The Wager Chapter 22/23

[brittany2922]

Banner by miss_morrygan 


Title: The Wager
Author: brittany2922
Summary:  Oliver Queen meets a beautiful reporter named Chloe Sullivan and ends up making a bet with Bruce Wayne that he can seduce the young woman. But what happens when he falls for her?
Characters: Chloe, Oliver, Lois, Clark, and Bruce Wayne
Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing

 

Chloe kept her eyes locked on the screen as two files came up; she clicked on the first one and waited for it to load. She had no idea what it was that Bruce thought she should see, but what ended up being on the drive was definitely a shock.

They were photos. Photos of her and Oliver. It was obvious by the angles and distance that the pictures were taken from that they had been under some kind or surveillance, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that Lex was the only one who could be responsible.

Apparently Lex had been watching them from the beginning.

There were pictures of them even as early as the night that Lois set them up at the diner, when he took her to the art opening and when she took him to the carnival.

She felt a small pang while looking at them, but one of the pictures in particular grabbed her attention. It was Oliver holding her hand and pulling her through the crowds in the direction of the ferris wheel. She couldn't help but smile at the memory of that day.

Going there every year had always been so bittersweet for her, even with Lois and Clark for company the memories of the last time she went with her mom had always bubbled to the surface, but when Oliver was with her that hadn't been the case. In fact that day with him had instantly become one of her best days.

That was the day that she realized how amazing he really was. Away from his expensive suits and the pretentious parties he was expected to attend he was exactly the kind of man she wanted to be with.

As she scrolled through the pictures of that day her eyes landed on one that made her laugh out loud.

It was her and Oliver sitting at one of the picnic tables while they ate their dinner. Oliver was looking at her hesitantly as she tried to feed him a chili cheese fry and she had her head thrown back laughing loudly.

She shook her head as she remembered how he had reacted to eating at a traveling fair…



 

Chloe grabbed his hand as they got off the ferris wheel and pulled him toward one of the food trailers.

"What are you doing?" he asked clearly confused.

"Going to get dinner." she answered slowly.

"I thought we would just…" he lifted his hand and shot his thumb toward the parking lot.

"You can't be serious." she said taking a step closer to him and speaking in a dramatic stage whisper, "Oliver, you can't go to a carnival and not have a corn dog and funnel cake."

"A funnel cake?"

"Yeah, it's a…" she lifted her hands into the size and shape of a funnel cake, but was only met with another confused look. "On my god, you haven't ever had… Oh that is just not right." she tugged on his hand and led him to one of the nearby picnic tables. She pushed him down, "sit here, I'll be right back with dinner."

He reached out and grabbed her wrist, "what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to buy us dinner, Mr. Queen."

"I'm not going to let you buy me dinner Chloe." he said standing up.

"Oh yes you are, we had a deal. You said that I could buy our dinner the next time we went out."

"What didn't the art opening count as going out?"

"Of course it did, but we didn't have dinner then," she said with a smirk knowing that he had no way of winning this one. "Now just sit here and wait."

She made her way over to the closest stand and got in line. When she finally reached the window she placed her order, two corn dogs, a large order of chili cheese fries they could share, two large sodas, and of course the funnel cake.

When they finished filling her order she picked up the tray and made her way back to the table. She set it down in front of him and looked up to find him wearing a wide eyed expression.

This time she was the one confused, "What?" she asked

"We're going to eat those?" he asked pointing to the plate of fries.

"These are the best fries ever besides I want you to get the full experience."

He looked up at her and gave her a smile that was impossible not to return as they started eating.

When they were finished they started walking toward the parking lot. Oliver reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He wrapped his hand around her waist and leaned down, "that was the best funnel cake I've ever had." he whispered in her ear.

She stopped mid step and turned to him her eyes narrowed, "I thought you never had one before."

"I never said that, you just assumed."

"And you just let me believe it?"

"I couldn't help it." he said laughing, "I find the fact that you think I'm too rich and stuffy to have had things like funnel cake before very amusing. You're not mad are you?" he asked with a smirk.

"As a matter of fact, I am," she teased, "and I'm thinking you may have just cost yourself your end of the night kiss." she pulled her hand away and pretended to storm off in anger toward the car.

"Oh come on Chloe," he said as he quickly followed after her.

When they arrived back at her apartment he seemed surprised that she let him walk her up. She unlocked the door and turned the knob but before she could push it open he grabbed her other hand and turned her around, "You weren't really serious about that whole kiss thing were you?" he asked hopefully.

She looked up at him, and without a word she wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him so his lips were only an inch from hers. She then quickly turned his head to the side and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "maybe next time," she said sticking her tongue out at him then pulling her hand away and walking into her apartment.

"Well played Sullivan." he said chuckling.

"Good night Oliver."

"Good night Chloe."

She closed the door and leaned against it listening to his retreating footsteps…

She smiled and scrolled farther down looking at the rest of the photos, then returned to the previous screen and clicked the other file, but this time instead of pictures she heard the voices of Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen...

"Oliver, nice to see you. So what can I do for you?"

"I think you know. Chloe said had a run in with Batman the last night."

"I prefer to look at it as a rescue. You know how it is. She's the damsel is distress; I'm the hero who swoops in and saves the day. We end up falling madly in love and running away together, leaving you all alone and crying in your green leather."

"Why don't you quit with the quips and tell me what the hell happened?"

"What did she tell you happened?"

"She came out, the guy grabbed her, and you saved her. That's it, but there's got to be more."

"Well that does about sum it up, except for the part where she broke the guy's nose."

"Did this guy say anything?"

"Something about an old friend wanting to see her."

"Lex."

"You don't know that. She is a reporter I'm sure she's ruffled plenty of feathers in her day."

"It's got to be him. You read all that stuff my guy found. He's got a hell of a grudge against her."

"We have no way of knowing that for sure yet."

"So you don't know anything else."

"The guy managed to get away before I could get anything out of him."

"Well maybe if you weren't so busy trying to hit on her you'd know more. You know I was under the impression that Batman was more of the strong silent type. So what the hell did you think you were pulling?"

"Ah… You know I don't see what you're problem is. You told me less then a week ago that she was still just a game to you. Nothing more. You let her get under your skin Oliver. That's no way to win our little wager."

"You really think I give a damn about the fucking bet Bruce. It's over, the whole thing. I'm done."

"Well, I am certainly surprised, is the Green Arrow actually conceding?"

"Yes."

"I guess that means I win."

"I don't care. Take the car; don't join the league, whatever. But I am telling you this thing... it's done. I can't do this to her anymore. I don't want to hear it from you ever again. I mean it, this whole thing is over. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly."

'Good."

The recording ended and she sat back on the couch trying to gather her thoughts.

A moment later she heard the front door slam, "hey Chlo, I forgot my… Oh my god." Lois said running into the kitchen and pulling open the oven door, she pulled out the tray inside which now held charred cookies. She turned toward Chloe who was now standing just outside the kitchen, "What happened?" she asked concerned.

"Sorry," Chloe said bashfully, "I got distracted I guess."

Lois's eyes narrowed, "did Bruce Wayne say something to upset you?" she asked.

"No I'm fine."

"Are you sure, because I can call Clark right now."

"Lo, I promise he didn't do anything. Weren't you supposed to go talk to Clark?"

"Oh right, I just came back to grab my phone." Lois explained, "Guess it's a good thing I did though." she said looking toward the tray of burnt cookies. "So what had you so distracted?"

"It's no big deal, we can talk about it tomorrow."

"You sure."

"Absolutely." Chloe responded with a nod.

"All right." Lois made her way into the living room and picked up her phone. "Don't wait up." she said opening the door.

"I never do."

Lois shot her a mischievous grin and closed the door behind her.

Chloe made her way back into the living room and stood looking at the computer. She was so confused. All she wanted to do was give into her feelings and go to Oliver, but that stubborn scared part of her was holding her back.

It was then that Lois words from the other day in the hospital came flooding back to her.

"It seems to me that you're putting yourself through pain right now on the chance that he might hurt you in the future, and that doesn't make any sense."

Lois was right; she had to take the risk. Chloe quickly slipped on her shoes and headed for the door.

She swung it open quickly, and found Oliver standing there his hand positioned to knock.

---

Read Chapter 23 HERE!

Comments

[kitmerlot1213.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure, because I can call Clark right now."

Good for Lois for casually offering Clark to beat up Bruce Wayne :):)

And Bruce is rather awesome for showing Chloe that Lex was watching her all along and that Oliver truly does care for her.

I think this final Chlollie conversation is going to be gorgeous :)

As for your new story ideas, I think I like the one that's post Roulette and begins with the Chlollie friendship.

[brittany2922.livejournal.com]

Honestly I'm not a huge Lois fan, I'm actually kinda indifferent abou the character, but she really is so much fun to write.

I hope you like final chapter!

Thank you so much for all the feedback you've been sending, I really appericate it hun!

[ihearttvsnark.livejournal.com]

First, great chapter. Loved the flashback to the carnival. I laughed when I realized Ollie was just messing with her and I love how Chloe got back at him for it. I'm glad she heard that conversation (Bruce gets some of his kiss-ruining points back. Some). I squee'd a little when she opened the door and Oliver was there. I look forward to the last chapter.

Both of the new ideas sound great. I'll even try to squash the fact that Dollie turns my stomach. (I don't know why I have such an intense hatred for Dinah but I do). I vote for the post-Roulette story once your others are done.

[brittany2922.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much hun! The carnival part was really fun to write! The next chapter should be up in a day, two at most. I hope you like it!

I totally get the whole Dinah Hate thing! I really dislike her myself! lol

Thanks for the feedback hun!