Apartment Above Stark Industries, Sunday Afternoon

[imafuturist]

Tony had started the day working on some coding with the television on in the background to provide a little noise. And to make it seem less weird that he was mostly just staring at a tablet and coding with his brain. But whatever.

But that somehow turned into watching the background noise. Which turned into 'I could do that' after a few episodes.

And that would be why Tony had a fine dusting of either flour or confectioner's sugar turning his hair a bit grey as he frowned down at the collection of ingredients.

"I have a masters in chemistry, this shouldn't be so difficult," he grumbled to himself.

Stupid Great British Bake Off.

[Mostly for the housemate! GBBO owns many souls.]

Comments

[imafuturist]

It was an Indian inspired pie? Oh god, why did they do this?

Tony nodded, giving the microwave one last look over. "It might not caramelize the sugars like a traditional oven. But I can get a blow torch for that."

TONY, NO.

[heroic_jawline]

"That sounds like a great idea," Steve agreed. He was so very wrong.

He gave the bowl an appraising look. "Do we have enough dough for a top or are we going to do a strudel top?"

Streusel, Steve.

[imafuturist]

They were going to get food poisoning. It didn't seem possible under normal conditions, but they'd manage here.

"Might have to," Tony muttered, eyeing the pie. "Do you know how?"

[heroic_jawline]

"Sure," Steve lied. "It's...um...butter, sugar and flour, I think. Kinda glumped up together."

Technical term.

[imafuturist]

That sounded about right to Tony after a quick Google search. He nodded again.

"It'll be good," he said with all the hope in the world. "I should have picked this up age ago."

[heroic_jawline]

"It's not that hard!" Steve agreed optimistically.

[imafuturist]

"You'll be Captain Baker next?" Tony teased.

[heroic_jawline]

"Sure," Steve said. "We can teach cooking over the summer."

That would be a disaster.

[imafuturist]

Boiled everything.

"I think we could handle that."

It'd be a class on ordering takeout.

[heroic_jawline]

And possibly calling poison control.

Steve mushed some butter in with sugar and too much flour until he had gloppy clumps. "There!" he said, pleased with...whatever that was.

[imafuturist]

"My hero," Tony drawled, grabbing the 'pie' to put in the microwave.

[heroic_jawline]

"That's all it took?" Steve teased. "And all the time I've wasted trying to impress you..."

[imafuturist]

Tony ducked his head like he needed to concentrate on the buttons to hide the tiny flush of embarrassment as he recalled the last time he'd called Steve that.

"Like you need to try."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve batted at his bangs in an effort to hide his own blush. "'Course I do."

[imafuturist]

"Trust me, Steve," Tony said with a sort of intense sincerity that he felt necessary when dealing with people he cared about. "You've never come up lacking."

Jesus, Tony. Chill.

[heroic_jawline]

And it was totally normal to stare at someone that earnestly in reply, right? Like Steve was?

"Neither have you."

[imafuturist]

Their friendship made so much sense when they did this to each other and thought it was just some normal shit.

Tony went a little more red before he had to clear his throat and start the microwave of doom. "Pie time."

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, good," Steve said, then teased, "Should I get my shield?"

[imafuturist]

"No." Wait. "Maybe."

That was better.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve stood up, ruffling Tony's hair as he went past. "Be right back, then."

[imafuturist]

"Oh, I'm getting you back for that," Tony called after him as the little cloud of flour cleared.

But he said it fondly.

[heroic_jawline]

"Add it to my tab," Steve singsonged.

[imafuturist]

That earned him a startled laugh. He was just the worst possible influence here.

"Promises, promises!"

[heroic_jawline]

"Just bake the pie," Steve yelled back.

[imafuturist]

Excuse Tony while he snickered in a completely unbecoming way, starting the 'baking'.

Hey, no sparks! Yet.

"Smart-ass," he muttered with a grin.