8 8)His Past........

Jayden could feel pain on his body and standing from the bed he had to put a hand on the wall to hold himself up but that did nothing to stop the pain, suddenly his eyes opened but what he saw wasn't Peters room. No it was his old room back when he was eight years old, the cracked mirror in front of him, the leaky window to the side, with a small dresser and a bed that had a towel for a blanket. He panicked an looked in the mirror but the face that was looking at him was his old childhood face with the black eye, cut lip, and gash across his forehead, on his now small arms was bruises going from the wrist to his back.

Everything that he experienced felt like a dream; Jean, Miss. Grey, The Rose. All of it when he tried to use his powers nothing came forth and he felt like breaking down obviously he wanted to to all be true and when he couldn't access it he was on the verge of a break down. While he was having his mental break down someone came in his room walking quietly and held him from behind, with his small body from lack of nutrition he only reached the persons waist. Smelling the familiar jasmine and stale beer he knew it was his mother, it only took a moment for him to know why she was hugging him while crying.

His bastard father beat him again, the memory came to his mind and he felt angry, it wasn't that he wanted to beat him though he was after his mother but Jayden always took the hits so that his mother wouldn't have to. The man liked to drink a little to much and when he did it wasn't for anything other than because he made the money so he spent it on what he wanted, not allowing his mother to work he gave them the scraps. If it wasn't for Jayden then his mother would probably already be dead and in the ground but he was unbreakable and got up every time so his mother wasn't the victim.

"I'm so sorry son, I'm such a bad mother." she said breaking down in his arms while hugging him firmly but also gently so it wouldn't hurt him more than he already was.

"No mom you aren't. I couldn't ask for a better mother in this life to me you and Sarah are treasures and it's his fault for trying to hurt something so precious." He said wrapping his arms around her, his sister Sarah was only three but grew up like no other three year old learning not to cry at just a year old in fear her father would beat her mother.

His mother leaned back and stared into his eyes, at eight he shouldn't be having these problems and be enjoying his times with friends but instead he was the real man of the house having to take care of her and his sister. Once the beatings became to noticeable she had taken him out of school to be home schooled but because they couldn't afford a computer for him to do school work he usually was out trying to find them money and food. A fresh set of tears couldn't help coming out of her eyes when she thought of this even though he said what he did it didn't help the fact that she still saw herself as a terrible mother.

While the two hugged a soft set of footsteps came into the room and a little girl holding a stuffed bunny came into the room her big round brown eyes looking at her brothers condition, her eyes got watery but she held it in and hug the bunny. It was something he had save up to buy her when she showed interest when walking outside one day she treated it like a treasure and made sure never to show her monster father or it would be burned. Walking into the room she ignored her mother and softly hugged her brothers arm, she didn't show any emotions in her eyes unless it was at him she saw this place as a dark pit with him being her only shining light.

Jayden looked into the eyes of his little sister which were similar to his own they both didn't carry emotion except for when they looked at each other, he cared for his mom of course but his spirit was broken long ago. He reached over stroking her hair, "It's okay bunny I'm not in pain anymore." he said while giving her a smile trying to hold back at the wince from his busted lip. Jayden thought about Jean in this moment and let out a sigh on the inside it was the best dream he had in years and he was glad that he got to meet her, just like his little sister even in a new world, Jean was his shining light in a dark pit.

Sarah used her free hand and held onto his clothes it would be like this for the rest of the day always after a tough beating she would be by his side since she didn't want him to suffer alone, she was oblivious to the thoughts in his head. All the while their mom had left to make that monster food they stayed in the room where Jayden told her the story of his dream his mind falling into place with his past not noticing that just outside the window there was only fog and nothing else. "Then I got shot and woke up here." he finished his story, smiling when he saw she was amazed by his dream.

"Pretty?" Sarah asked she was a girl of few words but the connected so well he knew what she meant without even asking.

"Oh the rose yes it was very..." he stopped when he saw her shaking her head "Jean?" seeing her nod he let out a smile, "Of course she was the most beautiful girl I ever seen, well only second to you."

"Make Happy?" she asked again her head tilted to the side.

"Very, it was like having you in my life again," he passed a second his mind catching up to what he just said what did he mean by again? This was his life the rest was all just a dream, looking down at his sister he saw the pattern of a rose in her eyes while she gave him a small smile, "Sarah?"

"Do you remember when was the last time you saw her?" out of Sarah's mouth came an otherworldly voice startling him but he was smart enough to know what was going.

"It was..." He thought about this little mirage and remembering his appearance in the mirror a tear rolled down his eye, "It was this day, I woke up like normal and all this happen but the day took a big turn after this, it was the one time I couldn't stop him," unknowingly tears were coming out his eyes as he looked at her little face it was the same one he saw earlier today in the bank the little girl who got the gash on her face from the gun, he knew it wasn't his sister but remembering this he went wild, "He came home after work today and tried to beat my mom again when he was drunk but this time since i was to weak he didn't get to beat me as long so he went after them..... I don't know what happen but when I woke up the police were there and not even five feet away from me was a bunny covered in blood."

He looked at the little bunny in her hands letting his tears run down freely, "It was the day I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone hurt me again or those I cared about, but as my days passed I couldn't get over it so I was alone and had no one to care about. She was the last person I ever cared about in any life... It might be impossible but." He looked at the little Sarah with hopeful eyes.

"Let go, she is living a new and happy life somewhere else she grew up to be a counselor for abused kids but she lived a happy childhood, she married a man who on their first date bought her a bunny that she raised until it passed on, she now has three kids two girls and her youngest a little boy. But even after losing her memories she still named him something she always remembered Jayden Conner Matthews. She found happiness so don't you think it's time you did the same, I'm not saying to dive right in but open yourself up more you are worthy of love." The Sarah started to slowly fade into dust and he was left in a dark empty space with nothing but a Bright Red Rose shining there.

Jayden stared at it an felt grateful not because he it helped he be reborn or gave him the powers that anyone else would droll over but because it let his heart feel free again, "Thank you." he whispered letting his head fall down tears rushing down his face his greatest loss wasn't himself but the one and only true person he loved with all his heart but knowing she is living the best she ever could he was finally free. The Rose that was in front of him slowly started to let the petals fall only leaving three on it; a Red one, Blue, and Golden the rest were all grey along with the Tattoo on his hand.

"Find the rest of The Rose and Restore balance fore every force there is another there to counter it, that is the law of nature, believe in yourself and you can have anything you want, this is my last will to you my petals are scattered across the universe go find them." The voice faded along with the space around him slowly starting to distort around him.

*In A Bright Room*

In what looked like a hospital room Jayden laid on a bed with a needle in his arm two days after not waking up they called the number that was left by him and met a strange man, he wore a crow mask but shook his head and picked up Jayden. This was someone that Jayden had done a favor for in his dark web life earning him one free help card from this man and while he may have seemed creepy when he showed up saying he was going to take Jayden away Jean let it be. She was the most worried but knew a little about his other life and could tell that he could be trusted of course she also went along, on the condition that she was blindfolded.

She had to give constant updates to her mom about where she was these passed two days and her mom hearing that it had something to do with Jayden let her be, she was now laying by his bedside asleep. Jayden slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room in the far corner was the man known as Crow Master who was looking back at him with hazel eyes, nodding to Jayden he got up and walked out of the room. He paid his debt to Jayden and the room was just in an abandoned warehouse so he left without saying words Jayden could handle it now that he was awake, though he might have to pay a bit later.

Looking around the room Jayden saw Jean leaning on his bed her red hair thrown over her face, he was sure that the position she was in wasn't comfortable at all, sighing he brought out a golden petal and pushed it into his chest. His body which felt weak gain new strength and he no longer need to lay down in bed, sitting up his movements caused Jean to wake up rubbing her eyes trying to adjust to the light. At first she was disoriented but soon she started fully wake up and seeing those golden eyes with green flecks tears started to stream down her face, she was so happy she sat there stunned.

Jayden gave a small smile and reach over wiping the tears from her face happy that the first person he saw when he woke up was her, "Why are you crying birdie don't you have more faith in me than that to wake up soon?"

"What are you talking about!! Of course I was worried how could I not be you have been asleep for two day straight, when I saw you in Peter's bed with blood I got so worried about you but knowing I needed to treat you I pushed it all down.... but now," She let more tears out, "You are finally awake I don't need to anymore."

Jayden let out a smile, when it came to people who cared about him it could be counted on his finger from both lives he didn't think that he would ever get over his passed but when you are near death then sometimes you can change. Rubbing her head he smiled gently this time his eyes glowing a little, "Don't worry Birdie, I wont do anything dangerous again unless I am prepared," those words didn't seem to work seeing as she sent a glare his way, "Of course I will need my side kick too. What do you say Birdie?"

A beautiful smile took over her face with her nodding, "That's fine but if we are going to be like Spider-Man and IronMan then we are going to have to think of a better name for me than Birdie, because it will be obvious if you call me that in public." She stuck out her chest like she was the smartest person ever and it took all his will power to not look down the V-neck she was wearing and seeing those weapons.

"Whatever you say Birdie, but we should leave from here it's not exactly a place we should hang out as to have this talk." Getting up from the bed he put on the shirt next to the bed that had a sticky note on it, 'It's been two days that's going to cost you a hack, I will be in touch -Crow Master' putting the note in his pocket he sighed. Going out the Warehouse they saw that they were at the docks and all around were homeless people who were camping out a little away from them was a office with the lights on, reaching for his phone he remembered he needed to go buy a new one.

An hour later they stood in Jean's living room Miss. Grey hugging him tightly she knew something was wrong with him since her daughter was away for two day just to take care of him, even if all Jean said was he had a stomach bug. Jayden smiled lightly and repeatedly told her that he was fine but until she circled him three times and seeing nothing wrong did she let out a breath of relief, this was a feeling that he missed motherly love and he couldn't contain his smile. After hanging with Jean for awhile he decided to head home he knew Crow Master would contact him by tonight so he was going to be ready for him when he did.

Walking into his three bedroom apartment he remembered back to his past life where everywhere he lived was month to month rundown apartments or motel rooms and felt grateful that he had the place he did now. In his past life he was on the run from countless people who were looking for him from when he first started as a hacker and was terrible but this time he could live in peace without having to worry about running. After a quick dinner he got on his laptop and enter into 'The Silent Room' a chat place for people who didn't want their messages tracked, looking at the email from Crow Master he sighed in relief that it was something simple.

After hacking into Oscorp and stealing a little data that he didn't even think twice about he sent it off to the guy and called it even, some people you didn't want to be near and Crow Master just gave him the creeps.

*Next Day*

The next day he got a new phone and installed all his plugins before giving a call to Johnny who told him to rush over so they could talk, he figured they might try and fire him for not showing up for two days. When he got to the Baxter building he used his employee pass and went straight to the 35th floor, when he walked into the lounge Sue ran to him holding him in a tight hug refusing to let go. Jayden looked freaked out from the contact and saw Johnny laughing while Reed was giving him a wry smile while scratching the back of his head, they hadn't seen each other since the day of Planet Zero and Sue was scared he wasn't coming back.

"Uhh Sue could you let go please I can't breath." Jayden said his voice a little strained for a small thing she sure had a lot of strength, but looking over he saw Ben or should he say the thing since he had orange rocks all over his body, guess that's why she is a little stronger.

Sue backed away and gave him a bright smile before walking back to the couch and picking up her mug of whatever she was drinking, "Sorry about her she was freaked out when you didn't come in these past two days and thought the worst." Reed said walking over and patting him on the back leading him over to the couches.

"Oh it's been kind of crazy for me these past two days." He said with an awkward smile not going into it, "But why would she be worried nothing serious happened right?"

The room went quiet while everyone looked down and Jayden already assumed what their answer was but Johnny spoke it first rubbing his head, "It's Doom, after the day of the Planet Zero incident he changed like really changed, he went from this nice guy," Reed Scoffed, "To an ass in like seconds talking in third person and how he was going to get revenge on Reed and Ben for their past days in college."

"Changed how?" Jayden asked looking between everyone mainly Ben who shifted uncomfortably.

"Yeah it's probably what you are thinking we have all changed, after that day it has been like a roller coaster." Sue said with a small frown.