Shopping Trip
Steve was gone the next week. He was getting groups set up all over the state. Kat had plenty to do to keep her occupied though, she was interviewing several families today for adoptions at the houses in Manhattan, then she was going to Albany tomorrow, to interview a few families and new staff for the houses there.
Kat really loved her job. She was making a difference in these kid’s lives. She was helping them stay off the street, to not have a life like she did. She felt so happy when they got adopted. Loki would have been so proud of her. She set her coffee mug in the sink and grabbed the keys to Steve’s car; he had left it for her because he had taken a jet.
Friday had been very productive. She helped seven kids get adopted all from the ages two to thirteen. She also got funding from the foundation to get computers in each group home and some board games and books. She would have to ask Nat to go shopping with her to pick out the games, she missed her. It wasn’t that she didn’t have any communication with Nat, she text or called at least once a day, but Kat knew that she was secluding herself in the compound. She needed to get her out and about, back into life. After all, that’s what Steve had done for her and it was working.
She got home and immediately called Nat.
“Hello?” Nat’s voice sounded through the phone she had on speaker while she was in the shower.
“Hey stranger. You don’t have any plans tonight do you?” Kat asked her.
“Oh yes. Hot date, you know, me, the television, Hot Pockets. No, of course not. Wait, are you in the shower?” She asked. Kat rolled her eyes. “Okay snarky pants. And yes, I’m in the shower, and you should be too, because I’m coming to pick you up and we’re going shopping. I have to pick up stuff for the group homes and Steve’s out of town.”
There was a long pause and a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone. “Alright. But you’re buying me coffee.” She said. “Deal. I’ll be there in an hour.”
Kat pulled Nat into a bone crushing hug, well as strong as her hugs could be, Kat wasn’t very strong. “I’ve missed you Nat. We need to see each other more. You should come over for dinner once or twice a week.” She told the redhead.
“Is Rogers cooking?” She asked with one eyebrow raised. Kat laughed. “Not on your life. I have to tell you what he did to the mac and cheese last week.”
They had two full carts at the toy store. She had gotten board games for the school aged kids, some for the older kids, and some preschool games. She also got some learning puzzles and flash cards too. They went to Target next and raided the book section. They got all kinds of children’s books, two sets of the Harry Potter books, and so many others Kat couldn’t even remember. Nat asked if they could browse the clothes, saying she needed some new stuff. Kat shrugged; she could probably use a few things too. She found herself in the underwear section, grabbing a few new bras and some panties. There was a tap on her shoulder and she spun around to see Nat holding up a pair of Captain America boy short panties. “You have to get these.” She told Kat.
“Absolutely not.” Kat said.
“Oh, come on, it’s not like Steve will see them. Plus, they are cute and they’ll make your ass look great.” Kat raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh whatever, you have a nice ass, I noticed. Sue me.” She said nonchalantly. Kat rolled her eyes and took the underwear from her, chucking them into the cart. She also bought a Captain America fleece throw that had his shield on it and a matching pillow, ignoring the raised eyebrow from Nat.
She bought a new sundress, blue with white polka dots, a small bow at the back. She thought it was very fifties, or maybe even forties. So, she got a black and white one to match. Nat ended up getting some black lingerie (maybe for herself, or maybe for someone else, Kat really didn’t know) and some jeans and tops.
After she dropped Nat back off at the compound, Kat went to the tower to drop the games and books off, Happy meeting her by the elevator so she didn’t have to take multiple trips.
“Just take these up to my office Happy, thank you so much!” She told him. She stopped for Starbucks on the way home, getting an extra shot of espresso because shopping all day had made her tired.
When she got back to the apartment, she carried the bags to her room and started unpacking them. She threw the pillow in her chair and the blanket on the bed. She kind of wished Steve had been home so she could show him. He would roll his eyes and say something along the lines of ‘Why does everything have to be marketed?’ or ‘At least it’s not my face.’. She missed talking to him. He messaged her every day of course, but she got lonely alone in the apartment.
She laughed as she pulled the Captain America underwear out of the bag. She’d probably never wear them, but she had to admit, they were cute. She chucked them in her hamper to wash along with the rest of the clothes she had bought.
She ordered in Chinese, not feeling like cooking when Steve wasn’t home. She always ended up cooking big meals, and she didn’t feel like making the fuss for just her. She decided to clean while she waited on the food. Steve wouldn’t be home for another two days, but she wanted the apartment to look nice when he got home. It didn’t take long for the Chinese to arrive, so she took a break and sat on the couch with her boxes and turned on Game of Thrones. She had tried to get Steve to watch it, but there was too much sex and gore in it and within the first episode she could tell he was uncomfortable watching it so she told him he didn’t have to. He had given her a grateful look and retreated to his bedroom.
Kat thought it was adorable how modest he still was, even after being out of the ice for so long. While he didn’t scold anybody for cursing anymore (yes Tony told her that story, and she teased Steve for it too), he still winced whenever she used those words. She finished her food and put the leftovers in the fridge, telling herself she’d take it to work with her tomorrow.
After her shower, she got into bed and checked her phone to see a message from Steve.
Steve: Hey! I hope you had a great day. I’m sorry I didn’t message you sooner, today has been hectic. I’m exhausted. I can’t wait to get home. Goodnight 😊
Kat: Hey! Today was good, took Nat out shopping. We should have her over more, she’s lonely. ☹ You need to rest, don’t push yourself too far. I’ll see you when you get home 😊 Night Steve
She smiled and put her phone on the charger, rolled over and immediately fell asleep.