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"What do you mean I can't add chocolate chips?"
The voice is thundering through the common area. With a sigh, Steve sets down the book he'd been reading. There has been some commotion in the kitchen for almost 20 minutes now, but he's far enough from it that he hasn't bothered to see what's up. Now that whatever it is has escalated to yelling maybe it's his job to step in and diffuse whatever situation is brewing.
With a slightly wistful glance over his shoulder at the book he'd just marked and set down, Steve begins moving toward the communal kitchen. The beauty of the compound is the variety of living spaces. Almost everything was tailor made for each member of the team. His room was well sound proofed so his enhanced hearing wouldn't be able to pick up every sound within the rooms near him. Plus everyone had their own kitchens and living rooms. Anyone who wanted to be left alone had every right and opportunity to do so. Including who ever is now yelling in the kitchen.
Of course, he had the opportunity to read in his room as well, so he can't be too mad that he had been interrupted. As he neared the kitchen, the voices became easier to distinguish. When he recognizes Y/N and Tony as the speakers, Steve almost stops and turns around, more than willing to let the two battle out whatever they're fighting over without getting involved. "It's a fucking disgrace, Stark! How dare you suggest that?!" Y/N yells out this time.
If only it was as easy as walking away. Now that he's this close, he's in the blast radius. With a deep breath to steady himself, Steve steps around the corner, prepared to play mediator. The scene he walks into makes him pause for a moment. Y/N and Tony are standing on opposite ends of the kitchen, both holding kitchen utensils as weapons, a whisk in Tony's hand and a wooden spoon in Y/N's. The pair finally stop shouting when they realize Steve has entered the arena.
"Perfect, Capsicle, please help me educate Y/N here on the importance of chocolate chips," Tony quips turning fully to face Steve. If looks could kill, Tony would be a dead man walking. "Look, Tony-" Steve starts, raising his hands in an attempt to placate him and to get him to shut up.
"Oh sure, you assume you're right so you think Steve would back you up!" Y/N glares daggers at Tony, clearly taking the argument much more personally than Tony is. "News flash, you're not always right! This is about tradition and I'm sure Steve agrees that I am right. Tell him Steve."
He should have read in his room. The intensity in Y/N's stare turns on Steve when he doesn't immediately agree. "Look, I don't know what you two are arguing about. I just came here to make sure you'd leave the compound standing when you're done fighting. So lets put the utensils down please."
This attempt only earns him two glares. Sighing, he lets his hands drop, "Look, just tell me what you're fighting about and we'll see if I can figure out a solution for you." Tony opens his mouth to speak, but Y/N directs the wooden spoon at him and he huffs and rolls his eyes, gesturing for Y/N to go ahead.
"We are making one of my grandma's favorite recipes. It has been handed down from generation to generation and it is perfect. Stark is trying to add chocolate chips to it. I won't stand for him attempting to ruin my family recipe," Y/N explains, throwing a glare at Tony for good measure. "And I didn't say it wasn't perfect, I just suggested adding the delicious chips because everything is better with chocolate chips," Tony adds, lifting the bag up for Steve to see. "Not everything needs chocolate chips!" Y/N yells in response, turning back to face Tony and completely forgetting Steve.
"Yes it does! Everything can be improved!" Tony asserts, lifting the bag over the mixing bowl ready to pour it out. "Don't you dare Stark!" Y/N warns. "Okay! Stop!" Steve booms, stopping the madness before Tony crosses a line. Once again the pair turn to him, and the intensity in Y/N's eyes makes him pause.
"Look I'm not saying either one of you are right or wrong-"
"Steve!" both interrupt him, looking betrayed.
"Listen!" Steve waits for the pair to look at him somewhat calmly before continuing. "This is clearly an important recipe to Y/N's family. If something is that important to your past, it can be hard to accept that it can be changed and still be good. So here's what I suggest. Split the recipe in half and let Tony add chocolate chips to half. Then you both get what you want and maybe you'll like it with the chips, Y/N. Just a thought."
Steve holds his breath as Y/N thinks about it before sighing and nodding. Finally putting the weapon, I mean the wooden spoon, down, Y/N reaches into a cabinet and pulls out another mixing bowl. "Okay Tony, let's split it and try both. When you realize it's perfect as is, I'll get to say I told you so."
Steve watches as Y/N pours a portion of the mix into another bowl and Tony adds the chocolate chips. With a breath of relief, Steve turns to leave now that there's no wars happening. He's only a step out of the kitchen when Y/N mutters, “Grandma would not be happy if she saw this…”
Tony starts to respond when Steve just sighs, returns to the lounge, grabs his book, and retreats to his room. At least from here, he won't have to hear the yelling match when it inevitably starts up again.