Dance with me: Chapter X (10/?)
Title: Dance with Me
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Chloe and Oliver (Chlollie)
Rating: PG / PG-13
Warning: AU
Summary: Busy searching for the whereabouts of Lex Luthor along with the League, Chloe has enough on her plate without having to worry about attending Queen Industries Charity Ball. Then there's the dance lessons the boys are so determined to give her, and just why is Lex after Oliver instead of Clark?
Disclaimer: I disclaim!
Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter V, Chapter VI, Chapter VII, Chapter VIII, Chapter IX
Chapter 10: A Lesson in not Dancing
Happy to a have a weekend free of League issues, and what the daily frustration of being the CEO of a multibillion dollar company brought on, Oliver made his way into the Talon Apartment shared by Chloe and his ex-girlfriend. Capturing her weary eyes, tousled hair, and over all unpleasant expression, Oliver knew she had only just awoken. Even more so, the hacking snores still permeating throughout the small space alerted him to the fact that Lois was still asleep.
Sulking in front of the coffee machine, still dressed in her striped PJ’s, Chloe stuck her index in his direction. “You know I’m not a morning person, couldn’t this wait till later?”
Not helping the smile at her current misery, Oliver replied, “I have to be at the office later.”
“I’d rather face Doomsday again…” Words trailing off, she realized too late of what she had just let slip. That entire subject was much too sore, one she often brushed under the rug whenever Oliver tried bringing up the consequences her trust-or the Leagues overall lack of trust-brought on. Swallowing, she tempted to push down the metaphorical lump that had somehow risen in the midst of her contemplation. Flinching from the sudden touch, Chloe remained rooted to her spot, eyes fixated on the brewing dark liquid in hopes they didn’t decorate themselves with tears.
Sliding his hand from her upper back to her shoulder, he gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry for coming by so early.”
Letting out a humorless chuckle, she craned her neck to face him. “You make me say things without thinking.”
Laughing, he was glad to see her make light of the situation. It was a start, and welcomed after watching her bury herself into the whole concept of Watchtower. With hands to her shoulders, he turned her to face him, pulling her into his embrace. This small creature currently pressed against him was stronger than she let on, and it was a quality he found highly admirable.
Subconsciously sinking her head against his chest, his heart reverberating against her ear, Chloe couldn’t help but dwell on the words she had divulged only minutes before. ‘You make me say things without thinking.’ It wasn’t only the saying part she found to be true, but the doing. He was peeling away the façade she had built up; he was wiping away the pretenses she hid behind. Chloe couldn’t begin to grasp when her guarded self had become less-guarded- around him. And what made it more daunting was the fact that Oliver probably had no idea.
“We should probably pull away before Lois begins fantasizing about us.”
Backing away from her, he sent her a rather peculiar expression.
“Lois is determined I find someone.” She rolled her eyes, returning to the coffee she wanted now more than ever.
“You’re not going to end up alone, Chloe.”
“I didn’t say that, Ollie.”
Yet, a part of him couldn’t help but think that a portion of her believed it.
xoxoxox
At the sound of muffled curses and the over all noise of Lois banging shins and arms into various pieces of furniture, Chloe and Oliver ceased the chatter they had rolled into over breakfast. Rubbing her head in agony, Lois made her way over to the pair, the sight before her causing the lightest of smiles to press onto her lips. “What are you doing here, Ollie?”
For someone who was even less of a morning person than Chloe, Oliver was surprised to find her tone so cheerful. “Dance lesson.”
Scrunching her nose, the brunette raised a brow. “Dance lesson?”
“Dance lesson,” Oliver repeated.
Her eyes narrowed in on Chloe.
“Queen Industries’ Charity Ball,” Chloe stated, hoping the annual event would at least ring a bell.
“Charity Ball,” Lois repeated with a nod, indicating that she remembered the conversation she’d previously had with her cousin about the event, “hmm…” Her expression took on a dreamy smile as she continued her mental fantasy. “Glitz, glamour, and…dancing.”
Shooting her an eyeful of irritation, Chloe succinctly asked, “Don’t you have to be at the Daily Planet?”
Securing a piece of toast from Oliver’s plate when his eyes were elsewhere, Lois sent her cousin a nod. “I’m on my way.”
“How many tardy slips have you received, Lois?” Oliver couldn’t resist asking with his patented grin.
“Funny, Oliver,” she added in clipped tones, “but I haven’t been late once, not unless I was chasing a lead.”
“Which is her excuse more often than not,” Chloe whispered to the taller blonde with a smirk.
“Make fun of Lois all you want,” the brunette quipped, lifting her bag and securing it over her shoulder, “just wait till she lands a front page story.”
“I’ll believe it when I read it,” Chloe said brightly.
Sending the petite blonde a sour look, Lois sent her a wave. “I love you too,” she stated, taking a big chunk of buttered toast out with her teeth.
xoxoxox
Taking her hand, he tugged a rather reluctant Chloe towards the middle of the room. “Your lesson a waits,” he added charmingly, his feet coming to a standstill.
Chloe’s eyes twinkled back at him with childish spark. She still couldn’t believe she had let him talk her into this. Chloe Sullivan, vicariously serving as Mr. Queen’s arm candy, the mere thought was enough to make her cringe. Free arm gliding around her waist while his other hand slid to her upper back, the petite blonde immediately tensed from the contact.
Oliver slowly shook his head. “Relax,” he instructed, eyeing her with a kind smile.
Nodding, Chloe let out a bated breath as he pulled her closer. A giggle followed soon after, melodiously flowing through her lips.
Spinning her around once, Oliver couldn’t help but chuckle himself. It had been awhile since he’d seen her so carefree.
“You’re an excellent teacher,” she told him with a roll of her eyes.
“Sarcasm isn’t going to make you learn how to dance.”
She slipped her hand from his hold, letting her forearms fall flat against his chest. Soft moss-green eyes met his brown ones as she confessed, “I already know how to dance.”
Oliver raised a brow.
“I can tango.”
He laughed.
“No, really, I can,” Chloe stated, breath hitching in her throat from the memory of she and Jimmy during a ploy to seize information on the whereabouts of a certain Kryptonian cousin of Clark Kent’s.
“Then why did you agree to this?” he asked, dropping his hand from her upper back.
Biting her lip, she gave a slight jerk of the head. “Frankly, I thought it would be fun.” And besides, she needed to heal, and putting herself out in the real world seemed to be the only way to do it.
“Funny, I see it as cruel and unusual punishment.”
Chloe frowned, taking a step back. “For me, maybe.”
He caught her wrist. “You’re not walking out now,” Oliver stated, pulling her back up to him. “You decided to take away my free time, so I’m not wasting it.”
Eyes narrowing with displeasure, she asked, “And what would you have been doing if I didn’t waste your time?” Her brows rose as her inquisitive eyes met his.
Chuckling, his arm once more found its way around her waist, and this time she didn’t tense. “I’d be hanging around with friends.”
“And what am I?” she asked defiantly.
“Sidekick,” he teased.
Chloe smacked her fist against his chest, his other arm wrapping around her to complete a hug. Oliver laughed again, a rumble of the throat that had the ability of making her insides pleasantly squirm. Resting her head against his chest once more, the pair swayed to the trickle of music both initially hadn’t bothered to pay an ounce of attention to. “This isn’t exactly dancing, Mr. Queen.”
His arms tightened around her. “No,” he replied, a light smile to his lips, “it’s somehow better.”