in the aeroplane over the sea ch.1 (abner krill x reader)
Summary:Â Abner lives babey! he gets his own place in gotham and decides itâs time to start figuring out how to live a life
(click here if u prefer to read on ao3 <3)
chapter 1: the king of carrot flowers
Abner let out a sigh as he set down the last box in his new apartment with a huff. The place was small and dingy, with flat beige walls, a small hallway of a kitchen, and a bedroom that so far consisted only of a dresser and an old box spring mattress on the floor. But to him, it symbolized everything heâd never had in life: privacy, his own space, and most importantly, freedom.
He had moved in with (or basically been adopted by) Harley Quinn after everything in Corto Maltese. But Harley was often busy with her new vigilante work and the Birds of Prey. There were constantly people (or animals) at her apartment, and Abner had found himself feeling a bit cramped, no matter how much love he had for her. He had been anxious to tell her he was moving out. But Harley was supportive as always, and even helped him find a place not too far from her own. Now, he thought, he could finally get some peace and quiet, and Harley said she would always be there if he felt lonely.
Lonely, Abner thought, turning the word in his mind. It was a feeling heâd become accustomed to, living and breathing in loneliness for as long as could remember, wrapped in it like a thick blanket; shielded from the world, yet hopelessly isolated. But it felt different this time. Alone, sure, but not lonely.
He smiled and began to unpack his boxes. He didnât have much; when he was released from Bell Reve he didnât get anything back except some ill-fitting clothes he had worn when he got picked up. Harley had insisted on taking him shopping, and after a few days Abner relented, letting her whisk him from store to store until he found things that he liked. He now had a few shirts and a few pairs of pants that felt, with pleasant surprise, uniquely him. He couldnât help but grin as he hung his shirts in the closet and tucked his pants into his dresser. After all these years, it was going to be quite an adjustment to have his own place. But for now, he basked in the newness of it all. His freedom.
As more items were unpacked and put away, Abner spotted his most prized possession: his record player. Harley had given it to him after he spotted it in her living room, insisting that she never used it and needed to downsize anyway. He pulled out the turntable and set it up on the dresser, carefully untangling wires and setting up the small speakers on each side. He handled it lovingly, like it was a cherished relic from childhood. Once it was settled and plugged in, he stood admiring it for a moment before he began digging through the rest of the box for his small record collection.
Heâd be picking up used records here and there, from consignment stores or garage sales, always on the lookout for hidden gems wherever Harley happened to drag him to. Harley seemed to love having a lot of things. Abner liked the business of her apartment, it was about as far from feeling like a prison cell as you could get, which was a much valued change of pace. But it was never Abnerâs style. He wasnât actually sure if he had a style. He supposed now was the time to develop one. Finally, his eyes landed on the record he was looking for: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel. Before Belle Reve, this had been one of the only albums he owned. At that time, it was a tape played through a shitty used cassette player, the kind that looked like a radio, the casing already cracked and the dials barely working. If he was sure his mother was asleep, heâd plug it in, load the tape (which he kept in the stuffing of his pillow), and turn the volume to the lowest possible setting. Then, heâd lean in close to the speaker and close his eyes. Sometimes, heâd just rest his cheek on the casing, letting his ear press into the cold, softly vibrating metal, getting as close to the music as physically possible, letting the music take him far away from his little room.
He smiled with a bitter nostalgia at the memory, looking around his new bedroom, just in case it had all been a dream. But it was there, as solid and real as any place heâd ever known. He took the record from its sleeve, careful to only touch the sides of the disc, and placed it on the turntable, then dropped the needle. The King of Carrot Flowers began playing softly over the small speakers. Abner started to walk towards his bed, but turned back towards the record player, kneeling in front of it. Intently, he lifted hand to the volume knob and turned it up a good few notches, until his dresser was softly vibrating along with the music. The whole room sang, the guitar and vocals filling his bedroom wall to wall. He grinned, a real genuine smile. Tears pricked his eyes, but he didnât let them fall. Instead, he walked to his bed and fell back into it, his long arms stretched over his head. Nestled into his soft comforter, the sunlight filtering through his window, Abner mouthed the words to the song as it played.
And this is the room, one afternoon I knew I could love you
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
my gift for the suicide squad exchange, written for @insertcharacterheremybeloved <3 hope you enjoy!!
one year into your relationship with abner krill it still knocks you off your axis, how surprised he is by love. it breaks your heart and fuels your determination to love him well, both in equal measure.
âDo You Know What Time It Is?â (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 25:Â âDo you know what time it is?â
Word Count: 108
The sun had long come through the curtains by the time you even entertained the idea of getting up. Youâd spent the last couple hours between asleep and awake, your body intertwined with Abnerâs as you were both too comfortable to leave each other's embrace. He shifted positions, turning around in your arms to face you, sleepily planting a kiss on the top of your head.
âDo you know what time it is?â you asked groggily.
âMmm...who cares?â he responded, followed by a sleepy chuckle.
You decided that was the appropriate answer and nuzzled your face into his chest, fully content to waste the day in bed.Â
âIs This Supposed To Impress Me?â (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 24:Â âIs this supposed to impress me?â
Word Count: 211
Abner focused intently on the brush as he laid the first coat of polish on your nails. He furrowed his brow, leaning in close to make sure every line was crisp and perfect. You watched him contently as he worked, admiring the way his expression twisted with his concentration.
When he was satisfied, he leaned back to inspect his work before looking up at you with a proud smile.
âSo, what do you think?â he asked.
Your nails were painted all black, with brightly colored polka dots accents throughout. Each nail was painted precisely and with great care. You werenât sure youâd seen Abner work so gracefully before and you couldnât help but smile.
âIs this supposed to impress me?â you asked jokingly before leaning in to press a kiss to his lips, âBecause itâs absolutely working. It looks great!â
Abner smiled, pulling you in for another kiss.
âAlright, itâs my turn now,â he said excitedly, pulling out his color choices, a baby blue and green, âWhatever you think will look good.â
You held out your hand and he place his fingertips on your palms. You gave his hand a gentle kiss, making him blush, before you set to work creating your masterpiece; Abner watching you with a soft, happy gaze
âThis Time, Do What I Sayâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 23:Â âThis time, do what I say.â
Word Count: 347
You stepped in and glided ahead on your skates. Abner insisted he didnât need your help getting into the rink; he didnât want you to feel like you had to fuss over him. He wanted you to enjoy your time without him hanging off of you. Though, to be honest, he was feeling very unsure on wheels. He could barely stand on the colorful carpet without toppling over. He neglected to tell you heâd never been skating before; maybe a part of him thought itâd feel natural, or maybe he just loved how excited you were about it.
His eyes followed your form as you skated. You were nearly halfway around the circle by now, and Abner didnât want to be caught standing in the same spot when you skated past him again. He dropped one foot into the rink, hesitating to put any weight on it. But once he did, it didnât seem too bad, and he felt stable enough to go a step further.Â
He brought his other foot into the rink and quickly realized he spoke too soon as his legs swung out from under him, sending him hurtling to the ground, his arms and legs flying around in a lanky and confused mess. He landed on his ass a few yards in front of you as you approached him.
âHey, hey...are you okay?â you asked, leaning down to help him up. Abner blushed profusely and nodded.
âAre you sure? Looked like a nasty fall...what happened?â
Abner sat down on the edge of the rink, trying to reign in his embarrassment.
âIâve sort of...never skated before?â he admitted. You let out a laugh and Abner furrowed his brow.
âWhy didnât you just say so? I can help! I love teaching people how to skate.â you said, holding out your hand, âWanna try again?â
After a moment of contemplation he nodded, taking your hand and shakily rising to his feet.
âOkay letâs try it again, but this time, do what I say, okay?â you asked and he nodded again, squeezing your hand.
You gasped for air, your vision finally starting to come back after being flung into a building by Starro. Abner was standing over you, covered in dirt and dust, tears welling in his eyes. When he noticed you were awake he bent down, scooping you into his arms, crying into your shoulder, muttering âThank godâ over and over under his breath.
You weakly reached up a hand to cradle the back of his head, smoothing down the back of his hair.
âHey. Little Dot.â you said hoarsely. Abner laughed with relief, leaning back to look at you, taking in every feature like it was the first time heâd ever seen them.Â
âDid we win?â you asked, a sharp pain in your neck preventing you from looking around more than a few feet. Abner nodded with a smile, which faded quickly when he thought about how closely heâd come to losing you.
âFor a second...I thought-â
âItâs okay. Iâm okay.â you assured, your hand cupping his cheek, gently wiping away tears with your thumb. You pulled him closer to you, pressing your lips to his in a sweet kiss. Abner desperately melted into your touch, relishing the feeling of your lips on his; a feeling that, for a moment, he had feared he would never experience again. But here you were, alive and still taking his breath away with your kiss.
He pulled away, resting his forehead on yours.
âPlease, never scare me like that again.â he whispered. You smiled.
Abnerâs arm was slung over your shoulder as you supported him, walking over to a nearby clearing. There was a considerable gash across his eyebrow and blood trickled down his face making it difficult for him to see. His leg felt like it was broken, but he couldnât be sure until someone looked at it. He was trying to stay focused on balancing on his good leg and holding onto you as you practically carried him to the curb, helping him sit down. You slung your backpack off of your back, digging through it for your first aid kit. The rest of the team was recovering from their own injuries from the battle with Starro, who was now sprawled across the city with the help of Harley.
You pulled out some alcohol pads, bandages, gauze; anything you thought you might need. Abner tried to catch his breath.
âItâs really over.â he said after a moment. You nodded, focusing on tending to his cut. He couldnât help but admire your focused expression, even as the alcohol stung his wound.
âYou...donât have to help me, ya know.â he said quietly. You scoffed.
âWhat did I say? Itâs you and me, right?â you confirmed, leaning back from him to make eye contact and brush his hair from his face. He smiled and tilted his head down toward you, pressing his forehead to yours, careful to avoid his cut.
âThatâs What Iâm Known Forâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 20:Â âThatâs what Iâm known for.â
Word Count: 212
You stepped into the helicopter, looking around to see your new teammates for the first time. Youâd seen a few of them before, either on previous squad missions or around Belle Reve. One particular person caught your eye; a tall, lanky man clad in a polka-dotted uniform. He was strikingly beautiful; with angular features, and deep, sad, eyes. You took the empty seat next to him. He barely looked at you, keeping his eyes glued to the floor.
âSo...polka dots?â you asked, nudging him with your leg. He looked over at you, almost startled by your question.
âThatâs what Iâm known for.â he said with a halfhearted chuckle before returning his gaze to the floor.
âWhat else are you known for?â you asked tilting your head to catch his eye. Abner felt his face heat up, his pink cheeks giving away how flustered he was by your interest. You smiled, he was even prettier when he blushed. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to come up with a response.
He was saved from further embarrassment as Rick Flag boarded the helicopter and began informing everyone on the drop procedure. Your eyes trailed on Abner for a moment, you were still curious to know more.
You draped your arm over Abnerâs torso, snuggling your head into his shoulder and yawning lazily. His arm was wrapped around you as he absentmindedly played with your hair. It was a quiet morning for the both of you. No work or obligations were waiting for your attention so you were spending the morning cuddled up in bed.
Abner turned in your embrace so he could face you. He smiled and held your face in his hands, running his thumb over your cheekbone. His eyes raked over your features, trying to memorize each curve and line, every imperfection that was so perfect to him. You blushed under his gaze;Â even after being together he still made you feel like you were the only person he saw. He always had a way of making you feel special and he loved nothing more than the sight of you when you knew how truly loved you were by him.
âI feel strange,â he said quietly, almost a whisper. You furrowed your brow, pushing his hair back with your fingertips.
âWhatâs on your mind?â you asked.
âFor once...nothing.â he said, almost laughing at the statement. âUsually thereâs always something, ya know, that Iâm worried or unsure about. But right now...itâs just quiet. Itâs nice, just being here- fully here I mean. With you.â
You smiled, leaning forward to press your lips to his. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, his hands coming to rest on the back of your neck and your back, holding you close to him. He was enamored by everything about you; the smell of your shampoo, the feeling of your skin under his fingers, your lips on his, your voice telling him you loved him. You loved him. There were still some days he could barely believe it. He never imagined heâd get a shot at a life like this. He never thought he deserved it. But laying in bed with you now, on a lazy morning, heâd never felt more at home.
You broke the kiss, giving a quick peck to the tip of his nose, a sure fire way to get Abner to blush.
âThis Was Not Part Of The Planâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 18:Â âThis was not part of the plan.â
Word Count: 100
Abnerâs lungs stung as he caught up with you, leaning up against a street pole to catch his breath.
âWhat the fuck is that thing?â he asked between gasps of air, staring wide eyed up at Starro, who dragged its leg through a building, sending debris flying across the city.
âThis was not part of the plan.â you said exasperated, âBut I guess it is now.â You unsheathed your weapons, giving Abner an encouraging nod.
He adjusted his gauntlets and nodded back to you, concern filling his gaze.
âIâm With You, You Know Thatâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: panic attacks
Fictober Day 17:Â âIâm with you, you know that.â
Word Count: 505
You held your head in your hands, squeezing tightly as though that could stop your thoughts from spiraling. The loud club music and flashing lights were only contributing to your overstimulation, each vibration from a bass beat stinging your nerves. Waves of panic ripped through your body, making you feel like youâd been tased. It felt silly, you thought, this was supposed to be a nice night for you and Abner. Heâd been needing a night out and you felt guilty that you werenât enjoying yourself. You tried to focus all of your energy on breathing deeply, but you couldnât seem to catch your breath, and each one was shakier than the last. Tears streamed down your face even with your eyes squeezed shut as tightly as possible.Â
Abner spotted you from the dance floor, squinting as he tried to figure out what was going on. He saw you were crying and made his way through the crowd towards you, gently scooting between and around people. He reached your table and sat down across from you.
âHey.â he said as quietly as he could without being drowned out by the music. You looked up at him briefly before burying your face in your hands.Â
âYou okay?â he asked. You shook your head.
âWanna go outside?â he asked. You shook your head hesitantly. You didnât want him fussing over you. He was meant to be having a good time and you didnât want to ruin it.
âHey. Iâm with you, you know that.â he said, holding out his hand, âLetâs go outside.â
You nodded and took his hand as he helped you up, leading you out the back door into the cool night air. He led you to a curb and sat down, encouraging you to do the same. You sat beside him, your hands shaky as you felt the concrete under your fingertips.
âYa know,â he began after a moment, âSometimes when I feel overwhelmed, it helps me to name 5 things I can see, and then I take the deepest breath I can. Do you...wanna try?â
You looked out at the parking lot, trying to focus your eyes on anything in front of you.
âUhm, I see a car...a trash can, some flyers, a street lamp...and a beer bottle.â you stated. Abner gave you a small encouraging smile and took a deep breath, encouraging you to do the same. You did, and you started feeling better, the panicked chaos subsiding a bit. You closed your eyes and took another deep breath, finally feeling able to get enough air. You looked over at Abner and he offered a hug, holding out his arm. You leaned into him, your head resting under his. He wrapped his arm around you, kissing the top of your head.
âThank you.â you said after a moment.
âIt feels good to help you for once.â he joked, making you smile.
âYou wanna go home? We could put on a movie, make popcorn?â he offered. You nodded.
A splitting headache woke Abner up from a deep sleep. He was laying on the ground near his teammates, looking up at the tree branches overhead that swirled and contorted with his blurry vision. He could feel the dots under his skin, putting pressure on the muscle and bone underneath. He groaned quietly, rolling onto his side so he could prop himself up on his forearms as he tried to rise to his feet.Â
As he stood, a huge wave of dizziness hit him, his brain barely able to tell up from down.Â
âNot this again.â he mumbled quietly, bracing himself against a tree. His ears were ringing and his headache was only getting worse.
âHey, you alright?â you whispered, making Abner jump out of his skin, nearly falling on his was before you caught him, holding his arms to steady his balance.Â
âSorry! SorryâŠhow can I help?â you asked. Abner shook his head.Â
âNo no sorry I-Iâm fine.â he said, but he wasnât able to stand on his own, so he continued leaning on you awkwardly.Â
âWhere do you need to go?â you whispered. Abner gestured to a clearing a few yards away from the others.Â
Embarrassed didnât even come close to capturing what Abner was feeling. He hated when people saw him this way. Not only because it preceded others ridiculing him, but because he knew how disgusting it was. It was hard enough traveling with the group all day, and he hoped heâd be able to get some privacy under the cover of night. But here he was, pathetically draped over you as you practically carried him into the forest.Â
When you stopped you helped Abner to the ground so he could sit on his hands and knees in front of a small pool of water. After a moment, colorful polka dots spilled from his mouth, lighting up in the reflection of the water, some stray dots landing on nearby plants and disintegrating their leaves. You crouched down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder until the dots had subsided and the bioluminescent swelling had gone down.Â
There was a long silence as Abner wondered what he could possibly say to make this situation less excruciating.Â
âIâm sorry.â was all he could muster, sitting back on his legs.Â
âYou donât need to apologize.â you said softly, âIâm glad youâre feeling better.âÂ
âItâs notâŠpleasant.â he commented.Â
âI mean, neither is puke so Iâd consider this a step up in the bodily fluids department.â you joke, earning a smile from Abner.Â
ââŠThank you,â he said quietly, âfor helping me, I mean.â
Abner sat on the couch trying to appreciate the sights and sounds of the house. You were preparing dinner in the kitchen, he could hear you singing softly to yourself as you chopped vegetables. The house was warmer than usual when you used the oven and it made everything feel cozier, especially during the fall and winter.Â
Normally, Abner would simply try to soak in these moments, these feelings of normalcy that had evaded him until this point. On those nights, he would try with all of his might to make his mind like a video camera, so that he could capture and replay these blissful moments whenever he wanted to. Tonight, however, his head was swimming with anxieties. There was always a nagging voice in the back of his head telling him he didnât deserve this, that you didnât care about him, that these happy moments were only a brief intermission in the pain and chaos that had been his life.
Instead of wallowing in the feeling, Abner got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, coming up behind you at the stove and snaking his arms around your waist. He nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck and sighed deeply. You smiled, using your free hand to ruffle his hair.
âYou okay, little dot?â you cooed. Abnerâs first instinct was to lie, brush it off, pretend everything was fine. But lately you had been encouraging him to be more honest, so he simply shook his head. You reduced the heat on the stove and turned around in his embrace, making him lift his head from your shoulder.
âWhatâs up?â you asked, softly running a hand up his arm.
âJust having those...thoughts again.â he said, still unsure exactly how to talk about them.
âLike what?â you prompted. Abner thought for a moment.
âLike...that voice that tells me Iâm not enough. That Iâm too quiet, or too much of a pushover.â he said, wanting to be honest but not wanting to reveal too much. You frowned a bit, brushing his hair from his forehead while you formulated a response.
âIâm sorry, baby. I know what thatâs like, and wish I could do something to take that feeling away for you. But, if it helpsâŠâ you began, using your fingertips to outline his features, âI know that you are sweet, funny, kind, and the most loving person Iâve ever met. I like that in you. I like everything about you. And if you could see you how I see you,â you lightly poked the tip of his nose, âI promise youâd never wonder if you were enough. You are everything.â you finished with a whisper.
Abner blinked back the tears from his eyes and couldnât help a small smile forming on his face. He couldnât possibly think of a good enough response. Every day he found himself falling for you more and more. And here you were, looking at him like he was the only person in the world, talking to him like he was the only person who mattered. The only thing he could think to do was press his lips to yours in a sweet, soft kiss.
âYour Information Was Wrongâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: none
Fictober Day 14:Â âYour information was wrong.â
Word Count: 219
You looked over the members of your team. This was far from your first time on task force x, and youâd gone through a lot of teammates in that time. Today, it was mostly your standard mix of outcasts and dudes with gun, but one person in particular caught your eye: Abner Krill, Polka-dot Man. You stowed your weapons on your back and strode over to him.
âHey. Abner right?â you asked and he practically jumped. Heâd been nervous for team introductions. He was never good at first impressions, and wasnât particularly a people person.
âOh uhm, yeah.â he said, flashing you a nervous smile.
Heâd heard a lot about you of course. Youâd survived more task force x missions than any other prisoner in Belle Reve.
âSo...Polka-dots, huh?â you prompted, hoping heâd talk more..Â
â...Yeah.â he responded simply after a moment. Safe to say, he was intimidated to meet you. He was planning on staying out of your way for the duration of the mission, but heâd never planned on you approaching him.
âIâve heard itâs pretty cool.â you commented, looking over his costume and making him blush.
Abner shook his head, âYour information was wrong.â
You narrowed your eyes. You rolled up your sleeves and gave him a wink.
âThe Things You Make Me Doâ (Abner Krill x Reader)
Fanfiction: The Suicide Squad
Warnings: drinking
Fictober Day 13:Â âThe things you make me do...â
Word Count: 272
You sat across from Abner in the cushy booth of the club. He was on his third shot of the night thanks to Colonel Flag, and he was talking up a storm. You hadnât heard him say more than a few words since meeting him, but now he couldnât seem to stop talking. Not that you were complaining, as you sat with him, listening to his stories and ideas.
For the past few minutes, heâd been walking you through the stories from some of his favorite comic books. He explained that they were one of the only escapes he had as a kid. He had gotten distant at that thought, and you quickly redirected the conversation back to superheroes. You loved how his face lit up when he talked about those stories, how much bigger his gestures got; how much more space he was willing to take up.
Suddenly, he gasped and grabbed your arm, looking at you with wide eyes.
âWe should dance!â he said excitedly, his words slurring together.
You shook your head.
âEh, Iâm not a very good dancer.â you responded.
âMe neither. But who cares right? Weâre probably gonna die anyway.â he said nonchalantly.
You laughed. He was right, you figured. It was called a suicide squad for a reason. You tried not to think too hard about it as you sighed heavily.
âThe things you make me doâŠâ you said and Abnerâs face lit up with a smile as he stood up, drunkenly bowing and extending his hand.
âShall we?â he asked.
You humored him and gave him a bow back before taking his hand.