I don't own anything but original characters and my original plot

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Chapter 1 - Old Faces

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"IT'S HARD TO FORGET SOMEONE WHOM YOU'VE IMAGINED SPENDING FOREVER WITH"

"I see the target," I muttered, bringing my coffee cup to my mouth to hide the fact I was talking.

"Good. Wait until you two are alone to attack. No witnesses until after as always. You have the rose?"

"Two, just in case. They're both in my bag," I assured, glancing at the woman I was supposed to kill. She was a rising politician, constantly speaking out against villain based crime and solutions for it. Father wanted to set an example through her.

"Good. You know your mission. Klarion out."

I let out a quiet sigh and pulled out my phone to randomly press a few buttons and avoid suspicion. I had to wait another two minutes before the woman left the cafe for work. She always arrived for a coffee, stayed for fifteen minutes, then left at 9:47, passing through an alley to the street on the other side to get a cab and go to work.

"I'll have a decaf, please."

Head shooting up, I listened for the voice again. Something about it set me off. How did I know that voice? There were plenty of voices in the cafe, each one a different pitch, tone, and speed. But that one, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I searched through the people until my eyes landed on a ginger waiting at the counter.

"Turn around," I whispered the order to myself, silently praying it wasn't who I thought it was. It was always a logical fear of mine when I was on a mission in Central City.

The man miraculously turned, revealing lightning sparking behind green eyes. Freckled cheeks. Messy red hair from constantly running everywhere. It was Wally.

"I don't need this right now," I lifted my hand and pressed the com behind my ear, lowering my head, "Kid Flash is here."

"Continue with the mission as planned."

Father's answer was short and frank before the com cut out again. The threat underneath it was clear. I had to suck it up or face the consequences. I didn't think he realized the severity of the situation. Or it was another form of mental and emotional torture.

The man- Wally, I couldn't believe; he had matured- paid for his cup. Then, his eyes searched the shop for a place to sit. Seeing as how it was rush hour, there were nearly no open tables. One of the few open ones was right across from my own table. I cursed, running a hand through my hair and checking the time. 9:45.

Wally's eyes landed on the table near me, and he walked to it. I lowered my head even more, praying he wouldn't recognize me. That was the last thing I needed. Another nail in the coffin that was this mission.

That hope was soon killed. Stupidly, I was wearing my around the world outfit. The dress from Greece, French necklace, and the English boots- all of which now fit thanks to a growth spurt. While the outfit went quite well together, it was unique and looked European.

Wally sat down, setting down his coffee in the process. His eyes wandered over to me and I knew I was in trouble when they widened in recognition. Clearing my throat, I acted like I just noticed his gaze and leaned over.

"Hi. I'm Penelope Clearwater," I smiled, holding out my hand. Giving him a fake name and not acting panicked would throw him off.

"Wally West," he mumbled distantly.

A lot of people could own this outfit, I told myself, faking a smile as Wally reached for my outstretched hand.

His eyes travelled to my hands. One was tapping the table, the other was still in his. The all too familiar jolt of energy and warmth ran through me. I ignored it, pushing down my reaction. Both of my hands' positions proudly showed off my tattoos. Not everyone had those.

Wally met my gaze. His brows furrowed, eyes sparked with a new form of excitement. His grip tightened around my hand. He knew it was me. There was no taking it back.

"Nine forty-seven. Go!"

Grinning at Wally, I dug one of the two roses out of my purse and dropped it on the table. Quickly, I jerked my hand away and bolted out the door after the businesswoman who just exited. Wally couldn't use his powers in public, and neither could I until we reached the alley. We were at a standstill.

The woman entered the alley. Unknowingly, she just signed her death warrant.

"Excuse me, ma'am," I called. The woman turned around, her confusion covered up by a polite smile. I pulled the other rose out of my bag and held it out to her, "I think you dropped this back at Jitters.

"That isn't mine," she shook her head frantically. Since I had started doing assassinations, black roses were a symbol of death. Seeing one, owning one, was the worst luck you could get.

"It is now," I smirked, flicking my wrist. Her shadow jumped off of the alley wall, grabbing her and forcing her towards me. I held her wrist in a vice grip.

"Please. I'm not begging for my life, but I have a little girl at home and she needs her mother. I can't leave her like this."

"I lived without mine. Look at me now. She'll be just fine."

"(Y/n)!" Wally yelled outside the alley. He was getting closer. I turned back to the woman, pricking her thumb on one of the thorns.

"You'll take my name with you," I hissed, clenching my fist.

The woman screamed in agony, body crumpling to the ground. With one final flourish of my hand, her shadow tore itself from her body.

"Make her look pretty," I ordered the shadow. It shifted its former owner into a Snow White like position. Bending down, I placed the black rose in her hands. Sighing, I closed her eyes for her.

"(Y/n)."

"Hello Wally," I rose slowly, turning to face the man. My voice was low, dark, empty. My mission was complete.

"(Y/n), why... Come back. We can help you through this."

"You can't help me anymore," I smiled slightly, "This is who I am now. Goodbye, Kid Flash."

Lifting my hands, shadows sprung from the alley walls and surrounded me. Soon, I became a part of the darkness as it morphed around me, springing back to the walls. Standing still, I watched as Wally desperately searched for me. Eventually, he ran out of the alley and onto the street.

"Mission success. Spotted by Kid Flash in the process."

A red light dominated my vision before I was standing in front of my father. On his throne, as always, he greeted me with a frown.

"Good work Black Rose. The Kid Flash couldn't be avoided, but you handled it well. Perhaps it is time to start showing yourself to the heroes... You are dismissed."

I bowed, spinning on my heel and leaving the nearly empty room. Instead of going straight to my bedroom I took a detour to the kitchen. I didn't have time to eat before the mission and only had a few sips of coffee at the cafe.

Browsing the fridge, I spotted a piece of pie. Ivy must have made some. I grabbed a fork and slowly ate the treat, savoring the delicious taste. Ivy knew how to bake. Harley on the other hand, was the chef.

As I was eating, what the politician said came back to my mind. She had a daughter, one that would soon find out her mother was dead. How many families had I killed in the past four years? How many parents? Children? I lost count. I lost my humanity.

"Pie for breakfast? Why not some pudding?" Harley joked, entering the kitchen with Ivy close behind.

"I didn't have breakfast," I took another bite of pie, speaking between shoes, "I was training instead. I deserve this pie."

Ivy and Harley sighed in unison. They knew it was useless to tell me to train less. It wouldn't have stopped me from my rigorous, and unhealthy, schedule.

"I saw Kid Flash on my mission today," I stated quietly, poking my pie.

Harley squealed, "What? Did you two kiss and have a romantic reunion? Did he tell you he never stopped looking for you and that he loves you? Oh! That would be everything!"

She jumped on Ivy, wrapping her arms around her neck. Ivy rolled her eyes, grinning all the same.

"No. I gave him a black rose and killed someone right after," I shrugged, "Besides, sources say he was seen with Artemis a while ago. He's moved on. So have I."

"Well..." Ivy trailed off, searching for the right words, "This seems to be a forbidden love type thing."

Forbidden love my ass. I literally murdered someone right in front of him. Perfect atmosphere for love, right?

"Oh, but her and Wally will find each other again, and they'll be like Romeo and Juliet. Without the whole dying thing. They'll reveal their love for each other just like we did Ivy!"

"That is not how we got together," Ivy shook her head, "You got sick of the Joker, left him, and came to me. Voila, cutest couple ever."

"You two are cute," I finished off my 'meal', "But we can't be together. We don't feel that way about each other anymore."

"Are you sure?" Harley prompted, nearly singing the words.

I laughed humorlessly, "I'm not having this conversation with you."

Throwing the now empty pie tin away, I paused. Seeing Wally... God I was so stupid. I wasn't going to give up everything I worked for, for a boy. Women stronger than me had done the same thing and ruined their lives for nothing. I would not be one of them.

Even then, the pain so obvious on his face when he saw me over that woman's dead body... He reached out a hand to save me from drowning, and I slapped it away. I wasn't even drowning, but I was on a lifeboat in a raging ocean. One wrong move and I'd be thrown over the side.

"Next time you see him, do what we practiced. That's an order," Ivy pointed a finger at me, "Remember the three things?"

"The three things that run the world. One of which assists in the Art of Seduction," I bowed with a flourish, "Using our looks and wit to get into people's minds and taking them out from the inside."

Ivy approached from behind me, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, "Exactly. You have every tool available to you to be as powerful as possible. Take them, use them. Make your mark."

Smiling genuinely, I nodded.