long he had been gone.

Adrian Landry stood at the edge of the docks, hood up, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. The city skyline stretched out before him, a maze of steel and glass that seemed both familiar and foreign.

Starling City.

He barely recognized it anymore.

But maybe that was for the best.

Adrian pulled his hood lower as he walked past a couple of dock workers unloading crates. He couldn't risk being recognized—not yet.

Not until he understood what he was walking into.

His father's voice echoed in his mind.

"Protect the city."

Adrian clenched his jaw and pressed forward.

He arrived at the gates of the Landry estate just after sunset. The mansion loomed before him, its windows dark, lifeless. Once, this place had been a symbol of power. Now, it felt more like a tomb.

The front door creaked open, and his younger sister, Emily, appeared.

"Adrian?" Her voice broke.

Before he could respond, she threw her arms around him.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered.

He hugged her back, but the words felt hollow.

He had been dead—at least, the person he used to be.

Flashback – Lian Yu

Adrian gasped for air as he hit the ground, his body bruised and battered.

"Get up," Slade's voice barked.

Adrian staggered to his feet, his vision blurred. The arrow in his hand felt heavier than it should have.

Slade circled him like a predator. "You hesitate, you die. Again."

Adrian swung the bow, but Slade was faster. The blow sent Adrian sprawling into the dirt.

"Survival doesn't care about your feelings," Slade hissed. "Do it again."

Present Day

Emily pulled back, wiping her tears.

"Where have you been?"

Adrian hesitated. "Lost."

She studied him, but didn't push.

"I—I kept your room the way it was," she said, forcing a smile.

He nodded. "Thanks."

But he wouldn't stay long. Not here.

Not with what he had planned.

Adrian locked the door to his father's study and turned on the desk lamp. Dust covered everything, but the leather-bound journal in the drawer was pristine.

He flipped it open. Pages filled with names and dates. A map of connections.

And at the center of it—Kirk Adamson.

Adrian's chest tightened.

Kirk had been his friend once. Now he was at the top of Starling City's criminal underworld.

Adrian's fingers grazed the edges of his father's bow. The wood felt familiar, reassuring.

This wasn't just about revenge.

It was about justice.

He pulled the hood over his head and stepped into the shadows.