Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen titans but I do own The Eight

Sorry for the long delay. I have no excuses.

In a basement in one of the many building of Jump City Steer and Eel wait.

"So now what?" Eel asked.

"We wait." Steer said calmly as he sat on the floor meditating.

"Wait? Wait for what?"

"A response."

Titan's Tower

Raven sat in her room surrounded by countless jars of herbs. Her face was of pure concentration as she carefully mixes them into a bowl only stopping to wipe sweat from her brow.

Aqualad meanwhile just sat in the corner of her room waiting patiently not saying a word. Even though he couldn't see he trusted Raven enough not to disturb her.

Titan's Tower was chaos. Every room you could hear arguing.

"It will never work!"

"They'll see right through it!"

"It's the only chance we have!"

"You're going to get the twins killed!"

"You have a better idea?"

Raven just blocks out the noise as she finishes her mixture.

"Alright," she finally said, "done."

Aqualad smiled, "So…what now?"

"Lie down." She said.

Aqualad obeyed and lay down.

Raven picked up the bowl and carefully walked over to him.

"Just keep your head still," she said as she sat next to him, "I'll do the rest."

Raven removed his bandages and placed them aside.

"Open your left eye." She said.

As Raven scopes some of the mixture into Aqualad's eye more arguments broke out.

"You're FOR this?!"

"Yes."

"You've GOT to be kidding."

Raven remained focused as she did Aqualad's other eye.

"This is BULLSHIT!"

"Calm down."

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Raven then placed fresh bandages over Aqualad's eyes.

"We done?" he asked as she wrapped up his head.

"Yes." She said, "Just leave these on for a couple hours and you should be fine."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

More arguing could be heard through the walls.

"So," he said as he sat up, "you ready to tell me what's wrong?"

Raven looked away.

Part of her wanted to stay silent, while another part wanted to say everything.

"Aqualad," She finally said "…my powers run on emotions."

"I know."

"No you don't. Every little thing I feel comes out as a force. That's why I'm this way. I can't just laugh or cry or yell or even smile without the fear that something might blow up. It's taken me my entire life to control it, to make sure my emotions stay locked up."

"Must be rough."

"You have no idea. Sometimes I wish I could just let them all flow out of me…like a dam bursting. Other people have dreams of being rich or famous…mine is to be normal."

"You've saved countless lives, Raven." Aqualad said as he tried to reach for her hand, "something you wouldn't have been able to do if you were normal."

"I know." She said as she touches his hand, "but I see people every day in this city who don't have to go through what I have to. Even my own team…my friends don't have to go through it."

She let go and got up. She needed to walk around.

"Is it wrong?" she continued, "for me to want to be normal. To laugh, to cry…to…love."

Aqualad's eye widen under the bandages.

"You're…in love?" he said with a surprise tone.

Raven didn't say anything.

"Well…that's great." Aqualad said smiling.

Raven looked at him oddly.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes." She said.

"I'm not joking," he said. "To be in love is wonderful. You're only scared because it's something new. So who's the lucky guy? Someone you met at a bookstore? No that can't be right. Has to be someone on the team. Let me guess… its Beast Boy isn't it…they do say opposites attract…no wait its Robin isn't it, that's why your down. Look there's plenty of fish in the sea you ju-"

"Both." She forces herself to say.

"What?"

"Both." She repeated.

"Both?"

"Yes."

"Well," Aqualad said with a stunned tone, "that's something."

"I said I'm not in the mood for jokes."

"I'm not joking. I'm just caught off guard…Yeah I can see how that would make you feel down."

Raven let out a deep breath. As much as she didn't want to admit it, it did feel good to finally tell someone.

"So, what are you going to do?" Aqualad asked feeling incredibly awkward.

"That's for me to find out."

"Well…good luck…I guess."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Raven you there?" Argent yelled.

"Yeah."

"Good, hey Kole and I are going to put some fresh bandages on our loud-mouth spider. Could you give us a hand?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Before Raven left she gave Aqualad a hug.

"Thanks. That needed to come out."

"Anytime." He said, "And don't worry. I'll take this to the grave."

Raven walked out into the hallway where Kole and Argent were waiting.

"Ready?" Kole asked as she enthusiastically held up a first aid kit.

"Let's just get this over with." Raven said.

"I hear ya." Argent nodded. She wasn't looking forward to this either.

As the three walked down to the holding pen where Black Widow was being held they could still hear arguing.

"So," Argent finally said, "What do you think of Jericho's plan?

Raven shrugs her shoulders.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures." She said.

"I agree." Kole added.

"Well I don't" Argent grunted.

"What choice do we have?" Kole remarked.

"Plenty." Argent answered, "Pantha's plan makes much more sense."

"Pantha's plan involves torture." Raven pointed out.

"So. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty."

"Not like that." Raven firmly said, "We shouldn't have to stoop to their level. We're better than that and you know it."

Before Argent could respond she bumped into Privet Hive.

"Whoa." Privet Hive said as he backed off, "Sorry about that."

Argent just glared at him.

"Look," he continued, "I just want to say thanks…for all you've done. I never would have thou-"

"Let's get one thing perfectly clear." Argent said as she shoved Privet Hive against the wall with her red energy, "We're not doing this for you. We're doing this for them, and if any of you three so much as looks at me funny-"

"Argent, stop." Kole said, "This isn't helping anyone."

Argent let Privet Hive go.

He didn't say anything as he disappeared into the hallway.

"Look." Kole finally said as they reach the door to the holding pen, "We can't let The Eight do this to us. Raven's right, we're better than this."

Argent nodded as they open the door.

Black Widow was tied to a bed by her arms and feet.

Her jumpsuit with all her poisons had been removed so all she was wearing was a tank top and her underwear.

"Ok." Argent said, "We're going to treat your wounds, rewrap your bandages, and take a look at your foot. Now are you going to be good or do we have to do this the hard way?"

Black Widow's eyes focused on the girls. She hadn't been taking her pain meds so she was sweating from withdrawal affects.

"When I get out of here I'm going to f #ing kill you little C #s in the most F #$ way possible." She yelled as she struggles against her restraints.

"Have it your way." Argent said as two arms of red energy came out and held Black Widow down.

"You're first!" Black Widow yelled at Argent, "And I'm going to make the other two bitches watch so they know what's in store for them you # #4 #%2 #$-"

Before she could yell any more Raven's black energy covered her mouth.

"Thanks" Argent said.

"Anytime." Raven responded.

"Alright," Kole said as she opens the first aid kit, "Let's get to work."

In another part of the Tower the Titans looked at Jericho/Owl.

"So we're doing this…right?" Speedy asked.

"I do not like it." Pantha growled.

"I know but this is the best shot we have."

"Alright," Hot Spot said over the communicator, "we're all in position. Is the tracer in place?"

"Yes." Speedy said.

"Alright…ready when you are."

Eel and Steer

Eel paces back and forth. Her mind was racing and she felt like she needed to do something.

But she knew Steer was right.

It didn't mean she had to like it.

After what felt like an eternity, Eel and Steer's headset erupted.

"Hello…Fox…Boa…Eel…Steer…is anyone there?" a voice came.

Eel's eyes widened. She knew that voice.

"Owl." She said with excitement, "What happened?"

"I managed to escape." Jericho/Owl said over the headset, "They still have Wolf and Black Widow. We need to regroup. Where are you guys?"