Two Days Before Christmas…
Gotham International Airport – 2:00 p.m.
Clark carried Lois' suitcase to the check in counter at the airport and set it down. "You sure you've given up on this case, Lois? I mean, it seemed like you had some promising leads."
Lois waved his question away. "No one is talking. I have pictures of something that may or not be the Man-Bat. I might as well go back to Smallville and get ready for Christmas."
"Up to you." Clark managed to hide his satisfaction. "I'll wait with you. My flight isn't until tonight. I'm all packed." Clark motioned with his carry on duffel bag. His intention was to run home, the way he'd gotten to Gotham City in the first place, once he'd gotten Lois on the plane.
"Can I ask you something, Clark?" Lois asked, after she'd checked in and they were headed to the mall-like lobby of the airport. "About you and Chloe."
"Sure." Clark nodded, and Lois stopped and looked at him, studying him intently.
"You know my cousin had feelings for you, and you never acted on them. Why?" She folded her arms across her chest. "I've always been curious."
"Um. I don't know, Lois…that's awfully personal, don't you think?" Clark blushed, and Lois shook her head.
"I'm just trying to figure something out." Lois continued. "I've been thinking about something while we were here."
"Okay." Clark sighed. "I love Chloe. She's fantastic, great and beautiful."
"But you aren't in love with her." Lois replied simply, a statement of fact.
"No. I could have been." Clark's reply was hesitant, leery of her reaction. "Lots and lots of times."
"Hmmm." Lois nodded. "Okay, thanks, Smallville."
"That's it? You aren't going to yell at me for not appreciating her, and what an jerk I am for not feeling the same way she does?" Clark reached out to feel Lois' head. "You sick?"
"Quit it, Smallville!" Lois slapped his hand away, but she smiled widely at him. "Call it charity for the holidays. Everyone deserves a break sometime. Today is your turn, that's all." She looked around. "I have time. Want to help me finish Christmas shopping? The duty free stores are pretty cool to shop in."
"Right, Lois." Clark laughed, shaking his head. "I still have some shopping to finish too." His phone rang, and Clark answered, as Lois walked away to start window shopping. "Hello?"
"Clark." Oliver's voice was amused. "Guess who just called me."
Clark looked over toward Lois and turned his back. "Bruce Wayne?"
"Bingo." Oliver was in his office. "I wasn't coming in to work today, but Chloe's out with Lana, so I came in for a little while and that was that. He's flying out tonight to be in Metropolis until New Years. He says he wants to talk to me about my satellite technology, but there's more to it than that."
"You don't think this Man-bat guy is Bruce Wayne, do you, Oliver?" Clark asked.
"I'm not ruling him out. He fits. Money for that body armor, location, plus Bruce was always a serious son of a bitch in school. Martial arts, wrestling, debate team. He and I were on the rowing team too. You didn't want to get on his wrong side. I can completely see him being this vigilante in Gotham City." Oliver tapped his desk. "Plus, his parents were killed there when he was eight. Robbery gone bad."
Clark shook his head in sympathy. "Are you going to confront him, Oliver?"
"You don't confront Bruce. He confronts you. This trip to Metropolis? He says he wants to work a deal with me, but this is all you, Clark. He's seen you use your abilities or something, I'm pretty sure." Oliver grinned. "Tell me again how you're so good at keeping your abilities a secret and how you can't possibly use them to help people."
"Shut up, Oliver." Clark laughed. "I'll be back in Metropolis tonight."
"Good. See you later." Oliver hung up.
"Who was that?" Lois asked, when Clark got back to where she was shopping. She was swirling the snow in a Gotham City snowglobe. "Not my missing cousin, I guess."
"No. It was Oliver." Clark slid his phone into his pocket. Lois set the snowglobe down and looked at Clark curiously.
"What did he want?"
"He talked to Chloe. She's fine, by the way." Clark told Lois. And then he took a step into unknown territory. "I was just wondering, Lois. Would you have a problem if Oliver and Chloe were dating?" She looked up at him, and Clark added. "Hypothetical question, of course."
"No." Lois shook her head. "I wouldn't have a problem. Oliver and I had fun together, sure, but he's not my type. I still haven't figured out my type what is." She held a t-shirt up against Clark and tipped her head. Dismissing it, Lois set the shirt back down. "If Oliver and Chloe did somehow manage to get together, that's great."
"Hmm." Clark said, following her. "Not what I expected to hear."
"I'm not a jealous person, Clark." Lois sprayed some perfume on a card and sniffed at it. "I feel badly for her though."
"Why?" Clark asked, intrigued.
"Oliver's great, sexy and rich and all, but the Green Arrow…" Lois raised her eyes and shuddered. "That was some kiss, passionate, and amazing…I can still feel it in my toes when I think about it. It'll take me forever to get kissed like THAT again." She sniffed the perfume card again and held it out to Clark. "What do you think?"
Clark sniffed the card politely, nodding, but now he was consumed with the idea of kissing Lois again. It was like a dare, Clark laughed to himself, thinking of the times he and Pete had done stupid things in the name of proving how brave they were. Lois was looking at him, waiting for his reaction to the perfume, but all Clark could think about what her lips had felt like on his. "It's great." He nodded, smiling.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Lois picked up the unopen bottle of perfume. "A present to me from me.."
Two Days Before Christmas - Metropolis – 6:00 p.m.
Chloe had gone back to the Daily Planet just to check messages and pick up a couple of things she wanted to work on over the holiday. She'd already talked to Gabe, and the news that he wasn't going to be home for Christmas wasn't really a surprise, given his schedule. Chloe was a little disappointed, but she understood. Gathering her files, Chloe heard a hiss, a whine and the sound of wood splintering. Turning, she looked around. Everyone had gone for the holiday weekend. Chloe sighed and went back to her work, and then saw the long, green arrow embedded in her desk. She turned again, panic stricken. Chloe reached out and pulled the arrow out of her desk, studying it carefully. There was a note attached, so Chloe untied it.
"Saw your piece on the St. Anastasia's concert. Like the way you think. I'm willing to give you an exclusive interview, Miss Sullivan. Get rid of the boyfriend and be at the corner of Seventh and Ogden at 8:00. GA."
"What a jerk. "Get rid of the boyfriend.'" Chloe frowned, the casually scrawled words teasing at her mind, and dropped the note on the desk as her cell phone rang.
"Chloe? It's Oliver. Listen, I'm really sorry about this, but something came up and I have to go to Edge City tonight." He sounded like he was already on the helicopter, and Chloe pouted a little. "I wish I didn't have to."
"You're kidding." Chloe stomped her foot. "Oh, Oliver."
"I know, it sucks, believe me. Look, I'm coming back tonight late, so don't wait up, but be there when I get home. I'm not letting our Christmas countdown fall apart because of an issue like this. Okay?" He asked, and Chloe smiled. "Plenty of room for Golidilocks in my bed."
"I'll be there. So we'll go to that Nights of Lights thing in Granville tomorrow, then?" Chloe asked, and Oliver laughed.
"I give you my word." Oliver added softly. "And my heart, but that's off the record, Miss Christmas."
"Just come home." Chloe smiled, her eye falling on the note from the Green Arrow. "As it is, I have a story to work on. Just came up. Could be big." She picked it up and read it again.
"Be careful, Chloe. I'll call you later." Oliver said. "'Night, Ms. Christmas."
"Night, Oliver, fly safe." Chloe hung up the phone and looked at the note again. "Okay, Mr. Green Arrow, I'm all yours."
It didn't take long to get to Seventh and Ogden from the Daily Planet, but Chloe hurried anyway. It was almost 8:00, and she had used the time to go over her notes and clippings about the Green Arrow as well as talking to Lois, who had just gotten back to her apartment in Smallville. They'd talked briefly, Lois seemed sort of dreamy and vague, so Chloe let her get off the phone and then turned her attention to the live feed coming into her computer. The very mysterious billionaire Bruce Wayne had arrived in Metropolis, for business, waving away photographers at the small private airport just outside of the city. When she saw it was a quarter to eight, Chloe stood, gathering her bag and took off, leaving her heavy coat behind in her rush to get to the designated area in time. This interview would be the scoop of the year, and while Chloe now had more than one reason to be afraid of Lois' reaction, her cousin's original idea, of Oliver being the elusive bandit came to mind. But Oliver was in Edge City, and the Green Arrow was on his way. At exactly 8:00, the smell of leather and a strong arm around her waist let Chloe know that her interview had arrived.
"Hold on, Ms. Sullivan." The voice was deep, but slightly distorted, vaguely electronic. A voice distorter, Chloe made a mental note. In addition to custom arrows, this vigilante was into gadgets. Green Arrow aimed the bow and shot, and almost immediately they were airborne. Chloe had been with Clark on his super speed runs, but this was different. They were very nearly flying, although Chloe could hear the metallic whine of whatever was carrying them to their destination. She closed her eyes and reached around to cling to him, burying her face in his shoulder. The one arm around her waist tightened protectively.
"Scared? I won't hurt you. Need to clean up my rep and killing a reporter won't do that." He sounded amused, and Chloe hated him a little. "Just want to talk somewhere more private."
"I'm not scared." Chloe replied defiantly, glad to feel solid surface under her feet. They were on a rooftop now, and completely alone. "So, I guess I should ask what you want Metropolis to know."
"Right." He released her, and Chloe felt the chill December air around her, wishing she'd remembered her winter coat. "To the point, huh? In a hurry to meet your boyfriend? He gets around, doesn't he? Has a thing for reporters too. Gotta say, you're more my type, Ms. Sullivan. I like 'em smart."
"Leave Oliver out of this." Chloe snapped, and The Green Arrow smirked, barely visible in the depths of his hood. "Why don't you let me see your face?"
"Uh-uh." He said. "Not now." He set his bow down and pushed it away from himself with a foot. "Gesture of good faith."
"Okay, why do you choose the targets you do?" Chloe asked, folding her arms over her chest. The wind was much harsher up on the roof, and her shirt was thin.
The Green Arrow took two steps closer and tipped his hooded head. "Why? I think the corruption and greed they indulge in is reason enough. They get things illegally that they shouldn't have. They don't give on their own, so I help them. And they give…until it hurts. I've been watching your Oliver Queen, and he's pretty slick, giving all that money to that church uptown. But I'll find something dirty on him, I promise. Then maybe I'll tell him about our little meeting."
"Our little meeting will be all over the Daily Planet in the morning, so you won't have a bomb to drop with my boyfriend." Chloe said, painfully aware of his study of her. "And yet there are other rich people you haven't targeted, Bruce Wayne for example. He's here in Metropolis right now, as a matter of fact. He's probably worth stealing from."
"'I'll have to put him on my list, thanks." Green Arrow took another step toward her and touched her cheek. "I can see what your boyfriend sees in you, Ms. Sullivan. Smart, sexy…"
"I said leave Oliver out of this. Is that why you chose me for this interview?" Chloe forced herself to not shiver. His touch was so familiar, as if she could almost remember being touched by him before. But that was what she was here to determine, so Chloe stood there, trying not to press his hand to her cheek and smile up at him as he pushed her hair away from her face gently. Only Oliver did ever did that.
"No, not entirely." Again he smirked, she could hear it in his voice, even the distorter didn't hide his amusement. "Let's just say I have a weakness for blondes."
"Right." Chloe nodded. "I'll put that in the story." He let his finger trail from her cheek to her collarbone, and Chloe again had to force herself to not shiver. And this time it wasn't from the cold. "Just what Metropolis wants to know. And don't touch me like that again."
"No?" He was right beside her now, she could feel his breath against her ear. She could reach up right now and pull that hood back. Lifting her arm slowly, Chloe let herself relax against him. Again the arms, long, lean and deeply muscled closed around her and she felt his mouth on the nape of her neck. "How about like this?" The voice was a whisper now, and Chloe swore it was familiar. The distorter didn't work this close up, but she closed her eyes, feeling weak as his mouth traveled from the nape of her neck around to the place where her hairline ended on the back of her neck. Oliver, she thought, think of him. Don't give in to this.
"You said you wanted to clear your name, and yet here you are. Are you going to rape me?" Chloe asked, shivering now, unable to control it. His lips moved away from her neck, but not before she felt them curve in a smile against her skin. Having not been with too many men before, only Jimmy, Chloe found herself wondering if all men had these habits, these quirks. Green Arrow knew where to touch her, and Chloe would have sworn that it was Oliver's mouth on her. But it couldn't be.
"Rape? No. I'm not that kind of guy." His chuckle was smoky and amused. "I'm getting the idea that you're willing though, Ms. Sullivan. I'm actually wondering if there's not a streak of bad girl in you." He'd stepped back and was walking around her, his finger tracing the neckline of her shirt. "Say the word, and I'll back off now. But you lose the interview."
"No." Chloe looked up into his face, the face she couldn't make out. The hood and the sunglasses made it nearly impossible, but his chin, complete with a cleft left out of Lois' police sketch, made her think of Oliver again. What would he say if he knew what she was doing to get this interview, Chloe thought, after he told her to be careful. Before she could turn away, the Green Arrow had seized her by the arms and pulled her in for a savage and punishing kiss. She yielded, blinded by a rush of lust that surprised her. The kiss broke and Chloe felt herself panting a little, desperate to feel his mouth on hers again.
"Oooh." Green Arrow breathed, holding her close to him with one arm. "Ms. Sullivan. I'm shocked." He was touching her with his free hand, the leather of the bow glove he wore tenderly scratching her skin, and Chloe wondered what that would feel like on her breasts. As if he could read her mind, the gloved hand cupped her and even through the fabric of her blouse and bra, Chloe could feel the rough leather. She gasped, and then scowled, trying to push away. Interview or not, this was not right. Unless…
"You've had your fun. I want the interview." Chloe snapped, hating herself for giving in that much. She was faithful by nature and this was so wrong. And, if her instincts about Green Arrow were wrong, Oliver would never forgive her for this. The panic gave way to a guilty and sick pleasure that Chloe could almost taste. Lois had said the Green Arrow kissed better than Oliver, and Chloe couldn't agree with that, but something about the hood and not knowing who he was just added to the allure. If anything, The Green Arrow kissed so much like Oliver that it couldn't possibly be anyone else, and Chloe gave herself over to him, made bold by knowing that she was with the one person she'd trust with her life other than Clark. And the best part of all was that now she just had to play along, because Oliver had no idea that she'd figured him out.
"I want you…" He said, more of a groan than actual words, and his hands were suddenly everywhere, under her skirt, her blouse pulled out from the waist of the skirt that was climbing up to her hips. "Exclusively." His words sent a thrill through her body, a hunger so strong that Chloe could feel it everywhere.
Her panties were suddenly just not on her anymore, in a small, flesh toned heap on the rooftop. He'd lifted her up, pushed her legs around his waist. With one free hand, he undid his leather pants, making sure he brushed against her enough to tickle her pubic hair, sending a thrill through her whole body in the single, almost careless gesture. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, not caring anymore about the hood, or the glasses, just hungry for his mouth on hers. Not losing contact with her mouth, The Green Arrow carried her to a chimneystack and sat down, positioning her over him just so and then entered her. She felt her knees make contact with the bricks of the chimneystack but she could move now and she did, exulting in the feel of him inside her, the cold air on her bare skin. She unzipped his vest and put her hands on his chest as she rode him, slowly and first and then picking up speed. The friction was almost unbearable, and Chloe knew that if she let herself, she'd come right then. But she wasn't ready. Not yet. And once again, she had the power here. Chloe had the exclusive all right, but it would never be published in any paper with her name as the byline. She loved him too much to put him in danger like that.
"Guh…" he groaned, resting his weight and hers on one arm and holding her on him with the other. "Ms. Sullivan….Chloe…"
"So…" She lifted herself up, and then settled back down, listening to his breath come out ragged, as she moved on him again, slowly up and then down. "When were you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?" He moaned softly, typically unable to not answer her. "Oh, Chloe…" His hand squeezed into her bottom, enough to bruise maybe, but Chloe smiled. At least she wouldn't have to explain that to him later.
Chloe slowly pushed his hood back, and kissed his forehead, and moved to the place just behind his ear that made him squirm every time she kissed him there, and the resulting gasp that he exhaled made her smile. "That there was no meeting in Edge City, you big faker." She took his sunglasses off and kissed the bridge of his nose, then flicked her tongue on the tip of his nose lasciviously. "Oliver."
"I….oh….Chloe….baby…." His dark green eyes were almost black on the barely lit rooftop, and he came with his face pressed against her hair. Hearing him let go, Chloe gasped, feeling the waves of her own orgasm ripple through her. She threw her head back and Oliver sat forward, closing both arms around her and pulled her close again. She could feel his heart thumping against hers, and she smiled triumphantly at him, biting her lip.
"God, woman." Oliver laughed, his breath coming in deep gusts as he held her close. "How long have you known about me? Here I am thinking I'm so clever. I've been planning this for days."
"You've got the wrong girl if you thought I wouldn't figure it out. You gave yourself away with me so many times right now. " Chloe giggled, kissing his cheek, loving the smoothness of his face against hers. "Next time, though, could we do this someplace warmer? It's December, Oliver. I'm freezing."
"Yeah. Let's go back to the apartment." Oliver mouth dropped to her neck again. His voice was teasing, playful and Chloe couldn't wait to get him back to his place. Thank God tomorrow was Saturday. "Besides, I'm pretty sure our 'interview' isn't over, Ms Sullivan. There's all night yet."
"I'm yours," Chloe sighed as his mouth traveled back to her ear. "Exclusively."
"Good." Oliver said into her ear, the word enough to make Chloe wish they were already back at the apartment. "You have no idea what that means to me, Chloe."
He brought her home the way he'd have gone himself, on the green motorcycle that was waiting for them in the alley below. The December night was bitterly cold now, the stars stark against the dark blue sky, clouds dark and heavy as they moved together, promising more snow to come. Every so often, Oliver stopped the motorcycle, kissing Chloe hungrily, her hands cold against his skin but that just seemed to add to the thrill. Finally, they made it back to the apartment, and Oliver carried Chloe up the stairs. She was shivering violently from the cold, but her eyes were sparkling and she smiled at him, kissing his face the whole way up the circular stairs.
"Gotta get you warmed up again, Chloe." Oliver scolded her. "Why did you leave without your coat?"
"I was in a hurry." Chloe chattered, as Oliver turned the hot water on to fill the tub for her. "Story of the year was about to break. I couldn't miss it."
He looked at her at first with concern and then smiled. "And I thought I was reckless. We need to start paying attention to stuff like coats and safety harnesses." He shook his head and left the huge bathroom, returned with flannel pajama pants and one of his larger t-shirts, black this time, and thick socks that made Chloe think of mountain climbing. "What good is falling in love going to do us if we kill ourselves in the process?" He shut the tap off, satisfied the tub was full enough and then stripped her out of her clothes. Oliver settled Chloe in the water, letting her adjust to the warmth of it, not leaving until color bloomed in her cheeks again. Chloe could see him in the huge walk in closet that adjoined the bathroom as he changed out of the green leather pants and vest, throwing on a sweatshirt and sweatpants himself, his feet bare.
"How you doing in there?" Oliver asked when he returned, pushing the sleeves of the sweatshirt up. "Warm yet?"
"Yes." Chloe closed her eyes and leaned back. "I'm going to half freeze all the time if this is my reward."
"Yeah, fat chance, lady. Next time, you're filling the tub for me." Oliver knelt next to the tub and kissed Chloe. "Hurry up. In a fit of domesticity, I made soup today. There are Christmas movies to be watched, and soup to be eaten. Best soup ever, my mother's beef barley recipe. You aren't the only one who can cook, you know."
Chloe nodded, flicking water out at him. "Yeah, yeah. You lured me out of the Daily Planet under false pretenses, nearly froze me to death having your way with me on a public rooftop and now you want me to rush? No way."
Oliver grinned down at her. "I could come in there and get you. But I promise that won't be as much fun as it sounds. On second thought, maybe I will come in and get you…"
"Okay." Chloe smiled, and held out a hand. "Towel, please."
He took a towel from the linen closet and handed it to her, watching as she stood and wound it around herself. "So, about me being The Green Arrow…"
"Oliver, as long as you are doing this for noble reasons, I'm not going to fault you." Chloe said, wrapping another towel around her wet hair. "It's wonderful that you are taking a stand against what's wrong with this world. But I won't lie, it's scary thinking of you out there. You could get killed."
Oliver thought this over. "All the more reason to be careful. And why I need to have people I trust knowing it's me out there. My little 'incident' this fall taught me at least that much. Clark…"
"Clark knows?" Chloe asked. "I can't believe him. He never said a word."
"That's what happens when you tell someone trustworthy a secret. They keep it, no matter what." Oliver rose and gathered Chloe in his arms. "I'm trusting you with a lot here, Sullivan. You woman enough for the job?"
"I think I can handle it." Chloe laughed, kissing him. She pulled away and looked up into his face. "Kiss me again, like you did on the roof."
"Oh, baby." Oliver leered at her comically, and then obliging her with a similar savage and lustful kiss. Chloe felt dizzy from it, wrapping her arms around him for support. This time the kiss lingered, softening until it was more of a seduction than a demand, and Chloe broke away, putting a hand to her mouth and looking up at Oliver wonderingly.
"What?" Oliver asked, and Chloe grinned.
"How Lois didn't know it was you boggles my mind. Kissing you.." Chloe shook her head. "It's what gave you away." Chloe dropped the towel and slid into the warm clothes Oliver had brought her. "And the way you brush my hair out of my face. That was a dead giveaway."
"Ha." Oliver laughed. "Lois was right. It wasn't me that night that she kissed...thinking it was me." He grimaced at the sentence and shook his head. "It was Clark."
"Clark?" Chloe gasped, covering her mouth. "She kissed Clark that night?"
"Yup." Oliver nodded. "Go figure."
"Oliver Jonas Queen." Chloe turned, dressed now, hand on her hips. "Why?"
"Why not? I didn't know I could trust Lois with this. She was always dogging me, the Green Arrow…so, Clark and I set up a situation were I could be in one place and he in the other, and she'd have to give it up. Except she kissed him, and I imagine that was a pretty large part of her breaking up with me." He took Chloe by the hand. "Ready? Let's go downstairs. I'm hungry."
"I've been so out of the loop." Chloe said, aghast. "Wait until I get my hands on Kent." She grimaced, and Oliver laughed.
"Let's go eat soup, tough guy." Oliver said, leading her down the stairs. While the soup was warming, Oliver put on "Holiday Inn" and soon he and Chloe were curled up together on the couch, soup forgotten in bowls on the coffee table, fast asleep. Outside, snow had begun to fall again.
"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.
Where the tree tops glisten,
And children listen…to hear sleighbells in the snow.
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white…"White Christmas (by Irving Berlin) sung by Bing Crosby