October, the best month of the year in my opinion. It has Halloween filled with horror movies, costumes, and spooky events many love to attend. Not that I had attended any so far. That was about to change in a few days. I needed some fun and given what work put me through. I deserved to enjoy myself. Working alongside Task Force X had it perks. For one, I had become a friend of Harley Quinn, which wasn't too much of a surprise. I found her intriguing and managed to stay on her good side, lending out my apartment for her to come stay at from time to time. I had also earned the respect and friendship of Colonel Rick Flag. Two, I was able to work with all of Flag's deliciousness.
Not that he knew I had developed a crush on him. Harley had figured it out within the first few months of working with them; you would be surprised how much they needed a woman who could immediately shield them from the sight of certain enemies. It was amazing how many times I had to keep her from revealing anything to him. That's how my apartment became available to her anytime she wanted. Again, not that I minded her company. However, tonight would be a different story. This time she would bring over a special guest after a mission.
Currently, I lounged on the couch in the living room, dressed in a burgundy robe and reading a horror book I had recently picked up from the bookstore. It was quiet in the small apartment, and I jumped when the front door swung open and hit the wall; hard.
"Scarlet! Mind if I stay over? Of course, you don't. Look, I brought a friend! Do you mind if our dear Flag stays here tonight?" Harley greeted me. Behind her walked in Rick Flag, his dark blonde hair tousled and a few cuts and bruises on his arms and face.
"I…um…rough night?" I said, getting up to go look him over.
"Not too bad. We got into a few fights with another squad, but the mission was successful," he told me. He winced as I passed a finger over a cut on his cheek.
"Good news, I suppose. You can go take a shower and when you get back in here, I can see what I'm working with as far your wounds are concerned,"
"What? Don't want me tracking mud all over your apartment? I didn't think I was all that dirty to be honest with you," he asked, pulling me into an embrace. He rubbed his face into my neck, placing his forehead against mine, allowing me to feel the sweat coming off him.
"I didn't mean it that way and you know it. Once you're nice and clean, I can see how severe you were hurt. It might make you feel a little better as well," I told him, playfully pushing him away.
"All right darlin'. I'll be back in about 20 minutes," Rick left me in the living room, my head spinning from the close contact, Harley having already retreated to her room to change. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and located the first aid kid in the closet by the kitchen.
"When are you going to tell Flag you like him? You two would make a very cute couple. I'm also fairly certain he's really into you," Harley said, making me jump again.
"Uh, how about never? Flag? Into me? I think you're mistaken. There's no evidence supporting that," I answered.
"Please. Have you noticed the way he looks at you? Or flirts with you? What about the way he holds you close whenever we hang out? Not to mention that he always requests for you to go with him when we split up in separate teams? And he always wants to be near you…"
"Any plans for Halloween ladies?" Flag asked, coming out of the back bedroom…wearing only towel. It took me completely off guard that I almost dropped the first aid kit. I glanced over his toned chest, muscular biceps, and broad shoulders before catching his gaze, those gorgeous hazel eyes burning into mine.
"Not yet. I thought about going to the spooky amusement park downtown. I may have to go alone. Unless…"
"Unless?" he asked, sitting down on the couch.
"Would you and Harley like to accompany me? Maybe we could invite others as well,"
"Absolutely not. We don't get to hang out as just the three of us. Let's go together with no one else," Harley chimed in. She nudged me and I feared she was up to something.
"Noted. Want to go Friday?" I suggested. Flag let out a hiss when I swabbed an alcohol wipe over the cut on his forehead.
"Sure. I'm going to…call in a pizza while you're…tending to him," Harley said, leaving Flag and me alone once more.
"It doesn't look like you'll need stitches, but it's best we clean these out and bandage them," I told him, examining some of the cuts on his arms.
"You're too good to me, Scarlet. As well as Harley. I'll be glad to hold your hand through the scary parts," he said, teasing me.
"I don't know. You might be the one screaming through the mazes. Don't worry. I'll protect you," I teased back. We certainly would see the night of the event.
Friday arrived and the three of us set out for the amusement park after grabbing a bite to eat at a local burger place a few blocks away. We purchased tickets and waltzed in, pausing to watch a performance on one of the stages set up around the park. I felt a warmth press against my back, the smell of Rick's cologne hitting my nostrils.
"Are you okay? You seem a little nervous," he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. I fought a shiver from him being so close and turned to face him.
"I'm fine. How about you?" He smiled and we ventured to the first maze. Scare actors jumped out at us a few feet before we reached it; I noticed Flag tense up, but he shook it off upon meeting my gaze. The first maze had a long line to it and as we waited, we heard other customers talking about it.
"They jump out randomly…"
"Actors are in your face…"
"I think they're allowed to touch you…" I glanced up at Rick, noticing how pale he had turned and how shallow his breath had become.
"Are you going to be all right there, Soldier?" I asked, nudging him. He nodded, regaining his composure.
"Come on, Flag. It'll be fun. Relax. No one is going to bite you," Harley chimed in. She laughed when he flashed her a glare. About 20 minutes passed before it was our turn to go through. Sure enough, actors would come jump every three or four feet. Some would grab you, accelerating your heart rate. Some would corner you or chase you through other parts. Harley hadn't flinched once, but I was caught off guard by one of the ones who backed me up into a corner with a spider; I was immediately rescued by Rick when he pulled me into his arms from the side. He had also flinched a few times, his hand wrapped around my wrist for a few seconds before he decided to play it cool. We made it through ten minutes later, taking a break to ride some of the rides before moving on to the next maze.
"Scared yet, Flag? You seemed tense back at the other one," Harley teased.
"I'm great," He replied, his voice low. Harley ran ahead and I stayed back to make sure he was okay.
"Rick? You're very quiet. Are you sure…you're not frightened?" I said, jumping when a girl dressed up as a zombie jumped out suddenly.
"Yeah, let's keep going," The second maze – a "haunted" hospital – came up and this time Rick reached for my hand, holding it tight. I let him and we entered the maze. Everything started off small, but when we got to the middle of the maze, not only did a "patient" come at us, but the ceiling also dropped down a bunch of fake snakes onto our heads. Near the end, a trapdoor disguised as a piece of tile flooring dropped open; I screamed as I dropped down into the dark abyss. I never landed into complete darkness as I was suspended in midair by Rick's hand. It was a damn good thing he held my hand tight during this maze.
"I've got you. I'll pull you up," he told me. He reached down with his other hand for me to take and I grabbed hold. He used all his strength to pull me to safety and I landed on top of him, clutching to his shirt, his arms wrapped tight around me.
"Are you okay? I would never let you fall, Scarlet," Rick said, stroking my hair and back.
"Yeah. Yes. Thank you," I replied. We got up and continued the maze, Rick's arms wrapped around me in a protective embrace. One time he pulled me closer as another actor jumped too close with a knife prop almost hitting my chest. Once out, we caught our breath, trying to ease our panic.
"Can we go back to your apartment? I think we've had enough scares for one night," Rick asked.
"Yes. I think that's a good idea. Let me go let Harley know. She'll probably want to stay a little longer," I found her on the way to the next maze and she teased us about getting scared too easily.
"Go home and make out with Flag. I know you want to," she teased.
"Now's not the time Harls," I told her. She winked, allowing me to return to Rick. We returned to my apartment and curled up on the couch, enjoying the silence. I ran my fingers through his hair, soothing him, his hands stroking my arms.
"Feel better?" I whispered. He nodded and leaned in closer to me. He pressed his lips against mine, heat surging through me as he did so.
"Don't scare me like that again. I can't lose you. I like you too much," he told me.
"I won't. I promise," I said, pulling him back in for another kiss.