#let Félix love his lil man

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-valves]

Can we get some more family Encanto stuff? Maybe something with Felix and Antonio? We don't see them too much.

You absolutely can! Let's go!

(Warning, LOTS of oc stuff happening in this one, as we're going over 'Felix's family tree')

"Dad! Dad!"

Félix lifted up the plates as Antonio came dashing in, on the back of Parce, his giant as hell 'housecat' (it was a jaguar, but he acted like a housecat). Félix exclaimed past the spoon in his mouth, hands busy setting down the feed for some of Antonio's many animals. He took the spoon from his mouth, simultaneously grabbing Parce's scruff to keep him from ramming into the fridge. Again.

"Mijo, what did I say about having Parce run in here? He breaks more stuff than Agustín. Now sit, eat, THEN tell me what's got you so excited."

Antonio got off of Parce to sit, and dump the contents of his backpack onto the table. He started to nibble his fruit as he spoke in between bites.

"We have a project due at school, and I need your help! We're doing a family tree!"

Félix sighed as he sat down, giving his hard boiled eggs to a random mouse. Can't have shit in the Casita nowadays, but hey, it was his life, and he was happy with it.

"Oh I know this one, your brother and your sister did the exact same project. You should wait for your mami, she's just out watering some crops. I maybe IN the family Madrigal, but I don't think it gets more Madrigal than her."

"But I don't wanna do it on mami's family, I wanna do it on yours!"

Félix, who was practically giving away his lunch at this point, did a double take at his son.

"You...wanna do it on MY side? How come?"

Antonio adjusted his big, white of paper, clearly ready to get started. He looked so EXCITED, he didn't notice his snacks were being stolen.

"One, EVERY grandkid has done it on the Madrigals, so everyone's already seen it. Two, I thought it'd be kinda fun, learning about yours. Mirabel pointed out that no one asks about your family whenever we go out. Now, they will!"

Félix couldn't help but smile. He raised such a sweet, caring boy. He had more heart in his pinky finger, than most did in their whole bodies.

"That's sweet of you mijo, thank you. In that case, I'd be more than happy to help you out. Tell me what you need."

"Well,"

Antonio pulled out another piece of paper, having a list of things they'd need. Félix knew OF this project, but it always changed, if only a little bit.

"First, we need to make a list of who's gonna be on here. Your parents, and your siblings, then me, Camilo, and Dolores. Then, we need to write their first and last names, and a little fact about them!"

Félix gently whistled. Lot of work for a little kid, no wonder he needed help. Félix took a piece of paper and a pencil, and got to work.

"Well, first you have MY parents. My papi, and your Abuelo, 'Ramone Castillo. You know him, obviously."

"Mhmm. I don't think we can put 'has a bad hip' as a fact, though."

Félix snorted, almost mispelling his dad's name in the process.

"No, he'd kick my butt if we did. Let's see here, fact about him. Oh, he used to be a barber! In fact, that's how he met his wife. Aka, 'Abuela Bonnie'. But, papi just calls her 'Bon Bon'."

"I didn't know how that's how they met!"

"That's right, I never got too into detail with you on that. You see, two years before the Encanto was formed, mi mami moved here to Colombia, where she met mi papi. They did hair together, since it meant a lot to them, and eventually they got married. Hair is VERY important to the Castillo family, it's why papi keeps messing with all this hair of yours when he sees you!"

Félix gave him a light noogie, making the kid chuckle.

"Is that why he always offers to braid my hair?"

"That's right! Hair is VERY important to us, so brushing it or styling it is very important. Some people say you can tell who's a part of the family based on the hair. You, mijo, are blessed with the 'Castillo curls'. I have it, your siblings have it, and chances are, YOUR future kids will have them. Not ONE straight haired person in our gene pool."

"Is that why Abuelo has that afro?"

"Pretty much, yeah. He's had that hair since I was born, honestly. He prefers doing other people's hair. Like you know your tìo Julio's braids? He taught him how to do that."

Félix added his older brother to the mix, making sure it was obvious to tell the age order of who was on the list.

"I can never tell if tìo Julio is mad or not."

"Tìo Julio is never mad. Or sad. Or happy. Or...anything, really. We dunno why, he's just always been like that. But he's a strong man. So strong, that before Luisa got her gift, they'd always come to HIM for stuff."

His big brother Julio was emotionally unavailable, but he was hard working, patient, and ever willing to lend a hand.

"Woah, he was that strong?"

"He can't move a church, but yes, he's VERY strong. He also plays the violin. In fact, our parents had all three of us learn to play an instrument. Julio plays the violin-"

"I remember! He played that during my birthday last year, right?"

"Mhmm. He has trouble expressing himself, but the violin helps him. I have my tiple, and my baby brother, 'Mateo Castillo',"

He wrote down his name just under his before continuing.

"Plays the banjo. Not very well though, he hated practice."

"I can always tell when HE'S angry."

"Hes 4'5, he's got a...short temper."

Antonio giggled at that, and Félix couldn't help but miss when his siblings were this age. They'd always laugh at his jokes too. Where does the time GO, honestly? Antonio looked over the list, lips pursed.

"Oh, your sisters though, where do they go?"

"Ah yes- the twins. They're 'papi's babies', and they're younger than all of us. You remember them, tìa Alejandra and tìa Alexandria. Alexandria is older, by two minutes. They’re identical twins, but they're VERY different. One likes blue, one likes red, Alejandra likes peanuts, Alexandria is allergic, and both are uh. Wonderful. Yeah."

Truth is they were both spoiled brats, but he loved them anyway. Papi always treated them to whatever they wanted growing up, making them absolutely spoiled. But, they still loved their family, and at the end of the day, that's all that mattered. Félix just noticed Antonio was doodling a tree already, planning out for the real deal. Smart kid.

"Okay, that's your parents, your siblings, now YOU!"

He seemed especially excited for this part, and it warmed his heart, knowing his kid was excited about his old man. Félix nodded at him, getting a grin just as big as his son's.

"Right, I'm a part of this, that's right. Well I'm 'Félix Castillo'. Er, was, before I took your mami's last name. I'm the middle sibling of my brothers, son of Ramone and Bonnie, and I'm YOUR papi, in case that's news to you."

"Daaad! You know what's not what I meant! I MEANT, what's a fact about just YOU!"

Félix opened his mouth, only to shut it again.

"Huh."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just. Realized the last time I've been asked that was when I was dating your mami. It's been a while. A fact about just me. Huh...oh okay, I got one. I've ALWAYS wanted to get into wrestling or boxing as a kid."

Antonio looked up at him curiously, and he couldn't blame him, this is the first time he's ever really talked about it.

"I never knew that. How come?"

"I liked the exercise, I liked the good old fashion fist to fist stuff. I dunno, It just always made me happy. And it definitely got your mami's attention back in the day. I've always wanted to play officially, but life happens, you know?"

Antonio seemed to sulk in his seat, to the point where the rats on the table perked up in concern.

"Is it...because you had kids? That you can't do that stuff anymore?"

"What? No no no, Tonito, no, mijo,"

Félix pulled his son close to his side with a frown of his own. How awful, his son under such an impression.

"It's not because of you, or ANY of your siblings. If you told me to choose between a successful career in boxing or wrestling, or the family I have, I'd choose my family. I LOVE my family, and I couldn't be happier. Understand?"

Antonio seemed uncertain, before he softly smiled and nodded.

"Okay, I believe you. I just want you to be happy. I bet you would've been great at it."

"I have great kids. That's more than enough. Now, we putting your mami in this, right?"

"Uh huh."

He put her name on the paper, still keeping his boy clung to him, just so he knew his previous words were true.

"Okay so, your mami is five years younger than me. Her name is?"

He let his sentence drift off so Antonio could answer, and he did so with excitement.

"Pepa Madrigal!"

"That's right! She's Pepa. And a fact about her, where do I start? Your mami loves chocolate, spicy food, she loves to read, she loves you guys, her favorite flowers are dandelions, she's super good at math, she's super strong, history was her least favorite subject at school, she's SUPER good at whistling-"

"Dad, I only need ONE fact."

Félix couldn't help but snicker at that. Not his fault his wife was pretty amazing.

"Okay, ONE fact, I promise. One fact that everyone should know about your mami, is that she tries harder than anyone I know, to be the person people expect her to be. Your mami is a VERY hard worker, Antonio. I mean she raised your brother, THAT'S a gift in and of itself."

He didn't get to see what he scribbled in his notebook before he kept going with the questions.

"We're almost done! We just need a fact about Camilo, and Dolores, then me."

Félix thought about it for a second, before it clicked.

"Oh how about this-your brother's name was originally going to be 'Carlos'. But we called him Camilo instead, because when we said 'Carlos', he'd kick your mami's belly so hard, she wanted to cuss him out. We still laugh at that sometimes."

"Does HE know that?"

"I told him that once, yes, and he said 'geez, no wonder I kicked, that name sucks'. I love your brother, but sometimes I wanna kick HIM."

Antonio jotted that down with a smile, before moving onto Dolores.

"And Dolores. Besides her hearing, what do you think is special about her?"

What WASN'T special about his little girl? His pride and joy? His absolute precious little baby who didn't deserve boys so much as looking her way.

"Hmm...well, she plays the tiple, just like me. Oh how about this, before she had her gift, Dolores hoped she'd have the ability to fly. She said she liked birds so much, especially owls. It's why I call her 'my little buho' sometimes."

"Thought it was because of her eyes?"

"Eh it's both. Okay, last one is YOU. You wanna gimme a fact, or should I?"

Antonio lightly tapped the pencil against his chin in thought, just for a moment.

"How about we both come up with one! And we see who's is better."

"Deal. Okay, you first."

"Hmmm...I like to collect seashells!"

"You do, you do,"

Félix nodded. Antonio loved it whenever Félix went to the market and got him a shell, brought by merchants from far off lands. He has quite the collection, honestly.

"How about...you snore, JUST like your mami does?"

"I do? That loud?"

"Uh huh. But it's cute, just like the rest of you!"

He couldn't resist tickling his side a bit, making him giggle like a madman as he tried to squirm away from him. Antonio scribbled something down, before getting to the big canvas.

"Okay, we got the details, we just gotta draw! You ready?"

"Always, hombrecito!"

--------------------------

"Félix? Félix, ven aquí!"

Félix poked his head into the room. Pepa had to step in and help Antonio, since Félix had to make dinner that night, but the poor little guy had fallen asleep right in the middle of it. He kept trying to put him to bed, but Antonio insisted he had to make it just right. Félix walked into the living room, about to scoop his boy off the floor, when he looked at the project. Everyone had a hand in this, a couple doodles here, a few flowers, and he himself had photos Antonio could pin onto it. The kid was clearly so proud of his work, describing what his grandparents did and how his own siblings were. But the part that made him stop was Antonio's little fact. In it, he wrote:

'I'm proud to be a Castillo!'

And Félix couldn't help but just melt. He gently patted the boy's head, before scooping him up in his arms, holding him close.

"Pepa, put his project somewhere safe, please. I'm gonna clean up after I put him to bed."

Pepa gave him a quick kiss on the lips, smiling at him.

"He's proud of you. And so am I."

"We make wonderful children, you and I. We should make more."

"After you clean up?"

"Absolutely ~"

One more kiss, and he was off to Antonio's room. It was a bit of a walk, getting him up there, but he got Antonio in his little hammock, and draped his blanket over him. He looked down at his sleeping son, and smiled as he gently stroked his face.

"I'm proud that you're my son, mijo. I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

He leaned down to kiss his forehead, gently pushing aside his hair to do so. Apparently he got the Castillo curls, and the Castillo heart.

#asks #not transformers #encanto #this was so precious I was awwing at my damn self #let Félix love his lil man #and let Antonio just be wholesome #and yes this was also a lowkey oc info dump #let me have this

[gamerbearmira]

Alright, I don't want to brag about anything, but... I really enjoy all the content about the Cocooned AU and few days ago, while re-reading that... I thought of something :

What if, instead of pulling just grandkids... Casita trapped ALL of the Madrigals in their rooms... before falling apart and the family disappearing.

The people, obviously, search over the area for months, but find nothing. Félix and Augustín's families are devastated. Not only had the magical family disappearanced... but also had their sons, daugthers-in-law, grandkids and so on. Félix's family decides to stay low for awhile, while Augustín's completely leaves Encanto, as staying gives them too much pain...

Until, months later, a new little boy is born. To Félix's family, many say he looks like his deceased/disappeared relative and, as if in a joke, they decide to name him after him...

All would go back to normal, unless something else happens... when somebody says there's a couple by a river outside the mountain. A man and woman, in late stages of pregnancy. The villagers, seeing the couple has so threat and in quite vulnerable condition, take them in, until, exactly on birthday of long gone Julieta, Pepa and Bruno, the woman gives birth... to healthy tiny triplets. The fact the couple's names are Alma and Pedro don't help any bit.

While the new parents are happy about their children and that they were born in good condition... the Encanto starts to wonder, who are these people and, some very hopeful, if the Madrigals' magic was able to save them and sent them back, before everything went down the hill. And it all seals when the small house, the two had built on a hill near edge of the small town, starts to glow and comes to life.

And that's when the villagers know. La familia Madrigal is back. But would they tell Pedro and Alma about past life... or, in fear of causing other catastrophe/fall incident, they stay quiet and let the family live their lives, in the dark of their past

NO PLEASE BRAG❗❗ you know how excited I get when I learn someone's reread my stuff like 🤭🤭

NO, BUT THIS IDEA...is so good omg. You know I have thought about that too if all the Madrigals caught a body in that au. Lil' Félix, I'm crying. They probably is was a nice tribute to the real Félix and a sort of morbid joke but like. When Alma and Pedro came back and then Alma had TRIPLETS?? (Who I assume were named Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno lmao). And then their house came to life and has magic. Like they're definitely back.

Also?? Does Agustín’s family come back?? I mean I assume it’s a similar situation to Félix. And I assume if they can leave the Encanto, then news might have spread, and anyone who previously had lived there would recognize the meaning behind “The Madrigals are back”. So would they return?? I mean I assume they would 😭

And I’m not sure, maybe they would stay quiet?? I think it would’ve been pieced together what caused the fall of Casita, at least some, or maybe it’s just paranoia that it’ll happen again, but maybe the villagers just. Don’t say anything about it.

EITHER WAY. I’D LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THIS IF YOU HAVE ANY BUT NO PRESSURE 💪💪

W village for taking in Alma and Pedro

#my asks #my asks are open #encanto #encanto au #au #encanto alma #encanto pedro #encanto Félix #encanto Agustín #cocooned au #cocoon au

[silverwhiteraven]

Borne of the Stars - Chapter 9 - An MLB Kryptonian AU

Tag List:  @eve-valution @weird-pale-blonde-person @kris-pines04 @soulmate-game @abrx2002 @amayakans @vixen-uchiha @heldtogetherbysafetypins @raisuke06 @dorkus-minimus @captainartsypants @mopester-is-here @moonlightstar64 @annabellabrookes @maribat-is-lifeblood @toodaloo-kangaroo @the-navistar-carol @elspethshadow @chocolatecatstheron​ @ivymala07

[ Posted on Ao3 ] [ Chapter 1 ] [ Chapter 8 ] [ Chapter 10 ]

[ Summary: Lunch was enjoyed, Félix has a message, and more talk happens as they return to school. ]

The group of students spent the remainder of their lunch period eating to their hearts’ content. Marinette and Barbara had pitched in together to make sandwich wraps, something the latter had compared to being “just like a burrito!” Everything else was bread and pastries brought up from the bakery below.

“Those were the best scones I ever had, I wish I could live here and eat them every day,” Babs lamented as they all gathered their things, preparing to return to school.

The others giggled at her antics and Marinette shrugged. “You get used to them; besides, those were only the rejects, you should try what they sell in the counter displays.”

“Rejects? Those were rejects? But they were perfect! Absolutely delicious!” 

Marinette only shrugged again with a sheepish grin. Kara chuckled, knowing the reason for the ‘rejects’. Nino, who also understood the reason, hid his laugh at the continued dramatics and answered the unspoken question.

“Yeah, dude, they’re the stuff that didn't come out quite right. Not good enough to sell, y’know? But they're still just as edible as everything else, so they bring them up here to eat with meals.”

“Anything we don't eat with lunch or keep for dinner, we donate,” Marinette finished the explanation, standing from her barstool perch at the countertop table. 

“Is that where you get the macaroons for your class?” Karen gestures to the now empty macaroon box sitting in the recycling can. The last of them had been taken by the girls, Nino content with his scones.

Marinette shook her head, swinging her bag over her shoulder. “Made those ones myself from our home supplies. I stopped letting Maman and Papa give me some from the bakery once I perfected the recipes myself. Still as good as my parents’, Nino?”

The boy gave her two thumbs up and a nod with a big smile. “Can’t even tell the difference, dudette.”

“Aw, sure you can, Major!” Kara exclaims, calling Nino by one of her music-based nicknames for him. “Can't you taste it? She puts much more love into the baking she does for her friends.” 

There’s barely a beat before the group bursts into laughs and giggles at the claim, and Marinette covers her blushing embarrassment with her hands. However, she can't help but smile with a bit of appreciation and pride at the statement.

“Thank you, Kara, I’m glad you liked them. Come on guys, it’s a bit of a walk back to the lycée.” She sighs, and adds in lament, “I’m going to miss the days of walking to the collège; living right next door is a blessing I never savored.”

Nino nods in understanding, patting her back and staring at a chain of all the girls following suit in their own pats of comfort, bringing out a giggle from the now comforted girl. 

As everyone files out the door and heads down the stairs, Marinette holds the door and leaves last. “Head out the ground floor’s back door, the lunch rush is too busy to get through,” she reminds the group as they head down. Her phone chimes in her pocket as she descends the last of the steps, and she pulls the device out as she exits outside. 

“Félix?” Her brow scrunches in confusion and she frowns, pulling the attention of her friends.

“Adrien’s cousin?” Nino asks, stepping closer.

“The Luthor boy?” Babs voiced her own curiosity.

“You mean the Graham de Vanily heir?” Karen pitches in, a little more excited.

Kara breaks the chain of questioning the identity of Félix with a: “What did he say?”

“‘Something doesn't seem right about today. Be careful. And just in case, keep that reporter’s contact open. Paris may need assistance.’” Marinette read the message out loud, her confusion turning to worry.

“I've never gotten a message like this from him before. He never contacts me during school hours, either, even breaks. I wonder what’s wrong…” As she muses, she sends a simple return text: ‘Will do. And you too, Fé. Let’s hope it’s nothing.’

She doesn’t voice her reply before she puts the phone away, or the last one from Félix. 

‘We shall see.’

“That was…ominous,” Babs voices skeptically as the group resumes their walk back towards the school. 

“He can get like that sometimes, it’s nothing to worry about,” Maritnette shrugs, trying to brush the new worry off everyone’s shoulders. As the only one of them who had been around him the most so far, she was the only one at the moment who could reassure them. And as such, she didn’t voice that Félix’s hunches were usually right in some way or another. Yet she refused to worry anyone else any further, and kept the tidbit to herself.

Her efforts seem to work as the others seem to relax. All except Kara, looking pensive.

Marinette and Kara both drop to the back of their small group, a couple paces behind the other three who had struck up a new conversation about Nino’s hat and the girls’ preferences of headgear that didn't act difficult with their longer hair. 

“Rolling Penny for your thoughts?” Marinette jokes to the hero, who snorts at the play on words with their shared interest in music.

“Get me a Stone with Jagged edges and you can have your pick of thoughts for the rest of our lives.” Marinette laughs as she imagines handing over her only famous commissioner as a trade offering.

She shakes her head and chuckles, “No can do, that’s a free Stone, no keeping it like a pet rock. You'll have to settle for the Penny.”

Kara taps her chin in thought before snapping, smirking with a tease; “How ‘bout a nice crystal cluster instead? I hear Geodes are pretty and valuable.”

The teased girl snorts and shakes her head. “This crystal is already around you often enough. I’ll add in extra tarts to our next hang out, would you consider that payment enough?”

“It’ll do, for now,” was the joking return, and the two shared a laugh.

“But really, Kara, what is it? Is Félix’s text bothering you?”

A shrug, and then, “Well, yeah, I’m still a little wary around him, ya’know? His dad was still Lex Luthor, and no hero, let alone any Kryptonian, could trust that man to be as far away from us as we could throw him; and trust me, we could have thrown him far if we wanted to. And you say Félix says things like that a lot?? It sounds a lot like something similar to my original suspicions about you.”

Marinette glances back up at Kara quizzically. “What suspicion in particular?”

“Well the whole ‘Kryptonite in your body’ thing isn't exactly a common thing. Seeing Félix at the same time I saw those crystals in you? Painted a really bad picture. Lex wasn't exactly against human experimentation.”

She recalled a few of the stories both Supergirl and Alya had told her about Lex Luthor, even a few of his family getting their hands dirty in the same villainous business, and factoring in the new information, Marinette understood a bit more about how easy  it could be to have suspicions like this against people around the Luthor family. Not to mention the family itself.

“So, you think...Monsieur Luthor did something to Félix?” She was a bit alarmed at the conclusion, worry coating her words and thoughts. 

“That, or he’s just a really observant guy. But! Now it’s your turn not to worry about it!” Kara explains, her voice gaining a light cheerfulness and reassurance as she pulls Marinette against her side with one arm. “School is no time to fret over anything except making it to the last bell.”

Marinette laughs and leans into the side-hug, taking comfort in it. “Since when did you prefer school over thinking about all the potential future dangers you could be punching into the sun?”

“Since I had friends to hang out with,” was the returned quip, and an added, “And no more etiquette classes was a huge bonus, too.”

“They have etiquette in America?”

“Nope, on Krypton, it was kinda a thing for me. Kal got lucky.” The Kryptonian scoffs. “But I have a feeling I'm going to dread being at my new home because I'll be suffering through it again,” she groans, nodding out towards the school they could now see down the street.

A glaringly obvious person decked out in all yellows, white and black was standing out front.

“Chloé? What did she do this time? Is this why she was glaring at you all morning?”

“Yep,” Kara scowls, “Publicity stunt from her dad, he offered to host the cousin of world-renowned reporter Clark Kent during her stay in Paris. Lady Bourgeois over there doesn't like my ‘uncivilized, barbarian lifestyle’,” she mocked with a sarcastic one-handed air quote and an eye-roll.  

“She’s a bit of a handful, I can agree with that,” Marinette smiled sympathetically, suppressing a laugh at the inaccurate jabs. “I’ll help you out if you want, I’ve dealt with her for enough years to gain a life-long tolerance.”

“I’ve got your number; I’ll call you if I need to. Or,” came the teasing tone, “I’ll just do it anyways; I could never get tired of talking with you.” 

With a laugh and an eye-roll of her own, Marinette stepped away from the other and picked up her pace to catch up with the rest of their group. “School first, we can figure out our new phone schedule later, if we even need one now that we share a timezone.”

“Touché, lil’ Butterfly, touché,” Kara concedes, catching up only a step behind.

The Parisian girl raises a brown, “Butterfly?” 

“Beautiful, always a step ahead, and always dodging around everything.”

“Dodging?” Kara, I can't dodge anything for my life without warning first.”

The two laughed, and Kara nudged the other girl reassuringly. “Besides avoiding compliments you shouldn’t, I think you’re doing just fine on your own.”

“Well, besides those embarrassing compliments, if there's anything I shouldn't be missing, warn me, okay? I’d hate to leave anything hanging.”

Kara gave a big sideways grin, her eyes hinted with wistfulness. “Sure, Geode, I’ll do that; at least for anything that doesn't want to wait for a perfect timing first.”

“Like?”

“The fact that we’re back at school and the warning bell just rang?”

“AH!! Kara! Warn me next time!”

#maribat #miraculous ladybug #Borne of the Stars #Karanette #marinette dupain cheng #nino lahiffe #karen beecher #barbara gordon #kara danvers #kara zor el #felix graham de vanily #crossover au #dc super hero girls

[apocalypse4209]

Smiley #1 (1/3): So(f)rria

I am drumming my fingers on the sofa’s side while watching TV. The sun is going down so there is only the dim light from the TV and some kind of orange or kind of pink rays coming out of the windows. Mom and Dad are right next to me, his arm is around her shoulder and they are sipping a cold one together, but this is way too silent. They look at each other, then at the TV, then back at each other, then they look at me. They are trying so hard set up a casual vibe it is actually funny.

They slowly turn their eyes at me

Oh oh

Mom: So...

Oh boy, here we go

Mom: It’s been three days since we moved in here and you still haven’t gone out once. Don’t you wanna meet the kids here? Maybe make friends?

I slowly turn my eyes at them

Me: What for? It is just a matter of time before they mock me anyway...

Mom: You don’t know that, there are plenty of boys out there that dance ballet too. No reason to be ashamed.

Me: In the world? Maybe. Here they just wanna play football and fly kites and stuff.

Dad: True, better hide in the under the bed forever. You can set up quite a unique career as a dancer that never lets anyone know his identity...maybe like a super hero, you know? It ain’t like one of most crucial points of following your passion is being reconigzed while doing what you love anyway-

Me: Got it, Dad. Thanks

Dad: Just rip off that bandage, Félix. Sure, ten-year-olds.are damn idiots, but if you find someone that doesn’t pick on your beans for that, then hey, that might be a awesome friend for life. Or you could just keep drumming your fingers and see what comes of that.

Me: Sounds like a plan.

Mom: *Sigh* Okay, out.

Me: But, Mooooo-

Mom: Félix!

She gave me the look.

Dang

Well at least it ain’t so bad out here. There is pretty much nobody out, So I think I am just gonna kill some time on the sidewalk, stretch a lil’, pretend I am not noticing my Mom looking at me from behind the curtains then go back.

Easy Peasy

I sit on the ground and spread my legs as far as I can, bowing down and stretching my arms forward too. Suddenly, it gets darker and I can feel someone is right in front of me.

There was nobody here.

How?

Who?

???: Sick shit, bruh

I snap my head up in an instant. There is a scrawny looking guy, around my age, looking down on me. He is wearing a cap, a zipped up team coat, a bermuda and flip flops, The remaining daylight is coming right from behind him and it makes him look like he is there is light coming out of him and that he is in the dark at the same time. Adding that to his black eye, he looks kind of super scary.

Me: Th-Thank you?

He gives me a little helping hand to get back up, I hesitate but accept it.

???: You the new kid?

Me: Yeah, Félix.

???: AWESOME. I’m Pedro.

He opens up the widest smile I have seen in my life. Not sure if I should be scared or impressed, but at least I’m not nervous anymore.

Pedro: You stretch like a ballerina, you know that?

Me: Well, I dance ballet, makes sense.

Pedro: You whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-

Me: Yeah I know, pretty lame, right?

Pedro: Nah man, I can’t stretch like that, super cool. Hey, check this out though

His face gets serious all of a sudden

Pedro: YYYYYYAA!

He kicks me on the side of the head, but when I flinch and get ready for the hit, I just feel a breeze instead. He stopped the kick right before it connected.

Me: SO COOL!

I probably look like a moron right now.

Pedro: *squints lightly* Yeah, I know.

He puts his leg back on the ground slowly while barely keeping balance, just to look cooler.

Pedro:I wanna be a cop and save people from bad guys some day, so I gotta learn how to handle myself, ya know?

He says that with such confidence that it kinda brushes off on me and I end up saying anything stupid just to relate

Me: You can save them and I can perform to them and make them happy, kick ass combo

Pedro: Pfft, we can do both ya know?

Me: How come?

Pedro: We gotta be strong and protect the people in need and the people we care about. Just being there makes everybody feel fine and smile, ya know? That’s what this guy taught me.

He unzips his coat revealing a black shirt with Super Sayan 3 Goku powering up in all his fury and power. If feels like if I were anything like that, I could do anything.

Pedro: Fucking awesome, ain’t it?

Me: Yeah...

Pedro: Wanna try fighting something?

I stop oggling his shirt and snap back to reality again.

Me: Nah, I am not a fighter. Anyway, are your parents ok with you swearing like that?

Pedro: Of course not, but they have bigger concerns. My sis is still a baby and is driving my folks insane!

A baby cry comes from the house across the street. So the baby that kept me awake all night yesterday was his sis, Welp, good to know at least.

Pedro: Look at her go again! Wanna meet her?

Me: Uhm...Sure...

Not like I had anything better to do. Pedro puts his hands around his mouth and looks straight at my Mom.

Pedro: HEY! FÉLIX’S MOM! CAN HE COME OVER FOR A BIT TO MEET MY SIS?

Mom notices that her hiding spot was terrible and nods to Pedro, embarassed.

Pedro: ALL RIGHT!

He just bolts out of nowhere back to his home and I have to think a bit before realizing I should follow him,

Pedro: By the way, I will change your mind about the fighting one day!

I run with him and hit the brakes right after him when we arrive at his living room. His mom is sitting on a armchair with his sister on her arms. The baby’s face is all red and her eyes were closed from how open her mouth was and how intense the crying was growing. Then she opened one eye just a tidy bit and saw me.

The crying stopped.

Just like that.

Both Pedro and his mom looked at me, then back at her, then back at me again. The looks on their faces was priceless.

Pedro’s Mom: And who are you, little baby whisperer? 

She says that with a mix of relief and love and gives me a warm smile. Pedro walks towards the baby and starts caressing her little head.

Me: Félix, ma’am.

I am kind of embarassed and confused. The baby was now laughing and pointing her little arms at me.

Pedro’s Mom: Well Félix, I am Márcia, nice to meet you. Come closer, I think she likes you.

I walk slowly towards Márcia and gently hold one of his sister’s little hands. I look at Pedro and he has the biggest satisfied smirk ever, like his sister just proved his whole point. After getting mesmerized by that adorable, fragile human being for a few more seconds I turn my eyes to Pedro with a smile of pure happiness I didn’t even knew I could produce.

Me: What’s her name?

Pedro: Sofia.