Title: Finding Hope
Category: Smallville
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: Chloe/Oliver
Rating: PG
Prompt: Picture by ellashy
Word Count: 246
Summary: She runs. He chases.
Finding Hope
Stop. Inhale. Exhale.
Heart; hitches, awakens, thrums to life.
A touch. Light. Fingers brushing her wrist.
Her pulse – booms – loud in her ears.
Desire. White hot. His touch, his gaze, the pulse between them.
Shaking; from the inside out.
Fight; don't want to, must.
Rushing, running; away, always away.
Stop. Wait. Pause.
Close, so close. Too close.
Back up, arms out; shove, push, block.
A smirk. His. Tender, knowing, arrogant.
A glare. Hers. Suspicious, careful, a front.
Fingers; twining, stroking, comforting, pulling her closer.
Heels; dug in, holding steady, resilient.
Kiss. Expected. Unexpected. Soft lips; moving, encouraging, drowning.
Warmth, heat, lust; along her skin, curling, spreading.
Sweat; pooling, dripping, beading.
Eyes; open, staring, waiting.
Waiting on a sign; wrong, end of chase, death to future.
He stares back. Hooded brown eyes; serious, strong, unwavering.
Tears; warm, salty, trailing down familiar tracks.
Big hands; reaching, wiping, soothing.
Hope; blooming, desperate, tamped down.
Flee. Feet moving, chest aching, panic spreading.
Self-preservation. History repeats itself; mantra.
He gives chase.
Airport. Dart meets map. Ticket to anywhere; to nowhere.
Spotted. Feet moving. Turn, run, avoid.
He gives chase. Lunges. Reaches. Caught.
He holds on, holds tight, refuses to let go.
Struggle. Stop. Still.
Defeat; release, calm, understanding.
Turn, wait, accept.
Bodies; tight, pelvis to pelvis, hand at her back, heads bowed together.
"Stay." Please.
No. No. N— "Okay."
He stares at her mouth, as if the words are wrong, as if she can't be letting it happen.
Smile. Her. Not defeated. Won.
Stares. Him. Searching.
"You're sure?"
"No..." Sighs. "But I'm ready to try."
Hope dawns, spreads, connects two souls.
Exhale. Inhale. Go.