Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters
AN: Hello, this chapter is a little longer then a normal one I think the next few will be. But any who here it is enjoy..!
Chapter 11: The Boiling Point Part I
"I don't know how you talked me into this. I feel ridiculous, archery is your thing not mine." Chloe said as Oliver moved his hand over hers positioning the arrow in the right place on the string of the bow.
"I can be very persuasive, remember? And from where I'm standing you look just fine." His voice was seductive as always, but Chloe could feel the tension in his body. Oliver wasn't just focusing on the target, he was focusing on her to.
"Forgive me Mr. Queen, but I do believe you're a little bias in your assessment of my skills." She heard his smirk and felt Oliver breathe on her neck purposely causing her to giggle, he was teasing her or trying to.
"In all seriousness, Chloe, it doesn't matter how you look it matters how you feel." Oliver helped her pull back the arrow with an expert hand and lifted his hand from hers.
"I do believe that you're flirting with me…and that's not conductive to a learning environment." With that Chloe released the arrow sending it zipping through the air and to the target hitting just a centimeter left of the bull's-eye. Oliver wasn't surprised at her skill this was not the first time Chloe had joined him for an impromptu archery lesson.
"Well maybe we can review some of our previous lessons Professor." He called her by his favorite pet name for her, the way he said it always made her shiver with anticipation, and an ache for his touch Chloe had never felt with any other man, except for one.
"Bravo, Bravo... I had no idea you were so clever. " Lex Luthor's voice tore Chloe out of the pleasant memory. "I can't believe it's really you, you've always been a thorn in my side Chloe Sullivan, but I had no idea you elevated yourself from snoop to corporate terrorist."
"Hello, Lex how are you today?" Chloe put up the facade of innocence acting as if it was an everyday situation, there were plenty of times she had talk to Lex in those types of circumstances. It was a way for her to keep control of what was happening. John did tell her to keep her emotions in check, hopefully her hatred for this snake hadn't shown through quite yet.
"Cut the reporter act Chloe. How the hell did you find this place? How did you get in here?" He went straight to the point, she could see his frustration and it was going to be his undoing.
"You know me. I was just driving by and thought hey this place looks suspicious, there's got to be a story there. And you know your security, not worth the ink written on their pay checks," Her caviler demeanor was something she most recently perfected thanks to Oliver "Who knew that I'd hit the jack-pot? Tell me if you like this title and be honest. 'Luthor Corp Crimes against humanity."
"Love it, but it's never going to be published let alone written." Lex was trying to keep a stoic face, and maintain his control of the situation. Chloe could tell by the way he moved around the small space acting as if he was interested in other things around the lab.
"You may have me tied up right now, but this is still a free country Lex. I can write whatever I want." Her smirk had faded as she watched him circle her like the viper he was.
"Not if I never let you go, you're a young ambitious reporter that's known for getting in over her head. Faking your death would not be hard at all, it wasn't the first time and just think of how the grief will bring those that love you closer together." Lex put his arms in mock commemoration of her soon to be sudden false death. The truth and irony behind his statement was not lost on Chloe and she inwardly smirked at the thought.
Oliver's team put their gear on faster than they ever had before. Chloe's life was in danger, most of them were aware of her value to Clark Kent. None of them knew of her importance to Oliver Queen though. As he zipped up his vest and counted his arrows to make sure that he had the ones he needed, there were a million questions running through his mind. Was she okay? What did she think she was doing? Was any of this because of his actions?
Chloe often cleaned up after the people around her, was that what she was doing? Cleaning up after him? Was this the reason she ended things between them? Everything just didn't make since, Oliver thought he knew her better than anyone, but what if she had been hiding something from him this whole time? Even with everything else running through his head, one thought stood out more than any other. The woman he cared so deeply about was in danger and he had to save her.
At the thought of his feelings for her Oliver's mind flashed back to the first time he ever laid eyes on her,the first time he kissed her, and felt truly safe…
"Wow…" Oliver said not taking his eyes off the woman in his arms, they were still clinging to one another after their spontaneous erotic encounter. The world hadn't ended quite yet and he didn't know what else to say. What was there to say?
"Good wow or bad wow?" The petite blonde asked and he noted that the air of confidence in her tone. Oliver watched her lips move reminding himself of how talented they could be.
"I think that falls into the category of good wow." He responded bringing her closer to him,so he could really see into her beautiful green eyes. A moment of silence fell between them as they took each other in.
"Thank you, you know…for saving me," Her voice wasn't weak timid or shaky, even with the end coming she seemed a bit content. It was a little unsettling to Oliver the way she spoke.
"No problem anytime." Oliver smiled not knowing the source of the happy expression. "It helps that you're brave."
"Don't mistake confidence for bravery Mr. Conner, anyway I play the role of damsel in distress quite well." Chloe giggled at her own statement and then laid her head back down on his chest seeming not to want to look him in the eye. "How long do you think we have? You know until it ends."
"I thought I told you not to think that way."With that he lowered his lips to hers again flipping both of them over so he was on top of her again. If it was going to be there last moments on earth then he wanted her mind to be on anything, but what was happening around them.
"Okay I'm going to go ahead and recon the place before…" Clark said and Oliver's mind came back to planning the mission to get Chloe back. Oliver interrupted him mid-sentence.
"No Clark, we should send A.C in first. He can enter the facility from the water. You may have super strength, but we need to be delicate in our strategy." Oliver pointed to the flat screen where the schematics of the facility were displayed.
"Delicate? Chloe is in there, Lex has probably caught her by now. She's in danger there's no time for delicate." Clark practically yelled at the archer knowing that he had a good point, everyone in the room could hear the worry and concern in the boyscout's voice.
"I know that your close with Ms. Sullivan and you care for her, but you can't let your feelings cloud your judgment. Trust me Clark we will get her back safely." The leader of the small band of merry men turned back to the screen and then to his team. It still felt odd referring to his lover in such away.
"So what's the plan then boss-man?" A.C asked not knowing his role in the plan yet. Delicate was a good way to go, however what did delicate entail on his part.
"Lana, hey have you heard from Chloe? She's acting kind of strange and I was wondering if you had any idea why?" Lois entered the main room of the Luther mansion, she had tried to call Chloe a dozen times and she wasn't answering, then she went to the farm and no one was home.
"Lois, I haven't seen Chloe at all in the past few days. Is everything okay?" Lana turned around and Lois took in the sight of her, she was pale and looked sick.
"Well that's the thing I don't know, she won't answer her phone and she ripped me a new one. But the real question is, are you okay?" Lois quickly ran to her friends side and caught the pregnant young woman before she hit the floor "You look so pale."
"I haven't been feeling well today, I was going to wait until Lex got home. But he's been held up at the office." Lana tried to make a lame excuse, Lois saw right through it and helped her towards the couch.
"Well that's not an option anymore, I'm here now. So I'll just drive you," Lois grabbed Lana's purse and before she could object hauled Lana up so they could leave. She thought Lana would know what was wrong with her cousin. In all the years they had been cousins which was their whole lives. Lois had never known Chloe to fly off the handle for no reason. So obviously something was seriously bothering her.
Even with the concern she had for her cousin, Lois knew that Lana's issues were more important. She was pregnant, the baby could be in danger. Priorities in her day suddenly changed, she could talk to Chloe later about whatever the problem was and maybe they could work it out. But for now Chloe would have to wait.
"This cat and mouse is going to end today Chloe. I want to know who sent you." Lex Luthor asked the same question for what felt like the hundredth time, this was getting tiring. She had been tied up for awhile now and the plan was in full effect.
"No one sent me I found out about your twisted little science project all on my lonesome."Chloe smiled at her ability to fine things on her own and to act as if she didn't know as much as she did.
"Does Clark know you're here? I bet he's worried about you, now that Lana's out of the picture. I'm sure you're no longer playing the role of third wheel." He was trying to make her feel bad about her not existent romantic relationship with Clark, if he only knew who she was really with.
"I already told you Clark has nothing to do with this, I've had my feelers about 33.1 out for weeks and your trusted employees are almost as good at keeping Luthor Corp secrets as your security is at guarding your mansion." It was Chloe's turn to turn the tables and insult him for a change, not many people had the ability to make a Luthor feel worthless about himself or those around him, it was one talent she was proud of.
"You can make all the snarky retorts you want. They aren't going to distract me from the fact that you got in here and I know you didn't do it yourself." Lex was dangerously close now trying to intimidate her with his very presence, bringing his face dangerously close to hers. "I'm going to ask you one last time, before we have to resort to unpleasant measures."
"What you're doing here is wrong Lex. You have no right to experiment on people with abilities they are human beings." Chloe said changing the subject back to the why she was here instead of the how. There was just so much time to accomplish her goal. She had to speed the process along. Maybe if she irritated him enough, he would finally start the villain thing and gloat about his ingenious plan involving her mother.
"They aren't human they are a danger to mankind and wasn't it you who titled them meteor freaks? I bet my father is using you again. You were always easy to manipulate weren't you." Lex replied still using his old tactic of insulting someone to get what he wanted from them, really did that always work.
"I was wrong and arrogant you have to stop what you're doing here. All of this is low even for you. And as for manipulation you're the king of using people, Lana for instance." She smirked her annoying smirk hoping it would finally push him over the edge.
"I'm sure whatever it is you think you know about Lana is nothing compared to what I know about your mother." He whispered in her ear like he was telling her a secret, even though no one was around to hear it anyway. Mission accomplished, now she was going to get the information she came for.
"My mother?"Chloe went silent for a moment as if she was taking in the information for the first time. "What does any of this have to do with her? Have you done something with her Lex? Where is she? I swear to you if you have so much as laid a finger on a her I'm going to… "
"You're not going to do anything Chloe, I thought I had hit pay-dirt when I found out about her little power. The ability to control other meteor infected with just a thought, She's a powerful woman." Lex moved away from her so he could talk with his hands like he always did when he was making a point. He even went as far as putting an index finger up and then looking at her with his snake like smile.
"How did you find out? Why go after her? She has nothing to do with your vendetta against Clark ,she's my mother." Chloe was enjoying herself now, she was getting somewhere so much work and planning came down to these next few minutes. But she pulled her contentment back not letting it show. Had to play the damsel in distress, had to make him think he was winning.
"Through you of course, I know about your little power too. You can thank Lana for my discretion and not coming after you just yet." The way he was saying it made her want to hit him, there wasn't going to be any problem hiding her happiness about the situation. "You're dear to her and shes dear to me. Don't get me wrong I was going to get to you in time."
"My mother didn't fall for it did she? You tried to convince her that we were working together. But she didn't buy it what did you think? That she wouldn't see through act? You're more transparent than you think Lex."Chloe smiled a devilish smile turning her head just slightly as she returned the insult. Time to piss him off some more, Lex was a snake after all and the more you agitated a snake the more venom they spat back at you.
"I may be transparent, I'm not the one tied up and I'm guessing that your little team that is if you had one has abandon you by now…" By the way he spoke she knew he thought she was alone, a mistake added to the list of things he never should have done. "Maybe not,"
"LEX LUTHOR don't you walk away from me, Tell me where she is…I swear I'm going to…" Lex didn't say another word as he left the room not even looking back at her to acknowledge her screaming and threats about bodily harm.
Damn she had him in her grasp and now he was gone, but what drew him away from the integration. Chloe was sure that Lex was having fun, for some reason the idea that he wanted her in this position for years crossed her mind. But at the same moment she shook her head trying to get the thought out, like Lex was that obsessed with Clark and his friends, oh wait he was.
"Perimeter breached proceeding to target," Aquaman said into his com-link as he climbed out of the water up the ladder in the supposedly high security facility.
"Good job Aquaman we're right behind you, Remember the plan don't engage unless provoked. Switch to silent running, try to remain stealthy. " He heard his leader order him, like he wasn't stealthy. He's not the one with his face plastered all over the Inquirer and the Daily Planet. Okay maybe there were a few articles about the mysterious fish boy around the world somewhere, but it was nothing compared to Oliver's publicity.
"You got it bossman." The aquatic young man followed orders and switched off the com-link cutting off his only contact with the team. He had trust in them though. A.C's role in the rescue mission was a simple one, get in fine Chloe and report back to the team.
Simple always turned into complicated though. It was easy getting in, but getting out and getting the rest of the team in was going to be an incredible feet. A.C was no computer genius like his robotic teammate, but Cyborg had taught him enough so he could shut down a Luthor Corp security system. Too bad for him though, Lex had just decided in the last few hours to up his security.
"Hey you what do you think you're doing?" He was caught damn, normally the security in a Luthor Corp facility were dumber than a cuddle fish. Why did they have to get smarter at a time like this?
Aquaman didn't answer there question he just ran the other direction and waited for them to catch up with him. He came around the corner ready to fight and kick some butt. Sadly for him though he forgot to look behind him and in an instant he was down on the ground.
"What should we do with him Mr. Luthor?" A security guard asked, as they hauled the unconscious hero off the ground ready to carry him where ever there boss ordered them to.
"Put him with Ms. Sullivan," Lex's men did as they were ordered as he lead the way.
"Aquaman's been captured I knew your plan was flawed, I'm better off on my own. I'm going in." Clark interjected as they all heard the scuffle and Lex's words over the com-link. Without another word the farm boy was gone.
"No wait Clark, that place is being used to refine meteor rock." Oliver tried to stop his friend but he knew his voice was lost on deaf ears. Knowing Clark he would walk right into the room where the kryptonite was being stored.
"Meteor rock? What's wrong with the meteor rock?" Impulse asked his curiosity showing through reminding everyone why they called him impulse. He was feeling a lot better now, or at least it looked like he did.
"Let's just say our Boyscout isn't as indestructible as we all think." The way the tiny device modified his voice always made Oliver feel a little more mysterious and powerful. Lex did not know who he was thanks to it and wasn't going to. The things he wanted to do to that bald viper when he got his hands on him.
Oliver Queen would not be able to do anything. He was sure that Lex Luthor wasn't as afraid of the Queen name as he use to be. However the Green Arrow was a different matter. Not only did Lex Luthor fear the Green Arrow he feared his team and if he thought Chloe was a part of that team than maybe he wouldn't hurt her that bad. Or maybe the opposite would happen and Lex would treat her worse then he normally would.
But then again Chloe Sullivan had her own history with Lionel and Lex Luthor. She had told him a few times about how Lionel tried to used her to get to Clark and about Lex's fascination with the farm boy after the billionaire had run the Clark off a bridge with his Porsche. Somewhere in between getting used and helping putting the older Luthor in prison Chloe had struck up some kind of friendship with Lex.
Maybe that friendship whatever was left of it would help keep Chloe safe if only for a bit longer. Oliver still couldn't figure out what the hell the woman he loved was thinking. She should have come to him with her plan whatever it was. He would have helped her they could have figured it out together. For some reason he felt used and Oliver knew he shouldn't, though Chloe left him behind in her plans and what she was up to.
As the Green Arrow, Oliver was reminded again of the first time they met, he had lied and left Chloe behind then. Maybe it was her twisted way of returning the favor, make him fall in love with her and yes he knew that it was love. Nothing else could explain the feeling of guilt that was mixed with rage at that snake he had in the pit of his stomach.
No she wouldn't, Chloe was not that kind of person and it was she who had resisted his attempts to start a relationship. No there was a perfectly good reason for everything she was doing Oliver knew he had to keep faith in Chloe and her decisions. It was the least he could do. Chloe had kept her faith in the Green Arrow from day one, even when both her best friend and her cousin said differently.
"You lied to me Chloe," Lex said accusingly as he walked back into the small lab where he had kept her captive for the past few hours. "Seems that you do have friends. I should have seen through your charade. After the way you freed the impulsive one, you're not alone after all."
"He's not with me Lex." Chloe said, but she knew trying to convince him otherwise was a loss cause. Damn her plan was ruined now, why did Oliver have to care for her so much. Why couldn't he just accept the Intel she gave him and move on. She had just broken his heart after all, you'd think he would have been a little spiteful.
"I knew you couldn't have done this by yourself but I had no idea you were working with the Green Arrow and his team of terrorists." The billionaire sneered at her with an angry tone before turning to the door and watched as his men tied up the aquatic hero just a few feet away.
"I'm telling you the truth Lex. I'm not working with the Green Arrow." Chloe put on her most trusting face, she really wasn't working with the Green Arrow yes she had given all her Intel to him for him to use. But she had kept him safely out of Lex's crosshairs as best she could.
"Do you ever stop lying? Probably not but that doesn't matter. I'm sure this will help loosen your lips." Lex looked on as a few men in lab coats walked in with a large syringe filled with a bright green did everything made with kryptonite glow like that?
AN: Aren't flashbacks fun, LOL! No seriously there are going to be a few more. They have purpose though I promise as always read and review. Thanks for all the story alerts and faves as well as the reviews they really help.
