Loki woke at his usual time, and gravitating towards the kitchen for breakfast, receiving his normal greeting by the rest of the Avengers. Today's breakfast consisted of eggs that were scrambled, pieces of pork, and toasted bread.
While they scarfed down a large stack of pancakes that Steve made, Tony spoke up.
"I have another task for you both," He stated while nodding to Thor and Loki who were sitting next to one another.
Thor paused at this, "What do you wish of us, Man of Iron?"
The billionaire rolled his eyes, "First of all, you can actually call me Tony. Second of all, I want you two to make dinner tonight. We're all going out of town. Clint and Natasha are on assignment in Florida, Bruce and I are going to Chicago for a business meeting. Steve has paperwork with S.H.I.E.L.D. We all should be back by seven tonight. Let's see what if you can work together.
Loki nodded, "That should not be too difficult."
This time, Thor shifted uncomfortably, "I have only cooked eggs and meat on a spoke when we hunted."
"By the way, you two are on dishes," Clint muttered, while getting up from the table.
When the Avengers left for their separate tasks, the Asgardians began to collect the dishes.
"Perhaps Stark has some cookery books." Thor began.
Loki snorted, "I doubt Stark can even cook water."
Actually sirs, Masters Banner and Rogers have recently purchased cookbooks to brush up on their cooking skills." Jarvis pipped up.
A drawer popped open and a cook book popped out onto the counter.
"This is a cookery book?" Thor wondered aloud, picking it up and opening it to read the first few pages.
"Yes, Thor, it has words and everything." Loki sniffed.
"Shut up, Loki."
The brothers through the pages, bookmarking a salad before proceeding to the entrees.
"How about this one?" Thor pointed to a recipe that read Chicken A la King.
"Too simple," Loki snipped, and flipped more pages.
It had taken them less than ten minutes that they had read the entire recipe book cover to cover. One pointed out a recipe that was evidently shot down by the other, only gaining knowledge about kitchen measurements and very little else.
"Well, what do you suggest now, Loki? Because we've found nothing in this book." Thor asked tersely, while Loki casually sat on a bar stool.
"I suppose we can make Asgardian dishes, brother." Loki shrugged casually.
Thor wheeled around, "And how, pray tell, do we do that? We don't exactly have the same types of foodstuffs as we do at home."
"It's the same thing, Thor." Loki rolled his eyes, "Pork, chicken, fruits and vegetables and the like. Unlike Stark, more food than just "takeout" is at hand in this realm. JARVIS, where is the nearest market?"
Four blocks east sir, at 59th street.
Loki nodded, "Shall we go, Thor?" He began to head to the elevators when Thor stopped him.
Without another word, they descended downstairs to the lobby and the awaiting world outside.
When they arrived at their destination, both Asgardians looked rather in awe of the sheer size of the building with it's sleek design not unlike that of Stark Tower. It's many windows gleamed in the early morning sunlight.
"I thought this was going to be some small shop. Mortals are so industrious!" Thor laughed. "We may get lost."
"There are such things as maps, Thor." quipped Loki.
Entering the multi-level shopping center, they were consumed by the sight of shoppers and prettily laden store windows with extravagant items. Thor was so engrossed and bemused by the odd level of to be had, that he scarcely heard Loki hiss, "Thor!" which soon brought him back to reality. "We must go that way." Loki pointed to the left.
The traversed the wide but crowded paths, stopping occasionally to glance at something that caught their eye in a window, until the brothers found themselves at the market that they had been searching for.
Thor shifted uneasily as they entered the market, some looking up from their shopping at him with recognition.
"So..." When Loki gravitated towards the vegetables, "What exactly are we making for supper?"
"Meat soup with bread." Loki replied simply and went back to examining a long white vegetable.
"That's all? Is that not...meager by Stark's standards?"
A ghost of a grin formed on Loki's lips, "Not if we make it, Thor."
After negotiating the vegetables, the pair then decided after a short debate, to put both chicken AND pork in the soup for good measure. Next were the spices, which Loki had more knowledge of than his brother and so picked them out, followed by the bread flours.
In little time, the basket had been filled both with essential ingredients, and some things that intrigued either one or the other that they wished to actually try.
When they stepped into the check-out line, the cashier, who was a dark haired twenty something man gaped and fervently thanked them for shopping at the store, which made Loki roll his eyes.
Bags in hand, Loki commented, "I have a venture on the fourth floor."
Thor groaned, but followed Loki into the elevator (neither were brave enough to traverse the traveling stairs with such heavy bags) to a place called a "La Maison du Chocolat."
"What do we seek here, Loki?"
"Desert, obviously."
"Isn't that...cheating?" Thor asked hesitantly while the smell of the sweet confectioneries made him suddenly hungry. Both men stopped at a tray of thin pastries that were covered in chocolate.
"We do not have time to make such a thing with all we must do," Loki shrugged, then a devious smile came over his face again. "Besides, we don't HAVE to tell them from whence this delight came from."
After returning home, the two brothers got to work starting dinner. Thor was tasked with making bread, which JARVIS explained step by step. It wasn't like the Midgardian bread, but rather a heavier Asgardian equivalent with honey and walnuts. Loki, meanwhile, worked on the honey glazed root vegetables that would go along with dinner, followed by the salad they had bookmarked earlier in the cookbook.
Together, they worked on the main course, washing and cutting vegetables, mixing the broth and stirring in ingredients as needed. When Thor accidentally cut too hard into a carrot which flew into the back of Loki's head, the Trickster angrily ordered Thor out of the kitchen to set the table.
That done, Loki said, "You can place the dessert on a platter and be rid of the packaging."
By 6:30, the Asgardians were not only exhausted, but famished and could not wait to indulge in the dinner that they had worked so hard to make. Steve was the first to arrive home.
"Wow, that smells delicious, Loki, Thor. I'm famished." Steve commented.
Natasha and Clint arrived next. "I could smell that all the way from the 4th floor. I am looking forward to dinner." Natasha commented.
Tony and Bruce were the last to arrive right at seven. "What do the two Asgardian Master Chefs have for us in terms of dinner?" Tony asked clapping his hands together.
"Please have a seat everyone. The meal shall soon be served." Loki announced, while Thor set about placing the vegetables and bread onto the table. The men and women tucked into both, and after Thor and Loki joined them at the table, there were a few raised eyebrows and some eyes lit up with delight.
"This is delicious! I've never tasted bread this good before in my life." Bruce commented.
"God, if Pepper saw me eating vegetables, I think she would call the newspapers and tell them I was out of my mind."
"I've heard her threaten to take away your robot toys if you don't eat your vegetables, Tony. Really, are you that much of a child?" Natasha snorted.
The soup was served next, and again, the other faces of the other lit with delight and surprise at the delicious food.
'Okay, inquiring minds want to know. How the hell are you good at cooking?" Clint inquired, "I thought princes were waited on hand and foot."
"We have meals together, though I don't fancy eating like a barbarian like Thor and his friends at drunken feasts. I usually waited until after the evening meal to have supper. The servants are more than happy to make me something. I gradually grew interested in how food was prepared and eventually the head cook began to teach me to cook."
"Didn't you have-I dunno...royal duties?" Steve looked up from his bowl.
"What royal duties? Thor was the first born, he bore all the responsibility for learning Asgard's inner workings and royal obligations. I was just the second." Loki spat bitterly.
"Whoa, sorry for asking, jeez!" Tony huffed and the meal lapsed into silence.
With the dinner plates put aside, Thor and Loki served the cake.
"Oh my god, this looks amazing!" Natasha said under her breath.
"No offense, but there's no way you made this." Tony asserted, "Jarv, where did this cake come from?"
I am not allowed to divulge such information,sir.
"Do you want me to reformat you, Jarvis?"
There was a pause, then, It was purchased at Le Maison du Chocolat.
"Ha, you were right Tony." Clint laughed but took a bite of the cake all the same.
"Stupid machine!" Loki groused and crossed his arms.
"We only purchased it as we though there would be no time to prepare a dessert." Thor soothed.
"I think we can forgive you since it's the best chocolate maker in the city of New York." Bruce joked, and polished off his piece.
Tony clapped his hands together. "How about we all have a movie night as a reward for the Asgardian Duo's amazing dinner? We'll even let you pick."
"Oh good, I've been meaning to ask about this 'Indiana Jones' man. " Loki replied happily. With a grin he turned back to Clint. "By the way, it's your turn to do the dishes."
TBC...
A/N: Yeah, I know I did a cooking thing in Frozen Sparks, but I'm doing some research for the next chapter and needed something easy to put down until then. Thanks for the reviews and the faves/follows.