Bodies Are Temporary {JaunaFlippa One-shot}

Bodies Are Temporary

Charlie was wrapping birthday presents when his wife came into the kitchen. "Oh, Mariana. Can you help me finish wrapping Flippa's gifts? She'll be home any minute."

"Flippa's gone?" Mariana opened the fridge and pulled out a drink.

"si, estúpido. She's at Tilín's house."

"Oh, I didn't know." Mariana sat at the table and watched Slime wrap. "This seems like uh, too much?"

"She's turning 16! That's like, a really big deal!"

"Is it?" Mariana tilted his head. "I think you're making her into a...what's the word?"

"I'm giving her love."

"Spoiled bitch. That's the word."

Charlie put down the scissors he was holding before they ended up in Mariana's eye. "Do not call our daughter a bitch."

"You're making her one!"

"I'm giving her double the love, because I have to make up for your lack of care!" Charlie huffed, letting it go as the front door opened. "She's home. Distract her while I move this stuff into our room."

Mariana walked to the front door. "Hola hija."

"Hi..." Jauna took off her jacket and discarded it next to the coat rack. She had a certain gloom to her.

Mariana cleared his throat. "¿Cómo estuvo su día?" How was your day?

"Fine." Jauna walked past Mariana.

Mariana let her go. Because he didn't know how to help her.

Charlie managed to shove everything in his room before Jauna came down the hall. "You're back, Flippa."

"Yeah, I'm tired." Jauna slid into her room and shut the door.

Charlie wasn't smart enough to give her space, so he followed after her. "Flippa, are you hungry? The neighbors brought over a lasagna, as compensation for the loud banging they do at night. I can heat it up."

"Bleh, no." Jauna sat at her desk and opened her laptop. "I ate at Tilín's."

"Oh, okay...what did you eat?"

Sighs filled the room. "I hate smalltalk. Does it matter what I ate?"

"I guess not." Charlie shrugged. "How about we do big-talk. Are you feeling alright? You look upset." He got to the point.

"I'm not upset." Jauna said truthfully. "Just tired and overwhelmed. I want to be alone."

Charlie slowly backed out of the room. "Okay, maybe we can talk tonight?"

"Okay."

-

Charlie waited until Mariana was asleep. That's when he went back to Flippa's room to talk to her. They had their best conversations late at night when Mariana was snoring a couple rooms over. "Flippa." Charlie knocked.

Jauna opened the door. "Yeah?"

"I'm lonely, time for a chat?" Charlie asked.

"Fine." Jauna let him in. She got comfortable on her bed and picked up a stuffed animal for support. Charlie sat down in her desk chair. "Is mom asleep?"

"Yeah."

"This is so weird..." Jauna sighed. "Why do I call him mom?"

"You always have. It made things less confusing." Charlie shrugged. "It's nothing new."

"I know, but it's just weird...none of my friends with two dads call one of them mom. If anything, it makes things more confusing."

"Oh well, everything is confusing." Charlie chuckled. "Does it really matter anyway? He's useless."