Who: Little Katie Bishop and Steve Rogers When: Tuesday [Backdated] Where: In town! What: Ice cream, but more importantly? Buying sparkling things for a special someone. Warnings: Nope! Status: Partial GDoc/To be continued in comments!
“Uncle Steeb,” Kate said, swinging their arms back and forth as she held tightly to his hand. “Where we going?” She had been getting to spend a lot of time with her extended family, all of which had become aunts and uncles. “Ice cweam is back dere!”
He had mentioned that, right? Honestly, Kate couldn’t remember, but as long as she eventually got ice cream, all would be right in the world.
Stepping over cracks in the sidewalk and around a few leaves, Kate idly hummed to herself as she continued swinging her arm with Steve’s. “Are we getting something for Aunt Vewonica?” Turning her attention up to him, she smiled brightly looking rather excited at the idea.
***
When he’d been a kid himself, Steve had found Kate a lot more annoying. He’d been stubborn and insistent that he was capable of taking care of himself, that he didn’t need some little girl trying to fight for him. Now that he was himself again, older and a lot fonder of kids, he was pretty charmed by her. She was cute, and he was more than happy to spend the time with her at every opportunity.
He had promised her ice cream when they’d gone out, after a couple of errands, the last of which they were doing.
“Yes, we are,” he confirmed, looking down, mirroring her smile. “I was thinking you might want to help me out. Then we’ll get ice cream.”
He didn’t actually need Kate’s help, but he figured she might enjoy looking at the jewelry for a while and he’d pretend like the decision wasn’t already made.
***
Little Kate did have a penchant for sparkly things. Even Kate at her normal age did, but not nearly as much. She also stood by her belief that Steve had needed her protection along with Bucky’s when he was younger, though she remembered very little of those few days. All that was important was that Steve had picked her to go with him on this special mission, and no one else.
“Yay! I will pick the bestest!” Because it had to be just that for Veronica. “The bestest and bwightest and biggest and most bootifuwest!” She had let go of his hand for just a moment to raise both hands over her head to emphasize just how grand this gift was going to be. Reaching for it a moment later, she twirled herself before keeping a tight grip, or as tight as her little hand could get.
“And then ice cweam!” Which got another excited cheer along with a hop in between her steps. It wasn’t quite skipping, but it was a decent attempt
***
“Absolutely,” Steve agreed, amusement clear in his voice. It was only a few more steps until he was opening the door to the jewellers for them. “Be careful in here,” he warned gently. “And you stay with me.”
He couldn’t just let Kate go running off, in any state he was pretty sure, not just the energetic little girl she was now, in a jewellery store. Or anywhere she might get into anything, for that matter.
Guiding her over to a case filled with diamond rings, putting the little girl in front of him. “What do you think?”
***
Kate gave a firm nod, and did as she was told. Staying close to him, keeping her hand firmly in his, Kate’s little eyes did go wide as they entered. “Wow,” she said in a hushed voice, perhaps the quietest she had been in quite some time. “This is pwetty.” As from her height, it was a seeming sky of sparkling stars and glitter. Kate was perfectly content with that.
When they reached the case of rings, Kate was quite good at keeping her hands off the glass. They were tucked away in the pockets of her purple dress.
“How you gonna choose?” she asked, looking back at him a bit distressed. “They’re all too pwetty! You might have to get two.”
***
Steve laughed softly. “See, that’s why I was hoping you’d help me out. We’ve got to pick something Veronica’s going to like, right?”
He already had one picked out, sized, waiting for him, but hearing the awe in Kate’s voice convinced him that bringing her along and even just pretending to help her pick one out was the right choice. He’d just, hopefully, make sure she agreed that the one he had ready was the right choice.
“What do you think of that one?” he asked, pointing to the biggest, most obnoxious looking ring in the case. Definitely not something his wife would ever want to wear.
***
"It has to be the bestest." Following Steve's gesture, Kate made a face at the ring. It was certainly a rather sour expression. Even at this young age, Kate Bishop made good fashion choices.
"Uncle Steeb! That is gwoss! Aunt Vewonica would cwy. And den punch you." She let out a little huff before looking through the display case again. "Oh! This one!" Waving her arms, she pointed to a different ring. It wasn't quite as obnoxious as the first one, but it probably wasn't Veronica's style either. It was marquise-cut with two pear-shaped diamonds on either side. Lots of sparkle, which is why it had caught Kate's attention.
"Or this one!" Another one that was definitely full of sparkle. Kate finally shook her head and shrugged. She looked a little sad. "I can't pick, Uncle Steeb! What we gonna do?"