Pretty Bird
By angellwings
Chapter Eleven: Be Still
A brand new start,
Is all we need to mend these hearts,
Back to the beginning.
Dinah gazed out over Metropolis as they flew out, and sighed. She'd made it through yet another encounter with Lex Luthor. Maybe this one would put a halt on the nightmare flashbacks. She glanced over at Oliver as he slept in his seat across from her and smiled softly at him. She hadn't really noticed how close they had become until she boarded the plane. She finally had time to really sit and think about it. It was true that she was very protective of him, but that was natural after everything they had been through. He'd helped her face Lex and helped her find something useful to do. She reflected on the latest series of events. He'd saved her (with some help of course, but she'd heard from Helena that he'd been hatefully furious at the young Luthor). She thought about that article in the Inquisitor. He'd defended her. He'd been interviewed by Chloe and made it clear that the Metropolis tabloid would be receiving no interviews from him ever again. The Daily Planet had run it this morning.
There was no trying to deny that she and he were friends. In fact they were very close friends. It had happened without her realizing it, but she knew they would risk quite a bit to keep each other safe. Her cell phone blared the Kelly Clarkson song "How I Feel" and she scrambled to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Di," Bart's voice came over the line, "Are you guys on your way back?"
"Yep, we just took off from Metropolis," She told him brightly.
"So you'll be here in like a few hours?" He asked anxiously.
"Yes…Bart, headquarters is still standing isn't it?" She asked him with a parental tone.
"Oh, yeah, definitely, but…"
"What? What did you do?"
"Hey! I didn't do anything…it was all Gill Boy and the Tin Can!"
"Bart…"
"There are sardines stuck in the CD player…"
Dinah took a deep breath and counted down from five, "I swear you three are going to be the death of me."
"I didn't do anything! Victor bought a can sardines at the grocery store and AC started going off on him and then a couple of scuffles later they ended chopped up in AC's food, and then AC stuck some in Victor's underwear drawer and before any of us knew it they were jammed in the CD player," Bart explained defensively.
"You better be glad Oliver is asleep right now, and not interested in what we're talking about…"
"What are you two talking about?" Oliver suddenly asked from beside her. Dinah jumped and stared at him in surprise.
"Um, nothing. Just a little mess that the guys have already cleaned up and have left zero trace of," She told him with a nervous smile before turning back to the phone, "Right, Bart?"
She quickly hung up after that.
"Sorry if my ring tone woke you," She apologized as she put it on silent and tucked it away.
"Nah, don't worry about it," He said casually as he angled himself to face her.
He went to speak but his cell phone rang before he could. It was his real life assistant.
"A charity ball? Yeah, I think I can find a date in time. It's not a problem, I'll call you back and let you know," He said as he hung up.
"So, Pretty Bird, you up for a charity ball?" He asked.
She grinned, "Why do you always assume I have nothing better to do than go with you to your last minute philanthropic obligations?"
"Because you don't," He smirked.
She rolled her eyes playfully, "Fine, I'll go."
"Great I'll pick you up at 8," He said with a lop-sided smile.
"Dinner better be included, Green Bean," She told him with a smirk
Dinah gagged as she walked into head quarters, "Sick! Guys it smells like rotting fish in here!"
"We did give you fair warning," Bart told her.
"Please tell me you at least got it cleaned up? Oliver is outside, and if he comes in and finds…"
"Alright, thanks Bruce. See you tonight," Oliver said before hanging up his phone as he entered the room, "What the hell died in here?"
"Technically it was already dead," Victor said from where he was showering the room with Air Freshener.
"Yeah, and then he forced me to eat it," AC muttered bitterly.
"Please tell me you are not referring to anything human?" Oliver asked cautiously.
"No just sardines," Bart said with a shrug as he hopped over the back of the couch.
"Sardines?" Oliver asked incredulously, "I don't even want to know. Just get it cleaned up and smelling decent in here."
He turned to Dinah, "I'll be back at 8, and it is a formal ball. Do you have a gown?"
"Yeah, I think I've got a little something in the back of my closet," She said with a smile.
"Good, well I'm going to go get some sleep before tonight, and I suggest you do the same thing. See you later guys," Oliver said as he headed out the door.
"A ball?"
"He's picking you up at 8?"
"This dress in the back of your closet better be hot."
The guys chimed in after he left.
"Get those sardines OUT of the CD player," She said as she ignored them and immediately went back to her room.
Dinah stepped out of her room several hours later and was greeted by the overwhelming smell of tons and tons of potpourris. She coughed and sputtered as she made her way to the living room with her clutch in her right hand. It was 7:45 and she knew Oliver would be there at any moment. As she walked into the living room she heard a can of soda hit the floor and all chatter stopped. AC approached wordlessly and spun Dinah around before dipping her dramatically.
She laughed and smacked his shoulder, "Okay let me up now."
"If some rich eligible bachelor doesn't try to sweep you off your feet tonight I'll…I'll…"
"Eat a can of Sardines?" Victor asked with a smirk.
AC glared at him as he returned Dinah to an upright position.
"You did sort of walk into that one, you know," Dinah told him with a sympathetic smile.
"So you're the Jolly Green Giant's last minute date again, huh?" Victor asked.
"Looks like it," She told him.
"I'm surprised he's up for going to this ball thing after what happened with Lois," Bart said as he sheepishly picked up his soda can and super-sped around the room to clean it in half a second.
Dinah opened her mouth to respond, but the door opened before she could.
Oliver spotted her immediately and not just because she was the only woman in the room. She was wearing a black strapless dress with an empire waist and a second layer of sheer black fabric that ran from just below the empire line to the floor. Shimmering black beads decorated the upper portion of the dress and formed the shape of a spade. Her dark hair rested on her shoulders, and her makeup gave her face a mysterious smoldering quality. Oliver suddenly realized he was staring and turned away .
He cleared his throat and spoke, "Shall we go?"
"Of course," She said with a smile as she walked toward him. He offered his arm.
"Good night, guys," Oliver said as they both headed for the door.
"Try to stay out of trouble tonight, please," Dinah told the guys sternly as they left.
"Yes, Ma'am," AC said with a wink as they watched the couple leave.
Oliver held the passenger door open for her as they loaded into one of his many sports cars.
"New Porsche?" She asked as he stood by the door.
"Not new…just haven't had a chance to drive it much," He told her with a grin before he closed the door and walked around to the other side.
He got in and took off at an alarming speed.
"Ever thought of not breaking the sound barrier?" She asked nervously.
"This from the woman who almost got us killed on that motorcycle two months ago," He said with a smirk.
"I did not almost get us killed," She scoffed.
"You drove into a train tunnel from the wrong end," He stated factually.
"There wasn't a train in it when I did that," She argued.
"You're right until we got half way through the tunnel and one decided to drive through it."
"Hey, we squeezed through and survived didn't we? Without me getting a scratch on that bike too by the way," She said with a playful argumentative glare.
"Yeah, well it wasn't without giving me a heart attack. I think from now on we'll ride two separate bikes," He said as he shook his head.
"Fine by me. I'd rather not ride with a wimp," She told him with a smug grin.
He chuckled at her, "Do you realize that you and I hardly ever have normal conversations?"
"Normal? Please, Green Bean, normal is over rated," She told him with a smile, "So what kind of charity is this ball supporting?"
"The Star City Youth Recreation Center," He said with a nod, "and by the way if you're ever bored at any point tonight then I apologize in advance."
She chuckled, "Apology accepted."
When they arrived she and Oliver stepped out of the car and were greeted with all kinds of paparazzi. Oliver came around and took her hand to lead her inside amongst all the flashing cameras. Oliver steadied her as her vision was readjusted and they stumbled through the doors.
"Dinah?" A familiar voice asked. Dinah turned at the sound and was shocked at what she saw.
"Selina?" She asked.
"In the flesh," The blonde said cheerfully.
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Selina said with a smirk.
"Is this a friend of yours?" Oliver asked as his eyes appraised the woman in front of him.
"Yes, this is an old friend from Gotham Selina Kyle. Selena this is Oliver Queen," Dinah said with a smile as she introduced them.
"A friend from Gotham? What are you doing in Star City?" He asked with a charming Oliver Queen smile.
"I'm actually in town on business. I collect and sell antiquities and rare art and there's an auction at the Conference Center tomorrow afternoon that some of my clients are interested in," She said with a smile.
"How's that going for you by the way?" Dinah asked.
"Really really well, actually," She said with a secretive smile.
"I'll let you ladies catch up," Oliver said. Dinah noticed he had spotted someone over Selina's shoulder, "If you'll excuse me."
Dinah and Selina watched him go.
"He's hot," Selina said with a wink of approval, "Not to mention rich. Way to go, Di."
"Oh, no, Oliver and I are not like that. We're just friends," she told Selina.
"Sure you are," Selina said with a roll of her eyes.
"So, have you talked to Ted lately?" Dinah asked conversationally.
"Wildcat? No, not really, and I don't think I will any time soon," She said with a sigh.
"Why not?"
"He's sort of upset with me right now. You know the whole dad syndrome he has going for him? Well, he's decided to use that on me.He thinks that just because he trained me he has the right to tell me what to do," Selina scoffed.
"I don't understand-"
"Lance? Queen guilt you into coming to one of these things again?" A deep voice asked with a chuckle.
"I wasn't guilted you were guilted, Bruce. Probably by Alfred," Dinah said with a grin as she gave Bruce a quick hug.
"You know me too well," He said with a chuckle as he turned to Selina, "Ms. Kyle? I have to say I'm surprised to see you here."
"I'm surprised to be here," She grinned, "But impossibly rich clients always seem to demand surprising things, don't they?"
He chuckled, "I suppose so."
A man suddenly appeared behind Dinah.
"Excuse me, miss?"
She turned and looked at him expectantly, "Yes?"
"I was just wondering if you would care to dance?" He asked her with a charming smile.
"I don't even know who you are," She told him with a suspicious smirk.
"That's easily fixable, I'm Rob Avery," He said as he kissed Dinah's hand.
"You're just full of charm aren't you?" She asked.
"I do try," He said with a laugh.
"Alright, well let's put that charm of yours to the test then," She said as she looped her arm through his and allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor.
Oliver approached Bruce and Selina as Dinah was being lead away.
"Who's that?" He asked.
"He said his name was Rob Avery," Selina said, "Other than his rugged good looks that's all I know about the guy."
"Avery, Avery…that sounds so familiar," Bruce said thoughtfully, "Where do I know that name from?"
"Avery Technology," Oliver muttered darkly, "His company constructs nearly half of the military's weapons, and from what I hear there might be some other deals with other countries going on under the table."
"That figures," Selina said with a bitter chuckle, "Dinah always did know how to pick 'em."
That's all for now! This little Dinah/Ollie field trip isn't over though, lol.
Enjoy!!
