Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters

AN: For the sake of this fanfic Oliver has already been called green Arrow way before he ever came to metropolis, Lois has nothing to do with naming him.

Chapter 1: an ember starts a fire

Life as Chloe Sullivan knew it was about to change. Her cousin wasn't exactly the smartest person in the world or the most polite but Chloe thought Lois was at least smart enough to recognize a billionaire when she saw one and Smallville wasn't in short supply of them to say the least.

So when her cousin had walked into their apartment above the Talon last night going on and on about how she apparently insulted the great Oliver Queen without knowing he was said, infamous jet setting billionaire. Chloe only knew where the conversation was going to take her; she was going to have to clean up another person's mess yet again.

She had recently got done helping Clark figure out where Lana and Lex were being held. It wasn't that she didn't want Lana to be safe, but the idea of having to save Lex too was not that appealing. But that's what they did and together as a team,Chloe found that she was starting to like the idea of the sidekick role it helped her feel useful.

After helping to save Lana and the bald viper, Chloe had looked deeper into the Intel and discovered a few things that weren't making very much sense. Until the moment Lois walked into the room. Chloe had found out the identity of the real kidnapper. All the Intel led her straight back to Oliver Queen.

It didn't take her to long to figure out that Lana was unwittingly caught in the crossfire of a war between billionaires. Being a pawn herself once, Chloe didn't want her best friend to experience the same manipulation that went along with it.

Oliver Queen watched for a moment as the snake that was Lionel Luthor peered into the framed photograph of his parents that Oliver kept on his desk. How dare he touch it. It was no secret that the Luther's and the Queens were once friends, but it was also no secret to Oliver that Lionel Luthor was one of the last people to see his parents alive.

"Lionel Luthor. All those hostile takeovers haven't aged you a bit. Tell me, what's your secret?" Oliver said with a hint of sarcasm as he was crossing the room.

"Well, perhaps I should give some credit to a nightly nip. This 40-year-old Highland scotch certainly helps to smooth the stress. I vigorously recommend it." The older man replied smoothly handing the alcoholic beverage to him. "Welcome to Metropolis, Oliver."

"It's a nice gesture. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised, should I? You've always been so generous." Taking the bottle he set it on his desk. He knew that Lionel Luther could be generous, in a sell your soul to the devil kind of way.

"Yes. You know, Oliver, when I read in the papers, "Oliver Queen moves to Metropolis," I was very curious." Lionel looked back at him for a moment before finishing his statement. "You've made such a name for yourself in Star City. Why would you relocate?"

"Well... how can you resist these views? Not to mention the crisp, Midwestern air." Oliver answered the question, half lying the real reason he came was to investigate the cause of Dark Thursday, which led straight back to Lex Luthor. That and maybe to find a mysterious petite blonde that gave him a new outlook on life.

Oliver blocked out the better portion of that conversation, but the part he remembered the most was the last bit. The older billionaire thought that he scared him, but Oliver Queen was not scared of a Luthor or what they could do. He could defend and protect himself against anything they could throw his way.

"I know. I know, Oliver. You've suffered through a lot in your young life, but if you have so much as laid a hand on Lex, the word "suffer" will take on a whole new meaning to you." The word resonated with him, suffering he knew the meeting of it more than most.

Chloe knew what kind of war a Luthor could wage being she had been through several, but Oliver Queen was a new player on her board. She knew he could obviously be dangerous that was certain but how dangerous was the question? She knew she needed to do some recon as it were and size him up. This was easier said than done, that is until Lois walked in last night.

Lois went on for hours listing ways she could apologize until she finally settled on one. A fruit basket, apparently nothing else would do for the man that had everything. So that's why Chloe was now in an elevator to the penthouse of Oliver Queen's Clock tower holding the mother of all fruit baskets cursing her cousin under her breathe.

Lois was going to do it herself but Chloe was gracious enough to step in and offer to do it instead. Lana was already caught in an imaginary war between financial giants and she wasn't going to allow her cousin to fall into the same game. Chloe was sure Lois would kill her later but at least she was keeping her out of the line of fire. That was all that seemed to matter at the moment.

"Miss, you cannot go in there. I'm sorry, Mr. Queen. This woman does not have an appointment." Oliver's assistant informed him as a petite blond walked in to the penthouse.

"It's okay. She's expected. Let me guess the other one got fired?" Oliver Queen said letting his feet drop and coming to a standing position. "Although I must say I didn't picture the fruit basket."

Before he said another word he looked at her for a moment and shook his head it couldn't be. He hadn't been looking for her though he had plans to. Oliver just didn't know what to say if he had found her. So at the moment he wasn't sure if he should bring it up or what to even say next.

"No, not exactly and neither did I…" Chloe answered his questions in one small sentence and suddenly realized who it was that she was talking too. It was him that man from that night he told her his name was Conner. None of it made sense.

The duo stood there was what felt like an eternity staring into each other's eyes neither of them not knowing what to say. Chloe was sure that the assistant left the room before she finally reacted to the shock.

"You lied to me…" She said breaking the silence,Chloe was about to slap him, but stopped herself.

"I can explain…" Oliver said and was about to hug her but knew it would be inappropriate. Yes they had been together intimately at one point, but in truth they hardly knew one another. Plus she knew his secret and now his identity.

"Explain what? Why you lied to me? Or why the infamous Oliver Queen has a green leather fetish?" Chloe asked without missing a beat.

"In truth I don't even know where to start, I never meant to hide who I was from you." It was the truth where could he start? Oliver wasn't sure how to explain the green leather or how in lying he felt like he was protecting her in some way.

"You know what? I don't even want to know, you obviously haven't harmed anyone or anything besides my ego with your little hero act so who am I to judge?" She through her arms up in defeat telling herself she didn't even want to understand him let alone know him right now.

Their little rendezvous was not why she came to see him. She had to remind herself of that because before she walked through the door she didn't even know who he really was. Chloe knew she had to focus. He may be a hero not to mention devilishly handsome. So much for focusing, this was going to be harder than she thought.

"You amaze me," Chloe was taken out of her thoughts by his voice.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" The reporter arched an eyebrow but quickly reminded herself why she was there"Forget it I really don't want to know, I just came here for one reason."

"And it wasn't to slap me I hope?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, Oliver really didn't know how else to reply, sarcasm was his way of lightening the mood. But the whole situation was just so awkward and he didn't know how to deal with it. All he could do was listen to the real reason she had sought him out. "Right I guess not."

"No, I came here to apologize for my cousin, Lois Lane. She's the one that mistook you for an errand boy yesterday." Chloe said making sure not to look him straight in the eye.

"That was Lois, you told me she was headstrong," Oliver interjected starting to look through the fruit basket. "You forgot to mention how rude she could be."

"That's not the point, you came to the farm yesterday to meet with Mrs. Kent and talk about her platform. I know she could really use your support." Chloe didn't move from her spot, she just watched him rummage through the basket of food. She knew he was putting up a front acting as if he wasn't taking any of this seriously. He was testing her, but why?

"How do you know the senator again?" He sat down, peeling an apple and putting his feet on his desk in a relaxing position. "Oh yeah her son Clark you told me a lot about him too."

"Stop doing that." Chloe had had enough of his recalling there little situation.

"Doing what?" Oliver asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Talking like we know each other," She put her hands up in frustration. "We've only met once before day."

"It only takes once, Ms. Sullivan."He said suggestively. "I know I haven't forgotten how cute that birthmark on your…"

'RING…RING..." saved by the freaking bell Chloe didn't want to hear the next few words that were to come out of his mouth, the duo's conversation was interrupted by a sudden ring

Oliver felt around his person for his phone forgetting the fact that he was half naked. It wasn't his though, before he knew what was going on and amazed at how quickly this little conversation had gone by, he watched as his uninvited guest glimpsed at her phone and turned her back on him without saying a word.

"Damn it, as much fun as our little trip down memory lane was I have to go."Chloe said putting her phone back in its place, turning to head out the door.

"Hey where do you think you're going?" Oliver got up using his fast reflexes and stopped in front of her before she could reach the door. "We need to talk."

"Don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone about your alter ego." Chloe said trying to push the billionaire out of her way but he wouldn't budge.

"Not about that about that, about us." She could see the slight hint of guilt in his eyes and got the idea she was missing something.

"I told you there is no us." And with that she shuffled pasted him and out the door. "Please just leave me alone."

Oliver stood there for a moment in confusion. Why was he so adamant to talk about what had happened between them? He never sought out one night stands before. That was just it though she wasn't just a one night stand she was more than that to him. Chloe Sullivan had changed the way he viewed the world not to greatly but in such a way that Oliver knew he needed her in his life. In what capacity he wasn't sure.

All he wanted to figure out now was how to get her attention without drawing attention to her from the press. Oliver was still slightly confused about why Chloe had come to apologized for someone else's mistake though. She put herself in the line of fire, so to speak, when she didn't have too. Was she that selfless? Or did she have an ulterior motive? These were the question's that burned in Oliver's mind.

As Chloe made her exit it took all her strength not to turn around and slap him, it hurt. She should have given him a piece of her mind and ripped him a new one. But, why did he have to be only half dressed? It was so distracting and their little reunion was cut short by a call from Clark. Something about an alien Plant over by makeout point.

Chloe had a plan upon entering the clock tower pent house, she was going to warn Oliver Queen to stay away from Lois and tell him to back off of Lex for Lana's sake. But her whole mission went out the window the moment she saw his face. Why did it have to be him? Leaning against the elevator wall she sighed, her life must be some big cosmic joke.

"Aquaman to Green Arrow," Arthur Curry said over the comlink. "Come in boss man."

"Arrow here, go." Oliver answered clicking a button on his laptop connecting him to his team that were currently in Texas.

"Mission was a failure." As soon as he heard it Oliver was in disbelief his team had never failed before.

"Why?" He demanded to know.

"The place was already busted into." Cyborg responded trying to defend his teammate against his leader's wrath.

"What are you talking about?" He asked another question.

"The files aren't here and the prisoners were already gone." Oliver couldn't believe what he was hearing

Who was going after Lex's little science projects besides him? There wasn't anybody he could think of and he doubted that it was the great Lionel Luthor.

"Are you sure that Lex didn't just evacuate the facility?" He asked thinking that maybe Lex was a step ahead of them.

"Yeah, it looks like someone or something tore the place apart not leaving anything untur…" Impulse said but was interrupted by a loud noise.

"What was that? Boys are you okay? What happened? The trio heard there leader's frantic voice over the comlink, waiting a moment for the air to clear Cyborg answered.

"It blew up, and I definitely don't think it was Lex Luthor." The young heroes were sure it wasn't Lex because as the facility exploded they saw a mysterious black figure zoom up and fly off.

-A Week Later—

Oliver's team was alright but their last mission was a bust, no information and no saves. The last week wasn't at all uneventful for the blonde billionaire. He had gone to Lex's ball with some bimbo on his arm whom he didn't even remember her name, he'd met with Senator Kent giving her his support and the Green Arrow had finally made his Metropolis debut.

That was a wonderful experience, Oliver had hoped his alter ego would remain off the radar of the press but that was wishful thinking. His face was on the front page of the Inquisitor. It made him feel better though in knowing that the Inquisitor didn't pride itself on integrity.

"Ollie! We haven't seen you in such a long time." Oliver heard his nickname bringing him out of his thoughts and back to the party he was attending. He turned around acknowledging his old friend.

" Hello. Mr. Westcott, how long has it been?" He asked knowing the last time he had seen them was well over a year ago.

"Hi, Oliver. Too long" The man's wife said taking a sip of her wine. "Flying solo tonight Ollie where's your date?"

"Somewhere around here, I think she was getting us a drink. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to fine her."He knew he should make more small talk to avoid suspicion but the night was moving by faster than he had anticipated. Lionel Luthor was about to make his speech and he had to change into his gear if he was going to execute his plan successfully.

"Mr. Queen" Lois Lane said getting his attention, her again what was she doing here, oh yeah she was the senator's campaign manager.

"Ms. Lane hello again," He answered looking at his watch there was no time for this.

"I just want to thank you for backing Mrs. Kent," She put on her most sincere voice and put her hand on his arm.

"It's the least I could do to help with the efforts of Dark Thursday." He said taking a moment to reply to her. "Now if you'll excuse me Ms. Lane I have something that requires my attention."

"Ding… ding…ding" Lois' attention was brought back to the party as Lionel tabbed his wine glass with his fingers.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming tonight. I hope you're having a splendid time and that you've had a chance to reconnect with some old friends." The old billionaire said addressing his guests. "Right now though, I'd like to introduce you to someone who I hope will be a new friend, a valuable new friend, someone I'm sure you'll be glad to have on your side. Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to our Kansas State Senator and your future United States Senator, Martha Kent."

The crowd applauded and a loud "Woo-hoo" could be heard coming from Lois. It was the least she could do after her latest two blunders in the last few weeks the first was mistaking a billionaire for a mail man and the second was insulting another prospective supporter for Mrs. Kent's campaign.

"Thank you very much." Mrs. Kent was about to thank the crowd when suddenly the room went dark thanks to an arrow in the fuse box,

In the ensuing chaos nobody really saw what happened. No one except for Lois Lane of course, grabbing a silver platter she ran after the thief intent on hitting him over the head. Sadly for her she was no match for the Green Arrow.

"Hey! Give me the necklace." Lois demanded after he knocked the makeshift weapon out of her hand.

"You forgot to say "please."" Oliver didn't know if he was just caught in the moment or what but he didn't notice his ring being pulled off his neck as he was lifted by his grapple.

Lois took in the sight of the ring in her hand, to anyone else it looked like a ring but to her it was her key to redeeming herself. She would reveal the identity of the Green Arrow and write the story of her life.

Chloe Sullivan was typing away on her Laptop at the daily planet when her cousin walked in still wearing her party dress. Giving her that look that said I know something you'll want to know. Chloe stopped what she was doing and pulled up a chair for her older cousin.

"Hey Lo what can I do for you, a highlighter and the yellow pages not cutting it for you over there at the Inquisitor?" Chloe knew she sounded harsh but Lois knew she was just picking on her.

"Ha ha, little cuz, very funny but yeah I need your help." Lois caved like a deck of cards. "Did you hear about what happened at the party?"

"Yes Clark called me an hour ago." She said filling her cousin in on what Clark had told her, remembering the conversation that was more like a one-sided yelling match.

Clark just went on and on about how a mysterious thief stole a necklace off his mothers neck and how he didn't want her to be indebted to Lionel Luthor. Chloe just replied with a yes and uh-huh here and there and had to hold the phone away from her head to avoid going deaf. Since nobody was hurt physically. She was going to wait until tomorrow to investigate since she had a deadline. But now she apparently didn't have a choice, she would have to deal with this now.

"So he didn't say anything about Green Leather?" It was these words that caused Chloe to stop typing and gave Lois her undivided attention. "I guess not."

"What are you talking about Green Leather?" She inquired raising an eyebrow, what did Oliver Queen have to do with any of this. He was a hero not a thief. There had to be some reason for his actions.

"Actually you know, now that we're both in the same biz, I probably shouldn't be leaking my story." Lois drew back a bit putting her hands up.

"I can't believe you don't trust me." Chloe inwardly laughed at the irony of the situation, she knew more secrets than Lois could ever dream of. "Lois, I'm not gonna scoop your story. But watching you bumble through our database is like watching Clark try and dance. Come on, Lois, tell me what you got."

"Okay. I scooped this off the scumbag before he ran away. There's some writing on the inside, but it's too faded to make out." Lois could never say no to her, Chloe knew that. She pulled out a silver ring and Chloe recognized it as soon as she laid eyes on it.

"Yeah, this could take a little while." She felt around her desk chore for her camera and found it but acted as if she couldn't. "Hey you know what, I left my camera at the talon but I'm sure I can find one in the supply closet."

"I'll come with you" Lois was about to stand when Chloe beat her to it.

"No, it'll be quicker if I go alone." Chloe said walking out the door and all of a sudden heard a something whistle through the air.

As soon as she heard it she knew who it was, she watched as an arrow imbedded itself into a pillar near her desk and started to release a knockout gas. Chloe was close enough to see it but far enough to not be effected by the gadget. Anyone else would have run but not her she just turned around and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Really?" She asked as the Green Arrow lowered his bow seeing her raise an eyebrow. "Knockout arrows?"

AN: thanks for reading this far, reviews are welcome but I'm going to finish this fic either way,so if you want to tell me how I'm doing so far its cool. Constructive criticism is appreciated