Guardian Angel - NC17 - Chapter Two
Title: Guardian Angel
Category: Smallville/Batman [Crossover]
Rating: NC17
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Pairing: Chloe/Bruce Wayne
Word Count: 1,199
Summary: Her guardian angel was a dark man with a fetish for rodents. Figures.
Previous: Chapter One,
dhfreak
II.
Work was boring. She liked the paper, but it seemed like everyone who worked there was just waiting for the day to end. It wasn't busy or bustling like The Daily Planet and she didn't like feeling as if she was just standing there. After checking the building out, finding where everything went and who everyone was, she got to work. She wanted to bring to light the problems in the city instead of hide away in her apartment like everyone else. She wanted to be able to walk down the street without worrying that somebody might jump out and kill her in some gang initiation and one day she would.
She was never one to stand back and let the work be done; she set out to find everything she could on Gotham. She learned the names of every crook ever put in the system, every mobster, every politician, every dirty cop. She read up on Batman and all the things he did or didn't do, good or bad. She learned who everyone was in one very long day, without getting out of her seat for more than a cup of coffee. She wanted to know Gotham like the back of her hand so she could turn it around as best she could. It was midnight before she left the Gazette and she was tired, cranky and brimming with knowledge. Without a car, she found herself walking home once more. Apparently not even cab drivers would come out at night.
She was nearly home when she felt a sudden breeze at her neck. She turned around swiftly, mace at the ready, only to lower the can and tip her head. "Do you usually sneak up on unsuspecting civilians? Because I got the feeling that wasn't your MO."
Batman simply stared at her a moment. "Why aren't you at home?" he growled.
"I'm on my way there now," she said, pointing her thumb back at the apartment building.
"It's late."
"Hence the darkness. I'm aware." She nodded. "I have a feeling you didn't just come to tell me that it's night time. I have eyes for those kinds of things."
He scowled. "It's not safe at night."
"Noticed that too, but thanks for the heads up." She sighed, crossing her arms. "Anything else I should know or is there a handy flyer on the do's and don'ts of Gotham I can pick up somewhere?"
His jaw flexed beneath his mask. Odd, that she found he was attractive considering most of him was covered in a black body suit, even if it did define some very appealing aspects of him. All she could see was his mouth - nice lips, straight, white teeth - and his eyes, dark and brooding with long lashes. Still, the growl made her stomach tighten and the sharp angles of his suit made him appear larger than life and oh so dangerous in a most sexy way.
"Get home. Lock your door."
She saluted him. "Yes sir." She turned on her heel, walking away without a backward glance. She smiled to herself, still. Even if the rest of the city was still debating about whether or not he was good, she knew for sure.
OoO
It was back to work the next day though, which was far less exciting than being cornered by a man in a bat suit.
"Sullivan! There's a gala Sunday. I want you there! Hobnob and get us some juicy dirt!" she heard her editor holler from his office across from hers.
She paused, lifting a brow of disagreement. "Uh, sir, not to argue, but don't you think my talents could be used elsewhere?"
"Of course they can. But Julie's out for the week and I need a fluff piece," he growled with frustration. "So get yourself a nice dress, learn how to play nice, and convince Bruce Wayne to give you an interview."
With a sigh, she slumped into her seat. "Champagne, anyone?" she muttered to herself.
OoO
She managed to get home before dark, figuring she'd avoid the whole "safety" spiel from her current hero stalker and picked up some Thai before she locked the door behind her and grabbed her phone, dialing Lois' cell.
"What do you mean you're going shopping without me?" she exclaimed, aghast.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Just that. I have to go to some gala on Sunday and nothing in my closet will meet those standards." She sighed. "If it's any consolation, I wish you were here."
"Yeah, well... It's not."
She rolled her eyes. "How's Clark?"
"How should I know? Smallville's here one second and gone the next. I should put a tracking device on him," she muttered.
Chloe chuckled. "So I ran into someone interesting."
She knew she peaked her interest then. She could just imagine her sitting forward with a "Tell me more," expression on her face.
"Oooh, is he hot? Spill."
"He's a bat."
There was a pause. "Huh?"
"Batman. He's the resident hero over here. Dresses in Kevlar and saves the innocent with his dark scowl and black cape."
"You're kidding?"
She cocked a brow. "I have a lot of imagination but I'm not sure I could cook this one up!" She grinned. "He saved me from a small mob the other day... Nothing big. There was talk of slit throats, but as you can hear, I'm fine."
"You were attacked by a mob and you didn't call me?"
"Yeah, Lo, because I'm sure you would've caught the next flight out and saved me." She frowned. "Did you not hear the rest? I'm fine due to Batman. Ran into him again the other night."
"What was attacking you then?" she muttered sarcastically.
"Nothing. He just flew in to let me know roaming the streets at night is a bad idea."
Lois snorted. "As if you couldn't figure that out after the mob attack."
"Yeah well, obviously it didn't stop me from walking home from work, hence his sudden appearance."
"You know what?" Lois said suddenly. "I'm coming out there. I have some money saved up and worst comes to worse, I'll tell Perry there's a big story and I need him to send me over. Hell, there's a human bat; that should be enough!"
"No! Lo, just... I'm fine and there's nothing wrong, okay?" She sighed, shaking her head. "I came in before dark like suggested and now I'm going to enjoy a little Thai and get some work done, all right?"
Lois let out a long breath. "Fine. But any sign of danger and you call me this time. Seriously, Chlo. I don't like you being so far away!"
Chloe nodded, leaning back into the couch. "I'll call. Promise. But I gotta go. Say hi to Clark for me, okay?"
"Yeah, whenever he decided to suddenly show up again," she muttered.
"Bye."
"Bye."
They hung up and Chloe reached for her take-out dinner before booting up her laptop. She planned to write a few pages of information on everything she'd learned in the two short days she'd been there. The more she gathered, the quicker she could put it all together into a big front page story. Pulitzer? Yes, please.
[ Next: Chapter Three,]