Raven

Raven stirred her tea with the spoon that Starfire received with her coffee. As much as she hated to show any of her emotions, she just couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. She never realized how much Starfire had meant to her before she had gone so long without seeing her. She missed the way her eyes lit up with joy over the simplest of things and even though the last few months had dulled her eyes slightly, the darkness of the situation had not destroyed her inside. Raven will never be able to put into words how much she admired that.

Although both of the girls were basking in the joy that consumed them, it wasn't long before it became adamantly clear that neither of them had any idea what the next step was. They hadn't had any form of communication with the boys since the day they were separated three months ago. And they could have been taken anywhere. There was no away the villains were dumb enough to keep all five of the Titans in the same city. Even Killer Moth had pulled Kitten out of her high school and moved two cities over. Mumbo had moved Raven to the outskirts of Starling City. Raven figured it would be a safe assumption that the other Titans were no longer in Jump City either.

"Beast Boy is most likely in Paris at the Brotherhood of Evil's headquarters," Starfire broken the silence.

Raven nodded, "But he is the last one that we will be able to get too."

"Robin…" Starfire began, but stopped when her eyes watered and her voice raised in pitch.

Raven's chest tightened. Starfire was in a lot of pain and she wanted to candy coat the truth for her sake, but she couldn't do that. It would be too cruel. She took a deep breath. "Robin, maybe even more than Beast Boy, will be hard to get to. Slade…Rob…I don't know how we are going to get to Robin," Raven reached out and gently placed her hand on Starfire's, "but we will get to him. I promise."

Starfire nodded and took another drink of her awful tasting black liquid.

"What about Cyborg? I think at this point he will be our best bet." Raven said after she took a drink of her tea. It was bland, even blander that tea should be, but the warmth gave her a little bit comfort.

Starfire locked eyes with Raven, letting her know that she agreed.

"Last time we faced Brother Blood he had a school out in Steel City. What are the odds that he still has that school?"

Starfire shrugged. "It's worth the shot."

Cyborg

Cyborg wasn't dumb. He knew the best strategy was the play the game. If the villains wanted him to switch sides and play for their team, then that was exactly what he was going to do. He knew that he would be the easiest Titan to get too. The girls would surely be coming for him. But in order for him to gain the access nessacary to escape with them, he would have to have Brother Blood's trust. Brother Blood was desperate for Cyborg to give in and become a son to him, and Cyborg knew that. And he was going to use that to his advantage.

He sat in Brother Blood's office, waiting for him to get done with his lecture. It wasn't common for Brother Blood to leave him alone for long periods of time, but Cyborg promised to be good. He sat perfectly still, kept his hands in his lap, and kept his eye forward—well, for the most part. It was hard to stare at an empty chair for an hour.

"I see you kept your word," Brother Blood's voice spilled into the room. "You really were good."

Cyborg smiled, even though he was so disgusted that his stomach was doing flips.

Brother Blood took a seat in the chair behind the desk. He folded his arms across the desk and asked, "Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Cyborg swallowed. This was it. This was his chance. He needed to word it very carefully- one wrong word, facial expression, a breath in the wrong place, ect, could end his plan before he could even put into motion.

"I," he began. "I want to give myself fully to you. I want to work with you, learn from you, every day for the rest of my life. I want to join you and the Brotherhood of Evil. I believe that together we could do great things."

Brother Blood was silent for a moment and Cyborg was afraid that he didn't believe him, but then he broke out into a cheshire smile. "I thought those words would never come out of your mouth," he purred.

Cyborg internally let out a sigh of relief. I will see you girls soon, he thought.

Robin

Everything hurt. His wrist was fractured, his head was pounding, and his eyes burned. As he sat on his bed, he cradled his injured wrist. He rested his head against the wall. He was so tired. When was the last time he slept? He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten a full eight hours of sleep. He just couldn't fall asleep and once he did fall asleep he couldn't stay asleep. Every time he would close his eyes he would see the faces of his friends. They were always so sad—so broken. When he would drift off to sleep he had the same dream, the same nightmare, over and over again—Starfire stood in front of him and would say "This is your fault." Then Beast Boy would appear and say "If you were a better leader this never would have happened." Cyborg would come up and stand next to Beast Boy, "You should have thought through your plan better. Didn't Batman teach you anything? He must be so proud." And then finally Raven, "You gave up on us. How could you?" Robin felt tears spring to his eyes at the memory of the nightmare that plagued him every time he dared to fall asleep.

The door to Robin's room slide open. Robin painfully lifted his head and slowly got to his feet. Cradling his injured arm, he looked at the ground and addressed his master. "Sir?"

Slade was silent for a moment. "Look at me," he demanded. After Robin locked eyes with him, he continued. "I think you have the right to know that Cyborg has given in. He has given himself fully to Brother Blood and plans to serve the Brotherhood of Evil."

Shock was plaster all over Robin's face. He couldn't help it. That was the last thing he thought he would ever hear. Rage filled his stomach, but only for a split second. He couldn't blame Cyborg. It was Robin's job to get his team out of this situation and he couldn't do it. It was his fault that Cyborg switched sides.

Slade pulled out two bottles of pills. "One," he explained, "is for the pain and the other is to help you sleep." Slade's voice got eerily gently. "It's okay, Robin, give in. It's alright, no one is going to think any less of you. Come on and join me. It's going to be okay. Join me and the pain and the suffering will stop."

Robin thought for a moment. "If I join you will you continue to abuse me?"

"Obey and I will have no reason to punish you."

"I want to go to sleep."

Slade held out the pill bottles. "Take one of each. It will be okay, Robin. You know what you need to do to make things better. You do your part and I will do my part."

Robin watched as Slade left, Slade's words tumbling around in his head. He needed to sleep. He took the pills and crawled into bed. He would think over his options more in the morning.

Slade smiled behind his mask as he left his apprentice's room. It was only a matter of time now. Robin would be his by the end of the week.

Beast Boy

He kept tugging at his collar. It started by him running his finger over the thick metal, trying to find a weak spot. There was none. It was shortly after that he began to notice that his collar itched and irritated his skin. It was heavy and uncomfortable. He started tugging on it to get the itchiness to stop and to try and easy the discomfort.

"Stop that." Mallah growled.

"But it's annoying," Beast Boy whined. "I want it off."

"Beast Boy," Madame Rouge said in her thick accent, "eat your breakfast."

Beast Boy poked at the eggs with the plastic fork. "I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat."

Madame Rouge looked at him. "It's not meat, its eggs. Eat it."

Beast Boy was offended. "It's the same thing! I'm not eating it."

Madame Rouge waved a hand at him. "Then eat the toast."

Beast Boy grumbled something under his breath as he took a bite of the toast. "What are we doing today?" he asked in-between bites.

"Ve?" Madame Rouge asked as she slide a bowl of oatmeal across the table towards Beast Boy.

"Yeah, we. You do all the work and I have to follow you around because I'm your pet—you know if you are going to keep me as a pet, can't I at least be able to change into different animals? I think that would make more sense, don't you? Oh I could be a different animal every day. I like on Tuesday I could be a Tiger and on Saturday I could be a ra-" Beast Boy was cut off by Madame Rouge.

"Stop rambling. I find it irritating. Also you are not my pet you are my assistant."

"But you never let me assist at anything." Beast Boy pointed out. "Can I have a spoon for the oatmeal?"

She held out a spoon and sighed. "That is a privilege you will gain someday."

"It's a privilege to assist you?" Beast Boy grumbled as he took the spoon from her.

"Eat your oatmeal."

It was around two in the afternoon when Killer Moth, Kitten, and Mumbo approached Madame Rouge, Mallah, and Beast Boy. They looked rough. They had wicked under eye circles like they hadn't slept in days. Kitten had a bruise on her cheek and Mumbo had dried blood on his forehead.

Madame Rouge stood up. She crossed her arms and glared at the three criminals. "So," she spat, "vhat is your excuse?"

Beast Boy quietly snickered. "You put Raven with Mumbo," he mumbled under his breath.

Madame Rouge wasn't supposed to hear Beast Boy's comment, but she did. Without removing her glare from the three people in front of her she snapped at the green boy sitting a few feet from her. "That was not a question for you, Beast Boy."

Beast Boy sighed. "Yes, ma'am."

Mumbo, Kitten, and killer Moth all scrambled to tell their side of the story. None of them took responsibility for themselves. That is was angered Madame Rouge the most. When you fail, at least have the pride to admit it.

Madame Rouge quickly grew board with the poor excuses. "Freeze them." She ordered Mallah.

Beast Boy jumped to his feet. "No, you can't do that."

"Sit down," Rouge growled.

"No, you can't just freeze whoever you want. Someone needs to stop you. You have too much power." Beast Boy yelled. He wasn't sure why he was standing up for them, but it was something that a hero would do and deep down Beast Boy was still a hero.

"AH," Beast Boy shouted out in pain as his collar sent out an electric shock. Rouge strutted over to him and grabbed his chin. Beast Boy looked down, refusing to make eye contact.

"Look at me," she demanded.

Beast Boy refused to look at her.

She demanded again. "Look at me."

Beast Boy lifted his eyes. He didn't want to be shocked again.

Rouge rubbed her thumb along his cheek. "You are not a hero," she told him. "Stop acting like one."

"I can't just erase who I am." Beast Boy whispered.

Rouge ruffled his hair and turned back to Mallah. "Freeze them." She said again.

For the rest of the day Beast Boy sat next the Rouge and sulked. He was a hero and there was nothing that was going to change that. He couldn't change that, no matter how hard he tried. He refused to be weak. Yes, his life would probably be easier if he gave in and served the Brotherhood. Surely he would be able to get this stupid collar off and he wouldn't have to wear a leash all the time. But a leash and a collar wasn't worth his dignity or his pride. He was a hero and he planned to stay a hero—no matter what the cost.

It was well after Beast Boy's usual bedtime when Brother Blood arrived. He had a large smile on his face as if he knew a secret. Beast Boy shot him a quick glare and then returned to a report that Rouge was making him read over.

"Hurry and tell me the news. I need to get Beast Boy to bed," Madame Rouge said with a hand on her hip.

Brother Blood casually waved his hand in the air. "I just thought that you would be interested to know that Cyborg has finally decided to join us."

Beast Boy's blood ran cold. His fist tightened crinkling the report I his hand, his bottom –lips quivered as he tied to stop his eyes form watering. He couldn't cry in front of them. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

Madame Rouge looked over at Beast Boy. His eyes were locked onto the report in his hands. She noticed that he was shaking ever so slightly. She felt a tightness in her chest that she has never felt before and absentmindedly wondered if she was being to catch a cold.

She turned her attention back to Brother Blood. "Perfect. We will begin stage two with him. Slade reported this morning that he believes Robin is close to switching sides as well. Beast Boy, however needs more…"

"I want to go to bed." Beast Boy said in a voice so soft that Rouge almost didn't hear him. "I'm not feeling very good."

"Mallah, take him to his room."

The gorilla took Beast Boy's leash and roughly tugged on it. Beast Boy could hear Madame Rouge starting another conversation as he left. He slowly walked down the hallway with Mallah. He rubbed is right forearm with his left hand. How could Cyborg do that to them? How could he just switch like that? Robin, he understood. It must have been hell for him with Slade and it was probably easier both mentally and physically to just give in. But Robin was strong, he could have powered through. How could they give up so easily? Maybe he should follow in their lead and switch too. He wasn't treated awful, but his life could be a little bit better. He was never very popular has a hero, but now he is working alongside some of the greatest villains. If he switched sides he was almost guaranteed respect. Maybe switching wouldn't be so bad.

"Mallah?" Beast Boy asked, his eyebrows coming together has he made a face, "If I switch sides, will I still have to wear this collar?"

Mallah didn't say anything at first and Beast Boy was afraid he was going to ignore him, but then he slowly said, "No, the collar will come off in time. Once we trust you, that is."

He nodded. It made sense.

"My advice to you is this—don't make any decisions when you are tried or upset. Sleep on it. Yes, switching sides in inventible—you will join us someday and the sooner you join us, the better your life will be. But come to us on your own terms. It will be easier mentally if you are emotionally ready to make the change. Like you said earlier 'you can't erase who you are'. We may be forcing to you change your morals and way of thinking, but we aren't forcing you to make the change immediately. Unlike Slade, we understand that something like that takes time. Come to us when you are ready. We will wait."

It was dead silent for a few moments as Beast Boy took in everything that Mallah had just said. He couldn't help the relief that washed over him as he realized that his captors understood what they were asking from him. It somehow made things…better.

Beast Boy rubbed the back of his neck and with a chuckle he said, "Who knew you were so philosophical?"

"Go to bed, Beast Boy. You will feel better in the morning."

Starfire

Starfire and Raven had boarded a bus going to the Steel City. It was a long trip and they sat in the back, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Starfire caught a glance of her reflection in the window. She didn't recognize herself. She had dyed her hair blonde and cut it so short that it barley reached her shoulders. She was wearing a hoodie that was two sizes too big for her, but she liked it because she could use the hood to cover her head. Raven had convinced Starfire that their old looks were too easily recognizable, especially if they were going to go into Brother Blood's territory. Starfire couldn't argue with her logic, and with few tears shed, Starfire cut off her beloved hair. Raven had dyed her hair brown. She wardrobe change consisted of skinny jeans, a plain pink t-shirt, and sunglasses.

After they had taken their seats, Raven pulled out a book and began to read. Starfire looked out the window with sad eyes. She rested her head against the cool window and thought: we are coming for you friend Cyborg. Despite what everyone thinks, this isn't over. The Teen Titans will win.