Tidal Wave [Peter Parker]

Part 15- Cooking with a Dum-E

Dum-E was the only one who knew where things were in the kitchen. He would communicate with a series of clicks and whirls followed by lots of pointing and gesturing.

Peter had never made cinnamon rolls before so Sage was excited to bake with him. She walked him through the steps and told him the ingredients. While they mixed the dough, Peter got popsicles out for them to snack on while they worked. Sage pulled the dough out and started to knead it.

"What are you doing?" Peter asked.

She dusted her hands with flour, "You have to build up the gluten strands by working it."

"Can I try?"

She smiled, "Sure. Get some flour on your hands." While he did so, she demonstrated. "It doesn't take a lot, just pull it, fold it, turn it and repeat."

She slid the dough over to him and watched him knead the dough. He mumbled, "Pull, fold, turn, repeat."

"Good, kay don't overwork it." She said, "Now spread it out." She handed him a rolling pin. "Roll it to half an inch thick."

Peter nodded and tried his very best to roll it out but the dough was sticking to the rolling pin. Sage put a stick of butter in a cup and put it in the microwave. She turned around. "Oh, Peter," she laughed. "You have to flour the pin."

She grabbed a cup of flour and started to dust the pin. Peter snuck a pinch of flour from the measuring cup and sprinkled it over Sage's head when she wasn't looking. "Oh you did not!" Sage said, she couldn't help but smile.

"Oh yes I did." He replied.

She picked up the cup of flour and chased him around the kitchen. She trapped him in the corner by the pantry and threw a handful of flour at his chest, covering the design on his graphic T. The two laughed the entire time. Peter grabbed her elbows and pulled her into a hug in an attempt to get her covered in flour. She looked up at him and laughed, "That was low Parker."

He cupped her cheek and smiled, she had flour on her face. He did his best to brush it off but his thumb brushed her lips. He was frozen, he knew he should move his hand. She grabbed his hand and gave a slight nod. Peter moved his thumb and pulled her closer. He pressed his lips to hers, allowing himself to actually kiss her. He moved his hand up her back as she traced his collarbone with one hand, her other on the rim of his jeans.

The microwave sounded, beeping to let them know the butter was melted. They leaned away from each other with smiles on their faces. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Sage nodded and kissed him again, softly this time. "Yes," she said against his lips.

The microwave beeped at them again and this time Sage went over to open it. Peter couldn't believe it was that simple. She waved him over and explained the next few steps but he was oblivious. "Peter?"

"Hm? Oh yeah we do what with the brown sugar?"

She shook her head, "You're hopeless."

Eventually they got the cinnamon rolls in the oven. It was a relief when they finally started the timer. After they cleaned up the kitchen and made the syrup, Sage sat down at the counter. Peter joined her and rested his head on the cool marble table. She started to rub his back but he could feel the tension in her hand. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.

She shook her head though he wasn't looking, "It's nothing."

"I know you well enough to not believe that." He turned to look at her.

She laid her head down next to him, "I'm sorry about today."

"What do you mean?"

"During training-"

Peter cut her off, "That was nothing. We were just training, you were doing what you were supposed to."

"But I heard you scream- and Vision, I can't believe I did that."

He put a hand on her back, "We'll be fine."

She couldn't bring her voice above a whisper, "I don't want people to be afraid of me."

A voice sounded from the doorframe. They both looked up to see Clint Barton. "A wise young friend of mine once said 'I can't control their fear, only my own'." He folded his arms, "Maybe you should listen to her. If you stop to think too much about other people, you'll lose yourself." Clint was about to walk away but he turned back to say, "Save me a cinnamon roll would ya? They smell good."

"Sure thing Mr. Barton," Peter said.

The timer sounded and they pulled the rolls out; they looked great. Around that time, Tony got back with burgers and pizza. He stole the first cinnamon roll that they put the syrup on. The three of them sat down and ate a plethora of burgers, pizza and cinnamon rolls. When they were done, the three of them could hardly keep their eyes open. Sage hugged her dad, saying goodnight as she did so, before she went to her room and collapsed into bed.

Peter was about to do the same thing when Tony stopped him. "Are you dating my daughter Parker?"

His face flushed and after a moment, he managed to nod.

Tony forced a smile, part of him felt like he was losing his daughter all over again but if Sage wanted to date, he certainly wouldn't stop her. "Well, if she's gonna date anyone, I'm glad it's you kid."

"Thank you, sir. I promise I won't let you down."

Tony shook his head, "No, just don't let her down."

Peter was dismissed from the kitchen and soon after he went to bed. As he walked past Sage's room, he stopped and knocked to see if she was still awake. A sleepy voice told him to come in so he did. Sage was snuggled under the covers with King at the foot of her bed. He knelt down beside her head and held her hand. "Sage?"

"Hm?"

"I'm not afraid of you," Peter said. He kissed her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "I'm not afraid of you," he repeated.

Then he stood up, tucked the covers under her chin, scratched King behind the ears and left. He crawled into his own bed and fell asleep.