Korben600's request for Alfred to teach the boys how to cook. (Hope you like it!)

Chapter 106: The Most Important Skill

Dick's POV

Jason, Tim, Damian, and I stood in a line in Alfred's kitchen. We all gazed around the room that no one dared entered. This is the only off-limits room in the entire manor. Alfred entered and cleared his throat before speaking to us.

"I assume the four of you are wondering why you've been allowed admission into my domain?" he asked as we nodded. "The answer is that I can no longer trust your father to keep any of you alive while I'm away. I have decided to teach the four of you the skill that is culinary arts."

"You want us to learn how to cook?" I asked as he nodded.

"Of course, Master Richard. And you, my dear child shall go first."

"What?" I squeaked.

"Don't worry. We'll start out with something easy; Grilled cheese sandwiches."

********Break********

Alfred was practically breathing down my neck as I melted some butter. I spooned some of the butter onto the bread before Alfred screamed, "That's enough! Do you want to die of high cholesterol!"

"Um… No?"

"Do it again." Alfred snapped, making me realize where Bruce got his drill instructor moods from.

I buttered a new slice as Alfred hovered over my shoulder. Jason ate my "mistakes."

"How's that?" I smugly asked as he shook his head.

"Do it again. You are not serving Paula Dean."

After twelve slices of bread, I finally got one to barely pass his test. I dropped a slice of cheese on it and set it in the pan on the burner.

"Master Richard… You do realize that the stove is not on and you have to remove the plastic from the cheese, don't you?" he sighed.

"For real?"

"Get out of my kitchen! You and your father are banned for life!"

Jason's POV

We watched as Dick fled the room. Alfred took a deep breath before looking at me.

"Next."

I yawned as I stood and walked over to the bread. I melted some butter before spreading it around as Alfred watched over my shoulder in silence. He said nothing as I threw some cheese on it and placed it in the pan. Soon, the sandwich was toasted and I put it on a plate.

"Well-done!" Alfred proclaimed as he inspected my work.

"Thanks. Can I go now?"

"Of course. Master Timothy is next." He replied as Tim shrank down in his seat.

Tim's POV

I took out two slices of bread before placing a slice of cheese on it. I put the sandwich on a plate and handed it to Alfred.

"Master Timothy… The idea is for you to grill the sandwich."

"But, the butter adds cholesterol."

Alfred just stared at me and blinked before sighing, "Can you boil water?"

"Yes."

"Very well. You may go."

Damian's POV

"Alright, Master Damian. Your turn." Pennyworth announced.

"Please. This is a simpleton's task. Any idiot can do that." I bragged before stomping over to the stove.

********Break********

Bruce's POV

"So… Damian set the house on fire?" I asked as we watched the fire department trying to put out the fire in the kitchen.

Alfred sent a murderous glance at my youngest before growling, "Indeed."

Damian cringed under the glare and pressed himself against Dick. Tim and Jason adverted their gaze away from Alfred's fury.

"So what happened exactly?"

"Let's just say that two more have found themselves on the list of those not to enter my kitchen." He growled.