Code Name Punchline: Rick Flag x Reader

the First Night - Rick Flag x Reader

You should've known this wouldn't go well.

Somehow, the combined forces of Rick Flag and the formidable Amanda Waller had convinced you to do a mission with the Suicide Squad - just one, just to try it out.

So, you'd suited up. Boarded the helicopter. Exchanged nervous smiles with Rick and tried not to look at - or think about - anyone else.

Most of them wanted to kill you, you knew.

...Most of them probably could.

Unfortunately, the thing most people don't tell you about running missions for the Suicide Squad is... the waiting.

The combat was fine, you could handle that. But the quiet moments, when everyone's meant to be sleeping? That, you couldn't handle.

Harley's attempted pillow fight had quickly turned into a rock fight - one in which one of Captain Boomerang's precious boomerangs had gotten broken - Blackguard, who was actually one of your friends, was being more insufferable than usual (and arguing about the lyrics to the Alphabet Song with Polka-Dot Man) and Ratcatcher 2 (2? Was it 2? Or was it 3 or 4? You really couldn't remember) wouldn't stop sending her rat, Sebastian, to snuggle up to you.

She thought you would find it 'comforting.' You thought otherwise.

And... Rick?

Well, he'd retreated into his tent, not to be heard from until daybreak. ("Don't bother him," advised Harley, "I did once and he got real mad at me-")

The Squad was left to fend for themselves, and Rick would command whoever was left in the morning.

You, however... weren't completely satisfied with that.

Your muddy feet padded along the ground, stumbling over to Flag's tent, and you knelt down to unzip the flap.

When you finally did, you were facing the barrel-end of a gun.

"Just me," you said, and Rick relaxed, slightly. He set it down.

"Hey, uh, Flag..."

"What's wrong?"

You cleared your throat, and it all started coming out, the whole emotional mess of it-

"Harley made Boomerang cry, everyone is arguing about the lyrics to the freakin' Alphabet Song, Ratcatcher Two - or Three, or Four - is really weirding me out, and, uh..." you held out two mugs of powdered cocoa as a peace offering. "I made you cocoa, so can I please stay with you, please?"'

Rick bit his lip, and you knew he was trying to stay stern - no smiling. Noweakness. You knew you must have looked ridiculous, too - kneeling in a mission suit Harley had helped design, caked in mud and holding out mugs of cocoa.

...He took pity on you, all the same.

"Come on in," he said, finally, holding the flap open for you to crawl in. You scrambled inside, and he secured a blanket around your shoulders.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it - seriously, don't mention it. Waller's already looking for a reason to put my head on a spike."

You nodded, handing him his cocoa.

"Fair deal, Flag."

The two of you sipped in silence, Flag idling over the blueprints to the building you'd be invading the next morning, you just feeling lucky to be out of the cold. You began to drift to sleep, slowly, and you barely noticed when your head hit his shoulder.

You didn't even notice when he let you stay there.