Fic: If You Want Me (6/10)
Author: Poetgirl925
Title: If You Want Me
Summary: Chloe steps outside her comfort zone while on an internship in Star City, California. Returning to Metropolis, she's determined to focus on her career while attempting to fix the mess her personal life is in. But just when things seem to be getting back to normal, Oliver Queen arrives in Metropolis and complicates everything.
Rating: R
Pairing: Chloe / Oliver
Fandom: Smallville
Warnings: Up to season 7, but canon sort of goes out the window with this one. Altered S7-S8
Disclaimer: Don’t own, just playing :)
Chapter 6
Chloe stood at her bedroom window, arms crossed against the chill, and stared down at the park across the street. Though already March they’d had more snow the previous day, and a light dusting still coated the trees that stretched like dark sentinels against the blue-grey sky. Children were running through the park and laughing. Some were throwing snowballs and building snowmen while a few little girls appeared to be making snow angels. It was a scene that brought back memories of snowy days in Smallville with Pete and Clark, and it made her nostalgic for simpler times.
Pete was in Wichita now, a recent graduate of Wichita State University, and had plans to attend law school in the fall. They’d kept in touch here and there, but in the end Clark’s secrets had driven a wedge between the two young men that affected Chloe’s relationship with Pete as well. Clark was adamant about not telling Pete the truth since he felt guilty enough about putting her at risk. She had to agree that he had a point. Still, she mourned the loss of Pete’s friendship.
Chloe had only found out about Clark’s abilities freshman year after they witnessed Lex Luthor’s car going off the bridge one winter day. Clark jumped into the river after him; she’d watched in stunned silence as Clark lifted the car, broke the window with his fist, and pulled Lex out. Thankfully, Lex’s memories had been vague, and he’d accepted the teens’ somewhat altered version of events. Clark had faked sick for a week afterwards, and Chloe actually had been sick, a side effect of being exposed to the elements after she slid down the embankment and waded into the river to help Clark.
Rather than try to deny what she’d seen, Clark told her the truth: that he had super strength and speed, was apparently impervious to harm (little green rocks notwithstanding) and his parents had been hiding that information since his adoption. At the time Chloe’s assumption was that Clark was meteor infected, and that was what Clark believed as well. A couple of years later Jonathan Kent explained what he and Martha knew of Clark’s origins. Armed with that new knowledge, Clark used a crystal found in his spaceship to make contact with an AI version of his father, Jor-El.
It had been a difficult year for Clark as he adjusted to the idea that he wasn’t human, and he spent a lot of time brooding alone in his barn until Chloe badgered the truth out of him. It was the year that he had to reconcile what he wanted from his life with what destiny had in store for him. He’d hoped to play football for Met U like his father, and he’d finally caught the eye of Lana Lang, one of Smallville High’s prettiest and most popular students. Clark was angry at the universe, and Chloe couldn’t really fault him for his bitterness.
In the end Clark put all of that aside as Chloe had known he eventually would. He let Lana down gently and made plans to leave Smallville with the help of his parents and Chloe, intent on completing the training Jor-El planned for him. And the summer after they graduated he was gone, never knowing he’d left more than one broken heart behind.
Chloe had loved Clark long before she knew he had super powers, but her feelings hadn’t turned romantic until freshman year when Clark escorted her to the spring formal. By that time, Clark longed for the ever elusive Lana, and Chloe’s pride kept her silent on the subject. Later she hadn’t wanted to burden him with her feelings; not when he was shouldering the weight of Jor-El’s training and his uncertain future.
Chloe and Lana bonded over Clark’s absence, and she commiserated with Lana that summer until the brunette beauty ditched her plans to attend Metropolis University and headed for Paris instead. She’d kept in touch sporadically since then. Chloe had recently learned that Lana was back in Metropolis, though neither she nor Clark had actually seen her. She’d expected Clark to be more interested in Lana’s return, but he’d simply told her that while he wished Lana well, things had worked out for the best.
Time and distance, she mused. She supposed they really did heal all wounds. It had taken a lot of both for Chloe to get over Clark, though eventually she had done just that. Jimmy had a lot to do with the shift in her feelings. Then their relationship hit bump after bump when Clark returned to Kansas. In many ways he’d still been the Clark of her childhood, but there were notable differences. He was much more in tune with humanity and possessed several nifty new powers. He also had a plan to be an anonymous savior to citizens in need.
He’d enrolled at Metropolis University and continued training with the help of his long lost cousin, Kara, whom they’d rescued from the Phantom Zone shortly after his return. And Chloe was eventually confronted with hard choices between helping and protecting Clark and protecting her relationship with the affable photographer. Doing what was necessary certainly hadn’t been an easy road to travel. Despite the fact she hadn’t always succeeded, she felt like she’d done her best to find a balance.
Chloe’s thoughts were interrupted when her bedroom door opened, and she turned to see Lois in the doorway. Lois crossed her arms and gazed at Chloe appraisingly.
“What?” Chloe asked.
“You’re not wearing that, are you?”
She looked down at her outfit - comfortable jeans, her favorite orange cowl neck sweater, and brown boots. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? It’s Saturday, and the barbecue is informal.”
Lois sighed. “There’s no wow factor, Chlo.”
Chloe snorted. “I am fairly certain that ship has sailed, Lois. Wow factor isn’t going to make a difference. Meanwhile, it’s freezing outside and I have a vested interest in staying warm and not catching cold due to misplaced vanity.”
“Chloe, do you want him looking at you thinking he had a narrow escape or wishing he had another shot? Because right now you look like you’re ready for a day mucking out Clark’s barn,” Lois replied. “You can do better.”
Gazing in the mirror, Chloe conceded her cousin’s point about her outfit; what had looked casually comfortable now seemed more like a sloppy co-ed’s attire, and that certainly wasn’t the image she wanted to project. She marched over to her closet and flipped through her options before pulling out a red sweater with a sweetheart neckline. “What about this?”
Lois shook her head. “Not red - you want attention without looking like you’re going for attention.” She joined Chloe at the closet and pushed aside outfits, finally pulling out a fitted, dark green suede blazer that Chloe hadn’t worn since the previous fall. “This will bring out the color of your eyes. You should pair it with that plum colored silk camisole you bought at Christmas.”
Chloe eyed the jacket. “Lois, that’s for fall weather, not winter. I’ll freeze.”
“The barbecue is in the event room at the Hilton - it’s not actually outside. And even if the grills are on the outdoor patio, they’ll have heaters. The charity ball I went to with the mayor’s son was held in January, but I still stayed toasty warm all night.”
She walked over to her dresser and pulled out the camisole. Slipping it under the blazer, she had to admit they looked good together. Paired with the dark wash designer jeans she’d also bought at Christmas but hadn’t worn yet and her favorite black leather boots, she’d definitely make an impression. “Green is his favorite color.”
Lois raised her brows. “How do you know that?”
“He mentioned it that night,” Chloe admitted softly. She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders as she reminded herself not to get too sentimental. Going in looking her best was more about her than him. “Jewelry?”
“Keep it simple,” Lois advised. “Silver works best with those colors, so maybe those flower earrings Clark gave you for Christmas?”
Chloe opened her jewelry box and pulled out the delicate silver earrings in the shape of plumeria flowers and the matching necklace. On impulse, she added a ring that had been her mother’s. Small, white gold loops created a flower-like setting that held a single black pearl. While not silver, it would go with the other pieces well enough.
She changed quickly and used her curling iron to add a few waves to her shoulder length hair. Then she rummaged through her makeup bag until she found the makeup she’d bought in Star City. With Lois’ help she used the plum, grey and pink shadows to create a subtle smoky eye appropriate for late afternoon to early evening. She filled in her lips with a nude pencil and layered soft pink gloss over it before stepping back to admire the final effect. She looked good, and it made her feel a bit more confident about facing Oliver that afternoon.
Lois was wearing a bright blue, V-neck sweater in a thin knit material with skinny jeans, black pumps, and a black leather jacket - city chic at its best. So when they stepped into the living room to find Clark in a sweatshirt featuring the logo of the Metropolis University basketball team, Chloe couldn’t help laughing.
“No, no, no - you can’t wear that!” Lois protested.
“It’s a barbecue, not a formal event,” Clark reasoned, adjusting his glasses. “It’s also Saturday, and Met U is playing.”
“Clark. Look at us, then look at you.” Lois crossed her arms and tapped her toe against the hardwood floor. “We’ll wait while you change.”
Chloe noted the admiring glance Clark shot Lois even as he grumbled and rolled his eyes. “Clark, you know resistance is futile - look at me. This is not what I was wearing when she arrived.”
Clark sighed. “Maybe you’d like to go through my closet…”
Lois was off before he finished his sentence. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“That was a joke, Lois,” he called after her before looking at Chloe. “You look really nice, by the way. But that doesn’t mean I want her dressing me like I’m her personal Ken doll.”
“Just go with it - she’s on a roll today,” Chloe told him.
Ten minutes later, Clark emerged in newer jeans, a grey and blue pinstripe button up shirt worn under a dark grey sweater, and his best sneakers. When he saw Lois eyeing his sneakers, he headed her off. “It’s the weekend - I’m wearing the sneakers.”
Lois sighed. “Hopeless.”
“Hungry,” Clark corrected her, grabbing his jacket off the coatrack. “After you, ladies.”
Lois and Clark continued their playful bickering as Chloe locked the door, and she shook her head in amusement. She had a feeling that her two favorite people secretly liked each other a lot more than either was willing to admit.
**
Oliver was talking to a couple of the staff photographers when he saw Lois Lane walk into the room followed by Chloe and Clark.
“Hey, there’s Clark,” Eric said. “I wonder if he knows the score.”
“Probably,” Jimmy answered him. He watched as Eric crossed the room to talk to Clark but made no move to join them, instead turning his attention back to Oliver. “Clark’s a sports nut - mainly football and basketball.”
That didn’t surprise Oliver. “You’re not into sports?”
“Uh, it’s not that,” Jimmy hedged. “Chloe and I broke up before her internship last summer, so things are still a little uncomfortable there.”
“You dated Chloe?” The question was out before Oliver could stop himself. Not your business, and you don’t care, he reminded himself even as his eyes drifted to Chloe once more. He just couldn’t quite picture Chloe with the curly haired junior photographer. Then again he had trouble picturing her with the tall, good natured but slightly bumbling Clark Kent too. The man had only been in the room for a couple of minutes, but he’d already bumped into one of the waiters circulating with beer, soda and glasses of wine.
“Yeah, for almost two years. She and Clark grew up together in Smallville, but Clark studied abroad for a couple of years after high school. Then he came back, and they have this history that’s hard to compete with.”
He’d always hated history.
“Clark’s a great guy though,” Jimmy hurried to explain. “I don’t want to give the impression that she cheated on me or he tried to break us up. Actually, I probably shouldn’t even be talking about this.” He looked a little uncomfortable now. “But yeah - sports. I like basketball. Met U is playing today - that’s the score Eric was wondering about.”
Oliver knew he shouldn’t ask but he did it anyway. “So when did Chloe and Clark start dating?”
“Last summer?” Jimmy shrugged. “She went back to Smallville for about a month before her internship started. They’ve never said, but it makes sense because they moved in together when she got back. Anyway, I should get back to taking a few photos. Chief said we might run a spread on this barbecue, show the new family getting along. Nice talking to you, Mr. Queen.”
Oliver snagged a beer from one of the passing waiters and headed out to the patio where the grills were. Heaters had been set up along the perimeter to combat the chilly winter air, and the smell of roasting meat drifted temptingly from the large grills manned by a couple of the best barbecue masters in the city.
The event had already been going on for about an hour. The Planet employees who worked on weekends were coming in shifts, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Oliver had been circulating for the past thirty minutes. Overall Perry seemed to have a good group of employees. They were diligent and hardworking, and there was a general air of teamwork and cooperation.
Take Jimmy, for instance. A lot of guys might have trashed a former girlfriend, especially when faced with seeing her every day along with her new boyfriend. But he seemed to respect Chloe and Clark, and Oliver hadn’t sensed any ill will there.
He turned to look back at Chloe, who was now standing with Lois and another woman that Oliver thought he recognized as one of the interns they were planning to hire, though he couldn’t remember her name. Hard as he tried to fight it, he still felt the pull of attraction towards Chloe. He’d felt it at the staff meeting earlier in the week - the spark that shot through him when he took her hand. He’d even felt it while watching Chloe with Clark outside his office. Their easy familiarity with each other bothered him a hell of a lot more than he’d admit to anyone but himself.
And as much as he didn’t want to, he felt it now. She was wearing a dark purple silk camisole that showed the tempting swell of her cleavage, and the dark green blazer added a sparkle to her eyes he could see even from where he was standing. Briefly he wondered if her color choice had been deliberate. He couldn’t deny he was suffering from an unwanted sexual attraction to the little blonde vixen, but he wasn’t suffering alone. He knew that much from the way she’d looked at him during that staff meeting.
So they were in the same boat; a small consolation, he supposed. Oliver tipped his beer back and noticed Clark at the buffet filling a couple of plates. Not giving himself a chance to overthink it, Oliver walked over to join him.
“So I hear you’re the man to talk to about the basketball score,” Oliver said by way of introduction as he grabbed a clean plate and surveyed the choices. Tess had gone all out on the catering - there was so much food that he knew much of it would be going to the local shelter at the end of the night.
Clark glanced up at Oliver with a smile. “Met U was playing a good game when we left, and I’m tracking the score on my phone. They’re still winning. Are you a basketball fan, Mr. Queen?”
“Call me Oliver. I like basketball,” Oliver answered. “I’m mainly a Lakers fan, though Star City has a pretty good team, too.” They had made it down to the chips, dips and veggies section, and Oliver watched as Clark added a large helping of hot nacho bean dip and chips to one plate and some veggies, crackers and hummus to the other. “If you like hummus, you should try the muttabal with pita bread.”
Clark juggled his plates. “This one is actually for Chloe. What’s muttabal?”
“Eggplant dip.”
“Oh, I don’t think she’d like that. My mom made something with eggplant once when we were in high school and Chloe didn’t like it,” Clark explained. “And she usually loves everything my mom cooks.”
Oliver made a conscious effort to relax his grip on the plate he was holding. “So you and Chloe go way back, huh?”
“She moved to Smallville when we were twelve,” he replied, placing a few cheese cubes on Chloe’s plate. “We’ve been best friends ever since.”
“Her parents still live there?” The confident way Clark was adding all of Chloe’s favorite foods to her plate was starting to irritate him. Jimmy’s words about no one being able to compete with their history came back to him, and he could see how that might be true. Ten years was a hell of a lot of history. Oliver’s closest friendships only went back about five, so it was hard for him to imagine.
“No, her dad’s remarried and living in Colorado. She usually stays at my parents’ farm when she’s in Smallville.”
They were in front of the drinks table now, and Oliver noted that Tess had ordered some of the same dark ale he’d bought for Chloe the night he met her. He wondered if Chloe had tried any of the ale or draft cider he’d introduced her to since leaving Star City. “And her mom?”
Clark cleared his throat. “Her mom died a long time ago.”
A stab of pity hit Oliver since he knew what that was like. Somehow he’d pictured an idyllic small town upbringing for Chloe, but he could see now he’d been off the mark. He wanted to ask what happened to her mom but knew he was already pushing it with his questions. Instead, he pointed to the dark ale. “You should try that one - it’s from California. I happen to know Chloe likes it.”
Clark shot Oliver a strange look as he set the plates down and picked up one of the bottles to examine the label. “I’ve never seen Chloe drink beer.”
“It’s ale, actually. I bought her a bottle the night I met her in Star City.” Oliver was treading on dangerous ground now, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Clark knew more about Chloe than probably anyone outside her family, but he didn’t know about the ale. Oliver found some perverse satisfaction in that.
Clark pushed his glasses up and cleared his throat. “Look, Mr. Queen…”
“Call me Oliver.”
“Okay. Oliver. I know that you and Chloe got off on the wrong foot in Star City…”
“There’s Perry and Tess,” Oliver interrupted again, nodding toward Chloe’s group. “Here, I’ll carry the ale.”
Oliver followed Clark across the room, noticing how Chloe stiffened the closer he got. She was definitely uncomfortable with him, and he found some perverse satisfaction in that, too. He handed over one of the bottles of ale, and her eyes widened as she recognized the label. When their eyes met, he felt a tightening in his gut.
“Little piece of California for you,” he said, his tone slightly mocking. “I seem to remember you liked that one.”
Tess glanced over at Oliver in surprise. “I didn’t realize you two had met.”
“Briefly,” Oliver explained. “We weren’t really on a first name basis.” He didn’t miss Chloe’s sharp intake of breath at that or the flash of anger in her eyes before she carefully schooled her expression.
“Well, you had quite an entourage that night,” she replied evenly, meeting his gaze head on. “I remember the Gazette ran some photos of you yachting with friends the next day, too.”
“Yachting,” Lois suddenly broke in. “Always sounds fun in theory, but I’m not crazy about the ocean.”
“I like boats,” Perry said. “I keep telling myself I might get a boat when I retire.”
“Retire?” Chloe suddenly looked away from Oliver and smiled at Perry. “As in a retirement community in Florida and fishing on weekends? Somehow I can’t picture that at all, Chief.”
Perry laughed. “Ya got me, Sullivan. The truth is you’ll be prying that editing pen from my cold, dead fingers before I retire. Once the fast pace of the news world is in your blood, it’s hard to let it go. Now, is there something you two want to tell me?”
Chloe looked at Clark and then busied herself opening the bottle of ale she was still holding. “We’re still following leads.”
Oliver assumed she was talking about the recent string of home invasions and jewelry heists. He’d noticed that she and Clark were lead on that particular story. He wondered what kind of leads they were following and, more importantly, which parts of town their sleuthing might be taking them to. He had no doubt that Chloe had a nose for trouble and while she was capable, she wouldn’t stand a chance against a group of armed thugs. Somehow, Oliver didn’t think Clark would be the best backup either.
Clark seemed to remember the plates he was holding and handed one to Chloe. “We’ll get it, though.”
“Well, you two make a good team.”
“Which is why Chloe calls me Her Boy Friday,” Clark replied drily. “Keeping up with her is a full time job.”
Oliver assumed a casual stance, but he kept his full attention trained on Chloe as the group began discussing various stories in the news. He sipped his beer, barely listening to the conversation. Chloe was definitely making an effort not to look in his direction, but the flush in her cheeks was enough to tell him she was aware of him watching her. Her cousin Lois, on the other hand, was looking at him. He had a feeling Chloe might have confided in her.
He observed Chloe and Clark carefully. If their relationship was so perfect, why had she gone home with him? She didn’t strike him as the cheating type, so he couldn’t help wondering if maybe Jimmy had the wrong idea. But did it even matter? They were clearly together now - comfortable invading each other’s space, Clark eating crackers from her plate once his was empty. They were obviously close, but he didn’t sense any real romance between them.
Ten years, he reminded himself. Being friends for that long would probably account for the old, married couple vibe they gave off. But Chloe was a passionate woman, and she deserved romance. Maybe that explained their night together in Star City. He just didn’t understand how she’d been able to walk away from it so easily when he was having trouble letting it go. He couldn’t look at her without images of that night flooding his brain, and it was simultaneously turning him on and pissing him off.
Oliver allowed his gaze to roam her petite figure as he remembered the way she’d responded to him - like every touch was a new experience for her. It was the kind of innocence women sometimes tried to assume, but Oliver certainly knew how to tell the difference. One thing he knew for sure was that Chloe hadn’t faked anything that night.
When he felt himself responding physically, he tore his eyes away from her and took a long pull on his beer. Perry and Clark were discussing renovations now; apparently Chloe and Clark had been redoing their kitchen counters and repainting the walls of their apartment. Picturing that domestic little scene swung his mood straight back to pissed.
“We’re almost finished, though.” Clark grabbed another cracker from Chloe’s plate. “My parents are driving up again next weekend. My dad and I can finally finish the kitchen, and Mom was working on some curtains for the windows. Sewing’s not really Chloe’s thing,” he added with an amused smile in her direction.
“You make me sound hopeless,” Chloe protested. She looked uncomfortable again, and her smile appeared to be slightly forced.
“Because you are hopeless,” Lois told her. “But you have your career, so it’s a tradeoff.”
“Says the woman who can’t boil water without blowing up the microwave,” Chloe replied sweetly with a raised brow.
“Now, I bet Clark looks good in an apron,” Perry joked. “A good househusband is bound to come in handy to a career girl like you.”
Oliver choked on his beer, coughing and clearing his throat. “Sorry. Househusband?” They were getting married?
“Clark and I are not engaged, Chief.” Chloe looked upset by the turn the conversation had taken, and her expression when she glanced at Clark was more irritated than enraptured.
Clark looked apologetic as well as a bit sheepish, and Oliver wondered what that was about.
While Perry was oblivious to the reaction he’d garnered with his little joke, Tess sought to smooth over the awkward moment by introducing a neutral topic. A few minutes later the group broke up with Lois, Clark and Chloe moving towards the grills as Perry checked his messages and Tess led Oliver over to the windows overlooking the garden.
“What’s going on with you and Chloe Sullivan, Oliver?” Tess crossed her arms, facing him with a raised brow.
Tess’ no-nonsense tone rankled, and Oliver’s reply was flippant. “What makes you think anything’s going on?”
“Aside from the fact that you were mentally undressing her?” Tess rolled her eyes. “Oliver, remember who you’re talking to. I’ve known you too long for you to bullshit me.”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking away. “We crossed paths in Star City last summer.”
“Crossed paths or ended up in bed together?”
He clenched his jaw. “Both. But it’s done, so…”
“Okay,” Tess said. “If it’s done then why the hell were you baiting her in front of her boyfriend? Not to mention Perry. He’s sharper than he lets on, and he definitely noticed something between you two. I know you like your little flings, but the last thing you need right now is the kind of publicity that goes along with breaking up a long term relationship between high school sweethearts.”
“It wasn’t a fling,” he bit out. “It was… hell, I don’t know.” He looked at Tess, and he saw surprise and something else in her expression.
“I see.” She looked back at Chloe and Clark. “Just be careful. Frankly, we need her on staff, Oliver.”
“Fine. Are we done?” He didn’t wait for her reply, striding across the room and out onto the patio to get some air. As far as he was concerned, his business in Metropolis couldn’t be wrapped up fast enough. And once it was he planned to get on his jet and close the book on Chloe Sullivan once and for all.
**
Two weeks later the little blonde was front and center in his thoughts again, mostly because he was beginning to wonder if she had some kind of death wish.
Despite Tess’ reservations, Oliver had suited up in pursuit of his own leads regarding the home invasion story, reasoning that it was exactly the kind of crime Green Arrow had taken an interest in before in other parts of the world. Victor had been doing his own research and had come up with a theory; that a local gang might be involved.
The problem was that this particular gang was known more for heavy handed violence and the occasional smash and grab rather than a carefully planned and executed heist. If they were involved in the home invasions, Oliver was sure that they were working with another group, which was why he’d decided to do a little first-hand reconnaissance.
Victor had also researched the gang leader, a man known as Crazy Eight due to his first arrest at eight years of age. Born Andre Thomas Waites, he was a career criminal who had run away from home at six and had an impressive police record a mere three years later. He’d been placed in a series of detention centers, group homes, foster homes - none had managed to break the cycle of criminal activities he engaged in.
Oliver found Andre and his crew with little trouble. They had claimed territory in the heart of Suicide Slums, and a few well-placed arrows and threats ensured Oliver got the information he needed. The gang seemed to split their time between a seedy little bar on the edge of their turf and a warehouse near the docks. Sneaking past Andre’s guards at the warehouse had been easy, and Oliver found the man himself inside playing poker with some of his men.
After discovering some high end electronics in a back room that matched descriptions of stolen items, Oliver concluded that Victor was right about them being involved in the robberies. The question was to what extent? He still didn’t think they could be pulling it off alone.
He made his way back to the room Andre and his men occupied, keeping to the shadows where a few stacked boxes provided adequate cover. And then he saw her crouched behind some boxes to his left. He closed his eyes, hoping he was imagining Chloe’s presence in the warehouse. When he opened them she was still there, and she appeared to be recording the men’s conversation on her smart phone.
Oliver looked around for Clark, but it seemed she was alone. Suddenly, he was angry. What the hell was she thinking coming to a place like this alone? If she were caught, they’d kill her for sure - or worse. Both scenarios caused a sick feeling in his gut, and he took a deep breath. First he needed to get her out of there; he’d yell at her later.
He made sure that the men were focusing all of their attention on the game before he moved silently, keeping to the back wall and approaching Chloe from behind. He simultaneously slid one arm around her waist and covered her mouth with a leather gloved hand. “Don’t move.”
Chloe stiffened, and he saw her hand clench around her phone before she nodded.
“I’m going to turn you around,” he continued quietly, speaking against her ear. “Don’t make a sound; if you do they’ll hear you, and we’re outnumbered. Better to sneak out than have to fight our way out.”
She nodded again. Slowly, he turned her. Chloe’s eyes widened when she recognized him, but she didn’t speak, raising her hands to grip his forearms. She was close - too close. Oliver hoped the shadows were enough to keep his features hidden under the hood he wore.
“Good. Now, let’s move to the left - we’re going through the back room.” Oliver took his hand away from her mouth, and she immediately followed his instructions. He noticed that Andre had left with two of his men, leaving three behind. They made it through the back room undetected, and they headed for the window that had been Oliver’s access point. They were on the second story, so Oliver shot an arrow with a zip line attached.
“You’ll have to slide down first,” he told her.
“What about you?” she whispered back. She moved closer, looking up at him, her head tilted in a considering way. She didn’t even seem that frightened, more… curious.
“I’ll be right behind you,” he promised.
She nodded and allowed him to lift her onto the windowsill, using her jacket to protect her hands as she slid down the side of the warehouse. Just as Oliver was about to follow her, he heard a noise behind him. He turned and fired, lodging an arrow in his would be assailant’s throat, effectively cutting off any warning. He was out the window a moment later and safely on the ground within seconds. His bike was parked nearby. He could get Chloe somewhere safe before finding out exactly what she’d been up to.
But when Oliver looked around, Chloe was gone. He searched for her, at first thinking that she’d taken cover. An hour later he was forced to reevaluate. She wasn’t anywhere in the vicinity, and he had no idea how she’d been able to move fast enough to get away without him seeing her. Since he hadn’t heard a car, he concluded she’d walked from another location as he had. The guards hadn’t altered their routine, so it was obvious she hadn’t been caught.
Once Victor pulled security footage from a neighboring warehouse, he was able to shed some light on it. The camera showed Chloe rounding the corner and turning to wait for Oliver. But then she literally disappeared into thin air. Victor continued working with the video, slowing it down enough to catch a blurred figure in the frame just before Chloe vanished. Chloe was working with The Blur.
Oliver figured that explained why Clark hadn’t been there. He imagined the other man might not like his girlfriend putting herself in danger. Oliver didn’t like it either. Sure, The Blur had made it his personal mission to help people in need, and he’d been responsible for the capture of a few of Metropolis’ worst criminals, but what did anyone really know about him? Oliver’s team had obtained enough blurred footage to assume The Blur was male, probably with dark hair, but that was as far as they’d gotten in identifying him.
Landing on his balcony, Oliver stepped through the French doors into his penthouse apartment. He turned to close and lock the doors and froze, immediately sensing he wasn’t alone. He turned, half expecting to see that Hal had dropped by unexpectedly. Instead he saw a woman step forward into the dim moonlight shining through the windows.
“Hi,” Chloe said quietly. “I think we need to talk.”
A/N: Evil cliffie! A lot going on in this chapter I know - and lots going on in the next couple as well. A teaser for Ch. 7 - Chloe and Oliver… talk. Sort of ;-). I rewrote scenes from the next chapter while listening to ‘Eavesdrop’ by The Civil Wars - listening to it might give you an idea of what to expect.
Also - Lucy’s back! Hal’s back! Girls’ night out! More misunderstandings, lots of tension, and the home invasions/heist story comes to a head in Ch. 7 to 8 (featuring a DC character and what I hope is a surprising twist for you guys.) I was hoping to post this after the chapter was beta’d, but they’re going to work on the Internet lines starting tomorrow. Since I might be without Internet for the rest of the week, I decided to post it as is. If you notice any errors, let me know. Thanks for reading!