Reviewers, I love you.
I was recently asked if Chloe has healing powers in this... It's very hard for me to answer this properly, but i'll just say 'Not yet' which should answer a few questions.

Right, on with the story. Hope you enjoy :D
Xx

Chapter Five; Misjudged.

'Your curiosity always has a way of landing you in precarious positions. Only this time, you're on a very narrow ledge with only one way back.' – Lionel Luthor. (Season 4, Episode Commencement)

Time passed slowly. The scheme of the pharmaceutical industry didn't come to light until late November when the sale would come into the market's eyes, so with it being mid-October, Chloe had time on her hands to focus on other problems. Lex had dismissed her from his study that day with the more engaging idea on her mind: Green Arrow. She had until the end of January to find out his real identity. Of course, she didn't expect to need that much time. The faster she finished, the faster she could leave the fortress. There was nothing she wanted more than to be free. Not love, nor family or friends. She wanted her life, her own space and time, her own schedule of living that didn't revolve around breaking laws and blackmail. It was what she craved the most, and she was determined to get it. Arrow was her answer.

Chloe tapped across the laptop again, skipping the current song on her playlist in favour of another well played musical comfort.

"Chloe." Her eyes flashed up on alert, only to find Lex in the doorway. Things had returned to normal in the Luthor mansion since Mr Queen was escorted out. Well, as 'normal' as Lex could be.

She removed her earphones, giving Lex all her attention as he expected her to do. She expected another instruction, some plot he'd designed her a part in, she was wrong. "How are you finding the room?"

Chloe smiled; knowing his need and purpose. Her fingers saved the important files with no more than a simple press of a button and she closed the laptop. Lex had no care about how she found the room, he didn't care if it was the best thing she'd ever felt or the worst. The only time he would approach her without an instant 'You will be doing…' would be when a primal desire called. The lack of tension in his stance and the leering eyes confirmed her knowledge.

"I like it." she simply replied, playing along with whatever game he required from her. She slipped from the bed, noting as she did that the game was all of her own design today, he gave no lead in his features, no words of instruction. Instead, as she came closer she watched as an eyebrow raised, amazing Lex with her talent to translate him.

"Hm." Chloe stopped just before him, the top two buttons of his dark blue shirt already hanging open after a long day. Her fingers touched automatically to the other buttons, her eyes leaving the effortless task to meet his.

There was no connection or burning passion in him. She had lost all thought of seeing any if she was honest. Just brown pools meeting her expectantly.

She couldn't hold his gaze, not when it looked so shallowly at her, but put her sight back to the bare chest she unveiled. Her fingers followed the material, pushing the silk from his shoulders, down the muscular arms to the clenched fists.

"What's wrong?" Her worry came through clearly. But he relaxed his fists under her encouraging touches and with a quick motion he put the open shirt over his back again.

"Nothing." he dismissed and put a hand to the small of her back nudging her out of the door, not in a way that could exactly be called gentle. Chloe didn't question why he liked his own bed more. Maybe because he didn't stash away cameras in his own room, maybe because he liked the familiarity of it. She didn't complain, just took his stilled hand and led him to the bedroom.

It could just be pure luck that she'd decided to take this route through the city, it could have been because it was another shortcut and her feet hurt, or, it could be fate. But whatever you wanted to call it, she'd stumbled upon the man haunting her mind.

Despite everything she knew she couldn't just ignore the opportunity to corner him with his pants down. Metaphorically, of course. Maybe it was a Luthor trait her mind and body had simply adopted after all the years, but when opportunity comes knocking…

Then again, her inner cat was itching for some curiosity suicide.

She sidled again the wall, wishing she had her camera. With a quick check behind her for Lex's eye in the city she poured all her attention to the arrow that had forced itself in the wall, pinning the robber and dropping the glossy pink bag that clashed terribly with his black getup. The previous owner of said bag spun around the corner and froze, seeing her assailant pinned by an arrow and a huge spectacle of a man shadowing him.

Chloe rolled her eyes; when you were wearing heels that big, with a wobble that bad, bags on every other arm and a cell phone in your hand, you were just asking for someone to rob you. Out of all the targets in Metropolis, it seemed stupid to purposefully make yourself the weakest of the herd; clearly you were going to be victim to some villain, or, in this idiotic female's case; anyone who had the nerve to call themself a criminal. Seriously, nobody wears balaclavas to rob people these days. Most theft was done online or by stolen credit cards. Street muggings were so… last season.

Mr Leather Fetish took the bag from the floor and tossed it back to the woman, telling her to be careful, not too busy at the time to linger his vision on the endless legs streaming from the pencil skirt. The woman called the cops and Arrow split, taking a back alley. Chloe followed reporter instincts…or maybe they were just criminal instincts, and wound back, following the street out to where Arrow would exit. She was momentarily stunned by the flashy green bike leant against the exit. Who would leave a bike like that-

He rounded the corner, and suddenly it all made sense. She stepped out into view under the security lights.

"Tell me; does this level out your karma?" Arrow whipped around, the process of flipping down the hood suddenly stopped and reversed, much to Chloe's annoyance. If she had only waited a few more seconds… His lips curved to a grin when he saw her fully. His hands left the bike and he walked long strides toward her.

"Tell me," he mirrored, the voice distorter still active over his own chords. "Did you wear that skirt with the intention of meeting me all alone in a dark alley?" Chloe ignored the jibe and stepped back, halting his actions as she did.

"You steal from the rich, and qualify your actions by saving a few simple lives every now and then?" she questioned, unable to leave it be and run like her mind wanted to. But the pounding against her ribs wanted her to close the distance. She planted her feet firm where she stood, refusing to be budged.

"Whereas you target me to get the thrill your current lay won't provide." he countered and watched her eyes turn sharp.

"Clearly at your twisted villain school they missed the lecture about sexual harassment in the work place." He chuckled and took another step.

"So you admit you're staying with Lex for business, rather than pleasure?" he probed, taking another step, until her hand came up, pressed against his chest, stopping him from getting any closer.

For now, he would respect her choice to stop him.

For now anyway.

He closed his fingers around her hand, keeping it solidly pressed to him.

"I like to think I have the best of both worlds." she replied, trying to keep the weakness from her voice and succeeding. Who was she today? A confident bed-mate of Lex Luthor who did not bow to the will (or lips) of villains. That's who she was!

"If you think Lex is the best at anything, clearly you're the one who missed a few classes at school."

"At least he doesn't have to break into someone's home and steal another's woman for the feel of a female skin."

"Trust me Blondie, I've had more than my fair share of women writhing under me. I wouldn't mind adding one more though." He knocked loose her hand and had her against the wall, her protests limited to a value of zero. "Care to try an upgrade from Lex's shortcomings." Her face blushed slightly, her grin returned and a gloved thumb rolled across her flushed cheeks. Everything in her body told her the tables had just been turned rather violently and she was prey to his mercy. If so, why was her head screaming for more?

"Don't-" she breathed, half hoping the words on her tongue would finish with 'stop', but instead she turned her head away. It didn't matter because he took control, meeting square with her again. His thumb grazed gently over the feint scar on her forehead in the process of fading. She read guilt from the gesture, almost an apology, but the words didn't come from his lips like she imagined.

"Scared you might enjoy it?" he teased, creeping closer still. She could smell his cologne, rich and powerful, yet only a light sprinkle in the air around her. It dared her to be closer; she tried to block it out. "You forget I was there too." he continued, "I remember the lust pouring from your parted lips." His finger drew smooth across said lips, sparking the desire alight. "I can still feel your aching body, unsatisfied by the inadequate lover." Where her insides melted, her outsides turned to stone under his touch.

"I can still feel the throbbing of my head, unsatisfied by the numerous pain meds I've been throwing back." she countered, the violence in her tone shaking loose the need to taste his lips again. She had been so interested in one-upping him while he was unawares she forgot her pledge to rip him apart for the three day headache.

"I apologise." he chuckled. "I wouldn't have had to do that if you'd have been willing to let me go." Again his thumb stroked across the pale mark that would be gone within days.

"You were stealing." she hissed, her eyes searching the dark tints for something of emotion.

"Borrowing." he corrected again. "Or I was until some little minx decided to let loose her hell dogs all over my computer system."

She smiled, a grin more powerful than his.

"Woof," she whispered in a breath, knowing she'd get no better apology from him currently. Maybe she'd tear him apart later. "Since it's our third date, you ready to shed the clothes and give me a name to match that ego?"

"I don't know. You ready to share yours yet?" he countered. "I've personally scoured every inch of Lex's personnel and you are not listed."

She grinned. She wouldn't be. Technically, she didn't exist at all. Records were wiped clean, all there was was a piece of paper wavering all her rights over to the Luthors.

"And I've had contacts buzzing for weeks trying to find your name. But it seems the criminal underworld knows nothing of you." Now it was his turn to grin.

"Why are you working for Lex?" he replied, shooting off around another conversational tangent. "You don't strike me as the minion of doom kind."

"He provides the juice for my crazy addiction." she lied smoothly, but it was believable…or it had been to others. He saw through it.

"You're no junkie. What do you get from it?" Through sunglasses he searched her for signs of honesty. She might be able to lie to everyone else but for him she lost all skill.

"A chance to be me." she snapped, pushing against his hold and breaking free.

"Who are you?" he asked, his curiosity real and a vulnerability tainting his solid voice.

"Whoever you want Jolly Green. But right now, I'm pissed and in no mood for your verbal judo."

"Why are you working with Lex?" he probed again, no rest in his tone. Chloe solidly set her jaw closed and marched away from him.

She got all of two metres before he had her in his grasp again, turning to front her with his repeated question. "Damn it woman, why are you with Lex?" Chloe locked her eyes on his black lenses and shot arrow of hate into his gaze. Fingers grabbed tight on her shoulders, on the verge of hurting. "Speak!"

Their 'conversation' had eluded them from the memory of the saved citizen calling the cops, but the siren's loud and clear streaming around the corner had both of them caught like deer before car headlights. Him for his anonymity, her for her freedom; both needed to be gone. A quick glance to the alley entrance five inches away required immediate action.

Arrow caught the panic in her eyes and pulled her to him as he ducked into the shadows of the alley next to his bike. The police would soon be arriving and searching the area, he needed away, and it seemed she also did.

"Woman." He had no knowledge of her name. Her eyes were still on the alley entrance, watching the police car speed by. "Mary!" It was the only other name he had for her, and it seemed to be work, drawing back her attention. "Get on the bike." he ordered to her as he mounted it himself and tested the grip on the handles, kicking out the stand. Chloe didn't move, just gave him another look of questioning. "Mary. On. Now!"

"I'd rather get caught. I'm not stupid enough to be dragged to your lair." Oliver had his mind on keeping her safe and nothing else.

"I promise. You'll be dropped off safe and sound. Better than spending time for whatever crime you've committed. No judgement." Her eyes connected to him, wondering how much he could know.

"Hey! You there!" Both heads turned around to the other end of the alleyway where a policeman was drawing his gun to the sight of them.

"Mary. Last chance." Arrow offered, terrified of her fate if she said no.

Thankfully, she accepted his hand and straddled the bike behind him, instantly wrapping her small hands around his waist tightly. Oliver smiled and the roar of the engine drowned out the shouts of the policeman. They sped out and joined the traffic on the back streets of Metropolis under a pale half-moon. Her hands gripped tighter, but he could feel her relax as she leaned her head against his back and hugged close. Chloe swore she was resting her cheek to his armour for a position of comfort and security on the bike ride, no other reason at all. Oliver swore she was nuzzling him because of one simple reason; she was falling heels over head for him. With a dirty thought he grinned again and revved the engine loud in the night.

The ride was over far too soon, and like he promised he pulled into another dark alley a few subways over and came to a stop. Instantly, she pulled away and stepped from the bike. But he didn't zoom off. He cut the engine and dismounted. Chloe felt her weak legs back her into the wall but her voice remained strong.

"It's not Mary."

"Then what should I call you?" he asked, taking a step closer toward her. She could feel something was going to happen, but for the life of her she couldn't move. She couldn't move because her feeble legs would show weakness, but deeper down, she didn't want to. She wanted another mind blowing kiss, she wanted the freedom to taste without Lex's eyes all over her. She wanted the risk of the thrill he gave.

"Not Mary."

"How about… Cindy?" She rose an eyebrow. "Because I can always make you bend to my will." Chloe laughed lightly as he stepped closer again, winding his arms around her and bowing her to his shape as he loomed over her.

"If I'm a Cindy doll, it's because you don't have the goods to get Barbie." Satisfied that she'd won she grinned. It faded as he dropped his head closer to her, she was 100% ready for his lips to touch hers. 100% ready, but they never came.

"You want me. Say it." he breathed, a mere whisper from her lips. Her eyes snapped fully open and she released herself from his grasp, sliding back to the wall and safety.

"I don't feel anything for you." She locked down again. Cold and empty.

"You're lying."

"You're a thief." she countered.

"And you're not one to judge. I saw your reaction to those police."

"You saw nothing!" she hissed. He closed the distance to stop her need to pace.

"Maybe now I understand why you're with Lex. You're the same." The disgust in his tone was much more than he intended, but it showed the truth of opinion. Her anger spiked high.

"I am nothing like Lex!"

"Then what are you like?" he challenged.

"I'm a survivor. I do what's necessary."

"And doing Lex? Is that necessary?" It was jealousy more than a need for an answer than made him ask.

"Like I said. I do what I have to to survive." He could have spat. She was whoring herself out to be safe. Before he could blow she spoke again. "If you're worried about me not enjoying it you're wrong." The lie intended to get him to storm off. It didn't quite have that effect.

"Really? Then why are you here with me? Why would you beg for my lips?" he challenged and forced his body flush against hers. She struggled but he took both her hands and pinned them beside her head. Flexing and wriggling her hands she felt the stinging graze of brick against her skin. Arrow repositioned them, stopping the damage she was causing.

"I don't beg for your lips. You're nothing."

"You're a liar. A bad one."

"You're too far up your own ass to see clearly. You're nothing!"

But the comment stirred a smile, not a revolt. He loomed closer, his lips drawn to be a millimetre from hers, she could feel the tingle of anticipation buzzing in her skin. The bend of his height shaded his features from her, not that she'd see anything with her eyes closed in expectation.

"Kiss me." he breathed. It wasn't an ask, it wasn't an order, it was something in between, daring her, but at the same time having no pressure at all. She didn't know how he managed it, nor how it happened but she found herself drawn to obey and put herself that mere millimetre forward and made contact with the substance of her dreams. But she felt nothing in return, no passion, no movement. He did nothing to her advance and again she was rushed with anger. Her knee jabbed to his thigh, kindly missing a more valuable target and she stormed off into the brighter light of the streets from the alley.

A step away from the sunlight she was dragged back, pushed to the wall and wrapped in arms stronger than her own as she was met by a lover's lips.

Immediately, she was flooded by everything that was amiss before.

The passion.

The fire.

The race of blood.

The echo of need.

It was everything she'd felt in Lex's office, but so much more as well.

He was warm.

His hands explored her in all the right ways, and all the wrong ways.

His body crushed further into her, the want rising with the movement of lip to lip.

Fingers wrapped in her hair, tugging her head back so he could attack her neck with kisses he needed to give to prove his point.

Chloe died in the sensation, thankful he had his other arm wrapped under her to keep her upright. Everything in her body was crashing to the rhythm of him. Blood raced through her brain in electric tickles before gushing between her legs in a way she'd never had before. The chemistry was undeniable, it was ferocious, it was poisonous, and she didn't want to be without it. It was undiluted primal instinct raging on a high and demanding more from both. Hormones were thumping against the roller-coaster ride of blood flow fuelling the chase.

Chloe was helpless but to soften all of her resistance, losing all mind to stay strong. Her arms made no attempt to flip back his hood, no thought of taking off his glasses, they just wanted her to be closer and brought her wish as they guided his lips back to her parted ones.

But too soon the touch she craved vanished. She expected some clever and witty remark, but she just got a cheeky smile flashed on his face and the sound of a vibration of a mobile phone. Before she could work out it was his he was back on the bike.

"'Til next time." he spoke. Then she was standing alone listening to the night life of metropolis swallow the sound of his motorbike.

Numb seconds passed her before she regained any real thought. Her hands touched to the brickwork behind for stability as she breathed with slow purpose.

Where was her mind? Was she falling for this creep? What could she possibly get from a masked maniac except for a few cheap thrills? Though if that kiss was any indication of his talent, she could say those thrills would turn her world upside down and spin it around until she passed out exhausted. But it didn't change the fact he was a criminal. He stole from the deep pockets of metropolis and was endangering the life of Lex's workers with his stunts.

But…

Chloe felt a nervous timid side of her rise up for a contribution. The deep pockets had, well, deep pockets. They didn't need their jewels and gems. They had insurance, they could replace them six times over and still have change to buy a small country. And Lex's workers hadn't been touched so far, all the damages had been to property and instruments. Nothing that couldn't be replaced.

And for once, Chloe listened to that shy girl inside her. That shy girl had always wanted to see the light in everyone, to see the good overpower the bad. But why now, when faced with a dark soul like Arrow did she decide to speak up? Why evermore so, did Chloe decide to listen?

"Where the hell have you been?" Canary hissed practically knocking Ollie off his bike for an answer. He shoved down the hood and glasses.

"It's nice to see you too."

"No. No, it's not. Do you want to know why?" She didn't pause for breath to give him a chance to guess. "Because for the last 30 minutes I've been stuck in your grotto with the ever-changing moods of your seven dwarfs playing snow frickin' white!" Beneath the scramble of her meaning he guessed that the guys had been annoying Dinah in his absence. "Don't you even dare give m- Holy hell, is that lipstick?" Before Ollie could even think of the word Dinah was attacking his face with a forceful thumb. "This is lipstick!" she hissed. "You're half an hour late because of some female?"

"No, it's not like th-"

"Yes it is! Damn it Ollie."

"I stopped a mugging." he sped out the words.

"And then decided to take your full thanks from the whore?"

"Dinah! Stop!" Canary stopped her protest and took a deep breath. With a testing glance he saw her drop her anger.

"Okay, fine. I'm calm. But she better have been the best lay of your life. And for god's sake, get that lippy off before you see the boys." Dinah huffed and turned on her heels back to the elevator to his home. "It's clashing with your skin tone." she shot over her shoulder as he walked the bike back. Ollie grinned and rubbed his fingers over his jaw making a mental note to check his mirrors more often after seeing that vixen.

Dinah had clearly told the boys a different story to the truth. He knew because their first words were not to ask what she looked like. Instead AC was the first to speak, craning his neck back slightly but his vision solidly fixed on the video game where both Bart and Victor were playing with him.

"Dude, nice you could show."

"Yeah, timing is excellente amigo." Bart nudged in, heavy with the sarcasm.

Ollie didn't say anything just swapped out his bows, replaced a few arrows then noticed a lack of persistent huffing in his ear about his lateness.

"Where's boy scout?"

"Where do you think?" Vic breathed out a laugh to follow. "The missus has him booked solid all today."

"Something about a story. I didn't catch all of it; you know how Lois is when she gets going with an idea." Ac added. "Just asked if we were able without mr muscle and since someone wasn't here to say anything else…" Oliver felt a few imaginary daggers penetrate his back. "I said she could have him."

"We figured since it wasn't that big of a facility we could have it cleaned quickly, Clark wasn't necessary this time…" Victor nudged in backing up his friend.

"No. It's fine. We move out in 10." Oliver spoke taking back his role of leader and pushing the demon enchantress to the back of his mind.

Everything had run smoothly, from entrance to exit, the entirety of Lex's lab had been cleared. Upstairs and down had been bugged with the new bombs all synchronised to go off in four minutes, and counting. Victor scanned once more for heat signatures, a habit that had been ingrained by Boy scouts paranoia.

"We clear?" Arrow asked as the others were making their way back to them.

"Three signatures. Canary on the left being bugged by Impulse -"

"Don't we know it…" Canary hissed over the headsets.

"Does radio silence mean anything to you?" Ollie chuckled back.

"Does little fast annoying kid silence mean anything to you? Because I'm not getting that either." Dinah grumbled.

"Anyway." Vic cleared his throat. "It just leaves Aquaman closest to us here."

"Yeah, but I'll still make it back before him." Bart interrupted with pride.

"Not surprising. You wait until we see water, then I'll be swimming laps around you." Ac snapped back.

"I could still beat you. I could beat you if I was twice my weight you're that slow."

"That theory could be tested if you actually put on weight when you ate." Dinah snarled, annoyed at the boy's fast metabolism. There was a second of silence then Dinah's voice was back. "Oh no. Don't you dare! If you so much as-" A squeal cut her words off and Bart's voice came back.

"Ready to race?"

Ac laughed, knowing of what that scream meant.

"Sure. Loser does the food shopping all this month." It had become tradition that before and after their justice league excursions they would clean out Oliver's fridge. Ollie didn't care, nor did he mind paying for it, a team well fed did good work, but he insisted one of them would go out shopping for the food. Usually some sort of bet or gamble would decide the unlucky shopper that would fill the two trolleys. Somehow, despite being the only female in their merry band, Dinah had never once been shopping. She never lost the gamble and whenever they tried the whole 'we've all been; it's your turn' she brought up some sexist argument and the men all regretted saying anything at all. But it seemed in this particular gamble she would play a role.

"You're on. Ready Canary?" There was a hiss and a slapping noise. "Go!"

Vic and Ollie exchanged a disapproving glance but watched as the heat signatures sped up. As per usual instruction Bart would take the longer route through every room of the facility while Ac did just the final leg of the journey.

Vic squinted towards the building, his mechanical eye focussing on Ac barrelling full speed like a charging bull towards them across the tarmac.

"He might do it…" Vic thought aloud.

"Nope."

"Even with Canary on his back?" Vic questioned.

"The kid's got no strength, but he can run." Oliver complimented.

They both watched as Ac got closer and closer. Victor shot Oliver a look, asking if he wanted to re-think, but before Ac could tag Oliver's hand Bart was there with a very angry Dinah forced onto his back.

Bart may have won the battle, but the war was just starting. Dinah landed a knee to his back with a sharp jab and put him on the floor, her knives drawn and eyes set to kill. Ollie caught her waist before she could lunge for the brat.

"You're dead. So dead." she spat out from behind Oliver's grip. "Just wait…" she threatened while Bart danced around her before conducting his 'victory party' moves on Ac who was panting for breath. "Oh god, I think I'm gunna be sick…" Canary lowered herself to the floor while Oliver wisely swallowed his laughter.

"I'd just like to say that-"

Bart was cut off by the simultaneous blasts of the explosives in the facility as fire consumed the sight.

"I thought you said four minutes?" Oliver yelled to Victor over the noise of the falling structure.

"It was. I programmed them to count down from thirty mins when all placed and active." he answered also stunned. There should have been another two minutes at the very least before they set off. It was by luck and luck alone that everyone was out and alive.

Vic watched the heat sensor on the laptop dance with the roaring fire of the flames over their area, blanketing their own positions.

"We're not using these again." Oliver told them all as he helped up Dinah and led his team from the burning wreckage.

'Ecu-tec, Luthorcorp's scientific research facility was target to an act of terrorism last night.' Chloe looked up from her breakfast to the television, her mind striking directly on Green Arrow. Had he acted again? So soon after their meeting… 'Explosives were detonated in the late hours of the night, destroying the building and claiming the lives of nine workers.' Chloe felt herself pale, her stomach rolled violently and span her head. Were the colours of the room blending together, or was it just her? 'Charred remains are continuing being examined and identified to inform the families. Luthorcorp will release a statement later in the day, and offer-' The tv was silenced and the room echoed with self-hate.

Green Arrow: murderer.

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Oh! I didn't just cliffhanger did I?
oh, yes... I did.

Xx