Fic: Start Over (10/17), Chloe/Oliver, PG
Fic: Start Over (10/17)
Author: me
Rating: PG
Spoilers: 6.02
Summary: What if Oliver had been a supporter of Senator Kent from the very beginning of his campaign?
Character/Pairing: Oliver/Chloe, Lois, Jimmy, Lionel
Disclaimer: I’m an idiot who keeps forgetting to do this so please don’t sue me. I understand that these characters aren’t mine.
Author’s Note: Thanks to miss_morrygan who made me the banner below. I really do love it and thanks so much again : ) And the time jump is staying the same : )
Enjoy and feel free to comment.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chpater 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
3 months later...
Chloe sat at the table tapping a finger slowly as she waited for Oliver. This was the third time this month he had been late due to business. Normally that wouldn’t bug her but it wasn’t the super hero business that was keeping him. If he’d been saving lives she would have completely understood. Instead it was Queen Industry’s business. Someone always needed to know Oliver was alright or there was some urgent business that he needed to attend to in that instant or someone found something new on Dark Thursday. She had been fine with it to start with but now it was his third time she was getting just a little feed up.
She knew he use to do this to the other girls he used to date but she had thought that she was different to them. She knew his secret, she knew as much as she could about him but now she didn’t know why this was happening and that scared her. She thought she knew Oliver so well, better than anyone else who had known him, but maybe she was wrong. Something had been different between them since Dark Thursday and she didn’t know how it had happened or how to fix it. He wouldn’t talk about that day so instead she let him keep whatever he was feeling to himself, praying that he would open up and tell her when he was ready. Instead she’d been waiting for an answer for the two and a half months since he had returned from Star City.
Standing up she placed the napkin on the table just as Oliver entered the restaurant.
“Sorry,” Oliver said as he sat down, “There was a problem and no one could solve it but me so I had stay behind.”
Waiting for Oliver to look at her she stayed where she was. When the confusion entered his eyes she said, “I’ve been waiting for forty five minutes without a phone call. Now I’m going drive three hours and curl up in my bed hoping that you figure out that something is really wrong with our relationship at the moment and unless you talk to me about it we are never going to get past it.”
Oliver sighed, “I said I’m sorry.”
“And I’m sick of this. I’ll see you when you’re ready to talk about whatever your issue is.” Chloe said before grabbing her bag and leaving Oliver alone. She felt bad about it but it was time to take a stand and it was probably the only way to get him to talk to her.
*******
Sighing Oliver picked up the phone. The night hadn’t gone the way that he had hoped it would but then again he could never control Chloe and he knew that eventually she would get sick of his late behaviour. It wasn’t that there weren’t real emergencies at work but they could have been put off til after his date if he had wanted too. It was his pay back for her always mentioning the photo dork, not that he had told her that the stories bothered him.
“Hello,” the voice on the other end of the line grunted.
“Is everything in order for tomorrow?” Oliver asked, leaning back in his chair and trying to remove all thoughts of Chloe for the moment.
“Yes sir. We’ll extract the target around eight thirty in the morning and have him home by five. The next day at the latest if the target doesn’t cooperate.”
Oliver nodded, “Alright I expect updates every hour on the hour. Understood?!”
“Yes sir,” the man said before hanging up the phone.
Oliver sighed and placed his phone back in the cradle. Maybe a shower would help him deal with his Chloe issues.
*******
Sitting at her desk Chloe laughed half heartedly at Jimmy’s joke. Her mind hadn’t been in her work all day nor had it been in paying attention to whatever it was that Jimmy was saying. Her mind was just on Oliver. She had hoped that he would have called or dropped in by now but he hadn’t and it left her more confused than she was before.
Looking back up to Jimmy as he nudged her he said, “Isn’t that Oliver Queen,” he whispered, pointing towards the doorway.
Turning in her seat quickly she was shocked to see Oliver walking away. Jumping up she followed him out the door, calling his name as she went.
“Ollie!” she called, “Oliver!”
Spinning he cried, “What Chloe? What could I possible do for you now?”
Stunned Chloe stopped and blinked. He had never spoken to her like that before. By the time she had the ability to speak again Oliver was heading up the stairs to leave.
“Ollie,” she called calmly, “Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”
Stopping Oliver shook his head, “You what, why don’t you go and ask your friend at your desk. He’s obviously more important.”
“Says who?”
“It’s not in what you say.” Oliver replied, heading down the stairs to stand in front of her, “It’s about what you do.”
“What do you mean? Stop talking in riddles Oliver. They make no sense to me whatsoever.”
“Fine. If you want me to spit it out I will. You flirt with him. Not in a harmless way. In a serious, the if I didn’t have a kinda sorta boyfriend I’d totally jump that kind of way.”
“Firstly, I don’t mean to flirt with him and I’m sorry if I am but I really don’t mean too.” Chloe said, “And secondly, you’re my boyfriend? I’d like you to be my boyfriend but you don’t seem to want to be in that role.”
“Can blame me? Whenever I turn around you’re flirting with photo dork.” Oliver replied before leaving her where she was. As he walked up the stairs he brushed past Lois without as much as a glance in her direction.
Leaning back against the doorway Chloe looked at Lois before taking a deep breath and saying, “What are doing here Lois, cause I’m really not in the mood?”
“I came to hand deliver this article to your Editor but seeing what just happened between you and Oliver I think we need to talk.”
Chloe walked back to her desk and sat down before saying, “What? You’re a journalist now?”
“That doesn’t matter at the moment Chloe. What matters is what just happened between you and Oliver.”
“So, you know Oliver Queen?” Jimmy asked a little stunned.
Turning towards Jimmy she couldn’t believe that he was still there. Standing she grabbed her article and Lois’s arm, pulling her towards the copy room.
“Ok, help me,” Chloe whispered as she closed the door behind them.
“As long as you help me first,” Lois said handing over her article.
“Fine,” Chloe said leafing through the article as quickly as possible. “That’s a lot of words.”
“Well, the Smallville Ledger was way too small minded to appreciate investigative reportage, so I thought the Planet would be the perfect publisher.”
Chloe shook her head, “I hate to rain on your Pulitzer parade but I don’t think that a story about weather is going to stand a chance when we are still dealing with the aftermath of Dark Thursday.”
“This story is way more than just wild weather okay?” Lois defended, “Not only is it an expose on the paranormal, it is a story about human triumph over adversity. That barn door could have chopped me in half. Read it.”
Chloe looked it over again from the beginning giving a little laugh before saying, “Funny. I don’t remember there being an ‘e’ in ‘tornado’”
“It’s just a typo.”
“Yeah? How about that extra ‘h’ in ‘weather’?”
“You know what I think? I think you’re just a little bit jealous that you’re not the only one in the family with a natural way with words.” Lois said crossing her arms.
“Really? Well, Lo, you know what? You’re right. I might be jealous of you but it has nothing to do with your way with words.” Chloe replied.
“Fine,” Lois scoffed. “Forget the Daily Planet. I don’t need this stuffy, pseudo-intellectual rag. Out there somewhere is a newspaper that knows a story when they see one.”
“Well good luck,” Chloe replied, “Now help me! Please!”
“Fine, as long as you fix the typos in my article.”
“Sure, whatever, give me til the end of the day. Now help, please!”
“Ok. So Oliver thinks you want to be with Jimmy right?” Lois asked before continuing without waiting for an answer, “So what you have to do is find a way to make sure he knows that he’s the only person you want to be with.”
“Any particular way I should do that?”
“Just tell him that you want a relationship with him then committing to an actual relationship with him. Then stop flirting with photo dork.”
“I didn’t know I was flirting with photo dork.” Chloe replied helplessly.
Lois nodded, “Ok then. Don’t talk to photo dork about anything other than work. If he tells you a joke laugh politely. Don’t flip you’re hair or even touch it. Don’t touch him or let him touch you in anyway. No eye blinking or fluttering, just save all that for Oliver and do it on a constant basis.”
“Ok, then I’m going to see Oliver,” Chloe said leaving the room and grabbing her jacket, “Thanks for this.” She called over her shoulder as she left the room.
“Wait!” Lois called, “What about my article? Chloe!”
*********
Oliver sat at his desk in his penthouse annoyed. He had finally told Chloe what was on his mind. Sure he didn’t plan to tell her while he was mad. He had planned to talk to her calmly but seeing that photo dork sitting on her desk, the pair of them flirting, he couldn’t help it. And on top of everything else his hired help hadn’t contacted him in an hour and a half. He was starting to worry that the whole thing had gotten out of hand without meaning for it too.
Turning as he heard the elevator open he chuckled when he saw Lionel enter, “Lionel Luther. All those hostile takeovers haven’t aged you a bit. Tell me, what’s your secret?”
“Well perhaps I should give some credit to a nightly nip.” Lionel said, pulling out a bottle from the package he was holding, “This forty year old Highland scotch certainly helps to smooth the stress. I vigorously recommend it. Welcome to Metropolis, Oliver.”
Oliver smiled, “I’ve been Metropolis for a while now Lionel. How is it that you haven’t greeted me before?”
“Well it would seem that I lost my manners somewhere along the line,” Lionel replied with a tight smile, “Or maybe I was just baffled as to why you relocated?”
“What can I say? Who can resist the views? Not to mention the crisp Midwestern air.”
“So, Miss Sullivan has nothing to do with it.”
Oliver laughed, “Considering when I moved here I didn’t know Chloe I’d say that’s a given.”
“As long as that wasn’t a reason.”
“Why should it matter if it was?” Oliver asked slightly offended.
“Well she is such an inexperienced girl,” Lionel said with a sly smile.
“Inexperienced is not what I’d call her. Loving, kind, generous, amazing, those are some of the words that I would use, anyone who uses inexperienced as a description for her is deluded as to who Chloe really is.”
“If you say so,” Lionel replied condescendingly, “Have you had a chance to touch base with my son yet?”
Oliver blew out a puff of air, “Haven’t had a chance. I have been meaning too though. How is Lex doing by the way? Has he managed to step out of your shadow?”
“He’s changed since your boarding school days together, though you shouldn’t pretend that Miss Sullivan isn’t tied to your head board waiting for your return.”
“You what Lionel, you’ve inspired me. I’m going to call Lex, today.” Oliver said heading to his desk and reaching for the phone before leaving it in its cradle and turning back around. “But, I do one problem,” he continued as he walked towards Lionel, “Ever, insinuate that Chloe is a slut again and I’ll have to use my fortune to make sure that your empire falls.”
“Now there’s the side of you I wanted to see Oliver. Glad that you were finally able to make the conversation,” Lionel replied with a sly smile, “Lex has been kidnapped and I want to know what you did with him.”
“Surely you’re not suggesting that Oliver had anything to do with it,” Chloe said from her spot near the elevator. Both men turned to her in shock, unsure as to when she had entered the penthouse. “Oliver’s an upstanding citizen,” she continued, “There is no way that he would kidnap someone. You one the other hand...”
“What are you insinuating?” Lionel snarled.
“Nothing but we all know that there’s only one person in this room who tried to kill another person in this room and we both know it wasn’t Oliver.” Chloe replied starting to slowly walk over to where Oliver was standing.
“Yet the other is still here,” Lionel growled at her before turning back to Oliver, “And I haven’t forgotten your unpleasant history with my son. I also know that Queen Industries had the only working satellite on Dark Thursday”
Oliver nodded, “I know that too. If that’s all...” he said pointing towards the elevator.
“I know. I know Oliver. You suffered through a lot in your young life but if you have laid a hand on Lex the word ‘suffer’ will take on a new meaning for you and I won’t have to do anything to you.”
“That sounds like a threat Lionel,” Oliver said moving in front of Chloe slightly.
“Have a pleasant stay in Metropolis Oliver. No matter how brief it may be.” Lionel replied as he moved towards the elevator.
“Oh Lionel,” Chloe called, “You might want to check with Lex’s girlfriend. I believe you’ve met her. Goes by the name of Lana Lang, now have a nice day.”
Waiting until he was gone Oliver turned to Chloe and said, “Now that was a turn on.”
Chloe laughed, “Well I’m glad I still do that.” She whispered before saying, “I came to see you and I couldn’t help but jump in after some of the things that he said.”
“How much did you hear?”
Chloe smiled running a hand down his arm, “Enough to know exactly how you feel about me.”
“Ok and how does that make you feel?”
“Like I don’t tell you how I feel enough,” Chloe whispered before taking one of his hands in hers. “Oliver, you are an amazing man. You are sweet and strong, astonishing and remarkable, sometimes I can’t believe how blessed I am to have you in my life. You are gentle, smart, you always make sure I’m ok and you’re my hero both figuratively and literally.”
“This is a very good start to a break up you know.” Oliver replied with a shaky smile.
“Please, like I could let you go. Now if you’ll have me Mr Queen, I’d love nothing more than to be your girlfriend. Just yours and no one else.”
“And the photo dork?”
“What photo dork?” Chloe whispered running a hand down his cheek with a small smile.
“That’s the answer I want,” Oliver replied leaning down and kissing her gently. Pulling back he said, “I’d love you to be my exclusive girlfriend as long as I can be your exclusive boyfriend. It will be just you and me against the world.”
“I’m in for that,” Chloe replied before fusing her mouth with hers again.
************
Standing on the roof of his building Oliver felt better than he had in three months. It felt great, especially since he now knew that Chloe wasn’t going to be leaving him for the photo dork. Having spent the evening with her in his bed he had to let her go. She’d pulled the late shift at work which cut into his plans but he was happy she was doing what she loved. They planned to sit down sometime in the next few weeks and work on full discloser but that would have to wait. Since she had left he had decided it was time to find out what had gone wrong with his plan.
Hearing the door open he took an arrow and loaded his bow, taking aim at the brick next to the door. Realising he watched as the man jumped before he said, “I thought I made myself clear. You were only to use violence if you were in danger.”
“Mr Queen, I told you, Block went rouge. I tried to stop him but he would have killed me too.”
“Well I’m glad you’re to give me this news,” Oliver replied loading another arrow. “I guess I’m going to have to start being more careful as to who I trust. Speaking of which, how is my old buddy Lex doing?”
“Whatever powers he had are clearly gone but there was someone else in the warehouse, someone who seems to have other abilities.”
“Alright, your pay is on the desk. Leave and don’t come back. I suggest that you go far far away and forget about everything. Understood?”
“Yes sir,” he said before turning and leaving.
Lowering his bow Oliver sighed. He couldn’t believe that the situation had gotten out of control. Before he could have a moment of guilty to himself his phone went off.
Picking up he said, “Hello.”
“Ok, I’m bored and on the roof of the Planet. You have 10 minutes in which to entertain me before I have to go back to the phones.” Chloe said.
Oliver laughed, “Somehow I doubt you I could get us both finished in ten minutes sidekick.”
“Ha ha, please, do something, I’m bored.”
“Ok,” Oliver said looking down at his bow, “Pick a country on the globe.”
“How about... Borneo?”
“Ok, hang on two ticks,” he said before placing the phone down, taking aim and firing.
“That’s amazing!!” Chloe squealed, “I can’t believe you can do that!!!”
“Did that make your ten minutes?”
“Hell yeah! Thanks Ollie, feel free to come around later if you want.”
“Oh, I want, I’ll see you in twenty.” Oliver replied hanging up and heading back to his penthouse. He had a date to attend after all.
Chapter 11