I don't really have a firm headcanon on the cooking thing. I've seen fic where Clint is an excellent cook and others where he couldn't cook himself out of a paper take-out bag. And I can see it both ways. It's the same with Natasha, although I don't find fic with her being a good cook as often. I've even written her once as pretty terrible cook who tortured Clint with really bad tuna melt casserole for years.

The other day I was ordering a couple of Black Widow comics and typoed Itsy-Bitsy Spider as Spicer and now I have it in my headcanon that Natasha adores spicy food. Whenever she and Clint get together for a meal they try and out-spicy each other (and this idea works whether they're cooking or not). They also pick up various spices on their journeys across the globe (this probably lends itself more to one or both of them being cooks). The other Avengers have learned to proceed with extreme caution whenever Clint and Natasha are responsible for any group meals.

Apart from Bruce. Bruce can totally hack the spicy food cos hello he lived in India for a while.

I really like that idea actually. Just cos it plays into that competative slant lots of people give them.

HA! I can totally see Bruce as a troll -- the first time Clint and Natasha do dinner, you can smell all the spicy in the air, Bruce takes the first bite and shows no reaction so Tony digs in and ends up gasping with tears streaming down his face.

Hahaha oh man I love that! And Clint just starts Howling with laughter and Natasha smirks and Bruce just smiles quietly and continues eating. :D

Thor shovels the lamb vindaloo into his mouth with his usual gusto, blissfully ignoring the expectant stares from the two assassin cooks. Tony eyes him as he would a science experiment, while Bruce sits absolutely still, his own fork frozen in midair.

"Wait," Steve sounds concerned. "Do we have any idea exactly what impact this kind of stuff could have on the Asgardian digestive system?"

"Not yet," Tony says serenely as Thor swallows. "But I suspect it will be only a question of time."

The cheerful expression on Thor's face suddenly changes to a frown, and he rubs his chest.

"I am not responsible for whatever happens here," Bruce points out, obviously torn between sticking around to watch and finishing his vindaloo for his own happiness, and removing himself from the battlefield for everyone else's.

Thor opens his mouth, but it isn't to speak -- nothing comes out; his face contorts a little as he is obviously trying to expel ... something. Natasha and Clint exchange slightly worried glances; neither of them looks at Steve who is wearing his I-told-you-so face.

"Let it out, man," Clint encourages him. "Good solid burp, and you'll feel better."

In truth, everyone expects the belch to be spectacular, Norse-God-sized. Nobody, however, expects the three-foot flame.

"So that's what it does," Tony mutters as he lunges for the fire extinguisher by the kitchen cupboard.

Thor, by now, is smiling again. He wipes the soot off his chin and bangs his fist on the table with undisguised glee.

"Another!"

Hahaha!

And that's the story of why Dummy carries a fire extinguisher at the dinner table.

I'm also now picturing Clint, Natasha, and Bruce trying to find something that proves to be too spicy for Thor!

WONDER AND GLORY.

I can see them getting into contests where they try to see who can eat the spiciest food. I always see them as having a bit of a competition between each other so this would just be another way to do it.