Chapter 21

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Now that Roy was relatively safer then he was before back up on Level One of Slabside, Oliver decided to begin focusing his attention to the new threat Talia had warned him about. Adrian Chase.

"Hey man, what's on your mind?" John asked.

"Do you remember Justin Clayborne?" Oliver asked John, much to his surprise.

"Of course. A name from the list, he created a TB epidemic in Lamb Valley and then ramped up the price of Dycloseral, the medicine that cured it. You confronted him, gave him a chance to change, he didn't and you killed him." John said.

"But what I didn't know at the time was that he had a son." Oliver said, much to John's surprise.

"What? You looked into him, he had no next of kin." John asked.

"None of the legitimate variety. Just like William." Oliver said.

"So Clayborne had a son, so what? What's done is done?" John asked.

"And I agree with you, except when I met with Talia a few weeks ago, she told me that Clayborne's son, Adrian Chase, came to her, wanting to learn everything I knew and since at the time she wanted vengeance on me for her father, she trained him." Oliver said.

"So now you're worried about another threat coming so soon after we stopped Hive." John said.

"It's not just that John. Chase is just the latest problem that I've created for us to have to deal with." Oliver said.

"What?" John asked.

"Slade, Helena, both of them are the way they are now because of me. I created Deathstroke and I created the Huntress." Oliver said.

"You also created a lot more good in the world and I'm not just talking about the city." John said.

"What do you mean?" Oliver asked.

"Before she came back from the League, Sara was convinced that she was beyond redemption. You showed her that it doesn't matter how far someone goes down the dark path, they can find their way back to the light. So many people have been impacted by your decision to fight for people who have nothing in a good way. You didn't just create problems Oliver. You've inspired a generation of heroes. Arsenal, Black Canary, Flash, Speedy, all of them became the heroes they are now because you helped them learn how. And yes you've made some mistakes, but that is just part of being human. My advice, stop focusing on what you've done wrong and start focusing on what you've done right." John said, leaving Oliver to think in the bunker.

Thea was a bit nervous about what she was about to do, since even though she wanted this, it was still a little nerve wracking as she sat in the interview room at the orphanage Nora had been placed in, since today as the first time she was meeting the young girl alone.

Anyways, she smiled when she saw an orderly lead Nora into the room.

"Hi Nora. Do you know who I am?" Thea asked.

"You're Oliver Queen's sister." Nora said.

"Yes, I am. How are they treating you here?" Thea asked, trying to make casual conversation.

"I don't like it here. They're trying to force me to take a new name. They won't let me see my mom." Nora said and Thea's heart truly went for the young girl.

"Nora, I have something I want to talk to you about." Thea said.

"What?" Nora asked.

"How would you feel if you came home with me?" Thea asked.

"What?" the young girl asked.

"You know who I really am don't you?" Thea asked and Nora nodded.

"I know that you're good friends with the Green Arrow." Nora said and Thea caught that meant she knew Thea was a vigilante, but she wouldn't tell anyone.

"I am sorry about what happened to your parents." Thea said.

"It's not your fault. They both made their own choices and now they're both paying for them." Nora said.

"Well, my friend John has connections that can let me take you to see your mom. The only problem is that they won't let me do that if I'm not your legal guardian." Thea said.

"You want to adopt me?" Nora asked.

"Yes, I do." Thea said.

"Why?" Nora asked.

"Because I know what you're going through. I was around your age when my dad died and my brother was lost at sea. My mother became distant after that and I fell in with a bad crowd. I did a lot of stupid things I wish I could take back now Nora. I see a lot of myself in you, the same potential my mother said I wasted for years." Thea said.

"I don't understand." Nora said.

"Nora I think that you can be leave behind a better legacy than your parents did if you have the right influence around you. I won't make you call me mom, but I hope that you'd at least treat me with respect you'd give her. But, I'm not going to make you come with me. It's your choice." Thea said.

"Can I think about it?" Nora asked.

"Of course, I just wanted you to know that if you're interested, there is someone out there who actually cares about you like your parents did." Thea said and Nora gave her the first real smile she'd seen on her face.

"I gave the orphanage people my phone number, so if you decide you want to meet with me again, they'll know how to contact me." Thea said and Nora nodded as she was escorted out by another orderly as Thea then left the room as well.

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