A rush of air alerted her and she half turned. "Clar-"

"Chloe Sullivan. I heard you were moonlighting for superheroes but I had to see it for myself."

Her eyes took him in, from the leather boots, midnight dark suit, and finally to his dark eyes hidden behind a dark mask. "The Batman in our very own Metropolis. What brings you so far from the cave?"

"A business proposition."

She crossed her arms, forcing herself not to shiver and raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"Perhaps you'd prefer somewhere a bit warmer?"

Her head cocked to the side. "Perhaps you should just tell me now. My interest is waning."

His normally stoic face broke into a smile. "You are everything they say and more."

"Am I? Well, you're nothing like they say. What do you want from me?"

"Just a few odd jobs. I have all the equipment I need but I need someone with skills like yours for research purposes."

She eyed him. "What kind of research?"

"The dangerous kind."

"I'm listening."

"A place will be set up for you. Expense account, room and board, whatever you need. In return, you hunt down the bad guys."

Chloe snorted. "Real bad guys? Or just the enemies of Wayne Enterprises? I'm not stupid, Mr. Wayne. Or can I call you Bruce?"

He smiled again, white teeth glinting in the darkness. "That will make things significantly less complicated."

"Will it?" She matched his smirk. "You think so? Well, you obviously don't know me at all then."

When she got back to the apartment, Lois was halfway through a tub of Ben & Gerry's. "Bad night?"

Lois sniffed. "Yeah. He offered, I, like the moron I am, refused. He left. I'm eating ice cream. You figure it out."

Chloe sat down next to her. "Well, now at least you know."

Lois shook her head. "Doesn't make it easier. 'I'm saving the world' is not the break-up line a girl can bitch to her friends about. I almost wish he was cheating on me."

"He's not that guy, Lo."

Lois sniffed. "I know. But how do you get over the guy who left to go save the world?"

Chloe laughed. "And here I thought you'd be pissed that he put the whole world ahead of you."

"I should be but I just can't."

"I know this is the worst thing to say right now but you're going to be okay." She put her hand on Lois'.

Suddenly she felt warmth and Lois' voice filled her head.

'He could've at least been a man and told me...'

'I shoulda known...'

'How could he...'

And then it was gone. Lois eyes were hazy and unfocused. "What?"

Chloe frowned. "Uh, Oliver-"

"Right." Her eyes regained their fire and flashed at Chloe. "He could've at least given me a better excuse than business. I mean, business? Does he think I'm an idiot? I think he's hiding something. Do you think he has someone else?"

"What?"

"Oliver, Chloe," she snapped her fingers in front of Chloe's face. "Remember? I told you he gave me that garbage about big deals and things being too hectic for a relationship? Geez, cuz. Try to keep up."

Chloe shook her head. "Sorry. I must be getting tired. You wanna talk more or..."

Lois waved her off. "It's fine. I shouldn't be eating my weight in calories anyway. He's not worth it."

"Night." She watched Lois disappear into her room then flipped open her phone.

He picked up as she was putting the half-melted carton into the sink. "Clark? We have, well, it's not a problem, per se..."

"So she just what? Forgot?"

"I don't know." She was pacing her room while Clark stood next to the window. Her bedside light was on and they were whispering.

"My powers must be expanding." She glanced up at Clark, wishing he was a little more stressed and a little less calm. "I must have healed her pain and that must have included her emotional pain. Which included erasing the fact that Oliver is the Green Arrow. I don't know."

He stared at her. "I'm a little more concerned about you. What about what happened when you touched her? When you touch anyone?"

"Yeah, but I think that I have to concentrate to do it."

His eyes were hard, unyielding. "How do you know?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. But then what? I hide myself away? Or I bundle up like Rogue?" She looked up at him and laughed, even though she knew he was thinking along those lines. "Well forget it. I actually wanted to talk to you about something else. I have an offer for a job and I think I'm going to take it."

"Working for Oliver is a bad idea, Chloe."

"I'm not working for him. Our contract ended with the Black Canary debacle. He doesn't want me in danger anymore than you do."

"Go figure. So who? And where?"

She smiled. "Top secret, Clark. Can't tell you."

His face fell. "So that's it? You're leaving? Leave us here?"

"I'm not leaving you, I'm just leaving Metropolis and Smallville. I'm only a phone call away. And with your powers, I might as well be in the next room."

"But I need you, Chloe. Who else am I going to turn to? And what about Lois?"

"Don't I deserve a say in my future too?" She cracked a smile. "C'mon."

"I just... I can't lose you Chloe."

"Relax, it's just freelance stuff. I'll be back and forth."

"What about the Planet?"

"I'll figure it out."

"I don't know Chloe. It sounds pretty dangerous."

"Don't worry. I'll have a guardian angel. Of sorts."

"I trust you found the place to your liking?"

She didn't jump. She gave herself credit. Clark had nearly gotten that out of her. "It's a little hotel-like for my liking but nice."

Bruce shrugged. Decor was just background to him. "If you'd like it changed, I can change it."

"You mean your people can change it."

"Something like that." He enjoyed her company he had to admit. Now that she was working under him, he was looking forward to getting her out into the public. The more people knew that she was working for Wayne Industries, the fewer who thought she was working for him undercover. He was going to hide her in plain sight. He couldn't wait to take her to a function and let her loose on the upper crust of Gotham. She would have a field day. If she even agreed to go in the first place.

"Something on your mind?"

He refocused on said blond. "And the equipment? To your liking?"

Her smile grew. "It's perfect."

"Good. I'll tell Lucius."

She shook her head, amusement written all over her face. "You do that."

"So," he drawled slowly. "Ready for a test drive?"

"Absolutely."

Let me know what you think!