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Blackguard knew that his intelligence was below average. Everyone had told him, at school, the people who called his friends, his family. It was one of the reasons why he had made a criminal career rather than a legal one, because he knew that he could never pass college and few people would hire him. People tended to view him as a nuisance, as expendable.

When Waller approached him, wanting him to be part of the Suicide Squad, Richard had felt important. He was in the big leagues, that meant he had somehow succeeded in life. The other inmates of the prison began to treat him with more respect since they found out, he was no longer a laughing stock. He must have suspected that Waller was behind it, that She had paid the guards and threatened the inmates to make him feel important, confident.

Waller acted as if Richard was important and let him contact the Corto Maltese guard, so that the Squad could safely land on the beach. When Colonel Rick Flag found out about him, he would decorate Blackguard and make him his right hand, leader of one of the Squads, just as Waller had promised.

How stupid he had been trusting her. If Blackguard had known that he was leading his own companions to their death, he would never have agreed to help her, choosing before to detonate the device on his neck. The Squad was his family, its members were like his brothers, Rick Flag was the best leader anyone could ask for, because he treated them as equals and tried to make them survive the missions, he really cared about his team and his team for him. It was something that was known within Belle Reve, a norm among the inmates, no one touched Flag. After his death, Blackguard knew that it was that same respect that had caused Waller to distrust Flag and find him as disposable as the members of the Squad. Flag had a moral that Waller lacked, it was precisely that which had caused Flag to be expendable, someone who should die on the beach of Corto Maltese, along with Squad 1, disposable members, useless for his plans, mere distractions.

Rick Flag was the model man for Blackguard. Who he wanted to be. It was a privilege for him to be on the same team as him and he wanted more than anything that the colonel would see him and say that he was an important part of his team.

But how could he be an important part of his team when he didn't even know how to buckle up properly? Surely the colonel thought he was a villain joke!

After his death, Blackguard had stayed by the Colonel's side, watching over him, taking care of him even though he could no longer physically. Many members of his team had. Boomerang between them, concerned for the still-living members of the Squad, companions Waller manipulated at will. How could he rest peacefully when his family was risking his life? The least they could do was stay by his side to greet them personally in case one of them died. The mission was not complete until they returned to Belle Reve.

Blackguard knew he was Waller's man, but he never thought Peacemaker was too. Waller always had men in the squads. Flag did not count because he had begun to see him as the fellow people and treating them as such. That had caused him to always be aware of them, that abuses were not committed within the prison and make their stay more pleasant. Flag was just another member of the Squad, proudly wearing his tattoo.

Blackguard wanted that same tattoo too. Waller promised that he could obtain it after the mission, but only if he followed her orders. He should have told someone else, his teammates or Flag, but Waller said his privileges would disappear if he spread information about the mission.

But now, in the eyes of the world's greatest villains. In the eyes of the Squad, Blackguard had been a traitor, who with his actions had managed to kill all of his companions and indirectly, Flag. Because Boomerang would never have let Peacemaker get this close to the Colonel. If Waller had her men in the Squad, Flag had his men, who would protect him at all costs.

"What a cretin." Next to him, Boomerang cursed, seeing Peacemaker's betrayal. No one could intervene to help Flag, that's why his anger in insults and screams, was the only thing they could manifest. "I should have killed him in Belle Reve." I never liked that guy, always thinking himself superior to us. At least we are loyal to ours.

They watched as Flag joined them and as a brother, they welcomed him and their regret that the world had lost a great man.

- Boys.-Flag was sorry, distressed to see them and leave what was left of the Squad alone. -I am very glad to see you again.

Flag embraced Boomerang, TDK, Savant, Javelin, El Diablo and finally Blackguard. For Blackguard that hug meant everything. He did not know whether Flag or the rest of the companions could forgive him someday, but he could never forgive himself.

They saw Bloodsport kill Peacemaker to avenge the Colonel's death, something that shocked Flag very much, because he hadn't expected the members of his squad to respect and love him so much. They watched with pride as the squad, now led by Bloodsport, decided to fight Starro in contradiction to Waller's orders. Pride emanated from Flag, in his posture and gaze, also the longing for not being able to fight alongside them and the despair and concern for his well-being.

"What are you surprised about, Flag?" Boomerang scoffed. "You've been a brother to us, Colonel." We wouldn't have tattooed the squad symbol on you if you weren't family.

Polka Dot joined them and was greeted like he was a superhero, because actually he had been to the Maltese Cortes. Before Flag, Polka Dot gave the military salute.

"At your orders, Colonel," said Polka Dot. Blackguard thought it was brilliant of him to greet Flag like that. The way Flag responded to the salute made Boomerang tease him.

In a way, Flag had won over Waller, because the Squad, under Bloodsport's leadership, had been seen on television saving millions of people from a monster and freeing them from tyranny, granting them the democracy they fought so hard for. Villains were now considered heroes, they had followers. They had become visible, Flag had discovered the traitor between them and Waller had to be careful, because Bloodsport would not lower his guard with her, having learned from Flag's mistakes and his trust in this woman. The Squad would be safe in the hands of Robert Dubois.

Blackguard wished he could tell the rest of his teammates how sorry he was. Seeing Harley so heartbroken by the death of the Colonel, her friend, her support, had saddened everyone and guilt had resurfaced in him. Because of him, Harley had lost her smile, that was another of the things that he would never forgive himself.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Blackguard." Flag said. "You were just following orders."

"We all follow orders, brother," said Boomerang.

"You were fooled, just like all of us," said TDK.

Blackguard smiled, trying to control his crying. This was his family. And they would be with him forever. He would always follow them, wherever they went. He mimicked Polka Dot's salute, Flag responded in kind.

"At your command, sir." Blackguard greeted.

"Actually, Flag is Colonel." Boomerang said. "You just lowered his rank, but who cares!" Right Flag?

Flag just sighed, but he was smiling. And that was all Richard Hertz needed.