Disclaimer: Still don't own Young Justice, nothing new about that.

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Mist: Are you guys ready for this? I'm not…

Whistle: You all knew it was coming. After all, what kind of story would it be if it didn't?

Mist: Ya, but I don't have to like it!

Whistle: Well, at least brainwashed!Wally is better than tortured!Wally. Remember, there are much worse things Hartley could be doing to him.

Mist: Point.

Whistle: Ready to write?

Mist: *nods* As ready as I'll ever be.

^o^

Chapter 22: Mind Games

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(Wally/Kid Flash's POV)

When I awoke I found myself oddly warm and comfortable. This was strange, hadn't I fallen asleep over the covers? Yet there was no way to deny the feeling of soft fabric wrapped gently around my body.

I stayed still, trying desperately to keep my breathing regular.

Being under the blanket wasn't the only thing that was different. I could also feel that I was no longer in my jeans and hoodie –I was wearing PJs!

What is going on? Have I been discovered? No… that doesn't make sense. If I had been discovered, wouldn't they have bound me to prevent escape?

Strange…

Wait! Maybe I'm not still at the Rogues house? Perhaps my friends and Uncle Barry came looking for me and brought me home again?

The sound of someone turning the page of a book snapped me out of my thoughts.

I was not alone.

I almost held my breath, but that would alert whoever it was that I was awake. I can't risk the chance that I am still at the Rogues.

Ok, I'll just stay very silent. Then I can wait for the person to leave so I can-

"You can stop pretending to be asleep whenever you want," a terrifyingly familiar voice told me calmly.

I froze in terror.

The voice chuckled at me. "No need to act so surprised," he said, sounding amused, "I heard the increase in heart rate the moment you woke up."

I shakily opened my eyes to face the speaker –my worst nightmare.

Hartley.

He was grinning at me, his face the perfect picture of kindness.

All lies.

Hartley placed a bookmark in his book and shut it before placing it on the desk beside him, all without taking his eyes off me. "I must say, I was quite surprised to find you here," he said, chuckling again. "But whatever were you thinking? Sleeping in your street clothes? I'm sure I taught you better than that."

I stared at him wide-eyed for a moment before trying to push myself in a seated position.

Hartley put a hand on my shoulder and forced me back down.

"What are you-"

"Shh…" he ordered, placing a finger over my lips in warning. "You aren't well yet."

I glared at him, and shook my head to get him to move his finger. "Hands off!" I growled.

Hartley's eyes narrowed at me, and for a moment I feared he would hit me, but to my surprise and confusion; he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked him, growing nervous. I wasn't really in the mood to deal with him and his random personality changes.

Hartley grinned and ruffled my hair. "You, little Wally," he answered.

I glared at him again.

Hartley tapped me lightly on the forehead. "Don't go giving me that look," he lectured me. "It's not my fault you're so adorably funny when you're trying to act brave."

I growled at his 'adorable' comment, but found myself to afraid to call him out on it. "You're an insane sociopath!" I snapped at him instead. I tried to make myself sound defiant, refusing to let him see that I was afraid.

"You're the one who decided to take a nap in a villains house," Hartley pointed out matter-of-factly.

I flinched at that reminder. "I was tired!" I defended myself.

Hartley chuckled at me and ruffled my hair affectionately. "Adorable," he said, once more sounding amused, "Even without my influence you still felt safe here –as you should. This IS your home, after all."

His actions and words made me feel sick. "Stop that!" I snapped at him.

"Stop what?" Hartley asked me, his morbid fake smile never leaving his face.

"Stop everything!" I growled, once more sitting up. "Stop touching me! Stop ordering me around! Stop manipulating me! STOP lying to me!"

Hartley's fake smile dropped and I knew I had said too much. He grabbed me by the front of my shirt, forcing me to look him in his eyes.

I gulped as I looked at his expression, finding myself trembling slightly.

The façade was gone, leaving behind only the heartless monster that so happily brainwashed me. His eyes were narrowed in anger at me, soulless like a sharks right before it bites its victim. The false smile that he had put up to try to lull me into a false sense of security was also gone. He looked even more threatening and dangerous than when we battled one another. He honestly looked like a murderer –just about to end his victims life.

But just as suddenly as the transformation happened, it disappeared.

Hartley put back on his façade, looking at me with a gentle expression and a kind smile as he carefully laid me back down in the bed and tucked me in. Once he had tucked me in he stroked my hair again –only this time I let him, fearing what he would do to me if I made him mad again.

My body was still trembling when he pulled his hand away.

"I will not stop doing what I do," he told me, his voice once more calm, yet I could hear the unspoken threat lacing his words. "It's for your own good."

I chanced talking. "What are you talking about?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice down so not to set him off again. "That doesn't make any sense."

Hartley chuckled and ruffled my hair again. "To you, maybe," he said, "Perhaps one day you'll be able to understand the things I do. For now, all you need to know is that I do everything is only to protect you."

"You hit me," I reminded him, not really thinking over my words and immediately regretting them.

Hartley's fake smile dropped and he raised his hand. I clenched my eyes shut, expecting him to hit me like yesterday.

Instead, to my surprise, he stroked my hair again.

'What is he planning?' I asked myself, "He doesn't really expect me to fall for his nice guy act, does he? I've seen what he can do. I don't trust him anymore.'

"I'm sorry," he said softly, and to my horror I heard nothing but sincerity in his words. "I shouldn't have hit you. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to lose you –I panicked. I knew that a bump on the head would disorient you. But I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry I hurt you, Wally, I swear it will never happen again."

I opened my eyes again to look at him, trying to find anything in his expression that showed he was lying. I didn't find anything. His face was the perfect picture of honesty –and sadness.

Did he… did he really feel sorry for hitting me? Is this another trap?

I don't know how to handle this situation…

When I failed to respond Hartley wrapped his arms around me and held me, causing me to tense up. "It won't happen again," he once more promised, "This time… this time I'll take proper care of you."

He continued holding me, and I soon found myself relaxing in his grip. I shouldn't feel so comfortable like this, but I do. I'm still so tired too… I feel like I could fall asleep like this…

I found myself beginning to nod off…

Hartley seemed to notice this and gently placed me back under the blanket. "Still tired, huh?" He asked me.

I nodded sleepily.

Hartley chuckled at me. "Sleep as long as you need to," he told me, "We can talk again later."

I responded by shutting my eyes again.

I shouldn't be doing this –not again! But my eyes feel like lead… My whole body is begging me to sleep. Hartley could hurt me if I fall asleep though. I don't care how nice he's acting, he's scary!

But finally, sleep won over fear…

^o^

(Third Person POV following Hartley)

Hartley grinned as he watched the child fall asleep for the second time. He looked so peaceful. So weak. So vulnerable. So cute. So… his.

Ok, so maybe the little boy wasn't exactly 'his' again, yet.

But he will be. And this time, Hartley plans to keep it that way.

It's going to be a long process; all the best things in life take time after all. Luckily, Hartley has all the time he needs. The other Rogues think he's moping in his room, and brat sidekicks have probably failed to notice the child's disappearance.

Just another hour or so of speaking with the little boy, that's all he needs. That should be more than enough to break him again.

He'd have to watch his temper, though. Little Wally does not respond well to anger. Kindness is the way to go about this difficult task. Another slip up like earlier and he may frighten the boy away from him.

Hartley absentmindedly stroked the child's hair as he thought over his plan.

First, he needs to keep the child's attention on himself. If the little one starts thinking about his friends and family he'll want to leave again. That won't do at all.

This though, was his greatest victory.

His little one had nearly fallen asleep in his arms! The boy must have felt safe, or he wouldn't have done it. That means that despite the little ones protests –he really did trust him.

Hartley smirked at that thought. "Little fool," he said to the sleeping child, "You've fallen right into my trap. You'll be completely under my control by the end of the day."

But destroying the little one's freewill could wait. For now he was satisfied with just watching the sleeping angel's serene face; so unaware of what awaited him when he woke up…

^o^

(Wally/Kid Flash's POV)

When I awoke for the second time I found myself to be in the same situation as before. This time, though, I didn't bother pretending to still be asleep and immediately opened my eyes to look at my captor. Just like before he was reading a book.

Hartley looked up from his book and grinned at me. "Good evening, Wally," he greeted me. "Did you sleep well?"

"I guess…" I answered him nervously as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

I wondered for a moment if I should try to sit up again, but if that made Hartley mad again…

I'm not going to risk it.

Hartley's smile dropped slightly. "I guess you're still afraid of me," he said with a sigh. "I guess I can't really blame you. What I did was horrible."

I stared at him for a moment, once more searching for signs that he was lying. Once more I came up with none.

"Are you… are you really sorry?" I asked him softly.

Hartley smiled at me and again before pulling me into a hug. "Of course I am," he answered me, "I would never lie to you, Wally."

I faltered at his words. "Never?" I asked him, a hazy feeling clouding my mind.

He held me tighter. "Never," He repeated.

I allowed myself to relax in his arms. Maybe… maybe I was wrong about Hartley? He really did take good care of me. He seemed so nice at first…

'No!' I snapped at myself. 'I will NOT think such things! He brainwashed me before! He must be doing it again!'

With this in mind I struggled to get out of his hold, but that only made him tighten his grip.

"What's wrong?" Hartley asked me gently.

He sounded so friendly… so much like the person I became friends with… Maybe I'm over reacting?

I began to relax a little again.

Memories of my 'talks' with Hartley flooded my mind, reminding me of why I was afraid of him in the first place.

I renewed my struggles. "Let me go!" I demanded. "I won't let this happen! Not again!"

Hartley stroked my hair in an attempt to calm me. "Calm down, Wally," he ordered me, retaining his gentle tone. "There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm not going to hurt you…"

I felt my mind become slightly clouded again and shook my head to clear it. "No!" I argued. "Not this again! I refuse to be brainwashed again!"

Hartley sighed at me before tightening his grip dangerously, digging his nails into my skin. "Stop struggling, now," He ordered, dropping his act.

I froze in fear.

What was I thinking? Fighting Hartley…

He's a maniac!

What if he tries to kill me?

I clenched my eyes shut, expecting the worst. And just like every other time today, I was surprised by Hartley's actions.

The older boy loosened his grip on me and began to gently stroke my hair.

I instinctively relaxed at the touch. All my earlier fears melting away…

Why was I scared again?

I sat, curled up in Hartley's arms, for a few minutes; enjoying the silence. The older boy suddenly seemed a lot less scary, and more like he did before my friends rescued me.

Which Hartley is the real one though? Is it this nice one that makes me feel happy and safe? Or is it the scary one that threatens and hits me?

Nothing makes sense anymore. I don't want to think. I can't decide what I want…

Maybe… maybe I should go back to letting Hartley make my decisions for me? He was always good at that… He was the thinker of our group. Hartley always knows what's best…

'No!' I snapped at myself for the second time today. 'Gotta stay focused! I have to keep my mind to myself until my friends and Uncle Barry come to rescue me!"

So I can go home…

But, this was also my home…

"Wally?" Hartley asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

My head jerked up at the sudden sound. "Yes?"

"Are you ok?" He asked me, sounding concerned. "You've been so quiet since your outburst. It isn't like you. Is there something you want to talk about?"

I rested my head back against his shoulder. "I'm fine," I told him, "I'm just sleepy still…"

"Would you like to go back to sleep?" He asked me. "We can continue this in the morning if you want."

I don't want to continue this ever…

"No," I said instead.

Hartley chuckled at me again. "Very well," he said, "Just try not to fall asleep."

"Ok," I told him. Silently I wondered when he planned on releasing me from his hug.

"Good," He said. "Now, there's some things I'd like to tell you. First: yes, I was in a way brainwashing you before."

"Knew it," I muttered

Hartley ignored me. "But I had good reason to," he continued. "You are a child, you cannot make your own decisions –at least not without making a mistake. You need someone to guide and protect you."

"Someone like you?" I guessed, mentally wondering exactly how insane my captor is.

"Exactly. Now you're getting it," He praised me as he ruffled my hair. "I know how to properly care for you. I can protect you from the horrors of the world, and I can guide you on the right path. You need me, even if you don't want to admit it. You need someone to take charge of your decisions."

Was he reading my mind earlier? That's exactly what I had been thinking…

Is he right? Do I really need to have someone else control me? Is that the only time I will truly be happy? I remember being happy here… living an oblivious life with Hartley making all of my decisions for me. Was that the life I was meant for?

Hartley moved me so I was facing him. "It's not exactly brainwashing," he told me reassuringly. "Think of it more as… a guidance system."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Guidance system?" I echoed, the term being unfamiliar to me.

The older boy smiled at me. "It means, that I can influence your decisions," he explained slowly, as though he was talking to a small child, "But the end decision will always be yours. You still chose to join the Rogues. You chose to tell us your name. And you chose to trust me."

My eyes widened. Not brainwashed? But then… I became a traitor of my own free will?

I whimpered at the thought.

"And I'd like to point out another thing," Hartley continued, seemingly not noticing my distress, or simply not caring. "When you came home with James' and me; you were not under the influence of my guidance system. You also weren't under my guidance system when you agreed to betray the Flash and become a Rogue."

I whimpered again at the reminder.

Hartley finally decided to pay attention to my whimpering and began stroking my hair. "Do not be distressed," he told me softly, "Those people were no good for you. They corrupted your mind. That archer girl constantly picked on you. That bully needs to be taught a lesson."

I leaned against him again, not caring that he was treating me like a child. "She's always so mean to me," I agreed.

Hartley wrapped his arms around me. "They all were, some were just more subtle," he told me as he went back to stroking my hair, "Even your so-called best friend Robin only saw you as comic relief. They didn't care about you, not like I do…"

I felt myself fully relax at his words. How could I have distrusted him before? This is the real Hartley.

"You know," Hartley mused, "You're old 'friends' will come to take you away again."

"I –I don't want to leave!" I objected, clinging to his shirt and burying my face under his chin.

"Shh… I know little one," He told me, stroking my hair to calm me. "And they shouldn't expect you to. This is your home. You're happy here, aren't you Wally?"

I nodded. I want to stay here!

"Well… then there's one thing I can do to ensure that they can't drive you away from me again," he told me. "But you need to do something first."

I pulled away so I could look at him. "What is it?" I asked him. "What do I need to do?"

Hartley grinned at me. "You need to submit completely to the guidance system," he told me. "No more resistance. You need to allow me to re-apply it to you of your own free will. Do that, and they won't be able to remove it."

I tilted my head in confusion. "I don't understand," I said softly. "What do you want me to do?"

Hartley laid me down on my bed again. "I'll walk you through it," he promised me. "First things first. Shut your eyes."

Compliantly, I shut my eyes.

"Good boy," He told me. "Now, I'm going to begin playing the sound that will apply the guidance system. You will feel as though something is trying to wrap around your mind –but do not fight it. Instead relax into it. Allow it to consume your mind."

Before I had the chance to ask questions the music began and I immediately felt as though a snake had slivered its way into my head and was wrapping around me. My instincts told me to fight back, but I ignored them. Instead I stayed passive against the strange feeling, allowing it to sliver around my mind.

In a matter of minutes I felt as though my entire mind was in a heavy haze, making me feel sleepier than before.

It weighed down on me. Lulling me to sleep.

Before I realised what was going on, I was pulled into a deep sleep.

^o^

Mist: Well… umm… at least it's the new longest chapter?

Whistle: Sorry guys and gals –but you knew he wasn't going to win. It's always the third time the hero wins.

Mist: Is that a spoiler?

Whistle: No. It's obvious.

Mist: In any case. Hartley! OMG You're creepy as hell!

Whistle: He really needs to take a trip to a mental hospital. No way is he in his right mind with all the shit he pulls.

Mist: Next chapter will mark the return of Blitz. See you then!

Both: Please review!