Defining Moments 2/?
‘Isn’t this when you’re supposed to swoop in and save me?’
When she called for help, called him for help, he punched the robber one final time before grappling up onto the Metropolis rooftops.
He hadn’t been there for a while, but no matter how unfamiliar the city was, you would always be able to find the Daily Planet. He aimed for Australia, then zipped through the sky, landing on the Planet roof as a leather-clad lady swung a leg at Chloe, knocking her to the ground.
he didn’t know why he reacted the way he did, but when the ninja woman came for him, he dodged under her arm, and bent to help Chloe up, wincing when he saw a gash on her cheek.
The ninja made an angry comment, before diving off the roof. He helped Chloe over, staring down in shock. She turned to look at him, catching his eye as he stared at her in concern. Bending down, he brushed a finger across the cut, scowling as she flinched away.
“Hold on tight.” he said, his voice lower than normal.
She glanced up at him, unsure what he meant; but then he raised the grapple once again and she gripped round his neck, his arm coming to rest on her waist.
He fired the arrow, watching as it hit the Clock Tower, holding Chloe tighter as they flew across Metropolis.
They touched down on his balcony, but Chloe didn’t let go, breathing heavily. Oliver gulped, removing his arm and waiting for her to release him. She exhaled, dropping her arms.
Oliver smiled, dropping his hood and disenabling the voice modifier. “Let me look at that.”
She nodded, raising her head slightly as his hands ran over her cheek, stilling at the slash. “It should be better in the morning.”
She swallowed, watching as he stepped away from her and pushed open the balcony doors, striding into his room. She followed, sitting anxiously on his sofa as the secret room opened and he went inside.
She waited for a few moments, before Oliver came back, dressed normally, and joined her.
“I wasn’t sure if I should just go or..?” she whispered.
“It’s fine.” He smiled at her. “It’s my fault you got hurt.”
She rolled her eyes. “I may only be part time, but I did sign up.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I can’t always be just Clark’s sidekick - it’ll get repetitive, one alien after another.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Which is worse than one 33.1 after another?”
She smiled up at him, and Oliver couldn’t help grinning down at her. “I’m warning you now, if Clark sees this, he’s going to hunt you down.”
Oliver reached for her cheek again, this time his skin against hers. “Well, we really better sort that out then.”
Chloe leant into his hand and Oliver gulped. “I’m fine.” she muttered. “Clark needs to learn that my sole purpose in life isn’t to hunt down aliens or hack into confidential files.”
“Don’t you spend most of your time hacking into confidential files?” he asked, laughing.
“Yes, but not only on Clark’s command.”
He grinned again, and then she smiled again - that smile that Oliver could never forget - starting to move away from him. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and she tensed, looking at him with wide-eyes. He lowered his head, smirking slightly as her gaze alternated between his eyes and his lips. Slowly, he pressed his lips against her cheek, just under the scratch, before pulling away. She blinked slightly, her eyes glazed over, before standing up.
“Thank you.” he murmured.
She nodded at him, walking away and into the elevator, soon disappearing from his view.
‘In case you can’t see it, the white flag is flying.’
“Clean up duty!”
Oliver raised his head slightly as Chloe’s voice rang through his apartment. He glanced at her, before staring back at the floor, his eyes darting along the ring of shattered glass surrounding what used to be his window.
“You shouldn’t have.” He said, voice monotonous.
She laughed. “Don’t worry, I didn’t want to.” He could hear her amusement, but still didn’t look up. “I just figured I’d help you clean up, as I’m guessing you don’t want your normal cleaning staff brushing up the glass amidst your Green Arrow equipment.” Oliver looked up at her, noticing how tired she looked. “And then, while we’re cleaning, I can figure out how to maim you for hurting Lois and indirectly keeping me up all night to hear Lois crying or talking about Oliver Queen’s huge secret that she couldn’t tell me.”
Oliver looked even more upset, Chloe stepping closer and pressing a dustpan into his hands. He looked up at her in confusion and her face softened, sitting next to him.
“It’s not your fault.” She said. “And I’m not going to hurt you for hurting Lois.”
Oliver smiled weakly. “If I wasn’t the Green Arrow, I’d never have lost Lois.”
“I think I know how you feel.” Chloe said, and he stared at her doubtfully. “I hide a lot from Jimmy and I’ve heard enough of the Clark-Lana saga.”
He snorted. “I mean, I miss her already...but it’s for the best, right?”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “I think so.” He looked up at her. “The world needs the Green Arrow - Lois will be fine without you.”
“Not exactly what I wanted to hear.”
“What? You wanted me to lie and say that Lois won’t be able to cope now that you two have ended?”
Oliver smiled. “It would have been a well-needed ego boost.”
“I don’t think you need an ego-boost.” Chloe said. “Only someone with a large ego would save the world while wearing a tight leather suit.” She laughed slightly, turning to stare at him. “I just want to say that if you had stayed with Lois, she’d just have been hurt more when it did end. And then I’d have to kill you for being stupid and not ending it earlier. You’ve saved yourself a lot of pain.”
Oliver turned to stare at her, catching her eye and staring at her. Chloe swallowed, smiling at him. He blinked, unable to tear his eyes away from hers. He leant forward, but she ducked her head. His lips collided with her forehead. Chloe gasped. He pulled away, but Chloe leant forward, wrapping her arms around him.
“It’ll be alright.” She whispered, and he exhaled, pulling her closer. “You’ll be fine.”
They stayed close together, a comfortable silence settling around the apartment. Oliver raised his hand, laying it on her cheek, his thumb brushing across her lips.
She tensed, pushing away from Oliver, looking down at the floor and biting her lip. Oliver moved away, looking up at the ceiling.
“I’m sorry.” He croaked, the memories of his day suddenly coming back to him - Lois finding out, Lois ending their relationship. “I didn’t mean to...”
Chloe interrupted him, standing up from the couch and glancing around the floor of the Clock tower. “Oliver?”
He looked up at her, confused at the interruption.
“I’m not your maid. If I’m cleaning this place up, you’re helping.” She smiled, and Oliver couldn’t help smiling back.
When Chloe stepped into what used to be his secret room, he turned to watch her, broom in her hand as she looked at the floor.
She turned back to him, Oliver’s favourite smile spreading across her face. “So...Dinah Lance?”