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

A/N: In honor of all the awesome things we got from the DC panel all that while ago, here's an update. Finally. I hope you guys enjoy it. Also this chapter is dedicated to all those who have daddy issues...including myself. By now readers know that Estelle doesn't think the childhood she had was bad, and although it wasn't the worst, it still had her growing up real fast. She didn't have the same childhood that her younger sister Lilly had. She can deny it all she wants and say it was normal even with all the training, but deep down she does wish it was different. Not that she would ever admit it.

Of course Harley's gonna see through that. I mean she's a psychiatrist, or actually an ex-psychiatrist. But those observational skills are still there. She's seen how Estelle is with Rick. Yeah she's assigned as backup for him but Harley can tell that Estelle views Rick like an authority figure. And anyways, I think it just makes sense for one person who has their own daddy issues to call out another person who has daddy issues. Because if you've seen Birds of Prey then you know Harley has her own daddy issues too. I mean, her dad abandoned her when she was young and then she fell in love with The Joker. If that doesn't scream daddy issues then what does?

Also, I've been watching the show The Boys, and the character of Starlight definitely reminds me of Estelle.


"If you hurt me, I wouldn't cry. I would hurt you back." ― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince


Chapter 16: Daddy issues

Harley wasn't the Aussie's biggest fan because of the way he'd been with her darling Stella. She knew though, that he'd be the easiest to convince after that failed escape attempt of his. He thought he was slick, and maybe in his own way he was, but she was way better. He was also the most desperate to get out. She wanted to leave Belle Reve too, but at least she had the smarts to hide her emotions better than him.

"So." Harley casually brought up once walking alongside Captain Boomerang. "I'm thinking if we move together, we can kill all these guys and go our separate ways." She grinned. "Yeah?" Just as she expected, Captain Boomerang agreed.

"Sounds good." The Aussie nodded his head.

"Spread the word." Harley told him before leaving his side. She walked forward but not without glancing back and seeing him make his way over to El Diablo. The conversation between them was hush hush as she was expecting. Harley focused her attention onto Estelle, who, much to her annoyance, was not only walking alongside Rick, but also Katana.

The majority of Rick's men were now towards the back, so the silent and brooding woman had moved up some time ago. Harley had hoped Katana wouldn't stay too close to her darling Stella but there she was...next to her.

The familiar feeling of jealousy was showing up causing Harley to glare at Katana. The glare quickly went away when there was a loud growl followed by a crashing sound. Confused, Harley looked back. She wasn't the only one though. Everyone in the group had stopped to check out what had happened. Rick was ready to use the device for the neck bombs if needed, while Katana already had her preferred weapon out ready to strike. Estelle had her hands raised, with both of them glowing that blue light of hers.

Rick's men also had their guns pointed towards the direction where the noise came from. Everybody instantly calmed down though when they saw that it was just Captain Boomerang who had been pushed. By the looks of it Killer Croc had been the one to have done that. Rick just scoffed looking back up front but not before ordering his men to continue walking. Katana said something in her native language, and Estelle just shook her head. The warmth in her hands disappeared as did the blue light.

The twenty-one year old didn't know why Waylon had pushed Captain Boomerang, but knowing the Aussie there must have been a damn good reason. He probably deserved it.

Harley had no idea either, and she wanted to know. The last time she looked back Captain Boomerang had been talking to El Diablo not Killer Croc. She hurriedly walked over to him again. "What'd you say to him?" The platinum blonde asked, upset and curious at whatever mistake he made.

Captain Boomerang tried playing it off as he fixed his collar. "Nothing, just having a laugh." He grinned showing his gold tooth. "No worries. He's in."

Harley had to contain the annoyance she had for Captain Boomerang when she tried using her charm on El Diablo. Unfortunately he wasn't entirely set out to hear what she had to say like the Aussie. At least his reaction hadn't been like Killer Croc's. If anything it was just her ego that got hurt. Harley usually was able to get out at least a word or two before someone shut her out. El Diablo was different though. He shut her out the instant she came to his side.

Evidently he wasn't as eager to escape like the others. That was a pity. They needed the numbers in order for this to work...at least until her Puddin' came. That would take a while though, and she had to bid her time with what she had. The platinum blonde let out a huff. She did her best to not roll her eyes at the lack of fun of it all.

The group eventually came to an alleyway. In the alleyway there were a few abandoned totalled cars. Estelle frowned when she saw one of those cars split into two. On closer inspection she saw some weird residue left on the car. What had caused that?

The blue eyed metahuman looked back to see the group's expression, and most of them were of wariness. Rightfully so, she thought. She came to a stop alongside Rick and Katana. A few of Rick's men remained towards the back with the others. The exception being GQ EDwards and his men, who were further up.

Estelle seriously doubted the others would try to run after what they saw happen to Slipknot.

Based on Rick's body language, Estelle knew something was up. He remained still as did the others. She couldn't stand the tension. It wasn't until Rick's walkie talkie went off that the Colonel finally spoke.

"I'm on my way."

Estelle followed Rick obediently as he went to where the other soldiers were. It didn't take long for their group to reunite with them. But when they did the same tension from before returned.

From where they stood the group could see what appeared to be people a few feet away from them. However, Estelle, after thoroughly looking them over, knew they weren't human. And Rick and the others were figuring that out too.

"Shit." Rick reached for his walkie talkie. "Amanda, we have hostiles up ahead."

Estelle picked up on the urgency in his tone of voice and it did nothing to ease her nerves. She had no idea what Waller's response was, but whatever it had been it had Rick standing up straighter.

"Copy that." The Colonel said before looking over to GQ Edwards. "We're diverting. Bump out the second squad two blocks east. We'll pass through you, continue north."

GQ Edwards nodded his head. He began repeating those same directions into his own walkie talkie for the rest of his men to follow. After doing that, he nervously glanced at the Colonel.

"Rick, why do they look like that?"

"Just stay cool." Rick replied stiffly.

"The hell are they?" Deadshot asked, coming to stand next to Estelle. She wasn't bothered by his presence but she saw the way Katana looked at him, untrustworthy. Estelle knew this was because of how close he was getting to Rick. But once again, Estelle doubted Deadshot would try anything...and if he did well...she'd do what she was assigned to do.

But attacking Rick was from what Deadshot wanted to do at the moment. The twenty-one year old could see the red eye device he had on. It was aimed towards where those things were at. She unfortunately couldn't answer and she made that known by shrugging her shoulders. Deadshot got that and narrowed his eyes at the Colonel. "Well?" He asked, more impatient this time.

Rick didn't look anywhere near him. His focus was on the creatures and his gun was pointed right at them. "You cut and run, I'll blow your head off." He gruffly warned the hitman. His voice lowered with what he said next. His words were more for Estelle than the others. "Get ready."

Estelle didn't ask to get ready for what. She knew the second those creatures started growling and running towards them. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the warmth reach her hands. She raised both her hands and let out a powerful blast. The bright blue light hit an oncoming creature, destroying it.

From behind her, Estelle could have sworn she heard Harley laughing but she paid no mind. This was no time for laughing.

It was now life or death, and she wasn't about to give up so easily. She also wasn't about to let Rick get hurt. Estelle had to keep telling herself that as those things attacked, because they were just things. They weren't human. They were a danger, and they needed to be stopped.

The soldiers who were up front were shooting at them. Rick included. Estelle saw that Katana wasn't struggling in the slightest either. She was skillfully using her samurai sword, cutting the creatures easily as if they were made out of butter. The metahuman was amazed by that.

Such a badass.

Her wonderment for Katana was cut short when another creature ran in her direction. Estelle easily blasted it away but before she could rejoice she felt something grab at her leg. The grip made her fall face front to the ground. She quickly turned around and looked up only to see that it had been one of the creatures that had done that. Instead of panicking, Estelle just growled because she did not like being in that kind of position. She had no idea whether this creature was male or female, but whatever the gender, she wasn't about to just take it. Raising her right hand, Estelle used her powers to throw a fully charged blast right in the middle of its chest.

The creature fell on top of her with a hole now in the middle. Huffing, Estelle then threw it to the side. She easily got back up and a gleeful voice caught her attention.

"Nice one, Stella!"

Harley wasn't that far away from her now. The platinum blonde was brightly grinning at her. Estelle saw that she was holding her own gun. The black and gold revolver that had Love and Hate on it. Estelle could only stare at her with slightly wide eyes as Harley went on to easily shoot a creature right in the face. The grin remained on Harley's face the whole time.

The platinum blonde was so into the kill that she failed to notice another creature that was making its way over to her. Estelle noticed though, and she once again raised both of her hands. The warmth returned ten times, and the bright blue light was even more radiant.

"Harls, duck!"

Thankfully Harley listened to her. Estelle was able to hit the creature right on the head, completely taking it off. It fell to the ground with a loud thud that both females were able to hear despite the guns that were going off around them.

When Harley fixed her posture, her gazing went to Estelle.

"What?" Estelle yelled out once noticing the heart eyes Harley was giving her.

"You called me Harls." The platinum blonde said dreamily. "And you blasted a head off for me." How romantic was that? Harley was over the moon. Estelle sure didn't think of it that way.

"Spur of the moment." Estelle lamely excused. She made no comment about the head blasting.

Harley wasn't having any of that. "You gave me a nickname!" She squealed.

Estelle wanted to roll her eyes. "Shut up and fight!" She grumbled to her just as she blasted another creature running her way. They needed to focus rather than converse.

Harley playfully bit her lip and then started using her baseball bat this time to hit at whatever creature she was able to target. Estelle blasting the creature's head off kept playing like a movie. It made her giggle as she fought.

Having the spare moment to check her surroundings, Estelle tried finding Rick. To her relief the Colonel was doing fine at the moment without either Katana or her by his side. The rest of the squad seemed to be doing fine as well. And by the rest of the squad she meant Harley, Deadshot, and Waylon. They were really into the fighting.

After blasting another creature away, Estelle finally noticed El Diablo. The metahuman with the fire abilities was on the sidelines, just watching the battle with a grim expression. Estelle would have found this odd but she knew of the heavy regret he carried about his old violent ways. Besides, he had made it abundantly clear that he in no way wanted to be a part of this squad...he was just forced into it.

Although he wasn't fighting she still made sure to keep an eye out for him, in case any of those things went towards him. Even though he had his own way of protecting himself with his fire abilities, Estelle would help him out if needed.

As for Captain Boomerang...that's when Estelle stepped on something soft. Looking down she saw that it was a pink unicorn. Even with what was going on, she was able to feel brief amusement as she thought of only one person who that unicorn could belong to. Her gaze wandered until she finally spotted him.

The Aussie was pulling out a boomerang from a creature's neck. Clearly he had a handle of things too. Had he yet to notice that he lost his precious stuffed animal? He was about to.

"Hey, Boomer!" Estelle shouted. The Aussie looked at her with a frown at the choice of nickname. "This yours?" She showed the pink unicorn.

The frown on his face immediately went away. A relieved smile replaced it instead. "Pinky!"

Estelle had to stifle her laugh. Figures he would call it that. She definitely would tell Barry that bit of information the next time they'd talk over the phone. She could already picture him rolling on the floor from laughter. Because when Barry laughed, oh damn, did he laugh. Estelle threw the unicorn and Captain Boomerang easily caught it. He was so busy smiling at his precious belongings that he failed to see Estelle's amusement. When he did look at her again she had a serious expression.

"You're welcome." Estelle stressed out. She then focused her attention elsewhere. Captain Boomerang was left muttering, sulking that the blue eyed Sheila had actually seen and given back his Pinky. He took out the embarrassment he felt on a creature, stabbing it with one of his sharp boomerangs.

"Get off me!"

Estelle's ears perked, having recognized that gruff voice. It was Rick and he sounded distressed. When locking eyes on his form she could understand why that was. A bunch of those creatures had outnumbered him. She saw how they got him on the ground, now dragging him away from the others.

"Get off me you son of a bitch!"

"Flag!" GQ Edwards shouted. He was much too far away to go to his side.

Estelle's eyes widened. She started looking for Katana hoping she could help but the Asian woman was handling her own group of creatures. It was all up to Estelle, and she sure was going to try her best. Her hands started to warm up and her eyes hardened with determination. She took off in the direction Rick was being dragged off.

Harley saw this but she was too busy finding joy in the Colonel's struggle. Her eyes gleamed. She gave Deadshot a wide grin. "Good riddance."

Deadshot apparently needed to remind her of something important. Yes, he and the others wanted out but there was a proper way of doing things. Rick dying certainly would result in his and the rest of the squad's deaths. "Harley! He dies, we die!"

Harley groaned. Damn it. He had a point there. She ran to where Rick was being dragged, noticing that Estelle was taking down a few of the creatures with her blasts. One of Rick's men, GQ Edwards, who had now managed to catch up, was shooting at the others. Harley used her baseball bat to take down the ones that remained.

Rick was able to catch his breath once all the creatures that had been dragging him were dead. Estelle was about to offer her hand to Rick when the platinum blonde beat her to it. Estelle and Rick were both shocked but he accepted her hand.

"Thanks." Rick gruffly told Harley. He hadn't made eye contact with her.

Harley didn't fail to notice the hint of sheepishness in his voice. She rolled her eyes. "Shut up." She snapped at him and then went back to fighting mode.

Estelle and Rick weren't able to say much to each other because more creatures were starting to surround the group. The Colonel gave GQ Edwards a sharp nod and then the younger man took off. Estelle this time stood by Rick, blasting away any of the wretched things that got close to them.

As the minutes went by, Estelle began to notice less and less of those creatures. And she soon figured out why.

Deadshot had taken the initiative to stand on one of the wrecked cars, and started shooting where the creatures were coming from. At first the other soldiers were firing their guns too but they stopped when they noticed that Deadshot was killing the creatures and not just damaging them. The man never missed a single shot. He never once reloaded his weapons, or even asked for backup. He took on those creatures all by himself...and he was the one who ended the fight.

When the last of the creatures was killed, Deadshot jumped off the car. He didn't miss the shocked and impressed faces Rick's men wore when passing by them. And when passing by the Colonel, Deadshot presented him with a tight smile.

"That's how I cut and run."

Rick remained quiet, but the words he had told Deadshot not that long ago left him feeling crummy. When Deadshot passed Estelle, the twenty-one year old had the smallest of smiles. No matter the size, the smile showed the awe she felt.

The group all then went towards the middle of the street. They needed a moment to get things together after what just happened. Of course silence really should have been the last thing Rick would get when dealing with a group of criminals. Harley was already causing a ruckus.

"Hey, come on." Deadshot waved at Harley. She had been hitting one of the creatures that had a missing head, and was clearly dead. She liked to think it was the one Estelle had blasted off for her.

Harley pouted. "What? I saw it move." She kicked at it. "See? It flinched. I think." In truth she hadn't seen it move, but better safe than sorry.

"Hey, you were some help, princess." Captain Boomerang suddenly said, getting in El Diablo's face. Estelle paid close attention to the interaction. "The blue eyed Sheila here did more damage than you."

From the side, Estelle threw him a glare that he hadn't noticed.

El Diablo didn't show any sign that he was bothered. "It's better this way." He raised his hands showing just a bit of his fire powers.

Captain Boomerang watched as the fire faded from midair. He made an impressed sound that Estelle knew was fake. Of course he was going to be a jerk about this. "Oh, yeah, you're the fire bloke, eh?"

"I was, yeah." El Diablo quietly confirmed.

"Right, yeah. Hey." Captain Boomerang took out his lighter. "Well, looky here." He showed the fire that appeared on the tip of the lighter. "Whoo, it's fire!"

Estelle stepped in, no longer able to handle Captain Boomerang mocking him. "Leave him alone." She felt El Diablo's stare on her and she locked eyes with him before he averted his gaze. It almost appeared like he was ashamed.

Captain Boomerang smirked at her. "So the little Sheila is here sticking up for the bloke who doesn't have the pair to fight. That's precious."

Estelle smiled at him, but it was nowhere near friendly. "I'm the Sheila who's going to blast your ass off." She lowered her voice so that only he could hear the last part. "And then take your precious Pinky. So I'd stop being such an asshole to him."

Captain Boomerang glared and gulped at her last threat. "Pesky metahumans." He muttered and then went on to examine one of the dead creatures when something shiny caught his attention. Estelle was fine with that, glad that he was no longer causing El Diablo trouble. Who knew threatening to take a stuffed unicorn would actually work. Apparently it did with those who had a unicorn fetish.

This time when Estelle locked eyes with El Diablo again he didn't look away. He instead just gave her a subtle head nod. She returned it and then went to stand where Rick was. That's when GQ Edwards made his way towards them.

"The brief said terrorist." GQ Edwards said with a frown. Estelle knew he was talking to Rick because aside from Waller, he was one who was in charge out in the field. "You wanna start explaining this?"

"If I told you, would you believe me?" Rick fired back.

Harley looked at the dead creature that was on the ground with furrowed eyebrows. "What are they?"

"I don't know." Rick answered sternly.

"That's bullshit." Deadshot protested. He looked down at one of the creatures that was near him. "Thing has a three thousand dollar watch."

On closer inspection, Estelle realized that Deadshot was right. That thing did have a watch on. She doubted an alien creature, if it was even alien, would wear watches like humans. Wanting to know herself she searched for another dead one. When she found one, Estelle carefully looked around for anything that would resemble human qualities. If it weren't for her thorough eyes she would have missed the cigarette pack that stuck out in what she assumed were jeans. No, they were jeans.

Holy shit.

Estelle's voice was low but steady. "This one has cigarettes on them." She got the need to have a cigarette just from the realization that she had been killing people. Only they weren't exactly people anymore were they? They looked out of this world and when attacking she heard them speak in what she thought was gibberish but what must have been their language.

But if they were human why did they look like that? What turned them to be that way?

She felt agitated. And in the past whenever she was agitated she smoked. But she had stopped that for Lilly. Only Lilly wasn't here...and oh dear. What would her little sister think of all this madness?

Estelle closed her eyes, trying to get a hold of herself.

"Are these people?" Deadshot asked Rick as he now invaded his space.

Rick's stare on Deadshot didn't waver. "It was." He simply told him. "Now it's not." From the side he saw how Captain Boomerang was checking out the watching Deadshot pointed out. "Hey, don't!" The Colonel yelled at the Aussie.

Captain Boomerang didn't back down. "What?"

"We got a job to do." Rick reminded him with a scowl.

Killer Croc made his appearance known by growling from the side.

Rick would never admit it but at that very moment he felt absolute fear towards Killer Croc. He did his best in not showing that fear. "We're moving." He announced, and then looked Deadshot right in the eye. "Get your boys moving."

When he noticed that Estelle wasn't by his side he looked back. The blue eyed metahuman was still near the dead body of the creature she had been examining.

Rick raised a brow. "Estelle?"

"This was a person." Estelle started speaking, fast, and emotional. "An actual person. A human being." Any composure she had was leaving her. Fighting monsters was one thing...but to kill a person, even if they weren't that same person anymore...it still left an uneasy feeling within Estelle.

Rick sighed. "Estelle." He really didn't want her feeling guilty. The way he saw it, she did what she had to do. She fought back. If she hadn't she'd either be hurt or dead, and he didn't want that.

The twenty-one year old kept talking. Her voice was distraught, guilt slipped through. "Did you know all this time they were people? I mean, you could have told me before if you did. I blasted them like they were nothing. I took one's head off. I have a right to know who exactly I'm fighting against. I"

Rick raised his voice at her. The same way he had with Harley and Deadshot. "Carter, that's enough! You're here as backup, so you do as I say!" He got a hold of himself, suddenly aware of what he had done. He clenched his jaw, lowering his eyes. He started to feel bad but it wasn't like he could just show that with the others around. Instead he just avoided her gaze. "Move out, now. "

The Colonel said nothing else, just walked away.

Estelle stood still, Rick's raised voice shocked her. The rest of the squad members noticed this. Deadshot glared at the Colonel's retreating form, whereas Waylon growled before stomping off. El Diablo just shook his head, feeling bad even though the yelling hadn't been directed at him. He just didn't like having to hear the metahuman, who had stood up to him, get reprimanded at something she clearly had no knowledge of.

Katana lingered back, her dark eyes less intense, until she couldn't anymore. Not even Captain Boomerang made a witty remark to what just happened.

And Harley...well, Harley paid close attention to Stella who appeared to be far away in a memory based on the cloudiness in her blue eyes.

"Are you just going to give up? Carter, real life isn't like that. Once you're down, you're dead. Get up and fight. Fight like your life depends on it...because one day you just might have too."

Estelle's father's rough voice echoed. She felt her throat go dry from hearing Rick call her by her last name. They originally were supposed to use last names only but it hadn't stuck. Until now it seemed. And it wasn't until now that Estelle realized that it struck a nerve. Just the way Rick sounded was exactly like her father whenever he was mad or disappointed in her. Her last name was often thrown around when she messed up during her training and it always made her feel incompetent. Like right now.

Her questioning rattled Rick and it made him snap at her the way her father would at times. She felt like a small vulnerable child again...and she didn't like that. Yes, she had a right to know just who she was fighting...but she should have asked when they weren't near the squad members. She started walking again, this time near the back. Katana was with Rick in the front. She was too embarrassed to walk over to him. She hated that she felt this way, and she hoped the feeling would go away soon.

"So you got reprimanded by Mr. No fun Colonel." Harley chirped walking alongside her now. "Welcome to the club."

"It's not a big deal." Estelle tried to play it off.

"Aw, but it is." Harley cooed. "I can see how hurt you are in those pretty blue eyes of yours."

"I should have just kept quiet." Estelle said, more to herself than Harley. "It wasn't the place to ask questions. Not when the others were there."

Harley raised an eyebrow to that. She really was making excuses. But why would...then everything clicked. The platinum blonde let out a sigh as she shook her head in a mock disproving way. "Oh, Stella. I should have seen this earlier. No wonder you're so attached to Flag."

Estelle almost stopped walking. Instead she kept up with her pace and threw the platinum blonde a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

Harley giggled lowly. "You have daddy issues." She flat out told her, causing Estelle to give her a wide eyed look.

"Excuse me?"

The Queen of Gotham shrugged her shoulders. "You heard me. You my darling Stella have daddy issues."

"I do not." Estelle instantly denied it. "Why do you even say that?"

"It's pretty obvious now that everything's clicked." Harley replied in an upbeat tone. "You want someone to follow, to look up to, and to give you appraisal when deserved. And when they don't you get all sad and start to feel like a failure. Like are you...right now. Just like a little girl would when daddy yells at them for sticking their hand in the cookie jar."

"I am not sad. And I don't feel like a failure." Estelle said through her teeth. What Harley was saying was getting to her.

"Fine, then just upset." Harley substituted carelessly.

"That's simply not the truth." Estelle shook her head. "I've known people with daddy issues, okay? And from knowing them I can safely say that I don't relate."

Her ex-girlfriend Jasmine came to mind. If Harley wanted to talk about daddy issues, then Estelle could go on and on about Jasmine's...but she wasn't about to do that. Just because Jasmine and her weren't together anymore that didn't mean Estelle was going to go share personal information about her. She didn't talk behind people's backs. Not when it came to those she cared for, not even exes.

Harley plastered an intrigued expression after she heard Estelle's ramble. "Is that so?" This was just getting more amusing for her.

Estelle nodded her head. "Yeah, and you want to know why? Because I think when it comes to daddy issues there are two different kinds." She began telling her own thoughts in a steady voice. "The one where the girl is emotionally dependent on a man." She gave Harley a knowing look before averting her gaze. "And the one where the girl is emotionally distant from a man." She cleared her throat, feeling weird with that last sentence. "Either way the trauma is there."

Harley hummed, twirling her bat. "And where do you stand?"

Estelle scoffed at how she was remaining persistent. "Like I told you already, I don't have any daddy issues."

"Hmm, I still say otherwise." Harley winked at her.

"Well, you're still wrong." Estelle vehemently denied. "No surprise there."

"Am I though?" Harley smirked. "Am I really?" When Estelle refused to answer she went on with her teasing. "My professional guess is that your daddy dearest was a lot like our dear Colonel over there." She gestured to where Rick was walking with her baseball bat. "So that would explain why you're attached to him. You see him as the father figure you no longer have."

What the Queen of Gotham said astounded Estelle. She opened her mouth and then closed it, like a fish trying to breathe out of water. "What? No! II do not!"

Her stammering had Harley giggling. "So your father wasn't like him?"

"Well..." Estelle sighed. "He was authoritative but he had his reasons. And I am not attached to Rick in that way. I'm here as backup. Same as Katana."

Harley scrunched up her nose at the mention of the other woman. "Oh, Stella. It's so obvious she has daddy issues too."

"How can you possibly know that?" Estelle asked frowning.

Harley winked at her. "I'm a psychiatrist, remember?"

"No, you were." Estelle rebuked in a surprisingly soft tone. "You were a psychiatrist before..." She trailed off, not able to finish that sentence.

As much as it bothered her, Harley wasn't fully able to shake off that comment. She felt a pang from thinking about her past self. "Before I found my Puddin'?" She took a pause, wanting it to be for dramatics but in reality it was to get a hold of herself. She presented her usual playful attitude. "He helped me see the world in a different way. Maybe he'll do the same for you."

"He showed you his view of the world." Estelle solemnly told her. "But it's not the only one."

"Stella, are you trying to be deep with me?" Harley giggled. She batted her eyelashes flirtatiously. "Cause if you are, that's super hot."

Estelle had to fight herself from thinking that Harley batting her eyelashes was cute. She wasn't cute...nope. Okay...maybe a little...or a lot. Estelle reminded herself that they were having a conversation, otherwise she'd be lost in the platinum blonde's features.

"You're saying I have daddy issues, yet you're the one that has on a Daddy's Little Monster tee." Estelle pointed out with a frown. She was trying to turn the conversation against Harley.

Harley merely waved her off. "I'm not the one in denial." She answered her flippantly. "I wear my issues with a smile." The Queen of Gotham did exactly that as she let out a giggle that made Estelle roll her eyes. "How else do you think I was able to figure you out?"

Estelle scoffed, walking away from her.

Harley followed right behind her. She had daddy issues alright. However, if Harley removed the duck tape she had over her own eyes she'd realize she did too. But that realization would come later.

"Stella."

Estelle released an irritated huff. "What?" She expected Harley to continue bothering her with the daddy issue talk...but instead she surprised her by the soft look she had on. That eased her.

"Those things you killed. They weren't human. At least not anymore." Harley began telling her. "You did them a favor. I mean, if you were transformed into one of those dangerous things would you want to live knowing you'd hurt others?"

Estelle listened to what Harley told her. She found it oddly comforting. If for some she had turned into one of those things she wouldn't have wanted to live knowing she was going to cause harm to others. Perhaps it was bad that she was listening to the soothing words of the Queen of Gotham herself, a known criminal, but Estelle accepted what she was saying.

"I guess you have a point there." Estelle agreed with a nod.

Harley returned to her joyful self again. "Of course I have a point." She smiled widely. "Oh, and thanks. For saving me. If it weren't for you that creature would have probably killed me."

"You're welcome." Estelle quietly replied. She gasped when Harley suddenly leaned and pressed her lips on the corner of her mouth. She lingered there, purposely, and then let out a loud muah when she pulled away.

Harley giggled at Estelle's flustered face. "My hero." She sweetly told her and then practically skipped ahead.

Estelle stood there with her heart racing, feeling the warmth in her hands briefly returning.