Harleen Part 5/19
Author: BlueSuede
Title: Harleen
Rating: PG13/T
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Pairings: Chloe/Bruce
Summary: Chloe is on a recruiting mission, trying to pin down Gotham's infamous Dark Knight. In order to learn more about him, she begins interviewing those he's captured. What will she do when the Joker escapes and begins targeting her?
Warning: I understand that this story may not be entirely consistent with Nolan's Batman. Mostly this will be a result of my growing up with Batman the Animated Series.
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First Chapter
Previous (Chapter 4)
Next (Chapter 6)
--5--
Chloe had been up the entire night by the time Clark arrived to take her for breakfast the next morning.
Still, she had formed a somewhat helpful physical profile and an intriguing but otherwise useless psychological profile of him.
The trouble with the physical profile was that it could describe just about anyone. He was tall, about 6 foot, give or take a couple of inches. From what she had deduced of her few blurry photographs of him, he had brown eyes.
From what she'd learned at Arkham he was an athletic god: well versed in several different kinds of martial arts...maybe all of them for all she knew. Broad shouldered and muscular, he created an imposing figure, aided by the kevlar suit, of course, but mostly just man.
She was going over her brief psychological profile of him for the third time, searching for some tidbit, some overlooked clue that would give her some real help when Clark appeared, knocking on the door for what she expected must be the first time in at least five years. Apparently he was taking heed of walking in on her wearing nothing but a short bathrobe the previous night.
Their breakfast had been full of Lois. Partly because Lois called at some point during the meal, found out Clark had gone to visit Chloe, and then insisted on speaking to Chloe as well, but mostly because every conversation seemed to turn back to Lois.
"Clark, will you just admit you like Lois?"
Clark's shocked face was priceless. "Like her? As in being attracted to her? Chloe have you lost your mind?"
Chloe just smirked knowingly. One of these days the two of them would figure it out. Hopefully sooner than later.
Later in the morning, after Clark had gone again, Bart had dropped in for a surprise visit, which was perfect because she felt more comfortable asking Bart to deliver the party favor she had found last night than she did with Clark. It wasn't that she didn't trust Clark, it was just that...it was practically in Bart's job description to be team courier, and she didn't want to abuse Clark when she knew he had a lot going.
Bart certainly didn't mind.
He also joined her on her trip to the police station around lunch time, occasionally vanishing and returning with food as they went. She was pleased to find that the crooks Clark had taken in the night before were being held on bail for previous charges, but she was still disappointed in the long run. The crooks hadn't even really seen Batman. He'd come flying in one minute, and the next he was leaving and they had been knocked out cold and tied up. They didn't even know how they'd gotten to the police station (luckily for Clark).
"Cheer up, Chloelicious. You'll get something soon," Bart had said. "If anyone can figure it out. It's you."
"Haven't I seen you in here before?" asked a woman's voice with a hint of a Spanish accent.
Chloe turned to see an attractive Hispanic woman in an officer's uniform. "I - um, well, yeah, probably. I've been in a couple of times looking for someone willing to give me an interview. You are?" Chloe extended her hand, but the woman eyed it suspiciously.
"An interview on what?"
"She's writing a book," Bart piped up. "But I can think of other reasons to interview you. Maybe over candlelight?" he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Does he belong to you?" the woman asked dryly, but both Chloe and Bart saw the hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Only some of the time," Chloe joked. "But what did you say your name was?"
The woman looked up. "Depends on what kind of book you're writing."
"Criminal psychology. I've stopped by the police station once or twice now in hopes of getting someone to talk to me about Batman."
The woman immediately got defensive. "Batman is not a criminal! He's a damn hero is what he is!"
Chloe immediately backed up a step. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean that he was! I don't think he is! I mean...the thing is...the book started out as criminal psychology, but Batman's sort of...distracted me from the original plan. I think he's a hero, too. I'm just really curious about him."
The woman looked at Chloe searchingly, apparently decided that Chloe was telling the truth, and calmed down a bit. "I'm sorry," she said. "You just hear so much bull about him -" Chloe noticed her eyes shot to an overweight detective sitting at his desk and eating a donut, "- it gets old after a while. That guy has probably saved the life or job or both of just about every officer in the department at some point or another. They say he's a vigilante, but...well, as far as I know, he's never passed a sentence on anyone, just turns them in. Tell you what, I wish he was on the force. He'd make one hell of a detective." She seemed to realize she was ranting then. "I'm sorry," she held out her hand. "Officer Montoya," she introduced herself. "Everybody just calls me by my last name," she added, shrugging as Chloe took her hand.
"Chloe Sullivan."
"Bart Allen," Bart threw in eagerly, shaking Montoya's hand as well.
Montoya's mood seemed to have lightened immensely now, and she grinned as she shook Bart's hand in return.
"So how much have you found out about Batman?"
Chloe's own mood deflated slightly. "Not much that's very useful. Everything I learn just makes me more curious, though. He's...well, he's an enigma. I -" but then she blushed and just stopped altogether.
Montoya eyed her. "Hunh," was all she said. "Well, listen. I'd help you out, but you're not gonna find too many people around here who're willing to tell you much. Bats is kind of off-limits, ya know? Anyone who is willing to talk to you," her eyes once again shot to the detective, who was licking the leftover glaze from his fingers, "probably isn't a real reliable source."
Chloe nodded. "I've been finding that out for myself. But you guys should know: I'm not looking to expose him or exploit him or anything like that. I'm just...curious."
But Montoya just shrugged. "Maybe you are. Either way, I really can't help you much. I gotta get going. Paperwork," she indicated her desk. "Had someone randomly drop a couple of wanted catburglars on our doorstep last night. Normally I'd say it was the bat but...well I don't know. Weird stuff. Anyway," she caught herself, "nice meeting ya, Sullivan."
Chloe watched Montoya head back to her desk and Bart watched Chloe with suspicious eyes all the way out of the police department.
Outside he rounded on her. "What's with you?"
Chloe looked genuinely surprised. "What's with me what?"
"You got a crush on the bat or something?"
Chloe laughed. "Bart! I haven't even met him!"
Bart didn't say anything else, but he by no means seemed placated, even when he departed for Metropolis later that afternoon.
It was about half an hour after Bart left that Chloe's cell phone started going off. She sighed and she started digging around her hotel room for it, trying to remember where she'd put it. She was expecting a call from Oliver about the weapon she'd sent him. Emil was supposed to be taking a look at it for them.
She finally found it and answered it hurriedly before she could miss the call. "Hey, Ollie," she said, clutching the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she leaned over her computer, pulling up the short file she had on all of Batman's toys. "Whaddaya have for me?"
There was hesitation on the other end. "I'm sorry...maybe I've got the wrong number."
Chloe faltered at the familiar voice - one that definitely did not belong to Oliver Queen. "Oh I'm sorry!" she rushed. "I was expecting a call from someone. This is Chloe Sullivan. Who is this?"
The voice relaxed again. "This is Bruce Wayne. We met the other day outside..."
"Arkham," Chloe finished. "Of course. I remember. How are you, Mr. Wayne?"
"Well, that depends."
"On what?"
"On whether you're still interested in dinner tonight or not."
Chloe felt her cheeks flush. "I...haven't made any plans, no."
"How is 6:30 for you?" there was a grin in his voice.
"I think..." she hesitated, looking at her files and wondering if she shouldn't be devoting her night to research, instead of galavanting off with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. She shook herself. One night wouldn't hurt anything, right? She had six months. "I think that would be fine."
"Where can I pick you up?"
"The Four Seasons."
"I'll be there."
"Where are we going?"
"For me to know and you to find out," he said, and Chloe was about to protest, but he didn't give her the chance. "I'll see you tonight, Miss Sullivan. Looking forward to it." And he hung up.
Chloe stared at the phone.
"I hate surprises," she grumbled, walking over to her bed and flopping down on it face first.
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Next (Chapter 6)