Interlude 1

Awkward Realizations

Two years ago

It may have been a long flight back from Europe having flown via the business class of the local flight company rather than on his private jet but Oliver thought he had covered all his bases and would be able to be in and out of Metropolis before anyone realised he was actually there and gone again. Unfortunately for him one certain friend of his was a lot smarter than he gave her any credit despite having only really spent limited amounts of time with her.

He had landed back in Metropolis just over an hour ago but he had already found himself back at his clock tower on his balcony with a certain other blonde who had been waiting for him at the airport and dragged him away back to his apartment. It hadn't taken her any longer to settle herself in a metal chair on the balcony and watch him with a knowing smirk across her features as he hesitated on what to say to her.

In reality, Oliver knew that Chloe was a lot smarter and considerably more perceptive than anyone ever gave her credit for and that included Clark whether the Kryptonian ever realised it or not. That was the reason why Oliver was struggling with what to say to the reporter because he didn't want to crack open a conversation that might lead to her questioning further than he felt comfortable admitting.

"You know, you've been avoiding Metropolis like the plague since you came back from your 33.1 mission..." Chloe had risen to her feet sometime within her statement and moved over to stand beside Oliver against the balcony railing.

"There is only so much of Lois I can take before her worries become too much and god knows how much money she has spent flying between here and Star City" training her eyes onto his worn features, Chloe couldn't help but sigh somewhat at the almost pitiful sight before her.

Oliver looked tired, really tired; dark bags hung under his immensely bloodshot eyes that had lost their usual sparkle and instead looked highly fatigued; if Chloe didn't know better she would have said that Oliver was giving up on something and slipping into a state of depression, but that just didn't make sense to her.

Deciding to remain silent, Oliver simply stared out towards the glow of the Daily Planet globe in the distance in an attempt to ignore the blonde reporter, unfortunately for him Chloe was getting rather impatient and soon he found himself on the receiving end of a much harder punch in the arm than he expected the small reporter to be capable of.

"Easy there Watchtower, I could have gone over the balcony there" he tried to laugh at his own comment but the pointed look he was receiving from Chloe silenced any attempt at humour.

"I don't know what you're expecting but I've had a business to run so I've been in Queen Industries Europe base working some business deals through with some European and British companies in some technology deals which in the long run I hope to implement in to some new Arrow equipment" frowning as he spoke, Oliver clenched his hands at his sides, avoiding any contact with the woman.

"I'll admit that not everything was business based, the Daimler AG company asked me to test some cars for them and I did a little racing" he added with a soft smile.

Not as convinced at Oliver seemed to think she was, Chloe glared at the billionaire again, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her foot making Oliver cringe somewhat and make him want to do nothing more than run away from the reporter.

"When you came back from the mission's at 33.1 you said that you would be around here for three months while you worked out the details on the LuthorCorp buyout that both Lionel and your secretary clarified" Chloe's slightly higher pitched voice than usual made Oliver cringe somewhat, the accusation cutting into him slightly.

"At first I thought nothing of it but this is only been happening since Clark left and I don't think that is a coincidence"

"Clark has nothing to do with this Chloe. I needed to be somewhere that Lex wasn't"

"While I agree that may have been some of your reason for leaving I know that's not all of it, I saw your face when I told you about Clark's training, about how long he could be gone and I know you immediately went to Martha Kent and offered to buy the farm and keep it going until Clark gets back so that it wasn't sold on"

Recoiling slightly, Oliver froze and moved away from Chloe, moving to sit on one of the deck chairs again; he could feel Chloe's irritation and in some ways she was considerably scarier than an angry or irritated Lois Lane.

"Yeah okay that's all true but what was I meant to do sit around and twiddle my thumbs. Lex is working so underground it's almost impossible to trace him, with the team I haven't needed patrol too much and when I received the offer from Daimler and the chance to drive new cars down the Autobahn, Hockenheimring and Nürburgring Nordschleife I couldn't turn it down and since finding out about my extra-curricular activities Lois has been less than civil with me, threatening to plaster the truth all over the front page of the Daily Planet if I so much as look at her the wrong way" frowning as he spoke, Oliver watched Chloe carefully for a moment seeing how her face softened at his words before she moved over to sit before him.

Chloe could see that Oliver's usual shields were down, slowly crumbling away making it so that he would more than likely blurt out every secret he had right now and Chloe knew it, but she didn't want to take advantage of the openness of the billionaire.

"You know it would be easier on both me and yourself if you were to just admit it. I promise that it will feel like the weight of the world leaving your shoulders... I know what it's like to have feelings you don't want to admit to" leaning forward she grabbed Oliver's hand and gave it a strong squeeze, smiling at the other blond to help give him strength.

"When I came back I had a meeting with Lionel about Lex, I was surprised as anyone that he wants to work with us to bring his son down but I thought since Clark, Mrs Kent and yourself seem to trust him I should give him a chance" Oliver explained, not releasing his hold on the others hand as he practically used it as a beacon of strength so that he didn't suddenly cave and run away.

"When we finished discussing our plans he turned and said that things would be a lot easier when Clark returned from his training. When I left his office it finally dawned on me how true that was and I couldn't stay in Metropolis anymore while he wasn't here. I left for Germany and spent the whole time distracting myself from a loneliness I couldn't explain" closing his eyes as he finished, Oliver took a deep breath to try and control himself as the feeling of emptiness washed over him again.

Deciding not to upset the blond billionaire any more than she already had, Chloe released his hand and rose to her feet with a smile as brown eyes met her own.

"Come on, let's go for a walk or drive and you can tell me all about your adventures in Germany" she smiled down at him earning a smile of thanks from Oliver as he stood up and nodded knowing now that if he ever needed a distraction Chloe would be his friend as much as she was Clark's.