MHA #4, Sunday Morning

[stykera]

Experience dealing with an unusually young Summer had made it relatively uncomplicated for Stark to earn access into her apartment for the morning. Relatively. There had been some negotiations but gifts for the cat had certainly helped his case.

Once inside the apartment he had given Pancakes an apologetic pat (or 12) and some of the good catnip and then turned his attention back to Summer.

"So we're going to eat something that counts as real food," he said, knowing full well how ridiculous that sounded coming from him. "But maybe there could be ice cream later? Or cupcakes. But first real breakfast. Pancakes? I brought bacon, and eggs, and we could have pancakes but not the cat Pancakes or french toast? Or...I don't know. Something else entirely? I don't want you to be hungry. I don't want Pancakes to be hungry either."

Hopefully the catnip would mollify the cat for the day though. Hopefully.

"Do you want to help cook?"

What could possibly go wrong there?


[for the tiny gross ginger girl who lives there, obvs, but it's a free island you can always knock]

Comments

[somethingwithturquoise]

But, no, like, really old.

Older than her dad, probably.

"My dad just makes it out of a box," Summer pointed out. "Sometimes a jug."

[stykera]

"I am not your dad," Stark said quickly. "I make better pancakes."

He was pretty sure about the pancake quality, anyway. He'd never actually even met the man yet.

"I like to make it without the mix. Do you help him cook, your father? While your mother is doctoring horses?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Have you ever even had my dad's pancakes?" Summer challenged, because she was pretty sure he hadn't. That didn't necessarily mean that she thought they were better, since this guy was apparently pretty serious about his pancakes, but the point still stood!

"And sometimes, yeah," she said. "But he usually thinks it's a distraction and messes it all up if he'd not focused really hard on it."

[stykera]

"I haven't had your father's pancakes," Stark said. He slid the bowl towards her. "I don't actually know your father. We haven't met. My pancakes are still better. Ready to stir?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Okay," said Summer, pulling the bowl closer and dutifully, albeit with uncertainty, beginning to stir.

"Have you met my mom? You said you know she works with horses, did I tell you that last time?"

[stykera]

"I haven't met your mother either," Stark said. "But you've told me about her. Some. Do you think it looks mixed enough? Not too lumpy?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

Summer's nose wrinkled a little as her attention turned into the bowl. "No," she reported, "it's still pretty lumpy."

And so now she was stabbing at the lumps with the spoon.

"Stirring is kinda boring."

[stykera]

"Would you like help? And...maybe it needs a bit more milk? Sprinkles go at the end once the batter is poured in the pan."

Otherwise the sprinkles would just get melty and sad and nobody wanted that, right?

"Or you could try a whisk?" Whisking was more fun than stirring. And whisk was fun to say.

[somethingwithturquoise]

"You can do the stirring," Summer decided, graciously, magnanimously, as she slid the bowl back over to Stark. "I just wanna add the sprinkles."

[stykera]

"Thank you," Stark said, taking back the bowl and attacking the lumps.

"I'm not good at shapes," he said a little apologetically. "I hope circles are all right? I'll pour some batter in the pan and then you can add sprinkles."

And maybe some glitter. Or chocolate chips.