The Moment (Harley Quinn FanFic)

"Nightwing. I got some good news." Batman says as he walks into the bridge.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Your bois Dict and Parks made it back alive." Infinity interrupts and Batman clicks his tongue in annoyance.

"Really? Where are they?"

"Awaiting pick up from the drop ship." Batman says before the AI can.

"Good, I know the team will be glad to hear it."

HARLEY'S SOMETIME BEFORE THE OMINOUS MESSAGE

A faint groan pierced the silence. The dim light of the room blurred and shifted as Dict's vision began to clear. The systems in his helmet hummed, sluggishly processing what felt like days of exhaustion packed into hours. His body ached, and each breath felt like dragging air through a shattered filter.

Beside him, Parks stirred, his hand twitching first, then his helmeted head turning slightly toward the sound of Dict's voice. "Wha… where are we?" he muttered, voice raspy through his external speaker.

"Safe," Dict replied simply, propping himself up against the wall with great effort. The room was small and cluttered, the faint smell of antiseptic and cooking lingering in the air. Warm light from a nearby lamp illuminated their battered forms.

They were in what appeared to be a small bedroom, with a simple bed against the wall, a nightstand, and personal items scattered around. The sound of footsteps on creaky floorboards caught their attention as Harley appeared at the doorway, carrying a tray of water and basic medical supplies.

"Finally awake, huh?" she asked, her voice a mixture of relief and sternness. She set the tray down on a small table between the two soldiers. "I've got a lot of questions, but first, how do you feel?"

Dict grunted, testing the movement of his limbs. "Like we've been hit by a freight hauler… but functional."

Parks let out a dry chuckle, easing into a seated position with a grimace. "I think 'functional' might be generous."

"Mommy! Are they okay now?" Naevia's voice called from the kitchen, her head poking around the corner. Her eyes lit up when she saw both men moving.

"We're okay, kid," Parks said, his voice softening as he looked over at her. Despite his exhaustion, he managed a weak thumbs-up.

Naevia ran into the room, her bare feet padding softly on the floor as she threw her arms around Parks, who instinctively braced himself to absorb her small weight.

"You're okay! I was so scared!" she said, squeezing him tightly.

Harley watched the scene with a mix of curiosity and concern. "She hasn't left your side since you two passed out," she said, crossing her arms. "Now, can someone please explain what's going on? Who are you, and why do I have two unconscious men in my bedroom talking about my daughter?"

Dict and Parks exchanged a glance.

"First… thanks for helping us," Dict started, his tone diplomatic. "I'm Dict, and this is Parks. We're soldiers from a forward reconnaissance team. We were left behind during a mission… and found Naevia along the way."

"She was alone," Parks added, his tone darkening. "In hostile territory. We couldn't leave her behind."

Harley's eyes narrowed, her protective instincts flaring. "Hostile territory? What kind of danger was she in?"

"Team Rocket," Dict answered flatly.

Harley's breath hitched at the mention of Team Rocket.