Work Text:
Gabriella knows this Miguel O’Hara isn’t her father.
The dad that Gabi grew up with was loving, but always tired. He liked chocolate chips in his pancakes and movies made him fall asleep. He wore dark blue socks and woke up right at his alarms so Gabi sometimes had to take breakfast to go when he took her to school. He was soft but strong and could open most jars for her, but sometimes one would be too stuck. Gabi made him drawings, and he liked them well enough so they went on the fridge or in his office drawers, but most times they were hung up in her room. He came to her soccer games, usually. He didn’t like soccer as much as she did, which was okay, she was just happy he’d come when he could. He’d help her most with geography and history homework, but struggled with math. If they went out when he had time, they usually went to the park and she played on the swings. He liked to be tidy, and didn’t like when she wore shoes inside or brought her ball in after playing. He had kind brown eyes and was scared of spiders and snakes. He said work came first, and while she grew to understand, it hurt sometimes. Sometimes Gabi felt invisible, and not like a fun superpower.
“Not now, Gabriella. I’ve got to get these reports done. Okay? I’ll be out soon.” He’d say as he kept typing away at his laptop, holoscreens moved around him. Gabi would sigh, looking out at the backyard and the few hours left of daylight.
“Okay, Papá.” And she’d go play by herself until her dad called her in after dark for dinner.
He was a good dad, but really busy with work so he could provide good things for her. She could tell he missed her mom a lot when he’d say how much she looked like her. Gabi didn’t remember her mom much.
The man who took his place has red eyes.
He’s taller, his hair is a little longer and body much bigger. He isn’t as soft to lay on, and he tries to hide his sharp teeth. He doesn’t have trouble opening jars, even the toughest ones. He likes banana pancakes and wears black and white socks. He’s awake when Gabi goes to bed and awake when she wakes up. He doesn’t like her touching his fingers, and he always wears long-sleeves. He doesn’t like the sun or bright lights, wearing sunglasses even on cloudy days.
He also loves soccer.
He makes her breakfast every morning, and a tasty snack after school. After she gets home and finishes her snack, they’ll run outside and play with her soccer ball for hours. Sometimes they’ll both get dirty, laughing loud enough to get looks from the neighbors. When she had disturbed them before, her dad would apologize and shoo Gabi inside. Now with red eyes, he smiles at them from under his sunglasses in a way that makes them mind their own business. Gabi wants a smile that can do that.
He likes making dinner and has Gabi trying new things. The quick meals from before were fine, but somehow he’s found a way to make even vegetables tasty. Vegetables!
He’s good at helping with her math homework, but not spelling homework. He’s never on his laptop anymore, but once she caught him talking on a fancy watch to someone. When she asked about it, he said it wasn’t anything to worry about. She hasn’t seen it since.
Once when she found a spider in the bathroom, she went to find a shoe to squish it when he stopped her to pick it up himself with his bare hand to take it outside.
“When did you stop being afraid of spiders, Dad?” She had asked, trailing behind him.
“When I learned to talk to them,” He smiled back at her, letting the little brown spider run into the grass.
“Talking to spiders? Papá, you’re so silly,” She had giggled at him.
Gabi drew him pictures, and he’d frame them all over the house. He even takes them to work to hang up and says everyone he works with likes them. Especially the boss!
At all of her games her dad cheers the loudest, even when she doesn’t do as great. He even surprised her and her team with cupcakes and juice at their championship game! They didn’t win this time, but the other team didn’t get cupcakes, did they?
(They did. Her dad brought enough and made her share.)
He took her to the zoo and aquarium and told her all about the different animals. He knew a lot about sharks and butterflies, which were her favorites. When they go to the park, he races her to the monkey bars and while she wins at the race, he wins at the monkey bars.
Sometimes, Gabi wonders what happened to her dad. It’s hard to miss him when the one here is so good to her, but she hopes he’s finally happy on his trip. He was so sad sometimes.
They just finished dinner and had put in a movie to watch, Gabi waiting for her dad to lay back so she could drape over him and cuddle up. He’s much warmer, and sometimes she can feel a vibration in his chest when she’s there a while. Hopefully he’s not getting sick, but if he is then Gabi would take care of him.
They were halfway through the movie when Gabi turned to look at him with furrowed brows and her chin propped on his chest. She’s had this on her mind for a while.
“What is it, mija?”
“Are you a shapeshifter? Or from outer space?”
Her dad stiffened a bit under her, just enough to notice. “Of course not, Gabi, I’m your dad. What made you think of that?”
“You have red eyes when my dad before had brown. You’re a lot bigger than he was, too.” She pokes at his cheek curiously.
She watches as his eyes widen in panic, mouth opening and closing while trying to come up with something to say. “I… Gabriella, listen—“
“It’s okay if you are, I don’t mind.” She states firmly in a matter-of-fact tone. “I just thought I’m old enough to know so you don’t have to hide so much anymore.”
Miguel stared at Gabi in surprised confusion. “…You’re okay with it?”
“My Papá before wasn’t happy,” She remembers sadly. “I know he loves me, and I love him but I think he needed this trip to feel better. If that means I don’t see him for a long time… I think that’s okay if it means he can be happy. And I have you,” She smiles widely at him, a gap in her teeth from a recent lost tooth.
The Miguel under her teared up, his red eyes glistening as he blinked them back. “…He does love you. Very much.” He manages in a hoarse whisper.
Gabi’s smile turns bittersweet as she nods. “I’m glad he sent you for me. But you don’t have to lie to me anymore if you’re a shapeshifter.”
“I’m not a shapeshifter!” He laughs in surprise through his unshed tears. He whips them away with a sniff, sitting up just a bit more. “I’m your dad but… I’m from far away from here.”
“Like outer space?” She knew a lot about outer space. They learned about it last year in school.
“Kind of, but even further. Another Earth, in another universe. I go back there sometimes.”
“Woah… Is there another me?” Maybe they’d have a wrestling contest to see who’s better!
“You’re one of a kind, cariño,” Her dad smiles at her with so much love. “In every way.”
“Oh,” She pouts, disappointed. She wanted to know what she looked like with red eyes.
“That’s a good thing!” He chuckles again.
“If you say so,” She shrugs but smiles at him.
Gabi lays back down on him to finish the movie, picking up where they left off. She’s seen this one a hundred thousand times so it’s okay if she misses a bit.
This time, her dad doesn’t hold back the vibration in his chest, and Gabi realizes it’s been a purr all this time. He lets her pick up his huge hand, and when playing with his fingers, found he has claws when she pressed down.
My dad’s a kitty!
She still has so many questions, a lot more now, and she’ll never forget her dad from before, but things are okay right now. More than okay.
“Te amo, Papá.”
“I love you, too, Gabi.” Her dad held her just a little bit tighter, burying his face into her hair with brows furrowed with emotion. “And I’ll always be here for you.”
Gabriella knows this Miguel O’Hara isn’t her father. But they’re both happy, and that’s all she needs.