Author's note: While this story IS mostly about Lois and Clark, I will have a little Chloe and Oliver sprinkled over for some much needed goodness!
Like I said before, I own nothing! ...Unfortunately.
"What about this one?"
"Are you serious? Lois would kill you." Chloe grimaced as Oliver held up the necklace. "I thought billionaires had a taste for jewelry." She teased as she grabbed the necklace from him and placed it back .
"We do." He said, then glanced back at the necklace with uncertainty, "At least we normally do."
Chloe gave him a smile and then continued to walk around the jewelry store.
"What are we buying Lois jewelry for? Wouldn't a pair a brass knuckles be more appropriate?" Oliver whispered behind her.
"No....Lois has enough of those. Plus you know why we're here. She needs something to wear to that oh so extravagant ball you plan on hosting for the Daily Planet. I figure why not hit two birds with one stone with her birthday coming up, which is why," She spun to turn to him, "No old lady jewelry."
"That wasn't!" He sputtered pointing behind him to the display. Chloe gave him a look and he deflated.
"Yeah ok."
She let out a chuckle and continued to peer at the displays. Oliver watched as her eyes wandered, stopping here and there. He couldn't help but smile just a bit as her forehead wrinkled as she concentrated on finding just the right thing.
"What?" Chloe asked as she noticed his eyes on her.
"Uhhhhh.." He looked for cover and pointed at a pair of earrings that had caught his eyes earlier, "How about these?" Oliver pointed at a pair of teardrop diamond earrings with engraved gold leaves entwining them. Chloe bent down for a closer look and sucked in her breath. They were gorgeous but completely not Lois.
"They're beautiful but remember we're shopping for Lois."
"I wasn't thinking about Lois." He said, looking at Chloe. His brown eyes softened as he gazed at her. Chloe felt her heart jump into her throat and she tried her best to act natural but unfortunately, she couldn't help the stupid grin that filled her face.
"Well, for Tess then?" Chloe sputtered then realized what she had just said. Oliver gave a quick cough and looked away, the moment completely shattered.
Chloe took the opportunity to mentally slap herself. This wasn't like her at all, bringing up Tess like that. It was bad enough she had asked him to go shopping for Lois but Clark had bailed again and Oliver was the only person she comfortable enough to do this with. Lately, Oliver seemed to be the only person she did feel comfortable to be around. While Lois was still there for her, those missing weeks had put a small dent in their relationship. She felt Lois was hiding something from her and that was unknown territory with Lois. They always confided in each other and it hurt a bit that Lois didn't trust Chloe enough to tell what was wrong. Clark was a completely different story. Ever since their talk in the barn their relationship had but all completely disappeared. Yeah, he was around for Watchtower business but other then that they never spoke. Chloe felt like she was losing everyone and now she was even pushing Oliver away.
"Look Oliver, I'm sorry. That was tota-" Chloe felt Oliver's hand grip her arm and pull her back behind him. "What's wro-" He interrupted her again and turned to face her.
"Act natural. Those two guys at the door." Chloe peered behind him and saw two guys standing by the door. To someone who had an eye for catching weird things, Chloe was definitely catching weird things from them. Their bodies gave off a feel of relaxation but she could see their darting eyes, watching the security guard, taking in the exits and where the cameras were. She turned her head to the back and saw another burly guy slipping the lock into place.
"Oliver." She whispered as she noticed the nod that was given by the thug to the rest of them.
"I know. I see." Oliver whispered back. "They have guns."
He was right. Chloe could see the bulges from where the guns laid hidden beneath their clothes.
"Wait here." Oliver commanded.
"What are you going to do?" Chloe glared at him, "You can't go all Green Arrow here. If you haven't noticed we are in a jewelry store so unless you can go all MacGyver on all these diamonds then you can't do anything. Plus they have guns. Bullets go faster then punches."
"Yeah, but we know someone who's faster then bullets." Oliver reminded as he pulled her next to him and walked over to the cashier as if it there wasn't a problem.
"Clark."
"Yeah. Could you hold the cashier's attention while I go set the alarm off. Something tells me these guys are good enough to cut one alarm but not the second one."
"Yeah." Chloe walked over to the cashier and grabbed his attention by pretending to be astounded by a pair of ugly burlesque earrings. "Oh, what are these?" She cooed.
"Oh, those just came in from a small town outside Metropolis." He commented as he pulled the earrings out of the case and place them in front of Chloe. Her eyes wandered over to see Oliver bend down to get behind the register, his movements fast as he pushed the alarm button. Chloe saw it blink red and only let out the smallest of sighs. Her nerves were on the spritz and she only barely caught the last bit of the jeweler's words. "-Ville."
She snapped her head around, "What?"
"These were just shipped to us from Smallville, Kansas. Seems they put some of there famous rocks in em."
Chloe's heart began to race as she peered at the earrings again, "May I?" She asked as she glanced back at Oliver and then to the two men at the door.
"Yeah, sure. I'll just be a sec." The jeweler told her as he moved over to another customer. Chloe glanced at the earrings again and silently cursed herself. In the light she could see the faint emerald sheen of Kryptonite. She glanced around to find Oliver glancing at her. "
"I got the alarm."
"Yeah, well we have another problem."
"What?" He asked, glancing at the door in alarm.
"No. These earrings!"
"Chloe, are you seriously worried about earrings right now?"
"No. I'm worried about Clark!" She placed the earrings in his hand. "They're made with kryptonite!"
"A pair of earrings won't stop Clark! Guy is a bull." He said placing the earrings back.
"No but half the jewelry store might." Chloe said as she eyed the glass container in front her. Every piece of jewelry, earrings, necklaces and bracelets that she could see all had the emerald sheen and Chloe saw enough kryptonite to know this was bad.
"It's ok." Oliver reassured her, placing his hand into hers. Chloe felt some sort of calm posses her but her mind was still reeling. Suddenly, the havoc of her mind was broken through by the pitch of sirens.
"Crap!" One of the guys peered out the window, while pulling out a rather odd looking gun. "OK! I NEED EVERYONE DOWN ON THE GROUND! NOW" He screamed as he raised the gun in the air. Screams of panic could be heard as more guns rose in the air.
"Just get down." Oliver said as he pulled Chloe down with him.
"HEY!"
Chloe spun her head around to see the security guard holding a gun up to one of the robbers.
"No." Oliver whispered and tried to grab him but it was to late and a loud crackle could be heard. The guards body started to convulse as he fell to his knees. Chloe watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his ears started to bleed. Then he fell to the ground and Chloe's eyes widened as she saw the scorch burns on his uniform. Her nose wrinkled as the putrid smell of burnt flesh filled her nose.
She glanced at Oliver and saw her mirrored expression on his face.
"Those aren't guns." She whispered.
"Then I have a chance." Oliver stated as he gazed around the room. A rather hasty plan already formulated in his head. As much as waiting for Clark was a sensible idea, Oliver couldn't help but feel like that's all he ever did; wait for Clark. He wanted to feel like he was actually uselful. That his skills were actually worth something. Especially to her. He glanced over to Chloe and saw her looking at him questionely and then the realzation hit her.
"No! Oliver don't you dare!" She whispered to him heatedly.
"HEY!" She flinched as one of the robbers walked over to her and pulled her up hard. She winced as the upward motion caused her arm to bend in a way it shouldn't. "SHUT-UP!"
"Let go of her." Oliver's voice hit like steel as he stood up full length, his Green Arrow presence growing stronger.
"Oliver." She breathed as the grip on her arm tightened.
"SHUT-UP or I blast you like a pig." The robber threatened as he placed the head of the gun to Chloe's back. Her heart jumped as she felt the heat of the gun press up against the thin fabric of her shirt. Her green eyes sought out Oliver's browns and she silently pleaded with him to just stop.
Just because they don't have guns doesn't mean you still won't get hurt!!!
He seemed to get the idea and backed off but he still seemed to glow with heroic energy and before Chloe could realize she was slammed hard into the glass case. Shards of glass cut through her clothes ripping into her skin.
"NO!" Oliver's voice shot through the air but all Chloe could feel was pain. Panic. Fear. Even admiration for Oliver. She slowly slid open her eyes as her body fell to the floor, taking jewelry with her. Her vision flooded as she watched Oliver struggle to get to her, the robbers punching him in the stomach. Chloe winced as blood slid down her face and onto the jewelry that hanged over her.
"Oliver," She gasped as her vision was suddenly filled with dirty boots. A huge form stood above her and her vision gave way enough for her to see the barrel of the guns pointed to her.
"Stop or she gets it." The hard voice made Chloe's heat race.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Oliver's voice shook with panic as he saw the robber turn to him and flash him a smile. "You hurt her and I'll kill you!" He spat to him.
The robber's grin grew and he turned to look back at Chloe. Her eyes widened as he pulled the trigger. "Ok."
Chloe screamed in pain as the shock waves shot through her body, exploding through the cuts and boiling her blood. As the darkness started to cloud her eyes, all Chloe could do was feel. Feel the pain.