Disclaimer: I do not own the movie Suicide Squad or any of the characters. I only own my OC.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter though! BTW, Estelle finally meets Harley in the next chapter! I also do not own any of the songs used in this chapter. Please excuse the whole "You know nothing" line. I've been watching way too much Game Of Thrones recently.
"Do nothing, and nothing happens. Life is about decisions. You either make them or they're made for you, but you can't avoid them." ― Mhairi McFarlane
Chapter 5: Final decision
The guy from the diner? Twenty dollar guy? What in the world was he doing here?
Estelle was shocked. What was nice diner guy doing here? She looked at him, her eyes wide before they narrowed at him. Shock leaving and suspicion finally setting in. She composed herself, and her expression turned grim the more she looked at him. She saw how he made his way closer towards them. He came to a stop, but he didn't take a seat on the couch. Instead he remained standing up. Not once did Estelle take her gaze away from him.
Nobody's ever that nice to you unless there's a reason behind it...there's always a catch. Her dad always used to tell her that. Estelle should have taken his words into her mind sooner. Sure there were on rare occasions, if luck would have it, when a genuine nice person would appear when times were rough and lend a hand. Just like Barry had done for her, but not everyone was like Barry...sadly.
"Estelle, this Colonel Rick Flag." Waller said, catching her attention. "I believe you already had the pleasure of meeting him earlier." She said, and there was no doubt some sly delight in her tone of voice.
Colonel?
As in a military Colonel? Of course, she should have known. He did have that old soul type of look to him. It made sense now...being in the military and all. But still...the nerve of this woman and even more on him. The fact that he came into the diner, where she worked, and acted the part of a simple customer...knowing that he would soon come barging in, with this nonsense talk of joining a so-called team. With criminals no less. It was total nonsense.
Rick could feel her stare on him and he knew he needed to make his pitch. He gave a quick look at Waller, before he started getting back on topic.
"Essentially, you'd be backup for me. Helping me out, keeping an eye out on things, and just assisting me with whatever."
Estelle couldn't help the scoff that escaped her. "Assisting?" She faltered a bit when she saw the irked expression Waller had on. She was still against the idea though. "No." She said, keeping eye contact with Waller this time. And despite how nervous she was making her, Estelle kept her ground. "Besides, even if I did join, there's still the high risk of these criminals going against us. We wouldn't be able to control them."
A sly smile appeared on Amanda Waller's face. "Yes we can." This of course made Estelle give her a confused expression, which wasn't a surprise to her. "They try to retaliate in any way...they die. We ensured that by implanting a small bomb device in their necks. Meaning their lives are in our hands. So, I'm sure they'll know their place."
A bomb in their necks?
That disturbed Estelle...sure they were criminals, but the bomb in their necks distressed her. She got up from the couch, passed Rick Flag, and began pacing...thinking...until she came to a conclusion.
"No." She said looking at both of them. She tried rejecting the idea as calmly as possible because she did not want to anger Waller. The older woman after all had Lilly somewhere. She still expected some sort of reaction out of Waller, but was surprised when all she saw was her narrowing her dark eyes at her.
"What if I give you an incentive?" Waller simply told her.
Estelle's mind quickly went to Lilly's well-being. She was starting to worry that Waller was going to threaten Lilly to get her to join this dream team of hers...but this thought came to a halt once she heard what she had to say.
"Heart surgery."
"What?" Estelle asked as if she had not heard her right.
Waller remained business-like with her. "If you join Rick Flag as his backup with Task Force X, then I'll make sure your sister gets that heart surgery she needs."
She'd give Lilly the heart surgery she needs? Estelle's expression became one of disbelief. She opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. Was she serious? Would she really give Lilly the surgery, if she were to join this crazy team of hers. Task Force X, as she had called it. She didn't know what to think. Since she didn't trust Waller at all, and she wasn't her biggest fan either. How was she to know she was being honest with her? She could feel Waller's eyes on her, no doubt probably enjoying the emotional situation she just put her through.
"You want to help your sister, save her life. Well this is it." Waller prompted none too gently. "It's time to start acting, make a choice Estelle. But remember...choose wisely."
This was too much.
Estelle wanted to accept, but she had to know she was being honest with her. That this wasn't some trick of hers. She turned to look at Rick Flag, her last resort of any confirmation on all this.
"Can you vouch for her? Is what she is saying the truth?" Estelle asked him. When he remained quiet, she moved closer towards him. Estelle looked him straight in the eyes, her face completely serious. She then, raising her voice slightly, asked him the impending question that would either make or break the deal entirely. "Can I trust you?"
She sounded absolutely earnest―hell, she even looked the part as well. Which troubled Rick a bit. She was only twenty-one years old. Sure in society's eyes she was considered an adult, but in his eyes she was still a kid. And in his opinion, no kid should have sounded, let alone looked, like they had been through the mill. But that was the thing...this girl―Estelle―had been through quite a lot. Losing her parents, gaining custody of her little sister who was sick with a heart condition, working twenty-four seven to make ends meet, and last but not least, the fact that she was a metahuman. Rick realized that no matter how much he wanted to exclude Estelle from this dangerous idea, that would most likely endanger her life, he still had to follow Waller's orders. He was in too deep and going rogue now would only anger Waller and in return June's life would be in risk. And he couldn't allow that.
So he did what he had to do. He gave her the answer that would ensure her involvement.
"Yes." Rick answered, his voice gruff but steady. He discreetly gave Waller a quick glance before looking at Estelle again. By the looks of it she was still in deep uncertainty, so Rick decided to take a different approach. He felt immense guilt for what he was about to say to her, knowing it to be an uncertain response, but he had to convince Estelle. He lessened his outer formal behavior, and softened his voice. "You have my word." He told her and right away he saw the chariness she had in her eyes waver. She kept her eyes on him before she lowered her gaze. He saw her take a deep breath and nod her head.
"Alright." Estelle answered after a few seconds of silence. She lifted her gaze. "I'll do it." She said, looking at Waller and then towards him again. "I'll be your backup. But first I have to see my sister."
After leaving her small apartment, Estelle now found herself inside a black SUV, with the one and only Rick Flag. Although in her mind she was still calling him diner guy. But she knew she had to stop thinking of him that way. He wasn't the nice guy she had presumed he was. Well, maybe she shouldn't say he wasn't nice...because compared to Amanda Waller, he definitely was. Plus, he gave her twenty dollars for coffee. Which reminded her...she needed to pay him back for that. She made a mental note to herself to do that later on.
Anyways speaking of Amanda Waller...the young adult was glad that she didn't join Rick and her in the car. Estelle wouldn't have been able to handle being in the same car with her. Just being in the same room with her was too much. She knew she was heading the same way they were going...to the location Lilly was at.
Before she left the apartment though, Estelle was lucky enough to take some essentials with her. Clothes and what not. So at least Waller allowed her to do that. But there was also the fact that she had her little "scene" before leaving the apartment. Which consisted of her not wanting to take the elevator down with them.
Yeah...that was a rather embarrassing scene, but it was worth it. She hated taking the elevator. She only ever took it for Lilly. Except she wasn't here, so she took the stairs down. She managed to beat Rick and Waller by practically racing down. She didn't want them to wait, adding more to her childish nonsense of not wanting to take the elevator. She got to the main floor first, but she was flustered due to her running.
Once they arrived, Waller simply gave her a piqued expression, while Rick gave her a more mild concerned look. She shrugged it off, but she could tell he knew why she preferred the stairs than the elevator. It was pretty obvious. Thankfully, he didn't press on the matter, and she was quite thankful for that. That got her to lessen her wariness towards him, even if only a little. Not Waller though.
Estelle still held extreme dislike towards her. But Rick...well she didn't necessarily know what to think of him anymore. Sure she was wary at first. Especially when finding out who he really was. But she didn't dislike him. How could she after he made that promise to her? She still needed more info on him.
"So, your real name is Rick Flag, huh?" Estelle asked him. Although it didn't sound like a question. It was more of a comment that was daring itself as a way to end an awkward silence. Which is exactly what she was doing. They'd been driving for a few minutes now and it had been dead quiet. Which normally she wouldn't mind. She liked it whenever it was quiet. It meant things weren't too chaotic. But given the circumstances she was in, she did mind.
Rick right away noticed how aloof she sounded. He indulged in conversation anyways. "Yeah, but you can call me Rick."
"I'd rather call you diner guy." Estelle quipped, trying to be funny.
Rick in return gave her an expression that was far from being amused.
"Ranger Rick?" This nickname didn't do well and Rick remained stoic. Estelle sighed at his lack of humor. "Fine, I'll settle with calling you Flag then." She told him.
Rick nodded his head. "Now do you want me to call you by your first name, Estelle. Or is there some nickname you prefer, like Stella―"
"Do not call me Stella." Estelle said with a hard voice. "Only the people I'm close to or care about can call me that."
He had hit a nerve, although he never meant to. "Alright, fine." Rick said, hoping that would lessen her sudden discontent. "Well, since you prefer calling me by my last name, I'll call you Carter then."
"Swell." Estelle replied with false enthusiasm. "Glad we got that figured out." She didn't glance at him, just kept staring out the car window, watching as they zoomed by buildings and other cars. So perhaps getting to know him would be harder than she thought...she only blamed herself.
Rick on the other hand could tell she was still somewhat iffy towards him. Sure she agreed to all this, and had trusted his word, but it was still totally normal if she held dubious thoughts. She didn't fully know him. So he continued on talking, on a chance that would lessen her ambivalence.
"So metahuman, huh?" He asked, trying to somewhat be more open with her. Although, it wasn't after he said that, that he realized how thoughtless that question sounded. She'd probably take offense to it. However, luck seemed to be on his side this time because she didn't lash out like she had done when he had called her Stella. Instead, from a side glance, he saw how she furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips together. He heard her let out a sigh.
"Yup...that's me. A metahuman." Estelle responded back to him.
"And that other boy...the one that was with you in the surveillance tape, you two close?" Rick asked, continuing the conversation.
At the mention of Barry, Estelle immediately became bristled towards Rick. "Why are you asking?" She asked him, warily.
"Just curious is all." Rick answered honestly. "Based on the footage I saw it's clear that he's a metahuman too. Plus he helped you with that store robber. I figured you two were friends."
Estelle simmered down a bit. "Yeah...we are."
"Two metahumans, as young as you guys..." Rick drawled on thoughtfully. "I can only imagine the sort of challenges the two of you have gone through. I mean, I know about yours but not―"
"You know nothing." Estelle interrupted him fiercely. She hadn't meant to sound so indignant, but in all honesty she couldn't help it. Especially since he was talking about the hardships she and Barry had to face. Rick Flag didn't know crap. Sure he read about her life struggles, but he personally didn't know. Not to mention he knew nothing about Barry's life. To her knowledge anyways. So he didn't know about how Barry lost his mother at a young age. Nor did he know about how his father was accused and arrested for her murder.
That's the reason why Barry was working on becoming a forensic scientist in the first place. So he can prove his father's innocence.
Now Estelle could personally relate with Barry when he told her about this. Since her father was once accused of something. Not murder, but it was something bad. She hated to think back to the past, but once upon a time, her father wasn't the best person in the world. He made mistakes... a lot of them―but like she told Waller, her father had changed. He died a good and honest man. So she understood why Barry was dead set on proving his father's innocence. However, Rick didn't. Hence her aggravated behavior.
Plus, there was still that lingering feeling of mistrust. It was necessarily mistrust towards him. He did after all give her his word, and despite everything, she did deep down trust him. The mistrust mainly leaned towards the fact that he worked with―or should she say, for Waller.
And Waller, as she'd come to know, was an underhanded person to be associated with. She knew once she had someone in her hands, that she could easily get them to do things for her. She hoped with Rick that didn't apply, but who was she kidding?
She just didn't know why he was doing all this. Good pay? Benefits? Who knows...all she really cared about, was that he would keep his promise. She'd help him with this Task Force X idea, but she wouldn't share more info about Barry with him. Not if meant there was even a slight chance he'd report it back to Waller.
So with this in mind, Estelle relaxed a bit. Although she kept her voice firm. "Look, if you're just trying to get more info on him so you can give it to Waller, let me tell you right now, it's not gonna work. I don't rat on my friends."
Her anger this time was understood by him. Rick noticed that when it came to people she cared about, she would get defensive. She was loyal and for the right reasons. That alone was an important quality to have. This made him respect her more.
"Good to know." Rick responded to her. "But that's not why I asked. I wasn't going to report this back to her. I was really trying to get to know more about you."
"Why? You already read my file." Estelle rebuked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Reading a file about a person and actually talking to them is totally different." Rick said as he made a turn. He then let out a sigh. "I just want us to have some sort of trust between us. We are after all going to be working together."
Estelle knew he had a point. Plus she already trusted him. So, it wouldn't be that hard to get along with him either. "Okay."
"Okay." Rick repeated, pleased that they came to an understanding. He then decided to quickly ask her a question that had him bemused. It was something he's been wanting to know more about, ever since he's read her files. But he wanted to personally hear it from her.
"So, your father...he taught you how to fight?"
You could have asked me anything. Why did it have to be this question? Estelle grumpily thought to herself. She didn't react negatively towards him though. Instead she bit the inside of her cheek, before responding. "Yes he did." She answered placidly.
"Self defense." Rick stated more than asked, as he remained focused on the road ahead of him.
Estelle huffed and lowered her gaze. "Self defense and...some other things."
His interest was caught. "Other things?" Rick asked her. He gave her a quick slide glance.
"Put it this way, I can easily dislocate your jaw in five different ways." Estelle somberly told him. "That's if I wanted to...obviously I wouldn't do that to you."
"But have you?" Rick asked her. This was something he didn't know about her. Sure he knew the basics of her, but her file never said anything about her ever having any physical altercations with others before. Well, none that have been reported. If she was as skilled with her fighting skills as with her powers, then surely if she had done something bad it would have been written in her file. But there wasn't. She was as clean as a whistle. Still, even if it hadn't been written in her file, it made him wonder if she had hurt someone before. She easily could do so.
Estelle was offended by this question. "Of course not! I've never dislocated anyone's jaw before." Maybe I'd broken an arm or two and sprained a few wrists...but I've never dislocated anyone's jaw, or caused real permanent damage before. The worst damage she'd really done was bruise a few guys' egos. Of course, she only kept these facetious thoughts to herself.
"But you can, if you want to." Rick rebuked.
Estelle sighed. "Look, I only know because my dad taught him. He taught me a lot of things."
"Why though?" Rick asked her.
"He wanted me to be prepared. In case anything bad happened. He wanted me to know how to protect myself." Estelle honestly admitted to him. Her voice faltered a bit. "Before my dad met my mom and had me and Lilly, he wasn't...well civilized." She said sheepishly. She composed herself once she realized how ridiculous she was being. "He had a hard past, and along the way he made a lot of enemies. He got out of that life, but he was paranoid about the past catching up. So he took caution with me. Seeing as I was his first born. He trained me and taught me how to defend myself from dangerous people." She let out a small smile.
"I remember what he used to say to me when I was little." She paused before she started talking like her dad. "Estelle, you need to know how to take care of yourself. There are a lot of bad people out there that can take advantage of you. So you need to let them know not to mess with you. Show them how strong you are." Her smile went away and her voice returned to normal.
"I guess if you think about it, my childhood was a little messed up. But I don't hate that he taught me. Nor do I hate him for it. It really did help out in the long run. Nothing major thankfully. I mean, there was that incident in college, but that was just me helping out someone. No one got hurt...well, a few guys did. Mostly their egos. But anyways, like I was saying, it did show a lot of people not to mess with me. Especially when we lived in Star City." She said, rolling her eyes. "Can't tell you how many times I had to chase off pervs. But they eventually learned not to mess with me. There weren't a lot in Central City, and I've only dealt with a few here in Gotham...surprisingly." Estelle quickly realized she was ranting and immediately stopped.
That was a lot to take in, but Rick tried his best to quickly digest everything she said. The one thing he already knew about was that she knew how to take care of herself. So that was good. Despite this he felt responsible for her. Something then dawned on him. His voice held bemusement. "He taught you but not your sister?" Rick asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "What about your mom?"
"Lilly was born nine years after me. By then everything was already fine for my dad. He had his life together and his enemies were either dead or placed in jail." Estelle explained to him. "As for my mom...well, she was never one for violence. She even tried protesting against having him teach me, but in the end she reluctantly let him." She then laughed lightly. "Which makes me wonder why she even fell for my dad in the first place. But I've come to learn that love is an odd thing."
Love is an odd thing...you got that right, Rick thought to himself. He completely agreed with that statement.
"Anyways, as you already know, my parents didn't have a happy ending..." Estelle said, her voice breaking a bit. "Lilly's the only family I have left now. She's my responsibility, you get that? So, I'd be damned if I let anything happen to her." She ardently told him.
Rick sympathized with her. He really did. Which only added to his inner turmoil. Especially with the promise he made her. But he had to remind himself that he had to do that. There really wasn't another way. Not when it came to Waller. "I get it." He said, his voice low.
After that the car was filled with silence. Again. It was so quiet that it was starting to bother Estelle. Rick was still concentrating on driving and she was sitting next to him in the passenger seat. Estelle could see that he was in full on focus mode, so that meant no more talking. Not that she minded. Besides, Estelle didn't know what to say to him anymore.
She still wanted to take away the awkwardness that was staining the car ride. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair before she finally decided to take action. Estelle reached over and turned the radio. She kept switching stations before she randomly just stopped at one. She leaned back into her seat and listened to what was on. Even though the volume was low, Estelle could still hear the lyrics to the song that was currently playing. It was the song, Spellbound by Siouxsie And The Banshees.
Following the footsteps
Of a rag doll dance
We are entranced
Spellbound
She was actually starting to get into the song, before Rick spoke up.
"You mind switching the station." He demanded more than asked. His southern accent was definitely more pronounced this time. Even though his tone was gruff, Estelle still heard some type of despair in his voice. Perhaps the song held some sort of woe significance towards something in his life. Which sucked if that were true, because Spellbound was such an awesome song. In Estelle's opinion anyways. But whatever, she complied and switched the station. This time she decided to pick a station she knew so well. A rock station that played some very good hits. And as luck would have it, one of the songs she liked was on. Which happened to be the song, Season of the witch by Donovan.
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch, yeah,
Must be the season of the witch
Once again she was just starting to get into the song, when all of a sudden Rick spoke up―again. This time he sounded, not to mention, looked more annoyed. From the way he was glancing at the radio she could have sworn it was as if he wanted to make the radio explode or something. His stare was one of utter irritation.
"Switch the station...please." He gritted out. Estelle could tell he was absolutely done, but she had no idea why he was getting mad. Perhaps he just didn't like any of the songs she's picked out. Maybe he wasn't a rock listener.
Oh well...she thought to herself as she picked a different station. This time, however, she had no idea what station she landed on. It was completely random like the first one had been. So whatever song came up next was just by chance. Therefore when Witchy Woman by Eagles started playing, she had an inner feeling that was somehow not going to sit well with Rick. She listened to the lyrics closely as she secretly watched Rick's reaction.
Raven hair and ruby lips
Sparks fly from her finger tips
Echoed voices in the night
She's a restless spirit on an endless flight
Wooo hooo witchy woman see how
High she flies
"That's it." Rick muttered, before he ardently shut off the radio, slightly startling Estelle a bit. "What is this, Halloween?" He asked in frustration as he was facing the road in front of him. Estelle from the side could see how he was clenching his jaw tightly. "Why the hell are they only playing songs related to witches." He said aloud, but she could tell he was mostly asking this to himself.
"I'm guessing you don't like witches." Estelle stated more than asked him. She heard him scoff and saw him shake his head.
"Something like that." He answered cryptically.
After that, much to Estelle's misfortune, the rest of the car ride to Lilly's location was filled with tense silence.
