Chloe walked in to chaos and noise. The five men in the kitchen having breakfast might be a league of superheroes but they were still men. She stood at the entrance to the large kitchen and looked around at the utensils, plates and glasses that littered the worktops and smiled at the now familiar scene.
Grinning happily, she responded to the chorus of "Good morning's." that greeted her. Clark and Oliver were sat at the far table, heads bent together, deep in conversation and upon seeing them, Chloe's smile widened. The tension that had sprung up between them last night seemed to have disappeared and she was glad.
"Sleep well?" Victor asked, jerking her out of her thoughts. He opened the fridge door and peered inside inquisitively.
"Eventually." She watched wide-eyed as he carried a tray of eggs to the cooker and began cracking them in to a frying pan.
"Do you want some?" He offered, when he caught her watching him, holding up an egg, helpfully.
"No Thank you." She shook her head, looking at him in fascination. "I still can't get over how much you guys eat."
"Strength and stamina," AC winked at her from the breakfast bar. "We need it if we're going to save the world."
"And so modest as well." Chloe teased. A.C grinned at her widely and shrugged.
"Where's Bart?" She asked scanning the kitchen.
Her answer came to her in a rush of wind that almost knocked her sideways as Bart appeared by her side. "Chloe babe." He stood back and gave her an appreciative glance, whistling softly as he did so.
Chloe rolled her eyes at him affectionately. "Hi Bart. Been for a run?" She asked, pouring some cereal in to a bowl.
"What can I say?" Bart smirked "I had something to collect from London."
"Right." Chloe held back a grin and reached for the milk. He was so blasé about his power that it was quite refreshing.
"Uh oh!" Bart chided, swiping the milk carton out of her hands and holding it behind his back playfully.
"Hey." Chloe said threateningly. "Do not come between me and my food."
Bart just smiled and pushed her towards the breakfast bar ignoring her squeaks of protest. Pushing her on to a stool, he produced a plate seemingly out of nowhere and plonked it in front of her.
"A full English breakfast brought to you by yours truly all the way from a genuine café in the East End of London. Enjoy!"
Chloe looked from the plate of greasy food to Bart. If this was a romantic gesture on his part, she was honestly speechless. Other girls got diamond earrings, she got a slap-up breakfast. Just her luck.
"It's a classic" Bart explained enthusiastically "Fried bread, eggs, sausages, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, bacon rashers and baked beans. Perfect" He kissed his fingers exaggeratedly.
Chloe didn't say anything.
Bart looked at her worriedly "What's Wrong" He poked at a sausage and sighed in relief "Ah, it's a bit cold. No worries" He glanced over at Clark who was still talking to Oliver. "Clark" He beckoned him over "I could do with some help here."
Clark came and stood besides Bart, hand on hips, a curious expression on his face. "What is it?"
Bart pointed at the plate. "Could you just warm that up please?"
Clark's green eyes widened. "Do I look like a microwave?" He asked, clearly affronted.
"No you look like a human." Victor said pleasantly from behind him, shaking his head slightly. "Which is kind of freaky because you're not."
"It really is." Chimed in A.C, nodding. "Freaky I mean. Who would have thought?"
Clark scowled ignoring them. "Seeing as it's for Chloe" He said directing his comment at Bart and ignoring Victor and A.C altogether. Training his eye on the plate, he squinted and let out a short burst of heat vision until the plate sizzled.
Bart pushed the plate towards Chloe and gave her thumbs up sign. Looking at the plate warily, Chloe took a bite and chewed slowly as everyone looked on waiting for her verdict. "Delicious." She proclaimed and to her surprise it really was. Bart beamed at her happily.
She was chewing with relish when Oliver came and sat besides her "You're a lucky girl" He whispered in her ear mischievously, loud enough for Bart to hear. He leaned closer and their arms brushed together "Normally what the Bart Express has to offer girls isn't as satisfying."
Chloe almost choked.
"I heard that" Bart shouted indignantly retaliating by throwing an apple at Oliver who simply batted it away….. right in the direction of AC. The apple bounced of AC's chest and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
A.C looked down at the apple and then up at Bart "What the hell?"
Bart shrugged "It was meant for Oliver"
Understanding dawned on AC's face. "Here let me help you" He grinned wickedly, mischief dancing in his eyes and reaching for the apple, he threw it in Oliver's direction and ducked quickly behind a chair.
The apple missed Oliver completely and hit Clark's arm shattering into hundreds of pieces. Everyone was silent for a long moment.
Clark caught Oliver's eyes and they smiled at each other conspirationally. "I bet we could take them" Oliver suggested, getting up slowly.
"Easily" Clark drawled, reaching for something, anything, on the worktop behind him that could be used as ammunition.
Chloe shrieked as moments later food began to fly everywhere, whizzing above her head as the boys whooped delightedly.
Victor gave her a sympathetic glance as he rolled up his sleeves, reaching for an egg "This could get messy" He warned unapologetically.
Covering her plate protectively with her hands Chloe escaped to a quiet corner of the kitchen and sat down to enjoy her breakfast. She was sat at a perfect vantage point from where to observe the food fight.
"What's going on" Lana asked breathlessly as she ran in to the kitchen "I heard a lot of noise"
Chloe looked up just in time to see Lana's mouth drop open at the scene unfolding before her.
Chloe smiled up at the other woman. "Food fight" She explained helpfully after swallowing a mouthful of food. "Bart started it."
Lana nodded but didn't look at her. Chloe followed Lana's gaze. It led straight to Clark who had Victor in a headlock and was happily smearing something unidentifiable in to his face.
"He looks so happy." Lana said softly, almost in awe.
Chloe nodded slowly, her eyes still on Clark "Yes."
Lana's eyes flickered and she sat down besides Chloe "He's happy amongst them. He fits in" She whispered wistfully.
Chloe paused, fork half way to her mouth "Yes, but because of who they are not only because of what they do" She watched as Lana blinked away tears "Is everything O.K Lana?" She asked gently, putting down her fork and leaning forward.
Lana gave a small smile and shook her head "Not really" She hesitated "I guess I just feel out of place sometimes."
Chloe frowned "In Star City or amongst…" She inclined her head towards the boys and couldn't resist smiling when she saw Oliver and Clark whoop loudly and high-five each other in delight.
Lana shrugged delicately. "I don't know" She sighed "They're all so lovely but they're not comfortable around me"
Chloe opened her mouth to protest but Lana shook her head again stopping her "Don't deny it Chloe. I don't blame them. They weren't ready for me to know their secrets. It was forced upon them"
Chloe looked uncomfortable "It'll take some time for everybody to adjust."
"And by the time we do, we'll have to adjust to something else" Lana laughed briefly, the sound humourless. "Things will never just be normal."
"No" Chloe confirmed. "But then normal is highly overrated."
Lana's eyes snapped up to meet Chloe's and her expression softened. "Oh I'm sorry Chloe, here I am talking about normal when you've got the biggest adjustment of us all to make." She reached over and squeezed Chloe's hand lightly.
Chloe smiled "I'm O.K" She reassured Lana, squeezing back "It's……"
"We won" Clark shouted loudly thumping the air with his fist, interrupting them.
"I don't think so" AC protested just as loudly.
"Did too" Oliver folded his arms across his chest and glared at AC.
"Dude" Victor looked at him, eyebrows raised "What are you, five?"
Chloe looked at Lana and they grinned at each other. "We'll talk later, when it's quieter" Chloe said getting up and stretching "This could go on for a while. I'm going to have a shower and get dressed"
Lana wrinkled her nose "I'll stay and referee in case things get nasty" She folded her arms across her chest resignedly.
Clark popped his head around Chloe's door. She was sprawled across her bed on her stomach engrossed in a book, her eyes scanning the page rapidly. He rapped on the door to get her attention.
"Is it O.K to come in?"
Chloe looked up from her book and gave him a wide welcoming smile "Sure, come on in" She patted the bed and he came and settled next to her resting his back against the headboard.
"Interesting book?" He asked, leaning over to take a look at the front cover.
"Very" She placed a bookmark between the pages and turned around so she was on her back. "So was it ever decided who the victors were this morning?"
Clark smiled sheepishly "We called it a draw….Well actually Lana called it a draw" He ducked his head hiding a childish smile and Chloe laughed softly.
"I was looking for you earlier" Clark said, changing the subject quickly. He didn't want to be distracted from his purpose "I wanted to talk."
"What is it Clark? You look worried." Chloe asked noticing the troubled expression on his face.
Clark forced a smile "Nothing" He drew imaginary patterns on her quilt, unsure now that he was here whether or not to broach the subject "Well not really."
"Clark…" Chloe propped herself up on one elbow and poked him in the ribs "Spit it out."
"Are we O.K?" He asked abruptly.
Chloe stared at him for a moment in silence before looking up at the ceiling avoiding his searching gaze "Sure we are. Why wouldn't we be" She asked casually.
"I don't know" Clark shrugged uncomfortably. "Things just feel a bit strained"
She glanced at him abruptly. "I haven't noticed anything" She was lying but she didn't want to have this conversation. Not now.
Clark didn't speak for a moment. "You would tell me if something was bothering you, wouldn't you" He said finally, getting up to pace the length of her room restlessly.
"Of course I would" She reassured him sitting up.
"Oliver said you've been having nightmares" He sighed sadly. "It's strange hearing about you from someone else" He tried not to make it sound like an accusation. "Usually I get the breaking news in to the life of Chloe Sullivan first."
Chloe blinked, taken aback "It's not a big deal" She shrugged dismissively and then her eyes narrowed suspiciously "Have you guys been talking about me?"
"No" Clark held up his hands "No, he just mentioned it in passing"
"Good" Chloe's voice was fierce. She was about to expand when Clark stiffened and grew still, his face set in concentration.
Startled by his actions, she got up. "What's wrong Clark?"
Clark ran a face over his hand wearily "I can hear Lana crying" He said helplessly.
Chloe bit her lip and stifled a sigh. "She's finding this hard" She said "Go to her."
He looked at her. "I'm sorry Chloe..we'll talk later"
She shook her head and strands of silky blonde hair fell over her face obscuring her eyes. "Don't be silly. Go to her."
"Chloe are you O.K?"
The bed dipped as Oliver sat besides her, watching in concern as she wiped her eyes frantically, trying desperately to remove all traces of her tears.
"Oliver, you nearly gave me a heart attack" She snapped "Have you never heard of knocking?"
Oliver stood up, running a hand through his hair. "This is a bad time. I'll come back later."
Chloe sighed guiltily. "Don't go Ollie, I'm sorry for snapping." She looked up at him with wide eyes.
Oliver gave her a measuring look and the corners of his mouth curled slightly in a smile. "It's O.K" He looked away and pointed to her desk. "I come bearing gifts."
Chloe looked at him suspiciously. "What?" She couldn't quite see what he was pointing at from where she was sat.
"Irish coffee." He held out a glass for her and sat down besides her with his own, leaning against the headboard as Clark had done earlier.
Chloe moved back until she was sat besides him. She was careful to leave some distance between them. She looked in to the glass dubiously before taking a sip and spluttered almost instantly. "More Irish then coffee." She said accusingly, wiping at her watering eyes as the liquid hit the back of her throat.
Oliver grinned roguishly "I might have been a bit liberal with the whiskey" He admitted. Chloe took another tentative sip and the liquid went down easier this time.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to get me drunk and going about it rather sneakily."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Oliver's face. "Maybe I am" His voice was soft. "And maybe I just thought you needed a drink."
Chloe stilled. "Why would I need a drink?"
Oliver looked at her through lowered lashes. "Clark Kent," He sighed. "I don't think he know how lucky he is."
Chloe chose to misunderstand him. She turned her head away slightly. "I think he does, he's wanted Lana for a long time and now he has her. I don't see what this has to do with me needing a drink."
Oliver gave her a cool look. "You know that's not what I meant."
"You're assuming things." She told him flatly.
"Am I?" He asked airily, his tone belying his concern.
"I don't want to talk about this."
"What is it about him Chloe?" Oliver continued ignoring her warning. He sounded utterly baffled.
"I don't know." She shrugged helplessly, giving in "I just don't know."
Oliver dropped his head resignedly, chin touching his chest. "I was expecting that" His voice was muffled. "But I was hoping you'd say that I'd got it all wrong, that you felt nothing for him. Not like that anyway."
Chloe blinked rapidly and took another sip slowly, weighing Oliver's words carefully in her mind.
"Am I imagining this Chloe?" He waved a hand between them. He was looking directly at her now, eyes blazing. "Am I imagining that there's something between us?" He didn't bother to hide his frustration.
"I don't know." Chloe rubbed her temples tiredly, thoroughly confused. "I feel it too." She admitted quietly. "But maybe I'm just imagining it."
"And what about Clark?"
Chloe flinched. "Maybe loving him is just a habit now."
Oliver looked at her steadily. "That's a lot of maybes Chloe."
"It's all I can give you at the moment." She leaned forward earnestly, cupping her glass with both hands "I don't think I'm ready for anything at the moment Oliver." She laughed harshly. "I mean rationally where can this possibly go?" She said referring to the tension between them.
"Relationships aren't trains Chloe; they don't have to go anywhere."
Chloe frowned. "Is that your way of telling me you're not looking for commitment?"
"No, its my way of telling you that sometimes you can think too much. Imagine complications where there aren't any. Sometimes it's just better to let things be."
Chloe grinned teasingly. "Maybe."
Oliver laughed and it was genuine this time." Is that your way of telling me that we'll talk about this when you're ready."
Chloe nodded, relieved that he was dropping the subject. Closing the gap between them she leaned her head against his shoulder contently.