Title: Five Times Series
Rating: K to M
Genre: Romance/Humor
Pairing: Chloe/Oliver. Chloe/Others (transition pairings)
Summary: Their relationship was a bit complicated... Fate has a sense of humor.
Five Times Series
"5 Times Oliver Queen Was Jealous"
I
Oliver Queen was not happy. Standing around him was Chloe Sullivan, on watch with him that night for the benefit, and Bruce Wayne. The two were deep in discussion, involving flailing hand movements, giggling, blushing, and sarcastic quips at every turn. Oliver stood glumly, his champagne flute held tight in his hand as he smiled wanly whenever Chloe grinned her Sullivan-mega-watt grin at him. She was having the time of her life; apparently Bruce was just the greatest guy. Oliver had asked her to accompany him as his date seeing as it was a rather big event and she had a keen eye for investigating. There may have been some small almost unrecognizable inclination on his part to simply have her with him out of rather selfish reasons. She was an interesting woman; snarky, intelligent, rather dangerous in the grand scheme of things, and had a drive that he rarely saw anymore.
"No, no, no," Chloe said, shaking her head and grinning as she laughed heartily at something Bruce had said. "You've got it all wrong!"
"I've got it wrong?" Bruce replied, his brow lifted and a very small smile appearing. "You're know, you're really quite tenacious, Ms. Sullivan." It sounded like a compliment and Oliver swallowed the desire to roll his eyes.
"One of the many things I've been called, yes," she admitted, lifting a shoulder.
"I'd venture a guess beautiful and brilliant were among the list," Bruce flirted.
Oliver scowled. He simply couldn't imagine what a brooding man like Bruce Wayne would want with a lively and exciting woman like Chloe Sullivan! It was a match made in hell.
"Why, Mr. Wayne, I believe you're hitting on me," she replied cheekily, her cheeks somewhat flushed.
Oliver's eyes narrowed. She couldn't really think he was her type, could she?
"I prefer the term charming."
Chloe smiled, rolling her eyes slightly. "Do you think it's working?"
"You tell me," Bruce replied, lifting a hand to lightly brush away her bangs from her face.
The champagne flute was crushed beneath Oliver's grip.
Chloe turned to him quickly, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. "Oh my… Ollie, are you okay?" she asked, handing her glass of champagne to Wayne and reaching for Oliver's hand.
"You'll stain your dress," he protested as she cradled his hand close to her, blood dripping down onto the white satin material.
She snorted. "I think this is a little more important," she told him, reaching out and taking his handkerchief from his coat pocket, wrapping the soft green linen around his hand and holding it tightly. "Come on, let's go to the bathroom, wash this up."
"I can do it myself," he told her, feeling completely ridiculous for what had happened.
"What? No. Now come on," she said, dragging him off through the crowd. "Looks like you don't know your own strength," she teased.
Oliver shrugged, glancing at Bruce to see a rather knowing expression on his old friends face. What?
II
Admittedly, he didn't have any powers. He had high priced gadgets and he spent hours working on himself to make sure he was in great physical shape for the work he did. He meditated, did yoga, practiced with his arrows until his fingers bled. And he was a top notch hero! He always got the job done and he never walked away from someone in need. While he knew a number of other capable and strong heroes, most of who worked with him in the League, he didn't know this guy.
"Thank you," Chloe told the stranger, brushing herself off and taking her purse from his outstretched arm. "Really. I appreciate it. There aren't enough good people out there!"
"No, it was no problem, really," the man replied, smiling warmly. "Anybody would've done it."
"Really? You'll have to give me 'anybody's' number because I've had my purse snatched at least a dozen times and rarely does anyone go out of their way to help me get it back," she told him, chuckling.
Oliver rolled his eyes. Had it been three seconds earlier, he would've been there to get her purse back and he would've kept her from being pushed to the ground for it as well. But he'd shown up just three second late and now Average Joe had saved the day. His stomach twisted up at the thought and he couldn't help but think it was downright stupid for him to be reacting this way. He should want more people to help but instead he was wishing this guy was like everybody else. Someone who would turn a blind eye to the yelling of someone who'd just had their stuff stolen from them. The culprit lay moaning on the ground, clutching his stomach and rolling around in pain. He wouldn't be going anywhere soon and the cops would be by to get him in a few minutes. Now if only Average Joe would go away or Chloe would just leave…
"Look, I'm just glad you're okay. Everything's there, right?" Average Joe asked, pointing at her purse.
Chloe nodded, smiling. "Yeah, he didn't get far. Thanks to you."
Oliver mimicked her, brooding in the darkness of the alley.
The shrill whine of the cop cars approaching met his ears and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Uh, I can tell them everything if you need to be somewhere," the man told her, nodding.
"Oh? Really? I'd really appreciate it," she told him thankfully.
"Yeah, sure. It's nothing. Do you have a number I can give them?" he asked, shaking his head slowly in question.
Oliver snorted. Yeah! Right! Like he was getting her number for the police!
"Oh. Sure," she said, pulling a pen out and scrawling her number down on a piece of paper and handing it to him. "Thanks again," she said, waving before she turned and walked down the alley.
"Have a nice night, Miss," Average Joe called out to her.
Oliver glared at him.
"Nice work, leather boy," Chloe said as she met up with him in the alley.
"I was almost there," he replied rather childishly.
"Almost being the operative word." She grinned up at him cheekily. "I know you would've been there Ollie. He just happened to be there first. That's good, right? Be happy. Not everybody who lives here is out to let crime overrun it." She reached out, her hand wrapping around his hand and squeezing it reassuringly.
"Yeah," he sighed. "I know."
They walked down the alley, silent for a moment.
"He was kind of cute, right?" she asked, interrupting the quiet.
He groaned.
She laughed, shrugging. "I'm just saying. It seems like all the heroes these days are getting more handsome!"
He looked over at her, lifting a brow.
She simply smiled.
III
He couldn't believe this was happening. He introduced his best friend to the girl he was secretly infatuated with and now Roy couldn't stop flirting with her! Roy had dropped by to talk work and Chloe had already been at his apartment, going over some information she'd dug up on somebody they'd been investigating the last few weeks. And now Roy was telling Chloe her hair was the softest thing he'd ever touched in his life and she was blushing and telling him he was a horrible liar.
"No, it's true." Roy's fingers twisted a tendril of her blonde hair around his finger and smiled at her warmly. It dropped lower, grazing her shoulder and she shifted her weight to one side. "I'm going to venture a guess you're soft all over."
Chloe's brows lifted. "Is charm an ingrained characteristic of all heroes these days?" she joked, smiling.
Roy laughed, shrugging. "I'm actually one of few. Just a natural talent of mine."
"Oh yeah?" she asked, her mouth twist with amusement. She looked over at Oliver. "And how about you Ollie? Were you born with that charm of yours?"
He half-smiled, hoping she didn't realize he was actually grimacing. "Learned it all from Roy," he said, gripping his best friend's shoulder rather tightly.
Chloe's mouth opened in an 'o' and she looked back to Roy, who shrugged with fake modesty.
"Any other talents I should know about?" she asked, her body language telling Oliver a whole lot more than he wanted to know. The way she tilted her head back made the sun hit her hair and it shined like spun gold. One of her small hands landed on her hips as her body leaned to one side, emphasizing her beautiful curves. He bit the inside of his cheek and forced his eyes away from the soft swell of her breasts beneath her blouse.
"You'll just have to find that out on your own," Roy told her, smirking.
"Are you offering me an exclusive, Mr. Harper?" she queried, her shoulders stiffening as if in journalistic interest.
Roy reached out, the tip of his finger trailing up the underside of her chin in a rather intimate movement. "Any time," he said, his voice low and deep.
Oliver cleared his throat, his temper beginning to rise. "Well," he said, clapping his hands together. "Speedy here really needs to get back to work." He nodded, ignoring Roy's lifted brow and amused smirk. "Chloe? You want to bring those files up on my computer? In my office? Now," he said, motioning.
Chloe smiled up at him, nodding. "Sure Ollie." She was walking away a moment later and he didn't resist the urge to slap Roy in the back of the head as he stared at Chloe's butt as she left. His best friend simply laughed and Oliver got the feeling it was more at him than anything.
IV
They were watching a movie. He didn't know what it was because half the time, he'd spent thinking about how warm her thigh felt against his. Clark had left early, something about Lana. Bart was asleep on the arm chair and AC was debating with Victor over which was a better actor. He was pretty sure AC was basing his opinion on the actor's charity background for marine life.
Chloe was sitting next to him, almost leaned up against his side. There was a bowl of half-eaten, room temperature popcorn on her lap that they always seemed to reach for at the same time. He felt like a fifteen year old boy on a date; sweaty palms, butterflies, and uncertainty very much included. It was just a friend thing. Still, they were sharing the couch just the two of them and she made all of her comments on the movie directly to him, in a half-whisper that made him lean closer.
He had no idea what was going on in the movie but she seemed enthralled by it all. He was contemplating what she might do if he tried to put his arm around her. But with all the people in the room, he figured he'd just look stupid if any of them noticed. So he kept his arms firmly at his sides, the fingers on one hand drumming against his leg in boredom.
Chloe squirmed next to him, glancing up at him from beneath her bangs, her vibrant green eyes making the butterflies in his stomach dance. "So let's say you were a girl…"
He grinned, chuckling. "Am I going to like where this is going?" he asked, lifting a brow.
She smiled, shrugging slightly. "Probably not." She shook her head. "So let's say you're a girl," She motioned to the TV. " Orlando Bloom – Hot or Not?"
He frowned. "Not."
"What?" she asked, her voice raising slightly. "How is he not? He's… He's Orlando Bloom!" she said, laughing. "He's gorgeous. Those brown eyes and the curly black hair that you could totally run your hands through and… Really? You're not thinking like a girl are you?" She thinned one eye, lifting the brow of the other as if interrogating him somehow.
Was it wrong that he considered dying his hair black in that moment?
"He's just not…" He turned to the TV, staring at the man for a moment. "What's so great about him? I don't get it."
"He's… I don't know. He's just handsome. I mean…" She sighed. "He kind of looks like a younger Johnny Depp. Now, you can't tell me he isn't hot!" Her eyes widened as if she was warning him that he wasn't allowed to speak ill of The Johnny Depp. He chose not to, although inside he was mocking the man. " Orlando has a sort of… goofy charm, I guess."
"Oh it's Orlando now, huh?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
She blushed slightly, lifting a shoulder. "It's just easier."
"Then what? Saying his whole name?" he teased.
She huffed, rolling her eyes. "This would be easier if you were a girl."
"Sorry my gender isn't swappable," he replied rather moodily.
She was quiet for a moment, frowning at the TV. Finally, ten minutes later, she blurted out, "So you don't think he's good looking at all?"
Oliver threw his hands up, his brows lifting and his eyes turned up in aggravation. "No. I really don't."
"What about George Clooney?" she asked, turning in her seat to face him.
Oliver turned to her, expression stiff. "Why are we having this conversation?"
"Why not?" she replied simply.
He sighed. "I guess George Clooney is… okay?" he said, his expression one of confusion. "Why?"
She shrugged. "Just want to know what your type is?"
"My type? Of men?" He snorted. "Firmly straight, thanks."
She giggled, shaking her head. "Don't worry; I never doubted your sexuality."
He lifted a brow. "You think about my sexuality a lot?"
She rolled her eyes. "You know whose sexuality I think of a lot?"
He frowned. "No, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me," he muttered. He settled into the couch. Suddenly the night didn't seem as great as he'd once thought.
V
He was pretty sure he just died. Heart attack… Shock… Lack of air since he forgot to breathe. She was stunning! She was all dressed up in a gown so form fitting he swore he could map out every inch of her with his eyes. It was green, too. For some reason that made him feel good.
She was putting an earring on, checking it in the mirror at her side.
He was standing dumbstruck in her living room. Finally, he found his voice. "Going somewhere Sidekick or do you always answer the door dressed like that?"
She grinned at him, rolling her eyes. "Actually," she said, drawing the word out. "I have a date."
He choked on air.
"Ollie? Are you okay?" she asked, hurrying over to him, reaching a hand out and pressing it against his chest as he managed to get himself under control.
"Huh? Yeah, yeah, sure," he told her, clearing his throat and nodding. "So, uh, who's the lucky guy?" he asked, the words tasting bitter in his mouth.
She reached up, righting his tie against his shirt. "Just some guy from work."
"Some guy for work," he repeated, nodding. "Must be some guy if you're dressed up like this."
She looked up at him and he felt momentarily out of breath as her eyes caught his. "He's taking me out to this fancy restaurant," she explained, shaking her head and shrugging.
"Oh," he managed, nodding.
"So?" she asked, lifting a brow.
"So?" he returned, confused.
She chuckled. "Why are you here? Did you need help with something?" she wondered, turning and walking toward her room to get a shawl she'd left on her bed.
"Uh…" He lifted a hand, rubbing the back of his neck. He was actually going to ask her to get something to eat with him. It was sort of a spontaneous thing. He'd been driving and wound up in front of her place and before he knew it, he was knocking on her door in hopes that she'd be interested in getting some take out Chinese and just watching late night television. "I- I can't remember. I guess I was just, you know, in the area."
Her brow furrowed. "In the area, huh?"
He nodded dumbly.
There was a knock at the door behind him and he felt his stomach drop out.
"Oh, there he is," she said, smiling at him as she walked across the room and opened the door. Oliver told himself not to look, but his feet didn't listen and he turned around. He looked nice enough, he supposed.
"Ollie, this is my date, Jordan. Jordan this is Ollie, my…" She trailed off for a moment before shaking her head. "Uh, my friend. My really good friend."
Jordan held a hand out and Oliver shook it, a little harsher than needed.
"Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too," Oliver muttered.
"Well, Chloe, we should go. We have reservations," Jordan told her, reaching out to take her hand.
"Right, sure." She nodded before turning back to Oliver. "All right, so…" She shrugged slightly, her wrap falling down her arm a little. "I guess I'll see you when you remember whatever it was you forgot."
He nodded jerkily before reaching out and lifting the fallen end of her wrap, putting it back onto her shoulder and letting his hand rest there a second. "Have fun," he said quietly.
She stared at him a moment, indecision in her face. "I will," she finally said.
He watched her leave, feeling jealousy stir in his stomach. He couldn't believe how cowardly he was being, but there was nothing he could do now. He'd wasted every chance he got and he was just going to have to suffer through it. With a frown, he left her apartment, locking it behind him. As he walked to the car, he decided he was going to do a background check on this Jordan guy. He was sure he could dig up something!
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this. The next installment is called "5 Times Chloe Nearly Died." Be sure to check out the banner to this story on my profile page! Reviews are sustenance, readers! Luv yas - Fina!