Title: Under A Different Sky – 19/26
Fandom: Smallville
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: Chloe/Oliver
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Seasons 6 & 7
Warnings: This chapter has sexual content.
Summary: AU. Chloe seeks out a new life in Star City, far from the painful reminders of her life in Smallville. Set around seasons 6 & 7
Author Note: All comments and reviews are appreciated. They are my addiction, so please feed it! I need to know if I am doing things right. To make up for it being so long between chapters, this one is a little longer than normal.
A big thank you to Aleishapotter for helping me out with this chapter. Also to chloesilvers who has helped me with the rest of this fic, and to selene2 for my fab banner.
Chloe knew it wasn't right. There was that small voice in the back of her head telling her it wasn't happening - it couldn't be. This was a dream.
Nevertheless, everything felt exquisitely real. The heat of his mouth, the touch of his hands, the sensations of his leather costume rubbing her skin; every nerve ending felt as though it were on fire.
He lifted her effortlessly onto the desk as his mouth continued its assault on her mouth. His lips tasted of mint and coffee; refreshing and addictive, all at the same time.
Lois' nameplate fell to the floor as he pushed her further onto the smooth surface. His hands bunched her skirt around her thighs, allowing her legs to open to accommodate him. The feel of his firm body and the cool leather against her warm legs sent a jolt of pleasure through her body.
He was really going to take her here, in the bullpen of the Daily Planet, on her cousin's desk of all places. The thought only excited her more. They could be so easily caught.
Gloved hands tore her panties from her body. She drew in a sharp breath as the cool air hit her exposed flesh.
"Come here." The deep, distorted voice had her inner muscles clenching.
He pulled her back towards the edge of the table, and she took the opportunity to push his hood down to run her fingers through his blonde hair. She wanted to remove his glasses and feel the weight of his eyes on her, but he didn't give her the chance.
Without giving her any warning he was inside her. There were too many sensations to feel; all she could do was hold on and enjoy what he was giving her.
"Chloe," he sighed as he moved within her.
She closed her eyes and gave herself over to him, meeting every thrust of his with her own. She wanted to call out his name and tell him how much she needed him, but someone could hear. There could be a journalist in the shadows watching their display as we speak.
His fingers pinched her clit as he continued to pound into her. "Arrow!"
He groaned and picked up his pace. She could stay like this forever. She was safe with him.
"Chlo!" His hands gripped her hips as he froze inside of her.
She felt disappointment, believing that their coupling had come to an end so soon.
Opening her eyes, she expected to see his face flushed from his orgasm. Instead she saw that at some point he had lost his glasses. She could now see his beautiful chocolate brown eyes wide with shock and staring at the bloodied arrow sticking from his chest.
His fingers left her legs to touch the slick wood, his eyes never wavering from hers.
"This is because of you," he whispered.
Chloe awoke from her dream with a start. The sweat soaked sheets clung to her as she sat upright, her body aching still from the past few days.
She ran a hand through her hair and looked at her bedroom door. A rush of relief filled her that she hadn't cried out in her sleep. The last thing she needed would be an audience to the things in her mind. The pleasant ache in her groin was enough to remind her that all of her dream should remain private if she wanted to save her blushes.
She manoeuvred herself to the edge of the bed before slowly making her way to the bathroom, using the furniture for support.
Looking into the mirror she could see the hard night's sleep clearly on her face. Turning on the cold tap she splashed the refreshing water onto her face.
Chloe had known that it would only be a matter of time before the nightmares would rear their ugly heads. Any fears hidden in her subconscious were now begging to be heard, shouting loud and clear through what should have been a very pleasant dream.
She couldn't deny it for much longer. She was scared to death of what Merlyn could do.
It had taken Chloe thirty minutes to wash and dress that morning. So far she had failed to find a way to shower while keeping both her balance and a dry cast on her arm. It left her feeling dirty, no matter how often she strip washed.
She opened her bedroom door, wondering if she should call one of the guys for help or attempt the stairs again.
As she stepped into the hall she almost collided with a blur of red. Hands steadied her to prevent her from losing her balance.
"Morning, Bart," She said with a smile.
Bart gently released her as she regained her footing, "Hi."
He seemed to be avoiding eye contact and Chloe knew why.
"So…you and Oliver, huh?"
"Yeah. We're taking things slow, to see where it goes."
Bart kicked gently at an invisible pebble in front of his shoe. "Seems like I've finally found something I'm slow at."
Chloe's heart sank. She really hadn't wanted this. There wasn't supposed to be any awkwardness.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Bart held his hand up to stop her. "I'm happy for you, 'Licious, don't think that I'm not." He finally looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eye, "Even if I am secretly hoping Oliver screws up big time, because this time I'll be quick on my feet."
"I don't want to make life uncomfortable around here. If you want I'll head home, it's not a problem."
He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. "I'm okay with it; honest. Besides, you have to stay. How else are you going to make it up to me?"
Bart swept her up into his arms, being careful of her leg. "And by making it up to me I mean that you have to make me chocolate chip pancakes with extra bacon."
Chloe laughed before he sped them to the kitchen.
Gently setting her down on a stool, he put the ingredients for a large breakfast in front of her.
"You do understand I have no real cooking skills to my name, right?" She said with an amused smile.
"No excuses, Beautiful. I'm going to milk the sympathy vote for all I can. Now, make me some breakfast!"
She laughed at the almost serious look on his face. "Don't become too pleased with yourself, you're helping. I'm in no condition to be flipping pancakes," she said, waving her bandaged arm for him to see.
"You've got yourself a deal."
Bart had cleaned the kitchen in less than a second. No matter how many times she witnessed his abilities, his speed with household chores still amazed her. Her life would be so much easier if she could move even a fraction of his pace.
She had been left with the relative quiet of the kitchen and her friend, the coffee machine. It was quickly becoming her favourite room. The view from the windows of the surrounding grounds gave her a sense of peace. It was tranquil here, when she didn't have the background noise of four grown men going about their day.
"Feel like company?"
She turned to see AC at the door dressed in his swimming trunks. "Come on in."
He walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. "Any reason you're hiding out in here? Everyone else has left for the day."
"Oh! I didn't hear Bart and Victor leave." She was genuinely surprised. They always called out goodbye as they left. She really must have been in her own little world.
"They're trying to chase down a lead on Merlyn."
"So you're stuck with babysitting duty today?"
"At the moment my day's plan is focused on that pool out there." AC said pointing to the pool just visible through the window. "Soak up some rays and just enjoy the sunshine."
"Sounds like a good plan," she smiled thinking that taking advantage of one of the sun loungers was very tempting. "But why would you use the pools here with the ocean so close?"
"Most days I do, but a day at homed doesn't hurt. Besides, the point of you being here is for us to help you out. Someone's got to open the jars around here for you." he said with a smirk.
Chloe playfully slapped his arm. "I might actually join you. I can't swim, but a bit of sun wouldn't hurt."
AC stood still for a moment, looking at her arm. "I've got an idea."
Chloe watched as he searched through a couple of cupboards before finally pulling out a roll of trash bags.
"I am going to show you how to waterproof your bandages."
Chloe's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Where were you when I wanted a shower?" It sounded like her day was getting better. If this worked then she could enjoy that bath she had been dreaming of.
"As happy as I would have been to help you into the shower, I think Big Green would kick my ass." He placed her injured arm into the bag, folding it over once it hit her elbow. He began to wrap the plastic around, pushing the air out as he went. "That guy has no sense of humour when it comes to you."
Chloe tried to brush aside that last comment. She didn't want to think about what Oliver had told the guys, but she imagined it would have been very caveman. "Well, this is a great idea. I can't believe I didn't think of it before."
"It's the kind of trick you learn as a kid who lives in the water and gets into too much trouble," he replied with a smirk.
Using the roll of duct tape he firmly secured the plastic around her arm, making sure there were no gaps for the water to leak through. "There. That should about do it."
AC released her arm with a smile just as there was a loud thud from the kitchen window. Lodged in the outside of the glass was a black arrow.
Seeing the weapon stuck in the reinforced glass, AC immediately scooped Chloe from her chair and ran from the room.
"What are you doing?" She asked, wincing as every step he ran sent jolt s of pain through her.
"Panic room. You'll be safe there."
She should have been impressed that he was able to form a sentence while running with her in his arms, but her heart was pounding in her ears and the adrenaline was flowing freely.
Merlyn had found a way to get to her, and almost succeeded. Only Oliver's well designed home had stood between her and an arrow in her back. It made her stomach churn.
AC had her outside the panic room within a minute, pressing his own thumb to the pad. Before the door opened fully, he had pushed her into the room and unsteadily onto her feet.
"I'm calling the others then going after him. Stay here, no matter what!" he instructed.
She knew that he was good, and that with the aid of water his skills were unbelievable. But on land he was just a very strong man with a heart of gold. He would be just as vulnerable to the arrows as she was.
"Please don't go out there, it's not safe! The windows have held up, he can't get to us." It was a pathetic plea, and she knew that. She just didn't want to have a third friend bleed for her this week.
"I will be fine, just close the door."
She felt her stomach churn harder, and by sheer will alone stopped herself from being sick. She couldn't do this anymore. How could she just wait day after day for another attempt on her life, distracting her friends from their true callings? They shouldn't be putting themselves at risk for her. There was only one person that would be invulnerable to Merlyn's attacks, and none of the guys here was him.
"I'm calling Clark. I'll go back to Metropolis." The words were out of her mouth before she even realised what she was thinking.
She pressed the button to close the door, but AC's hand prevented it from sealing. "Speak to Oliver first, Chloe." His voice was firm, almost like an order.
"I'm my own person, AC."
"We just want to keep you safe. With Merlyn, we need to plan every step."
The need to run everything by Oliver was raising a sense of suspicion in her mind. It seemed to go beyond the need to keep the woman he was attracted to close by.
"I promise you, if I continue to be locked up like a prisoner for the rest of my life, I'll take matters into my own hands." She slammed her hand into the button, this time the door closed quickly without interruption.
She had meant every word, and she knew right at that moment she was ready to begin her article.