AN: Okay, so I am using Google translate for the Japanese in this chapter, so if it's not right, oh well.
Chapter 6: Dark Places
XXX
River's POV
"So you're the reason we all got shuffled off to that armpit of a swamp." Slipknot says as he pushes his way past the others, and shoves Harley out of the way so he can get in my face. He's easily a foot or two taller than me, but with his attitude I am a millisecond away from kicking his teeth down his throat.
"Hey!" Harley says as she shoves Slipknot back. But he just holds out his arm and Harley huffs and glares daggers at him.
"Easy mate…" Boomerang says as he takes a step closer. "No need for that."
"Why? Cause she's a little girl? This bitch is the reason we are all locked up." Slipknot yells at Boomerang.
My eyes narrow and I glare at Slipknot. I knew he was going to be the one that would cause the most trouble, but Waller had insisted.
He just chuckles in my face at the look I give him. "That all you good for then? Pouting and giving dirty looks?"
"Don't push my buttons, Weiss." I say in a low warning.
"Or what? You gonna get your bodyguard over there to blow my head off?" He says while mocking me. "Face it bitch, you can't…"
But Slipknot doesn't get the chance to finish as I haul off and punch him square in the jaw… hard enough to knock him to the ground. He spits blood and a tooth out of his mouth before he is trying to charge me.
"You little fuckin' bitch!" He's screaming as Croc and Chato hold him back, Boomerang steps between me and Weiss, and Deadhsot and Harley just laugh, both thinking it was a nice right hook. The little scene has also drawn the attention of Flag and GQ, who both come back over and see what's going on.
"Suck it up Weiss!" I yell at him as Flag and GQ move to stand next to me, each one holding in snickers. Flag raises his smartphone detonator in warning. Slipknot throws off Croc and Chato's hands and raises his arms to show he'll be cool.
"Look, I know none of you asked for this. I know you feel like the world hates you, dealt you a bad start, or is just unfair. And I know that's what you think of yourselves too. You're the bad guys… the worst of the worst. But you can still do some good. You can still be heroes to the people who matter." I say as I look pointedly at Deadshot. Thoughts of his daughter float through my brain and I can feel his sadness. "So.. no more runnin'. Let's be the bad guys. Let's aim to misbehave." As the words leave my mouth they leave a bittersweet taste behind. Captain Daddy would have approved.
"There's your pep talk." Flag chimes in smugly.
"Compared to your shit, she killed it." Deadshot says with a chuckle. "So what's the plan then?"
GQ jumps in to answer. "There's an active terrorist event in Midway City. We enter the city, rescue HVT- 1, get them to safety, and then secure delivery of a specialized weapon to deal with the terrorist."
"Sorry. For those of us who don't speak good guy, what's HVT- 1?" Boomerang asks.
"The only person that matters in the city ...the one person you can't kill. Complete the mission, you get time off your prison sentence. Fail the mission, you die. Any questions?" Flag asks nonchalantly.
"What, we some kind of Suicide Squad?" Deadshot asks as the last few thoughts of his daughter are swept from his mind. "And what's this specialized weapon?"
"You don't have the clearance for that." Flag says sharply. "And I'll notify your next of kin. Alpha, Bravo team, we're wheels up in 10!" Flag finishes as he and GQ leave to get their gear.
After a moment, the squad seems to come back to reality and moves to get their own gear… all but Harley.
"So…" She starts as she looks me up and down. I can feel the wheels turning in her head, analyzing everything she just heard and sees.
"So." I respond and wait for her to continue.
"Caucasian, female, early 20s, good health, and… an only child?"
I chuckle. "One brother, older."
Harley smiles. "Ahh. Always looking to step out of brother's shadow?"
Again, I chuckle. "Hardly, I was correcting his homework when I was 5."
"Ohh, a feisty one!" Harley says with glee as she claps her hands and thinks about all the fun we are doing to have. "So tell me, what's the deal with all this suicide squad shit? I mean, I figure that's why you were at the club those times I saw you. This all part of your master plan?"
I shake my head. "We all do things we don't want to for self preservation." I offer up to her.
She nods, I imagine similarly to the nod she used with her patients at Arkham. As if I have said something thought provoking for my 'treatment,' and she's taking mental notes.
I glance around and decide now is as good of any to pass something along to her. "Of course, doesn't mean I can't play by my own rules Doc." I say as I hand her the purple burner phone.
She takes it quickly and gives me a puzzled look before realization dawns in her mind as she reads the text on the screen. "I'll see you soon, XD."
Her eyes snap up to mine and I give her a wink. "Shhh." I say quietly.
I'm completely thrown when her arms wrap around mine and she grabs me in a bear hug. "We are going to be such good friends." She says when she lets me go and trots back over to her gear.
I am about to turn and go get my own gear when I hand grabs my arm and I move to counter. Once again I am met with the feel of a thick coat under my grip.
"Easy, Trouble. Only ol' Digger." He says as I let go of his arm.
"Reflex. Sorry." I say as I cross my arms somewhat nervously. I'm not sure entirely why I am apologizing, but Digger Harkness just makes me feel… uneasy.
"So, that night at the club, were you there lookin' for me, or was it just a 'happy' coincidence?" He says with air quotes.
His goofy drunk smile from that night flashes in my head and despite my better judgement I feel a bit bad about his current situation. I nervously rub the back of my head. "I wasn't there looking for you, but I am not going to try and say I am not the reason that you are here, it's just… complicated is all."
He laughs. "Well, you weren't kiddin' when you said you was trouble."
"Look don't get me wrong. You've all done some bad things, I'm just not convinced that any of you are truly evil people." I say as I turn to walk away.
I get half a step before Digger keeps talking. "'bout that date…"
This elicits a chuckle from me and I turn back towards him. "What about it?"
"Well, this hardly seems to be the best venue, but given the circumstances, think it'll make do." He puffs out his chest a little as he says this and now I am full blown laughing. I try an stop myself soon though because I can feel the Doc's attention trained on me and Digger.
"Tell you what Digger…" I smile. "You live through this, and we'll see about a real date."
I turn to collect my gear and shake my head at Digger's thoughts on what a real date would be.
XXX
Boomerang watches as the lil' bit of trouble walks towards the command center, and chuckles to himself before turning the opposite direction to get the rest of his gear. The others are already suited up, and rifling through the various containers with their personal effects.
"What? Won't fit anymore? Too much junk in the trunk?" Harley asks Deadshot as he holds a face mask in his hands.
"Nah." Deadshot chuckles. "Every time I put this on, somebody dies."
Harley stops putting on her lipstick and looks at Deadshot. "And?"
"I like putting it on."
"Goody." Harley replies as she bends down into her container and pulls out a wooden carnival mallet. "Somethin' tells me a whole lotta people are about to die." She says with glee.
"Yeah. It's us. You heard 'em, we're being led to our deaths." Chato adds.
"Speak for yourself mate. I got a date after this." Boomerang says as he quickly shoves a handful of boomerangs into his coat, along with a plush pink unicorn.
"Yeah, what's the deal with you and her?" Harley asks as she puts the mallet down and picks up her baseball bat.
Boomerang shrugs. "Pretty girl I met in your man's club. I know about as much as you do."
"Dude, you can't be that stupid. You do realize she's the one who put us all here, right?" Weiss asks.
"Just makes all them naughty things I intend to do more fun the fact she's a copper." Boomerang laughs at Weiss.
Harley rolls her eyes while both Chato and Croc laugh hysterically. "Homie, you trippin' you think you gonna get anywhere with her." Chato says between laughs.
Boomerang glares at Chato in response. "Hey, what's that crap on your face? Does it wash off?"
Harley can see where the testosterone posturing is going to lead and is quick to change the subject. "Hey, if you like a girl, can you light her cigarette with your pinkie? because that would be real classy."
"Hey, y'all might wanna leave old boy alone. He could torch this whole joint. Ain't that right, ese?" Deadshot asks as he closes the lid to his container and slings his rifle over his shoulder.
Chato just takes it in stride though. "Ain't got nothing to worry about from me. I'm cool, homie."
XXX
River's POV
I'm getting the last of tactical equipment packed into my backpack when I feel her slide up next to me. "Osoidesu/ You're late." I say as I turn and bow towards Tatsu Yamashiro, aka Katana. She was Flag's unofficial bodyguard and had been another one of my trainers.
"Isogashikatta/ I was busy." She says as she returns my bow.
Of course she was. She was a one woman army out for revenge. And considering her revenger involved taking down senior Yakuza members, Waller and Flag were more than happy to look the other way. I smile at her before turning my attention back to my not so light backpack and sling it over my shoulders.
"Anata wa omoku idō suru/ You travel too heavy." She says as she watches me secure the bag.
"Watashitachi zen'in ga higaisha no tamashī o wana ni kaketa ken o motte iru wakede wa arimasen/ Not all of us have swords that trap the soul of its victims."
She laughs. "Zan'nende mo/ A pity too. Dakara, dōdesu ka?/ So how are they?" She says as she motions towards where the squad is standing.
"Yosoku kanōna/ Predictable." I say as I turn and look in their direction. "Shikashi, watashi wa atsukau koto ga dekimasen./ But nothing I can't handle."
This causes Tatsu to laugh. "Sarumokikaraochiru/ Even monkey's fall from trees."
I shrug. "Yōsu o miyou/ We will see."
Flag's bellowing yell comes through the area a moment later. "Mount up!"
"Shimashou ka?/Shall we?" Tatsu asks as we both head towards the waiting military helicopter.
We are the last two to get on, and there are two seats left open. One between Boomerang and Harley, and one next to Flag. I leave the one next to Flag open for Tatsu as I quickly take my seat. Tatsu remains standing though, silently appraising the squad.
"This is Katana." Flag yells as he motions towards her. "She's got my back. She can cut all of you in half with one sword stroke. Just like mowing the lawn. I would advise not getting killed by her. Her sword traps the souls of its victims." He finishes explaining to the squad over the whir of the propellers.
"Harley Quinn. Nice to meet ya." Harley says as she extends her hand like she had earlier. "Love your perfume. What is that? The stench of death?"
Katana merely rolls her eyes and reaches for her sword. "Watashi wa sorera o korosubekidesu ka/ Should I kill them?"
"Easy cowgirl. Ain't that kind of mission. Have a seat." Flag says as he motions for Katana to sit. She does so somewhat reluctantly and continues to give the squad a once over.
"She seems nice." Harley leans over and tells me.
I chuckle. "Just stay on her good side."
I feel the helicopter take off shortly after and lean my head back against the headrest. When I close my eyes it's almost like being on Serenity. Not as quiet or as smooth as Wash's flying, but close…
My trip down memory lane is cut short by Digger tapping me a moment later though.
"So, how'd a pretty doll like yourself get wrapped up in all this?" He asks me.
I glance in his direction and arch an eyebrow. "Are you really that interested?"
"Course I am luv!"
I laugh. More like he's interested in getting into my pants, but his persistence is almost endearing. "Let's just say I got mixed up with the wrong crowd," I reply quietly as I glance over at Flag.
I can hear the wheels in Harley's mind turning again, always listening for any little bit of information. She's almost like Waller in that regard. But her attention is quickly diverted to the swirling light-show outside.
"Look at the pretty lights! Are you guys seein' this?" She says as she turns and looks out the window.
Deadshot glance outside before turning his attention to wards Flag. "What happened?"
"Terror attack. Dirty bombs, bad guys shooting up the place with AKs. You know, usual shit."
It's a lie. A bad one. And Deadshot immediately calls him on it. "Right. Yeah, you're a bad liar. I don't know if they told you… but I'm a hitman. I'm not a fireman. I don't save people."
"Anything for a dollar, right?"
I grimace as I feel both men begin to posture. Flag really needs to learn when to not say stupid things.
"You know the dark places, too. Don't act like you don't." Deadshot challenges.
"I'm a soldier! And you're a serial killer who takes credit cards. When the shooting starts ... and it will, you'll cut and run. And then I'll blow your head off."
Deadshot laughs at Flag's arrogance. "You just threatened me?"
But fucking Flag just doesn't know when to quit. "Oh, yeah."
"He just threatened me." Deadshot says in warning.
But between their macho ego bullshit and all the voices swirling around me I am getting a headache. "SHUT UP! All of you!" I say as I try and ease the tension building in my temples and drop my head between my hands.
Suddenly, all the noise drops away, and their is complete silence. I look back up and I am no longer in the helicopter… it's just pitch black all around me.
I growl in frustration. "Enchantress." I saw quietly while taking a defensive stance. Her cackle echoes around me.
"You're lost little girl…You're lost little girl,
You're lost …Tell me who …Are you?"
"This isn't real." I tell myself. "It's just another one of your tricks."
"I think that you know what to do…Impossible? Yes, but it's true,
I think that you know what to do, yeah…I'm sure that you know what to do."
"This isn't real." I repeat as I try and will myself to wake up.
XXX
One minute, River had been yelling at everyone, and then next she seemed to slump over in her seat.
"Doll?" He says as he tries to shake her.
"Oi! Harley, give me a hand here?" Boomerang says as he props her back up.
Harley leans over and immediately checks River's pulse. It was steady, but she almost seemed catatonic. "Hey, girly, you there?" Harley asks.
Harley sees River's lips moving, and leans in closer to try and hear. What she does hear is a name, very faint. "Enchantress."
Harley looks up to Boomerang's expectant face and shrugs her shoulders. She's just about to open her mouth when the entire helicopter is shaken and rocked by a loud explosion. Warning lights flash and the helicopter begins to plummet.
"Six- one is going down. Six- one is going down hard." The pilot's voice echoes over the loudspeaker in the helicopter and everyone braces for impact. As the helicopter hits the ground, it flips over a few times before screeching to a stop.
"What a ride!" Harley says excitedly.
"Everyone good?" Flag asks as dust settles.
"This one's still out." Boomerang says as he unhooks his restraints and then moves to undo River's restraints.
"What do you mean still out?" Flag asks as he shuffles between everyone and crouches in front of River.
"Tam, you with us?" Flag says as he gently shakes her. He looks between Harley and Boomerang. "She say anything before she passed out?"
"She mumbled the name Enchantress." Harley says easily.
Flag's mood immediately darkens. "Let's get her out of here." He says as begins to hoist her up. Before Flag can get his shoulder under her arm though, Boomerang swoops her up into his arms.
"Lead the way." Boomerang says to Flag.
Flag gives Boomerang a rather dirty glare. "Touch her and it'll be the last thing you do."
"Easy mate! No need to be gettin' all defensive." Boomerang says with a chuckle.
Flag is not having it and continues to eye Boomerang suspiciously before turning and making his way out of the helicopter to where the others are waiting.
"He needs to loosen up." Harley whispers to Boomerang as they make their way out of the wreckage.
XXX
AN: Well, moving right along =) Hope you all enjoyed this update. What did you think of her first real interaction with everyone? Feedback, good or bad, is always appreciated.