A/N Thank you all for reviewing!
I'm so sorry for being so late with this. I suck, I know. The thing is, i'm into so many fandoms that sometimes I fall down a rabbit hole into one and that kinda becomes my focus.
Does that happen to just me or anyone else? Let me know!
Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!
"CLEAR!"
Harley crooned as she stepped onto the stair landing, dust circling around her."Do it again, do it again!"
The soldiers rushed passed her, guns raised in the air as they looked up then down, ready to shoot whatever opposed them. Some made their way ahead of them, shouting back to Flag to tell him to follow while some stayed behind to work with their leader.
"Clear!"
Flag walked ahead, motioning to the others to follow and he moved to trail behind them. Killer Croc, El Diablo, who were most moderate of the group—and that was saying something—were reluctant but did move up the stairs quickly enough. Boomerang was the complete opposite; he was far to occupied in taking as long as he could.
Harley was happily skipping up the stairs, eyes fixed on Katana who'd she's been taunting the entire way. The female clown laughed happily to herself before, suddenly, she became fascinated by the spiral of staircases below.
Flag rolled his eyes, about to demand that she carry on up the stair case only to notice that two members were missing.
The soldier sighed, shutting his eyes briefly, suddenly sympathetic toward kindergarten teachers before he turned around. Just as he'd expected, Katherine and Deadshot were just entering the flight of stairs through the large hole in the wall and were taking their time in ambling to the staircase.
While they were speaking, they weren't engrossed in conversation. Instead, it looked like the hitman was going at the pregnant woman's pace.
"Hey, princess!"Flag called back, backing up against the wall to let others pass, narrowing his eyes at Katherine."Stop dawdling and hurry!"
"Oh, i'm sorry, is my being pregnant an inconvenience for you?"Katherine asked, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ears, glowering at Flag."Huh?"
Flag paused, meeting her gaze before he simply nodded."Uh, yeah."
Katherine paused, arching an eyebrow at the soldier and her fingers slowly brushed her gun holster. But, as if he'd been watching her, Deadshot's hand covered her own, and he set it back to her side.
"Hey."The hitman shook his head, glancing up at Flag with a bitter smile before he looked back to Katherine."I'm all for using his face as target practice, kitten, but now ain't the time, all right?"
She stared at Deadshot for a moment before mumbling in agreement. Katherine raised both eyebrows and huffed out a long, irritated breath. She paused for a long moment, eyes narrowed, and she glared at Flag for so long that it was obvious she was imagining his death.
Katherine then gave a nod and a bright smile, nodding."All right."
"Go easy on the girl, mate, ay? Her guy turned out to be a rat, left her knocked up and, to make things even more, shittier she's stuck with you."Boomerang gave a hearty laugh, leaning against the wall, baring his teeth at Flag."Isn't that punishment enough for the poor girl?"
"What he said."Katherine said with an almost complacent grin before her dark gaze pinned Boomerang."Only much more...tactful."
Boomerang gave a shit eating grin when Katherine loured at him."Asshole."
"Just calling it as I see it, darlin'."
Boomerang's voice held no malice; he was merely a smug, witty pain in the ass. He chuckled when Katherine attempted to catch him but, given her bump, her threatening walk was now a waddle. But his laughter soon died out when Deadshot raised his hand, his gun pointing at Boomerang.
"Shut up, pinky, or i'll shoot you."
"Okay, okay, i'm going."Boomerang held up his hands and took a step up, wiggling his fingers with a chuckle."Protective, are we?"
Boomerang's laughter returned as he turned and began to make his way up the stairs. Flag rolled his eyes at the other man before he looked back to Katherine, beckoning her with his fingers, snapping them then pointing up the stairs.
"Hurry up."
"Leave Kitty Kat alone, ya meanie."Harley sing songed, leaning over Flag's shoulder, chewing her gum annoyingly loud before she poked his cheek with a giggle."BOOP!"
A snort came from Boomerang when he saw the outrage in Flag's eyes, holding his hands up again when the soldier glowered at him. His annoyance only grew when Katherine laughed, followed by Deadshot's chuckle which he, unlike anyone else, attempted to hide. Flag didn't say anything else, but he did scowl at Deadshot, Harley and Katherine, tightening his grip on his weapons as he turned and jogged up the stairs.
"Let's go before he bitches again."
Katherine nodded in agreement, letting out a long sigh and she fell into step beside Deadshot, behind Harley and started up the stairs. But, all of a sudden, Katherine felt a weird sensation surge through her and she suddenly couldn't breathe.
"Uh..."
And then the flights of stairs started to spin, spin, spin.
"Oh, no."
Vision blurry, Katherine swore she saw two Harley's turn and bounce down the stairs. Her friend's heels clicked with each step, the sound helping Katherine from falling into darkness.
"Kitty Kat? Why lookin' so green?"Harley asked, a hint of concern in her voice, head cocked."Huh?"
Katherine shook her head, blinking rapidly."I-I'm, uh, i'm all good. I just need-"
Katherine suddenly forgot how to speak, and she found herself falling backwards. She attempted to reach out and hold onto anything to stop herself, but it didn't work.
"KAT!"
"Hey, hey. Kitten?"
Unable to hold onto anything, she braced herself for falling, arms enveloping her bump. Seconds passed, and instead of her back hitting the ground, she felt a strong pair of hands grabbing her forearms, and she was pulled back against a chest.
"You all right?"Deadshot steadied Katherine, snapping his fingers in front of her face when she looked to be dazed."Hey, hey, take it slow."You're what? Six months?"
Katherine inhaled a long breath, brushing back her dark locks as she nodded.
"Yeah, i'm meant to be sitting on my ass, eating chocolate and complaining about how i'm this close to being unable to see my feet."
"You ain't supposed to be doing anything, let alone climbing a shit load of stairs, fighting whatever the fuck those things were and saving the world."
Deadshot shook his head at Katherine's flushed cheeks and dazed eyes."You're stressing yourself."
"Yeah, and i got a thing in my neck that can blow me up, what am i meant to do?"
"C'mon."Deadshot bent his knees and, without even offering, he picked Katherine up with ease."You'll work yourself dead."
Katherine's brown furrowed in puzzlement, giving Deadshot a confused look.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm a killer, kitten, don't mean I ain't no gentleman. Can't have a date with a dead girl, can I?"Deadshot gave an almost smug smile and followed Harley up the staircase, expression turning almost playful."Besides, this has gotta get me somewhere on our date. I'm thinking hand on ass-"
Katherine's laugh cut him off and she high-fived herself."Oh, look who's saying date now!"
"Oh, ain't you two cute?"Harley gushed with a giggle, and she clapped her hands before pressing her lips to her fingers and pressing it to her 'Puddin' collar."Not as cute as me and Puddin' though."
Harley poked Katherine's cheek as she did Flag's and grabbed her hand, snapping her teeth at Katherine's mouth tattoo. Deadshot looked down at the tattoo with a curious look, remembering hearing Harley mentioning the matching tattoo Katherine had gotten with The Joker during her many blissful rants about her precious Puddin'.
Deadshot waited until Harley turned back around before he cleared his throat, nodding down at the tattoo.
"You, uh, love your 'Uncle J', do ya?"
Katherine gave him an almost puzzled look, as if surprised it had been asked before she nodded. A smile curved at her lips and she kicked her feet happily with a laugh.
"Here we go. That's my girl."The Joker cackled to himself as he placed the tiara on Katherine's head before tapping her cheek almost fondly."A princess deserves the best of the best, right?"
"He's my Uncle J. I'd go to bat for him, so would my dad and he'll come for us."Katherine covered her mouth with her hand, the matching mouth tattoo she shared with The Joker showing and she mimicked his cackle before erupting into laughter."Ain't that right, Harls?"
Harley nodded so fiercely that her pigtails swiped at Flag who's glare returned.
"He's got his purple Lamborghini lurkin', waitin' for a quick getaway when he comes for us."Harley called back with a loud cackle, reaching back to meet Katherine's high five with a wink."Just you wait."
"Yeah, i'm sure he will."Flag muttered as he sent Harley a scowl, eyes narrowed before he jogged up the stairs ahead of the group, mumbling."Anti-social freaks."
"He keeps looking at Harley like that and Uncle J is gonna gouge out his eyeballs."Katherine muttered with an annoyed smile, glaring at Flag's back."And if he keeps barking orders at me like the little bitch he is, I'm gonna kill him before Uncle J gets the chance to reach him."
"Not right now you ain't, kitten."Deadshot replied as he, without problem, made his way up the stairs behind Harley and Boomerang."We all got people we want to get home to."
"We do what we gotta do, get this shit out of our necks and go home."Deadshot nodded down at her bump which she, as usual, had a protective arm over."Then we find soldier boy and shoot his brains out. You understand me?"
"Yes, sir."Katherine nodded, saluting Deadshot before she quietly added."Who are you trying to get home to?"
"What?"
"Oh, come on."Katherine looked almost offended, arching an eyebrow at the hitman and swatting his shoulder."Your little speech there tells me ya got a weakness. I know weaknesses, and I know body language."
"What's your weakness? I won't tell anyone."Katherine feigned locking her lips and tossing away the key, her voice dropping to a whisper as the hitman looked away."You know mine."
"I do, don't I?"
"Honour and loyalty among thieves, right? You got my back and, if you tell me your thing, maybe I can have your back, too."
Deadshot narrowed his eyes as he studied the pregnant woman, repeating what she'd said to him earlier."You mean my ass?"
Katherine shrugged, not denying his playful claim."Gotta have some fun if we're stuck doing this, right?"
Katherine leant closer as Deadshot remained silent and straight-faced, fingertip brushing underneath his chin.
"Tell me."
The hitman looked down at her finger touching her chin, and he made a scene of letting out a long sigh, shaking his head. He knew Katherine was anything but a rat; he'd heard of that even before they were all placed together. Nobody survived if they were known to be a snitch, it wasn't the way to get to the top. Everyone knew Katherine Frost. Mob daughter, The Joker's most loyal myrmidon alongside her father and a stickler for loyalty.
The hitman cleared slowed his pace, waiting for the rest of the group to climb a few steps before he spoke.
"My, uh, my daughter."
He studied the young woman, half expecting her to be startled given the fact he hadn't mentioned his daughter and because he seemed to know more about her than she did him despite knowing one another less than a day. Instead of reacting how Deadshot expected, Katherine straightened in his embrace, a long, curious hum leaving her as she observed the hitman.
"Oh, so the big bad hitman is a daddy? Guess it proves not to judge a book by its cover, huh?"
Deadshot didn't speak much about his daughter. He adored her more than he thought he'd adore anyone and he didn't speak of her because it showed weakness and showing weakness meant he or Zoe would become a target. Showing weakness meant the fear went away and if he wasn't feared, he had nothing to himself on which meant his daughter couldn't have the life she deserved and Deadshot wouldn't have nothing to his name.
"So you're a...what do they call it?"Katherine pondered for a long moment before she snapped her fingers, extending her index one in Deadshot's direction."You're a DILF?"
"I am?"
"Uh-huh."Katherine nodded, a playful flicker in her eyes, giggling to herself as the hitman laughed before she tapped his many guns."And the body count doesn't hurt."
"You're freaky."Deadshot replied, a comment that only made Katherine's smile broaden, her eyes vibrant and he gave a small laugh with a shake of his head."My kind of girl."
Katherine rolled her eyes, turning her head with a breathy laugh before she swallowed, teeth toying with her bottom lip. The young woman turned back a moment later, gaze settling on her bump with a fond smile and she gently touched her bump, eyes warm as she met Deadshot's gaze once more.
She hugged her bump protectively as she quietly asked."What's her name?"
"Zoe."Deadshot proudly stated, reaching into his pocket and pulled out a worn out picture of his princess, a small smile appearing on his face when he looked down at it before he presented it to Katherine."There she is. She in the double numbers now."
The hitman cleared his throat as he stared at the picture of his daughter, determined not to show any emotion because it was a weakness. Inside, though, the hitman felt nothing but adoration as he thought of Zoe.
"I know you do bad things. But, don't worry, I still love you."
She was a lot younger in the picture, arms wrapped around a teddy and curled into Deadshot's side. The teddy, her most beloved possession was a present her father had brought home for her. Last time he saw her which seemed forever to him, she still curled up with the teddy at night. It had been nine months since he'd last seen his daughter and he still hoped she adored the teddy as much as she used to.
It was like part of him was still with her, and that was what kept him going. His little girl kept him going through the isolation, the beatings and the long days.
"She's adorable."Katherine awed over the dimpled smile, unable to stop her own smile before she looked down at Deadshot."Daddy's little girl?"
"Was."Deadshot replied, looking anywhere but Katherine as he spoke, voice impassive."Until Batman came along and fucked it all up. She don't write or nothing."
He didn't sound bitter; he appeared almost pissed off. At himself. Even though it was a glimmer in his eyes, a glimmer that lasted less than a second, Katherine witnessed a rare moment of tenderness.
The hitman's eyes widened when Katherine hit his cheek with a shake of her head."What was that for?"
"Don't be so fucking stupid."Katherine rolled her eyes, nudging the hitman with a long sigh."I'm done with stupid guys; I don't need that shit."
"She loves you. This here..."Katherine pointed to Zoe who was smiling up at her father, eyes vibrant."this is a face of a little girl who adores her daddy unconditionally."
"Yeah?"Deadshot raised his eyebrows, cocking his head with a hesitant look that he attempted to hide."And when did you get so smart in this shit?"
Katherine gave a ghost of a smile, eyes shutting for a moment as a memory of a young child dancing around wearing a princess dress flashed in her mind.
"I'm a princess!"
"That's what you are!"Frost gave a small laugh and nodded, hugging his daughter to him with a large smile."My little princess."
Katherine smiled at the memory of her father, a quiet giggle leaving her as she touched her stomach only to feel a light but strong kick back. It was something she hadn't shared with anyone because it was a bond between mother and child she wanted to keep to herself.
A feeling of warmth surged through her, a feeling that she knew her father felt whenever he looked at her. That was how Katherine knew that even the 'worst' of people, not all, could have a hint of warmth inside of them.
She also knew unconditional love.
Katherine looked at her father the way Zoe did in the picture, and she knew, without a doubt, that kind of love didn't fade.
The pregnant woman then turned and faced Deadshot, patting his cheek in an almost reassuringly manner, shaking her head with an almost offended but playful look.
"One thing you should know about me, honey, is that i'm rarely wrong."
"We're waiting, Criss Cross!"
The Joker cackled at the nickname, tapping his foot against the helicopter's metal floor. His bright purple shoes, a present from Harley, made him croon for a moment before his head snapped back up, eyes zeroing in on the man.
He drummed his fingers against his cane, making Van Criss swallow."I'm working on it, sir."
The Joker straightened, a snarl ripping from him that made the man's eyes widen in panic. He cocked his head, eyeing the doctor with a blank look.
"You wouldn't lie to me, would you?"The Joker asked, leaning closer to Van Criss, smile appearing, as if he could smell his fear."What we're collecting is very precious. Harley-girl doesn't like being away from me for too long, and i've put too much work into her. My girls need to come home. You understand, don't you?"
Van Criss gave a panicked nod."O-Of course, sir."
"Good."He then glanced down at a sitting Frost before patting his shoulder."Let's not forget that our tot is having a tot. You wouldn't want to break a father's heart, would you?"
Van Criss looked to Frost, shaking his head wildly. Joker's right-hand, man said nothing but his blank, deadly stare said everything he wasn't. If Criss took one step out of line and let the girls die, he would pay in ways his mind couldn't imagine.
Van Criss then looked down to the helicopter floor, his eyes wide once more as he took in the carnage that had taken place. It was covered with dead bodies of soldiers some with slit throats and some with bullets embedded in them. The Joker had taken them out without much work. The Joker had taken out trained killers which meant he could take out Van Criss who had nothing to offer in combat.
A cackle broke Criss from his thoughts, and he looked up at Joker.
The Clown Prince stood over him, slicking back his hair when the wind blew it free."I know, I know, littering is a problem. Forgive me."
"Let me, ah, let me get rid of that."The Joker gave an almost sheepish smile as he casually kicked bodies out of the helicopter without a care in the world."See? Helping the world."
Van Criss forced a smile, nodding. He was stuck with a madman.
Van raised his head when Joker patted his shoulder, making him flinch.
"How are we getting along?"
"E-Everything is working, sir, just as I said."He firmly said, noticing Joker's dark eyes as he sat back down next to Frost."But I need to be closer to isolate their specific signal. C-Can you do that?"
He kept The Joker's gaze as the green haired man stared at him for several long moments. He knew he was telling the truth, Criss knew better than to cross Joker. The Joker was just trying to unease him, and it was working.
It was only when he, unable to keep his gaze, tore his gaze from The Joker's that the man reacted.
"I knew you would be helpful. Didn't I tell ya, Frost? I told ya!"The Joker cackled, slapping his knee and nodded."Anything for my friend!"
The Joker leaned back, catching the attention of his henchmen. Panda Man was in the cockpit, holding a gun to the Pilot's temple.
"Closer. Can ya do that?"
"Yes, yes!"The Pilot nodded with zest, sweat coating his forehead as he glanced at the gun held to him."I can do that!"
The Joker gave a broad grin, clapping his hands as he straightened, giving Criss a nod.
"He can do that."
Thank you all for reading, i hope you liked it!
If you would like to read more of this story, please leave a review.