A/N: This Chapter is longer. And, disclaimer: I haven't read much of the comics, so Deadshot's actions in this chapter might be different based off his comics personality than what I've written. I went off of what I thought he'd do based off the movie. I hope y'all enjoy. Also, there's more interactions with the other members of the Suicide Squad.
I sat outside Belle Reve's makeshift infirmary. It was essentially another cell, a larger one, with a couple hospital beds and medical equipment. I always suspected the doctors and nurses here of not being actual doctors and nurses, just guards that couldn't get a job in a real hospital. I feel like my assumptions of the medical staff were correct, since Waller and Flag had two doctors and four nurses from a emergency center in New Orleans come in to work on Harley. They wouldn't let me in to see her, once they got here. Even before, Flag and Bats held me back as Waller and some of the medical staff and guards approached her cell slowly, lifting her limp body onto a stretcher, and carrying her out of my view.
I didn't remember yelling, but I do remember hearing the chorus of desperate "no's," that escaped my lips fill up the office.
I didn't remember beating onto the window we had all watched the altercation between Harley and the Joker moments before, but the glass was shattered in two places relatively close together. My knuckles were bruised from punching the glass too, parts of my hands cut up in places due to falling, spare pieces of glass.
I don't really remember Bats leaving, but he didn't stay long after the real doctors arrived, assuring Waller that Harley could pull through. It's not like Waller actually cares, it's just if Harley's dead, the squad is significantly weaker.
I remember hearing him tell Flag he'd be back, but he was going to attempt to track down the Joker before he returned to Gotham. He said it would be easier to capture him so far from home, because his resources and crew were more limited outside of his home city. His, and formerly Harley's, clown kingdom.
I had been sitting here for a while, unsupervised. I guess when the prison is raided and an inmate's life is hanging in the balance, they don't pay much attention to the other ones. Especially since Boom and Croc came around the corner of the prison hall, faces etched with concern. Boom's face was paler than before. Croc's usual deadly, toothy snarl was replaced with a closed-mouth, solemn expression. His black eyes looking me up and down, probably trying to put together why I was so broken up about Harley's current state-whatever it may be.
Boom stepped around him and bent down, putting his hand out to mine. I stared at him for a moment, before taking it and allowing him to pull me to my feet.
"Let's take a walk, shall we?" He asked in an off put sort of tone. One I hadn't heard from him before.
I looked him over skeptically, but there was something about the way he was carrying himself that made me agree. Like he had something important to tell me.
I nodded slowly, but looked back at the closed door to the infirmary, reluctant to leave without knowing the status of Harley.
Croc patted me on the shoulder, his naturally superior strength catching me off guard and causing me to stumble a couple steps forward.
"Don't worry, man. I'll wait to hear word for you," his deep, reptilian voice trying to provide some form of reassurance.
I nodded and gave a weak smile. I hoped he'd take that as a thanks; there's not much else I can muster from myself at this point. He seemed to understand, or I guess he did. He didn't say anything else, or press for what had happened. He just sat down on the floor in front of the doorway, exactly where I was moments ago.
I stared at him for a moment longer, but ultimately went in the opposite direction with Boom. I met his stride easily. His stocky, solid build was only faulted by his short legs, All the squad members are taller than him, minus the ninja girl. I looked over at me out of the corner of his eye several times as we were walking. I was starting to get an uneasy feeling from him. What did he want? I hadn't seen him, let alone talked to him, since our mission in Midway. I mean, yeah, he's been here, but the only person I've been granted permission to see is Harley. I doubt they let Boom out, considering he was just captured.
"How did you guys get out? Did J open up your cell?" Our speed increased slightly, but I eyed him skeptically.
"The Joker? He was here?" He hissed as he stopped in his tracks, looking up and down the secluded area of the hallway.
I nodded slowly, not understanding why he wanted to talk if he didn't know what happened. "Yeah. That's why the prisons in shitty shape,"
"Yeah, I noticed." He stated darkly, "We were taken from our cells and they were searched. Is that why you're out?" He looked me up and down curiously.
I shrugged slightly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah. Something like that,"
He nodded, looking around before reaching behind his back and pulling out a bag. "Well, while they were searching my room, Croc got my unicorn out before they could confiscate it. So I thought, about your cell. All your letters from ya kid and whatnot, and decided to go get 'em for ya," He handed me the bag of what I'm now assuming are my letters from Zoe.
I looked down at it, feeling myself smile a little in spite of the situation. "Thanks Boom, it means a lot."
He nodded and looked down at his feet as he spoke again, "Yeah, but I also found something else."
I tilted my head at him in confusion, "What was it?"
He pulled out a thick, stained file from the front pocket in his orange prison Belle Reve button up. "Why do you have a file for the squad's own crazy glue, huh?"
I took it from him, but looked down at my feet for a moment. Whether it was the shame of having to explain what I was originally doing for Harley.
He wasn't satisfied with my lack of a response. "What'd ya do, Deadshot?" he barked.
"It was something for Waller. I was chosen to-"
"You turned on your own for Waller? What the Hell is wrong with you, mate?" His voice was still at a low whisper, but it was full of malice as he put a finger to my chest harshly.
"Look, I only agreed when Waller said she'd let Harley go free if it worked as well. I have a kid, okay? A kid with a shitty mom that has to take care of herself. Waller's gonna help me give her a better life," I smacked his hand away from my chest.
He took a step back, nodding but still eyeing me skeptically. "So what'd she have ya do?"
I looked around the halls, afraid of someone hearing. I didn't want this to get back to Harley. "She wanted me to fix her. Form a kinda connection with her. Make her feel safe and cared for. Show her that there's more to her life than just following around J. Waller wanted me to convince her to refuse him once he came here to get her back,"
Boom didn't say anything for a moment. He looked as though he was considering my words carefully. After a minute, he nodded slowly, "I'm gonna assume ya plan worked?"
I nodded slowly, my starting to ache with worry. "She refused him,"
He cocked an eyebrow at me, "So what's the big fuss about now?"
I dropped my head, "He beat the shit out of her for it."
He let out a deep sigh, running his thick fingers through his hair. "Is she gonna be alright?"
I still looked down, unable to meet his eyes. I took a deep breath, "I really hope so,"
He patted my shoulder reassuringly, "She'll be alright. She's too eccentric to let a run in with an ex kill her,"
I nodded slowly, "I feel like I caused this," I admitted, finally looking him in the face.
"Well," he took his hand off my shoulder and rubbed the back of his neck, "Did ya just manipulate her?"
I shook my head, "What do you mean?"
"Was none of it real, to ya? It really seems like ya care deeply for her. If it was all fake, you wouldn't be losing ya shit the most," He tilted his head at me, probably hoping to God his assumption was right.
"Yeah. I mean at first, it was just because of my daughter. I felt better about helping her than I did killing her,"
"Hence why you missed your shot back in Midway," He finished thoughtfully.
I rubbed my chin, frustrated with myself, "I didn't feel comfortable pretending to love her like Flag pretended to love Dr. Moon,"
Boom put his hands up, "Wait, Waller had Flag pretend to love that girl? He waged war to win her back, how is that fake?"
I put my hand up weakly, hoping to stop his questioning long enough to finish my story. "He pretended at first, but it developed. Which, I guess, is kinda what happened with us."
"Are you saying that you love her?" Boom asked, his tone an unfamiliar one.
I didn't say anything for a moment, considering my options. Instead of giving him a response, I just dropped my head once more, setting my gaze onto the blood that had dried into the cracks on the old, concrete floor. I felt a wave of nausea hit me as I realized the blood was probably Harley's. Flag and I followed the medical team as they wheeled her down this hall.
"Shot, Harley said it best back in Midway. People like us don't get normal. Diablo had it, and he murdered them. You had a shot with it, now her life's hanging in the balance. Also, you have a child, let's throw that into the mix here." His voice was firm, but empathetic.
"She wants normal. She wanted it with J, but she realized he'd never give that to her. He would never give her anything real. Especially if he wasn't getting something in return. That's all she knew before me."
"And you're the king of real, true love and compassion? You do know you killed blokes for a living, remember?" He countered, eyebrows raised.
"Like you're much better," I spat back, getting angry. "Like any of us are much better. That's why I feel right being around her. She doesn't pretend she's any better or any worse than the rest of us. We're all here for a reason. We've done some pretty fucked up shit,"
"Yeah," he scoffed. "Some worse than others,"
I rolled my eyes, "Do you really think out of every criminal that's had a runin with Bats, Harley and I are the absolute worst?"
He took a moment before saying anything. Probably trying to pick his words carefully. "No. Honestly, I saw loyalty in you back in Midway. I don't know how many blokes would spare someone they've never really met if their freedom was on the line. Also, she lost her friend. That asshole may be batshit crazy, but he was her whole world. She let him go, thought he was dead. And didn't take the chance to get him back because she wanted to save the rest of us." he took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, "So yeah. If any of us deserves a second chance, it oughta be you two."
I nodded, patting his shoulder as a sign of thanks, "I just hope she lives long enough to get her second chance," I took a deep breath, "I was so concerned with myself. I never considered him coming back so soon and her being left there to fend for herself. I thought this was my last shot to get Zoe back for good, I never thought she'd be the one to pay for it,"
Boom had been looking past me, probably watching guards walk the halls, nervous of them finding us and confiscating our things. But with my previous statement, he ripped his gaze back to me, shaking his head firmly. "J's a loose cannon. We all knew that if she ever refused, he'd lose it. It's not your fault she gained some respect for herself. And it's not your fault he tried to end her for that. This wasn't your last shot," He let out a strained, exasperated laugh, "Lord forbid this was your last shot at a normal life, because anyone can see this shot was a fucking misfire."
My voice, hoarse from worry, forced out a chuckle. Instead of arguing, I conceded to his miniature lecture with a nodd and a weak smile. I didn't really know what to do here. I wasn't much for bonding so personally with teammates. We did bond back in the bar when we took down Enchantress, but to be fair, I thought we were all dead. This time around, it wasn't mine or Boom's safety on my mind. It was hers.
He seemed to sense my longing to get back to check on her, so he patted my shoulder as he passed me. I followed his movements suit, but lingered behind as we headed back to the infirmary, trying to collect my thoughts. Was she really gonna be okay? Everyone seems to think so. Harley may be insane, but she's resilient. She had to be, considering most of her life as a criminal has been under the influence of the clown prince. All I could really do now was wait.
Croc stood as we approached, his scaley face virtually unreadable. But what else is new?
"She's out of surgery, but not awake yet. They'll know if she's responsive when she wakes up." His massive body heaved out a deep breath before continuing, "If she wakes up."
I let out a sigh, but nodded. "Thanks,"
He glanced at me, before looking back at Boom. "Don't mention it,"
Boom patted me on the back, "Let us know if you need anything."
I smirked at the two of them slightly, "I appreciate it,"
Croc let out what I could only guess is a crocodile's version of a smirk, "Like I said, don't mention it,"
Boom chuckled slightly before adding, "Ever." Finishing Croc's thought.
I slumped back down on the ground outside the door. Truthfully, I was exhausted. Harley had been in there for hours, but it felt like days. Also, where the fuck was Bats? Ninety nine percent of my fucking life I don't want him around, but he's there. Now, when I really wanna know if he got ahold of the asshat that put Harley's life in danger, Bats is nowhere to be found. I let my head fall into my hands, thinking of giving into sleep for a little while. I decided against it. My mind wouldn't stop racing. So many things had happened. I had this urge to take my guns and kill every single guard, every single person here until I felt better. Truthfully, the only shit that is gonna make this right is a time machine. I want to go back to when Waller made me stand in that crummy office and watch J slam her head into the pavement. I would've knocked Waller's vindictive ass out and killed J before he could've laid a hand on Harley. I couldn't stand to look at any of them. The guards. The medical teams. Flag. Waller. They all were in on this, let me do this stupid thing. Now Harley could very well be dead right now, and I'm not leaving Belle Reve without her. It wouldn't be fair.
"Deadshot?" A young woman in blood stained scrubs stepped out. My ears, along with the rest of my body, perked up. I launched myself into a standing position, surprised at my remaining energy.
"Yes? I'm him," I muttered, trying to make my hoarse voice sound more confident. But let's face it, my pride is fucked right now.
"She's still asleep, but you can see her now. Ms. Waller gave us permission to let you know,"
I felt myself nod. Of course Waller had the reins on this one. After my reaction to the Joker hurting Harley, she knows now what she originally asked me to fake became real. I remember right after J left the prison, Waller stopped me from going to her.
She put her hand up to my chest. She's a lot stronger than you'd think. Or maybe it was her confidence that just put me in my place. Either way, her sudden strength shocked me into submission.
"Stay, Deadshot." Her voice was hard, almost as if she doesn't care about Harley down there, unconscious and alone.
"She's hurt, Waller." I growled, my tone deadly.
"Remember your place here, Deadshot." She commanded.
"Fuck you, she's still human." I spat back, sidestepping her and heading for the door.
"Deadshot!" Her booming voice was a mixture of anger and hate.
"What?" I spun around on my heel, fists balled up at my sides. "What could you possibly want from me now, huh?"
"Watch your tone with me." She bellowed, "I still hold your freedom and your kid in the palm of my hand. Oh, and now that I know you're just as soft as I feared, I can just use as another weakness of yours I can exploit.." she declared darkly, her face set in stone. "Stay here. I'll get you when we're ready. Unless, you don't want her getting the medical care she desperately needs," she finished with a cocked eyebrow and an icy glare.
I threw my hands up in frustration, but let Waller pass. When she left, I punched the glass on the window beside me. Over and over.
I rubbed my knuckles at the memory, but nodded and let the nurse escort me in.
There was a chair setup next to her bed. Whether it was planned for me to sit there or not, I plotted myself in it and just stared, trying to take it all in.
There was a breathing tube in her mouth, gauze haphazardly wrapped around the top of her head, parts of it completely red from blood seeping through, one of her eyes was swollen and turning purple as well. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling in a pretty shallow way, like breathing was difficult. I wanted to believe that she was just asleep. She was just taking a normal nap and would be up anytime now. Which, kinda was the case. The doctors had said that she could wake up at anytime, in like ten seconds, or in like ten days. Or, not at all. I rested my elbows on the side of her bed I was sitting close to, dropping my head and allowing my hands to run over it. I took a deep breath, guilt weighing on every breath like a stack of bricks on my chest.
"I'm so sorry," I started, grabbing her hand, knotting my fingers through her limp ones. "I never meant for this to happen to you. I-I just thought your life would be better without him. I should have never let you face him alone. If I had known he'd-"
"Face who alone, daddy?" A childish, familiar voice cut through my monologue Harley probably couldn't even here.
I dropped her hand quickly, pushing myself out of the chair and turning around to see my daughter, Zoe, standing in Belle Reve. She was looking around, taking in the shit show her father now lives in carefully. Flag stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, looking sheepish once he met my eyes.
Instead of getting angry they brought her here, I felt myself drop to my knees and open my arms. Zoe ran into them, hugging me tightly, I returned it, and let silent tears fall. I hoped Flag couldn't see me upset, but I was too exhausted to care.
Zoe pulled away, but still had me at her arm's length. She tilted her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek. Instead of asking why I was so upset, she hugged me once more.
"Don't cry, Daddy," she murmured with concern in her soft voice.
"Yeah, don't cry, Daddy," a raspy, Bronx accented voice cut through my moment with my kid. My ears perked up, before looking over at the hospital bed, my eyes found Flag. He looked at the bed and back at me before striding over to it with wide eyes.
I stood up, letting go of Zoe besides her hand that naturally found mine once we parted and looked at the bed to see Harley, clear tube hanging loosely from her mouth and she let out a cheeky smile, struggling to sit up.
I must've looked ridiculous as Hell, spare tears falling as I let out a giant smile and a chuckle filled with relief.
Next Chapter: Harley and Deadshot are sent to an actual hospital, since they are freed and want to work on her recovery. Zoe gets to know Harley and inquires about her relationship with her father.
