Someone Will be Waiting for You (1/1)
Author: serafina19
Title: Someone Will be Waiting for You
Summary: With what they did, relationships weren’t easy. But in time, a beam of hope appears.
Rating: PG
Timeline: Starts at Justice -> early S7 (pre-Cure and pre-Siren respectively) -> Salvation/ Lazarus -> post-Isis -> Collateral
Scribbles: As the timeline implies, this one jumps around, and I'm hoping it works.
Someone Will be Waiting for You
You gotta love to lighten that load
You gotta live to die
You gotta lie to somebody sometime
Better make it white
It had taken him a long time to find something real, so the idea that he had to give it up because of a lie made him sick. It was for the best, he told himself, as lying to Lois wasn't easy, and if he couldn't do it now, it wasn't fair to her to keep doing it.
It was far from the first time he had hurt someone, yet this time, it felt like he got the bigger blow. The realization that this was his life, and as much as he wanted to believe that the lives of Oliver Queen and Green Arrow could exist at the same time, he knew better now.
His bags were already packed, but he was still seriously considered going downstairs and playing the selfish card for once. A few steps later, he stopped and shook his head. The damage was done. Even if he could make up for this time, she deserved better than this. She deserved his trust, but that wasn't an option right now.
Maybe, one day, that would be an option, but as time continued to tick past him, he was skeptical that he would ever find anyone who understood the decisions he had made.
~0~
Cause someone will be waiting for you
Somewhere dark and deep
Someone will be greeting you
Somewhere in your sleep
Oh somewhere in your sleep
Looking towards the other side of her bed, she pursed her lips. This was supposed to be a good night, Jimmy was sleeping soundly, so why couldn’t she do the same?
For once, it wasn’t about Clark. That unfortunate stage was over, as the signs and scars had finally convinced her to let go of the sliver of hope that she held onto for years. Seeing the way that he was starting to bond with Lois seemed to do the trick, as they were becoming the team she always thought that Clark and her were. And he looked at Lois as someone more than a technical sidekick.
It hurt for awhile, but now, she was with someone. Someone who had come back to town for her, or at least, she liked to think so. Jimmy was good for her. A dose of normal, and she liked to think that, despite all the obstacles they had faced, she loved him. There were a few moments when she even believed it, maybe even a few more when it felt real.
But then she remembered who she was, who she really was, and the fact that he never saw that person. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t tell him that she was one of those freaks. In fact, she was so good at lying to Jimmy that she started not recognizing herself in their relationship.
He had been patient, but she couldn’t tell him and risk giving up that part of her life. Working with Clark, heck, working with Oliver and the team, that was what made her feel alive. That made her life invigorating, it made a difference, and it felt more satisfying than her frustrated journalism persona.
And as she stared at Jimmy, she realized the real reason she couldn’t sleep. Would he stay if he knew about her condition? Would he stay with her if he saw the other side of her? She was skeptical, but she held on, mainly because he didn't mind holding onto her. Every day, it felt like she was fading into the background in her own life, so the way Jimmy looked at her was a refreshing change, and she knew better to expect to find someone who saw the world she did.
“You okay?”
His voice caused her cheeks to flush, but it was dark enough that he wouldn’t see it. Trying to smile, Chloe hoped that she wasn’t lying when she said, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
~0~
I think I might need an adventure
I need a visit to some place new
I'm happy enough with the temperature
But I'm unhappy with the view
Every now and then, he would look out his window and wonder what he was doing here. It was his parents' town, a place where their memory and legend held strong. It didn't bother him, and he didn't want to take it away either, but he was starting to feel like he didn't belong in Star City anymore.
It just didn't have the same buzz. Not with the constant missions, the side-trips that Victor and Bart took to Metropolis every couple of months. Plus, he couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite. Even though there was merit to being angry at Clark for not embracing his potential as a hero, at least he wasn't going to club openings, while the man he was trying to bring down was across the country.
He had always justified that the social events were part of his double identity, but the act was wearing thin, and even the team could see it. He had changed in the last year. Sensing and tasting a real relationship, building professional accomplishments in a different place brought something out of him that he didn't expect. Extra resources also helped spur results with the team, results they hadn't seen since leaving, even with Chloe on stand-by.
Looking over to his suitcase, still packed from his last business trip, he wondered if it was such a stretch to go back. The guys would probably be thrilled, and maybe he could pick some things up where he had left them.
Sure, the winters in Metropolis would be colder than in California, but that was okay. It was a time for a change, and maybe he could make his own mark without affecting his parent's legacy.
~0~
And maybe I'll finally see it
And maybe I'll finally know
And maybe I'll never return to this place
And maybe I'll never go
Oh and maybe I'll never go
Life always seemed to have a way of taking her to unexpected places. Growing up, she anticipated a normal life at the Daily Planet. Once she achieved that goal, she saw her true passion emerge. She wanted to help heroes, even if it completely sacrificed her personal life. However, in all this time, she never would have anticipated telling Oliver that she loved him, let alone over a walkie talkie.
Maybe because she never saw their arrangement lasting this long, or changing into something more real, but mostly because it surprised her how much she believed the words she had just spoken. During her life, she had become apprehensive of those words and what they represented. They hadn't done much good to her in the past and hearing the walkie talkie go static was enough to imply that this time was no different.
Except it wasn’t. He said it first, wanting her to know if things got worse, and she knew that he meant it. Furthermore, she didn't say it back because of the situation, she didn't even think about it. It just happened. And all she could was hope that he had heard her.
The next few hours were done practically on autopilot, as she left to check Earth station, just to be sure that he was gone. The sunglasses were the clincher in this case, but at least there was a chance he caught something that would elaborate his last message.
Sure, Oliver would lecture her for venturing out in the middle of a war to get the sunglasses, but sitting still with no information was never her preferred method of action.
Feeling the wind brush behind her, she tried to feign a smile, but for once, it really was the wind blowing inside through a couple of broken windows. That made sense, as she hadn’t exactly told Clark or Bart where she was. For all she knew, they were gone too.
She swallowed hard, cursing internally because she was never supposed to feel like this again. Still, she took a few minutes of self-pity before she stormed out of the building, determined to find Oliver. She had brought him back from the brink of destroying himself, this should be easier.
Or so she thought.
When she realized who had taken him, she remembered who they wanted first. Back then, it was either the database or her. But this time, they had gone one step too far, and she had to make things right. That was why this wasn't much of a decision for her, and no one could know. She couldn't even tell them why. Although she supposed that answer wasn't hard to figure out.
When she made the offer, it didn’t take long for them to accept. That gave her a sigh of relief, but it also built up guilt in her stomach, as she knew how Oliver would react once he knew the truth. Still, she sent the email and began preparing what she needed to do. Subtle goodbyes were spoken, clues were left behind to ensure people knew she had a plan, and then she drove to the meeting place. After parking the car, she opened the door and breathed in the clean air, having a strange feeling that it wouldn’t have the same meaning from this moment on.
Leaning her head against the car seat, she thought about what might have happened if she had involved more people, if relying on a cyanide antidote was really the best idea. Considering her past with making plans solo, this plan was especially risky, because she wouldn’t have her usual back-up to bail her out of a dire situation.
Still, she got out the car, walked a couple blocks, knowing that the last seconds of her freedom were ticking away. However, the furthest thing she felt was regret, and she knew that this would be the best. She wouldn’t crack, no matter what it took, so the database was safe.
Yeah, the database is, uh, is important. Over and out.
God, she was such an idiot. Even when she knew the truth, she wasn’t ready to hear it. And now, she was going to leave, and let him believe that he had let her down, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. They had always seen the hero in each other, and Chloe was tired of being stuck behind her computers to be a hero.
She turned around to see the black van approaching her. As her hands came up, her confidence grew, as she was going to bring Oliver home safely. From here, all she could hope for was that he could still look at her when it was all over.
~0~
It's Christmas eve and my girl's out at sea
She's a thousand miles away
I'm tossing and turning but will I be earning
A loving come New Year's Day
And pretty soon it'll be my birthday
And I'll be 29
So come on Barbie, let's go party
With that bottle of company wine
After Chloe traded her life for his, he knew that holidays would leave a bad taste in his mouth. It wasn't like he ever looked forward to Christmas, but there was something about the way Chloe celebrated the holidays that lifted his spirits. The bright side of that argument is that there was a chance she would be back by then. That wouldn't be the case for his birthday, as he woke up this morning, knowing what day it was, knowing what she had done for him last year, and froze.
She had done everything she could to save him, this year and last, yet this time, he couldn’t return the favour. The bottle of antidote that sat on his bedside table reminded him that there was a chance that she was coming back to him, but she didn’t want to be found, and that killed him.
At this point, he would take a simple hello, a single smile, but even if he saw her now, hello would never be simple, and the smile would be tentative at best. Still, he picked up his phone and listened to the past, hoping the voicemails weren’t going to be the last time he heard her voice.
After getting dressed, he grabbed his wallet, leaving his briefcase alone, knowing that he wasn’t getting much work done today and Queen Industries would survive one day without him. Pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, he grabbed his sunglasses and took to the streets of Metropolis.
There were times he wanted to go back and not reveal his identity, but he had believed that she would come back if this burden wasn’t on her. Now, he realized how blinded he was by his love for her, how desperation had taken over.
That feeling hadn’t subsided, as he entered the subway car and sat down. People got on and off, but he stayed on for the whole cycle, glancing up and down from his newspaper, while looking for a sign of a familiar face. Something told him that if she wanted him to see her, then she would show up, because knowing her, she knew about this little habit.
Yet, every day, the results were the same. He got on, got off and went home, trying to hold onto that hope she’d come home. Tonight wasn't any different, even if he was supposed to be celebrating, but he convinced Bart and Lois that he just needed space after what he went through with the Isis exhibit.
They had respected that, so the clocktower was empty when he got back. Collapsing on the couch with a bottle of wine, he poured himself a glass. Normally, scotch was his poison, but even the smell brought up too many memories of Chloe.
Still, he took a sip, grimacing at the taste, as it wasn’t strong enough. As he swallowed, he heard the elevator, and there was a small part of him that thought that it was her. However, he knew it wasn't, and when he saw blonde hair emerge, he knew it was Dinah, holding suitcases and her wig in her hands.
She grinned at him, trying her best to hide her pity, but it didn’t work. "Didn't think you'd be here."
He chuckled, looking around his empty place. "Where else would I be?"
It was clear that she was worried about him, not that he blamed her, nor did he blame her for not having the same hope as the guys. Most thought that there was a reason for why Chloe hadn't come back, but she was convinced that something was up. If she wasn't safe here, then where could she be safe? How could doing this alone be better?
But after saying her peace, Dinah recognized that no good came from that debate. So even though she likely hated that Chloe had done this to him, she bit her tongue and dropped her things. Normally, she only came here if she needed to crash, and had assumed that he would be out. Her bags confirmed that fact, but she abandoned them to walk towards him.
"Got another glass?" she asked, and Oliver gestured towards his liquor cabinet behind him. She took a minute to grab the glass, pour herself some of the wine and then held her glass up. "Happy birthday."
He chinked her glass to appease her, but the pit in his stomach wouldn't subside.
"For what it's worth," Dinah said, "We know how much you mattered to her. I really hope that I’m not right about things, but even if I am, she'll still protect you."
That couldn’t have been easy for her to say, and he wanted her to know that he recognized that. "You don't have to do this."
"Maybe not, but I believe it. Besides, you need to hear it from someone else that isn't her cousin, her best friend... or your ex." When he glanced towards her, she scoffed. "I know, I know. It doesn't count."
For Dinah, that was a lie and they both knew it. He knew that she didn’t like him ending things, but at least they had managed to keep their professional friendship. He reached across to take her hand, squeezing it lightly. "Thank you."
Her lips pursed before her hand covered his. "Things will get better. I don't know how, or when, but... don't give up on yourself again in the meantime. We need you."
He understood her concerns, as the reveal wasn’t his smartest move. Sure, it was smarter than a suicide attempt, but the signs were there. Fortunately, this wasn’t the same situation. "I won't,” he replied confidently, and he could see that she believed him. Taking his hand back, he got up from the couch. "Want something stronger?"
She nodded. "If you're offering, I won't say no."
That got him to laugh before turning to get the scotch and a few glasses from his cabinet. Their conversation made her remember that Chloe wouldn't want this for him. She wouldn't want him wallowing on his birthday, not after everything she did over the last year to make him smile again.
And she didn't say goodbye in her email, so there was still a chance. That was all he could hope for at this point.
~0~
You gotta love to lighten that load
You gotta live to die
You gotta lie to somebody sometime
Better make it white
There was nothing quite like keeping an eye on the people she loved, but this particular habit was probably the worst because there were likely better uses for hacking into Metropolis surveillance cameras. The thing was, she didn’t care.
The hoodie and sunglasses were a decent disguise, but she had watched Oliver in those articles in clothing long enough to recognize that was him walking to the subway. Every day, he would come to the same station at the same time, the newspaper hiding his true intentions. And all she could was watch, because she couldn’t take the chance of him seeing her.
It wasn’t like they would just grin at each other as they rode the subway together. Maybe it was manageable for him, but the anticipation in her chest was noticeable enough when she saw him through the camera lens. There was no way that she could face him without some sort of barrier, and if that barrier was less than her current situation, that wasn’t going to be enough.
So one morning, when he let himself look up, she paused the image. She couldn’t see much of his face, but it confirmed her theory and she couldn’t look away.
“I love you,” she whispered, reminding herself of why she had to stay away, the future she had a chance of going back to one day.
~0~
Cause someone will be waiting for you
Somewhere dark and deep
Someone will be greeting you
Somewhere in your sleep
Somewhere in your sleep
Somewhere in your sleep
It seemed fitting that the first time that he saw her again, he was technically in a coma. Or crazy. Possibly both.
He had lost track of how many times he had dreamed she was back, how many times he would remind himself that wasn’t the case, that he trusted her to come back. But this moment was different. She looked different, yet she acted like herself. Cautious, proactive, driven, with a plan that had limited time to implement.
They were a team again, except he felt more helpless than usual. The straitjacket didn't help, and even if she wasn’t a hallucination, that meant the world that surrounded them wasn’t real. Between losing Carter and seeing Chloe earlier, his confidence had a fair number of hits. Her faith in him helped him to see her perspective, so the strait jacket disappeared, but it was tough to ignore other changes.
The way she gunned down the guards, he saw how much she had gone through. After all, when she looked at him and asked her if he trusted her, that wasn’t what he had in mind. That didn’t change anything though, especially his answer to that question, and he followed her, ready for whatever came next.
Because people say you do crazy things for love, and he had to admit, acknowledging that there was a portal at the bottom of the Daily Planet was one of the stranger things he would believe. However, that decision wasn’t too hard, considering the fact that in the darkest days of his life, when it felt like he couldn’t do anything right… Chloe believed in him.
Just like then, she was right this time and when Oliver woke up, he bolted from the pod and saw her standing there. He asked the question, but for once, he didn't care whether he was dead or not. Chloe was there, grinning at him. That was enough.
~End~
Sera’s Scribbles: This is another ‘written over various coffee breaks’ project, which probably explains why it jumps so much. Although the lyrics are also to blame- they’re from “Somebody Sometime” by Matthew Barber. I considered adding a S9 segment to make up for the two-season gap, but I couldn't come up with anything new that fit. If nothing else, I'm hoping the parts make up for the whole.
.
Title: Someone Will be Waiting for You
Summary: With what they did, relationships weren’t easy. But in time, a beam of hope appears.
Rating: PG
Timeline: Starts at Justice -> early S7 (pre-Cure and pre-Siren respectively) -> Salvation/ Lazarus -> post-Isis -> Collateral
Scribbles: As the timeline implies, this one jumps around, and I'm hoping it works.
Someone Will be Waiting for You
You gotta love to lighten that load
You gotta live to die
You gotta lie to somebody sometime
Better make it white
It had taken him a long time to find something real, so the idea that he had to give it up because of a lie made him sick. It was for the best, he told himself, as lying to Lois wasn't easy, and if he couldn't do it now, it wasn't fair to her to keep doing it.
It was far from the first time he had hurt someone, yet this time, it felt like he got the bigger blow. The realization that this was his life, and as much as he wanted to believe that the lives of Oliver Queen and Green Arrow could exist at the same time, he knew better now.
His bags were already packed, but he was still seriously considered going downstairs and playing the selfish card for once. A few steps later, he stopped and shook his head. The damage was done. Even if he could make up for this time, she deserved better than this. She deserved his trust, but that wasn't an option right now.
Maybe, one day, that would be an option, but as time continued to tick past him, he was skeptical that he would ever find anyone who understood the decisions he had made.
~0~
Cause someone will be waiting for you
Somewhere dark and deep
Someone will be greeting you
Somewhere in your sleep
Oh somewhere in your sleep
Looking towards the other side of her bed, she pursed her lips. This was supposed to be a good night, Jimmy was sleeping soundly, so why couldn’t she do the same?
For once, it wasn’t about Clark. That unfortunate stage was over, as the signs and scars had finally convinced her to let go of the sliver of hope that she held onto for years. Seeing the way that he was starting to bond with Lois seemed to do the trick, as they were becoming the team she always thought that Clark and her were. And he looked at Lois as someone more than a technical sidekick.
It hurt for awhile, but now, she was with someone. Someone who had come back to town for her, or at least, she liked to think so. Jimmy was good for her. A dose of normal, and she liked to think that, despite all the obstacles they had faced, she loved him. There were a few moments when she even believed it, maybe even a few more when it felt real.
But then she remembered who she was, who she really was, and the fact that he never saw that person. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t tell him that she was one of those freaks. In fact, she was so good at lying to Jimmy that she started not recognizing herself in their relationship.
He had been patient, but she couldn’t tell him and risk giving up that part of her life. Working with Clark, heck, working with Oliver and the team, that was what made her feel alive. That made her life invigorating, it made a difference, and it felt more satisfying than her frustrated journalism persona.
And as she stared at Jimmy, she realized the real reason she couldn’t sleep. Would he stay if he knew about her condition? Would he stay with her if he saw the other side of her? She was skeptical, but she held on, mainly because he didn't mind holding onto her. Every day, it felt like she was fading into the background in her own life, so the way Jimmy looked at her was a refreshing change, and she knew better to expect to find someone who saw the world she did.
“You okay?”
His voice caused her cheeks to flush, but it was dark enough that he wouldn’t see it. Trying to smile, Chloe hoped that she wasn’t lying when she said, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
~0~
I think I might need an adventure
I need a visit to some place new
I'm happy enough with the temperature
But I'm unhappy with the view
Every now and then, he would look out his window and wonder what he was doing here. It was his parents' town, a place where their memory and legend held strong. It didn't bother him, and he didn't want to take it away either, but he was starting to feel like he didn't belong in Star City anymore.
It just didn't have the same buzz. Not with the constant missions, the side-trips that Victor and Bart took to Metropolis every couple of months. Plus, he couldn't help but feel like a hypocrite. Even though there was merit to being angry at Clark for not embracing his potential as a hero, at least he wasn't going to club openings, while the man he was trying to bring down was across the country.
He had always justified that the social events were part of his double identity, but the act was wearing thin, and even the team could see it. He had changed in the last year. Sensing and tasting a real relationship, building professional accomplishments in a different place brought something out of him that he didn't expect. Extra resources also helped spur results with the team, results they hadn't seen since leaving, even with Chloe on stand-by.
Looking over to his suitcase, still packed from his last business trip, he wondered if it was such a stretch to go back. The guys would probably be thrilled, and maybe he could pick some things up where he had left them.
Sure, the winters in Metropolis would be colder than in California, but that was okay. It was a time for a change, and maybe he could make his own mark without affecting his parent's legacy.
~0~
And maybe I'll finally see it
And maybe I'll finally know
And maybe I'll never return to this place
And maybe I'll never go
Oh and maybe I'll never go
Life always seemed to have a way of taking her to unexpected places. Growing up, she anticipated a normal life at the Daily Planet. Once she achieved that goal, she saw her true passion emerge. She wanted to help heroes, even if it completely sacrificed her personal life. However, in all this time, she never would have anticipated telling Oliver that she loved him, let alone over a walkie talkie.
Maybe because she never saw their arrangement lasting this long, or changing into something more real, but mostly because it surprised her how much she believed the words she had just spoken. During her life, she had become apprehensive of those words and what they represented. They hadn't done much good to her in the past and hearing the walkie talkie go static was enough to imply that this time was no different.
Except it wasn’t. He said it first, wanting her to know if things got worse, and she knew that he meant it. Furthermore, she didn't say it back because of the situation, she didn't even think about it. It just happened. And all she could was hope that he had heard her.
The next few hours were done practically on autopilot, as she left to check Earth station, just to be sure that he was gone. The sunglasses were the clincher in this case, but at least there was a chance he caught something that would elaborate his last message.
Sure, Oliver would lecture her for venturing out in the middle of a war to get the sunglasses, but sitting still with no information was never her preferred method of action.
Feeling the wind brush behind her, she tried to feign a smile, but for once, it really was the wind blowing inside through a couple of broken windows. That made sense, as she hadn’t exactly told Clark or Bart where she was. For all she knew, they were gone too.
She swallowed hard, cursing internally because she was never supposed to feel like this again. Still, she took a few minutes of self-pity before she stormed out of the building, determined to find Oliver. She had brought him back from the brink of destroying himself, this should be easier.
Or so she thought.
When she realized who had taken him, she remembered who they wanted first. Back then, it was either the database or her. But this time, they had gone one step too far, and she had to make things right. That was why this wasn't much of a decision for her, and no one could know. She couldn't even tell them why. Although she supposed that answer wasn't hard to figure out.
When she made the offer, it didn’t take long for them to accept. That gave her a sigh of relief, but it also built up guilt in her stomach, as she knew how Oliver would react once he knew the truth. Still, she sent the email and began preparing what she needed to do. Subtle goodbyes were spoken, clues were left behind to ensure people knew she had a plan, and then she drove to the meeting place. After parking the car, she opened the door and breathed in the clean air, having a strange feeling that it wouldn’t have the same meaning from this moment on.
Leaning her head against the car seat, she thought about what might have happened if she had involved more people, if relying on a cyanide antidote was really the best idea. Considering her past with making plans solo, this plan was especially risky, because she wouldn’t have her usual back-up to bail her out of a dire situation.
Still, she got out the car, walked a couple blocks, knowing that the last seconds of her freedom were ticking away. However, the furthest thing she felt was regret, and she knew that this would be the best. She wouldn’t crack, no matter what it took, so the database was safe.
Yeah, the database is, uh, is important. Over and out.
God, she was such an idiot. Even when she knew the truth, she wasn’t ready to hear it. And now, she was going to leave, and let him believe that he had let her down, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. They had always seen the hero in each other, and Chloe was tired of being stuck behind her computers to be a hero.
She turned around to see the black van approaching her. As her hands came up, her confidence grew, as she was going to bring Oliver home safely. From here, all she could hope for was that he could still look at her when it was all over.
~0~
It's Christmas eve and my girl's out at sea
She's a thousand miles away
I'm tossing and turning but will I be earning
A loving come New Year's Day
And pretty soon it'll be my birthday
And I'll be 29
So come on Barbie, let's go party
With that bottle of company wine
After Chloe traded her life for his, he knew that holidays would leave a bad taste in his mouth. It wasn't like he ever looked forward to Christmas, but there was something about the way Chloe celebrated the holidays that lifted his spirits. The bright side of that argument is that there was a chance she would be back by then. That wouldn't be the case for his birthday, as he woke up this morning, knowing what day it was, knowing what she had done for him last year, and froze.
She had done everything she could to save him, this year and last, yet this time, he couldn’t return the favour. The bottle of antidote that sat on his bedside table reminded him that there was a chance that she was coming back to him, but she didn’t want to be found, and that killed him.
At this point, he would take a simple hello, a single smile, but even if he saw her now, hello would never be simple, and the smile would be tentative at best. Still, he picked up his phone and listened to the past, hoping the voicemails weren’t going to be the last time he heard her voice.
After getting dressed, he grabbed his wallet, leaving his briefcase alone, knowing that he wasn’t getting much work done today and Queen Industries would survive one day without him. Pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, he grabbed his sunglasses and took to the streets of Metropolis.
There were times he wanted to go back and not reveal his identity, but he had believed that she would come back if this burden wasn’t on her. Now, he realized how blinded he was by his love for her, how desperation had taken over.
That feeling hadn’t subsided, as he entered the subway car and sat down. People got on and off, but he stayed on for the whole cycle, glancing up and down from his newspaper, while looking for a sign of a familiar face. Something told him that if she wanted him to see her, then she would show up, because knowing her, she knew about this little habit.
Yet, every day, the results were the same. He got on, got off and went home, trying to hold onto that hope she’d come home. Tonight wasn't any different, even if he was supposed to be celebrating, but he convinced Bart and Lois that he just needed space after what he went through with the Isis exhibit.
They had respected that, so the clocktower was empty when he got back. Collapsing on the couch with a bottle of wine, he poured himself a glass. Normally, scotch was his poison, but even the smell brought up too many memories of Chloe.
Still, he took a sip, grimacing at the taste, as it wasn’t strong enough. As he swallowed, he heard the elevator, and there was a small part of him that thought that it was her. However, he knew it wasn't, and when he saw blonde hair emerge, he knew it was Dinah, holding suitcases and her wig in her hands.
She grinned at him, trying her best to hide her pity, but it didn’t work. "Didn't think you'd be here."
He chuckled, looking around his empty place. "Where else would I be?"
It was clear that she was worried about him, not that he blamed her, nor did he blame her for not having the same hope as the guys. Most thought that there was a reason for why Chloe hadn't come back, but she was convinced that something was up. If she wasn't safe here, then where could she be safe? How could doing this alone be better?
But after saying her peace, Dinah recognized that no good came from that debate. So even though she likely hated that Chloe had done this to him, she bit her tongue and dropped her things. Normally, she only came here if she needed to crash, and had assumed that he would be out. Her bags confirmed that fact, but she abandoned them to walk towards him.
"Got another glass?" she asked, and Oliver gestured towards his liquor cabinet behind him. She took a minute to grab the glass, pour herself some of the wine and then held her glass up. "Happy birthday."
He chinked her glass to appease her, but the pit in his stomach wouldn't subside.
"For what it's worth," Dinah said, "We know how much you mattered to her. I really hope that I’m not right about things, but even if I am, she'll still protect you."
That couldn’t have been easy for her to say, and he wanted her to know that he recognized that. "You don't have to do this."
"Maybe not, but I believe it. Besides, you need to hear it from someone else that isn't her cousin, her best friend... or your ex." When he glanced towards her, she scoffed. "I know, I know. It doesn't count."
For Dinah, that was a lie and they both knew it. He knew that she didn’t like him ending things, but at least they had managed to keep their professional friendship. He reached across to take her hand, squeezing it lightly. "Thank you."
Her lips pursed before her hand covered his. "Things will get better. I don't know how, or when, but... don't give up on yourself again in the meantime. We need you."
He understood her concerns, as the reveal wasn’t his smartest move. Sure, it was smarter than a suicide attempt, but the signs were there. Fortunately, this wasn’t the same situation. "I won't,” he replied confidently, and he could see that she believed him. Taking his hand back, he got up from the couch. "Want something stronger?"
She nodded. "If you're offering, I won't say no."
That got him to laugh before turning to get the scotch and a few glasses from his cabinet. Their conversation made her remember that Chloe wouldn't want this for him. She wouldn't want him wallowing on his birthday, not after everything she did over the last year to make him smile again.
And she didn't say goodbye in her email, so there was still a chance. That was all he could hope for at this point.
~0~
You gotta love to lighten that load
You gotta live to die
You gotta lie to somebody sometime
Better make it white
There was nothing quite like keeping an eye on the people she loved, but this particular habit was probably the worst because there were likely better uses for hacking into Metropolis surveillance cameras. The thing was, she didn’t care.
The hoodie and sunglasses were a decent disguise, but she had watched Oliver in those articles in clothing long enough to recognize that was him walking to the subway. Every day, he would come to the same station at the same time, the newspaper hiding his true intentions. And all she could was watch, because she couldn’t take the chance of him seeing her.
It wasn’t like they would just grin at each other as they rode the subway together. Maybe it was manageable for him, but the anticipation in her chest was noticeable enough when she saw him through the camera lens. There was no way that she could face him without some sort of barrier, and if that barrier was less than her current situation, that wasn’t going to be enough.
So one morning, when he let himself look up, she paused the image. She couldn’t see much of his face, but it confirmed her theory and she couldn’t look away.
“I love you,” she whispered, reminding herself of why she had to stay away, the future she had a chance of going back to one day.
~0~
Cause someone will be waiting for you
Somewhere dark and deep
Someone will be greeting you
Somewhere in your sleep
Somewhere in your sleep
Somewhere in your sleep
It seemed fitting that the first time that he saw her again, he was technically in a coma. Or crazy. Possibly both.
He had lost track of how many times he had dreamed she was back, how many times he would remind himself that wasn’t the case, that he trusted her to come back. But this moment was different. She looked different, yet she acted like herself. Cautious, proactive, driven, with a plan that had limited time to implement.
They were a team again, except he felt more helpless than usual. The straitjacket didn't help, and even if she wasn’t a hallucination, that meant the world that surrounded them wasn’t real. Between losing Carter and seeing Chloe earlier, his confidence had a fair number of hits. Her faith in him helped him to see her perspective, so the strait jacket disappeared, but it was tough to ignore other changes.
The way she gunned down the guards, he saw how much she had gone through. After all, when she looked at him and asked her if he trusted her, that wasn’t what he had in mind. That didn’t change anything though, especially his answer to that question, and he followed her, ready for whatever came next.
Because people say you do crazy things for love, and he had to admit, acknowledging that there was a portal at the bottom of the Daily Planet was one of the stranger things he would believe. However, that decision wasn’t too hard, considering the fact that in the darkest days of his life, when it felt like he couldn’t do anything right… Chloe believed in him.
Just like then, she was right this time and when Oliver woke up, he bolted from the pod and saw her standing there. He asked the question, but for once, he didn't care whether he was dead or not. Chloe was there, grinning at him. That was enough.
~End~
Sera’s Scribbles: This is another ‘written over various coffee breaks’ project, which probably explains why it jumps so much. Although the lyrics are also to blame- they’re from “Somebody Sometime” by Matthew Barber. I considered adding a S9 segment to make up for the two-season gap, but I couldn't come up with anything new that fit. If nothing else, I'm hoping the parts make up for the whole.
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