Three Unnecessary Words (1/1)
Author: serafina19
Title: Three Unnecessary Words
Summary: It’s a natural moment in all relationships, Chloe knew that. But that didn’t mean that Chloe was looking forward to it.
Timeline: Canon until “Escape.”
Three Unnecessary Words
Summer comes, winter fades
Here we are just the same
Don't need pressure, don't need change
Let's not give the game away
Sometimes, Chloe wished that her cousin didn’t get to her. Ever since their encounter at the McDougal Inn, Lois’ voice was in her head, no matter how much Chloe wanted it to stop. Because she meant what she said. It wasn’t a romantic getaway, just a chance to get away from all of the stress on their shoulders.
But with every word she said about her arrangement with Oliver, the more that little voice inside her head questioned it. It wasn’t like Chloe was a fool, there was something there, but giving definitions, giving labels, well, that would inevitably result in expectations, in deadlines. And Chloe knew that she didn’t want to deal with that right now.
Because despite the encounter with her cousin and best friend, Oliver was still Oliver. Despite her initial apprehension, the spoon was a funny gesture and she even began using it at Watchtower, knowing that he would see it. Over the next few weeks, it had almost become an inside joke.
Eventually, things fell back to a sense of normal between them. The smiles, the get-togethers, heck, even the sex was still fabulous, not that she ever doubted that would change. But Chloe did also recognize that there were things that were changing. The subtlety was starting to fade, as touches lasted longer and glances softened.
“You okay, Chloe?”
She shook from her trance and gave Oliver a nod. They were working in Watchtower alone, trying to figure out the next move in their fight against Zod. Obviously, she had stopped working for too long, as her fingers hovered over the keyboard and she was staring in space.
Luckily, he didn’t press further, so Chloe started working again, trying to focus. However, it was no use because Lois’ voice was back in her head, telling her how she felt, where she stood. Even if the voice was right, Chloe knew she was afraid to voice it aloud because she was scared for what she had with Oliver to change. It didn’t end well for her the last time it happened, or the time before that... or any time before that.
There used to be an empty space
A photograph without a face
But with your presence and your grace
Everything falls into place
Not to mention that it wasn’t long ago that it felt like they had both lost themselves, but now, there was something to get up for in the morning, and it more than just a purpose.
It was the way he smiled when she walked into the room, the immediate way she returned the gesture, not even realizing that she didn’t remember smiling like this before. The light touch on her arm during team meetings, knowing that everyone knew now. Apparently everyone did.
But it didn’t matter to them and they didn't need anyone else's approval. They knew what they were doing and that was all that mattered.
Right?
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
She swallowed hard, trying to get this off her mind because there were more important things to deal with than her consistently confusing personal life. So she started typing, looking up at the screen to remind herself what she was working on, but after a few seconds, Oliver wrapped his arms around her.
“I don’t know about you,” he said before kissing her neck. “But I could use a break.”
Oliver initially didn't give her much choice as he placed his hands over hers and moved them away from the keyboard. She considered fighting it, but honestly, a break sounded like a pretty good idea. When she turned around, Oliver pulled her close, their foreheads colliding before his finger began to stream down her cheek.
No, this certainly wasn’t helping the debate in her head, but at least the voice was quiet compared to the way her heart seemed to almost pop out of her chest. She knew it wasn’t supposed to be this easy for him to get her to stop worrying, but she didn’t want the feeling to go away either. In this moment, Chloe almost wanted to tell Oliver everything, to lay her heart on the line. But Oliver was different and more than anything, she didn’t want to lose what they had by saying those words. Then again, there was a chance Oliver would beat her to it, but Chloe wasn’t sure that was any better.
It really made no sense that they could face the world ending, but three stupid words were almost enough to break them apart. But life works in mysterious ways and they both knew that love had a tendency of overcomplicating things.
Sure, she had married Jimmy, but it was a fantasy, so was Clark. Oliver should have been one too, but there was a lot of reality alongside that. That was probably what scared Chloe the most, along with the fact that other people saw it too. Lois thought this was one for the win column, which seemed hilarious considering her history with Oliver.
Speaking of history, even Clark of all people was starting to think this wasn’t a completely crazy idea.
“A relationship with secrets can never work. Look at you and Oliver. Everything's out in the open.”
It wasn’t like she could blame them. Oliver did have a tendency of looking out for her, just like now. He knew that she wasn’t fine, so he stopped what he was working on to ensure that they both have a break. So Chloe tried not to roll her eyes in frustration, because as they continued to stand close to each other, she could tell that Oliver was watching her like a hawk, likely looking for the right time to tell her everything she already knows.
That was probably why Chloe peered up at him again, only to smile at the stupid grin on his face, the way his eyes softened, and the way he cupped her cheek before kissing her.
For now, for tonight, it was disaster averted, but she knew that they couldn't avoid talking about this forever. At this point, all Chloe could hope for was that she would be ready for the change when it came.
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
~End~
Sera’s Scribbles: So because I’m unable to finish my WIPs, I’ve returned to the archives to look through my unfinished fics and salvage anything with promise. This one was an obvious choice because, for some reason, I abandoned it three years ago even though it was 75% finished. Likely still a bit rough around the edges, but it was now or never. Lyrics are from Gabrielle Aplin’s “Please Don’t Say You Love Me.”
.
Title: Three Unnecessary Words
Summary: It’s a natural moment in all relationships, Chloe knew that. But that didn’t mean that Chloe was looking forward to it.
Timeline: Canon until “Escape.”
Three Unnecessary Words
Summer comes, winter fades
Here we are just the same
Don't need pressure, don't need change
Let's not give the game away
Sometimes, Chloe wished that her cousin didn’t get to her. Ever since their encounter at the McDougal Inn, Lois’ voice was in her head, no matter how much Chloe wanted it to stop. Because she meant what she said. It wasn’t a romantic getaway, just a chance to get away from all of the stress on their shoulders.
But with every word she said about her arrangement with Oliver, the more that little voice inside her head questioned it. It wasn’t like Chloe was a fool, there was something there, but giving definitions, giving labels, well, that would inevitably result in expectations, in deadlines. And Chloe knew that she didn’t want to deal with that right now.
Because despite the encounter with her cousin and best friend, Oliver was still Oliver. Despite her initial apprehension, the spoon was a funny gesture and she even began using it at Watchtower, knowing that he would see it. Over the next few weeks, it had almost become an inside joke.
Eventually, things fell back to a sense of normal between them. The smiles, the get-togethers, heck, even the sex was still fabulous, not that she ever doubted that would change. But Chloe did also recognize that there were things that were changing. The subtlety was starting to fade, as touches lasted longer and glances softened.
“You okay, Chloe?”
She shook from her trance and gave Oliver a nod. They were working in Watchtower alone, trying to figure out the next move in their fight against Zod. Obviously, she had stopped working for too long, as her fingers hovered over the keyboard and she was staring in space.
Luckily, he didn’t press further, so Chloe started working again, trying to focus. However, it was no use because Lois’ voice was back in her head, telling her how she felt, where she stood. Even if the voice was right, Chloe knew she was afraid to voice it aloud because she was scared for what she had with Oliver to change. It didn’t end well for her the last time it happened, or the time before that... or any time before that.
There used to be an empty space
A photograph without a face
But with your presence and your grace
Everything falls into place
Not to mention that it wasn’t long ago that it felt like they had both lost themselves, but now, there was something to get up for in the morning, and it more than just a purpose.
It was the way he smiled when she walked into the room, the immediate way she returned the gesture, not even realizing that she didn’t remember smiling like this before. The light touch on her arm during team meetings, knowing that everyone knew now. Apparently everyone did.
But it didn’t matter to them and they didn't need anyone else's approval. They knew what they were doing and that was all that mattered.
Right?
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
She swallowed hard, trying to get this off her mind because there were more important things to deal with than her consistently confusing personal life. So she started typing, looking up at the screen to remind herself what she was working on, but after a few seconds, Oliver wrapped his arms around her.
“I don’t know about you,” he said before kissing her neck. “But I could use a break.”
Oliver initially didn't give her much choice as he placed his hands over hers and moved them away from the keyboard. She considered fighting it, but honestly, a break sounded like a pretty good idea. When she turned around, Oliver pulled her close, their foreheads colliding before his finger began to stream down her cheek.
No, this certainly wasn’t helping the debate in her head, but at least the voice was quiet compared to the way her heart seemed to almost pop out of her chest. She knew it wasn’t supposed to be this easy for him to get her to stop worrying, but she didn’t want the feeling to go away either. In this moment, Chloe almost wanted to tell Oliver everything, to lay her heart on the line. But Oliver was different and more than anything, she didn’t want to lose what they had by saying those words. Then again, there was a chance Oliver would beat her to it, but Chloe wasn’t sure that was any better.
It really made no sense that they could face the world ending, but three stupid words were almost enough to break them apart. But life works in mysterious ways and they both knew that love had a tendency of overcomplicating things.
Sure, she had married Jimmy, but it was a fantasy, so was Clark. Oliver should have been one too, but there was a lot of reality alongside that. That was probably what scared Chloe the most, along with the fact that other people saw it too. Lois thought this was one for the win column, which seemed hilarious considering her history with Oliver.
Speaking of history, even Clark of all people was starting to think this wasn’t a completely crazy idea.
“A relationship with secrets can never work. Look at you and Oliver. Everything's out in the open.”
It wasn’t like she could blame them. Oliver did have a tendency of looking out for her, just like now. He knew that she wasn’t fine, so he stopped what he was working on to ensure that they both have a break. So Chloe tried not to roll her eyes in frustration, because as they continued to stand close to each other, she could tell that Oliver was watching her like a hawk, likely looking for the right time to tell her everything she already knows.
That was probably why Chloe peered up at him again, only to smile at the stupid grin on his face, the way his eyes softened, and the way he cupped her cheek before kissing her.
For now, for tonight, it was disaster averted, but she knew that they couldn't avoid talking about this forever. At this point, all Chloe could hope for was that she would be ready for the change when it came.
There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
~End~
Sera’s Scribbles: So because I’m unable to finish my WIPs, I’ve returned to the archives to look through my unfinished fics and salvage anything with promise. This one was an obvious choice because, for some reason, I abandoned it three years ago even though it was 75% finished. Likely still a bit rough around the edges, but it was now or never. Lyrics are from Gabrielle Aplin’s “Please Don’t Say You Love Me.”
.