Land of Confusion, Chapter 10

Clark/Chloe
Season 6, following my story "Wherever You Will Go"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: These characters belong to the CW and DC Comics, not to me.
Read Chapter 9 here.
Read the story from the beginning here.

Ollie watched as a huge smile of relief crossed the "alien's" features, and something loosened inside his chest. Whatever this guy was, he was really and truly friends with Bart Allen. That much was clear.

"Hey," the alien said softly. "How ya doin', Bart?"

"Just great." Impulse sounded like he was trying for his old snark, but not managing it very well. "Check out my digs, man. Top of the line hotel, huh?"

The alien's smile wavered. "Better than mine," he said.

"Oh, yeah? Where you livin', Stretch?"

"A barn."

Impulse laughed out loud. "Still?"

A wry smile from the alien. "I guess I'm just kind of drawn to them," he answered.

"You got the hot tamale with you?"

Ollie's eyebrows lifted. So the alien had a sidekick, or a girlfriend, or something. Interesting.

"No," Clark said. "I wouldn't let her come along. I wanted her to stay safe."

"Dude. No place is safe."

"True," the alien admitted. "But Metropolis is the worst. She's not here."

"Actually," a new voice drawled, "she is."

Ollie spun, automatically yanking an arrow out of his quiver. But he stopped himself before he could nock it. A dark-haired woman-- hardly more than a girl, really-- stood there. He wondered how the hell she'd gotten past his people.

He looked her over. She was pretty, with huge golden eyes and a decided chin, but too thin, as most people were nowadays. Her thinness emphasized the the small but unmistakable bulge at her waistline. She was pregnant.

Pregnant with a half-alien child?

The alien got to his feet. "Chloe," he said, holding out a hand to her. "I told you to stay put."

"I never do what I'm told. You should know that by now." She shot him a flashing smile, then moved forward, putting her hand into his and looking up into his eyes.

"You were in trouble," she told him. "I had to come."

Ollie cocked his head, wondering if maybe she was another alien. He wasn't sure how she could have known the big guy was in trouble otherwise. Then again, plenty of people had weird abilities. His ragtag group was proof of that.

He took a step toward them and held out his hand. "I don't think we've met. I'm Arrow."

She looked at his face, and blinked. He had the impression she'd recognized him despite the mask, but she didn't say anything, only took his hand courteously.

"Are you the one who was hurting Clark?" she asked. Her voice was even and polite, without a trace of rancor. "The one who scared him?"

He shrugged. "Didn't have much choice," he answered. "I'd heard he was dangerous."

She looked him straight in the eyes. Her expression never changed, and he never saw her knee move, but suddenly he was doubled over, grunting in pain. She'd caught him square in the balls, and despite the protection of his leather outfit, it hurt.

"Don't you ever hurt him again," she snarled with sudden fierceness.

Ollie went to his knees, still gasping for breath.

It occurred to him that she might be the dangerous one.

More to come...