Trinity couldn't keep herself from swaying unsteadily as she rose to her feet. It felt as though the inside of her head had been run through a washing machine. Everything she was used to thinking, knowing and feeling had been churned up and chewed out, and the new creed Radiance had made her give herself was echoing like thunder through her mind, the words loud enough to make her head throb.
You need to follow rules.
You need to make sure other people follow rules.
You need to keep people safe.
You need to make people feel good.
She did. She needed all of those things now.
She needed to be a good girl.
After just a few moments, Trinity's legs gave out underneath her, and she staggered over to the bed so she could sit herself down instead of collapsing onto the floor. In an instant, Radiance was right there beside her, a look of concern carved into the superhero's perfect face.
"Trinity?" Radiance called. The expression on her face was unreadable. "Are you OK?"
Trinity looked at her, and immediately forgot to answer. The sight of Radiance brought forth a tidal wave of new feelings, powerful enough to smother all kinds of old resentments that would have otherwise bubbled to the surface. She felt no bitterness at all as she stared at her captor and rival. No, not her rival. Radiance wasn't her rival anymore.
She was her savior.
Radiance had shown her the light. She had taken her and remade her into a new woman. A good, law-abiding, well-intentioned woman. Trinity couldn't imagine how to thank her enough. Furthermore, Radiance herself embodied everything Trinity now believed in. She enforced the law, and she saved people. She was an ideal. A hero.
Everything Trinity now found herself drawn towards.
She hadn't forgotten, of course, that Radiance had made her that way using mind control. She'd forced Trinity to turn her own power against herself, rewriting her most fundamental beliefs and personality traits. But Trinity couldn't bring herself to feel anything but gratitude. Each one of the words Radiance had spoken to her while she'd been in her shimmer-induced trance was now inscribed in her soul like holy scripture. They were the truth. It was quite literally impossible for her to think otherwise. And how could you hate someone who had shown you such a vital truth? How could you want to do anything but repay them for transforming you?
But how? Nothing compared to the gift Radiance had given her, and nothing could even begin to make up for all the villainous acts Trinity had committed. The brainwashed villain wracked her mind, trying to think of anything that she could do.
Then, she thought about how Radiance had looked at her while she'd been brainwashing her.
You need to make people feel good.
Yes. She needed to make Radiance feel good.
"Trinity?" Radiance repeated. As Trinity just looked at her, not answering, a look of dawning horror and guilt descended on her face, and she started gently shaking her captive's shoulder. "Hey? Hey Trinity? Fuck, c'mon. Answer me, damn it!"
"I'm good," Trinity answered finally, and Radiance looked stunned at the utterly serene tone in her voice. But it was true. She was good now. She was a good girl.
"Are... you sure?" Radiance didn't look much less worried. "I was... for a moment there, I thought that..."
Trinity cocked her head, curious to see what the hero was going to say, but she just trailed off.
"Don't worry," Trinity assured her, doing her best to smile. Her head was still churning horrendously, but it was beginning to settle, and she was starting to regain her balance. It turned out that getting your entire worldview flipped on its head required a little time to adjust. "I feel fine. I'm just eager to get started, as soon as I can."
"Get started with what?" Radiance asked.
Trinity's smile widened, and she shivered with anticipation as the words passed her lips. "Making people feel good, of course."
Just thinking about it filled her with warmth and pleasure. It was her purpose now. Her guiding light.
"Let's hold back on that a little," Radiance replied. Her tone was even, but she seemed decidedly anxious. "Until things, um, settle, it might not be such a good idea to have you out on the streets."
Trinity nodded. "Very well. I can start right here instead."
Radiance blinked. "What do you mean?"
"With you, of course." Trinity patted the bed next to her. Radiance slowly sat down, looking at the reformed villain warily the entire time. "I've put you through hell, Radiance. Yesterday, and so many more times in the past. I've broken so many rules. The least I can do is try to make it up to you."
"That's..." Radiance's lips were parted slightly in surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected this. "I don't think that's necessary."
Trinity frowned. "Why not?"
The superhero seemed momentarily dumbstruck by the question. "Because... because I'm a hero," she explained. "I'm not one of the ones who needs protecting. I can take care of myself."
Trinity nodded. She was starting to understand, but the burning drive within her couldn't be denied.
"Of course you can," she said, and drew a little closer to Radiance. "But you deserve to feel good too, Radiance."
"I..." Radiance looked at Trinity sharply, eyes widened.
"A little comfort. A little warmth. Everyone needs that much," Trinity continued. She spoke softly, but her voice was faintly breathy. She could hardly contain her excitement. "Even you. You're not a machine. You want things."
Radiance looked away. "I want to protect people."
"You want more than that," Trinity retorted, leaning in. As she thought about how she'd woken up that morning, with Radiance clinging to her arm, she could see exactly how to get through to the hero. "And that's OK! Everyone deserves a little pleasure in life. You wouldn't judge anyone else for that, would you? So why judge yourself?"
"I just want to protect people," Radiance insisted. Her whole body was tense.
Trinity drew closer, until her lips were just inches from Radiance's ear. "Liar," she whispered playfully.
At that, Radiance recoiled sharply. She looked at Trinity, horrified, perhaps even afraid. Trinity trembled. Perhaps she should stop. This wasn't what she wanted. What she needed.
You need to make people feel good.
You need to make people feel good.
You need to make people feel good.
Those words, echoing through Trinity's mind once more, stiffened her resolve. She needed to make Radiance feel good. And she knew exactly how, even if it was something Radiance was lying to herself about.
"No-one could be happy living like this." Trinity gestured around the room. "I'm not going to stop you from protecting anyone. But while we're here, you and me, why not let me make you feel good? What's the harm, Radiance?"
The hero lapsed into silence. Trinity sighed. She was going to have to twist the knife a little deeper. It pained her to do it, but she knew it would all be for the best. She could help Radiance feel better.
"You know, I saw the way you were looking at me," Trinity whispered, "while you were playing with my mind. You were so turned on, Radiance. It's OK, I'm not judging you. I know how it feels. We both do. You want me. You want to control me. Use me."
There was no doubt about it now. Radiance looked terrified. "You don't know me," she forced out.
"Then tell me I'm wrong," Trinity shot back.
Radiance didn't say anything.
Trinity didn't gloat. There was something far more important to be done. Instead, she reached out slowly towards Radiance, as if to a wary animal, and rested an arm around her shoulder. Radiance bristled, but didn't pull away.
"What..." Radiance's voice was quiet. "What are you even proposing?"
Trinity shivered again. She was getting so close. She needed this. She needed to make people feel good. That was her whole being now.
She looked at Radiance with big, open, honest eyes. "Anything you want."
At first, Radiance's lips curled up at the corners as if she was about to laugh, but her face froze when she realized how utterly sincere her captive was being.