Warning: adult content, coarse language, possible OOC due to the AU.


The Longer You Run

Prologue

Lifting her head off the pillow, Chloe sighed as she looked towards the other body in the bed. It wasn't how she pictured herself waking up this morning... or any morning for that matter, but she couldn't complain considering how last night started. If nothing else, the man definitely lived up to his reputation, which was also kind of unfortunate for a man that had everything, but such was life.

As was finding out the hard way that her cousin and her best friend were seeing each other behind her back. She understood the secrecy, as her romantic life was nonexistent and life in general hadn't been easy. They probably didn't want to rub their happiness in her face, but the honesty would have mattered much more than the lie of them continuing to dance around their feelings for each other. In fact, if she had found out any other day and any other way, Chloe would have been happy for them because she no longer had to deal with their bickering.

The only problem now was the sudden realization that the colour green represented more than her ripped lingerie across the room. It was stupid really, but Lois was living Chloe's dream. Ace reporter for the Daily Planet, Clark, a relatively tolerable social life, all while Chloe was stuck with stooping to one-night stands with a playboy... which reminded her that it was time to get out of here, as she didn't want the one night that she let her insecurities go to backfire.

However, for a few hours, Oliver Queen served as a distraction, a well-needed reprieve from everything that was going on. Because her problems spread much further than Clark and Lois' relationship and the general frustration that she tried and failed to hide. Even if none of that existed, yesterday was her least favourite day of the year, something both Clark and Lois knew, but they still bailed on her.

Finally, the cherry on top was the whole reason Chloe had broken into Lois' in the first place. The care facility had called, telling her basically the last thing she wanted to hear, so Chloe was going to forget the fact that she was sitting alone in her apartment and seek comfort from her cousin... or at least a lift there because her car was in the shop. But after she had let herself in, Chloe lasted about five and a half seconds inside before the indistinguishable sounds filled the apartment. As they got louder in her head, Chloe rushed outside and didn't look back until she was outside Lois' building, wanting nothing more than to erase that memory.

It was as if the world had stamped Fuck my life on her forehead. Even though the care facility had called back to reassure Chloe that everything was status quo, it wasn't enough to change her mood. She knew that reassurance confirmed and continued the strangest sense of a miracle, but it always felt like a cheap truth, no matter how grateful she felt to hear these words.

Still, when she had stared up and saw the Ace of Clubs, Chloe didn't hesitate in going in, as it practically beckoned her to have a drink. No one would have blamed her considering the past few hours and she had looked good enough to get in, despite the mascara streaks on her cheeks. Then again, vulnerable women were probably a quarter of their clientele, as they never blinked at her when she entered the packed club.

The rest of the night was a blur, but she remembered their encounter perfectly. She was sitting at the bar, just trying to make the best of her night, when she heard him say:

"Rough night?"

She could have ignored him, said a simple yes, but last night she looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Do you want it make it better?"

From there, it was about letting go, of releasing each frustration through a method she didn't often resort to. Which lead to now, a moment where on one hand, Chloe was wondering what she was thinking... and on the other, complete bliss.

Looking at the floor, she recognized that her underwear was going to be useless, so she picked up her skirt, knowing she could pull this look off without underwear until she got back to her apartment. As she moved the skirt up her legs, the rubbing sensation between her thighs brought back flashbacks of the night that was and it took everything Chloe had to not make a noise. The last thing she wanted was to inflate his ego bigger than it already was.

~0~

He had heard her wake up, but instead of talking, he watched her as she emerged from the sheets, likely ready to leave. Oddly enough, there was a part of him that was surprised to see her there, as Oliver figured the whole thing had been a crazy dream. After all, Chloe Sullivan wasn't the usual type of woman who wanted his attention, but it was clear that she wanted this, and who was he to say no to her?

Last night – and this morning – was definitely worth the experience and the inevitable regret that would flash in her eyes the moment she noticed he was awake. Because it was clear that whatever it was that she needed, it had gone through her system.

"You're not one for cuddling are you?" he asked, not afraid of the fact that he broke the silence.

"And you are?" Chloe replied immediately, turning her head over her shoulder in time to see him sit up in the bed. "No offense, but I highly doubt that you value your cuddling skills."

"Still... you're going so soon?"

Her eyes narrowed at his insinuation, as this was probably his ideal situation, but then she realized that he probably just wanted another round, which was not happening anytime soon. "Look, the sun's going to be up in a few hours, and well, I have work to do."

"In that case," he said as he pulled back the sheets and stood up, not bothering to cover himself up as he walked towards the bathroom. "It was good to meet you."

It was hard for Chloe not to gawk as he walked by, a stare that she knew that he had noticed, but as she leaned down to pick up her shirt, she regained her focus. "Goodbye," was about all she could manage as she left the room, wanting nothing more than to forget this night ever happened.


Sera's Scribbles: Complete honesty here. Still a WIP, still a way's from posting Chapter 1, but I consider this a quick preview of things to come... and a head's up that I'm still writing away.

I point it out in the warning, but this is very AU. Besides a few indirect references and parallels, canon flies out the window. The biggest change: no superheroes, no apocalypses or aliens, just normal human beings. I'm trying to keep this in-character as much as possible, but they have very different lives, so with that... they're going to be (a little) different.

Granted, I know this is hardly the first attempt at this idea and overall, the storyline scares me a little because there are facets of this story that are involved in some beloved Chlollie fics. But truth be told, this fic is about writing all the facets of Chlollie that scare me, so instead of running from it (pun unintended), I'm keeping myself honest and ensuring it gets finished.

With that disclaimer... I hope you stick around for Chapter 1.