Chapter Text
The earliest memory Diego could recall of Ava wasn’t a particularly happy one. He was nine, scared and alone. He could recall entering the orphanage with Mr. Snuffles in one hand and his other hand twitching in his pocket. His mama and papa were gone and so was a part of him. He walked alongside a nun, cold and quiet. The sound of their steps were loud and every couple of steps he found himself falling behind Sister Francis’ own. What once was a happy life filled with laughter and his mama’s cooking and papa’s carpentry lessons were now replaced with something much worse.
Sister Francis tutted at him as he once more tried keeping up with her steps. Her eyes were unkind and her mouth remained in a thin line as she glanced towards him and then back to the main hallway. He felt his lip tremble but he pushed on. He had to be strong, he had to be for mama and papa.
“This will be your room,” she gestured outside the door. It resembled the rest of the orphanage, dreary and old almost like Sister Francis herself, not that he would voice that out loud.
“I expect to hear no complaints. Inside you will meet your roommate. She is not your friend. We are not friends. You are to live here but do not take this accommodation lightly, this is not your home,” her voice was stern and downright frightening. Diego wondered how a woman such as her ended up being a nun, especially one who worked in an orphanage.
Diego nodded. He was too scared to speak, he feared his voice would tremble and tears would follow. He didn’t want Sister Francis to see him cry. How would she even react? Would she embrace him like mama did? With her hands tightly surrounding his small frame as she rocked him back and forth. Would she pat his shoulder and give him a meaningful speech as his papa did? His low voice speaking kind words and his calloused hands wiping away stray tears. No. She wouldn’t do any of that. But he was nine and a part of him still held some hope someone would show him affection again. A part of him still hoped to feel the embrace of his mama and see the warmth of his papa’s eyes. Was he not still young enough to feel love?
Sister Francis opened the door to what he would now call his room. He glanced around, taking in every detail he could. A bed, white and thin on a bed frame that would surely squeak once he laid on it. Grey and brown bed sheets that seemed scratchy and uncomfortable. A nightstand with a single lamp. A television that seemed older than his papa, the kind that resembled more of a clunky box. His eyes then met hers. A girl much older than him, a teenager. She had brown hair, cut in an unflattering look almost like a bowl. She lay on the bed across from his own, her body remained still as he walked in but her eyes glowed with amusement and wonder.
Sister Francis pushed him in with a rough hand and he stumbled on his feet before righting himself up.
“Diego, this is Ava Silva. Though you may live with her, I recommend never speaking to her should you want to remain in my good graces,” her words held an underlying threat, one that even a nine year old could pick out. He shivered slightly as Sister Francis spoke and nodded in return. Nun’s were scary, who would have thought? Soon Sister Francis turned and with her back to them both spoke out loud once more.
“You may be a devil child but don’t you dare corrupt this one,” and with heavy steps and a loud thud the door was closed. Diego felt the stress in his bones slowly leave him as he stood in the middle of the room without the scary nun watching him any longer. He began turning to face his bed when he heard a laugh and a surprisingly loud and kind voice.
“What are you in for? I’ve got three more years in the slammer for robbing a store,” said the voice with a hint of a laugh. A store? Was she being serious?
“I’m joking. I’m Ava,” he watches as she turns her head towards him. Only her head. His eyes look at the rest of her body, still and unmoving. She speaks once more.
“I can’t move if you’re wondering. Quadrapletic they call it. I call it hell on earth but don’t tell the sisters or else they will only feed you oatmeal for every meal,” her voice is filled with humor and the smile on her face brings back the hope he was losing mere minutes ago.
“I’m Diego,” he tries to convey strength but his voice still cracks towards the end of his own name. It’s hard to be strong when you’re in an orphanage after your parents just died. Yet, this one girl seems to be filled with some kind of joy that only ignites a bit of happiness in his own.
“Settle in Diego, you have a lot to learn. Call me mentor Ava or Ava for short.”
And with that Diego settles down on his new bed. What was once a moment of sadness and stillness is now replaced with hope and kindness.
Maybe this won’t be home, but he knows he at least has a friend. The world isn’t so lonely with a friend by your side.
XCX
Diego was nine when his parents died.
Diego was eleven when Ava died.
Diego was eleven and a couple days old when Ava showed up with super powers.
Diego was eleven and a couple months old when she came back once more with a promise to keep him safe.
Diego was 12 when Sister Magdalena knocked on his door. She was nicer, but not by a lot. At this point though, anyone would be better than what Sister Francis had been.
“Someone has shown interest in you,” his head shoots up. He’s 12, people aren’t supposed to adopt him now. He remembers Sister Francis telling Ava with cruelty in her voice how she was aging out of the program. He was 12 and soon enough adopters will stop showing interest so why was someone there asking for him?
“Who? Why?”
“Don’t ask why, just be grateful that God has allowed this opportunity to come. You’re getting older.” Sister Magdalena moved around the room, placing his food on the nightstand and then walking away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Only two couples before had shown interest in him. One was three weeks in his stay, a young German couple who had just found out they were infertile. They had spent a couple weeks visiting him before moving on once they discovered that there was a newborn for adoption in an orphanage in the next city.
Then there was the older Spanish couple who wanted a child after their three kids left for college. But they also retracted their decision once they realized that raising a child at their age was something they can no longer handle. Sister Francis made sure to tell him that they adopted a dog over him. She wanted him to hurt and she succeeded. He recalls laying his head on Ava’s shoulder crying as she hummed through his sobs. Why am I not enough?
The next morning Diego woke up to muffled voices outside his door. Soon Sister Magdalena walked in followed by a young woman. She was young and tall with dark hair in a bun. She wore a soft grey sweater and black slacks, she seemed so formal yet her eyes shined with warmth that reminded him of his papa.
“Diego, this is Miss. Beatrice Young. She is here to get to know you better. I expect you to be on your best behavior.” with that she walks away and shuts the door behind her.
Beatrice Young, what a fancy name.
Her eyes bounce throughout the room. They still at the side of the room across from his. Ava’s side, he thinks to himself. Soon she turns to face him once more. A small smile is on her lips and he can’t help but already like her.
“Hello Diego,” she spoke with a British accent like those posh characters in movies.
“Hi,” he replied back. How do you speak to someone who wants to adopt you? Do you sell yourself? Name your strengths and what you can work on to be better?
“Quite the living situation you have here.”
He laughs out loud. She’s funny. “Yes, my favorite part is the high definition television,” she turns to see the same clucky television they’ve had in the room since before Ava lived there.
Beatrice huffs out a small laugh.
“You’re quite funny.”
“You’re quite young,” he says back and cringes. This was his potential adoption in the air. This is not the moment to be sassy yet she only shakes her head in amusement.
“Ava had said you were funny. Never quite believed it.”
Now Diego knew that in movies and books people spoke about being speechless but he assumed that that was just adults being dramatic.
He stared at her. She knew Ava. Ava who he hadn’t heard from since she swore to protect him. Ava who had superpowers and had to hide. This woman knew his Ava. Suddenly he is hit with an overwhelming panic.
“H-how do you know Ava? Is she here? Is she okay?” his words are rushed and fast.
“She’s okay. She’s on some official business. I’m not sure when she’ll return but I figured you would want to be there when she returns.” her hand reaches towards his. She hesitates for a second before holding it. It was a comforting hold, very different from his mama’s. Her hands are calloused but still held something akin to love in them. He couldn’t help but smile.
“How do I know for sure you know Ava? What’s her favorite color?”
She looks around the room. Her face was serious as she looked around conspirately. She lowers her voice and motions with her head to get close. Diego moves slightly closer and Beatrice whispers to him.
“All of them.”
He was right, she was funny.
XCX
Diego assumed living with Beatrice would be weird. He had lived in an orphanage for a while now and the mere thought of having his own room seemed pretty unbelievable. Yet, there he was in front of an apartment in Spain.
It had been two months since Beatrice showed up in his life. Within that time he learned many things about Beatrice and Ava.
First, Ava was some kind of spy and was on a secret mission that not even Beatrice knew about.
Second, no one knew when Ava would return including Beatrice. This meant they would just have to wait to be reunited with Ava but that’s okay. He’s done it before, he can do it again.
Third, he likes Beatrice. She’s nothing like Ava. Where Ava was loud and abrasive, Beatrice was calm and collected. Ava shared all her thoughts whilst Beatrice kept them inside. But he liked Beatrice because she cared. So maybe Ava and Beatrice weren’t that different. They both cared so much and sometimes he couldn’t stop but wonder if he was worth it. Beatrice seemed to know when these thoughts would appear because it was always followed with a hand on his shoulder. Kind eyes looking into his own and a small nod of acknowledgment. Almost like that of his papa’s.
Diego got out of the car and followed Beatrice into his new home. The space was small but comfortable. A living room, dining table, kitchen and a hallway that led to two bedrooms. She gestured towards the hallway.
“Want to see your room?” he nodded quickly and bounded towards the hallway. He stopped when he noticed a picture frame hung on the wall. It had five women in it. He could only recognize Beatrice and Ava in it. Beatrice looked younger in it but Ava looked just as he remembered her. So young, carefree and smiling.
Beatrice stopped next to him and looked at the picture too. She took a shaky breath.
“We had just finished training before this was taken.”
“For a secret mission?”
She laughed softly.
“No, training is a constant. It must be done even when there isn’t an upcoming mission.”
“I want to train…Like Ava did,” she turned to look at him. Her eyes were shiny. He didn’t know what she was thinking but a part of him was hoping that meant she was considering training him.
“Only if you follow my directions.”
“I can do that,” he nodded. Of course he could do that. How hard could it be?
“You will have to wake up at the same time as me,” there was humor behind her eyes and a part of him started feeling like he was missing out on a joke.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“I wake up at 5 a.m.”
“Oh…”
“Come on, let’s see your room before you decide,” he follows her into his room. It’s mostly barren, with a bed against the wall, an empty closet and desk with a small laptop and lamp on it. He had his own room in his own home again. He couldn’t help but suddenly feel tears in his eyes. He had a home again. Not just a home but a home with someone who cared for him, who wanted him.
Beatrice placed a hand on his shoulder and he can’t help but launch himself at her arms. She slowly wraps her arms around him. She rubs her hands down his back and murmurs softly that he’s fine. He really is fine because he has a friend again and the world isn’t so lonely when you have a friend by your side.
XCX
Beatrice is a nun.
No wait, Beatrice was a nun.
Beatrice was a nun and now she’s not and he doesn’t quite understand. A nun was like Sister Francis. They’re supposed to be cold and scary. They’re supposed to reprimand you when you say you hate oatmeal and make you pray before every meal. A nun was like Sister Magdalena. Tell you that you should be grateful that God allowed you to live. They’re supposed to feed you less when they think you’re gaining weight too fast.
Beatrice is none of those things.
Beatrice is kind. She lets him try new ice cream flavors every time they go grocery shopping. She lets him sneak in random candies and cookies into the cart and acts like she didn’t see him do it.
She buys him a bike and they both ride around the neighborhood, stopping whenever Diego sees a dog he wants to pet.
She wakes Diego up at 6 a.m. before school to stretch with her and teach him a new aikido technique. She instructs him with strong reassuring hands and congratulates him every time he gets the move right. Sometimes she even goes as far as making him pancakes WITH whipped cream and syrup to celebrate.
She cooks healthy dinners he prefers whilst he does his homework on the dining table. She helps with any question he might have. Sometimes he thinks she might be the smartest person in the world but Diego never tells her because he fears she’ll use it as ammunition to get him to go to bed by 9 p.m.
But it’s true, Beatrice was a nun. Diego can’t believe it but there in his apartment are two nuns telling him about Sister Beatrice.
Sister Camila tells him what sounds like outrageous stories about the convent, Beatrice and Ava. They were badasses. Beatrice reprimands him and says language but he can’t help but wiggle in his chair in excitement.
“He wiggles!” exclaimed Camila gesturing to Diego as he soon stops from all the attention on him.
“I’m excited,” he replied sheepishly. Beatrice and the other two nuns look at him with so much admiration and a touch of sadness that he lowers his head. Beatrice does that sparingly. She’ll glance at him with eyes full of love and a hint of something else, something sad and broken. Usually it’s when he asks about Ava. When was she coming back? What was she like? Can he get superpowers? Can they contact her because he just got a new game and he figured she would like it.
“Well I’ll tell you what Diego, Beatrice may be able to take on fourteen men at once but wow was she a softie around Ava,” his eyes grew wide. He turned his head towards Beatrice. Beatrice and Ava? He could see that.
“Your sister here was in L-O-V-E,” and sure that was the first time Diego had heard anyone refer to Beatrice as his sister but he was more concerned with the idea of love.
“Camila,” spoke Mother Superion. Diego was still slightly afraid of her, she reminded him of Sister Francis but if Beatrice trusted her then so did he.
Beatrice shook her head and got up from her chair.
“Would anyone care for some tea?” Diego may only have been living with Bea for a short amount of time but even he understood when she was trying to divert the conversation.
Soon Camila followed her to the kitchen after she had rattled on about something called nettle tea. He watched as they retreated, their voices slipping away. Mother Superion then hummed, catching him by surprise as he had forgotten she was there.
“Ava will be happy to see you again,” she said in a tone that reminded him of his teacher Mrs. Lucero.
“I know. I’m gonna show her all the moves Bea taught me.”
“Good, she’ll be impressed,” he turned his face to the table. Would she? Would she even be back?
Almost as if she had sensed his hesitation, she spoke up once more.
“If-No when she comes back. I hope you all will come to visit the Cat’s Cradle. I think you would enjoy spending time with those who Ava held close.”
He understood why Beatrice and Ava liked her so much. Though Mother Superion looked frightening, there was a sense of comfort and commanding authority she brought when she spoke. Simply with her words he felt better.
He quietly asked, “Do you think she misses us?”
Her hand covered his. “I think you and Beatrice are all she thinks about.”
Beatrice and Camila entered the room with steaming mugs of tea and a hot chocolate for Diego. The warmth of the mug resembled the love he felt in that moment surrounded by the nuns and Beatrice. Though Ava wasn’t there, he could still feel her presence through the stories being told and the gentle laughter. He knew that Ava would be back, she had to because who wouldn’t want to be back to this?
XCX
Diego is the first one to notice her.
That day had gone by relatively fast. He woke up at six to the sound of Beatrice knocking on his door. He got up with eagerness in hopes of mastering a position they had been working on for over two days.
Beatrice greeted him with a water bottle and they worked on his movements until it was time to prepare for school. They ate a small breakfast of toast and eggs and soon enough he was off to school.
School was nothing out of the ordinary. He went to class, took notes and ate lunch with his friends. He promised to see them later that day at the park. He had convinced Beatrice earlier that week to take a break and head to the park before they went on their weekly grocery trip. He planned on sneaking in a box of fruit loops into their cart later that day.
When he got home Bea was on the couch reading a book. He never understood how she spent so much time reading. She proclaimed it was fun, he proclaimed she was a nerd.
He waved hello and ran to his room to drop off his items. He knew he had homework but that could wait, he had a snack to eat first.
He opened the fridge and on a plate wrapped in plastic wrap he found sliced apples and a handful of green grapes. Beatrice had started buying green grapes when Diego declared that red grapes tasted like a can of paint, an opinion that led to a 20 minute argument over whether grapes taste different from one another. Which would eventually lead to a blind fold taste test in which Diego proudly was declared the winner. Beatrice still shook her head in false anger whenever they bought the green grapes, who would have thought grapes could cause such commotion. Diego wouldn’t trade it for anything.
After his snack was finished he heard Beatrice getting up from the couch.
“Are you ready to head out?”
“Yes, but let me go grab my ball first!”
They headed out on their bikes to the park. He was filled with excitement and kept biking ahead of Beatrice.
“Come on Bea, you’re going so slow! What are you? A grandma?”
His teasing was met with a laugh and soon he found himself riding alongside Beatrice once more.
“I bet I could beat you to the park.”
Usually Bea was not one to issue a challenge so it felt obligatory to follow through. Diego knew Beatrice would let him win but that didn’t make the victory any less fun and exhilarating. Who knew a secret spy ex-nun turned adopted sister would be willing to lose a bike race just to see a young boy yell out in glory, “Ha! You lost grandma!”
Her laugh once more rang out. Diego sometimes couldn’t believe he could do that, he made her laugh. The Beatrice Young he had first met was so reserved and to herself and yet here she was laughing, chasing after him as he celebrated his victory.
Here’s the thing though, Beatrice always taught him to remain vigilant. As Beatrice raced to reach him, he stopped to savor the moment. This allowed him to take in something he hadn’t seen before or rather someone.
She stood against a tree.
She was smiling.
He slowly slid off his bike. For a quick second he wondered if he was imagining it. Joseph had told him how sometimes you could get woozy from laughing too hard but this felt different, this was real.
Beatrice reached him and followed his eye sight.
Her soft gasp made his world shift.
She really was standing against the tree.
Her hair was shorter than he remembered and her clothes seemed to be tattered but it was her. He knew it was her. He knew because her eyes still shone the same way as the day he met her. Her eyes glowed with amusement and wonder.
“Hey, I was hoping I would find you both eventually. Looks like you found me first.”
His body moved faster than it had ever done before. He felt her arms envelope him and for the second time in years, he cried on her shoulder. He gently felt Beatrice hug them both. He knew they would eventually tell him more about what happened. He had endless questions as Beatrice put it. But for now all he wanted was to do was stay in between their arms.
Ava was finally home.