Watson strolled along the lively streets of Manhattan, cradling an oversized marinated egg—a Detel, his newest companion. The bustling energy of the city surrounded him, a sharp contrast to the small war that had erupted just blocks away.
As he watched the pedestrians go about their lives, Watson's thoughts turned reflective. "Ordinary people in this world have it rough," he mused. "A villain or someone like the Hulk can show up out of nowhere, and let's not forget the big purple guy. One snap of his fingers, and half the universe is gone. It's insane."
Lost in thought, he spotted an ice cream shop to his left. The brightly colored sign and the promise of something sweet drew him in. He glanced down at the Detel, who scratched at its head with a paw. "Hey, do you want some ice cream?" he teased.
Watson ordered two chocolate cones, smiling when the Detel responded with a soft meow. "Braised egg, picky eating isn't a good habit!" he joked, patting its smooth head.
The ice cream shop owner, a round-faced man with a booming laugh, couldn't help but chuckle as he handed over the cones. "You and that cat must be close, huh?"
Before Watson could respond, a little girl in a princess dress approached, holding her mother's hand. She had big, curious eyes and stared at the Detel with fascination.
"Big brother," she asked sweetly, "can I hold it?"
"Of course!" Watson replied warmly. "For a beautiful young lady like you, how could I say no? But careful—it might be heavier than it looks."
The little girl reached out for the Detel, but instead of letting her carry it, the Detel's hind paws settled firmly on the ground.
"Mom, look!" the girl exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. "It's so big! But it's so cute!" She turned to her mother with a hopeful expression. "When Dad comes back, can he get one for me and my brother?"
Her mother smiled patiently. "You'll have to ask your father about that, sweetie."
The little girl nodded, as serious as a grown-up. Then she turned back to Watson. "Big brother, what's its name?"
"Salted Egg," Watson replied, unable to suppress a grin.
The little girl's eyes sparkled as she inspected the Detel closely. She gently stroked the fur on its neck and declared, "The fur here is so pretty! I think I'll call you White Scarf from now on."
Watson couldn't help but smirk at her creativity, though the name made him twitch slightly. Despite that, he found her energy infectious.
"Lila! That's rude!" her mother scolded gently. She turned to Watson with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, sir."
Watson waved it off. "Not at all. She's adorable. Do you often come out like this?"
The mother sighed. "Not really. But this time, it's a special treat to make up for something."
Before Watson could ask more, a blond-haired boy darted out of a nearby store, clutching a small bag. "Mom, I'm back! Whoa! Look at that big cat!"
"Lila!" the boy called out as he ran up. "What are you doing?"
Lila turned to him, her excitement bubbling over. "Cooper, isn't it awesome? I already told Mom—we need to get Dad to bring one of these home!"
At that moment, the ice cream cones were ready. Watson handed the strawberry cone to Lila. "Lila, right? That's a lovely name. This one's for you."
The mother raised an eyebrow and smiled. "This is your ice cream, isn't it? You'll need the energy to keep protecting two beautiful ladies."
Watson chuckled and handed the boy his own cone. "Then I'll share mine. Here you go, Cooper."
The mother looked at her kids warmly. "Alright, time to go. Say goodbye now."
"Goodbye, big brother!" Lila called out, waving enthusiastically. She looked down at the Detel. "Goodbye, White Scarf!"
The Detel let out a quiet meow, earning giggles from the kids.
Watson watched them walk away, shaking his head with a small smile. "Such an energetic little one," he thought. "I hope her world stays this bright for a while longer."