Green Arrow - Emerald Archer

Chapter Seven

Oliver smiled, satisfied. It had been another successful day of being the 'Hood.' Oliver really needed to give himself a better name. The Hood sounded lame compared to the new heroes like Superman and Flash. Oliver stood up out of his comfy armchair. He needed to return to the mansion before Diggle noticed he was gone. Getting away from John Diggle was easily the most difficult tasked he had faced. Oliver walked over to the power switch, punched in the PIN, and shut the power off. This made the cave look empty at first glance. Then he walked up the stairs out of the basement.

"Mr. Queen."

Oliver jumped. John Diggle was standing beside the door leading down to the basement. The one that Oliver had just come out of.

"Oh, Diggle, I was just making sure that-"

"What are you doing?" Diggle interrupted.

"What do you mean?" Oliver replied.

"I mean, what have you been up to? Don't think I don't notice that you lock yourself away for hours down in that basement."

Oliver laughed, "I've been away for five years, Diggle. Did you know that there have been five seasons of Game of Thrones since then? That's a lot to catch up on."

"So, I'm supposed to believe you've just been bingeing TV Shows down here?"

"That's what I've been-"

"Cut the crap," Diggle said, raising his voice a little. "I know something suspicious is happening in that basement, so if you don't let me in right now I will do whatever it takes to get in there and search it myself. Not to mention the fact that you will not leave my sight again or I will be forced to bring in reinforcements. Your safety is my job, Mr. Queen."

Oliver stepped back a little. Diggle could be intimidating when he needed to. Oliver thought about what he said. Showing Diggle what's in the basement could be the end of Oliver's time as a vigilante, but not showing him would result in the same thing. Not being able to help people. He would never be able to get away from John Diggle.

"Fine," Oliver decided. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Especially my mother."

"Mr. Queen, I work for your mother. How could I-"

"I don't care," Oliver replied quickly. "What's behind this door is important to me, and I don't want anyone else to know. If I had it my way, you wouldn't know, but apparently that's out of the question."

"Fine," Diggle said. "I won't tell anyone."

"Good."

Oliver punched in the code, careful not to let Diggle see it. Oliver planned for this to be a one-time visit on Diggle's part. He opened the door and walked in. The basement was dark. All the computers and glowing green lights were off. To anyone who walked in here, this was nothing. Just an non-used basement.

"So... you've been spending six hours a day in the dark?" Diggle inquired, stepped in with Oliver.

Oliver walked down the stairs and punched in yet another combination. Then he pulled the big lever and the lights came on, the computers started up. The circular desk of monitors, the table with the box that contained his bow and suit, another table for making arrows, and his salmon ladder. Oliver turned to watch Diggle, who was now frozen at the top of the stairs, his mouth hanging wide open.

"You're him," Diggle said. "The arrow guy."

John Diggle made his way down the stairs, examining the range of tables and their contents.

"I knew you were up to something, Mr. Queen, but this?" he shook his head.

"You've seen me on the news, Diggle," Oliver said. "You've seen how I can fend for myself, how I'm helping people. I don't need a bodyguard breathing down my neck."

"Mr. Queen, I am here to keep you safe," Diggle reminded, facing Oliver. "What you're doing every night, that's not safe."

Oliver sighed and sat down in of the many rotational chairs.

"When I got back from the island, I was lost," he started, fiddling with an arrow. "Heck, I'm still lost. But what I'm doing with these arrows, this is the one thing that I know for sure is what I'm supposed to be doing. And you know that you can't stop me."

Diggle grimaced, but nodded slowly. "You are the hardest person I've ever had to protect. No one has ever gotten past me like you did in the car. You're right, I can't stop you going out there. But I can still protect you."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"I'll go with you."

Oliver laughed, "No way."

"This is me meeting you halfway here, man," Diggle said, stepping forward. "I'll be your back-up."

"Fine," Oliver said. "I'll call you next time I go out there. But on one condition. Give me some space. I don't need you accompanying me anywhere. You know now that I can handle myself if someone tries to jump me or something like that."

Diggle hesitated, wondering if this agreement was worth it, but he nodded.

"Okay, but if the news hears anything about you before I do, the deal's off. Period."

"Works for me," Oliver replied, making his way towards the stairs and motioning for Diggle to give him some peace. Sure enough, Diggle complies and leaves the basement.

Once Diggle was out of sight, Oliver let out a deep sigh. He walked over to his Salmon Ladder and started doing pull-ups on it. There was no way he was going to let Diggle know when he put the hood on. It was too dangerous for him and too personal for Oliver. Letting Diggle know about China White and Vertigo was unnecessary. This was Oliver's fight. And once he took down Vertigo, he could make Star City free from all crime and suffering. No one would ever have to lose someone like Oliver did. Once everyone who had ever hurt the city or anyone in it was gone, Star City would be paradise. And that was all Oliver had ever wanted.