Title: Olvier's Worst Nightmare
Author: Calie
Summary: Little did Oliver know he was about to run into his worst nightmare.
Rating: K
Notes: This is in response to Lilmoochies Halloween challenge. And thanks to her for helping me edit it also. The entire story will be posted this week. Please review! At the end of the story I will have another note.
“What happened to your date?”
Oliver turned from the bar and scanned the crowd, eyes searching for the tall brunette clad in a very short very low cut French Maid costume. “Over there.” Oliver nodded across the room and turned back around just in time to see the bartender set his scotch down.
“She ditched you pretty quick didn’t she Queen?”
Taking a swig he turned back around and leaned back against the bar. “Well usually when they find out I don’t have any interest in them and they are only here for the pictures…” He trailed off as if the rest would have been understood. Turning back to the man at his side Oliver frowned. He’d met Gerard Beauchamp a few years before. He was just slightly younger then Oliver, he came from France and from old money. He’d bought shares in Queen Industries and had continued to show up in Oliver’s life here and there; mostly when they were both single. “Don’t you have a date?”
“Why?” Gerard shrugged. “At least this way I leave myself some options.” He gestured out in front of him. A petite red head walked in front of him wearing a tight leotard and bunny years. She grinned seductively up at him and as she passed his eyes roamed down her body all the way the to the cotton tail. He turned back to Oliver with a cheeky grin. “Like I said.” With a shrug he sipped his own drink. “I have to admit your little nurse there is looking pretty tempting.”
“Have at her.” Oliver shrugged. “But you might have trouble prying her away from that guy she is currently wrapped around.” Turning away again he took a seat and sat at the bar. “This was a stupid idea.”
“It’s for a good cause.” Gerard took a seat next to Oliver and surveyed his friend with narrowed eyes. “What the hell are you anyway? I thought costumes were required.”
“James Bond.” Oliver yanked on his tux sleeves.
“Lame. Just because you look better than most in a tux is no reason.” Gerard pulled the toy gun from his belt. “This is much cooler.”
“A cowboy?” Oliver snorted and took another sip of his scotch.
“A gunslinger.”
“You’re from France.”
“And James Bond was British.”
Oliver shrugged. “Touché.”
“You don’t speak French.” Gerard let his eyes follow another woman and the long black tail swinging in her wake.
“Fluent.” Oliver raised his hand at the bartender and pointed down to his empty glass.
“Really?” When Oliver nodded in response Gerard shrugged. “So did you come here to pout?”
“No, like you said it’s a good cause. I spend ten thousand, twenty including my lost date, on a ticket for a charity Halloween party and it scrubs away some of the tarnishing on Oliver Queen’s name. At least that’s what my publicist said.” The music thumped louder as the song changed. Oliver looked around in annoyance. “Does it have to be so damn loud?” His friend chuckled in response, Oliver only frowned.
“You know for a period when you dove off the deep end you were out every night. Now that you’ve gotten your shit together you live like a hermit.”
“I’m busy.” Oliver mumbled, more to himself. It wasn’t just being CEO of Queen Industries that kept him busy. Ever since he donned the Green Arrow suit again he’d thrown himself back into his other persona full force. There was still an empty hole within him, the pain was still there. But instead of trying to fill it with drinking, spending money, and partying, he’d opted for working, trying to do something good, hoping that one day enough good acts on his part would erase the guilt and all the pain.
“I can’t imagine your sex life is thriving much. You bring in a smoking hot little nurse and you let her scamper off.”
“Good riddance.” Oliver pushed up his sleeve and glanced at his watch. He’d only been there thirty minutes. He was obligated to stay at least another hour.
“Now look at that.”
Oliver turned at the knowing tone of his friend’s voice. He followed Gerard’s line of site down the bar, past a small group of people, and stopped on the petite blond. Her back was turned to them as she spoke with the woman across from her. He knew what had piqued his friend’s interest. In a dark bar full of people in dark costumes she stuck out. His eyes started at the top where honey gold hair hung in short ringlets, then traveled down the pale skin of her back. She wore a short dress which flared out at her waist, only barely covering what was underneath. His eyes traveled over the long expanse of pale leg down to the white stiletto heels. She turned her body to the bar, never turning her head away from her friend, giving both Oliver and Gerard an eyeful of the plunging V neckline.
“Well hello Marilyn.” Gerard said to himself with a grin. Turning back to Oliver he nodded his head back towards the blond. “What do you think?”
“I prefer brunettes.”
“You’re a blond.” Gerard pointed out and turned back to watch the woman again. “I like the short skirt and neckline; easy access.”
“Spare me. If you’re going to screw her do it without giving me the play by play.”
Gerard turned his head back to Oliver in time to see him knocking back another drink. “I might just do that.” He pushed himself off the bar and glanced back at Oliver. “Slow down on the drinking. What is that four?”
“Fuck off. I’ve only had two.” The sound of his friend chuckle only made him frown. He didn’t usually mind Gerard, but he was rather relieved to have him gone. He didn’t want company, he wanted to leave. Get back home, get back to work.
Movement at his side caught his eyes and he turned to see the small group of people to his right move away, allowing him perfect view of Gerard and the blond woman. His back was to Oliver, shielding the woman from his view, but by Gerard’s relaxed stance Oliver could only assume things were going well. A feminine laugh caught his ears and Oliver rolled his eyes. He’d had enough, he was leaving regardless, Gerard and the nurse be damned.
Downing his drink and tossing a few bills on the bar, Oliver stood up. She laughed again and Oliver turned his head sharply in the couples direction, not even sure what he’d heard, but knowing there was something off. Slowly he walked closer, their voices carrying over the music, and the woman’s voice sounding more and more familiar. Just as he stepped behind Gerard she laughed and it clicked, he could see her face even though Gerard clocked his view of her. Grabbing the other man’s arm Oliver pushed him to the side. “Chloe.”
“Oliver.” She gasped and turned back to the French man. The smile that had been on his face earlier was gone and he seemed more confused than anything.
“You know her?” Gerard asked with amusement.
Oliver ignored him. “What are you doing here?”
“Lois.” Chloe looked around for her cousin and frowned. “She’s covering this and had an extra ticket that was meant for Clark.”
Gerard sighed as the two people ignored him. “So I take it my earlier intentions…”
Oliver turned to Gerard with a glare. “Don’t even think about it.” He snapped and grabbed Chloe’s arm, pulling her away from Gerard’s eyes. Putting his back to Gerard, Oliver cornered Chloe against the bar. “You said you were working.”
“That was yesterday.” Chloe said and turned to the bar. “Can I get vodka seven?” Turning back to Oliver she frowned up at him. “Lois called me this morning.” She noticed the faraway look in his eyes and the way his jaw seemed to twitch. “What’s wrong?”
Turning his head he spotted Gerard talking to a tall leggy red headed cheerleader and then looked back down at Chloe. “You do know the kind of attention you are drawing right?” Someone brushed his side and Oliver looked up just in time to see the man look over at Chloe, glancing down at her chest. Oliver fought the urge to snap at the gawker and instead leaned against the bar, blocking the man’s view of Chloe.
“Yea.” She laughed in amusement at Oliver’s question and looked down at her attire then back up at him. “Isn’t that the point?”
He wanted to say no, but speaking as a man that could appreciate a short skirt and a low cut top he couldn’t argue. The problem was it wasn’t supposed to be on Chloe. She was an attractive woman, but she shouldn’t have been dressed like that. That wasn’t her; that was other women, not the one who sat behind her computer giving him orders. Oliver sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. The bartender walked up with her drink and Oliver requested another Scotch, he was going to need it.
“What do you think?” Chloe asked with mock innocence as she twirled around in front of him. The problem was she knew she looked good, and if he was smart he would admit it.
His first response was to say no, but she was playing him. “Put it this way,” Oliver grabbed his scotch and sipped it. “At the risk of you getting accosted by more men like Gerard you aren’t leaving my side until your back behind your own door. Alone.”
“You’re no fun.” Chloe turned away from him and to the bar, nursing her drink in silence.
For a moment he felt guilty, but then he turned to his eyes and spotted the man adjacent to him looking down. Following the man’s eyes Oliver found himself staring at Chloe’s backside, which was currently tipped up as she leaned on the bar, her skirt flaring out giving a small glimpse at the white panties underneath. He glared back up at the man in frustration and turned to Chloe, stepping behind her.
Chloe gasped at the feeling of a body pressing against her own. She watched familiar arms come up on either side of her, trapping her. Turning in Oliver’s arms she looked up into his dark eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Do you know you can see everything underneath your dress?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s attached to the dress. I’m not going to let everyone in his bar see my underwear.” She started to turn back around, but then stopped. “And what the hell is the big deal anyway. Don’t act all modest now. I’m sure you’re no different from the rest of them, are you?”
“This is different.” Oliver shot back. “I know you.”
“Oliver, I’m a grown woman. I’m single. How else am I going to meet people?”
“I think you are going to attract the wrong kind of people.” She sighed in frustration and turned back away from him. “Chloe,” She didn’t say anything. “Chloe.” Now she was angry. Grabbing her waist in one hand he leaned forward and dropped his mouth to her ear. “Forgive me if I don’t like the fact that every man in here wants to look up the skirt of a woman I know.”
“Lois is here.” Chloe responded. “I don’t see you raining on her parade.”
She was right. In fact he’d totally forgotten about Lois. Chloe turned her head and looked up at him. Her eyelashes seemed longer, making her green eyes seem larger than usual. He felt her breathe deeply underneath his hand and then flickered his eyes to her chest, watching as her breasts rose and fell. When his eyes found hers again, there was something different. She leaned back slightly, her back flush against his chest. Slowly, Oliver slid his hand over her stomach, pressing her against him, never taking his eyes off of hers.
“Hey!”
Oliver dropped his head and sighed at the familiar voice. Chloe pulled away from him, leaning forward onto the bar, forcing him to drop his hand. Stepping away from Chloe he leaned on the bar and looked passed her at Gerard. “What?” A man passed, his eyes dropping to Chloe’s skirt. With an irritable sigh he grabbed Chloe’s hip and turned her so that her backside was pressed against him.
Chloe looked behind her and smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”
Looking back up from Chloe, Oliver focused his attention on Gerard. “What?”
“Look who I found.” Gerard nodded to his side.
There was an urge to groan that Oliver had to contain. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t have minded the presences of Dustin Hamilton, one of Gerard’s closest friends a man bent on spending mommy and daddy’s money on cars, clothes, and woman. He didn’t have a care in the world, except for the two scantily clad women standing on either side of him. Oliver glanced down in front of him at Chloe realizing she didn’t have much more clothes on herself. “I guess that means you’ll leave me alone now.’
“Oh come on.” Dustin slapped Oliver on the shoulder. “Me and my two little police officers here were heading out to another party.”
Oliver glanced over the two woman dressed in matching police uniforms, asses hanging out just as much as Chloe’s. “Is that what the orange jump suit is about?”
“I like being arrested.” Dustin grinned.
“That’s because you like them young.” Oliver mumbled. “Well have fun.”
“Oh no, you’re coming with us.”
Turning his glare to Gerard he frowned. “I’m taking Chloe home.”
“Hey.” She turned around, not caring about Oliver’s concern about her dress and narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t say I was going home.”
“You are. I’m leaving and you aren’t staying here by yourself.”
“You can leave, but I’m staying.”
“I’m not leaving you here.”
“Hey, hey, hey.” Gerard threw his hands up. “Both of you can come.” He watched the couple in front of him, glaring at one another, waiting for the other to give in. “Your friend here get’s to stay out and I promise you they’ll be less people where we’re going.” Oliver’s angry eyes met his. “Well don’t pretend that isn’t your problem.”
“Fine.” Oliver reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty and tossed it on the bar. “Let’s go.” He wrapped an arm around Chloe’s waist to usher her towards the door, but she planted her feet and pushed at his chest.
“You didn’t ask me, and Lois is here. I can’t just leave her. You can’t just boss me around Oliver.”
“I am your boss!” He exclaimed angrily and then snapped his mouth shut. Looking up at the prying eyes he cursed himself. Taking a step closer to her he bent his head and whispered into her ear. “I’m sorry. Look I won’t try to take you home. Just come with me. At least ease my conscious.”
“Lois…” His hand slid around her waist, caressing the bare skin of her back as it went. When he pulled her closer she shuddered.
“Lois ditched you a long time ago.” He pressed his hand against the small of her back and ignored the rush that went through his body at the feel of her. “I’ll text her. Okay?”
He had to know what he was doing, because she couldn’t even think. He was clouding her mind with that damn Oliver Queen charm. “Okay.”
This time Chloe didn’t fight him. Pressing his palm into her lower back he ushered her through the crowd. They exited the club into the brisk night air and Oliver couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his ticket and passed it to the valet.
“Lois?” Chloe questioned from his side.
“Right.” Taking his cell phone from his pocket he sent her a brief message. I stole your cousin,. finder’s keepers. That should piss her off sufficiently.
“What did you say?” Chloe craned her head over to glance at his phone, but he was already tucking it away.
“I took care of it.” Of course there was a strong chance she would be blowing his phone up later. Chloe gave him a speculative glance, but he ignored her. Moments later his black sports car came zipping around the corner. Oliver frowned at the valet, but handed him a tip none the less. As Chloe stepped forward to the passenger side he cut her off, reaching for the handle. “At least give me the opportunity.”
She rolled her eyes in response and stepped around the door. “Because you’ve always been such a gentleman in the past.”
Once she took her seat he slammed the door and frowned as he walked around his care. Stopping at the driver’s side door he turned and looked behind him to find Gerard taking his keys from the valet. “Where the hell am I going?”
“Follow me!”
His frown only deepened in response. Oliver hated surprises. Climbing into the car he put it into gear and waited for Gerard to pull off. Unconsciously his eyes turned, landing on Chloe’s legs.
“Do you always have to frown? You could have just left me.”
“It isn’t that. I don’t like this.” Oliver waived at the bar he’d just exited. “I’d rather be home, or on a mission getting shot at. It’s not you.”
“I thought this used to be your thing?” She inquired, for the first time finally getting a glimpse into him. Sure, they were decent friends that knew way too much about one another, but they never willingly shared it, it was more out of obligation considering the jobs they led.
“Used to.” He could see her look at him from the corner of his eye, perhaps waiting for further explanation. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her to understand, he just didn’t want to talk about it. It had taken months of fuck ups and a suicide attempt before he’d been able to get anywhere close to getting his shit back together. Getting through the night was going to be hard enough without having to relieve the past year.
“Okay.”
He turned to look at her, expecting more of a response. She offered him a soft smile which made his stomach feel sick for a reason he couldn’t understand. A honk drew his attention away and he turned to his window to find Gerard shooting him the bird.
“Classy.” Chloe shook her head and pulled the seatbelt across her lap.
“Just because you have money doesn’t mean you have class.” He could attest to that personally.
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Notes: I wanted to wait and post this at the end. Below is a picture of the dress Chloe is wearing.