Chapter 39: Burying The Hatchet

Authors Note: Okay people got another good one for you. Also I got two new characters coming out real soon and would like to thank stonecold22 and Leo303 for their patience. Also I am no longer accepting any more oc's I already have way too much on my plate and I can't have anymore. If you still want to submit one for my future story after I'm done with this one I will gladly accept, but as for this one. Sorry the book is closed. Okay, now that I got that out of the way let's get started. Also, like illusive man and his Red Crosshairs story Jedimasterchris1 started up his Reaper story so give it a look it's in my favorite's profile. There will be a minor flashback on how they met but the rest like training and other interactions will be in his story so give it a look if you're curious.

Disclaimer: Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care.

Hilary was sitting in front of her team at the mansion's living quarters while Ally and Sarah, both out of costumes, were consoling her. Jayden sat on a couch in front of them as a solemn look spread across his face. Everyone from the go getter Sam to the quiet loner like Max felt nothing but dread. Thomas sat on the far end of the room and was broken from his thoughts when he got a text. He clicked a few buttons on his watch and looked to his team.

"Hey guys," he said getting a few heads to turn towards him. "I just got a text from Christina. She said that the girls will make a full physical recovery and with a few years of therapy a mental recovery as well."

No one smiled or gave thanks to anyone as they all remained silent. They just couldn't imagine what kind of monster would do something like that to innocent girls. They weren't even hookers or anything foul they were just school girls and poor girls trying to make a living. They didn't deserve that, no one deserved that.

"Well, thank you Hilary." Jayden sighed. "I wish we had more to go on with Blackbeard and Langstrom, but at least we just down that human trafficking." Shadow got up from his spot and turned to everyone. "Okay, I suggest we all just go to sleep. We'll need if for tomorrow."

Jayden himself felt dead inside, he knew that there was evil out there, but sometimes it just takes its toll after a while. He just said his goodnight and went off to bed. He suggested staying in the mansion tonight, because he really didn't feel like staying in Gotham at the moment. The team didn't care anyways as they each went to their rooms until it was just Ally, Flynn, Hilary and Sarah.

"You guys can go now." Hilary said. "I'm fine enough to walk myself to bed."

"Are you sure?" Ally asked. Hilary was lying of course about being fine, but gave a small nod anyways. She then felt something wrap around her arm and looked down to see Sarah holding her tight.

"You sure?" She whispered. "You can always crash with me in my room if you need help falling asleep."

Hilary tried her best not to snort at the young girl's kind and affectionate nature. She rubbed her head and messed up her long brown hair.

"I'm fine kiddo, just go to sleep. For me okay?" She asked. Sarah looked at her with worry in her eyes and nodded. She got up from her chair and slow walked off to her room. "You to boss lady."

Ally chuckled lightly at her pet name, but still felt sad about what had happened tonight. She spent a small amount of time working for Falcone's pimps, but she never once could imagine something like this ever being a possibility for her. She leaned over to Hilary and kissed her cheek before getting up and following Sarah. Hilary raised an eyebrow at this, because Jayden was in the other direction.

"Ally, where are you going?" Hilary asked.

"Sarah she maybe a fighter and a very frightening one at that but…she's still only a child." Ally muttered.

"A child who kicks more ass than anyone I've met." Hilary stated. "And is the most violent person on the team."

"Only when the mask is on, but when it's off…" She trailed off at how Sarah's split personality effected not only her emotions but her body as well. "When she's Whisper she is a brave warrior, but when she's Sarah she doesn't even know how to make a fist. She needs protection."

"Okay I get ya." Hilary said. "She wants someone to cuddle with her tonight anyways. Good night Ally."

"Good night Hilary." Ally said as she went to find Sarah's room leaving Flynn and Hilary alone.

The two remained silent for a while. Hilary never even glanced at Flynn since they arrived at headquarters. Flynn knew there was something more to this, even if she was still traumatized by the human trafficking of young girls and strippers she would be leaning on his shoulder crying her worries away. It was at that moment since the first time they met, Flynn was afraid that he was losing Hilary. He was ready to say something when Hilary spoke up first.

"Why were you at the club?" She asked. Flynn was puzzled for a moment wondering why she would ask that, granted it was a legit question but why did she sound so bitter.

"I went there because the bartender was a friend of mine." He explained. "Actually, he was one of the few that stayed with me before Waylon lost his sanity, but then Waylon gashed him with his claws out of anger and that was all she wrote. His name is Seth, he was a man like Phantom, but instead of enhanced speed and reflexes he was born with super human strength. Not like superman but he is strong. He taught me everything about brawling and-"

"I asked why you were there not your life story!" She snapped. Flynn was a little hurt at how she reacted. Here he was finally opening up to her and she was shooting him down.

"Sorry, anyways he worked at the club's bar and I went to warn him about Phantom. Before I left he asked if I knew anything about a cute black haired girl with violet eyes. I showed him a picture of you and he said you went after the owner upstairs. So, after a few beatings here and there I found you and well…you know the rest." Hilary nodded her head and finally got up from her spot on the couch.

"Thanks." She said bitterly. She turned to leave when Flynn stopped her.

"Wait, why were you there?" He asked. Hilary scoffed at his false attempt to sound concerned for her.

"The man Blackbeard brutally raped and murdered my mother when II was a girl." She full out admitted to Flynn's surprise. "I was then found and trained by a secret government organization and eventually left them. When I saw that Blackbeard had been in Gotham I tried the club because he owned the place and now I am gunning for him and I will kill him. So, now you know. Goodnight."

"Hey, why didn't you tell Shadow or any of us?" Flynn asked.

"Shadow did order us to split up and look for clues and that's what I did." She stated as if Flynn were stupid. "Don't worry if I found out anything about Man-Bat or Riddler I would have contacted you immediately."

"Well, at least let me help you find him." He said in a weak voice.

"Flynn…just stop it." Hilary sighed. "I…I don't have feeling for you anymore and I don't want you anymore." Flynn would never admit it but his heart felt like she had just torn it in half.

"Hilary, is this because I canceled our date?" He asked in a shaky voice. "Look, I'm really sorry. But Croc was in danger and-"

"It's always about Croc with you." She snapped. "Flynn, you need to let go. I know he was like a father to you and that he cared for you as well, but he is not a man anymore. He is a monster, hell even he told you to move on with your life and you refused. You know that's what I admired about you Flynn your acceptance. When we met you didn't see a killer you saw a woman. You told me how fierce I was and how you admired my eyes and I felt happy for the first time in my life. But whenever I got close to you, you never responded the same way. And now after neglecting me for so long you decide after seeing me broken and angry that you want to be there for me…no. I wanted your love not your pity, but now I don't want anything from you anymore. From now on we're just teammates on the field but afterwards…nothing."

She turned away with tears streaming down her face and ran to her room. Flynn couldn't even muster up the courage to even think of following her. He just slumped down on the couch burdened with regret. She was right, every word she sad about him was true. He did think she was a strong but beautiful woman when he first met her, but aside from the outings with Jayden to those balls and a little flirting there was nothing romantic between them. Flynn was broken from his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked behind him and saw Jayden with a concerned look on her face.

"Are you okay?" Jayden asked. Flynn was feeling useless right now. He felt like no matter how hard he tried to do things to help people he always let them down in the process. He failed to help Croc, he abandoned Jayden to try and save him, all his friends were murdered and now he just lost the only girl he would ever come across that could love him like she did. It was at that moment Flynn had to ask him.

"Jayden, why did you take me in all those years ago?" Flynn asked. Jayden knew Flynn was starting to doubt himself and Jayden felt the need to bring back around.

"Well…"

(Flashback)

Five years ago a boy no older than sixteen was running down the streets trying to out run a few beat cops while holding an armful of fruits of different varieties. The boy was dressed in a grim reaper Halloween costume to avoid being recognized by anyone so he could roam the streets during the day. He cut a few alleyways and without thinking he blundered into a fight.

There were five men going up against this one guy who was dressed in a black vest which was covered by a gothic coat, Tripp pants, black combat boots and black gloves. His face consisted of black special designer shades, a mask that covered up his jaw and his hair was short and clack but spiked up at the front.

He held a metal briefcase in his left hand as the men who were dressed in thrown together suits circled him. They dressed like typical gangsters. Business coats with white beaters and jeans, tacky colored dress shirts and black pants. They all just dressed like shit.

"So, you think you can just come into our club and steal one million dollars of Mr. Maroni's money?" One thug asked in a cracked Italian voice. He pulled out a pair of brass knuckles while the rest armed up. One had a baseball bat while another pulled out a switch blade. The last two thugs picked up both an old rusty pipe and a bottle which he broke turning it into a shank. The man in black scoffed while setting down the case.

"You know what I hate?" He asked. "Dumbasses like you that come unprepared. Picking up trash and using it as a weapon, you do that when you're desperate. And you know what, I bet only one of you owns a gun."

"Tough talk for a guy who's about to get the crap kicked out of him." The main thug snorted.

"You should give yourself more credit than that." The man joked. Even the boy found that funny. "And you're not talking all that tough."

"That's it!" The main thug shouted.

He raised his brass knuckled fist and sent it towards his face, but the man grabbed his fist and gripped it tight. The thug had the look of panic across his face as the man twisted his fist back.

"Hey, let go!" He screamed while the man raised his fist and sent it into the man face. He was sent flying towards the boy but was unconscious the second he hit the ground.

The remaining four stood dumbfounded before the one with the broken bottle charged in. He went to stab it in his head, but the man grabbed his oncoming hand with both hands causing the bottle to break into shards in his hand. The man let out a high pitched scream as the man squeezed tighter digging the glass further into his hands. The man then leaned his head back and crashed it into the gangsters face knocking him down on the ground.

While he was dealing him, the thug with the switch blade came at him and thrust his blade towards his chest, but the man swatted his hand up and sent the blade up in the air. The knife fell right in front of the young boy as he watched the man take down the third thug. The remaining two ran towards him with their weapons raised ready to attack him as the man drew his single edge black sword.

With one swipe he cut both weapons in half and landed a nasty cut across both of their chest. While he was dealing with him the boy saw the briefcase just sitting there and remembered what the thug said about a million dollars. He was just about to run over and grab it when the main thug from before got up and pulled out a .38. The man's back was still turned when the man pulled back the hammer of his gun.

Without thinking the boy grabbed the switchblade off of the ground and stabbed it into the man's leg. The boy was about to grab the briefcase and run like hell when he heard a shot and felt something swipe past his side. He froze while looking down to see that the thug had grazed him with his gun.

He fell to the ground as a dark shadow flew over him. The last thing he heard before passing out was the sound of the thug screaming in fear for a brief second then nothing.

When the boy regained consciousness he realized that he wasn't in jail or a hospital but an apartment. It was small but comfortable for only one person to live in. The boy looked over to see the man from before but this time he didn't have his mask on. The recognized the face to be Jayden Warney adopted son of playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne. He had heard that he was released from the hospital a few weeks ago but no one has seen him since. Guess he knows now why.

Jayden stirred awake and stretched his arms out letting out a long yawn. He rubbed his eyes before looking at the boy. He tried to get up but when he leaned up he felt his right side start to tear. He looked down to see that his shirt was off and he had been bandaged.

"You alright kid?" He asked.

"Um, yeah." The boy said looking over his bandages. "What happened?"

"The guy was taking a shot at me." Jayden explained. "He grazed you and I brought you home and stitched you up. What were you doing there any ways?"

"I was running from cops." He said sheepishly. Jayden sat there before a moment before gesturing for him to continue. "I stole some fruit from a stand and I just ran. I was starving I hadn't eaten in days, if I at least had a full stomach I wouldn't have been seen."

"Ah, well don't worry I'll get a pizza in a little bit." Jayden smiled as he heard the boy's stomach growl. "Anyways, you look familiar have we met before?"

"Um, well I used to be part of a small time gang a few months ago. Have you ever heard of Waylon Jones?" He asked. Jayden's face broke out in confusion as he looked at the young kid.

"You mean Killer Croc?" Jayden exclaimed. "You were with that monster?"

"He's not a monster!" The boy defended. "He's just been down in the sewers for so long that it started to change him. Anyways, I was there when he changed and I thought I could help him, but instead he just roared and tried to eat me. So I ran and I've been on my own for the past few months."

"Okay, but I still don't even know your name." Jayden chuckled. The boy smiled embarrassingly as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry, I always did brag, bad habit." He chuckled. "I'm Flynn Anderson. I know the name doesn't mean much anymore but it was important to Wayne Enterprises."

"It means something to me." Jayden said. "You were the smartest kid around. My father Leonard Warney worked on the military contracts and helped your father from time to time. I'm sorry about what happened to your family. Everyone thought you were dead or kidnapped." Flynn's face dropped and he was now on the verge of tears.

"After what happened to my family I was in shock." He muttered. "I left the ceremony and just wandered around for who knows how long. I eventually passed out and when I woke up I was with Waylon."

The two remained silent for a few minutes before Jayden picked up the grim reaper mask. He looked at the cheap latex mask for a few seconds before Flynn explained.

"It's just a costume." He stated blandly. "I saw it in a dollar bin at the grocery store a few days ago and bought it so no one would recognize me."

"Why the grim reaper though?" He asked.

"Like I said it was just a stupid costume." He said sheepishly.

"So is dressing up like a bat or a clown." Jayden stated. "So, why the costume at all, why not just a ski mask or bandana?" Flynn was quiet for a few seconds as he hugged his legs to his chest.

"While I was running I ran into a dark forest." He explained. "I was running and running until a cloaked figure blocked my path. It was Death. His eyes glowed red he held his scythe up menacingly and he reached his bony hand out towards me. Then my father came and fended him off. That's when I woke up."

"So, you wear the face of death to put the same fear into your enemies." Jayden stated as Flynn nodded. "Do you want to protect people?"

"What?" Flynn asked.

"Do you want the strength to protect people?" He asked.

"Y-Yes…" Flynn answered in an instant. He didn't even think about it he just did it on impulse.

"Alright then." He said. "What's your name?"

"Flynn." Flynn answered confused.

"No, I am Shadow so what's your name. The name people will be afraid of?" Jayden said in a dark tone. Flynn didn't know what to say as he looked down at the mask Jayden was still holding. The eyes stared back at him and he couldn't help but shudder at the memory of Death's eyes.

"Reaper." He said with determination.

"Good, I like it." Jayden chuckled. "We begin your training tomorrow."

(Present)

"After that day I taught you everything I knew about fighting, free running, escaping, and everything else in between. Even though you had your own way of surpassing me when I bought you those resources for your scythe."

"Yeah, but was that the only reason you took me in, because I was the son of the late Jack Anderson?" He asked. "Was I just your tool for getting back at both Wayne and Batman?"

"No, I took you in because you had the same look in your eyes as I did at one point." Jayden said. "You could have given up at any point. You complained that I was rough, you said I was working you too hard, but in the end you stayed you fought and you never gave up." Jayden started to chuckle as he rubbed Flynn's messy brown hair. "But after all those deals and challenges at Warney-Tech and all those tough battles as Reaper. The great Grim Reaper of Gotham is now on his knees after being dumped by his girl."

"Well what do you want me to do Jayden?" Flynn snapped, smacking Jayden's hand out of his hair. "I can't just walk up to her and tell her I'm sorry."

"Of course you can." Another voice said. The two turned to see Sam in his pajama pants and T-shirt standing at the doorway. "You are just too afraid to do so."

"Sam, I don't know what to do." Flynn sighed in defeat. Sam walked over to the two and sat down next to them.

"Flynn, when I reunited with Kris she didn't want anything to do with me." Sam said in a serious tone. Even Jayden was surprised at how take charge Sam was being right now. He was always use to his goofy fire pun persona but this was different. "After that incident with my old gang after getting the Gauntlets of Vulcan I thought I had lost her, but when I found her again she had moved on with her life. She's just a typical high school student now. It took us a while but we are back to being as close as we were when we were kid's hell even closer."

"So, what I just have to take my time with her and hope for the best?" Flynn asked bitterly.

"If you had just promised to take her out more and just be Flynn and Hilary for a night you would be in bed with her right now." Jayden grinned.

Flynn knew they were both right. He was so determined to being Reaper and even being his father that he never even thought of himself or even Hilary. The only girl that ever really showed a true interest in him, the one of a kind girl for him and he might as well have just thrown her away.

It was right then and there, Flynn knew he had to get her back. He swore it to his mother and his father and his brothers and sisters in the Shadow Warriors. And to Hilary.

"Guy's I will get her back and I will never let go." He said with determination.

"You gonna go now?" Sam asked.

"No, she was crying when she left." Flynn said. "Tomorrow, first thing when I see her."

With that he left his brothers with the determination he needed to get his girl back.

(!)

Jayden and Sam said their goodnights as Jayden went to go check on Ally. He knew she was in Sarah's room to comfort her about that horrible incident at the nightclub. He knew Ally really went to Sarah to comfort herself because she used to be a working girl for Falcone when she was Sarah's age.

He slowly opened the door to Sarah's room and smiled at the way she decorated it when Jayden gave it to her. Some tasteful furniture here and there a make-up table in the corner and a big mattress with black silk sheets.

Jayden looked down at the two but turned away with a blush on his cheeks when he saw Sarah. The sheets were down at the foot of the bed while Sarah was currently cuddled up on Ally. Ally wore her favorite comfy silk pajamas while Sarah wore a similar shirt only no pants. She wore long pink and red striped socks with a pair of light blue panties from the spring catalog from Ally's modeling book.

Ally stirred awake and looked at Jayden who pointed down embarrassingly at the girl's indecent exposure. Ally smiled lightly and grabbed the bottom edges of her night shirt and covered up her cute bottom. Jayden grabbed the thick blanket and wrapped it over the two girls carefully so he wouldn't wake Sarah. The young girl breathed a sigh of relief and nuzzled her face into Ally's chest as she continued her light snoring.

"She's so cute." Ally giggled as she kissed the girls forehead.

"I take it you were the one who bought her the panties." Jayden asked as he sat down in the make-up chair next to the bed.

"No, I gave them to her for free." Ally said with superiority. "I do own the modeling department after all and I wanted her to look cute so I gave her those."

"Too bad no one will ever see them." He chuckled earning a smack in his arm from Ally.

"Ass, I did it because well have you noticed that all the girls the boys go out with they don't dress up?" She asked.

"You mean like Hilary and Theresa with their tomboy look or Sarah and Kris for…well they dress like everyday highs cool girls." Jayden stated.

"Yeah, but I'm talking about when they go out. They don't express themselves they just dress in a nice shirt and jacket and that's that." She said with anxiety. "Jenny, Christina and I aren't afraid aren't afraid to show off our bodies we're not afraid to dress like well women."

"You always did like making the world beautiful." Jayden said with admiration towards his girl.

"It can be beautiful all men and woman can be but they are all afraid." She said. "Hey, by the way is Hilary alright, I heard her crying when she went pass us."

"Flynn screwed up bad." He said as Ally's eyes darkened. "He only took an interest in her because he felt bad and that didn't sit well with Hilary."

"I'll kill him." She stated plainly.

"No need, Sam and I talked his ass down. He'll make it all up tomorrow. He promised." Jayden defended.

"He damn well better, Hilary has had a rough life she needs some happiness in her heart." Ally said.

"What's this, I seem to recall you two hating each other." Jayden stated playfully. Ally looked at him with sad eyes before looking down at Sarah. She moved a piece of hair out of her face and kissed her head again.

"She, like the rest of us had it rough." Ally said. "I thought I was the one with the worst with my abusive father and dead mother then working as a whore but Selina saved me from that. Kris, she almost got killed in that gang if it wasn't for Bruce, Christina was built for a weapon but Hoenheim saw her as a daughter not a weapon, Theresa we saved her and Jenny you saved her as well." She looked at Jayden and gave him a gentle smile that turned Jayden's soul to mush. "Sarah, her parents were murdered and even though Question she still has Whisper always eating away at her, but she still manages to stay her carefree self."

"And Hilary?" Jayden asked. Ally's face dropped as she tightened her hold on Sarah. When she held someone like this it was to make them feel safe but now she was just doing it because she felt scared and alone. If not for her then for Hilary.

"Her mother was raped when she was only a girl." Ally muttered weakly. "She was rescued by her mentor who she still won't tell me his name, but she was taken to a government facility where she was trained and brought up. She told me that she felt like her life was filled with nothing but misery and heart ache, but when she met Flynn a man who saw a monster like Croc as a man. She admired that about him. He said the same to her. She wasn't a killer she was a beautiful woman. He was the only person to take her seriously."

"He'll make it up to her I promise you that." He reassured. "You really care for these girls don't you."

"I wish I could have done something for those girls tonight." Ally whimpered. "When I look at Sarina, Kris, Jenny and Sarah and all their innocence I just feel a desire to protect them."

"Like Selina did for you?" Jayden asked. Ally looked down at Sarah again and her eyes went from tearful to burning determination.

"Any one even thinks about hurting my girl and I will tear them to pieces." Ally said in a dark voice.

"I love you." Jayden said causing Ally's expression to soften.

"I love you too, and I am proud of what we all become. We're a family more than assassins." She said.

"Everything will work out in the end I promise." Jayden said as the two kissed passionately. Jayden broke the kiss and looked down at Sarah. "You gonna stay with her?"

"I was just gonna lay down with her until she fell asleep, but when she did she just hopped right on top of me and snuggled up to me." She chuckled.

"You don't mind, you love the feeling of being needed." Jayden chuckled.

"Yeah, goodnight Jayden." Ally muttered as she snuggled into her sheets with Sarah.

"Goodnight Ally." Jayden said as he turned out the lights and closed the doors.

Ally thought back to what she said about dressing the girls up and then she thought about Hilary and how she would look in a classy dress for a fancy dinner or worse a mini skirt with a backless top for when she went clubbing. She grinned wickedly at the thought as she closed her eyes.

"Oh trust me Hilary, when I'm done fixing you up Flynn won't be able to stay away from you anymore." She thought as she succumbed to a sweet and blissful sleep.