Chlark Fanfic: On The Inside, Chapter 20/Epilogue
It's FINISHED!!! :-D
Thanks to everyone who read and all those who commented, and massive hugs to the lovely and talented ellashy for the awesome banner. Love ya, babes!!! *huggles!*
It's been a wonderful ride, and I'm particularly pleased with this story. But no rest for the wicked; there's lots more work for me in fanficland; I have 4 Charity fics to write (not all at the same time), so wish me luck! I hope to start posting the first one on 1st October, after I would have (fingers crossed!) also finished either Love For Realsies or The Perfect Gift.
Thanks again for all the love for this story! Y'all totally rock. :-) *strikes story off fanfic homework list*
Title: On The Inside
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark
Rating: NC-17 (Chapter PG-13)
Warnings: None
Timeline: Post-Failsday through Season 9 eps (Saviour - Crossfire)
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Chloe tries to start life anew in another city, but Clark thinks she left her heart in Metropolis.
Feedback: …gives me the warm fuzzies. J
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 20/Epilogue
Rooftops. Why did it always have to be rooftops?
Jacinta Belle McAllister peered cautiously over the edge of the railing at the top of the multi-storey building and clutched her coat tighter around her neck, the ermine fur collar tickling her chin slightly.
“You shouldn’t get too close to the edge, you know,” she heard a familiar voice say from behind her. “I don’t need to remind you of what happens to little girls who overstep their boundaries.”
“They end up with billionaires as best friends,” she said blithely, without turning around. “Although sometimes I think my life would have been a whole lot easier if I hadn’t wandered onto your family property when I was little.”
“Too life-changing for you?” he chuckled. “You could have always turned and run away.”
“And lived in fear of sprawling mansions for the rest of my life? No way,” she replied smartly. “I had to find out if your house was haunted. It was the only way I could confront my fear.”
“So, what are your thoughts on mansions now?” he queried.
She snorted. “Mansions are a piece of cake. Skyscraper rooftops, on the other hand, are not.” She peered over the edge again and shuddered.
“Yeah, but you know you love the cloak-and-dagger intrigue of it all. Admit it.”
A slight smile curled one side of her mouth. “I didn’t think you would show,” she said without turning round.
“You know I always turn up when you call, Jas,” he said softly, reverting to his pet name for her when they were younger.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she drawled, finally turning to face him with a quirked brow. “Ever since your miraculous return from the dead, you’ve been pretty hard to pin down and somewhat…elusive and difficult to get a hold of.”
“Just putting my affairs in order in case something like that happens again,” he said defensively. “I very nearly lost my entire business empire.”
“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” she said with a grin. “Not when money makes the world go round…”
“You of all people know this isn’t about my money, J,” he said, a slight edge to his voice. “And you were the very first person I called to let you know I was still alive. Surely that should tell you something about how much I’ve changed for the better.”
She had the good grace to look contrite. “I know,” she said in a small voice. “And I apologise. I guess deep down, even after all this time, I’m still smarting from the fact that you got to go to Excelsior Prep, and I didn’t.”
“It was an All Boy’s school, Jas,” he said, resigned, as though they’d had this conversation a million times before. “Still is.”
“Yeah, and I was - and still am - smarter than the lot of you toffee-nosed snobs put together,” she replied smartly, smirking as he conceded with a nod.
“And I never argued with you on that front,” he said fondly. “Speaking of which, I got your package.”
Her eyes turned serious. “Did you listen to the tape?” she asked furtively.
He nodded. “Most intriguing. You said you had further information?”
“Detailed profiles on all of them.”
He nodded. “Let’s hear it. I’m already familiar with most of it, but I’d like to see if there’s anything I may have missed.”
McAllister pulled an Apple i-Pad out of her bag and tapped on the screen. “Clark Kent,” she said as his image appeared onscreen. “He’s the one at the centre of all this. Born on a planet named Krypton, sent to Earth around age three by his parents in spaceship shortly before his home planet imploded…”
She went on, detailing his different abilities, and mentioning his apparent allergy to kryptonite, which piqued his interest.
“Kryptonite, huh?” he mused. “Useful information to have.”
She frowned. “He’s a good person. I don’t want you fashioning an army that can hurt him-”
“I’ll hold just enough to keep him in line peradventure he falls off the rails. Trust me, Jas.” He nodded at the screen. “Who’s next?”
She tapped the i-Pad again. “Chloe Ann Sullivan; best friend and long time ally of Clark Kent,” she said as the blonde popped up on her screens. “Clark’s most trusted right hand and staunchest defender. Also his biggest informant and adviser; has a garrison of information that influences most of his decisions-”
“Pinky and The Brain, brain, brain, brain…” he sang jokingly. She glared at him through narrowed eyes. “Grow up.”
He made a wry face. “Sorry. Please continue.”
“Incredibly smart and unbelievably intelligent; saved Clark’s life numerous times and keeps him focused. Had a falling out with him a few years ago, which almost turned out to be detrimental for humanity.”
“Was that the Rao Towers incident?”
She nodded. “Chloe had disappeared from his life just a few months before everything kicked off. If she’d been around, things would have been different. He came to Gotham to find her after he was cleansed, but then you already heard all that on the tape.”
“Are they lovers?” he asked suddenly.
“They are now, I would think; they’re living together.” she replied, and tapped the screen till she got to Bart Allen. On and on she went, working her way through the league members until she got to the archer in green.
“Ah - The Green Arrow,” he drawled. “He’s part of this shindig, too?”
She blinked. “Sounds like you’ve had a run-in with him, or two.”
“Or three. He swiped some family heirlooms and sold them on the black market,” he said sourly. “A large charitable donation was made to a battered women’s refuge a few days later.”
“Well, you’ll never guess who’s behind those glasses,” she said tauntingly. “Trust me, I saved the best for last.”
He sighed. “Not a fan of guessing games, Jas, never was,” he said dryly. “Who is he?”
She drew her finger across the screen to reveal the true identity of the leather-clad hero.
His eyes widened in amazement. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he whispered. “Oliver Jonas Queen?”
“The very same,” she said. “He’s the founder and financier of the League, by the way.”
“I might have guessed.” His eyes narrowed and he instinctively clenched his fist. Carefully, Jas laid a hand on his arm.
“Excelsior was all a long time ago,” she whispered. “I know it still hurts; I know you’re bitter. But you need to move forward. Let whatever’s buried in the past stay there. Okay? Promise me.”
He was silent for long moments. Finally he let out a breath, unclenched his fist and laid his hand on top of hers and squeezed.
“Only because you asked,” he said with a lot more conviction than she was sure he actually meant. “And only because I’ve never been able to refuse you anything.”
She swallowed and carefully extricated her hand out from under his. “That’s not exactly true, as you very well know, but I’m going to let that one slide.”
He sighed. “Jas, you know why you and I can’t-”
“Like I said earlier,” she interjected, “whatever’s buried in the past stays where it is. That applies to you and me as well.”
“I just want you to understand that-”
“Drop it,” she said curtly. “Please.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Alright.”
She tapped the i-Pad. “So what do you plan to plan to do about these guys?”
“He gave a sly smile. “They’ll hear from me sooner or later,” he said mysteriously.
“I’m warning you, now: play nice,” she warned sternly. “I’m very fond of Chloe, and I feel terrible betraying her confidence like this. I only told you because you’re one of the few people in the world who knows the dangers that are out there, and I know you’ll do whatever you have to, possibly even work with the League, to stop whatever it is that’s coming and protect this planet.” She paused, and sighed, rolling her eyes in self-derision. “…Aaaaand because I’ve never been able to say no to you, either,” she mumbled darkly.
“He smiled and took both her hands in his. “I’ll go easy on ‘em,” he promised, staring into her stern blue eyes. “At least I will on Pinky and The Brain, Fish Boy, Bird Girl, Speedy Kid and Megabyte-Man. But on Oliver Queen? Not so much.”
She sighed and gave up. “Whatever. Duke it out, if you have to, but settle your feud and settle it fast; we’ve got a world to save. Let me know how it goes.” She handed him the i-Pad and headed for the fire escape.
“You off home now?” he asked.
She snorted. “I can barely remember what home looks like. I’m going back to the office.”
“You’re working too hard,” he admonished. “You need to live a little, Jas.”
“The world of print media isn’t going to save itself, buddy,” she said, hitching her bag onto her shoulder. “You save the world your way, I’ll do it mine. I’ll be fine. You’re the one who needs to take care of yourself.”
He thrust his hands in his pockets and smiled at her. “I always do.”
She nodded. “See ya, then.”
He waved. “Goodnight, Jas,” he said, his voice low and husky. “Be safe.”
She turned back and smiled at him nostalgically. “You too, Bruce.”
***
The End.
ETA: ...Aaaaand I ended on an evil cliffie. I'm such a bitch!!! ;-P