Song for the Chapter = Comfortable – John Mayer
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MISSGUIDED
Chapter 3
[Current days – Watchtower]
While for Chloe things slowed down the moment she saw Oliver, for others, it all happened really fast. The blonde billionaire rushed towards the love of his life, while Tess kept a frightened look, like she had just met her greatest fear. Barbara also rushed, so she could stay between Chloe and Oliver, however, Bruce was a little bit faster than her. Next thing they knew, Oliver was unconscious on the floor.
"Bruce!"
"What?"
He spoke like a true gentleman, like he hadn't done anything wrong. Dick found himself holding an evil laugh and Barbara kept her focus, centered. She didn't know who she should side with: Bruce or Chloe… Because she knew them too well and there was going to be World War III for this.
The Justice League, which had been forgotten taking care of their bruises, stomp to defend their leader. Chloe stepped away from Barbara and stood between her former family, and her current one.
"If you all calm down, I'm pretty sure Bruce will explain why he did what he did."
"I don't care… Who is this guy anyway?"
Bart raised his voice. Chloe had once considered him a little brother, however she knew things had changed and that, even though she still was very found of them all, Bruce, Barbara and Dick were her priority now.
"Watch your tone when you talk to him, Bart."
It was in that exact moment that the Justice League realized they had lost Chloe. She had changed, and only one of them knew why. Tess, coming closer to them, approached Oliver's unconscious body.
"We should leave. I'm not sure if we are expecting more agents."
"Yeah, we'll meet you guys at the Kent Farm."
Chloe didn't wait for an answer. Suddenly, guys in black came in the Watchtower and acknowledged Bruce presence. Starting to remove the unconscious Suicide Squad agents so they could be locked down somewhere in some Wayne property, they didn't even noticed what was about to happen.
"Bruce, Dick, we are taking Oliver."
Chloe said as if she was their boss and, for some reason, Dick was taking her orders. That stunned her: she expected a little more fight from him; after all he was always so arrogant that sometimes even Bruce had a problem with it. However, this time, Bruce was being the problem.
"No."
Bruce and Tess said in unison. Victor, Bart and A.C. didn't trust the newly arrived heroes, but they knew that Oliver would be fine with Chloe, and that she would never do anything to hurt him.
Chloe ignored Tess, the Luthor's opinion had never count anyways.. So, turning to Bruce, she rested her hands on her waist and signed:
"What is wrong now?"
"He's not coming with us."
Bruce gave with his shoulder, almost as if he was a little spoiled brat again. However, he was a man now and knew he was acting wrong. So, approaching Chloe, he spoke slowly, calmly, as if he was afraid someone would listen and that would make him less manly.
"Look, you know that I would practically do anything you ask. I trust you with my life. But we are not taking that prick with us. There's not a chance in hell that he is riding in the same car as you."
"Fine…"
It was like Tess had a weight out of her shoulders. However, she stood still when she saw Chloe walking closer to Oliver.
"What are you doing?"
Dick asked, afraid she was going against Bruce's demands. However, Chloe smiled.
"I'm not doing anything. You and Barbara are."
Chloe threw her keys to Barbara. This one, with good reflexes, grabbed them in thin air and glanced at Dick. They had understood what she meant, however both looked at Bruce, waiting for his approval. They liked Chloe very much but Bruce always gave the final word. So, when this one looked away, Chloe knew she had won the battle.
"Follow us. And don't let him bump the head on the way, Dick."
The sidekick's smile vanished when Chloe said that. It was like she read his mind, or maybe he was too predictable.
They started moving, leaving the Justice League, behind.
They all knew the destination, however they couldn't move. None of them knew what had happened. They tried to assimilate all information: Chloe was back from the dead, and had brought a whole new gang with her.
Bart was the first one to speak:
"What the hell just happened?"
Tess quickly rushed towards him and he saw something in her eyes he hadn't seen in a long time. Tess Mercer was afraid.
"Rush and find Clark. Tell him what happened. We'll meet at the Kent Farm."
[Bruce's car – Bruce and Chloe on their way to the Kent Farm]
"You know that what you did was wrong, right?"
"Are we really having this conversation, Chloe?"
Chloe released her breath, like a little kid, and leaned against the car seat. Something wasn't right. The way they all looked at her was like they didn't know she was alive. Oliver was so surprised to see her, and he looked so happy. Her video should have told them she was ok, she was alive, but they looked like she had come back from the dead. Chloe turned off the radio:
"Don't you think it's weird?"
Bruce kept his eyes on the road; however his attention was on her:
"You are always weird, Chloe. I mean, that is your charm."
"No…They all acted surprise when they saw me. You didn't see them, but they hugged me like I was about to fade or something. Victor glanced at me like I was a ghost."
"Maybe they didn't know you were alive."
"That is impossible. I've sent them a message. I know they received it, because I controlled every move of that video."
Chloe looked confused. The data was definitely received in Watchtower, because even though she was gone from their life she kept in control of everything, without Tess's knowledge.
She had told them everything and asked them to forgive her, because she didn't mean staying M.I.A. for so long. She also said that if they did forgive her, she would be waiting for them two weeks from then, in a privet airport in Mexico.
Chloe unconsciously reached for Bruce's loose hand while she remembered the day that the Justice League never came.
[Flashback - 6 moths after the trade – Mexico]
If they were really coming, they were three hours late. Chloe wore only a thin, long coat. She had learned that the least you wear the fast you can run and the easier you can get read of when necessary.
Suddenly, she heard steps.
"I knew you would…"
Turning around she found Bruce, followed by Barbara. The woman looked guilty, and she should feel that way, since she rat on Chloe. Bruce felt uncomfortable, Chloe could tell. He didn't even look like he was about to say "I told you so."
"Are you done here?"
He offered her a hand that day, but he gave her so much more than that.
Chloe nodded her head, silently, she got closer to him. That day she didn't cry, she didn't say a thing and she didn't even fight back. That day Watchtower died, right after she stopped fighting again destiny. Chloe let herself be hugged, completely vulnerable.
[End of Flashback]
"What are you thinking?"
Bruce asked and, in that exact same moment, Chloe let go of his hand. She would never admit how she felt about Bruce, Barbara and even Dick, but they had stepped up when she needed the most.
"I need to call Stu… He has to check something for me."
[Chloe's car – Barbara, Dick and Oliver]
When Oliver woke up, his instinct was to look for Chloe.
"She's not in here, Robin Hood."
He sat up in the back seat and glanced at the teenagers driving a car that smelled a lot like his Chloe. Memories came rushing in and, before he could hold himself, he asked:
"Who are you?"
"Not of your damn bus…"
Barbara quickly slapped Dick's arm.
"I'm Barbara and he is Dick…We are with Chloe."
"So it was not a dream… Chloe's alive?"
Dick and Barbara exchanged looks
"What are you talking about? You already knew that!"
[Kent Farm]
Lois stood impatient at the porch. Clark was by her side, not hiding a wide smile. It didn't matter why Chloe had been hiding the past years, what mattered the most was that she was there, and she was ok.
"Why didn't she tell us she was ok?"
"I don't know, Lo. Let's wait for her to arrive then we'll ask her. How about that?"
"Gee, chill!"
Bruce parked the expensive Mercedes and opened his door. Glancing at the Farm, he remembered of Chloe talking about that place like it was everyone's home. Glancing closely, he could see a little of her there. Walking to the other side of the car, he opened her door to let her out. He didn't like to show the gentleman inside him, but he surely had one.
"Is that the man who can survive bullets and burn people with his heat vision?"
"Yes, but you shouldn't worry about him. It is my cousin that might eat your head if she discovers you were the one that helped me stay MIA."
"Got it."
They walked towards the house. Lois didn't even wait for them to get closer before she hugged her cousin, almost taking a last breath from her.
"I can't believe it's you! You are so thin and you look…"
Lois got away from her cousin to take a better look at her. She surely looked more mature and tired. The sparkle inside the blonde's eyes was gone and now replaced by certain desperation.
"Good!"
She tried making things better, but it was clear that Chloe was conscious about everything that Lois had just noticed.
After many hugs from Lois and a long one from Clark, Chloe was invited to go inside. She glanced at her car being drove by Barbara and entering the Kent's property. Oliver should be awoken by now.
"I will be glad to explain everything for you guys, however, there's something that I need to do first."
[Kent Farm – Oliver's Arrival]
He arrived at the porch and saw her looking prettier than an angel.
His instinct told him to try and hug her, however, the pressure he felt after the talk he had with Barbara and The Prick Dick held him back. She looked beautiful as always, and yet so sad. Barbara hugged Chloe before entering the house, facing Bruce by the door. He caressed the top of her head, like a big brother, or even a father. Dick waved at his blonde friend and entered questioning people about food. Oliver stopped closer to Chloe and both glanced at the door. Bruce didn't move.
"Bruce…"
Chloe said in a warning tone. He raised his hands and rolled his eyes.
"Fine! Yell if you need anything. I've punched him once, I can do it again."
"Charming."
Oliver claimed, raising an eyebrow. The door closed and a new car parked by Bruce's. Victor, A.C. and Tess stepped out of the vehicle and Bart stopped by their side. The looked like a good team.
The four approached Oliver and Tess kissed him quick, just to show Chloe to whom he belonged now. Chloe held herself, knowing what Tess had done to win Oliver's heart. Chloe's desire was to tell everyone now and there, however her conscious told her to do it differently.
"Guys, we'll be right in."
After a lot of fight from Tess, it was just Oliver and Chloe again.
"Can I hug you?"
"I'm not sure, yet."
He closed the space even more, slowly, trying not to scare her off. Opening his arms even more slowly, he hugged her kindly. The time seemed to have stopped. Her perfume was the same, her touch was still kind, but she felt heavy, like the weight of whole world was over her shoulders.
She stepped back.
"There's something you need to know."
She paused, trying to avoid all the drama that was about to happen.
"What I'm about to tell you might change everything for you, but I'm still going to be the same Chloe. Not the one that you know, but a much better version…"
It scared him the seriousness which she used in her tone, but he stayed put, afraid that any move would frighten her.
"Back then, when I had survived from the Suicide Squad, I tried telling you guys I was ok."
The pause was convenient.
"But my message was intercepted… from someone from inside your team."
She didn't need to continue for him to know who had intercepted. The way she firmly said it was his team told him everything. He thought Tess had changed, but he should know better. When he was about to rush inside, she held him by the arm.
"It wouldn't have changed a thing."
Those words made him stop and stare at her.
"I got mad at her, at first, too. But Bruce…"
"I don't like him.
The same way he cut her off, she did with him.
"Her actions made me who I am today."
"But you are not happy."
"But many people are. You have no idea how many lives I've saved and how many heroes I helped to create along the years. I'm not Watchtower anymore. I'm something much bigger now"
He once again closed the space between them and caressed her cheek. She almost forgot everything. His yes made her freeze, and his touch felt as if nothing really had changed.
"There was a time that your happiness mattered. Remember? When I touched your hair like this?"
He caressed her hair, pretending that it was something for her, but the truth was that it was for him.
"Or when I smelled your neck like this?"
It felt like paradise for her… But she was sure that it also felt like this for Tess. Tess. Chloe pitied her. Tess was with Oliver. That made her reach for Oliver's chest and push him hard.
"We are not together anymore. You are not allowed to touch me in any way. You gave up that right when you got together with Tess."
When she snapped at him a shot was heard. With his instincts, Oliver rushed to protect her and shield her from the bullet with his own body. They heard a window break and a pinched scream from the inside of the house.
"No! Barbara!"
Chloe got herself rid of Oliver's grip and started running towards the entrance door. Before she could prevent a bullet from crossing her chest, she was already on the floor, blood spilling from her mouth.
"No!"