Brainwashed
----A couple of weeks later----
I now know why Brother Blood didn't just brainwash me competely at first. He wanted to torture me.. nothing more and nothing less. He wanted me to watch me become a villan. Lately, malicous thoughts.. they have been swirling around in my head. How I HOPED Starfire had... failed. How I hoped the team was still disoriented. How I missed being Slade's assistant, and how I want to now. But, more importantly, the classes have gotten easier. I understand exactly how I should act. Last night, Brother Blood even talked to me.
"Robin, I know you have had a hard time here. You were too smart, to, well, strong to go down easily with just regular brainwashing. The collar overcame that. But, soon, you will offically be one of my best students. And, it is time we discuss your new form. You can't be Robin anymore. You'll be recognized, and known as a good guy. Any suggestions to your new form and costume?"
Without thinking, something just popped into my head. I know it sounded familar.. but I didn't remember from where. "Nightwing. I like that name. I want a blue hawk looking icon on the front, and the rest of the costume to be dark blue black, and dark silver." He nodded with a smirk on his face, and said,"Alright. I think I got a good concept of it. It sounds good.. Nightwing." he said as he put a reasurring hand on my shoulder. "You may not like it now... but soon, you will love the life of a villan. The rules.. barely any, just survive and be the top person. For a good guy, the rules are numerous.. help anyone in trouble, don't shed innocent blood.. sometimes don't shed any blood at all.. use teamwork.. don't fight for the top, just do your best to help everyone.. be loyal. I know most of them, having fought many of them myself. Trust me, it isn't the way to go."
He left me with an empty feeling. To me, everything he said made sense. The life of a villan seemed more free spirted, more.. fun. And the rules were simmple, just survive and be the top one while surviving. Fight to live.. wasn't that part of what I used to do anyways! The rules make sense. EVERYTHING made sense. I can see why people here act the way they do. NO, ROBIN! THIS ISN'T YOU! THIS IS.. SOMEONE ELSE! DON'T GIVE IN! I thought. I couldn't lose myself! I can't give in to him! I will not bend backwards to him so easily! I still have a choice... this is like when I was Slade's apprentice! I can just back away at any given moment...
I sank to my knees, realizing that it could never happen. If I did, my team.. friends.. would be in danger, especially Star. Yes, he would take them down, one by one, starting with her, the love of my life, as I hid, like a coward. If I am changing.. it is for the good of my team. Starfire is probably doing an awesome job. No, not probably. DEFINATELY. I can feel it. And soon.. I won't even be Robin anymore. Where did I get the prospect of Nightwing?.. WAIT! I remember now.. Nightwing.. the guy Starfire said I woulda become if.. we split up. Well, I guess she was right. I flung myself onto my bed, and feel asleep, with thoughts of Starfire.. the team.. on my head. But, esecially Starfire.
I woke up and stretched. I can't wait for Combat Practice. I RULE in it, now that I am used to it. I hit myself in the head for thinking that, reminding that I was a prisnoer, not a regular VILLIAN student. Yes, I am no villian. I am no villian. I thought over and over, to keep myself from deciding that I was really going over to THEIR side. I dressed and went to breakfast, to find someone sitting at my seat. I was about to ask my former escort about it, when she said sternly,"Robin, this is no longer your seat. You can sit.." she said as she scanned the room for an empty chair. "There, by Jinx. There is an empty chair at her table. Tell her Le'Sean sent you, so she don't give you no trouble." Hmm.. is she southern or something? How come i didn't find this out before? Oh.. yeah.. she spoke as unoften as possible.. I looked at the person sitting at my old table, and she looked to be scared and nervous as she ate her bacon. She looked away from me as if she had been staring and I had just noticed her. I put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, smiled lightly at her, and walked off. Crap! I am sitting next to.. Jinx. Perfect...
I sat down beside her, and the conversation at that table died down immediately. Gizmo and Mammoth began talking to me, as Jinx boredly picked up her fork and pecked at her rubbery egg. "You crud-head! What are you doing here!" demanded Gizmo. "Le'Sean sent me." I said simply, devouring the last of my sausage. "So... you have completely transformed? Never thought Boy Wonder would be one of us." said Mammoth. "I will NEVER be one of you!" I said, slamming down my fork. He looked at me, and rolled his eyes. "Riight." he said simply. "What an idiot, he doesn't even realize he is going to be one of us, whether he likes it or not." said Gizmo. "Guys, leave him alone. You know how hard it was trying to fit in at first. I still do." said Jinx simply. I was dumb-folded. Why would Jnx be nice to me? "Huh. What does that mean!" demanded Gizmo at the same time, as if it had taken them a moment to take in. "You should know exactly what it means." she said. I looked at her, and caught myself before I started to stare at her. She really isn't bad.. and doesn't look to bad, either.. Not at all.. The bell rang, and Jinx got up. Gizmo and Mammoth glared at me, probably because I had gotten on Jinx's side.
Through the classes, I didn't mind sitting next to Jinx. She even helped me in the coding class, helping to explain what some of the codes meant. I tried to think of Starfire and the team, but it was getting harder and harder to think of them. I tried reminding myself that what I was feeling was a fake emotion of love, but it never really clicked. Finally, I felt accepted, and not neglected. After classes, me and her even talked about each other, likes and dislikes, together. She liked the loud rock, punk, and sometimes darkish music I liked. She had many of the same opinoins I had. And we both agreed on nearly anything. I was beggining to fall in love once more, and the name Starfire didn't cross my mind once.
When I was in my room, concentrating on my studies (and Jinx, of course) a knock came at my door. I opened it to see Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth. "Hey, we just wanted to say, we are glad you decided to come, even if it was kinda forced. You are offically part of our group." said Jinx as she handed me a HIVE communicator. I nodded my thanks, unable to speak. I was just so glad that I was accepted, and fell asleep, nearly floating.