Chapter Text
Camilo had been in his room staring at one of the many mirrors that aligned his walls. He was hungry, but then again he always was. It was probably breakfast time. Any minute now his mami would come knocking on his door telling him it was time to come down and eat.
When Camilo was 7 he loved to help his Tia in the kitchen. His Tia was the coolest! She helped to sneak him seconds and even indulged him when he would sneak out of his room to have midnight snacks.
In those early hours of the morning, Tia Julieta would smile warmly at him, ruffling his curls as he ate, complimenting her delicious cooking through his many mouthfuls.
He did feel bad sometimes, when his Tia would stay awake with him smiling as he told her how his day had been. Even at that young age, Camilo could see how tired she was. She woke up early every morning to cook for the whole family and here he was taking more than his fair share.
But as a child that guilt hadn't really stuck. He had been getting rid of his hunger and he got to spend time with his favourite Tia. It was a win win. That is until his mami found out and made him promise not bother his Tia anymore. His mami was scary when angry so Camilo knew she was serious. But that didn't stop his tummy from grumbling in the night, uncomfortable pangs of hunger keeping him from his much needed sleep.
He had promised his mami he wouldn't bother his Tia anymore, but his tummy hurt so much. What was he going to do? Another grumble was all he could take. Slowly Camilo climbed out of bed, Casita helping him to put his slippers on. Quietly he padded to the kitchen to grab some leftovers from dinner. He felt guilty stealing from his Tia but surely if he had woken her up he would have had permission to eat anyway.
Tip toeing, Camilo made it to the kitchen his little tummy grumbling as he finally made it to the fridge. A pout made its way to Camilo's face as he tilted his head. That was odd it seemed like there was already someone in the kitchen. The fridge door was open and there was a long shadow cast on the stone tiles of the kitchen.
Was it his mami? Would he get in trouble?
Just as the 7-year-old was contemplating going back to his room or risk getting caught. The fridge was closed and he gasped softly at the sight in front of him. Camilo froze trembling.
A man with curly hair and glowing green eyes stood towering over him. Three big rats cling to his back, their beady eyes coming to rest on Camilo as he stared terrified at this strange man he had found in the kitchen.
“Camilo! What—wai-”
Camilo stood frozen, eyes wide and lip trembling as the man called his name. He put his hands out in front of him as if to grab at Camilo, at which point the child thought it best to high tale it out of there.
He never got to see the crestfallen look on his Tio's face or got to hear him call out for Camilo to wait.
(In case it wasn’t obvious – present time)
Breakfast had always been a difficult time for Camilo but was now way worse. He had long since stopped his night time escapades in search of food and now woke up unbearably hungry in the mornings.
Even though everyone seemed glad to have gotten their gifts back Camilo definitely did not miss the constant pangs of hunger that came with his near constant shapeshifting. He was especially hungry since he had not been eating much since Casita's comeback, too aware of the addition to their family table.
Tio Bruno did not eat much by anyone's standards, but Camilo still felt guilty taking more than his fair share. Especially since the talk Abuela had had with him the day of the Guzman's proposal.
Camilo knew he ate more than he should. He knew he didn't earn everything he ate. Unlike Luisa who definitely earned seconds, Camilo just mooched off of his Tia's hard work. He mooched off of all the family's hard work.
So yeah, he definitely ate too much.
But his family had never really minded before. Not really anyway. His papa would make little jibes and reprimand him when he went for seconds and his mami would give him little disapproving looks between her own eating as he stuffed his face. Sometimes Isabela would even look at him with a little disgust. But he shrugged it off and took it in stride. He was Camilo Madrigal, he was bound to have certain little quirks as the jokester of the family.
But that had all changed on the day of Mariano's supposed proposal to Isabela. Abuela had pulled him aside after breakfast to discuss 'an important matter'.
Camilo fidgeted nervously as he stood in front of his Abuela. He never really stood in front of her or captured her sole attention anymore. And really he could say that it was just a part of him growing up. As the family grew and got busier Camilo and his Abuela grew apart. He could quite easily blame it on that.
But really he knew why. Now as he stood in front of his Abuela, he knew it was his fault. It was his fault that he no longer took long strolls in the village with his Abuela or accompanied her and his mami when they would do their chore run. He was the one who had been avoiding her.
He took a nervous peek at his Abuela trying to go for aloof but he probably just looked scared. Scared of what he would see when he looked up. Would he see disdain, disapproval... disappointment? A mix of the three?
Camilo didn't know.
But this was exactly why he actively avoided his Abuela's gaze whenever they were in a room together, much less being the sole holder of her gaze, as he was now. He had no idea what he had done but he knew whatever it was it wasn't good.
“Camilo look at me.”
Camilo fought to hold her gaze and not cringe at the stern disapproval he saw in her eyes.
“It is a big night for your prima tonight Milo, I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you that a joining of the Madrigals and the Guzmans would be very good for the Encanto. Si?”
Camilo was quick to agree with a forced chuckle and an 'of course Abuela', trying to lighten the mood. A glare from Abuela told him that she did not find the situation amusing. But she continued nonetheless.
“I am sure you do not need me to tell you that you are eating too much Camilo.”
Camilo felt his stomach drop at the topic of conversation, meekly opening his mouth to protest.
“I cannot have us shamed in front of the Guzmans, this is very important for the future of the Encanto. The food belongs to everyone and you cannot be having seconds and taking more than you need or deserve. Do you understand mijo?” Abuela remained stern and glared lightly at her nieto.
This had simply gone on for far too long. Camilo would constantly eat like a starved pig despite his parents telling him not to. It was clear to her that Camilo had been given far too much freedom and needed a bit of discipline.
The shapeshifter was constantly slacking off and playing with the village kids. He was skiving on his duties to village. It was frustrating to no end that whilst his primas and hermana would be using their gifts to better their Encanto, Camilo would be slacking off. She had caught him sleeping more than once over the past few weeks and now he was using his gift to selfishly procure food? This was definitely not the way of the Madrigals and Camilo needed to understand that.
Alma sighed, annoyed at her nieto's unresponsiveness. He had his head bowed and seemed to be avoiding her gaze.
“I said do you understand nieto? Ay dios mio, sometimes I wonder if our miracle is being wasted on you,” Alma sighed under her breath.
Camilo suddenly looked up eyes wide and startled. “I-I understand I-I'll try to be better Abuela.” Camilo mumbled his eyebrows pinched in worry.
Alma either did not notice or chose not to worry at her grandson's uncharacteristic behaviour choosing to believe that this was a moment of maturity on his part. She nodded satisfied before shooing Camilo off to do his chores for the day.
She never thought back on that day but Camilo would never forget.
He had spent the rest of the day hungry and miserable but unable to show it because everything had to be perfect and he always had to be ok. He would not be the reason why Isabela did not get to marry the man she wanted.
He would not let the Encanto down.
(Nevermind that the night ended up being a disaster and that Isabela had never liked Mariano in the first place).