Headcanons for Dad Bruno Au… Pt. 3

a/n: Thinking the next chapter will be shorter. It’s finals week for me. I’d love to here some of your thoughts on the au thus far.

Calling the posts “chapters” because I want to.

• Starting out with Adelita’s mami’s birthday:
• Adelita’s abuela continued to celebrate her daughter’s birthday despite her passing. It was a small celebration.
• The two would picnic beside the river, Adelita’s mother’s favorite place. Bake pan tres leches for dessert and dinner they’d have only her mother’s favorite foods.
• It was late, she was supposed to be asleep, instead tiptoeing through the kitchen to retrieve the slice of cake she’d saved for Bruno.
• “Mi querida hija. Feliz cincuentenario, mi amor. Oh, desearía que estuvieras aquí para ver a la maravillosa persona en la que se está convirtiendo tu hija.Estarías muy orgulloso.” - Abuela.
• She couldn’t help but overhear her abuela’s prayer.
• “Cariño. Es una chica tan brillante, pero solitaria.Me preocupo. No soy tan joven como antes...” - Abuela.
• She just chills at the window while Bruno chats away and enjoys the pan tres leches, her mind elsewhere.
• Bruno’s noticed she combs and holds on to her ponytail when something is bothering her.
• “Hey, peque are you okay?” - Bruno
• “Hmm?” Her grip tightened around her ponytail. “Yeah… no. Today was mami’s birthday.” - Adelita
• She tells Bruno her family history, everything she remembers Abuela telling her, managing to avoid the topic of her father.
• “It’s just me and Abuela now. And you… Bruni, what was your family like?” - Adelita.
• …
• “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. Goodnight Bruni.” - Adelita.
• She didn’t sleep. Her thoughts had been consumed by the words of her abuela.
• Instead, she made a plan; there were drawings.
• Adelita is in a rush the next morning, speeding through breakfast.
• Her lizard got upset because they didn’t get a chance to catch any crickets.
• But before she’s out the door, her abuela needs one more good hug and a peck on the cheek.
• Instead of taking her usual path into the village, she cut through the jungle.
• One second she was looking up at the swath of green foliage overhead, the next she was back on the dirt path.
• “Are you mad? You don’t just go walking in the jungle by yourself!?” - Bruno.
• “Bruni! I found you! You know everything, right? Teach me to make friends! Please.” - Adelita.
• Bruno tries to convince her he is not the person she wants for the task. But-
• “Please. Pretty please. It’s really super important. So important I said please three times.” - Adelita.
• She did say please and holy moly those eyes that pout.
• How hard can it be? Making friends?
• Adelita squeals like crazy. He’d forgotten how loud kids can be.
• “Thank you, thank you!“ she beamed, hugging tightly around the waist. - Adelita.
• Bruno is still getting used to her hugs.
• Learning how to make friends, Adelita gets to spend more time with Bruno during the day.
• They gather in a small oasis clearing in the jungle. Bruno doesn’t mind her being there as long as she doesn’t leave his sight.
• Over the length of a week or so - Queue the cliche Disney montage.
• Adelita sitting on a stump taking notes surrounded by jungle animals… Bruno trying to braid her hair as she chatters away… Adelita teaches Bruno a special handshake… the two enjoy lunch together in the shade of a ceiba tree.
• Finally the day arrives when they're both sure she’s ready.
• Bruno notices her gripping her hair, lingering by the foliage, watching the other children play.
• “I’ve seen you, you know, watching them. You want to play with them, don’t you? So why don’t you?” - Bruno.
• “What if—what if they don’t like me? What if I’m not… good enough?” - Adelita.
• “Lita. There’s no need to worry. You are, without a doubt, the most awesome kid I’ve ever crossed paths with. You're one of a kind, kid. And if they don’t see that, they're going to miss out on having the coolest kid as their friend.” - Bruno.
• For the first time in a long time, he’s the one to initiate a hug.
• The little peanut just stood in the middle of the action. Everything she’d learned abandoned her. She garnered some confused looks and there were whispers, but most just mind their business.
• “Is that an anole?”
• One child in particular notices the lizard hanging on her shoulder.
• “Mmhm. Their name’s Pegajoso. You can hold them, they won’t mind.” - Adelita.
• Her lizard friend takes a real shine to the boy.
• “Soy Adelita Guerreo.” - Adelita.
• “Antonio, Antonio Madrigal.” - Antonio.
• The little boy, Antonio, invited her to play rana.
• Her Abuela would be so relieved, so proud.
• Bruno is proud. Proud papi.
• “So do you like lizards?” - Adelita.
• “I like all animals, but my favorites are jaguars. Rawr!” - Antonio.
• “Wow!” - Adelita.
• A friend. A perfect match.