Summary: A series of shipping-focused continuous/separate drabbles, ficlets and one-shots. The ratings, genres and pairings may/will vary.

Chapter summary: "I just… don't like how your dad treats you sometimes.""…Sometimes I don't like it either." Frida, Diego and parental issues.

Genre(s): Hurt/Comfort/Angst

Pairing(s): Diego/Frida

Disclaimer: El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera is copyrighted by Nick, Mexopolis and its creators Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua. Any referenced works are owned by their respective creators.

Approval

"Yes, I understand, Father."

Frida couldn't make out the words out very well from where she sat, but she caught the drift of their conversation thanks to the two scientists' loud voices.

Diego came back soon enough, a dejected look on his face. He quickly tried to remedy that when he noticed Frida looking at him with a frown, and willed himself to smile, sitting across her.

Frida crossed her arms, unimpressed at Diego's attempts to throw her off. "So, how did it go?" she asked.

Diego inwardly winced at the question. Nothing escaped his girlfriend it seemed. He forced another smile and tried to shrug it off, "Oh, it went well," he reassured her. Frida raised an eyebrow. "Well, you know how my father is," he hastily added upon seeing her unconvinced expression. "It could have gone worse, much worse, my dear, so really, by comparison I must say this was a success!" Diego then forced another smile, hoping this would be enough to appease her.

Frida stared at him for a few seconds, an unreadable expression on her face. After what seemed an eternity, she broke the uncomfortable and tense moment of silence, "A success, huh? Then, you won't mind if I speak to your father, would you?" Frida didn't wait for an answer as she stood up and started walking towards the door.

"No, wait, Frida!" Diego yelled, quickly standing up. The girl made no sign she'd heard him and continued on her way, just about to leave the room and confront his father, when he extended his robotic arm past her and slammed the door shut before she could step out.

Frida flinched in surprise at the sudden move and turned to the mad scientist with a glare. "What the heck, Diego?!"

"Don't- don't… go to my father. You know how he is," Diego told her, his hand still on the door.

Frida narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, I know how he is," she retorted. "That's why I'm gonna go over there and tell him what's up, since you obviously can't-"she loudly proclaimed as she turned and tried to pry his metallic hand off the door.

"Can you please stop trying to do that?! Don't make things worse than they already are-!" Diego yelled before stopping himself. He bit his lower lip when he saw Frida flinch. He removed his arm from the door as she turned away from it.

Their eyes met for a second before both teens looked away in shame. Diego sat back down on the ground while Frida wrapped her arms around herself.

Another uncomfortable silence filled the room.

Frida rubbed her arms absentmindedly before sighing. She walked towards Diego and sat across from him. She reached across the coffee table and lightly touched his normal hand. This prompted Diego, who had been lost in his thoughts until then, to look at her. A regretful expression quickly overtook his features.

"My light, you should know that Dr. Chipotle Jr.'s profoundly sorry for daring to yell and say such horrid things to- you could never, ever make anything in my life worse, my dear, I-"

"Dude," Frida interrupted him in a firm tone. "Stop. You're rambling again. It's ok, I get it." She paused. "I'm sorry too," she softly muttered. "I just… don't like how your dad treats you sometimes."

Diego's expression was forlorn. "…Sometimes I don't like it either," he confessed. He felt Frida's hand envelop his own and turned his head. She gave him a reassuring smile, despite her eyes betraying her inner-turmoil along with the worry and sadness she felt for him.

Diego felt a painful knot form in his throat when he saw the sorrow in her beautiful eyes but was grateful at her attempt to comfort him, the notion that someone as wonderful as her cared about him warmed his heart. He smiled back and squeezed her hand, signaling he was fine.

"So," Frida said, "since your dad's not gonna help you with whatever project you had in mind or whatever, that means there's a spot open, right? I know I'm not a rocket scientist or anything, but…mind if I lend you a hand or two? I promise I'll try not to blow your face off," she joked.

Diego smiled. "Dr. Chipotle Jr. thinks that's a wonderful idea but there's been enough stress for one day. How about we play some video games or watch a movie? The project can wait."

"Whatever you say, dude," Frida smiled back.

Diego got up, slightly regretful he had to let go of her hand already. He walked towards one of his shelves and pulled a box hidden beneath one of them.

Frida watched as Diego selected a few games they'd played together before.

She wasn't quite sure she knew what was the deal between him and his family. There was something else she wasn't getting or that Diego wasn't telling her. Nevertheless, Frida thought, she'd stay by his side and see him through it. The villainous cyborg slowly grew on her, and she'd be damned if she let him suffer like this alone.

Frida never imagined herself as such, but for better or for worse, for now, she'd be his support.

Author's note: After much debate, I finally decided to post this story. It's been sitting on my computer for a long, long time, and since it's been a while since I posted anything...

I feel like Frida and Diego could relate to each other when it comes to strict parents and wanting to make them proud.

Anyway, I'll try to post some other stuff I've already completed over these following weeks. Hope you're all doing well.