Crossroads 8/?
As expected I have to apologize AGAIN! I know I promised to update sooner, but RL got in my way again, for what I'm really sorry!
But here's a new chapter of Crossroads - finally.
A big bear hug goes to prophet87 for being the great beta she is. Thanks hun!
This beautiful header is made by the incredibly talented Morry miss_morrygan. Dankeschön Süsse!!!
Summary: Oliver doesn't know about superheros, secret societies, villains, who are after more than just his business until he gets caught in the middle. Meeting Chloe will offer both far more than they'd have ever expected.
This is AU set a few months after Chloe graduated from college.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters used in here belong to The CW and DC Comics. No money is made from this, it's for entertainment only.
CHAPTER 8
Chloe saw a bound figure lying in some basement, but before she could make it out the video was cut, and the view changed to three men and a woman who were talking. The whole installment was sent without any sound, and Chloe knew instantly that this hadn't happened accidently. Whoever had mailed this to her wanted her to see, but not hear.
As the camera changed once again, Chloe couldn't help but be incredibly grateful for this small mercy.
Hanging from the ceiling was Oliver. His hands were chained with heavy shackles and his feet barely reached the ground. Chloe felt her stomach churn at the sight of his badly bruised face and upper body.
Her first reaction was to stop it right there, but somehow she found herself glued to the screen. One of the men stepped in front of Oliver, asking him something. Squinting her eyes she tried to make out the words, but the angle it was shot from made it impossible.
Waiting for some response from Oliver she hoped she would get a better view. However, all he did was stare ahead.
Chloe yelled in terror when the man at Oliver's side swung a bat and hit him hard in the rips. She practically could hear them crack and saw him scream in anguish, before he obviously passed out, his head lolling forward onto his chest.
0-0-0-0-
The video feed ended at this point. Chloe couldn't move - she couldn't think, nor even hardly breathe. She was shaking so hard, her teeth were chattering. Gasping, she tried in vain to fill her lungs with air, the lack of oxygen only adding to her state of panic.
After what felt like an eternity she felt tears forming in her eyes, and as they ran down her cheeks she was finally able to relax enough to get over the panic attack.
Still she couldn't think rationally. All she wanted was for him to come back. She needed to see him, needed to make sure that he was all right.
Reaching for her phone she hit his number on speed dial. She waited breathlessly for him to pick up, but it went straight to voicemail.
"God Ollie, where are you?" she muttered under her breath, unable to keep new tears from falling.
Chloe had read his hospital records, had known that he had been brutalized, but seeing it made it so much more real. Sure she had seen her fair share of awful things in her life, but having to watch the man she had fallen in love with being tortured was just too much to bear. She felt like she was going to be sick, and it took all of her willpower to keep breathing in and out to steady her stomach and her fluttering nerves.
'Oliver's left to let off some steam, to find a bar or something, he'll be back soon.' she repeated over and over again.
0-0-0-0-
Oliver had headed to the nearest available bar with every intention of getting drunk. Although he knew that he couldn't really silence the voices inside his head, he needed something strong to numb himself.
He wasn't exactly sure since when Chloe had become his voice of reason, but he knew that she wouldn't approve, so he found himself paying after the second shot. Oliver knew that he owed her an explanation, he just wasn't sure what exactly he could tell her without making her a target as well. He would go to her apartment the next morning. Chloe would be probably be pissed, but he knew her favorite coffee and donut flavor, and he hoped that would be enough of an apology.
Rationally he knew that he should go home. It wasn't smart for someone in his state to wander the streets of a city full of crime at that time of the night, yet he found himself walking further away from the bar in an attempt to try to clear his head.
-0-0-0-0-
After hours upon hours of walking aimlessly around he returned to his penthouse. He was slightly surprised to find it still brightly lit, as he had been sure Chloe had left hours ago. A sudden scream -Chloe's scream, he registered instantly - made him jerk. His heart was starting to race inside his chest when he ran into his living room. One and a million thoughts were running through his mind all at once, each scarier than the next, but he couldn't care less. She wouldn't scream like that without a reason, and he needed to get to her.
"Chloe, what …"
Oliver stopped short in his tracks when he realized that they were alone, but she was thrashing wildly on the couch, obviously caught in a nightmare.
He could hear her whimpering, "no … no … Oh God … don't!"
He rushed over and crouched down beside her, shaking her gently.
"Chloe … Chloe, wake up! It's just a dream!"
She sat up with a start, screaming his name.
Her breathing was uneven and came in short gasps as she looked at Oliver blindly, still caught up in the hell of her nightmare.
It took a few more minutes before her breathing became more regular. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes squinting against the sudden light until she noticed him standing beside her.
0-0-0-0-
"Ollie ...", she jumped up and threw herself against him, nearly knocking him over in her haste.
Hesitating only briefly, he put his arms around her, hugging her close. To say he was surprised didn't really do the situation justice, but he wouldn't complain. Somewhere along the road his feelings for Chloe had changed, he just hadn't fully realized that up until now; having her in his arms felt completely right to him.
He increased the pressure ever so slightly, feeling her shaking against him. Stroking her back in a soothing manner he whispered softly, "you okay? What happened?"
Chloe took some deep breaths in order to calm down. She heard Oliver saying something, but for the moment she felt too comfortable to even try to think. It had been such a long time since she had felt so safe and secure - once upon a time Clark had made her feel this way, but that was history now, and as much as she wished they could go back to that place she knew that it wasn't very likely to happen.
Stretching his arms out Oliver moved her forward slightly to get a better look on her.
"Talk to me, Chloe - please" he pleaded.
She shook her head. "It's nothing. A bad dream, that's all."
Putting a finger under her chin, he tilted her head upwards. "Could you at least look at me then?"
Reluctantly she looked up and was taken aback by the intense look in his eyes.
Using his thumb he gently wiped the remaining tears off her face, never once breaking the eye-contact.
Chloe felt her heart quicken its pace. He wouldn't kiss her. Guys like him fell for the Lana Lang's in this world, not for the reliable plain girls like her.
Tilting his head further he slowly captured her lips with his. Responding instantly, Chloe slid her hands around his neck, pulling him even closer. Encouraged, he deepened the kiss, savoring the feeling of her in his arms. Chloe moaned into his mouth. Her legs felt like jelly, and she was sure she wouldn't still be standing if it weren't for his strong arms around her.
To kiss Chloe felt even better than he had imagined it would since he had first started to think of her as more than a friend. She was incredible, and they fitted together perfectly.
Oliver pulled away when air became a necessity. "God Chloe ..."
Chloe opened her eyes when she felt him pull away. This was when he'd tell her that he'd made a mistake, that they'd got caught up in the moment, but he didn't see her as anything more than his friend.
Grabbing her purse, she ran over to the elevator. She couldn't deal with it now - kissing him had given her a glimpse of something she'd never have. Pushing back tears that were threatening to fall, she silently willed the lift to move faster.
"Chloe! Chloe wait - please!"
She didn't turn around to look at him as she stepped into the lift car and closed the gate behind her.
"I'm sorry, Chloe", Oliver whispered.
As always I hope you liked the new installment. Please take some time to review and let me know what you think. Each comment is highly appreciated :)
TBC