Louisiana, September 13th, 2:30 P.M.
In the yard, or rather the gymnasium, of Belle Reve, was divided into two halves by glass. On the north side were the female inmates and to the south, the male inmates. After the mission to the Fortress of Solitude, Hunter convinced Waller to allow the squad one week in the yard rather than take time off of his life sentence. The squad was more than thankful for the relatively fresh air.
Sitting on the bleachers, Hunter sat across from Harley the glass being the only thing between them. They both sat cross-legged with their fists outstretched. With a competitive look in their eyes, they moved.
"Rock, paper, scissors shoot!" They both exclaimed.
Hunter chose rock and Harley chose paper. Hunter looked frustrated, "How? I was beating you all day yesterday."
"I psychoanalyzed you." Harley replied with a shrug, "Now I know your every move."
Hunter blinked, "You can do that?" He asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah! A part of my training, I was a psychiatrist before I found myself." She replied before sighing with a reminiscent smile, "I was such a bore but then my puddin' showed how to have fun in an all too serious world."
Hunter gave her an even look. During the last few days, he found that Harley wasn't the worst of villains. She has an innocent charm that can gravitate anyone towards her. Her love for the Joker is the only reason she does most of the horrible things she's done.
Looking around the yard he easily spotted the rest of the squad, some of them weren't that bad either. Diablo, Chato Santana, was a gang member who saw the error of his ways when he set the house of a rival gang member on fire not knowing of the children inside. Now he's set to live the rest of his life in bars, Harley explained that during missions he refuses to use his powers against people. He doesn't seek redemption but justice for the ones he's hurt.
Croc was born Waylon Jones with a skin condition that made him resemble a crocodile. His entire life he was ostracized by everyone. Even his aunt abused him for his appearance. Fear, discrimination, and hatred made him bitter towards the world he exiled himself to the sewers of Gotham. Bitterness turned to anger and anger blinded him.
He also enjoys French literature.
Copperhead is the daughter of the original Copperhead. Raised into villainy as a child she never knew anything else. She was trained as an assassin from a young age never having a normal childhood. Killing is all she knows and without it, she believes she is nothing.
Deadshot was almost a mystery to him. All he knows is that he had a daughter and that he would do anything for her. That alone gives Hunter reason enough to believe that he has at least a shot at redemption.
And Boomer was just a dickhead.
Looking around the yard he wondered how many of these people could've lived the life of a regular person or even hero if life hadn't given them the short end of the stick. Some of them were born different like Croc, raised into villainy like Copperhead, manipulated like Harley, or befell a heinous accident like Mister Freeze.
Victor Fries, a slave to love like Harley. He's become a monster in his pursuit of a cure to save his wife, Nora.
Freeze is the most sympathetic of all the ice villains. The ice villains in Belle Reve consisted of Icicle Sr., Minister Blizzard, Captain Cold, and Killer Frost. Despite being in the female wing. Harley says that Frost communicates with the other ice villains through unknown means. Croc says that Blizzard has it in for him and is trying to get rid of him. Diablo says that they don't like him, that they're wary of him because of his fire powers.
"Wonder Warrior, warden wants to see you!" Wilcox, the main guard, exclaimed.
Getting up from his seat he walked down the bleachers. He felt the entire yard's eyes on him, each one is more hateful than the last. Keeping his head tall he allowed Wilcox to slap handcuffs on his wrist. Escorted to Waller's office he passed the psychiatrist Hugo Strange. He made Hunter feel uneasy, even more so than Ares.
Entering Waller's office he was met with not only the warden but Batman as well, "Batman, what are you doing here?"
"Batman here's got leverage on Mister Freeze." Amanda informed, "Apparently he's located his frozen bride."
Hunter looked up at the Dark Knight curiously, "Four years ago Nora Fries was taken from Wayne Biotech hospital. Funded by the Thomas Wayne Foundation they were on the verge of synthesizing a cure but she was taken. Any hope of a cure was lost with her until a week ago." He explained as a hologram appeared from his palm revealing a strikingly beautiful blonde woman, skin like snow and a dress like ice, "During the grand reopening of the Iceberg Lounge, the Penguin unveiled her as the centerpiece of the club."
"You want me to hold this over Freeze's head so he could rat out his friends?" Hunter inquired.
"Not exactly." Amanda replied, "What we want is for Freeze to turn on them just when they think they've won. In exchange, we can transfer him back to Arkham with a minimal sentence."
"Sounds too good to be true." Hunter replied, "I've heard that they've had contact with Killer Frost."
"Impossible, male inmates have zero contact with the females." Amanda dismissed.
"The reason I'm here is to inform you of what I hear and I hear that Icicle is in contact with Frost." He reminded sternly, "I also hear that Blizzard has it out for me and is trying to arrange an assault on me."
"The inmates know better than to mess with members of the squad." Amanda replied, "What about this so-called master plan the Bat thinks they're scheming about?"
"I only know that they've formed a little gang and only let those they've deemed strong enough to join them." He replied, "They've got Desmond and Mammoth acting as bodyguards."
"Blockbuster and Mammoth are mindless muscle heads. They probably know next to nothing." Waller said leaning back on her chair.
"It's only been two days." Hunter reminded, "I've got a whole week to get more information."
"He's right." Batman agreed, "Now we know to keep a particular eye on whoever Frost talks to."
"Icicle Jr. and Freeze are going to be transferred here in three days we have until then to figure out what they're planning." Waller reminded, "No one is getting out of this prison, not on my watch." She said with enraged confidence.
After that Batman left without notice and Hunter was escorted back to his cell. The entire way down to the sub-levels he remained in deep thought. In the elevator with the rest of the squad, he sighed in frustration. Harley noticed this and shoved her way through the crowded elevator.
"What's wrong, Woo Woo?" She asked genuinely.
"I'll tell you later." He replied, "Just a lot of things on mind."
"Anything I can do?" She offered.
Hunter looked up at the blonde before he smirked, "I might have an idea." He glanced around at everyone in the elevator, "I might have a big idea."
September 15th, 2:10 P.M.
"This will never work." Chato said in Spanish.
Hunter and Diablo sat on the bleachers playing cards. Looking around he kept his eyes out for the squad. Croc stood with Blockbuster and Mammoth, acting as muscle for Icicle. Harley and Copperhead joined Frost's group as her enforcers making the other villainesses do as she says. Deadshot was talking to Minister Blizzard most likely about the price for Hunter's head.
"It will." Hunter replied, "All they have to do is what they do every day. Uno." He said excitedly slamming down his yellow card.
"Add four." Chato replied with his yellow card.
"Dang it!" Hunter groaned as he drew four cards.
They continued to play each of them nearly winning but each being thwarted by the other. Eventually, there were no more cards to draw. In the end, Chato won by placing his red 2 card over Hunter's blue 2 card. Putting the cards back together Chato began to shuffle them.
"Hey wonder brat!"
Hunter looked over to see who called his name, "Oh by the gods." He groaned at the sight of the short man.
Edgar Cizko, otherwise known as Doctor Psycho. He's by far one of the worst human beings on earth. Not just because he was a villain but because he had a particular belief that he was above everyone else especially women. He uses his psychic abilities to control women to do his bidding to 'put them in their place' as he puts it.
"What do you want Psycho?" He asked drawing five cards from the deck.
"Dr. Psycho, I may be a criminal but I still got a Ph.D. dammit!" The short man snapped causing Hunter to roll his eyes.
"Along with half the people in here." Hunter muttered, "Now what do you want, Edgar?" He demanded looking the man in the eye.
Psycho climbed the bleachers one at a time as he spoke, "Just to relay a message from mutual friends of ours."
The prince's eyes shined with an alert, "Which friends?"
"Cheetah for one." The short man said causing Hunter to look up through the glass to find Cheetah leaning against the far wall with a smirk, "Giganta." Next to Cheetah stood Dr. Doris Zuel, "Silver Swan." To the other side stood Vannesa Kapatelis.
Leaning in to whisper in Hunter's ear Edgar said, "They wanted me to make sure you know that your days are numbered. Mommy isn't here to protect you from us now is she?" She taunted.
Hunter smirked before he turned to face Psycho, "You should remember that she isn't here to protect you from me either." He looked down at his hand of cards, "Now, I do not need to hold back against any of you. No crowds, no cameras, no Wonder Woman. I can gut all of you and sleep without missing a wink."
Without his telepathy, Edgar couldn't tell whether or not the prince was lying. The short man gulped before backing away. Hunter smirked before going back to his game, "Did you really mean that?"
"No, but I wanted to frighten that misogynistic little gremlin so." He simply shrugged, "I'll start." He said before putting down a red card.
That night in the sublevel cells Hunter leaned against the glass as he read one of the books on the bookshelf, The Iliad and the Odyssey. He's read this book more times than he can count but it never hurts to refresh his memory.
"So Cheetah had Psycho threaten you?" Croc asked as he read his own book.
"Yeah, apparently she and all of the previous adversaries my mother and I have faced have formed a group." He replied flipping a page, "Cheetah, Giganta, Silver Swan, and Doctor Psycho. I don't doubt that she's convinced them to work for Ares." Hunter added rotating his shoulder with a grunt.
"What's up?" Diablo asked.
"Krypto." He answered, "Pooch packed a wallop. He hits harder than most of the villains I fight."
Harley laughed, "Yeah, that's a Kryptonian for ya. He was so protective, reminds me of my babies back home.
"You have dogs?" Hunter asked aloud down the hallway.
"Hyenas." Harley clarified as she was playing with her paddle ball, "Bud and Lou, raised them since they were pups. Before I got put in the slammer I died their mohawks. Bud's green and Lou's purple, they looked so adorable."
"What happened to them since you're here?" Hunter asked curiously as he flipped a page.
"Oh my babies can take care of themselves they hunt rats, cats, dogs, and the occasional pedestrian. Ow!" She yelped as the ball missed the paddle and hit her face, "They went missing a few days before I got arrested but I'm sure they're fine. You got any pets?"
"Yeah, we had a whole bunch of pets on the island. Winged horses, griffins, porcupines, armadillos, and megalodons." He answered, "My mother has a special kangaroo named Jumpa she cares for. She's very playful."
"She sounds nice." Harley replied playing with her paddleball again.
"She is." Hunter nodded before putting the book on his lap and sighed, "I once had a dog my mother brought home after the war named Rex. He was a war dog, trained to rescue, sniff out bombs not to mention super smart for a canine. The media called him Rex the Wonder Dog." He smiled at the name, "He was the best and to this day he remains one of my best friends."
"What happened to him?" Croc asked, joining the conversation.
"A chimera attacked the island. I was alone in the woods when it attacked me, I was just a child so I didn't know about my abilities yet. Rex defended me but the Chimera proved too much for him and stung him with its tail." He responded thinking back to that day, "We held a funeral for him and even erected a statue in his honor, made of pure marble to mimic his white fur."
"Awe that's nice." Harley gushed.
"They should make a movie about that." Croc sniffled.
"Didn't they already make a movie about that dog who waited for his owner at a train station?" Chato asked curiously.
"Hachiko, oh God!" Harley wailed before she broke down into sobbing.
"Marley and Me." Croc added.
"Old Yeller." Deadshot chimed in with a yawn.
"The Shaggy Dog." Boomer added causing immediate silence, "What?"
"We were having a moment, you ruined it." Harley grumbled, "Anyways off to bed."
"Yes, off to bed."
"Fuck off you lot, The Shaggy Dog is a masterpiece!" Digger exclaimed as everyone else went to sleep, "Same with Doctah Dolittle!"
"Shut up, Boomer!" Everyone yelled and Hunter laughed.
"He's definitely the Wally of the team." Hunter muttered with a smile before he drifted off to sleep.
September 16th, 12:10 P.M.
"Harley, all I'm saying is you can do better than Joker, better yet, you deserve better." Hunter said as he ate his lunch, "You're smart, strong, you're the architect of your destiny."
Looking across the glass to the woman's cafeteria he saw Harley roll her eyes and scoff, "Leave Joker for who some nobody square who probably thinks fishing is a fun hobby?"
"Who said you have to leave him for someone else, the first thing you learn on Themyscira is independence from men." He pointed out, "Literally that was one of the first things I was taught as a child it was seriously awkward." He added before stuffing mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"All I'm saying is that Joker makes life interesting. I'd rather die than go back to the boring, dull, lonely, repetitious person that was Harleen Quinzel." She replied before stabbing into the last piece of microwave meatloaf.
"He's an abusive, manipulative sociopathic narcissist and Harleen Quinzel was a genius psychiatrist." Hunter replied before he ate some peas, "If he actually loved you he would've broken you out by now. How long have you been here?"
"Coming up on a year now." Harley replied sipping her chocolate milk.
"A year without the person you love you'd think he would've at least attempted to break you out, right, unless of course, he didn't care." Hunter explained before someone sat across from him, the Riddler.
"Riddle me this Harley. What happened the night an iceberg and the RMS Titanic collided?" Riddler asked.
"Hundreds of people died horrific deaths." Hunter answered.
"That bitch Rose let Jack die even when there was room on that damn door!" Harley exclaimed in a rage, "Never let go, ha! Bullshit!"
"No there wasn't." Hunter disagreed, "I think they should've taken turns, yes, but the door couldn't carry the both of them."
Harley scoffed before pressing her finger against the glass, "Think again sweetie if you rewatch the scene and you can clearly see that the door is big enough for the both of them."
"The door couldn't possibly have-"
Eddie loudly cleared his throat ending the conversation, "A ship sank! Which is what your relationship is, a sinking ship, he doesn't care."
"That's one person's opinion." Harley shrugged.
"He doesn't fuckin care, Quinn!" Boomer yelled from his table.
"He doesn't." Deadshot agreed.
"He's given you the cold shoulder one too many times." Killer Frost added.
"Oh, what the hell do you people know you're not exactly here because of your good judgment now are ya?!" She exclaimed flipping off the entire cafeteria before returning to her food, "Anyways I hear Frosty is transferring tonight, around midnight."
"Mister Freeze?" Hunter asked anxiously.
"Yeah, along with Icicle Jr. and two new up incomes calling themselves the Terror Twins." Harley snorted a laugh, "Bet you they ain't even twins."
"Why would they call themselves the Terror Twins if they weren't actually twins?" The prince asked skeptically.
"Because it sounds cool." She replied, "Like how Mistah J is called the Clown Prince of Crime or how I'm called the Maiden of Mischief."
"Yeah I don't think anyone calls you that." Hunter said before finishing his chocolate milk.
"It'll catch on!"
Louisiana, 1:00 A.M.
Hunter couldn't sleep that night he tossed and turned before he eventually sighed and gave up on slumber. Sitting up he swung his legs over the bed and placed his head in his hands. The lights flickered making him look up to find Batman on the other side of the glass. With a gasp, he stood up and walked towards the glass.
"What is it?" Hunter asked. He's given up on figuring out how Batman can just appear out of thin air.
"Freeze arrived a few hours ago." He informed, "He's been in a holding cell ever since." The door to the cell slid open, "Come with me."
Wordlessly Hunter followed him through the prison. The entire trip up the elevator and through the corridors was in anxious silence. Once they finally made it to the door Batman turned to face him, "You are to under no circumstances reveal my or the league's involvement in this. You will say that you've used your Task Force X privileges to arrange this meeting do you understand?"
"Perfectly." Hunter nodded before he put his hand on the handle of the door. He took a deep breath and opened it.
"Another psychological evaluation, Dr. Strange?" Freeze asked before he realized who stepped inside, "Ah, the sidekick who fell from grace."
"You would know a lot about falling from grace now wouldn't you, Victor." Hunter replied sitting down across from the older man.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" Victor asked leaning forward on his elbows.
"I just wanted a quick chat." The Amazon smiled, "Hope you don't mind."
"As long as you tell me how we're even having this meeting." Freeze smirked in reply.
"I'm here on Suicide Squad business." He shrugged.
"Am I to be the new initiate to your little club?" Victor asked frowning, "I must say I am not keen on the idea of putting up with Quinn or Croc again."
"I'm more interested in talking about your little club. You know the one comprised of all the other ice villains. The Icicles, Frost, Cold, and Blizzard." Hunter said watching Freeze's frown fall further, "Quite a coincidence, five ice villains attacking and being captured on the same day. Not to mention how you and Jr. tried as hard as you could to get here."
"Perhaps I wanted a change in scenery." Victor shrugged, "Arkham was beginning to get a little dull."
Hunter gave him a teasing smirk, "A change of scenery this far away from Gotham, away from your wife?"
Freeze's eyes immediately filled with anger, "Watch yourself, boy." He said, his voice sharper than an icicle.
Leaning back on his chair Hunter crossed his arms, "It's from my understanding that she went missing some time ago." Freeze silently glared at the Amazon, "What would you do if I told you where the is right now?"
Freeze launched out of his chair and tried to pounce on Hunter but the cuffs chained to the table stopped just a few inches away from his target, "Where is she?! Where's my wife?! Tell me where is Nora!"
"I'll only tell you if you give me something in return." Hunter said carefully as Freeze continued to struggle against his restraints, "Tell me what Icicle Sr. is planning and I will tell you not only where she is but who has her." Freeze only glared at the boy, "Or I could make a call to the Justice League so that she would be sent to a secure location far out of your reach."
"I don't know." Freeze admitted, "Icicle Sr. contacted me. He said that I needed to cause chaos on the fourth of July and make it to be sent to Belle Reve. He said he'd give the details in person. Now tell me where my wife is." He demanded.
"No. If you want me to tell you where she is I'm going to need you on the inside until Sr. tells you the plan. Only then will I tell you where she is." Hunter said standing up, "You and I are about to become closely acquainted Victor." Opening the for he looked over his shoulder, "And be sure not to tell anyone of this meeting, I'd hate for Nora to be lost to you forever."
Closing the door behind him he heard Victor let out an enraged wail. The sounds of rage eventually turned into sobbing as Freeze chanted 'Nora. Nora. Nora'. Hunter quickly left before it could continue. Batman waited for him down the hall and together they made it back to his cell.
Once he was alone he laid down and let out a shaky sigh, "I was trained to fight for love, to protect it, not manipulate it." He closed his eyes allowing a single tear to stream down his face.