"What else do you want from me?"

The tiredness behind the words more than their meaning stopped Chloe midway to the coffee pot. Was she so self-centered she'd failed to notice Oliver's feelings?

He'd made the past three days about her. Last minute trip to Turkey even though he was worn out after weeks abroad? Done. Set up a meeting with a man he disliked on sight? No problem. Step in to investigate a very strange threat? In a heartbeat.

And before that it'd been a hundred small gestures. Arranging for her mom's healthcare, teasing smiles out of her when he somehow noticed she needed the silliness, stepping in whenever she needed something, sometimes—most of the time— making sure she didn't even have to ask first, knowing she hated it. A hundred things he'd been doing for her almost from the beginning, all signs that showed he cared for her wellbeing, that he cared for her. Gestures she'd dismissed because of her history with Clark, because of Jimmy, because he was Oliver Queen, a hero, a billionaire, too gorgeous a man to think for a minute that someone like him would be interested in someone like her apart from her skills behind a computer or a casual friendship.

She'd sworn last year to never let her insecurities and doubts dictate her life and she'd done it again, dragging a good man, an amazing man down with her. She deserved every single one of Lois' glares and so-called pep talks.

Chloe slammed both hands on the counter, ready to follow up with her head. "Idiot!"

"Wow, what did the counter do to you?" The blonde on her thoughts appeared in the doorframe, the empty tray in hands. "Did Emil have something to say?"

Chloe flushed brick red. The intensity in his concerned brown eyes had that effect on her, to always make her feel like a ten-years old with pigtails with her hand in Martha Kent's cookies jar… "I… didn't call. I prefer to send him an email with the details."

"As you wish."

She tried not to cringe. The Princess Bride had been her favorite movie for a solid part of her childhood. Oliver put the tray on the counter. "What's the problem, then?"

Chloe collected herself. Her face felt too hot to deny anything. He probably was reading her like a book anyway. "I am. I am the problem."

"Hey, don't say that. We've been bombarded with crazy stuff all morning, and I'm not even mentioning last night's adventure. It's a lot to take in, it's normal to feel overwhelmed."

She wanted him to wrap his arms around her so she could rest her head on his chest. "Probably. But you don't."

His eyebrow shot up. "I don't what?"

"Feel overwhelmed."

Oliver broke the eye contact. Suddenly, he looked very much like the proverbial deer in headlights, his gaze darting from her empty mug to her laptop to the sink, to the fridge and back. Chloe moved closer, not in his personal space but close enough he had no choice but to look at her.

"Try bowled over. And a little scared, I think."

Oliver bowed his head. She followed the movement, so they kept eye contact.

His Adam apple bobbed once before he spoke softly. "I am not exactly the poster boy for successful relationships and I… I don't want to make a mistake. Not with you."

Chloe gawked. Then calm carried the frenzied firebugs in her stomach away, the pieces were falling into place one by one. "You believe it's true…"

Oliver brushed her hair off her forehead then dropped his hand. He shrugged. The nonchalance contradicted the way his gaze searched her face. "I believe we always have a choice, Chloe. Is Fate involved in putting people on each other's path? Maybe. But the choices we make, they can change things. I know I am attracted to you. I have been for a while."

His fingers grazed her cheek then, just the ghost of a caress which made her want to lean her face into his palm. "And I think you're attracted to me too."

Chloe blushed. Oliver's brown eyes warmed and danced with hers. Then he wriggled his eyebrows. "After all, you did brand me like your personal bronco."

"Oh!" She balked in outrage. "I didn't do that on purpose. You asked me to heal you."

"Huh huh… Don't try to deny it. You found a very inventive way to mark your territory. It's okay. You're very sexy when you're jealous."

Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. "You're delusional."

She waited for a retort, and got a smile instead. Oliver stood there smiling down at her with that half-smirk he always dampened with a touch of endearing boyishness. She couldn't stay mad at him when he smiled like that, her stomach was too busy gamboling around.

She grumbled, annoyed with her own reaction.

"Discussing… this" Chloe waggled a finger between them "isn't a free pass to turn on the charm, Queen."

The grin broadened so he seemed to ignite from the inside out, and her body with him.

"Charming, huh? What else?"

Her nose caught whiffs of the chlorine his minute rinse must have missed. Beneath it, his scent reminded her of long nights spent in leather, warm bergamot from his favorite tea with a hint of pepper. Her heart reveled in recognition. Her head, not so much.

He was too close. It was going too fast. Alarm bells clank in her ears and made her dizzy.

Her hands scissored themselves between them to push at his chest.

Oliver stared at her shock, as if he'd just realized he'd caged her against the counter. He retreated a fraction. "I… Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you… Sorry."

Chloe unhooked her fingers from his shirt without breaking the contact.

"I'm not scared of you, Oliver," she said as firmly as she could with her body and mind waring. "I just… I don't want to make a mistake either."

Oliver's dark eyes clouded. The hold he had on her elbows loosened for good, leaving her a bit confused at the loss.

"I understand the word "no", Chloe."

"That's good to know. But that's not what I meant."

She forced herself to breathe and placed one hand back on his chest. His heart leapt to attention.

"Something is happening here, which is beyond our control, and giving in without thinking it through… I don't want you to regret it later." He looked about to object, so she continued quickly. "I know now that you've thought about… us. But…" Chloe trailed off, unable to bare herself completely.

Oliver covered her hand with his for a gentle squeeze. "But you prefer we take it slow?"

"Yes."

Chloe offered a shy smile, relieved he understood what she was trying to say, and feeling more than a bit awkward. It felt like high-school all over again, though Oliver looked at her in a way Clark never had.

"You've got yourself a deal, Sullivan."

He tucked that obstinate strand of hair behind her ear again, then moved away from her to clear out the counter.

"Do you want to change before we head for diner? I'll buy you a drink first."

"Are you asking me on a date, Mr. Queen?" she teased.

"Depends. Will I get a kiss to fortify me against Hawkman's grumpiness?"

Chloe laughed. "And when did kissing on the first date start meaning taking it slow?"

"Can't blame a guy for trying. Now shoo!"

Chloe yelped when the tea towel flapped on her bottom. She closed her mouth as fast as she'd opened it and escaped the kitchen before she avenged herself. She wasn't exactly sure having her hands all over him was taking it slow, either.

It took Chloe a grand total of five minutes to realize that 1) she brought nothing with her that could remotely be considered first-date worthy and 2) she'd more or less refused Oliver Queen.

"Lois Lane."

"What's wrong with me?"

"Not a thing and if Queen implied something is I'm going to kick his ass until it sports his favorite color."

"I asked him… Lois, this amazing man tells me he wants to be with me and I replied he had to think about it."

"What?! What the heck is wrong with you!"

Chloe pulled the phone away from her ear at the shriek. A muffled voice echoed in the background. Lois yelled again. "I don't care it's noon! I need those prints ASAP! Sorry cuz… I got a break on the mayor and his tastes for Black Jack but SOMEONE! Is extremely slow to get me the pictures I requested YESTERDAY!"

"I should let you go. Congrat—"

"Not so fast, Speedy. Tell all. Ollie finally fessed up?"

Chloe sat on the ottoman to look out the window. She loved her work at the Isis Foundation and it was important. Some days, though, she missed the rush of the news room. "It's… complicated."

"You're scared."

"I'm cautious."

"And you have every right to be. He made you wait for so long he should work for it. But do me a favor and don't confuse Ollie with he-who-shall-not-be-named."

"I…"

"Lane! Where's my front-page by-line!" "On it, Chief!"

And sometimes, she didn't miss the constant stress of the Daily Planet, being yelled at and the constant competition. Being Watchtower was more than enough rush for her. "Go back to work, Lo. Thanks."

"Call me with the details later. Like, tomorrow. Love you!"

Chloe chuckled, the phone warming against her ear. "Bye Lois…"

With her confidence boosted up, the blonde abandoned the sunset to dress.