Chapter 3
Chloe had thrown herself into work the moment she had arrived. File after file. Project after project. She couldn't remember when she had last gotten up. Her eyes were still red and sore from last night and all the reading hadn't helped. She reached for the coffee cup and cursed as she sipped the cold liquid.
She needed more coffee and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to actually get some fresh air. Instead of heading towards the break room she moved towards the elevator. Her goal was the coffee cart on the corner. The rusty little cart that looked like it would fail any known hygiene standard somehow managed to make the best caramel latte.
She grabbed her jacket and strode down the hallway smiling softly at the thought of the hot cup that awaited her. It had been a nightmare couple of days. Between revealing herself to Oliver and her emotional breakdown that followed she was burnt out. It didn't help that after months of trying to prove to Bruce that she was strong, that she was his equal. That she could be counted on. She had broken down in his arms. She had fallen apart utterly and completely. As if that wasn't bad enough she had dreamt about him.
Certainly she knew he was more than a snarl and a cowl after all they had seen together, but knowing he had a heart and making him into some sort of prince charming were two very different things. She had just about convinced herself that exhaustion and her emotional roller coaster were to blame for her bizarre dreams. She wouldn't lie to herself. From her first meeting she had always felt something more. Something she had never bothered to try and define. An odd comfort. When they were together in the silent moments between the battles and the tests, she couldn't deny that there was something about him. Something she had never tried to name. She shook her heard, clearing the thoughts. There was no point in trying to figure out why. No point in pretending there was something where there wasn't. All billionaire crime fighters weren't interchangeable.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall as the elevator doors closed. Fresh air and coffee then things would make more sense. They could go back. Fight side by side. In time he would forget her weakness and she would forget the way his arms felt when he held her.
She didn't bother to stand up when the bell rang. There was no one she wanted to see and certainly no one she wanted to talk to. Pleasant chit chat right now was way above her mental capacity.
The minute the doors opened he cursed inwardly. It seemed fate wasn't as fond of his plan of avoidance. He paused briefly before he noticed the two people in the hallway watching him. If he didn't walk through that door there would be talk. Talk both of them had done a very good job of avoiding so far.
He stepped on and waited for the doors to close. At the sound of the click he took the tiny moment of privacy to look at her. Standing there leaning against the wall, held tilted back, eyes closed she looked so sad. He couldn't help but think back to how she had looked when he had first met her. Back when she had been lost and broken.
When she told him she needed to go back he understood. He knew that she needed to close the door on the past in order to move forward but he also knew that opening those old wounds was going to erase all the progress she had made.
Chloe knew she wasn't alone but still didn't open her eyes. She didn't want to pretend to be polite. It was easier to play the exhausted employee. Taking a deep breath she busied her mind with thoughts of fresh air and fresher coffee. A calm washed over her and she found herself smiling. For the first time since she had woken up this morning she felt hope again.
At the sound of the bell she pushed off the wall and was shocked to see Bruce standing there. Before she could even think her smile grew wider. It never ceased to amaze her how she reacted to him. Quickly schooling her face she tried to appear as cool and detached as he did.
If he was surprised at all to see her it didn't show. Nothing showed that he didn't want to. His face was a mask. Much more so than the latex cowl he wore at night. For what felt like the thousandth time she wondered how his presence could offer her such peace. Put her at ease just by being in the same room when with the exception of last night she couldn't remember a single time he had touched her with kindness.
"Heading home?" He broke the silence. He just couldn't stand there and watch her. Too much of him wanted to go to her. Touch her again. He knew last night had been a mistake. He should have never went to her. Never stepped over that line.
"No just coffee and some fresh air." She smiled at him, softer again. The sadness still clouding her eyes.
"Cart on the corner?" She nodded. "Are you insinuating that Wayne Tech coffee isn't as good as a street vendor?"
She laughed softly, the tension leaving her body. "It's possible that what is served in your office is of slightly better quality than what is served elsewhere in the building."
He frowned at her as he moved aside to let her step off the elevator first. "I'm insulted by your insinuation that there is any inequality in my company."
"Where are you off too Mr. Wayne?" His head spun around at her words. Her wit was dangerous. Without trying, half asleep, eyes puffing from her nightmare trip she was still able to put him in his place with a smile.
"A meeting uptown." She just nodded. Her face letting him know she was aware he was lying but she didn't call him on it. She offered him a small smile before turning towards the coffee cart. Walking away slowly.
He watched her go before making his way to the garage and his awaiting car. Sitting behind the wheel of his favorite Lamborghini he took a deep breath. He knew it couldn't work. Knew that anything more than a professional relationship was doomed to end in tragedy. He couldn't help but think about Rachael. He liked to think of himself as a smart man. A man with a good sense of self preservation. If that was the case why couldn't he stop thinking about her? He's tried this path before. He knew how it would end. He hated admitting it, even if it was only to himself but he didn't think he was strong enough to go through that pain again. Foolish. So foolish.
None of it mattered. She certainly didn't feel anything for him beyond a friendship. The only reason she had clung to him last night was because he was her only option. He knew she was still in love with her Robin Hood. Even if she knew it couldn't work she still loved him. Last night was another reminder of that.
He hated thinking about how hard it must have been for her. How much it must have hurt to face the love of her life knowing he was married to another woman. He cursed when his phone rang.
"She flew here on your plane. You have 10 seconds to explain how long you knew before the team and I come to Gotham and I ask again not so nicely."
"Don't threaten me Queen." He slammed the sports car into first gear and listened to the engine rumble. "I don't control her."
"How long?"
"If you have questions you can ask her." Bruce wanted to hang up the phone but there was no mistaking the pain behind the anger. He could imagine how seeing her affected him too. "6 months."
"Why didn't you call?" Oliver had stopped yelling but he was still angry.
"She asked me not to. Now I'm going to hang up. Anything else you want you are going to have to talk to her." Bruce hung up and let the speed of the car take him out of the city.
He hated messy. Hated emotional. Hated having to deal with the team. Most of all he hated the implication that his integrity was in question. He knew it was going to happen. The moment he had realized who she was he knew it would end in trouble.
Chloe was right. Between the coffee and the fresh air she was feeling better. It helped that her encounter with Bruce had eased most of her fears about anything between them changing. By the time she got home that night she was actually looking forward to her second job. An evening of chasing bad guys was just what she needed.
Well she wouldn't actually be doing the chasing. More like the monitoring. Tucked safely inside the dimly lit cave. She smiled at the thought of Alfred's coffee. She had intended to grab something quick to eat but instead she couldn't help but think about whatever delicious concoction the wonderful elderly gentleman would practically force on her. Certainly that would be better than some horrible microwave dinner.
By the time she was settled in front of the array of monitors she was starving. So when Alfred came down the stairs with a tray full of the most delicious smelling food she didn't hesitate to thank him.
"I told you before she isn't a guest and you should stop treating her like one." She turned at the sound of his voice. He was almost finished suiting up. He had only to pull the cowl up.
"I would question the way you were raised but I know that isn't the problem." Alfred placed the tray in front of Chloe before turning back towards Bruce. "Besides at least she appreciates my food. You shovel it in as fast as you can and then run out the door."
Chloe giggled and watched as Bruce's face darkened further. She tried to stop the giggles but it was hard. Alfred made her feel so warm and welcomed. Made this dark and cold cave feel like home. Even Bruce with his attitude and constant criticism offered her some semblance of comfort. But she tried not to think about that. Not to think about him outside anything work related. When she closed her eyes images flashed of her dream last night. It seemed no matter how much she told herself not to look at him that way the seed had been planted and now she couldn't get rid of it. Couldn't seem to place the much needed barrier back into place. She had done such a great job of not really seeing him but it appeared there was no going back.
As if her body wanted to prove that point the moment his cool stare turned on her she felt a flush of heat. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. It would pass. It had been a rough week and a really long time since she had felt anything. Even her dreams about Oliver of late had all been about loss. Last night's dream about Bruce had been….. thinking about it caused another wash of heat. She gasped when she closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. The image of Bruce's hands on her was so vivid.
Her eyes flew open and she turned back towards the screens before anyone could notice anything was wrong. She wanted to scream. Part of her felt like she was betraying Oliver but that was foolish. He was married to someone else. For a moment that thought was heartbreaking. She felt lost for a moment.
"Are we all set for tonight?" At the sound of his voice her panic vanished and she was cool.
"You know I am." Despite her earlier emotional state her voice was strong. Without turning she pulled up all the information she would need for the night. She reactivated all of her backdoors into all of Gotham's security systems and turned just in time to watch him pull the cowl up and leap into the tumbler. "Be safe." She whispered the words as he roared out the door, forgetting for a moment that Alfred was still there. He turned to her and she saw his thoughts. Knew he saw something in her words that she had been desperately trying to deny. He offered her an enigmatic half smile and turned and walked away, part of her wanted to scream that he didn't know anything. That he didn't see what he thought he saw but she kept quiet. Turning back towards the screen just in time to watch the tumbler pop up on the first monitor. Time to get to work.
AN
What is it about Bruce and Chloe that makes everyone review so quick? I'm not complaining. I LOVE IT.
