Late at night on a rooftop, the cold wind howled. Captain Boomerang Harkness stood shivering in just his shorts, damp hair plastered to his skin as he hugged himself for warmth. Three meters upwind, Hong Fei watched the man's teeth chatter as he rubbed his arms and bounced between bare feet.
"Who the hell are you?" Harkness demanded between chapped lips.
"And what do you want with me?"
Hong Fei's voice carried calm through the wind.
"I hear you've got experience with theft. High-stakes jobs."
Harkness' eyebrow shot up.
"You did your homework. Alright, lay it out—what do you need lifted? Or better yet, who's ass do you need me to kick for it?"
"Neither."
Hong Fei shook his head.
"You'll take whatever I point at. Starting now."
A beat of silence. Then Harkness barked a laugh.
"Christ, you're not recruiting—you're trying to own me!"
"Exactly."
Harkness studied the man's armored silhouette before bursting into louder laughter.
"Thought you'd have some fancy heist, but this? You want me on retainer? An endless string of jobs?"
Hong Fei's chuckle was a quiet counterpoint.
"If you've hit every bank in Australia, American vaults should be easy."
"Banks? Seriously?"
"Not my first rodeo."
Harkness whistled.
"Let me guess—British Museum?"
"Among others."
"But you're waltzing in here with no target?"
Harkness shook his head like a teacher scolding a rookie.
"That's not how this works. You case the place, plan contingencies, prep for—"
"Yet here you stand," Hong Fei interrupted. "Free as a bird."
"Because I do the damn homework first!"
Hong Fei nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Then we understand each other. Yes or no?"
Harkness threw up his hands.
"Hold up! What's in it for me?"
The terms came crisp and clear—the same offer Deadshot had heard earlier. Harkness chewed it over before venturing, "And if I say no...?"
Hong Fei didn't blink.
"I push you off."
"...Yeah, that tracks. I'm in."
Ten minutes later, outside Harkness' apartment:
"Change clothes. Go here."
Hong Fei tapped his phone screen.
"Wait with the others until I call. No detours."
"Got it, boss."
Harkness leaned in the doorway, suddenly all casual salute and shit-eating grin.
"Try not to miss me too much."
Alone again, Harkness reviewed the encounter. He sank deeper into his bathwater, staring at the address lighting up his screen. His expression mirrored a soldier prepping for deployment—tired eyes sharp beneath their usual chaotic glint, wheels turning behind the madness.
Hong Fei curled his lips and smiled. They are all smart people; none of them are simple.
Smart villains were the easiest marks. Give them the stakes, and they'd calculate their own surrender.
"One left," he murmured to the night. "Now... where is she?"
The wind carried the unspoken name away.
"Dr..."
June had been staying in Washington with Amanda Waller until last night's riot at Belle Reve Prison forced Amanda to leave temporarily. Now, June was alone in her apartment, with Colonel Rick Flag—the boyfriend Amanda had arranged for her—stationed nearby. Their relationship, however, seemed to be spiraling in what someone might call "a bad direction."
"A bad direction?"
Hong Fei's voice was calm, but Arthur detected the faintest hint of curiosity.
"There's no issue between them, sir. In fact, they've grown quite fond of each other. But isn't that a problem for your plans?"
"Arthur, do you really think I'm that petty?"
"I don't follow, sir. What I mean is, if love blossoms between them, it'll complicate matters. It'll be an obstacle."
"Ah. You're right. Let's move quickly. We're heading to Washington."
Later that night, Hong Fei arrived in Washington D.C. on the last flight. After navigating a series of transfers, he stood outside the safe house Amanda had secured for Dr. June. The location wasn't isolated; instead, it sat in the heart of the bustling city center. Arthur had marked the positions of Amanda's subordinates, and Hong Fei slipped past their watchful eyes with ease.
Inside the bedroom, a soft nightlight cast a warm glow over Dr. June's sleeping form. She was undeniably beautiful, her figure reminiscent of a Victoria's Secret model. But she was far more than just a pretty face. Dr. June was an archaeologist—and the host of the Witch, an ancient force from Earth's forgotten past.
Amanda had already secured the artifact that could harm or even destroy the Witch. She hadn't stopped there, though. She'd also arranged a boyfriend for June—Colonel Rick Flag, an elite soldier with impeccable combat skills and leadership.
Amanda played matchmaker, pairing Rick with June to ensure the archaeologist wouldn't do anything foolish, like conspiring with the Witch. At the same time, Rick's devotion to June ensured he'd protect her at all costs, indirectly serving Amanda's interests.
It was a clever ploy—or so Amanda thought. Hong Fei found the strategy clumsy and hardly worth dwelling on. He stepped closer to the bed and gently tapped June's cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly blinked awake.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the iron armor looming over her. She opened her mouth to scream, but Hong Fei was faster, covering her mouth with one hand while raising a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
June's gaze darted around the room, panic evident in her wide eyes. When Hong Fei made no further moves, her breathing steadied, and her fear began to subside. He carefully withdrew his hand, and June pressed her lips together, too afraid to make a sound.
The iron mask gave nothing away, its expression unreadable. The faint white light from its eyes was the only hint of Hong Fei's presence. His voice was soft, almost soothing.
"Don't be afraid. You're safe. Now, say one word for me: Witch."
June immediately recoiled, unable to help shrinking her neck. Saying that word would summon the Witch, who would seize control of her body and transform her into something entirely different—a process not unlike DC's Captain Marvel shouting "Shazam."
June knew exactly what was coming after she uttered the word "Witch," so her fearful expression was no surprise. Hong Fei kept his tone gentle as he reassured her.
"Don't be afraid. You're smart enough to realize that if I could slip past the surveillance outside and get here unnoticed, I could've done far more than this—but I didn't. That's why you can trust me, at least for now."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"I just want to talk to her. She can't hurt you, and I won't let her."
It had been a long time since June had heard such soft-spoken words, and for a moment, her expression flickered with confusion. Hong Fei didn't push her. He simply waited, watching as the fear in her eyes slowly receded, replaced by a mix of curiosity and lingering doubt.
"You seem to have something to say," Hong Fei observed. June was intelligent, but her sense of security had been shattered. She knew her situation all too well—Amanda had treated her like a possession, and without intervention, she'd be trapped by her side forever. People in her position needed someone to confide in, even if it was only a fragile, tentative trust. Hong Fei mirrored Harleen's approach, guiding her carefully.
After a long hesitation, June stammered, "Who... who are you?"
"Me?" Hong Fei smiled faintly.
"I can't tell you that yet. But I can assure you, you don't need to worry about the Witch. In fact, you should try to get familiar with her."
If the Witch had wanted to kill someone, ten thousand Junes wouldn't have stood a chance.
"Familiar?"
June echoed, her voice trembling.
"Yes, familiar with her power. Try to coexist with her. Since she's chosen to share your body, you can learn to use her abilities."
June froze, fear flickering across her face again.
"Fear is natural," Hong Fei said calmly. "But the best way to overcome it is to face it. What do you think?"
"I... I don't know," June whispered.
"Have you tried?"
She shook her head.
Hong Fei chuckled softly.
"Then take the initiative. You're an archaeologist—you're supposed to be brave. The Witch may not belong to the realm of human science, but she exists. Why not try to establish some form of communication, even trust, with her?"
"I..."
June hesitated, her thoughts clearly tangled.
"No rush," Hong Fei said gently. "It's just a suggestion. Think it over. For now, can you let me talk to her?"
June stared at him, her eyes shifting with complex emotions. After a long moment, she nodded faintly, then parted her lips and whispered, "Witch."
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Beneath June's palm, resting lightly on the bed, a grayish-black hand suddenly emerged, fingers intertwining with hers. The eerie hand flipped over, and when June looked up again, she was gone.
In her place stood a figure with long, straight black hair and eyes that gleamed black with a golden sheen. Her gaze was unsettling, filled with wildness and ferocity. Her attire was minimal—a bikini-like outfit connected by chains, revealing large areas of skin adorned with intricate, meaningful tattoos. A faint black aura emanated from her entire body.
Her face was expressionless, but her eyes betrayed a restless, untamed energy. Her chest was notably full, the pressure marks visible even through her tight attire. She studied Hong Fei silently, tilting her head slightly like a curious child.
Slowly, she reached out, her fingertips brushing against the iron armor of his face before quickly withdrawing. When he didn't react, she placed her palm fully against the armor, stroking his cheek with light, delicate movements.