Disclaimer: I wish I owned Teen Titans… and 400 llamas. XDDD

Yeah…it was a oneshot, but I wanted to keep going because so many people inspired me. (I luvs u guys!) So, yeah… more B.B. & Mento!

This takes place the day after Midnight Cereal occurs. The whole flashback thing.

It was mid morning when Mento awoke. The sunlight that now streamed in through the un-shaded windows was blinding. He rose slowly and hesitantly. Something felt wrong. Last night, he had been working in the control room. This was not the control room. So how…?

"Beast Boy."

The simple name brought realization onto him. That immature, unfocused child had distracted him. Nonetheless, he couldn't feel to angry at the smallest member of his team. Maybe it was the fact he had gotten some much-needed sleep, but he wasn't in the mood to be angry.

Still groggy, but hardly as dizzy as he had been last night, Mento made his way through the winding halls of his house until he reached the living room. As expected, Beast Boy sat, screw driver in hand (presumably stolen from Cliff while his back was turned), and de-constructing a toy car. Hearing footsteps, the child looked up and the second he saw who it was, his face lit up.

"Mento! Hi, sir! Guess what? I have awesome news! Rita, she—she promised me that when she goes to town, she's going to stop by the bookstore and see if she can buy a storybook. But not the kind she already has…a cool one with traditional stories from around the world—and Africa! I remember some, but not many, so it's good I'll be able to remember more—"

"You talk far to fast for this early in the morning." The adult cut him off. Beast Boy spoke about a thousand words a minute, and just listening to him could wear anyone out.

"Sorry." He piped. Then, "it's not that early. But OK. Whatever you say. Didja sleep well? You still look sleepy. I can make you breakfast. We both like cereal. I'll make you some." By now he had risen from the middle of the floor and grabbed his father's hand. He began tugging his arm, leading him towards the kitchen. The bright smile never left his green face. "C'mon, Mento, sir. I'll make us cereal!"

"No, thank you." He answered smoothly, pulling his arm out of the child's grip.

"Huh?" disappointment flitted through deep green eyes. "Why not?"

"I'm not hungry." What he should be was working. If he had eaten last night, that should be enough to tide him over until…later. He shouldn't be neglecting his research like this. A series of crimes, a criminal at large, this was important! "I have research to do today, Beast Boy."

Now, Beast Boy's expression went from disappointment to firm resolve. "Nuh-uh. You fell asleep last night. You lost. You have to rest today."

"…What?"

"Our deal. Oh, sir, if your memory is so bad, why don't you lay back down again? I think you could use it!"

"Oh, that's right. We made a deal." What in the world was I thinking? "Tell you what? I'll meet you halfway. I'll have something to eat, do some research, and then nap later if I have time. Does that sound fair?"

Beast Boy shook his head. "No, no, no! I'll do your work, OK? Larry can help me. Rita too. Cliff said he was busy 'cause he had to work on the jet. It got a big hole in it last time we went to fight Mallah, remember? So he'll be busy all day, and Rita does have to buy me my book, but I'll work all day researching for you and—"

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what, Mento?"

"Speaking too fast. Breath."

"Yes, sir." (Deep Inhale) "So anyway, no new deals. Go sleep. You need it. You can even read a book if you feel up to it. You used to read all the time, but we've been busy. It must be (Another deep inhale) –It must be sad to stop doing things you like 'cause you're a grownup and you gotta work all day instead."

Mento hadn't even noticed his face had dropped as his son spoke to him. There was a sad, tired look in his eyes that confirmed Beast Boy's words. It was sad—and hard—to be a grownup at times. One look into those icy blue eyes told Beast Boy he had hit a nerve. Once again, he took Mento's hand in his own and began to lead him down the hall towards the kitchen.

"C'mon. At least drink some orange juice. It has oranges in it. Fruit is so yummy, I promise you'll like it."

"I've had it before."

"Then you know how yummy it is!"

"Garfield, I understand that this is a very fun game to you, but life is demanding for a superhero. Someday, you'll understand that." The last part made Mento upset. He didn't want Beast Boy's spirit to be broken someday. He could see it, his precious adopted son, overworked and stressed, wishing someone could help him, wishing someone would take the weight off his shoulders…Like I feel now. The words drifted through his head and made him shudder. No. That was ridiculous.

As they entered the kitchen, the two ran into Larry who was walking out.

"Larrrr-eeeeeeeey!"

"Oh! Hey, green bean. Steve…you're up. Good afternoon."

Mento narrowed his eyes. "Ha, ha. Larry, I'm glad we ran into you. Maybe you can speak some sense into Gar here. He has this silly notion that he can order me around for the day—"

"NO!" Beast Boy countered, voice raising. "Larry, Larry! We've gotta help Mento today! Last night, it was super-late but I couldn't sleep so I got cereal 'cause it's yummy and helps me sleep and I saw Mento and he was super tired, so we had cereal together. Then, since Mento was still tired, I convinced him to make a deal with me. I told him a story and he fell asleep before I got to 'The End.' So today, he needs to stay in bed. You can help me research, can't you? Tell Mento he's wrong!!"

He was back to speaking fast without breathing.

Larry listened without interrupting. When Beast Boy was finished, he remained silent for a few more seconds, processing the information and mulling it over in his head. Finally, he looked at his leader.

"Well, it sounds to me like you two had a fair deal. Gar won, you lost. Take it easy, today. You're stressed out over those robberies, right? I'll see what I can do. At this point, Steve, you're only hurting yourself." He almost smiled. "Don't be so stubborn." He bonked his friend in the head playfully. For the first time, Mento realized his hat wasn't on. Seeing no point in wearing it, he removed his mask and ran a hand through his hair.

"I…still think this entire thing is juvenile." He made a point of saying.

Larry shrugged nonchalantly. "So what if it is?" he droned in his mellow tone. "Learn to kick back. You sound like my grandpa and you're not even that old."

Beast Boy giggled. "Grandpa…"

Rolling his eyes, Mento nodded. "Congratulations, Garfield Logan. You win."

Beast Boy jumped up and hugged his father tightly. "That means I'm making cereal." It wasn't an offer. It was a statement.

--

"I suppose it does."

The leader of the Doom Patrol was so engrossed in the novel he was reading, he didn't even hear his two teammates enter his room.

"Mento! Sir! Sir! Lookie! Lookie what we found!"

Jumping, Mento felt the corners of his lips betray him as they curved into a smile. Beast Boy lunged onto the bed, bouncing up and down and nearly knocking the book onto the floor. Larry walked in calmly, handing over a stack of paper.

"You were researching what the criminals were taking and what they had in common. The answer is not much. Look earlier into the day of each robbery. One common thing was scene around town. A tall, dark-haired woman with blue eyes."

"Madam Rouge."

"Now you got it. Tomorrow, I promise. We'll find her. But for now, build up your strength."

"Thanks, Larry. And Gar. It means a lot to me." For a moment, the mummy looked taken back by his leader's sincerity. Then, he smiled warmly.

"Hey, don't mention it. Really." Without another word, he left the room, still smiling.

Beast Boy remained, twirling a loose thread of cloth from his mask. He looked at Mento curiously.

"Anything else you need, sir?"

"No, please, I can get it myself. Actually…just answer me a question, OK?"

Beast Boy nodded and smiled. "I can do that!"

"Why…do you worry so much about others? Helping me like this…I don't understand. No one else ever bothered before. But you…you're so perceptive. And you're just a kid. Explain your mindset."

"I don't know what you mean." Beast Boy admitted, giggling like any child would if genuinely perplexed. "But, I can tell you one thing. I helped you 'cause you need help sometimes. But the thing is, I don't think you know how to ask for it. Everyone needs help sometimes to lift some weight off their shoulders. It was like I could see the weight on yours. And Mento, you had already collapsed. The weight was crushing you. And you still couldn't ask for help. Cause you didn't know how. Everyone needs help sometimes, and you're Mento…what else am I gonna do? You're like my dad…only different. In a good way." This time, he spoke calmly and slowly. He laughed at the last part. "I'm sorry if that didn't make much sense…but it did to me."

"No. I understood."

"Yeah. You're smart like that." The child agreed. He hopped off the bed.

"Wait—before you go…" Mento had no idea what to say. Something…anything… "Thanks. And…if you ever feel like you're being weighed down, call me for help. I'll be there."

Wow. That was so stupid.

Beast Boy's eyes seemed to glow. "OK! Thanks, Mento! You can be nice, I never knew that. Anyway, see ya later!"

He practically skipped out of the room.

Mento found the page in his book. "Nice…never knew that…what's that supposed to mean?" he was just murmuring to himself, really. He paused and smiled down at the page he was on.

Feeling hopeless, wishing the weight could be taken off my shoulders. That's where my team comes in. And I'll return that. I promise.

Well, I guess I'll end it there for real this time. Thank you for supporting my story and if you like the whole epilogue thingy, tell me! It was a lot of fun to type... of the top of my head.