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It's been almost five minutes and all Estrella and Zahra have done is stare at each other, heads tilted in the same direction, eyes narrowed.
Alex is a tad concerned that they're somehow communicating telepathically and Zahra's imparting all his embarrassing secrets onto his daughter, but just when he's about to interrupt, they both nod in perfect unison.
"Good talk," Zahra says with a smirk. "So, I hear from this one–" she nods at Alex "–that you and I have something kind of important in common."
Her meaning isn't lost on Estrella, whose mouth falls open in blatant surprise. "You mean you're–"
"Yeah, kid. Started transitioning when I was in college," Zahra explains and smiles when Estrella appears to be on the verge of tears.
It's been a Bad Day for Estrella and, while Alex isn't going to pretend he has any idea what that's like, he knows it's stressful for her and she generally would rather avoid people. If it had been anybody else, he would have cancelled, but he suspects that this might help more than harm.
"That's so cool." And then she's off, asking a million questions a minute, mouth moving at light speed, while Zahra blinks at her, momentarily stunned.
"...are you sure she's not biologically yours?" she asks when Estrella finally stops for breath. (Alex needs to time it next time. He thinks she might have beaten some of his better rambles.) Despite the question, Zahra's fond amusement doesn't so much as flicker. "Alright, one at a time. A little slower, so I can answer them. I kept up with your father, but you might have him beat, kiddo."
Alex does not tear up at hearing Zahra refer to him as Estrella's father. Absolutely not. Blinking away the burning in his eyes, he smiles and tilts his head towards the kitchen.
"Coffee, Z? Estrellita–"
"Dad said no coffee until I'm at least sixteen."
Zahra lets out a disbelieving snort. "Yeah, that'll happen. Yes to the coffee. You have–"
"You think I'd offer if I didn't?" Alex knows Zahra's preferences at this point. She'll drink whatever's available for the caffeine, but if she has a choice, her preferred coffee is the blend of coffee and chicory she got him hooked on from when she went home to New Orleans one time. Ever since, Alex spends a slightly obscene amount on coffee because he loves it.
According to everyone who's had to deal with them when they run out, both of them getting hooked on it was a terrible idea. Then again, even Nora says it's weird and a little gross compared to her preferred coffee, so he ignores her opinion on it by default. Whatever, everyone else's loss.
"Can you please start water for tea?" Estrella asks, surprisingly polite until he realizes she's trying to behave in front of Zahra.
"Mija, Zahra's not actually that scary. She won't yell at you, just me for influencing you," Alex says, ruffling her hair, and grins when she swats at his hand.
While he starts the kettle and the coffeemaker, he keeps an ear on the living room where Estrella's started up with her questions again. His heart cracks a little at was it hard? Was it worth it? like she's expecting Zahra to say it wasn't worth it.
The thing is that Zahra's another big sister to him. They'll both lie about it if asked directly and they communicate predominantly in snarky comments and death stares, but he's known Zahra since he was five years old. Back when she used to indulge the snot-nosed little kid who'd rifle through her purse and steal her flavored chapstick just to try to eat it or her pens because she had the clicky kind his mom had banned from the house. When she ruffled his hair and called him a little brat with affection.
"I'm not going to lie, it wasn't easy, especially back then, but it was always, always worth it," Zahra says, firm in her answer but her tone still a little gentle as she answers Estrella.
Alex focuses on their drinks, then, giving Estrella and Zahra their privacy, and makes sure to make plenty of noise coming in with the mugs when he's done.
Estrella's eyes are a little red and wet, which he pretends not to notice as he hands her the mug of tea. Zahra thanks him for the coffee before looking back at Estrella with open affection.
"Okay, kid, any other questions?" And Estrella's off again.
Later, when Zahra pulls on her jacket and slings her purse over her shoulder, she holds up a figure and takes something out of her purse, a pin that Alex remembers seeing in every bag she's ever had, the words Transgender MENACE still legible despite the age of the pin.
"I was given this by a wonderful drag queen at my first pride after I started transitioning," Zahra says and holds it out. "Considering who you have for a parent, I'm sure you'll live up to the latter half of it soon enough."
Estrella takes it, cradled in her hands like something precious, before she closes a fist around it and throws both arms around Zahra's waist, hugging her tight. Zahra just smiles and hugs her back.
"Papi, can I grow up to be Aunt Zahra?" Estrella asks as she steps back, still holding the pin close. The smug grin Zahra throws him makes him laugh as much as the sincerity of Estrella's question does.
"Sure thing, sweetheart."