( Morning | Floyd's Cell Phone Transcript )
Ring...
Ring...
Ring...
Zoe: "Hello...?"
Floyd: "Hey there baby."
Zoe: "D-dad?"
Floyd: "Yeah it's me Zoe... how you doin'?"
Zoe: "Wow it really is you! I'm doing uh... good, just walking to school... is this your new number? ... I thought you spent your one phone call to me earlier this week..."
Floyd: "It's a number that keeps me off the grid Zoe. Don't save it... and yeah... I shouldn't be calling but... I am."
Zoe: "Oh, okay then. You are a rule breaker right? Whatever... heh... I... I'm just glad to hear from you anyway anyhow."
Floyd: "Trust me, I'm gladder to hear from you. It's been a long couple of days..."
Zoe: "Heh,you're not in jail anymore though right?"
Floyd: "Y-yeah... its a little complicated though."
Zoe: "You mean complicated like how you were on the news last night with Joker and Harley Quinn?"
Floyd: "Uh... y-yeah... really complicated."
Zoe: "It looked so cool though. I saw a clip on a cellphone cam on Youtube it had like 10 million hits already. There were all those super heroes and everyone says you saved a lot of lives disarming a bomb?"
Floyd: "Everyone knows now huh?"
Zoe: "Yeah. All my friends were texting me... they were saying how cool Batman was... and his friends... and how you saved the day in the end. They love... Deadshot now. I was so proud. You really disarmed a bomb with Harley Quinn right?"
Floyd: "No big deal... I was just standing next to something and I kicked it on accident. Oops it was a bomb and it shut off all by itself. Totally didn't mean to. I usually run away from bombs Zoe."
Zoe: "Hehehe... Stop joking dad... you've been a hero twice now... I'm so proud of you. You even made... Harley Quinn a hero too right?"
Floyd: "Wow yeah... I guess I did... heh... anyway I love you laughing... it makes my day... Oh hey... promise me one thing okay?"
Zoe: "What?"
Floyd: "I might be doing some heroic things right now. But do not ever and I mean EVER pick up a gun because of me alright?"
Zoe: "Heh, dad... I'll never pick up a gun because of you. I miss you... and guns keep you away from me."
Floyd: "Yeah... that they do. I keep forgetting you're the smartest kid on the planet earth..."
Zoe: "Heh, shush you're being biased. By the way dad... are you doing this stuff... saving the world... and getting into shootouts... so you can get back to me more often?"
Floyd: "..."
Zoe: "Please don't do this. I know you're doing good now but it makes me worry about you a lot. I just want you to be safe so I can see you for the long run."
Floyd: "I... I'm fine. Don't worry about me... just take care of yourself and mom okay?"
Zoe: "Ugh, she fell down again and hurt herself again this morning... she's still drinking a lot. Me and Uncle Lou and I are try our best but..."
Floyd: "This is way too much for a young girl like you to handle."
Zoe: "I'll be fine... if you can save the world? I can handle this... I got your genes right?"
Floyd: "Hah... that's right. Strongest girl I know too... Love you Zoe."
Zoe: "I love you too dad... When can you visit me?"
Floyd: "I'm uh... still workin' on that..."
Zoe: "Well I'm waiting... and it suuucks but I'll do it! Don't risk yourself. I'm a patient girl."
Floyd: "I'm waiting too hun and I wish I was as patient as you... but... uh... Zoe you... concentrate on school work okay? Stay away from boys at school... especially the ones that come to you first."
Zoe: "Um... w-why are you saying that?"
Floyd: "Just trust me okay? Boys your age... they're evil. Don't trust any of em okay? They have bad intentions and are little weasels, just stay away from them like they're the plague."
Zoe: "... Dad... why are you bringing this up? Are you... oh my God... you're watching me aren't you? Where are you?"
Floyd: "Uh, love you baby... see you soon okay? I promise... Bye!"
Zoe: "B-but dad! I-"
CLICK!
- J - H - D -
No matter how cool and smooth you think you are?
Be a parent for one damn day in your life...
You'll become a big bumbling idiot when it comes to their safety.
Yeah, I was watching Zoe above her school on an office tower using my targeting scope like a creepy parent. I just had to see her after last night. Sure... telling her not to mingle with the boys at all was a bit extreme. It's not my fault though! Some lanky lookin' kid with suave hair was giving her that look. I know that flirting 'bad intentions' look boys give trust me.
I gave that same exact look in High School and it worked every time!
Nuh uh, no way, no how... not on my Zoe.
I'm gonna find your name little kid... I'm going to be watching you like a hawk got it?
"Wow you really are stalking your kid... creeper."
That voice made me freeze. I wasn't expecting anyone behind me. And I especially wasn't expecting her behind me.
"Harley... how are you... why... I-"
"Gimme that." Harley suddenly grabbed my targeting computer, like always leaving me speechless, pulling it off my noggin' like it didn't cost a fortune.
"Hey be careful aight?!"
"Calm down Shot... don't have a panic attack. Just gonna see why you use this thing so much." She brushed my worries aside, placing it on clumsily on her face. "Let's see... okay wow cool lots of numbers... what a nerdy little tool you have here. How's this peepin' tom machine work..."
I was still in a bit of shock. Harley Quinn does it to everyone and I'm no different. Somehow she found the strength to follow me. Somehow she escaped Joker's hideout. Somehow she isn't... dead. I guess when it comes to her, you should never be surprised right? ... She really shouldn't be out... but she looked okay... somewhat okay.
"Wow... that's your girl Zoe for sure... she has your eyes. She is a cutie." Harley was learning the targeting computer quick, it was made to be fast and simple. "Thank God she don't have your ears though... she'll break alot of hearts soon enough."
"Hah-hah... funny. And she'll have me breaking boy's skulls if they're not careful."
Harley gasped. "Oh my god is she making out with her boyfriend or somethin'? This is getting a little R rated Shot."
"WHAT?! I told her to not even look at them!" I grabbed at the targeting unit, putting it on a hurry, seeing Zoe just laughing with her group of friends as innocent as can be.
"Gotcha... hahaha..." Harley laughed teasingly, covering her mouth and pointing at me. "You should've seen your face Shot... what a dweeb."
"Not funny. Not funny at all." I breathed a sigh of relief, turning off the 'peepin' tom machine' not amused in the slightest.
"Aw come on... it's so cute... you playin' the protective dad and all. Get that stick outta your ass."
"When you're a parent it ain' playin'." I explained to this young lady. "God I worry for that kid every damn day okay?"
Harley smirked, looking at me almost admirably... even a bit jealously. "Yeah... I'm sure it's a beautiful feelin' right?"
Oh man. I felt bad right there. I sensed it in her body language, that hurt she was feeling. I remembered that showdown with 'Mistah J' for real. The pouring of her heart about a family. About a life that maybe in another reality could be with that clown boy. It was kind of creepy actually... thinking of little Js and Harley's running around with knives in their hands.
Other than that?
I feel ya Harley... I really do.
"It is a beautiful feeling... you're right."
I watched her let out a breath. A breath of despair really.
"Look, you wanting to be a mom...? I get it... and I want to tell you that you're right about wanting it. Ivy was right... it took a lot of guts for you to tell J what you told him. So much respect for that."
"... It was just a pipe dream..." Harley whispered to herself, glassy eyed and all. "Thanks though..."
I patted her on the shoulder, knowing how I felt before I had a child. How empty my life was. Harley only wanted that feeling. That feeling of seeing a part of yourself grow. Loving someone so much that you'd do anything for them. Loving a kid is not like loving a family member. It's not even like a loving a significant other.
It's something... magical really.
Corny as that sounds.
"On a more present note..." I had to get back to business, not knowing what else to do. "Why are you here Harley? You should be back at HQ resting up. Does J even know you're out here?"
"Of course not... geez stop acting like my dad alright?" Harley shook her head annoyed. "Save that for little Zoe over there."
"Do you remember someone shot you just yesterday and threatened you on top of it? ... It's not safe."
"My life is never safe... besides I'm with you right? The best snipah in the world." She countered. "Where can it be more safe?"
"I don't even know how you're even walking right now." I stared her down, still in disbelief. "I saw you get shot bad... seeing you up like this is freakin' me out a bit."
"Heh, sorry I ain't dead... and sorry to disappoint you. But I'm fuckin' fine." Harley blew the hair from her face, leaning against the building barricade. Taking orders wasn't her strong suit. Same with me.
"Don't say that shit." I meant only concern. "You know what I mean..."
"Yeah, I know..." Harley conceded, knowing we were both a bit on edge. She and I looked out to the skyline of Gotham City... all the aftermath of the fire and damage of the night before slowly appearing as the sun rose. It was crazy to believe I was a part of this. It was crazier to think this was Harley's and J's calling card... this was the norm for them.
... I wonder what Harley thought about what she did. I feel a girl that is loving and kind inside this crazy chick... it's there... I saw flashes of it way too many times now. Regardless, I gotta get her back to safety... she's a good one.
"You never answered my question. How and why Harley." I wasn't letting her off the hook. "J's is gonna blow his top when he finds out you're not with him."
"I tailed you after your convo with Flag... you guys talked for awhile." Harley finally started to spill the beans. "Ivy told me you were going to 'bury more friends' so she helped me get out... I was hopin' it wasn't any of our Squad but it looks like it is... I just had to go see them so I stalked you here. I wasn't going to lay there... no way."
Of course Ivy would help her.
Of course those two would always stir up trouble.
It was a big deal for me to sneak into 'enemy territory' to see Boom and Katana. They were alive. That was the good news. But they were in terrible shape... real bad. They were stable but in critical condition. I had to pull some strings to let Rick agree to have me come visit.
Technically I'm on the run from the government... being allied with Joker right?
Harley? She was always America's most wanted...
"Hey, Rick only expects me and he was hesitant about it as is... don't know if we can-"
"I'm goin' and I'm not takin' no for an answer." Her face went from angry to desperate so quickly. "I gotta see em Shot... please. I have to see them... Boom and Kat."
For a girl that got shot in the chest... no matter what they pumped into her for this quick of a recovery? This was a determined girl that didn't take no for an answer. I wasn't going to sway her to listen to me for sure. It was pointless. Harley didn't play that game.
I finally got to look at her as I realized she looked different. Harley was dressed casually, probably for once trying not to draw attention to herself. She was in an all black sweater, a hoodie on with jeans and not an once of makeup. Her hair wasn't pony tailed and she was as all natural as a pasty white girl could be. It was... a strange look for her. But a good look. She was always a sexy girl no question... but without all the things to scream for attention... it was really noticeable. At least to me.
Was this a glimpse at what she was before Joker?
She was the girl everyone wanted to get in bed with, I concede that. But... damn I never realized... how beautiful she was... beauty as in... that classical term.
That Beauty and the Beast shit ya dig?
"You're starin' at me aren't you?" She almost looked flattered, probably more teasing.
Huh, I was... and I didn't mean to... but... shit... clever comeback where are you?
"Everyone stares at you r-right?" I pointed out the obvious clumsily after a second. "I'm just not used to seeing you... like 'this' is all."
"Hehe... is like 'this' good?"
More than good doll face the suave version of me wanted to say. The smarter guy in me told me to keep my cool. This doesn't need to move in that direction. My life is complicated enough.
"You always look good Harley." I played it safe. "That ain't the problem for you."
"Yeah..." She smiled only to bite her lip to avoid a frown. "My problems are with everything else in my life right?"
There was no reaction to the truth. I only nodded with her as she knew better than I did. She glanced to the ground after that long bit of silence, nervously twiddling her fingers.
"Let's go see em Shot..." Harley sighed, starting to think about our injured squad. "I need to see them... before its too late."
I agreed. I took one last peak watching Zoe walk off to class, into the sea of kids. If she was my family? My first priority? Then now It was time to see my other fam...
I hope they were ready to see me and Harley.
A Suicide Squad reunion was coming... even if it was in these shitty circumstances.
