So, it seems like my brain took a holiday without my permission.
My usual chapters (earlier than chapter 15) were around 6,000 words, and then they became strangely 4,500 ish.

I finally figured out why. I had changed the font on the microsoft word document, so it would be easier to speed read and check for errors. And, naturally I was still working on my previous nine pages = one chapter theory, not being aware that the change to font changed the size of it. So... I know it's not short in length, but it's shorter than the others. The next one or two i've already edited may have this length too. But I feel you can deal with it :)

Reviews= yummy. Reviewers can feel free to accept free hugs :)

Previously; Chloe was saved by Bart and crew. Bart had some Chloe-time. Oliver raged. Dinah got pissed. Chloe had a cute moment with Arrow. Chloe took a new version of RL-65 and we left her clonked out on the bed snoozing.

Chapter Seventeen; Price of life

'I'm a little jaded in the romance department and the only thing i know about relationships is that someone usually winds up getting hurt' – Lex Luthor (Season Three, Episode Legacy)

Chloe woke late, around 5pm. Another bad side effect. The more it heals, the longer you sleep. From the dipping sun, she could presume the damage was extensive. A lot worse than she'd originally imagined. Guess she owed her life to that damn drug.

She pushed the duvet from her, the cold air setting tingles across her previous warmth. It was one of those days you had second thoughts about ever getting out of bed. But she had things to do, the bed would have to wait for her tonight.

Her hand reached to the phone, expecting the three missed calls from Lex, but he came second to a very important phone call she had to make.

Oliver's phone vibrated on his desk, he was deep in work, the kind of deep that usually meant he ignored everything else until this stupid piece was finished.
Besides, the last time he looked it was closing in on 6pm. He had an agreement with himself he would bail on this if it wasn't done by 6. It would wait.

But his concerntration was fading with every second the phone sang. As it continued to ring, his curiosity drew his gaze for a flicker over it. Chloe. His mind instantly revisited the issue of ignorance and put a huge red cross through it. He was going to answer it; that was sure. But he had to have the line between Arrow and Oliver drawn. As far as Oliver Queen knew, he was grumpy she had stood him up.

Before the rings would stop and she'd give in, he snatched his phone and slid his thumb across the screen to answer. He clicked into a persona he didn't want to take on.

"Nice of you to find the time to call." he started, already feeling like shit for saying the words. And god damn her, she started to apologise, making him feel ten times worse.

"I'm sorry." She sounded so sincere it was shocking for him. "Work called, and I'd forgotten I'd promised I'd help with something. I figured I could just nip in and out, but it took longer than I thought and I'm sorry I couldn't get to phone you." Oliver didn't know how to reply, not only was she apologising for being kidnapped, but lying and blaming it on work… which in one way was true; it was work, but it wasn't anything she should apologise for. He felt sick in the bottom of his stomach, he was a monster for even hearing her words of apology.

The line between his personas had to stay clear, especially for Lex, and thus; her.

"Make it up to me?" he offered, wanting to end the pain and awkward situation as quick as he could.

"I'd love to." Her relief was clear, her words honest. Oliver struck another thick black line through Dinah's thoughts; She wasn't just playing him. "Tonight, tomorrow night. Name a time and I'm all yours."

"That easy huh?" What about her bruises, how was she planning to explain those? Why would she even offer tonight? But… he did want to see her. "Tonight?" he suggested. He wanted to touch her, to see her alive and happy... He wanted to have her in his arms where he could keep her safe.

He didn't even care what he had on his schedule, he hadn't looked. Whatever it was, he'd change it. Nothing ranked higher than her in that moment.

"Tonight can work fine."

"Good, then I'll come and pick you up."

"… You're really pushing this apology Queen." she stated, catching onto his game plan and resuming her usual façade.

"What can I say, I usually don't give second chances to someone who stands me up."

"New experiences are good for you." And her personality was back, no more apologies, just her strong frame. He grinned, finding it as thrilling as he first had.

"As true as this may be. I'll still be picking you up at 8 tonight."

"Fine. But no more is said about last night if I agree to this." That worked well for him, he couldn't keep up the charade of being annoyed at her when he knew the truth.

"Deal. Luthor Mansion still?"

"Actually, I'm at the Gold Tower, on Oasis Avenue."

"Did the mansion get too crowded for you?" he chuckled, the pen twirling over his fingers with an artful skill he'd taught himself in one too many board meetings.

"8 o'clock Mr Queen, if you're a minute late you'll be paying for it all evening. Keep that in mind." And his phone cut off.

His fingers reached across to his desk speaker.

"Vivian." he called. "I need a table for two at le'Bicane, 8pm tonight."

"Tonight sir? I don't know if I can-"

"Any price they want, just get me the table."

"Of course Sir."

Oliver leant back in his chair, his mood elevated, his spirits up and he stared back down at his computer.

He felt like king of his castle again.

Chloe smiled to the phone, expecting much worse from Queen. After all, it wasn't everyday a billionaire had practice healthily dealing with his date not showing up.

She stood from the bed feeling more alive than she ever had felt and made her way to the bathroom mirror. It always amazed her how effective RL-90 was. She was battered and bruised when she went to sleep and now, she woke up with a radiant glow. Her skin looked better than usual, like she'd come home from a month's stay at a spa. She felt awake and ready for the day, there wasn't a bruise in sight, wasn't an ache in her joints and she could truly smile that last night could be put behind her as a terrible memory.

She turned to shower and caught sight of her back. RL-90 could never heal the scars, they were already healed over in their own way, just little pink lines remained, but she swore that every time she used it (this being the second time in her life), they faded that miniscule percentage more. Her first adventure with RL-90 had been a previous job where a close call had become a really close brush with dead, thankfully, the job had been for Lex and his overprotective hand had swooped in to save her at the right time.

Thing were good, things were looking up, but her morning shower brought her morning to a tipping point. The razor cut her fragile baby-new skin several times while shaving, the water seemed to beat every harder on her undeveloped toughness.

Another downside of RL-90, heightened sensitivity. It went away after a few days, but for the first day every touch, every pin prick of pain felt like the first experience of her life. The price of vanity.

Chloe's morning went downhill from there, she sat downing a coffee and reading the morning paper the building had delivered outside the door daily. Two papercuts later her hand froze. She re-read the headline.

'General Sam Lane passes after a long battle with a brain tumour.'

Uncle Sam had passed. The cold anchor of reality came smashing through her other petty worries of her appearance and work. Morality… humanity's greatest fear and weakness.

'General Lane passed away last night from an inoperable tumour pushing on his brain. His legacy is survived by his two daughters Lois and Lucy. Both-'

Chloe stopped and shoved the paper into the bin. Her eyes brimmed with tears. Fucking Lionel, fucking Lex. She wanted nothing more than to have been there for her uncle. He was always there for her, he taught her to fight, taught her to stand up for herself when the other kids picked on her. He'd been scary to her as a child, but the kind of scary that would always be ten times worse for anyone who tried to hurt her. She missed the days when she would spend summer with Lois, teasing the boys at the base where Sam was stationed and getting told off by Sam for wearing such revealing clothing. Well, more so Lois than her.

…Everyone had a time though. Everyone had an end, coming closer and closer as each day passed.

I was pretty close to my end last night, she thought sickly and pushed the idea away as quickly as it came.

She couldn't even research the date for his funeral, she'd want to go. If she knew when, she'd find a way to go. And if Lois saw her… if someone recognised her. She didn't want the question she couldn't answer.

She'd give anything to see him one last time, but… he wouldn't like who he was talking to. She could imagine him now, asking what the hell she was doing, working with the Luthors, playing bed mate to someone like Lex. Hell, he'd be livid about Arrow; his niece making out with some random stranger in a mask. Dating Queen to get his business. And he was right, what the hell had she got herself into? He wouldn't be proud of her, he wouldn't even like her. He'd call her a disappointment, he'd tell her she needed to straighten herself out and get out of this hole she was calling her life. And to think she was happy here, to think she enjoyed the time she spent with these men… she'd be nothing more than a cheap whore in her uncle's eyes. Another tear ripped free from its prison, sliding down her cheek in a blazing track.

There was nothing else she knew, nothing else she could do. She was working to get out, she was. It was this or death. She heard the ghost of her Uncle tell her at least in death she would have had honour and dignity, but now… she was nothing.

And her mood was shattered. Everything she had been happy about seemed trivial and pointless. A big cloud hung over her figure as she slumped against the breakfast bar.

She lifted her head for a look around the apartment, she had empty pizza boxes littering the floor with memories of the night before, bags of sweets stuffed only with the wrappers of others or the reject flavours neither partier had favoured. It felt like the party her mind had held this morning, only instead of the partiers sleeping off the high, they'd been chased from the party leaving nothing but a mess.

Chloe wiped the tears, cleaned her mood and pulled a trash bag from under the sink. Her movements were slow, desperately wanting to clear the mess, but yet to keep the happy memories hidden in the wreck. The black jellybabies they threw at each other with laughter, knowing neither liked the flavour. The pizza she'd eaten far more than her fill of while he grumbled about the next pizza run. The sofa covered in blankets they'd spent the night under as the films progressed. It was a happy mess really, it held all the good she knew from the night before.

What would her Uncle think of Bart? Hell, he'd probably say she was dragging the kid through the dirt with her.

Chloe closed the door firmly on her thoughts of her Uncle. No point in upsetting herself anymore.

Her wet eyes scouted the apartment… it was a disaster zone. She vaguely remembered declining Bart's offer to help clean up, but for the life of her she had no reason why.

"Some party huh?" The voice froze her, not now. Slowly she turned, and cursed whatever evil god was watching and playing with her fate strings.

"I'm not in the mood. Please leave."

"Leave huh?" Arrow stepped into the apartment from the balcony. Chloe's thoughts went to the cameras and held her hand to stop his movement, withdrawing the phone. A few taps and her brow furrowed, guess she'd forgot to turn them back on before she went to sleep, suppose it was wise considering the evidence Bart and her had left of their last night. "Clever girl came with video surveillance." he noted.

"Clever girl is not in the mood for dealing with you. Leave."

"What, Lex isn't whispering in your ear and you still don't want to see me." Chloe groaned internally, she still had to update Lex about yesterday.

"Leave Lex out of this."

"Why is he even still in this?! Why not just go? Run. Leave the city, leave the country and hide yourself." He stepped forwards again. "You're more than capable."

"And be on the run for the rest of my life and living in fear?" she scoffed and shoved the pizza box into the trash bag.

"I think you'd finally be able to settle on a mood for longer than a day." he snapped cleverly.

"Just go, alright."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He crossed the room, she moved further away from him. "Is this because of last night?"

"No." she answered firmly.

"And how the hell are you not still bedridden and covered in bruises?!"

"Why? Did you come expecting to play bed maid. Sorry to disappoint."

Arrow stepped further. Unless this was how she did anger, it wasn't RL-65. But, how else could she heal so quickly? "Stop looking at me like this!" she ordered feeling the heat of his inspecting gaze.

"What did you take?"

"Jesus Christ Dad!" she hissed and violently pushed sweet packets into the trash.

"Is this some twisted side effect of some drug Lex has been cooking in his lab?"

"No. This is the effect of someone unwanted crashing in on a girl when she's just-" She stopped for only a second, a pause for breath to anyone else, but anger had always been one sure way to break through her usual defences and lies. "I'm not having a good day. Please, leave."

"We need to talk."

"No. We don't." she corrected without energy. He stopped his movement towards her, instead choosing to stand still.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me."

"It's not about that, I know you were helping the others, I ge-"

"You can say that… but I know I let you down." His words sounded so broken she couldn't help but crumble her walls of defence.

"I'm in one piece, that's all that matters." She heard his footsteps come closer, her eyes still locked on the floor. His arms come around her in a gesture she would have never pinned him for.

"I know I can't ask you to stop. But be more careful?" She lifted her head to his, seeing his light spray of stumble across a strong jawline, lips made for kissing, a straight sharp nose and then black glasses covering his eyes. Something so familiar about that jawline. She brushed the thought off; she'd clearly been thinking about him in too much detail recently. "I'd hate if something happened to you." His fingers brushed the loose strands of her hair back around her ear. Her skin blazed where he touched.

"You on the clock again?" she asked, quiet, barely spoken.

"Regretfully. We'll meet again though." He touched his lips to her forehead and stepped back to the doors by the balcony.

"That's all I get?" she joked. He grinned over his shoulder to her.

"Until next time Blondie."

Chloe stood in the living room, smiling to herself.

No time to rest for the wickedly sinful though, she reset the cameras and dialled the devil's cell phone.

"I presume the drug is responsible for the late call."

"I just got out of the shower."

"Hmm. So?"

"Remember the lead for a shop on 42nd street" That some gimp suit sexual perverts had led her to... "Well, turns out this wasn't the right end of the offered stick and they were in the trade of women as sexual workers. I got a little tangled, but I'm alive."

"By yourself?"

Chloe toyed with the answer in her mouth, but somehow she couldn't sell the alone thing.

"No. Our favourite vigilante crew came knocking before I got the chance." More like 'before her light was snuffed out', but Lex didn't need to know that.

"I trust RL-90 has cleared everything."

"Perfect, I have a date with Queen tonight."

"Last night cut into your date?"

"Sadly, but my charm won me another chance."

"I expect-"

"A phone call the moment I get back."

"I was going to say that you'd make up for it with Queen, but that also applies."

"I'll be on my best behaviour." she sickly promised and ended the call before her soul floated any further away from her.

Lex was… well, he was a pitchfork away from the devil for most of his life… but, not with her. He cared… as much as anyone like Lex was capable of. Chloe smiled, and turned her attention back to her Green Arrow file.

No leads on the costume left her with the archery idea and the martial arts area.

Chloe spent the rest of her daylight hours hacking martial arts centres for teacher's information and pupils details. Nothing seemed to add up, she had a few possible, but further digging just led to nothingness.

By 7pm, she had a list as long as her arm of names of prospective Green Arrows. Some she'd visit in person, others she'd look into further over her laptop, but she had narrowed her field to a few names. There was always the chance Vordigan taught him to fight, or his billionaire hired privately… but this was something, which was always better than nothing.

Chloe shut the lid on her beloved laptop, stretching out her joints as she stood, but the action was more from habit than actual need, she didn't feel cramped or stiff like she used to. RL was a wonderful invention for days like that where she spent hours over a laptop.

At 7:50, a coffee stood on the sink, half drank while she played with her hair again. Up… or down?

She stood in her dress already, the heels and clutch by the door, her wrap over the kitchen chair.

Down, she decided, it would cover some of the scars, even if she removed the wrap, she would be able to hide them to a passers glance. With a smile, she lifted the boost bra up again, wishing she had more on the front for occasions like this.

But, her attitude and feminine wiles would have to suffice, like they always did. Chloe batted her eyelashes for the mirror, approving the look. As much as she disliked the time women spent focussed on their appearance, there was certain thrill to getting dressed up and applying make-up when you had a date. It was like the preliminaries of a race, it set you up for how easy the next length would be. Her fingers pinched the lipstick lifting it to her lips to paint them darker rouge than they were already.

Happy with her final result, she slipped her feet into the heels she didn't care much for, but needed for height, and tugged the wrap over her, the clutch secure in the other 'd changed shoes three times already, the sensitive skin finding her previous favourite heels to rub her feet and squeeze her toes. As much as she grumbled about RL-90, it was a life-saver. So instead, she'd chosen a more comfortable shoe, it still hurt to walk in, but she didn't think she'd be on her feet for long.

With a smile Chloe dumped the pass-card for her accommodation into the growing clutch, snuggled between the perfume, lipstick and condoms. She read her phone for the time and then threw that in too.

It was showtime.

Oliver leaned against the column of the entrance hall, watching the elevator with eager eyes. At 7:59 precisely, she stepped out and did not disappoint him in any way. Not that she ever could.

"You look stunning." Oliver could barely believe how dangerously tempting she looked, it was torture to keep his hands to himself. Knowing what it felt like to touch, to kiss… His body warmed at the mere thought. It was like her skin was calling out to him.

"Thank you. You look pretty dapper yourself." She smiled at him and accepted his offered arm. "So, where does the infamous Mr Queen take his dates to woo them?" Her tone was light and playful. God, he could see himself getting in over his head tonight. How could a woman like this be so enticing? He'd seen her in the grip of raw maddening anger, he'd seen her fearful, tearful and lustful. He'd watched her play of emotions like a Shakespearian drama.

"You should really just call me Oliver you know." She grinned wide at him, and he was already lured into her trap of seduction. She was perfect.

"Oliver… sounds prestigious." she complimented -or at least he thought she did, her words seemed to have backhanded insult- following his footsteps into the night air. "And prestigious Oliver has a very nice car." Now that, he was sure that was a compliment as she left his arm to get closer to the car.

Money came with some benefits. Most women knew the car would travel fast and that it had a sleek design, but this wild thing actually seemed to appreciate more than that. "Wow." she breathed. "Lamborghini Reventon." Her hand touched the dark paintwork. "650 base horse power, 0 to 60 in 3.4." Her laughter twinkled in the light wind. "It's beautiful."

"Not my favourite, but I like it." he agreed, watching her eyes light up as the doors rose.

"Well, who can afford to take their favourite car out all the time?" she mocked.

"Actually, I lost my favourite." he admitted. She turned back to face him, her lips in a smile. Those damn perfect lips.

"You misplaced a car?" He took a step closer to her. "The tabloids claim you to be a great man, clearly I was misled by the true extent of the meaning." God how he wanted to kiss that smile, to touch her.

"It ended up in chop shop, truth be told." Another step and she was pressed an inch from the car and an inch from Oliver.

"Well, you know what they say; you're not a powerful man until you've got enemies." He chuckled, his breath tickling her neckline. "Any idea who's got it in for you?"

"None." The one word from his lips, when he was this close, seemed seductive in its own way.

"Sucks to be you." she spoke, lifting her eyes to meet his.

"I strongly disagree." Just a kiss, just one… she looked so amazing… would she know he was Arrow from a kiss? Best play it safe. Oliver stepped back but just a little. "You look fantastic." he repeated.

"Flattery will get your everywhere." she giggled and with her hands a ghost from his waist she danced past him and slid into the car.

He was in over his head.

In. Over. His. Head.

There she was, this slip of a dress. One of those that tied around her neck and dipped tastefully low into her cleavage, and there her perfect breasts sat looking full and flush, daring him to touch. The red silk tied in at her waist -a tiny waist to match her tiny figure- and then flared out with her hips to drift around her knees in layers. If it wasn't for the scrap of material she had wrapped around her shoulders, the sweet curve of her back would be shown as she turned away from him.

He thought of his hands all over her. And then he thought of something else, her scars… surely she knew she'd have to explain them by the end of the night…

Oliver rounded the car and slipped in the driver's side, but before he started the car he turned to his date. His face was serious, all except the eyes; they shine with a playful mood. His eyes gave him away. He could be the world's best poker player if he could control those eyes, but as much as he tried, they betrayed him.

"We're not going anywhere until I get a name." he stated, leaning back in his seat to further his point.

"You have to earn that."

"I can be stubborn." he challenged.

"As can I." she retorted, rising to his challenge.

"Okay, so, how do I earn a name?"

"I have a few ideas." she teased, turning in her place as much as she could allow.

"Any of them that I'm going to like?" Suddenly staying in a confined space with her seemed like a bad idea, all he could think of was crossing the distance between them and taking the lips she insisted upon playing with.

"Hmm, you could agree this romantic notion you have in your head is forced and not a natural male behaviour."

"That would be lying." She narrowed her eyes.

"I don't believe you." And her spirited mood was swallowed by cynicism.

"Ever been in love?" Chloe didn't offer an answer, so Oliver filled the silence again. "It changes things."

"And what happened to the girl?" she asked, always perceptive to the underlying message.

"She was in love with someone else."

"I'm sorry." She knew the story, and she knew who, the papers had been mad for the little time her cousin had turned the tables of the billionaire's world. But, Lois, in love with someone else. That was something the paper's hadn't spoken of. Who? Oh who cared, she wasn't part of Lois's life anymore. But Oliver was here, looking at her like she had changed the tone of the evening. Chloe smiled. "I have another idea."

Oliver felt a warning at her sudden change back to the playful mood.

"You have?"

"Depends how much you feel you need a name." He rose an eyebrow and her smile grew. "Kiss me."

"And I get your name?"

"That's the deal. Unless it's too high a price for you, I c-" Oliver closed the distance, taking her lips like he'd wanted since the first sight he'd had of her that evening.

Her stomach swam in a pooled heat, her eyes closed to live in the feeling of his lips to hers. His hand snaked up her neck, nestling in her locks as he brought her closer, all his need and desire pushed into one movement and one kiss.

Chloe felt a passion with him she had never thought to feel again. But as she dove for more, her tongue touching to his lips, he was pulling back. She opened her eyes to find him a breath away, his chest rising and falling with the uncontrolled race of lust.

"Happy?" he asked, his voice coming across more husky than he expected.

"Very." She smiled. "Chloe." she spoke, passing her name across the space.

"It suits you." he replied. "Do I get a last name or will that cost me extra?"

As much as she wanted another kiss, she relented her name, after all, it wouldn't be truthful.

"I never lied about that." she lied. "Chloe Maine."

It was the name she used when doing business with Lex, it was what she'd built herself a fake life around and no matter much he dug he would find no cracks in her life. Truth be told, there was a girl named Chloe Maine. Lived alone with her abusive father, had hospital records of broken bones and other abuse related injuries. The girl was currently living under another name living it up, her father committed suicide in prison. Lex had bought the girls story, and paid for the child to have another life, it had become Chloe's past for anyone who happened to dig. Chloe Sullivan, she was missing, declared dead.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you Chloe Maine." Chloe could almost hear the filing of her name for him to run through every system later. But for now, she was on a seduction mission. Her target; Queen's bedroom by tonight.

"Now will you drive?" she questioned, "I'm starving."

He chuckled.

"With pleasure."

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Next time; The first date :D