Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Weak.... what else is there of me. Andy is silent, gaze returning to the table. "There's no point," he whispers. "I don't... I don't have anything left."

[Carver Amell]

"Then find some. Because I'm not leaving until you do." 

[Tethras Clan]

"For what?" Andy says, not with heat but instead despair. "No job, no friends, no life... no family."

[Carver Amell]

"For. Them." he spits. "Gods, can't you remember your fucking kids for ten fucking minutes?!"

[Tethras Clan]

"I don't have any-" Andy's face twists in pain. "I'm not... welcome. I... I'm a danger to them," he confesses. "I almost... I didn't even notice. I didn't even notice. I was so... weak, I didn't even notice."

[Carver Amell]

Carver pulls a blade out of his holster, wielding it in Andy's face. "Do you even love them at all?!"

[Tethras Clan]

Any lifts his head to look at Carver, tears dripping down his face. "Of course I do. That's why I didn't argue. I almost killed my baby girl. I couldn't... I can't..."

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at him a moment, then slowly lowers the blade. He takes a deep breath, lets it out. Don't be that man anymore, Carver. Don't be that hothead who stabbed your own family. Be better than that.

"We'll fix this," he says quietly. "We'll make you better. Stronger. The father they deserve." 

[Tethras Clan]

"I... I don't know how. I didn't... how can I ever make it better?" Andy pleads. "For failing them?"

[Carver Amell]

"By trying. By refusing to give up on them, no matter what. Everyone fucks up sometimes. You can't just give up and stop living." 

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm not strong enough. I never was. Not without..." His eyes close, pain ripping across his face. "Gods, I'm so sorry Gilly."

[Carver Amell]

"Then. Get. Stronger." He takes a deep breath, lets it out. "Whatever you are, whatever you've done, can be improved. But you have to be willing to try. One more protest and I--" 

Carver's shoulders slump, and he covers his face with one hand. "Tell me again you won't do it, and I'll leave you here to rot. I just hoped someone, anyone, would be willing to try. For their own fucking kids. To keep their family together. Just-- just try."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy is quiet, still, for a very long moment. "...how old?" he asks quietly. "When... when your father..."

[Carver Amell]

"He stopped coming around when I was maybe four or five." He takes a deep breath, lets it out. 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy nods slowly. "And... even if he was... bad. Even if he was weak and..." His lips twist in a disgusted grimace, "born of vile corruption... you really think it would have been better? To have him around?"