Story: A Hero by Any Other Name: The Chloe Collins Chronicles
Rating: T for language and adult themes.
Main Characters: Chloe Sullivan (Smallville), Bruce Wayne/Batman (JL Animated Series/Dark Knight Trilogy), Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Smallville), Clark Kent/Superman (Smallville/JL Animated Series)
Note: This story is AU of Smallville. Will try my best to stick to Smallville Canon until Season 10 Episode 1, Lazarus and will throw in references to the wider DCU. The story line follows Justice League the Animated Series: Secret Origins and is my alternate take on how the Justice League forms.
Format: This is the first time I have ever tried to tell a story with flashbacks and I'm still working out the kinks. Note that all dates are in reference to Lazarus (AKA the day Chloe trades herself for Oliver) as the starting point. If at any point my timeline does not make sense, let me know (math, not my best subject lol) and I'll correct it.
~Prelude~
"Would you sacrifice your sanity to save The Archer?" Nabu's voice echoed in her head.
Images flashed before her eyes: Oliver Queen bound and beaten by Rick Flag, A streak of blue and red across the sky.
The Justice League insignia.
Fate's Helmet, "Silly girl you are not the chosen one."
Her brushing past Oliver as she walked towards Flag.
"Would you sacrifice your sanity to save The Archer?"
Chloe woke with a start. Bolting up from her bed, breathing heavily. It was not a new dream, it wasn't really a dream at all. Memories. Memories of her old life, of who she used to be and why she was who she was now. A reminder of what she was fighting for.
Over two years ago (2 Years, 1 Month, 2 week, & 1 Day), Chloe put on Nabu's helmet and knew what she had to do.
Five weeks ago Chloe, freshly on the run (again), got her first real lead on Checkmate senior management.
She was on a mission. A mission that if not completed properly would not only cause issues for herself, but put everyone she loved in jeopardy.
She had been rolling strong for a while now. Her first step was identifying the organization, Checkmate. She tracked down the players who had been responsible for Ollie's abduction. They were pawns, missionaries in it for the cash. Ex-military and Special Ops who weren't cut out for civilian life. She'd gone through them one-by-one, taking them down, erasing them from the earth with precise keystrokes. But that wasn't going to be enough anymore.
This was her last fish to fry and she couldn't risk screwing it up by reaching out to her old contacts. They were all watched, all compromised. It wasn't safe, and she would not put them in jeopardy again. Fate's Helmet had warned her of that much.
She knew though that she couldn't do it alone. She had made many mistakes in her life, and had learned from them. Davis had taught her the consequences of being unprepared, and letting a situation get out-of-hand. She wouldn't be enough to stop this enemy.
She needed someone who could take them out in the flesh. Someone who was discreet, with no ties or connections to her team, but who would be sympathetic to her plight. She needed someone who could strategize with her, work with her, hear her out and run through all the scenarios before going in.
But she was not about to team up with just anyone. She'd learned that lesson too. In the 2 years since her abduction, she'd learned more about herself than she had in all her time in Smallville.
She knew this time, she couldn't rope in just anyone.
~Flashback~
(2 Years, 0 Months, 1 week, 1 Day)
John Stewart was a good man in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Ex-marine, Stewart was working for a private security contractor out of Detroit when he had the misfortune of coming into contact with one, Sally Prescott, a mysterious young blonde with a pension for finding trouble. She stole his ID badge to get into the corporate lab he was assigned to and naturally he went after her.
The lab, code-named Argus , turned out not to be focused on solar technology as they had claimed, but was running experiments on an alien vessel and subject who crash landed in Montana.
While Sally focused on the information the labs had gathered and worked on destroying evidence and finding their escape, John Stewart's world turned upside down with the knowledge that The Guardians had chosen him as the next Green Lantern.
John had heard whispers of 'heroes', meta-humans, and science experiments gone wrong. He had seen some things in his time to not discount the impossible, but the power he received on that day was far more than he bargained for and he was not prepared for what Sally to send him on a heroes quest.
"Listen, from someone who has dealt with the wacky, weird, unexplained and has come across a fair amount of alien technology in her day, trust me on this." She had told him as he had a minor panic attack.
"You were chosen to possess this gift. Abilities to make a difference. Power to improve people's lives. It's a responsibility but you can handle it."
"How do you figure that?" He asked.
"John Stewart, United States Marine Corp. Served Two tours in Iraq and Iran. You're near sighted, so I definitely have some questions on how you past your physical. You nearly sacrificed your life to save Rex Mason on your second tour, that's why your here now, is it your left knee that was injured?"
Before he had a chance to respond she continued. "So you're a war hero. That's one point in your favor, but I think the more impressive part of you is the fact that you take care of your uncle. You donate your time to shelters and volunteer council at the VA, you teach kids how to make a difference in their communities, and you stand up to injustices. This is who you are. You're a hero, and if you don't believe me, look at the ring on your finger."
"I know some people, they'll be good to have in your corner, if you want."
"Who the hell are you?" John asked completely floored by this petite firecracker.
"I'm just someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sorry you got dragged into this, but I'm glad you did."
~End Flashback~
It's funny, Chloe thought looking back on the many different people she had met during this mission. The lives she disrupted, some she liked to believe for the better, others out of necessity, and others like John, a happy coincidence.
Despite having given up the sidekick moniker a long time ago, she still seemed to always find the heroes. She had not contacted anyone from the team since she brushed shoulders with Oliver in the exchange for his life. She knew that if she did, she wouldn't be able to stay away and they'd be in even more danger than they were now.
However, she still offered her help where she could. She had sent many a hero in training to seek out Oliver's band of merry men. All under fake names, false agendas, and with them sworn to secrecy.
Short blonde? Never seen her.
Her next mark however, was a different beast altogether. There would be no accident in their meeting, no chance encounter. No, Chloe had done her research on this one. She had been studying him for weeks.
He had purpose, he was calculating, aware of his surroundings and used them to his advantage. He was also very clearly a loner in the way that he operated. Based on his very one-sided partnership with the Gotham City Police Department, Chloe determined he had trust issues. The voice modular he used was aggressive. Don't get her started on the costume, ridiculous.
She would definitely have to dive more deeply into psychology journals to figure out exactly what kind of person makes the decision to parade around one of the most crime riddled cities in the United States dressed like a rodent.
She turned on her police scanner ready to buckle down for another night of listening to the police account of the bat, and researching his fighting style based on the hacked security footage she had streaming to one of her many monitors. One bright side in this stakeout, she was in one place for a while. The apartment was a dump in a bad neighborhood, but she had her computers, she had her feeds, she felt like Watchtower.
She allowed for a single moment of self-pity to sink in before quickly brushing it off and going to make herself a coffee. According to her previous intel the police were looking to take out a significant chunk of Malcone's drug supplies at the docks this evening, she was sure that the Batman would make an appearance. With that knowledge, she prepared for a long night.
-Present Day-
(4 Years, 6 Months, 1 week, 3 Days)
"Take a left at the intersection, a right through the tunnel."
"I'm a sitting duck once I get out of the tunnel, I'm stuck at the docks and you know they'll have patrols out there."
"Not if you take the convention center ramp, cut through the LexCorp construction site, and shoot up south main."
"That's a risky move…"
"You've got the skills to handle it I'm sure." Chloe said dryly, "Once you hit the garage. Third floor, 10th spot on the right."
She received a grunt from the other end of her com.
"How's our boy doing Ms. Collins?" Alfred Pennyworth, a saint among men, asked as he refreshed her coffee cup.
"He's fine." Chloe said unconcerned as gunfire sounded in the background of her open com.
She was currently sitting in the Batcave, monitoring Batman's progress through the streets of Gotham, a regular occurrence since she weaseled her way into his confidence a few years ago.
"If he would listen to me he would have been back by now." she quipped to which she heard the man on the other end of her com growl. She watched his dot shoot up the closed exit ramp to the convention center and hang right heading directly for a new construction site.
"That's a pretty significant fence in my way their genius. What was your recommendation for dealing with that?" He questioned roughly as he drew closer to the construction site.
"You're the one driving. I'm sure you can come up with a solution." she heard a blast on the other end. He apparently chose the direct approach.
She rolled her eyes, but offered Alfred a wink and thanks as he left her to her work.
"At the garage." Batman informed her, using his signature 'bat-growl'.
"Third floor.."
"Tenth spot on the right. I listen sometimes." He quipped, causing Chloe to smile.
Batman pulled into the tenth spot on the right. Got off the bike, stepped back and watched as the spot rotated to be replaced by a black tinted window sedan.
"Clothes are in the back." Chloe said in his ear as he popped the trunk finding a duffel bag for him.
"I'd hurry up and get in the car. You've got two bikes heading your way."
"Great I'll just keep my head down and wait them out." He grumbled. Climbing into the back seat.
"Beats being shot at. Do try to keep the grumbling down, your macho voice carries." He was about to quip back but Chloe continued.
"Got eyes on them coming up the ramp." He heard the rev of the motorcycles circle around the garage before retreating back down the ramp.
He heard sirens in the distance. "Police are on their way?"
"May have received a phone call from a shop owner on 5th." Chloe said with a shrug, checking to make sure the police were going in the right direction.
"You good from here?" She asked already throwing on her jacket.
"Rushing out already? Hot date tonight?" he'd obviously taken off the cowl because rather than the gruff grunt of the bat voice it was the charming tones of a pompous billionaire that carried over the speakers.
She rolled her eyes again. She honestly could not remember the last time she went on a date. Maybe takeout with Oliver if that counted, that was another life though. She shook herself and responded with all the snark she could muster.
"I think we are passed appropriate date hours." She mused reviewing the clock, "Yup we're definitely into booty call territory now."
"Well you know, if you can keep it in your pants for a little while longer I can save you a call."
She could picture the practiced smirk on his lips as he threw that line out. She chuckled amazed at how far they had come in the last four years that she could actually get Batman to joke and flirt with her.
-Flashback: 2 Years, 3 Months, 0 week, 4 Days-
She stood on the adjacent roof to the GPD building, high-res night vision goggles in hand.
"Thank you Uncle Sam." She thought as she watched Commissioner Gordon as he paced the rooftop in front of her.
Bat Signal high in the sky, a warning to the criminal element of Gotham and a sign of hope to the people trying to get by.
She had been timing the Bats arrival over the course of two weeks. His average response rate, 35 minutes. Give or take the amount of activity on her police scanner. Tonight he was late by 22 minutes. She was surprised because she was not hearing any information over the police channel.
"Where the hell is he?" LT. Bilbao spoke
"Maybe Batman has a hot date tonight" Chloe thought as she continued to watch the scene unfold.
She was getting antsy which was never a good sign. Bored Chloe was a reckless Chloe, which usually lead to an almost dead Chloe on most occasions.
Her leg was cramping up and she had finished her coffee several minutes ago.
She was contemplating calling it a night when a deep voice growled in her ear, "See something interesting?"
Chloe almost tumbled off the building.
"You trying to give me a heart attack?" Chloe asked, scanning the hulking black figure.
She had to admit, despite her initial thoughts about a bat suit looking completely ridiculous and too comic book-like for her tastes, being up close and personal with the Dark Knight gave her insight to the fear-driven testimony of his 'victims'.
"What are you doing here?" He growled, apparently Batman didn't do chit-chat
Chloe internally rolled her eyes, frankly she wasn't prepared for this showdown yet, but ever the resourceful bitch, as her previous captors had liked to call her, she of course had a cover.
Pointing with her telescoping lens camera at him and making sure her fake press badge for the Gotham Gazette was visibly hanging from her neck she managed to force a little quiver in her voice.
"Hey just trying to snag a picture. Girls gotta eat, ya know?" she said with a shrug and nervous chuckle. The nervousness became a little easier to deliver as Batman took a menacing step towards her to snatch the camera and pull out the memory card before tossing it off the roof.
"Make it another way, get out of here before I decide to come back and not ask so nicely." In the second that Chloe took to look over the building to see where the chip had dropped, Batman was already gone.
"So...that went well" Chloe muttered in a huff grabbing her belongings and heading towards the stairwell she had propped open to get up there. Back to the drawing board on her approach.
~End Flashback~
Chloe shook herself from memory lane to quip back at the endearing jackass who had turned into her best friend.
"Not even going to buy me dinner first?" She teased, "Do your usual conquests have such low standards?"
"Please, I'm sure you were fed very well." She glanced over at the remains of the chocolate cake that Alfred had topped off her evening with after a chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, and a fresh pot of coffee.
"Someone had to enjoy it. Lord knows you won't."
"Well there you go, I spoil you rotten and what is it that I get in return?"
"Shall I type out a list?" Chloe questioned eyebrow raised.
"Put it in a memo, I'll send it back with my revisions." she could hear the sound of the car rolling across pavement, he was on the highway back by now.
"I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow, I have to head into the office early. You going to the gallery opening?"
"That's happening tomorrow?" He questioned. She could picture his face. Though Bruce Wayne was meticulous about most things in his life, if the man didn't have three assistance, Alfred, and his phone calendar reminding him of what he was supposed to be doing, where, and when the man would not be aware of the day of the week.
"Yes Bruce, it's tomorrow. Same place and time it's been on your calendar for months." She rolled her eyes.
"You're going?"
"Of course, I can't miss proud father Lucius."
"So be my date?"
"Let me think about that for a minute. Nah, I'm good."
"One of these days I'll figure you out Collins, one of these days!"
"Doubtful, but I enjoy watching you try." She signed off, cutting the com feed and switching the Batcave computer system to hibernation mode, knowing full well that once Bruce was back he'd be pouring over the latest intel on the Malcone family until the wee hours of the morning.
She shook her head, and people call me a workaholic.
She rode the lift up to the first floor of Wayne Manor and made her way through the maze of hallways to the entrance. As usual, Alfred was there with her coat and bag.
"Seriously Alfred, one of these days I'll figure out how your timing is always impeccable" Chloe laughed accepting his help to shrug on her coat.
"Years of practice Miss Collins." He said with a wink, "Safe travels home."
~Flashback: 2 Years, 7 Months, 3 weeks, 0 Days~
It was her first time actually being invited to Wayne Manor to help Bruce with his "extracurricular activities".
She took it as a positive step forward that not only had he not been bleeding/near death when she arrived, but he had asked for her help on coms and had gone through the night only ignoring her suggestions about 80% of the time.
She had signed off and was heading out through the manor, wondering how on earth she was going to find her way out and get her coat back before Bruce returned when the elderly butler appeared literally out of thin air.
"Miss, it was a pleasure having you this evening." He was standing there with her coat held out like a proper gentleman.
"So I see where Batman gets it from." She said accepting his help with her coat.
"I'm sure I do not know what you mean. Please follow me out I will see you to the door. Do you require a ride home?"
"No, I arranged that myself already. Thank you for the offer." He bowed his head slightly and held the door open for her.
"Of course, goodnight." He said, "Safe travels home."
~End Flashback~
Chloe reached her apartment in about 15 minutes. Her newer digs were certainly an improvement from when she first moved to Gotham all those years ago. She waved her keycard out her window to pull into the underground garage and pulled through to her designated spot.
Not waiting for a cab at the end of Wayne Manor drive was another improvement from the last few years. She had resisted at first when Bruce had given her the keys, but now her car was her favorite possession second only to her beloved computers.
She made her way to the elevator, passing the security guard on shift.
"Evening Frank." She said with a smile.
"Evening Miss Collins. Working late again?" The middle aged security guard asked with a knowing smile. Since Miss Collins moved into the building she was usually the last resident to arrive home, apart from the random 20 something that would come back from the clubs in the early morning.
"You know me Frank, work is never finished." Chloe said with a smile making her way down the hall to her apartment, swiping her key again and pushing her way through into the foyer.
It was a beautiful apartment, probably the most put together home she'd ever had. It was two bedrooms, "You always want to have a guest room" the realtor had said, and Chloe did everything to not laugh at that.
She didn't see herself having any guest any time soon. No, the second room was her office complete with full monitor setup and satellite imaging from 3 countries and 4 major corporations.
She dropped her keys in the decorative bowl next to the door, and toed off her heels dropping her bag and coat to the floor as she made her way into the kitchen, turning on the lights and reaching into the fridge for a bottled water. She unscrewed the bottle, making her way into the living room and turning on her light. Going over to the balcony window and pulling back the curtain slightly as a sign that she had made it home safely,out of habit more than anything else.
Bruce had lowjacked her car ages ago and knew full well she was back in her apartment, but she had gotten used to him following her back home in the early years and he still did on occasion if he was in her neighborhood or a particularly nasty villain was around.
The man's paranoia was unmatched by anything she had seen before except perhaps her own. Maybe that was why they made such a good team. It was funny that in the beginning their trust issues made it seem like an impossibility that they could ever work together. The paranoia and caution on both sides made it hard for either of them to move forward, however, when things needed to be done they both reached past what made them uncomfortable and did what was necessary.
It was perhaps the sense of familiarity, of seeing the same fear and uncertainty reflected in the other person, that made their weird friendship work. Chloe could honestly say that at this point, Bruce Wayne was the most trusted person that had ever been in her life. Yes, they pushed each other, there was no blind faith and there was a lot of follow up when one made a point on something. But if the conviction was there and situation evident, Chloe would follow Bruce anywhere and she felt he would do the same.
It was with this thought that she walked into her office to survey the feed that she reviewed every night, the link to her old life. One of the secrets she kept from Bruce, though she doubted he didn't know.
Like her, Bruce was a researcher and one of the smartest detectives she knew. They might not ever talk about it, but she was pretty sure that he knew all about Chloe Anne Sullivan.
She turned on the monitor, and was immediately greeted with the image of a very different billionaire.
Oliver Queen was currently at a charity function, smiling for the camera outside The Delmar in Star City, a very elite hotel used for high society functions and by wealthy businessmen and aristocrats when visiting the California town. Her heart ached for a moment before she checked the split screen, a news article by Lois Lane about Superman, video of Flash signing autographs, a pentagon report on the developments in Atlantis, and a diagnostic from Victor's latest upgrade.
Chloe shed a silent tear as she shutdown the feeds, switched off the light and headed to her bedroom. Chloe Sullivan died over 4 years ago, but for a brief moment every night, she would check-in, make sure her boys were okay and then she would go to sleep and start her day fresh as Chloe Collins. She'd go to work, go help Batman, take out a villain, rinse and repeat.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Figured that with the great COVID-19 Epidemic of 2020 people might be looking for content to read and I certainly have some time to write it. Like I said in the beginning this is my first time writing with Flashbacks so please let me know your thoughts and if you have any suggestions to improve the flow of the story or formatting to make the flashback's clearer etc. please let me know.
In the mean time, everyone stay safe, stay kind, wash your hands and we'll get through this thing!
Best, IntrepidReporter 3