Disclaimer: I do not own Suicide Squad or any other characters. I only own my OC.


"Until you step into the unknown, you don't know what you're made of." ― Roy T. Bennett


Chapter 10: Showing off

Estelle wasn't much of a hugger. Not really anyways. She only ever took joy in hugs when they were given by close people she cared about.

Her sister Lilly, or friends like Barry being the few people who she gladly welcomed with open arms. Her parents too...before their passing. Even her ex-girlfriend Jasmine. Therefore, strangers who she had no connection with and were considered to be dangerous by the U.S. Government, did not fit that category. Hence why she immediately fought to get Harley off of her.

"Get off!" Estelle shouted as she caught a hold of Harley's hands. She didn't let go. Damn was she strong, but Estelle was just as strong. The twenty-one year old disregarded how soft the Queen of Gotham's hands were and pushed her away from her.

Pushing herself up from the ground, Harley pouted at the loss of contact. "Aw, what's wrong? Not much of a hugger?" She asked and then a smile grew on her face. She let out a heartfelt sigh. "My Puddin' loves my hugs. Says they're one of a kind."

Estelle in no way wanted to talk about her Puddin' knowing full well who she was referring to. With narrowed eyes she got up and she kept her distance from Harley.

"Oh, I like that look you're giving me!" Harley chirped, throwing a wink at her. The platinum blonde made sure to give her another look herself. One that appeared as if she were about to attack her with another hug.

Estelle kept her stance and distance but faltered when she finally noticed how the guards were aiming their guns at Harley. Without even thinking straight, she acted. "No, wait!" She yelled, raising her hands up.

Immediately there was a bright bluish light surrounding her and Harley. It created a force field shielding them in. Needless to say everyone minus Rick were thrown off by this. Although the Colonel was more thrown off by the fact that she had actually created a force field to protect Harley Quinn.

Harley was happy by what she now saw. She in no way was panicking. "Oh, it's so pretty and blue!" She exclaimed as she studied the said form around them. She turned to look at the dark haired girl with wonder. "Stella, are you doing this?"

The serious expression she had on and the way she was holding her hands was enough of an answer for Harley. She giggled and pointed her finger at her. "See, I knew there was something different about yah, bestie." Boy was she right. If only her Puddin' could see what she was seeing.

From the side, Slipknot was staring at the girl with wide eyes.

Deadshot was watching the scene with a shocked expression. "How in the hell?" Since when was she able to do that? Was this the same innocent smart young adult girl who had helped out his daughter? He felt foolish for asking such a question, because the answer was yes. The bigger question now was when did she turn into a metahuman? Or had she been one since the beginning?

"Oi! She's one of those pesky metahumans!" Captain Boomerang shouted as he pointed at her. His dislike and dare he say interest towards her just doubled.

Killer Croc let out a low growl, but it wasn't a threatening one towards the young adult in front of him. It was more towards the guards that had their guns up. He was just as shocked as everyone else, but he was discreet in not showing it. Besides, he had no reason to fear the young girl. From the looks of it, it appeared she was protecting the crazy blonde. For whatever reason.

El Diablo was eyeing her with solemn intrigue. She had abilities too? Was she too burdened with a life of somberness because of her strange abilities?

Estelle noticed how Rick was looking at Harley, his hand almost touching the device he had on his wrist. That did not improve the situation at all. "Rick." She silently pleaded, managing to catch his attention. Her deep blue eyes were saying only one thing to him.

Don't push the button...please.

The Colonel was in turmoil. He knew the correct thing to do was to finish Harley, but in doing so it would just complicate the mission. They hadn't even left yet and getting rid of someone already would just lower their chances in completing the mission. There was also the way Estelle was looking at him. Silently begging him not to do anything rash. He knew she was being serious. Why else would she use her powers to shield Harley? Hell, why else would she use his first name? She said she would only address him as Flag, but right now she called him Rick. There was silence around them, before he finally spoke. He stopped reaching for said device.

"Stand down." He ordered the men around him. Estelle was relieved when they lowered their guns. Once she saw no threat, she lowered her hands, making the force field around her and Harley disappear.

Immediately Harley pouted. "Aw." A small frown worked on her face at no longer seeing the pretty blue light anymore. She once again turned to look at Estelle. Her frown then changed into a pleading smile. "Do it again, Stella!"

Estelle gave her an expression that translated she was done with her shenanigans. "No."

Harley jumped in place. "Come on, pretty please."

"Lady, get back in line!" Rick shouted.

Harley huffed and then made a pissy face at the Colonel. "You're no fun." She muttered, sticking out her tongue at him. After that she reluctantly went back to her previous position.

Rick stepped forward catching the squad's attention. "This is Estelle." He said, finally introducing her to everyone. "Some of you might have already met her. As you can see, Estelle here is a metahuman. But she also has excellent fighting skills. So if you mess with her...well, you'll have to deal with the consequences."

Captain Boomerang scoffed. "Consequences? By this little Sheila? Yeah, right." He wasn't afraid of her. Even if she was a metahuman.

His comment made Estelle's annoyance rise. She curled her hands into fists. A light tap to her shoulder made her anger falter, and she looked up. It was Rick who had done that. She frowned but stopped when she saw his expression. The expression he had said only one thing.

Prove him wrong.

Her annoyance was then replaced with excitement.

Gladly.

Harley was looking at him with dislike.

Slipknot kept quiet but El Diablo and Killer Croc were looking at the Aussie to see if he was being serious.

Deadshot was the one with the most dead serious expression. He glared at him. "Did you not see what she just did?"

"Oh yeah, she put a force field around her and craziness. I'm so scared of her." Captain Boomerang mocked. He rolled his eyes. "As if she could do anything to actually―bloody hell!" He shouted his voice raising up to a higher pitch. A bright blue light had hit his right bottom foot. "Gah." He said lifting his foot up. His face twisted with pain. He gazed over towards the dark haired girl knowing she had been the one responsible for his sudden pain. "That hurt!"

"No shit." Estelle said with a deadpan expression. Her lips though were slowly curling up. "You're lucky that hit was only half charged."

Harley started laughing her head off. "You were saying, Aussie?"

The rest of the squad were trying hard to keep their amusement on the low side. Unlike Harley who was straight up having a grand old time.

Captain Boomerang stayed silent as he rubbed his foot. Damn that had hurt. He looked at Rick but all he saw was a stern expression on his face.

The Colonel shrugged his shoulders. "Told you...consequences. Need I say more?" Rick asked, when there was no reply he nodded his head. "Good, start getting ready."

One by one they each went to where their personal belongings were being kept in the crates. Estelle saw how Harley lingered a bit before she went towards her crate. Once she was distracted with going through her things, Rick pulled Estelle to the side.

"Are you okay with her being around you?" Rick worriedly asked her and then he glanced towards Harley. He saw how she was happily looking at one of her colorful personified guns. "I could get her to back off." At the look Estelle gave him when he said that made him correct himself. "Well, I could try."

"I appreciate that, but there's no need." Estelle said putting up a brave exterior. "I can handle her."

Rick became pensive. "She seems to like you."

Estelle frowned. "So?"

"Just an observation." Rick replied back to her.

Estelle loosened her hard exterior. "Look, don't worry, okay?"

"It's getting harder and harder not to." Rick confessed.

Estelle raised a brow. "May I remind you, I'm the one who's supposed to be worrying over you. I'm your backup, not the other way around."

Rick's protectiveness towards her did not lower. "With the attention you seem to be getting from everyone it's kind of hard to remember." He openly told her. His gaze wandered behind her when he heard GQ Edwards calling for him. He returned his attention towards her again. "Just keep your guard up." He reminded her as he began to go where his fellow comrade was at.

"Duh." Estelle said with a smile as he walked past her.

As soon as he was gone, Estelle went back to looking around the area. The squad members were each getting ready by grabbing the things they needed. She saw how Captain Boomerang was putting something inside his coat. Estelle could have sworn that something was pink. Out of curiosity she stepped a bit closer, but a peppy platinum blonde made her back up.

"Don't worry I'm not gonna hug you this time, Stella." Harley said giggling.

A sense of annoyance rose with Estelle thanks to that nickname, but she didn't let it control her. She was more focused by what Harley had said. Estelle couldn't help but over analyze how she said the name Stella. It was almost like she was warning her through the nickname how in the future there would be more hugs. Estelle inwardly rolled her eyes. Great. The twenty-one year old remained composed.

"What do you want?" Estelle asked carefully.

"Why to say thanks." Harley said in an overly cheerful tone. "You saved me from those big bad guards and from getting my pretty head blown off."

"Yeah...well...you're welcome." Estelle said, trying to remain unfazed by how she was being with her. After saying that she expected the platinum blonde to go away, but she didn't.

"So if someone pisses you off, you can just blast them away?" Harley asked excitedly. At her silence and bemused expression, Harley just continued to talk. "Coolio! I wish I could do that! All I have are my hands and feet and my various choices of weapons." Harley held out one of her guns that she had taken out from her crate and smiled. "What do you think? I've always loved this one. My Puddin' made it especially for me."

"Ah, it's nice." Estelle said unable to come up with anything else to say. She saw how the guards around them were watching them, but she made sure to give them a reassuring look.

"So you got a superhero name?" Harley asked, making Estelle look at her weird.

She noticed at that very moment how Harley was chewing gum. She must have had some inside her crate. The platinum popped a bubble as she waited for her to answer the question. Estelle though couldn't help but release a puzzle expression once she rethought the question. "What?"

Harley popped another bubble. "A superhero name." She said as she continued chewing her gum. "Don't you have one?"

Why would she have one? Sure she had powers, but she was in no way classified herself as a superhero. "No." Estelle replied, shaking her head.

"Aw, why not?" Harley questioned. "You should have one. You are after all a superhero."

"No, I'm not." Estelle grimly protested. She huffed, irritated. "Look, why don't you just go and start getting ready." The platinum blonde was dressed in the same prison clothes as before and other than the gun and gum she was chewing she had nothing else with her.

Harley let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine." Her eyes then brightened up. "I just need one tiny favor?"

Estelle was almost too afraid to ask, but she did anyway. "What's that?"

Harley giggled and batted her eyelashes. "Help me get out of these sorry excuse of prison clothes."