the strongest avenger

sixty

"How do you not know how to do this? I'm a freaking alien and even I know how to bake cookies."

Peter huffs from next to her, where he's attempting to break eggs.

The duo wanted to be together on Christmas, so they worked it out where Peter was sleeping over Christmas Eve, and then he would still be able to spend time with May the next day.

"I'm not good at cooking." He mutters.

Talia sighs and takes the bowl from him, pushing her bowl of dry ingredients to him. "Whisk that, I'll do the eggs."

Christmas music plays overhead as she cracks the eggs and pours milk into the smaller bowl, Peter struggles with the whisking, flour flying out of the bowl as he stirs.

"Okay what's next?" he asks.

She hands him the wet ingredients bowl. "Pour this into your bowl."

He takes it and carefully pours the wet ingredients over the flour, baking powder, and salt.

"Next?"

"Go grab the chocolate chips from the pantry while I mix." Peter goes off, grabbing the chips, while Talia takes the wisk and mixes the the batter together.

Peter comes back over and watches over her shoulder as the batter turns to a tan color.

"Here," she hands him the wisk. "You try."

"It's probably gonna go everywhere." he mutters.

"That's alright." she gestures to their clothes that are splattered with flour.

She watches Peter hesitantly begin stirring, trying to keep the batter in the bowl. She reaches over and takes the chocolate chips, and then rips the pack open.

She pours a handful into her palm and nudges Peter.

"Open."

He turns to her and pops his mouth open, while she throws a chip. Her aim is perfect, the chip landing right on his tongue. Peter smiles at her.

Tal drops a couple into her mouth and holds the rest out for Peter, the boy taking them and eating them as well.

She grabs a measuring cup and pours the chips into it, and then pours the chips into the big bowl.

"Now we use a spoon to fold the batter instead of a wisk to mix."

Peter takes the wisk and holds it up. He runs his finger on it and tastes the batter.

"It's good."

Talia takes some on her finger and pops it into her mouth, licking the batter off. She catches Peter watching her and smiles. "It is good."

Peter blinks and hastily looks away, a blush creeping up his neck. The girl resists the urge to read his mind to see what made him flustered.

"H—How do you fold the batter?" He asks.

"Watch." She takes the bowl and slides it over to her. She starts folding the batter, showing Peter how to do it without crushing the chocolate.

"It's like vertical, circular motions." She says, handing him the spoon.

Peter starts doing it slowly and then a little faster as he gets the hang of it. Talia steps closer, her side against his body, and leans over. She looks up at him and smiles.

"Perfect. Now we just have to make the balls and put them in the oven."

The girl grabs two baking sheet pans and parchment paper. She lays the paper over the pans and shows Peter how to measure out the right size.