Chapter two! Yay for me not being completely late with an update. All of the lovely feedback spurred on my writing muse. I hope you like this. *sidesteps nervously*

Oliver Queen was not a man who decided things lightly. He was the CEO of Queen Industries, and thousands of people relied on him not to screw up. So when he had told Lois that he had no intention of ever getting a timer, he'd meant it.

He barely knew the girl. They'd gone out a few times . . . That didn't mean he thought she was his soul mate. She could be. He just wasn't sure. And that was okay. He didn't need some painful implantation to tell him what kind of woman he was attracted to.

However, if when she got her timer it weren't blank, it didn't really matter. Because no matter how much time she had left, she would only be looking forward to life beyond him. It would be essentially pointless to still try to have a relationship with her. It would be over.

So when she'd suggested that he go with her . . . he'd almost laughed. Apparently she was taking her cousin with her to go get her timer anyway-no matter that she was dating him, she wanted a timer, and she was going to get one. Lois Lane was a stubborn woman, it was part of why he found her so incredibly attractive. Her blunt and willful nature was refreshing, but maddening.

Her cousin, apparently, had the good sense to not want a timer of her own though. Smart girl.

Oliver was on his way to a dinner date with Lois. Apparently she had invited her cousin-who he hadn't yet met, which was rather strange considering that they lived together-and her boyfriend. Double dinner date. That had nearly made him groan aloud, but Lois had looked at him so expectantly, he couldn't say no.

Very few people, he imagined, could say no to Lois Lane.

Wow.

He was hot.

When Chloe first laid eyes on Oliver her jaw literally dropped a little bit. She'd quickly said something to cover it up, "Hi, I'm Chloe. I've heard a lot about you." She stuck out her hand.

Hmm. He took it. "Oliver. I've heard a lot about you too. From Lois and Clark, among others." He smiled.

"Oh yeah. It's kind of weird that we haven't met yet, considering all of our mutual friends." She smiled back at him, then realized that she hadn't introduced Jimmy. "Oh, and this is Jimmy."

"Hey. I'm her boyfriend. It's James actually." He was obviously marking his territory, and trying to 'man-up.' For a moment Chloe wondered if he were jealous. That would be rather ridiculous. Then again, maybe he just felt threatened. Jimmy seemed to have an issue with other men, these awkward self-confidence issues seemed to indicate a lack of confidence in his own masculinity. She'd once brought it up, but he'd accused her of attempting to psychoanalyze him. He'd suggested that she try to focus on her own hero-worship issues. That had stopped the conversation in its tracks.

Awkward silence.

"Well, how about we just mosey on into the kitchen." Lois had decided to cook. Which rather amused Chloe, actually.

"Did you really just use the word mosey? What are you, a cowboy?" Chloe lifted an eyebrow.

"I prefer cowgirl. Or, cow-woman."

Oliver and Jimmy looked on with interest. Seeing the two cousins banter was rather entertaining.

"Okay then, be as gender specific as you want. But I think we should probably just eat."

"As I'm absolutely starving, I'm going to second the motion to eat. All in favor?"

Oliver quirked his head to the side, raised his hand tentatively. "Majority rules, foodage time." Chloe practically rubbed her hands together with glee. She saw Jimmy looking at her strangely. "Hey, I was off on an assignment. I missed lunch."

The conversation eventually turned to the Daily Planet-which was rather unsurprising given that three of the four of them worked there. Obviously.

"How's the Green Arrow Bandit story coming along, Lois?" Jimmy asked curiously.

"Not so well. If it weren't for the fact that Chloe only attracts superheroes I'd be worried about her scooping me."

"Lois, you know I'd never scoop you on purpose." Interesting that she didn't say that she wouldn't scoop her cousin, but that it wouldn't be her intention to do so. "Anyway, this guy really needs a new name. If you ask me, I'd drop the 'bandit'-It's a little unnecessary."

Oliver looked on with interest, "What is he exactly? I've heard he's a bit of a vigilante."

"He's just a common thief, with great archery skills." Lois said with a hint of disgust, and a hint of an obvious desire to hunt him down herself.

"If you ask me, the guy's a modern day Robin Hood. Then again, it's not my story." She turned to Oliver, who was sitting diagonally across from her. "Lois is very protective of this guy. I think she'd like to catch him and throw him in jail herself given the opportunity. But only if she got an exclusive with him too, of course."

"Ever the reporter. By the way, if you ever need a photographer for that story when you go out on a lead, just call me."

"Of course, Jim."

Chloe merely smirked. "You two are ridiculous."

"Some of us don't have exclusive lines to four different superheroes." Lois said, with a hint of resentment.

Oliver lifted a brow. "You said that before, what exactly do you all mean by that?"

Chloe sighed. "I seem to attract heroes like a flame and its moths. They just . . . come to me. It's not my fault."

"You really should be more careful, Chloe. Those guys could be dangerous. Or, the bad guys could use you to get to them." Jimmy didn't quite trust them.

Her smile was a bit strained. "I'm fine. And the good thing about knowing a bunch of heroes is that if I ever do get into trouble, they'll save me."

"What if they turn on you?" It was obviously a bone of contention in their relationship, Oliver realized.

"Jimmy," she sighed. "I trust them."

Oliver seemed deep in thought. "Hey, Ollie. Why so quiet?" Lois demanded of him.

"It's an interesting subject, Lois. I was just ruminating."

"Ruminating?" Lois asked, as if she were questioning his sanity.

"As opposed to what, Lo? Mosey? I don't think you have room to speak. Then again, that makes him some sort of old man hermit, and you a 'cowgirl.' Sounds like a match made in costume party heaven."

"Don't be a bitch, Chlo."

"Why would I? You have that market covered." Chloe replied sweetly.

"You know I love you."

"I love you too, you crazy cowgirl."

Jimmy looked off into space as Oliver smothered a laugh.

These two were definitely family-and crazy to boot.

later that night

He rather liked the color green. The leather didn't really breathe well, but it was high quality. So it did the job.

He was ready to go out and patrol. He was tempted to look up the "Voice of the Heroes" as they called her, Chloe Sullivan.

He decided against it, of course. He was still considered a 'bandit' . . . and even if she were receptive to the truth, there was nothing she could really do for him until he managed to clear his name.

He shook the thought out of his head and got ready to move out.

She'd been walking along after dark. Okay. She knew it was a bad idea. But it had been such a nice night that after her dinner with Lois, Oliver and Jimmy she'd gone off to take a walk. Alone.

She had the basics of self defense knowledge and her rape whistle. It was, however, Metropolis. And even though it seemed to attract heroes like crazy, it also attracted criminals at an even higher rate. She sighed aloud.

She didn't mind telling the stories of her hero friends. She didn't mind making sure that whenever there was something dangerous afoot, the public knew exactly what they needed to know-even if it was only partially the truth, minus the parts they'd never understand or accept anyway.

But sometimes she wished she could do more.

With that thought someone grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth and choking her a bit.

Oh, crap.

She struggled, bit his hand and tore away. And she did not scream like a little girl. At least, if you asked her, she would just claim she yelled for help.

Suddenly someone appeared and nailed the mugger to the wall with arrows. The Green Arrow. Even in her thoughts, she had to drop the 'bandit.' It really was just a sad superhero name.

"Oh. Thanks." She thanked him. He was still in the shadows, but he stepped forward now into the street light. He whispered something in the mugger's ear and let him go. But not before kneeing him in the groin.

"You should be more careful." He had a voice distorter. Hmm.

"Probably. I'll take that under advisement."

"I've heard about you."

"Really? I've heard about you too. Apparently you're some of vigilante who steals from the rich. Of course, I know better."

"Do you? Maybe you know too much."

"If that was supposed to be a threat, I'm really not buying it. Even if we didn't run in the same heroic circles-and I know you know who I'm talking about-I wouldn't believe that. I do in fact know how to do my research. Everything you've stolen was already stolen, and you merely returned it to its rightful owners."

"How much have your Super Friends told you about me?" There was a hint of nervousness, almost as if he were testing how trustworthy his semi-allies were. Which, he was.

"They didn't tell me who you are. But now, I have a few theories. And don't worry, once I figure it out. I won't breathe a word of it, or print it for that matter."

"That's nice to know." He rather enjoyed talking to her, and he wanted to trust her.

And he didn't want this conversation to end. "So, I see you haven't joined the timer craze."

"What? Are we engaging in smalltalk now? I don't need a timer to tell me what I want from a man-the timers are for people who don't trust themselves, who can't live their lives without a guarantee."

"Are you saying that because you actually believe it, or because you're too afraid to see what the timer would say?"

"Personal questions, much?" She took a moment to actually consider his question. "I don't know," she finally replied. "You know, I'm surprised. I wouldn't have thought you had a timer."

"What, heroes don't believe in true love?" She could hear the smile in his voice.

"I-I don't know why I just said that. Nor do I know why I was thinking that." She felt really off-balance for some reason. Twice, in one day. She really needed to stop meeting new people. "I'm a reporter, I suppose I'm just rather cynical and dark and twisty."

"I don't have a timer by the way. I was merely curious." She seemed rather melancholy. So he interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh. Well, good for you. I have to go." She really did. She'd spent too much time talking to this guy. She had been desperately trying to find some sort of normal ground in her life. And becoming friendly with yet another hero was not the way to do that.

"I'll follow you from above to make sure you get home safe."

"You don't have to-"

"Yes, I do."

"Okay."

Once she'd gotten to the outside of the Talon he'd shown up again. "You probably shouldn't walk alone at night like that." He said again.

"Probably not," she agreed. She was about to go inside when she turned around and faced him again. "You know, you might want to give some thought to your superhero codename."

"What, you don't like the 'Green Arrow Bandit'-you should probably take that up with your cousin."

"I'd drop the 'bandit.'"

"Thanks for the advice. I'll take it under advisement." He echoed her earlier words.

"The Green Arrow sounds much less . . . " She struggled to find the word.

"A little less common thief, a little more hero?"

"Exactly. Anyway, thank you." She owed him. She sighed internally."I'll try to clear your name, if you want."

"Thank you, I'd like that."

And he disappeared.

This was possibly her strangest encounter with a hero-and she'd had a lot of strange first encounters.

The Green Arrow was an odd one. She rather liked him.

That, however, was a problem.

She was also fairly confident that she knew exactly who he was.

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