It's been a few weeks since the playground incident, and Puta has become something of a catchphrase for Boscha. Whenever she got mad, or if someone was messing with Luz, she would call them that, still unaware of what it meant. Camila and Manny we're in the kitchen making Lunch while Boscha and Luz were watch people walking their dogs out the window.
"Mami, can we get a puppy?" Boscha asked.
Camila looked at Manny, who just shook his head.
"Maybe when you're older sweetheart." Camila told her oldest daughter.
It was official, the signed adoption papers on the fridge confirmed that the three-eyed girl is now an official Noceda. They couldn't just let the girl grow up without family after all, and they haven't seen or heard anything in almost three months, if her birth parents were out there, it was clear that they didn't want to find her. Luz was more than thrilled to have a sister, especially one that was equally as weird as her. Boscha herself was more than content with her new family. She remembered little to nothing of her previous life, and the few days before she was found entailed wandering aimlessly, being chased by cruel teenagers and wild animals. The Nocedas were the only people she could recall who showed her kindness, and she was all too happy to be one of them. It wouldn't hurt to have a pet, though.
"I would love the heck out of that puppy." Boscha muttered as she narrowed her eyes.
"Ditto." Luz replied with equal fervor.
Manny watched them with adoration while he was refrying plantain slices for tostones.
"Will those two ever not be adorable together?"
"Doesn't look like it." Camila replied while setting the table. "I'm happy Boscha has taken to our family so well. She's even acclimated to your cooking faster than I did."
"Hardy-har-har." Manny rolled his eyes. "Maybe for dinner, I'll prepare my famous Assassin's Spaghetti."
"No!" Camila almost shouted, her mind clouded with flashes of flying pasta, flailing limbs and pulled hair. "No spaghetti. Not again... NEVER again."
"What, don't want a new picture with both of the girls?" Manny asked with a smile.
"Do you want to sleep UNDER the dog house?" Camila asked.
"Only if you're there." Manny said with a small hip bump to Camila.
Camila moved a step and let out a small laugh.
"Why don't you go take the girls to the living room and play with them while I finish dinner." Camila said before whispering, "I think they're planning on stealing the neighbor's dog."
And so, Camila finished preparing lunch while Manny distracted the girls with videos of a small fluffy dog by the name of Gabriel. Against her better judgement, Camila decided to have lunch in the living room while the family watched TV. It wasn't her thing, but it was such a lazy afternoon that she succumbed to her desire to vegetate. The fact that Cosmic Frontier: Elysium was on at that moment may or may not have played a part in that decision. Forty-five minutes into the episode, and Manny and Boscha were enraptured at the sight of Commander Wurfle in a firefight with the sinister Nimoids. Camila was content with holding Luz, who fell asleep. It was a perfect afternoon, up until Boscha was fidgeting with her ears. She turned to her adoptive parents with a worried expression.
"What's wrong, mija?" Camila asked, sensing her distress.
"M-Mami, Papi... a-am... am I a Nee-moid?"
"Que?" Manny wasn't prepared for that question.
Camila did her best to suppress her laughter.
"No, honey, you're no Nimoid."
"But they gots the same ears as me." Boscha sounded even more upset. "I... does that make me a bad guy?"
Manny was quick to answer.
"¡De ninguna manera, princesa! Having pointy ears doesn't mean you're evil or anything."
"So... then why do I has to hide'em?" Boscha teared up. "And my upper eye, too?"
Camila got up from the couch, handed the sleeping Luz to her husband, and sat on the floor next to her other daughter.
"Oh, Boschita, we make you hide them for your safety. Your ears and eyes are beautiful, but they're... rare around these parts. People are afraid of others who are different, and often refuse to see them for who they really are. It would be nice if they could understand you."
"But I don't even understand me." Boscha muttered. "I can't remember nothin' 'bout where I'm from or what I am."
Camila smiled. "I'm not sure about the where, but I know exactly what you are."
"What?"
"You're a Noceda." She punctuated the sentiment by booping Boscha's nose. "And nothing will ever change that, even if you were somehow a Nimoid."
"Really?!" Boscha's eyes lit up.
"Really." Camila gave her a hug. "And we Nocedas always love and protect each other just as we are, through supernovas and solar winds."
"But... Papi and Tio seemed very aggressive when they played basketball last week." Boscha said.
"Well, that's because they're idiots." Camila said.
"And you love it." Manny said.
"I will not conform, nor deny that." Camila said, before looking at Boscha, "Now why were you watching them? You were supposed to be napping."
"I saw them through the window, it looked fun." Boscha said.
Manny was overjoyed at that statement.
"Ah, at last, someone worthy to inherit my B-ball skills."
Camila almost doubled over in laughter.
"Ohhh, hermoso, I love you, but perhaps your brother would make a better teacher. I mean, I can still see the "Spalding" shaped bruise on your cheek."
"Well, what I may lack in ability, I more than make up for in perseverance." Manny insisted. "And is that not a skill worth passing on to our kids?"
"Okay, you've got me there." Camila relented.
Boscha was still confused.
"Izzat why you and Tio are mad at each other when you play?"
"No, Princesa..." Her father assured her. "Your tio and I... we just like to play a little rougher together. It's a sibling thing."
"Do I has t'be rough with Luz like that someday?"
Manny scolded himself internally before replying.
"No, nonononono... heh... no, you don't have to be rough with anyone. I just meant... it's something me and my brother share. You and Luz will have your own special sisterly rituals in time. You don't have to do anything, these kinds of bonds happen on their own."
Boscha breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay, as long as I don't has to fight with Luz."
"Don't worry, you never will have to do that." Manny said.
"Si, you will never have to fight Luz." Camila said, "A sibling bond is something special, and you must never break it."
"I... I won't!" Boscha said, "Izz be the bestest big sister!"
Luz then began to stir, to which Camila took notice.
"Well, someone's going to be ready to play in a few minutes."
"I'm ready now." Boscha boasted.
Camila laughed.
"Oh, I can tell, Mija, but I was actually referring to Luz."
"The park it is then." Manny exclaimed, causing Luz to open her eyes. "And heyyyy, maybe I can teach you how to play some B-ball."
Boscha looked at her dad with uncertainty.
"I meant basketball, Princesa." He corrected himself.
That got the three-eyed girl excited to the point where she was jogging in place.
"EEEEEE! YESYESYESYESYES... uh, please."
Camila ruffled Boscha's hair.
"Just get ready and get your coat, dear. I'm sure Luz will be right behind you." Camila said, "And don't forget your headband."
"¡Si mamá!" Boscha scampered up the stairs excitedly.
"You know it's true motherly love when Camila busts out the Astral Oath." Manny thought out loud as he set a groggy Luz on her feet as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
Camila couldn't hide her blush nor the wide grin across her face.
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