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no_true_pairTitle: maybe one day
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing/Characters: Tess Mercer & Oliver Queen, implied Oliver/Chloe and references to past Tess/Zod
Rating: G
Content Notes: No archive warnings apply
Prompt: April Twenty-Eighth - there's only one bed for 3 & 4
on AO3
"You've got to be kidding me."
Tess felt as incredulous and annoyed as Oliver looked, but while the receptionist at the front desk was apologetic, there really wasn't anything she could do. And Oliver's charm wasn't going to somehow free up a hotel room that didn't exist or find another one that was suitable within the vicinity.
So they reluctantly made their way to their room, neither of them really speaking until they were inside, and Tess was already silently frustrated. She and Oliver had a lot of history, but even with her helping out in their newfound League, she was fully aware that he didn't trust her. And she couldn't blame him. This didn't exactly help matters.
The room itself was nice and spacious, relatively fancy considering their location, though not exactly the Ritz or the Four Seasons or any of the five star rooms they had both become accustomed to, but it did have a small living room, a spacious bathroom, and a moderate sized bedroom. The only problem was that the bedroom that was supposed to have two King sized bed only had one.
Computer error.
"Great, just great," Oliver muttered, setting down his luggage. "Why didn't we get two rooms again? It's not like we can't afford it."
His tone was slightly accusatory in a way that had her nerves on edge, even if he didn't seem to be directing his annoyance at her. Only Ollie could push her buttons this way.
"Because hotels are a security nightmare and you decided to reveal your secret identity to the world?" Tess suggested, letting her tone reflect her not so positive thoughts on his decision. "Isn't that rule #1 of the superhero manifesto?"
"I've always been a rule breaker," Oliver said, shrugging. "Anyway, after the interview, the people love me. My face is on a cereal."
"You also got two death threats in the last week," she reminded him. "Not including the poisoned envelope that you are lucky got intercepted before it reached your desk."
"And you're, what, my babysitter?" Oliver questioned. "You? Not exactly someone who values my long term health and safety. It wasn't that long ago you were on the other side."
Well, that stung. "I don't want you dead, Oliver," she said, tone icy. "And it wasn't that long ago that you would've loved the opportunity to get me back in your bed."
"That was clearly a mistake," Oliver snapped. "I know better now."
"Do you? You still haven't quite gotten the hang of getting someone to stick around."
"And you have? Besides the murderous dictators who want to take over Earth, how's that love life going?"
"Your bed is as empty as mine, but at least for me, it's by choice," Tess retorted. "How many people are you going to put in danger by being in your proximity, Ollie? One girlfriend trading her life for your's wasn't good enough to keep yourself out of trouble?"
"Don't you dare," he hissed, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. "Don't you dare say anything about her."
She lifted her chin. "Or what?"
"How long are you going to play pretend, Tess?" Oliver said, moving right past her question. "We both know your true nature at this point- maybe Clark thinks that you could help or are worth saving, but when you betray us, and you will, I'm going to hold this over his head for the rest of our lives."
"I don't have to prove anything to you, Oliver," she insisted. "Your hands aren't all that clean either. I'm just trying to do what is right and you can get on board or you get can out of my way." He hated that he could play on her insecurities, the ones she pretended that she didn't have, but she also knew that bringing up Chloe was a low blow too. She knew how to get to him too.
"Maybe we should just stay out of each other's way then."
"Fine by me."
"Fine."
He went to go hang up his clothes and Tess pretended that she didn't care what he was doing, or as if what he had said hadn't bothered her. Instead, she focused on running through their itinerary for the following day, rubbing the back of her neck at the sudden tension that seemed to have popped up. But they did manage to successfully work around one another, until bedtime, where it became unavoidable.
"I'll go change in the bathroom," Oliver said tightly, before she could say anything, and took his clothes and were gone. She assumed the privacy was more for her benefit than his, but she pulled out the pajama pants and tank top she had brought, having left her nightgowns behind, and quickly changed into them. It wasn't long before Oliver was calling out to her if she was done and she gave him a polite but brief answer.
There wasn't any conflicts about the side of the bed that they wanted, the two of them sliding in on their chosen spots, and Tess turned off the light, without asking. Oliver immediately rolled over, his back facing her and she turned toward the other side, doing the same.
It had been a long day and she was tired, but she found she couldn't sleep, and she ended up staring at the nightstand, watching the flashing numbers on the alarm clock glow in the otherwise dark room. Tess wondered if Oliver had fallen asleep, but as the beds heets slightly shifted, she realized that he was still awake too.
Neither of them spoke for the longest time, Tess trying to close her eyes once or twice, but much to her frustration, her active brain didn't allow her to rest, both the evening's argument and everything else that she was currently struggling with taunting her and keeping her up.
"Tess?"
"Yeah?"
"Still awake?"
"Clearly."
Oliver let out a small chuckle. "You never could sleep when you were angry."
"I'm not angry," she replied, which wasn't a complete lie.
"But you're not settled either."
"You don't know me anymore, Ollie," Tess pointed out, sighing. "You don't get to make these judgments."
"No ... I guess not."
She moved to face him once more and he turned at the same time, so their eyes met in the dark, but she could easily make out his profile. While she couldn't read him, she knew that he wasn't angry anymore.
"To be fair, I don't know you either."
"Or maybe the problem is we do know each other," Oliver said slowly. "A little too well. A little too much." His eyes averted before meeting her's once more. "Look, I was out of line earlier."
"I shouldn't have brought up Chloe," Tess conceded. "I know that you never would intentionally put the people you care about in danger."
"But maybe I end up doing it anyway," Oliver replied, resigned. "And it isn't like I haven't had second thoughts about this whole revelation either. What if just made things worse for everyone? I didn't get resounding support from anybody on the team and Chloe didn't run back into my arms either."
"It'll be fine, Oliver," she said, with more confidence than she felt. "You have people to support you- Emil, Lois, Clark ... they're your friends. I know you can't trust me and we're not friends, but I am there in any way I can be too."
"Yeah," Oliver said, still unconvinced.
"And it isn't like I don't know what bad decisions are like," she said, wincing as she remembered Zod. That had been a poor decision on her part for sure, and almost got her killed.
"It wasn't right that I brought that up," Oliver said, looking genuinely remorseful. "In your defense, Clark wanted to believe in the best in Zod too."
"You know what the worst part was?" she found herself confessing. "I didn't trust him. I thought I could get the upper hand, and somehow he got me anyway."
"He was a slimy asshole but a charming one," he reasoned. "There's a reason that his people thought he had their best interests at heart."
He was letting her off the hook, but Tess wasn't so ready to be given an out. Maybe one day she would accept her wrongdoings and truly make up for it, but it hadn't happened yet.
"I'm lucky to be alive," she murmured.
"I am happy you are too."
She couldn't hide the surprise off her face and Oliver gave a wry grin.
"I know I've acted like I don't care about you, but even after all that's happened, Tess, I would be devastated if you died."
Despite herself, she was touched. Ollie was her first love and even if she pretended she didn't care either, his words had an effect, and it meant ... something. It wasn't a feeling that had her wanting to jump into his arms or profess any romantic love she truly didn't have anymore, but it was nice to now that she meant something to him too.
"I meant it when I said I didn't want you dead either, Oliver," she told him. The corner of her mouth lifted up. "Well, anymore anyway."
His grin widened. "Fair." Oliver let out a small yawn. "It is late. Are we - are we good?"
"If you're wondering if I'm going to murder you in your sleep, I think you're safe there," Tess said, tone dry.
"My mind is at ease," Oliver said sarcastically, but he was still smiling. Another small yawn, and a, "Well, good night, Tess."
"Night, Ollie."
She didn't allow herself to smile until his eyes were closed and then she closed her eyes as well. Their argument at least allowed them to say what was on their mind, even if it hadn't been in the nicest way, and now, they could move forward.
They weren't friends ... not yet.
But maybe one day they could be.
That was good enough for her.
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing/Characters: Tess Mercer & Oliver Queen, implied Oliver/Chloe and references to past Tess/Zod
Rating: G
Content Notes: No archive warnings apply
Prompt: April Twenty-Eighth - there's only one bed for 3 & 4
on AO3
"You've got to be kidding me."
Tess felt as incredulous and annoyed as Oliver looked, but while the receptionist at the front desk was apologetic, there really wasn't anything she could do. And Oliver's charm wasn't going to somehow free up a hotel room that didn't exist or find another one that was suitable within the vicinity.
So they reluctantly made their way to their room, neither of them really speaking until they were inside, and Tess was already silently frustrated. She and Oliver had a lot of history, but even with her helping out in their newfound League, she was fully aware that he didn't trust her. And she couldn't blame him. This didn't exactly help matters.
The room itself was nice and spacious, relatively fancy considering their location, though not exactly the Ritz or the Four Seasons or any of the five star rooms they had both become accustomed to, but it did have a small living room, a spacious bathroom, and a moderate sized bedroom. The only problem was that the bedroom that was supposed to have two King sized bed only had one.
Computer error.
"Great, just great," Oliver muttered, setting down his luggage. "Why didn't we get two rooms again? It's not like we can't afford it."
His tone was slightly accusatory in a way that had her nerves on edge, even if he didn't seem to be directing his annoyance at her. Only Ollie could push her buttons this way.
"Because hotels are a security nightmare and you decided to reveal your secret identity to the world?" Tess suggested, letting her tone reflect her not so positive thoughts on his decision. "Isn't that rule #1 of the superhero manifesto?"
"I've always been a rule breaker," Oliver said, shrugging. "Anyway, after the interview, the people love me. My face is on a cereal."
"You also got two death threats in the last week," she reminded him. "Not including the poisoned envelope that you are lucky got intercepted before it reached your desk."
"And you're, what, my babysitter?" Oliver questioned. "You? Not exactly someone who values my long term health and safety. It wasn't that long ago you were on the other side."
Well, that stung. "I don't want you dead, Oliver," she said, tone icy. "And it wasn't that long ago that you would've loved the opportunity to get me back in your bed."
"That was clearly a mistake," Oliver snapped. "I know better now."
"Do you? You still haven't quite gotten the hang of getting someone to stick around."
"And you have? Besides the murderous dictators who want to take over Earth, how's that love life going?"
"Your bed is as empty as mine, but at least for me, it's by choice," Tess retorted. "How many people are you going to put in danger by being in your proximity, Ollie? One girlfriend trading her life for your's wasn't good enough to keep yourself out of trouble?"
"Don't you dare," he hissed, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. "Don't you dare say anything about her."
She lifted her chin. "Or what?"
"How long are you going to play pretend, Tess?" Oliver said, moving right past her question. "We both know your true nature at this point- maybe Clark thinks that you could help or are worth saving, but when you betray us, and you will, I'm going to hold this over his head for the rest of our lives."
"I don't have to prove anything to you, Oliver," she insisted. "Your hands aren't all that clean either. I'm just trying to do what is right and you can get on board or you get can out of my way." He hated that he could play on her insecurities, the ones she pretended that she didn't have, but she also knew that bringing up Chloe was a low blow too. She knew how to get to him too.
"Maybe we should just stay out of each other's way then."
"Fine by me."
"Fine."
He went to go hang up his clothes and Tess pretended that she didn't care what he was doing, or as if what he had said hadn't bothered her. Instead, she focused on running through their itinerary for the following day, rubbing the back of her neck at the sudden tension that seemed to have popped up. But they did manage to successfully work around one another, until bedtime, where it became unavoidable.
"I'll go change in the bathroom," Oliver said tightly, before she could say anything, and took his clothes and were gone. She assumed the privacy was more for her benefit than his, but she pulled out the pajama pants and tank top she had brought, having left her nightgowns behind, and quickly changed into them. It wasn't long before Oliver was calling out to her if she was done and she gave him a polite but brief answer.
There wasn't any conflicts about the side of the bed that they wanted, the two of them sliding in on their chosen spots, and Tess turned off the light, without asking. Oliver immediately rolled over, his back facing her and she turned toward the other side, doing the same.
It had been a long day and she was tired, but she found she couldn't sleep, and she ended up staring at the nightstand, watching the flashing numbers on the alarm clock glow in the otherwise dark room. Tess wondered if Oliver had fallen asleep, but as the beds heets slightly shifted, she realized that he was still awake too.
Neither of them spoke for the longest time, Tess trying to close her eyes once or twice, but much to her frustration, her active brain didn't allow her to rest, both the evening's argument and everything else that she was currently struggling with taunting her and keeping her up.
"Tess?"
"Yeah?"
"Still awake?"
"Clearly."
Oliver let out a small chuckle. "You never could sleep when you were angry."
"I'm not angry," she replied, which wasn't a complete lie.
"But you're not settled either."
"You don't know me anymore, Ollie," Tess pointed out, sighing. "You don't get to make these judgments."
"No ... I guess not."
She moved to face him once more and he turned at the same time, so their eyes met in the dark, but she could easily make out his profile. While she couldn't read him, she knew that he wasn't angry anymore.
"To be fair, I don't know you either."
"Or maybe the problem is we do know each other," Oliver said slowly. "A little too well. A little too much." His eyes averted before meeting her's once more. "Look, I was out of line earlier."
"I shouldn't have brought up Chloe," Tess conceded. "I know that you never would intentionally put the people you care about in danger."
"But maybe I end up doing it anyway," Oliver replied, resigned. "And it isn't like I haven't had second thoughts about this whole revelation either. What if just made things worse for everyone? I didn't get resounding support from anybody on the team and Chloe didn't run back into my arms either."
"It'll be fine, Oliver," she said, with more confidence than she felt. "You have people to support you- Emil, Lois, Clark ... they're your friends. I know you can't trust me and we're not friends, but I am there in any way I can be too."
"Yeah," Oliver said, still unconvinced.
"And it isn't like I don't know what bad decisions are like," she said, wincing as she remembered Zod. That had been a poor decision on her part for sure, and almost got her killed.
"It wasn't right that I brought that up," Oliver said, looking genuinely remorseful. "In your defense, Clark wanted to believe in the best in Zod too."
"You know what the worst part was?" she found herself confessing. "I didn't trust him. I thought I could get the upper hand, and somehow he got me anyway."
"He was a slimy asshole but a charming one," he reasoned. "There's a reason that his people thought he had their best interests at heart."
He was letting her off the hook, but Tess wasn't so ready to be given an out. Maybe one day she would accept her wrongdoings and truly make up for it, but it hadn't happened yet.
"I'm lucky to be alive," she murmured.
"I am happy you are too."
She couldn't hide the surprise off her face and Oliver gave a wry grin.
"I know I've acted like I don't care about you, but even after all that's happened, Tess, I would be devastated if you died."
Despite herself, she was touched. Ollie was her first love and even if she pretended she didn't care either, his words had an effect, and it meant ... something. It wasn't a feeling that had her wanting to jump into his arms or profess any romantic love she truly didn't have anymore, but it was nice to now that she meant something to him too.
"I meant it when I said I didn't want you dead either, Oliver," she told him. The corner of her mouth lifted up. "Well, anymore anyway."
His grin widened. "Fair." Oliver let out a small yawn. "It is late. Are we - are we good?"
"If you're wondering if I'm going to murder you in your sleep, I think you're safe there," Tess said, tone dry.
"My mind is at ease," Oliver said sarcastically, but he was still smiling. Another small yawn, and a, "Well, good night, Tess."
"Night, Ollie."
She didn't allow herself to smile until his eyes were closed and then she closed her eyes as well. Their argument at least allowed them to say what was on their mind, even if it hadn't been in the nicest way, and now, they could move forward.
They weren't friends ... not yet.
But maybe one day they could be.
That was good enough for her.