AN. I had the plot bunny for this last night and wrote it this morning. I needed a break from all the angst in my other story. I have a cute follow up I'm going to write for this one, just a cute follow up.
Peter was never one for cooking. In fact, he was downright terrible at it. Plus, between the whole hero thing in his teen years, and then college, he never had the time to bother with something as mundane as cooking.
Back in highschool, which he looked back on as the glory days of eating, Aunt May cooked at least one meal a day. Lunch was provided by the school, and if he had time to eat on the weekends, New York was full of street carts. Then, the helicarrier 'broke down' -aka crashed into the Hudson- and the team came to live with him and Aunt May. And then Sam cooked dinner at least 3 nights a week.
And it was glorious.
It was probably Sam's cooking which first clued Peter in that, hey, Sam is a fine piece of Man. But he was a stupid teenage hero and never actually listened to that voice in the back of his head.
Fast forward to college and Peter lost his food-life-lines. He lived too far away for Aunt May to cook for him everyday; though she did send cookies and spoil him during the holidays. It was during college that Peter perfected microwave meals - aka frozen dinners and chicken nuggets.
His senior year of college came and went and he moved back to NYC. He even got a great job at the Daily Bugle. But, despite having a full kitchen in his new apartment, he still ate microwave meals. And takeout, now that he could afford it.
He was perfectly happy with his lifestyle choice. It was quick, and it filled him, and he actually liked the taste. Grocery shopping was a breeze. Just a quick run through the frozen section and he was done. If he planned it right, he could fill his freezer and have it last for two weeks. Two weeks! That was two weeks where he didn't have to stand in line and make small talk with the cashier. Hello, time saver.
So, he was quite unsure why let Sam convince him to go go grocery shopping for actual groceries.
The old team had came over to his apartment for a game night, which ended being a bust when Luke and Danny got a call. Their 'Heroes for Hire' gig was taking off, but that meant they were barely able to spend time with the group anymore. They managed about five rounds of Apples to Apples at least. Ava had ducked out shortly after, saying she forgot she had something else to do.
That just left Sam and Peter, in Peter's apartment. On a Saturday night. Alone. And Peter wasn't sure why that made him uneasy.
Sam declared he was hungry and wandered into the kitchen.
Peter watched as he opened each of his cabinets, just to find them empty. "There is a good take out place around the corner."
Sam gave him an unimpressed look. "You don't have any real food? When was the last time you went shopping?"
Peter rolled his eyes and pulled open the freezer door. "I went on Wednesday."
"What the hell is that? That is not food! Dude, you live on that shit?"
Peter quirked an eyebrow. "Yes...this is food."
Sam walked over and shut the freezer door. "Come with me."
That. That was how Peter Parker, self described frozen-dinner-bachelor, found himself walking into a grocery store at 7pm on a Saturday. With Sam Alexander.
A cart handle was thrust in his hands. "Just push the cart and follow me."
Bad idea. They hadn't even made it to the produce section when Peter found himself staring at Sam's backside. Which was a very nice backside. But it belonged to Sam. The thoughts he had way back in high school came flooding back. He thought those had passed.
"Stop scowling, it's not that bad."
Had he been scowling? Peter sighed and looked at the cart. While he had been busy trying to not check out Sam's rear, said man had put a lot of green things in the cart.
"What is this?" He definitely did not make a face.
"Lettuce, celery, spinach, peppers, " Sam put something else in the cart, "and Avocados." He turned around and started walking down another aisle.
"Dude, I have no idea what to do with any of this."
Sam snorted. "You eat it."
Right..."Yea, dude, I can't cook."
Sam blinked up at him. He shook his head and went back to gathering the fruits he was in front of.
"Then, I'll teach you." He put his hand up to silence Peter's objection. "Just simple ones."
He put the fruits in the cart as well and Peter followed him to the deli. The counter was closed, but there were pre-sliced deli meats and cheeses set out after hours. Sam put several packs in the cart.
"I hope you can handle making a sandwich at least."
Peter glared down at Sam. "You are such a cocky little shit."
Sam frowned, "Dude, I'm just trying to help."
"I didn't ask for your help."
But Sam was already walking away and heading down the next aisle. It was no fun if Sam didn't take the bait and argue back. "Aurgh". He followed.
As they wandered down each aisle he couldn't help but space out. Sam refused to let him veto anything, nor would he explain what things were. And just why was Sam doing this? They had only hung out a few times since Peter returned to New York. And Sam had never expressed any worry over his health before seeing his kitchen.
He realized Sam was talking to him. "You've got a better chance of getting it from her than I do. Its the only recipe she wouldn't give me! She said it was a family secret!" Sam turned around, "Urgh where you even listening?"
Peter had the forethought to feign a guilty look. "Kinda. I got that Aunt May wouldn't give you a recipe and you're all sideways about it."
"I have not been able to duplicate it! And it was the best damn spaghetti sauce ever. EVER!"
Peter looked into the cart and saw cans of tomato paste. "Well, the stuff in the jar has always tasted fine to me." He reached behind Sam and plucked a jar from the shelf.
"Dude, no! That is so bad for you! There is so much added crap, homemade is better."
Peter put the jar in the cart. "Well, I like easy."
Sam reached into the cart and pulled the can out. "No. Canned is terrible."
Peter glared as Sam put it back on the shelf and walked away. He grabbed the jar and tucked it in the cart under something green the followed after Sam.
The meat department was next. Yes, chicken nuggets! But Sam walked right passed them. He stopped and put two bags of nuggets in the cart before catching up to Sam.
He was staring at two identical looking packs of ground beef. Beef was beef, Peter didn't get the big deal.
Sam decided on one and put it in the cart. "What the hell is this, Peter?"
He didn't hide the nuggets.
Sam held up the offending bags and put a hand on his hip. He was reminded of Aunt May when Peter would throw candies into her cart when he was young.
"I like nuggets?" Peter shrugged.
"Peter." Sam gave him an exasperated look.
"Oh honey." An older lady turned around from where she was checking out the chicken. "Compromise is the key to a healthy relationship."
Peter grinned at Sam, "Yea, honey, let me get the nuggets."
Sam dropped the bag into the cart and turned back around examine the beef roasts.
"Aww, you two are adorable! I knew my husband was the one when he let me keep my cat even though the silly thing always bit him. Oh. Well, you two have a lovely evening!"
Peter smiled at the lady and watched her walk away. He left the cart parked and walked next to Sam. He nudged him with his shoulder, "It's just not a trip to the grocery store without a crazy cat lady in aisle 12."
Sam shrugged and continued looking at the packages of beef roasts. Peter observed him in the reflection of the mirror behind the meats. Was...Sam blushing? Peter looked away from his friend's face, watching him like that suddenly seemed like a huge violation of privacy. He wandered back to the cart and waited for Sam to finish. He didn't want to think about what anything meant. But...he thought about what the crazy lady had said. And he realized he wasn't repulsed by the thought of dating Sam. And crap. Was that why Sam had turned away so quickly? To hide that blush? Did Sam...
"Hey, do you have a slow cooker?"
Peter looked up. Sam was facing him again and nothing seemed out of place. Maybe he had just imagined the whole thing? Why did he feel empty because of that possibility? Peter shook the thoughts away, now was not the time.
"No, I don't think so."
"Figures. Crap, do you even have pots and pans?"
Peter scoffed, "I have a pot! I use it to boil water!"
"Just one?" Sam shook his head.
Peter shrugged. "Don't need them."
"Didn't. You didn't need them. Now you do."
Peter pulled out his phone while Sam gave the chicken the same treatment he gave the beef. Just a few quick keystrokes and "There. I ordered some silly pots and pans. And a slow cooker. They'll be here in three days."
"Dude, you could just go to the store tomorrow!"
"Yea, but, ordering them on Amazon means three days without cooking."
Sam frowned. "Not that easy. I'll bring my own over." He put three packs of chicken in the cart and crossed his arms.
"Fine." Peter rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
They finished their trip with milk and eggs. Sam threw in some yogurts saying, "These are great if you're in a hurry."
The got to the checkout and began unloading the cart. Peter wondered how they were going to get it all home, they had walked there. But, he was Spider-Man, super human strength and all that.
"What the hell?"
He looked up to find a jar being waved in his face. Oh, yea. He needed the easy sauce! How to convince Sam? Ah! "Well, I thought we could compromise on it. Jar this time." This time? That implied a next time. His brain to mouth filter was on the fritz.
"Right. Next time." Sam put the jar on the counter.
"And the total is $237.43" Peter raised an eyebrow at Sam.
"Dude, it's your food."
"But you picked it all out. You pay for it."
Sam crossed his arms. "How about I pay...next time."
He knew that would bite him in the ass. Just not so soon. He paid for the groceries and they each took half of the bags, Peter took the heavier ones. Being heros had its perks outside of crime fighting.
Peter didn't know where this cooking experiment would take him. But, if it meant spending more time with Sam, and having a chance to explore whatever was changing in their relationship, it would be well worth it.
Thank you for reading! There will be a chapter 2 to this soon!