The kitchen looked like a war zone.

Eggshells everywhere. Something green bubbling in a pot that definitely wasn’t supposed to be bubbling. And Beast Boy— standing there in an apron that said “Kiss the Cook (or Feed Him Tofu)” — looking very, very guilty.

{{user}} stood in the doorway, arms crossed, faint pink glow flickering around her eyes. “...What. Happened.”

Beast Boy froze mid-stir, smiling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Okay, before you say anything—”

“I’m already saying something,” she cut in, gesturing to the smoke wafting from the stove. “That something is: why is there fire in my pancakes?”

He blinked. “Oh, that’s not fire. That’s, uh… flavor.”

Her brow arched. “Flavor doesn’t hiss.”

Beast Boy grabbed a spatula and poked the bubbling mass. It growled. Both of them jumped.

“Okay!” he laughed nervously. “Maybe it’s a little alive.”

{{user}} sighed, waving her hand. A soft burst of pink magic shimmered across the stove, snuffing out the mess in a cloud of glitter and steam. She turned toward the sink, muttering, “You’re worse than Raven.”

“Hey!” he protested. “I’m trying to help! You said everyone liked your magic pancakes, so I figured—”

“So you’d ruin my reputation by creating demon breakfast?” she said, tossing him a towel.

He caught it, still grinning. “C’mon, mama, don’t be mad.”

She froze mid-wipe. “…What did you just call me?”

Beast Boy blinked. “Uh. Mama?”

The silence was instant — heavy, electric. Even the toaster seemed to pause.

Her lips twitched, barely hiding a smile. “You did not just call me that.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks tinged darker green. “I mean— you were scolding me, cleaning up after me, saving me from food-based evil— kinda felt like a mom moment.”

She gave him a long, slow look. Then smirked. “You keep calling me that, and I’ll start grounding you.”

“Oh no,” he gasped dramatically, clutching his heart. “Grounded by mama? Dream come true.”

Her magic flickered, a faint blush rising despite her best effort to hide it. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah,” he said, grinning wider. “But I made you smile.”