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Chapter Text

A month has passed since the repair of Casa Madrigal. Since the family lost their abilities and regained them alongside the much rumored and sometimes disdained oldest son of Alma Madrigal. Most villagers were still not keen on being near the long-lost uncle as they still feared his precognitions, however, he made it easy for them to avoid him. Bruno preferred to be indoors, even after living in the walls of Casa Madrigal for years. It was not clear to the majority if this was due to the anxious behavior of the villagers or the fact that the unkept man wanted to have some quality time with his family after all his time away.

You, as a fellow outsider in town, knew that it was a mix of both. The desire to rekindle the family bond, and the knowledge that while the townspeople were glad he returned, they still felt uneasy around him.

While you never met the man in person, given the fact that you and your family stumbled upon the village just a year after the disappearance of the (mis)fortune-teller. Nonetheless, the rumor mill was strong and while the tales about the mysterious man sounded terrifying, you just knew that it had to be an exaggeration. Those who received negative news saw in him the cause of all their pain and failures, however, the few who only received positive prospects spoke kindly of him, even if only in private. After all, no one wanted to be associated with the “black sheep” of the Madrigal family.

Your whole time in the village you spent collecting these anecdotes, trying to visualize just what the oldest Madrigal son would be like, but the stories were conflicting. Multiple notebooks were filled with notes and little sketches of the frightful seer and his mice friends? You were unsure if it was mice or rats, as the villagers gave conflicting statements about them.

The more you asked about the man, the more the people started to associate you with him, causing them to grow cold towards you. The fact that you did not contribute much to the village life, spending most of your time reading, writing, and helping your father with the repairment of tools instead of working by yourself, didn’t help. Soon the people kept their distance from you, well, most people. The children in town loved to talk to you about all sorts of things, knowing that their parents did not want them to interact with you.

So, it came to you as a surprise when Mirabel came to fetch you, leading you to infamous Casa Madrigal. Not for fun or a chitchat though. Apparently, an important candelabra broke and since your father was out fixing someone else’s shed, you were the next best option. The whole way to the house was a nerve-racking mess. Your hands became all clamp, and you could only focus on how messy you looked in your oil-stained clothes. Repairing tools and household items was not a pretty job but knowing you made something last, bringing joy to the family, was why you enjoyed doing it so much.

The moment you arrived at the house though, your entire demeanor changed. This was something you bad done what felt like 100 times. A simple interaction with a client and nothing more. Quickly you were brought to the dining room where the candelabra was placed on the dinner table. It was a beautiful delicate golden piece of art with tiny butterflies decorating the otherwise magical looking arms. Although it was broken at the base, turning it useless, it remained ever so gorgeous. Ever so gently, you lifted the pieces, inspecting the breaking point before nodding.

“Yes, it will take some time, but I am sure my father and I can fix it. This is truly a remarkable piece, and I am honored you trust us with it”, you said to Alma Madrigal, carefully placing the candelabrum in a basket lined with soft cotton.

The older lady looked pleased at your statement, surely relieved that it can be indeed restored to it former glory. Just as you were ready to bid your goodbye, when the mother of Mirabel, Julieta, entered the dining room.

“Oh this is wonderful news! Please stay for dinner [Y/N]. You must be hungry from helping your dad out in the workshop all day!”. She sounded so kind that declining seemed like a big taboo, so instead you just nodded with a soft smile. Plus, she was known as the best cook in town, even without the magical abilities her dishes have.

“That would be more than lovely Ms. Julieta, but please allow me to help with setting the table”.

And just like that, you were shown the way to the kitchen. Quickly you washed your hands and face, horrified to see that they were covered in specks of grease. “This is going to be just great”, you thought, before carrying the plates into the dining room. They were rather heavy, after all this was a big family, and clanked slightly with each of your steps. You were so focused on not stumbling over the little border between the rooms that you did not notice the taller man trying to enter the kitchen, causing the two of you to bump into one another. Fortunately for you and the plates, he was able to catch them as they were slipping out of your hand, all while stopping you from falling on the ground.

“I am so, so sorry!”, you gasped, looking up onto the face of the one family member you had yet to meet. The infamous seer. Bruno Madrigal. “He does not look scary at all…”, was all your mind could muster as you kept staring at the dark-haired man like a fish out of water.

“Are you alright?” he said, his voice like honey to your ears and heart.

It took you way too long to realize just how close the two of you were standing, his hand firmly pressed onto your lower back, holding you tight. Quickly you scurried, trying to grab the plates out of his hand before nodding as you could not trust your own voice anymore.

“No! No… let me carry them. You … uhm… You can get the glasses, not all at once… “. You could sense that he tried to make you feel at ease yet was nervous himself. He probably had just a little human interaction as you did.

“Oh… Okay. Thank you for catching me…”. Your own voice barely louder than a whisper.

Swiftly you went to grab the glasses, two in each hand as you took his advice to heart, making your way to the dining room. There he was placing the plates carefully down. The way he did it looked mathematical yet elegant, making sure they keep the same distance from the other one. In a way, you thought, he treated the plates and the dining room in general like something invaluable.

Clink

The sound of you placing the glasses on the table seemed to pull him out of his focus. Nervously, you smiled at him before continuing with setting the table. Although the two of you did not know each other at all, you worked smoothly as a team. As he placed the saltshaker on the table, he put some into his palm before throwing it behind his back. You had seen your mother do the same before, so it did not seem odd to you at all.

“Dinner’s ready!”, Julieta shouted up the hallway as you placed the last of the silverware onto the table. And just like that, the quiet room instantly got filled with all the family members… and some animals? They must be Antonio’s you quietly thought to yourself.

“Sit down please [Y/N]”, Julieta said as everyone else got settled in. Silently, you sat down on the only empty seat, right next to Bruno. It felt a bit odd, but none of them seemed to mind your presence at all. They each filled their plates with the delicious smelling food of Julieta while chitchatting about their days. Still feeling like an invader, you did not dare to help yourself to any of it, at least not until everyone else had something. Yet even before you could think of getting any, you watched as your plate was wordlessly being lifted up by the man next to you, giving you a big portion of the Bandeja Paisa before handing it back to you with a soft smile.

The rest of the dinner went by without any hiccups. You listened to the family anecdotes as you ate the delicious food, thanking Julieta for it. Occasionally you and Bruno would brush against each other as you reached for some more water or when you laughed at one of Félix’s jokes. Before long, all the food was eaten, and you realized how dark it had gotten.

“Thank you again, Julieta, for the lovely food! … and the rest for the lively conversations, but I really have to get home.”, you said as everyone was getting ready to leave the table.

“You are always welcome here, [Y/N]”, said Félix, clearly happy to have someone to tell all his stories to. It must have been a while since someone earnestly laughed at his jokes. “Camilo will bring you to the door”. The young boy clearly was not too keen to do this task, already halfway out of the room.

“Don’t worry, I will show her the way” offered Bruno as three small rats crawled up his arm, “I wanted to get some fresh air anyway”.

No one seemed against this change of plans, and thus you quickly lifted the basket with the candelabra as the two of you made your way to the front door. Just as you were about to bid your goodbye to the kind older man, he put on his sandals to join you.

“I will walk you home, if you do not mind”.

This went so against the image you had of the oldest Madrigal son. Everyone in town knew he did not leave the house and while sure so far, all the gnarly stories you heard about him were wrong, this one you experienced yourself. No one saw Bruno outdoors. It was as if he was still hidden away, if not for the stories you heard from Mirabel and the others when they were in town.

“I do not mind at all”, you said with a surprised smile.

Slowly, you walked through the town, with not a single person to be seen. It was already dark, and most people here got up early to tend to the fields or had children to put to bed. Just like before he was not allowing you to lift the heavy basket, instead he carried it for you, his rats sitting next to the broken candelabrum.

“They are cute… your rats that is.” God, you were so awful at making small talk. Another reason why you probably had few acquaintances in town.

“Yeah… they are very talented too … Great actors”.

The two of you were quiet in nature and while at times the silence felt a bit awkward, for the most part it was pleasant. You used this silence to inspect him properly. The dim candlelight made his otherwise dark and mysterious eyes showed specks of amber like molten gold. There was something fragile hidden behind them, like broken glass mended again and again. His physique also showed signs of a slow recovery. Clearly, you thought, he did not eat well beforehand and is still getting accustomed to proper big meals. Everything about him looked delicate but also strong. A true enigma of a man.

Sadly, and you could not believe that you thought so, the way home came to an end. While you did help your parents out, you had your own entrance to their house, a secluded section that allowed you to come and leave as you pleased. Mainly for their own peace as you were known to stay up late tinkering around. Quietly, you unlocked the door before turning to your company.

“Thank you for walking me home… and for the great company” said smiling softly before adding, “I know that you do not leave your house a lot, so this really means a lot to me…. oh, and thank you for carrying the basket!”

As you grabbed the basket, you and Bruno’s hands touched. But instead of letting go right away, the older man looked at you with a nervous smile before whispering “It was my pleasure… I do not get the chance to talk to many people without them being uncomfortable… so… yeah… thank you [Y/N] … I hope I will see you again soon… and so does the rest of the family…”.

Slowly he let go, his pet rats already on his shoulder, before walking back home as you closed the door behind him.

By God was your heart racing! Sure, he was an awkward fella, mumbling at times words you did not understand, but in your heart, you knew that the two of you were not too different from one another. Carefully, you placed the basket on your table before getting ready for bed. But as you tried to find rest you could not stop yourself from grabbing your journal and starting to write down all about today … and maybe, just maybe, a proper sketch of Bruno Madrigal made its way onto the page. With a fluttering heart you fell asleep, excited for the next time you get to meet him, and this family.

Chapter Text

It hasn’t even been an hour after you woke up that you noticed a significant change in your life. Word of mouth must have gotten around because your usual quiet morning was continually being interrupted by people knocking on your door. One person after the other asked if it was true that the Madrigal family asked for your assistance before requesting help themselves.

At first you found it very flattering. After all, for years people did not want you near their tools since your father was clearly the master, but now you were the most requested mechanic in town. Well, your dad was more in demand for the bigger tools, but small, dainty decorations were brought to your doorstep every few minutes. But after you told the 12th person that you already have more than enough work for the week, it turned downright annoying. You did not even get any time to eat a proper breakfast!

While your stomach was empty, rumbling loudly every few minutes, your determination to fix the delicate candelabra was bigger and more urgent. It was the only way you could repay their incredible kindness last night. And sure, you could go ask your father for some help with all the work, but your pride stopped you. After all, these people came to get your help! This never happened before and asking someone else to fix it would be a betrayal. Especially to the Madrigals who took the first step in integrating you.

After moving the basket with the broken candelabrum to your workbench in the back of the house, you started to heat the tools needed for the task. While waiting for them to be hot enough, you put on your protective gear, making sure your hair was out of your face and no loose fabric could get in the way. In moments like this, taking these precautionary measures was the most important step. You could still remember the day your sleeve caught on fire, burning your arm horribly. And while Julieta’s healing Arepas worked like a charm, the pain, and smell of burning flesh was still deeply ingrained in your mind. In fact, you placed a sign outside your door stating that you were not welcoming any visitors or customers right now as you were working with dangerous tools, something the townsfolk respected.

Any repair project of yours always started with thoroughly cleaning the piece. No one wants any dirt or grime burned into their loved family heirloom. The process thankfully did not take too long as it was well-loved and taken care off. Carefully, you took the broken base into your hand while holding the burning-hot tool in your other, starting the mending process. Especially delicate pieces like these took a lot of finessing as to not create visible borders between the two pieces.

Once you started repairing things, you always lost your sense of time. One simply could not rush this process or else it would end in a disaster. Peace and quiet was all you wanted to hear while working. However, this would not be the case today as just as you placed the candelabra in a bucket of ice water to properly see your work, someone started shouting for you, causing you to drop the tool into your lap. It was honestly pure luck that your tool was already cold to the touch, or else you would’ve burned your skin for sure.

Another village, one more demanding than the previous one, wanted you to fix his families clock, something you had never done before, and would not take no for an answer. And by god did you try to tell him no. If it were not for your father getting between the two of you, it might have ended in a screaming match.

“I will take this one, my dear. You go and finish this piece.”, trying to cheer you up before taking the customer away, telling him gently off while pointing at the clearly visible sign at your door.

You both knew that in fact you could not work on the candelabra until it cooled off completely. He just wanted you to take a break, and this was something you really needed right now. Getting up, you could hear your back crack as you fixed your posture. This work was taking its toll on your body, but the positive outweighed the pain. As your mother was currently out of any food, and cooking something fresh would take too long, you decided to go into town to grab a bite.

You quickly wiped your face, removing all the sweat that built up on your forehead specifically, before using the same cloth on your hands. As you entered your room, you also changed out of your working gear made from heavy leather into more breathable clothes. In this hot weather any minute dressed in leather was a minute too much.

As you made your way into town, you realized that a few people looked at you in a peculiar way. At first you thought that maybe seeing you out of your working gear, and instead in an airy skirt was just not something they were used to. But you quickly realized the real reason for their attention. One person after the other left their houses with broken pieces only to try to hand them to you. At some point, it got to a point where you could barely walk a step without someone wanting you to fix some priced heirloom. All this attention, the people getting closer and closer to you, was starting to make you more and more anxious. Your pulse started ringing in your ears as you panicky looked around for an escape.

Without thinking for any second longer, you started pushing the people out of the way and just started running, ignoring their calls for help. Everything was getting too much for you. You did not know how long you were running, only stopping when it felt like your lungs were about to fail. Breathing heavily, you practically threw yourself on the ground, gasping for air. Closing your eyes, you just laid on the ground, trying your best to be quiet and not attract any attention until you were sure no one followed you.

It was only when you felt a slight pressure on your stomach that you opened them again, staring at a little rat. While you would have screamed at it on any other day, today seemed different. This rat seemed different. It looked…. Cute? At least its fur was well-kept as if it was someone’s pet. Maybe hearing Antonio talking with animals got to you, but honestly anyone who would listen would be good enough now.

“I… I just cannot believe the audacity of some people! How dare they treat me like dirt – NO! Worse than dirt, only to bother me the second they deem me useful enough for them! If that isn’t hypocrisy, than I don’t know what it is! Especially that dude who thought himself soooo important that the warning sign did not apply to him anymore!” you babbled angrily, unable to control your emotions anymore.

“I mean, all I ever wanted was for them to treat me like anyone else, but this is too much! Can you believe I did not even get to eat anything?! They knocked on my door the second the dawn arrived! Can I not just work in peace? Is this really too much to ask”. The despair you felt was getting too much for you. Did a few tears drip down your face? Maybe, but no one would ever know. No one but this rat, which looked as overwhelmed as any rodent could.

“I am sorry… I should not have shouted at you” You carefully took the rat into your hand, brushing over its fur.

“And now I am talking to animals. If my mama could see me now... “, snorting, you put the rat down again. No matter how much you wanted to stay here, away from everyone, you knew you still had work to finish. After all, the matriarch of the Madrigal family was expecting you to finish the repair as soon as possible.

“I should get going. Be carefully, there are some wildcats around here”, you bid goodbye to the little rodent before walking back into town the way you came. What you did not realize was that there was a person hiding behind some trees that heard every word. Looking for Bruno Jr. the oldest Madrigal son heard you rant to his pet, but also apologize to him.

He knew he should make himself be known, but after hearing your rant he did not want to upset you. Clearly you had a stressful day with people not respecting your boundaries. He knew this too well. The day people found out about his gift, everyone wanted their fortune to be told. Ignoring his own pleads to stop, as these precognitions felt so real to him and were physically draining. The fact that they often ended up being negative didn’t help. Sadly, his mama did not step in, after all it was their duty as the gifted ones to serve the people.

It was this fact that made him decide to do something about it. Instead of just looking into the future, he would change the present. All he wanted as a child was someone to put his health and happiness first. He would not stand by and watch someone being overworked and stressed to this point again.

While Bruno was no good at social interactions, preferring the peace and quiet he had in Casita, he would try his best to do something to help you out. His nieces all shared with him the hardships of having to serve the people in the village, especially Luisa often ended up overworked and close to collapsing. Learning how to help his family and make sure they were feeling heard was something he took pride in. After all these years in the wall, hearing their stories without them knowing, he knew he could do this simple task.

Having made up his mind, the first thing he did was picking up Bruno Jr. before going back home. Grabbing a small basket, he sneaked into the kitchen, placing some of Julieta’s and his premade dishes into it. After the decade he spent in the walls, his sister wanted to make sure he knew how to take care of him, starting to teach him how to cook small meals. While they had no healing powers like hers, seeing the face of his Mama light up as she saw them work together and knowing he made something himself was more than enough reason for him to continue this newfound tradition.

Surely this would improve your mood. On his way to your family’s home, he made sure not to be seen, walking the path hidden in the forest. Only once he made sure that no one was around, he carefully placed the filled basket on your doorstep, knocking a couple of times against the wood of your door for good luck, before vanishing into the woods. The mere thought of you seeing him, surely knowing that he must have heard something, caused his anxiety to rise. This way, he could make sure you had what you needed without anyone knowing. The fact that this way no one could tease him, something he was sure would happen as he had seen his family do so when Camilo showed interest in any girl his age.

As he entered his home again, he was relieved to see that no one had noticed him missing. This would remain a secret between him, Bruno Jr., Augusto and Camila.

Meanwhile, you arrived home, a journey that took longer than expected as the townsfolk were still trying to get you to fix things. The short break helped you regain some posture and tell them that you were booked out completely, and you would go to them when you had time to spare. What you did not expect was the small basket waiting for you on your doorstep. Picking it up, you were about to complain about the gall of some people to leave their things for you to repair right here without asking, when you noticed that it was in fact no broken bits of metal but food. Someone had left you something to eat... Even if you did not want to eat it your stomach made itself known. Entering your room, you began looking for a note of sorts to see who left it for you. Was it maybe a previous customer trying to thank you for your work? Your mothers’ friends trying to make up with you?

Carefully, you lifted the cloth protecting the food and saw just what was left for you. From Arepas to Pastel Gloria, the basket was filled to the brim with delicious snacks. Your mouth started salivating at the mere thought of eating any of this.

Taking a bite out of the Arepa your whole demeanor just changed. Maybe it was the fact that you hadn’t eaten since last night’s dinner, but this was the most delicious food you ever had. Tears of joy started to form in the corners of your eye as you finished eating the contents of the basket. Surely this was not someone’s attempt to repay their gratitude. This was way too good for that.

Even if It was just to find out who could cook like that, you knew deep down you had to find this person. Gently, you beat out the crumbs from the green dishcloth before placing it on your kitchen counter, while you placed the basket in the corner.

If you had time to spare, you would have started the investigation right this minute. Alas, work was calling, and you had to inspect the candelabra first. Perhaps you could already hand it back to Alma Madrigal tomorrow. And maybe… if you were lucky they would let you stay a bit and join in on the family fun.

Chapter Text

Time really does fly by when you are busy. The last two days practically went by in the blink of an eye, but that was to be expected considering the fact that you had so many new clients and their belongings to take care of. However, while you worked on and finished some of the easier ones already, your priority was still directed towards the candelabra.

Luckily, you did manage to finish it the previous night, working longer hours so that it would be fit for the return today. But given the fact that you were bored, you considered repaying the kindness of a certain fortune-teller. Sure, you could have gone out and maybe chatted with some of your acquaintances, never close enough to consider or be considered a friend, but you much preferred doing something nice for him instead.

The idea for the gift was already formed within your mind ever since you met him. Something useful yet cute. Nothing too flashy but also not too plain either. The perfect mixture would make the perfect gift. Taking the limited time into consideration, you decided to do some pottery instead of metalwork. The latter took far more finesse and hard labor to end up with a beautiful piece.

So now, the gift wrapped up in a subtle piece of lilac fabric, embroidered with delicate flowers, you placed it into the same basket as the candelabra. Leaving the house in your usual clothes, this time the non-stained version, you were ready to make your way to the Casa Madrigal. However, you were met by Luisa, one of the Madrigal children and the local strong woman.

“Ah, [Y/N]! How are you doing?”, she asked as her eyes met the heavy basket you were holding, “Oh is that the candelabra? I can carry it for you home. No need to walk all the way”.

Although her offer was kind, the thought of not having to walk all the way rather tempting, you could not accept it. It was part of your honor as a mechanic that you bring the repaired item back to the rightful owner for inspection. What if something wasn’t right? You needed to be there to make sure all was well and if not be ready to fix it instantaneously.
Instead, Luisa decided to accompany you to the Casita, chatting a bit about her day and how she is doing. It made you happy to hear that the usually overworked young woman took some time off today. She really deserved it!

As the two of you arrived, the front door was already held open by the young shapeshifter Camilo. “Tía Julieta has been asking where you’ve been, Luisa. They need some help preparing the garden”, he told the taller woman, watching her walk right towards the back of the house.

Turning his attention towards you now, the freckled boy inspected the basket in your hands.
“Is that the candle stick or a birthday present?”.

It was then that you realized just what day it was – the birthday of the Madrigal matriarch, Abuela Alma! You really could not have chosen a better time and day to bring over the candelabra! No wonder Luisa wanted to bring it over for you, you weren’t even dressed for the occasion!

Seeing the shock in your face, Camilo grinned. “Don’t fret, no one expects you to bring a gift.”, before telling you to follow him. This time, the way through the house was a lot trickier than before. Multiple people, among them the entire Madrigal family and some friends, were busy carrying things around the house, making it hard to pass by. At some point Augustín, Mirabel’s father, nearly bummed into you, had it not been for his wife pulling him to the side. Just as you were considering leaving, planning to return the candelabra the next day, Camilo had already walked you to the garden where the matriarch was waiting.

The scene surrounding you was almost overwhelming. So many different spices and scents in the air, a mixture of the barbecue that Félix was preparing, and the multitude of flowers Isabel conjured up, were flooding your senses. Holding the basket tight in your hand, you made your way to the grandmother, who was currently instructing her son-in-law Félix not to let Augustín near the fire. When she spotted you, the familiar basket in your hands, her face practically lit up.

“[Y/N]! How lovely to see you. Is that the candelabra?”, she exclaimed, looking hopeful at the wrapped item. You were somewhat aware that the antique was an heirloom, but considering her expression you were sure that there was more to it.

“Yes, I finished it last night but did not want to bother you”, you replied honestly, placing the basket on an empty spot at the table while carefully taking out the gift for Bruno without her noticing. “Happy Birthday by the way”, you added, smiling at Abuela Alma. Meanwhile, the older woman carefully unwrapped the candelabrum before gently touching the cold golden metal.

“It perfect…. You even got it to shine like it did back then”, Abuela Alma remarked in awe. It was then that she shared with you that this very candelabra was one of the few remaining things of her deceased husband Pedro. That when it broke, she truly thought that no one could fix it, but you seemed to be a miracle worker.

“This…”, she started, holding the heirloom close to her chest, “this is the best gift I could have gotten. Thank you [Y/F/N]”.

Although you wanted to talk a bit more with her, proud of your work and the fact that it meant so much to her, you two were interrupted by a new stream of guests arriving. Instead, you decided to leave, not having been invited to the party and arriving without a gift made you feel out of place. However, you were stopped in your tracks by the youngest Madrigal, who excitedly asked you to stay. How could anyone say no to Antonio? He was truly the cutest child you had ever seen. So, you decided to stay for a bit, maybe trying some of Julieta’s amazing cooking and giving Bruno his thank-you gift. Talking of Bruno, you finally spotted his figure, standing awkwardly in a calmer corner while looking at the just blossoming celebration.

Making your way towards him, you were pulled into an impromptu dance by Mirabel. The youngest girl had this way with people and just loved to dance. While you would have joined any other day, you still had the delicate porcelain gift for Bruno in your hands, and the last thing you wanted to do was drop it. Luckily, Dolores was already there, telling Mirabel that they needed her help with something. After years of feeling useless, Mirabel loved the fact that she was asked for help nowadays.

Finally, making it to the older man, you realized you had not even thought about how to start the conversation. You couldn’t just gift him the gift out of nowhere, that would be weird!

“Seems like we both are underdressed, hm?”, you said, attempting small talk but seeing the taller man’s reaction you quickly realized that he did not feel the same way. His ruana was probably still his favorite clothing item to wear, and he chose it deliberately.

“… Yeah… I guess the others are dressed fancier”, Bruno replied as he started to fidget with his fingers, something you noticed he did often when he didn’t know what to say.

Neither of you talked for a good minute, just looking at another and then the floor. God, the whole atmosphere was just awkward! You had to do something and that quickly or else you may as well sink into the earth out of shame.

Desperately trying to fix the situation you started, you spoke up again, “Thank you, by the way…. for walking me home and all”, as you handed him the wrapped gift. “This is you for you, as a thank you”. The fact that you had a gift for him on his mother’s birthday but none for her still felt very much odd to you. Even if Abuela Alma considered the repair of the candelabra the gift, it still made you feel like you messed up.

The oldest Madrigal son, too, was surprised at the fact that you had a gift for him. If this was due to the fact that few people got him gifts or because of the date, you were not sure.
Nervously watching him unwrap the lilac fabric, fearing that the gift might not be to his taste, you were more than relieved to see his face practically light up. In his slender hands, he was holding the small but functioning porcelain bathtub you had crafted for his pet rats the night before. While it wasn’t your most beautiful work, it was still a rather fine piece of art.

“This is amazing! ...”, he exclaimed, looking up at you with the brightest smile you had ever seen, before his expression changed back into his usual timid one.

“If it is okay with you, I would put it somewhere safe”, Bruno said, holding the miniature bathtub tightly in his hands as if he feared someone would take it away from him.

“Only if you let me accompany you this time!”, you answered with a shy smile yourself before adding “I really do not want to end up in one of those infamous dance numbers while you are gone”. So far you were lucky to avoid them, and the mere thought of you, someone who wasn’t a good dancer at all, to be pulled into one of those only to embarrass yourself caused anxiety to rise within you.

“Yeah… I understand that feeling all too well”, he replied with a laugh, before going inside with you right by his side. If anyone were to ask where he was taking you, you would just pretend you needed to use the bathroom, not the fact that all this singing and dancing was a bit too much for you.

For the first time this day your way was not interrupted or disturbed by other people, instead it was pleasantly quiet. Neither of you talked, but his body language told you that the older man was comfortable with it, and so were you.

Arriving at his door, you realized that this is your first time to see the actual bedroom of a magical Madrigal. Wondering just what it would look like, you were thrilled as the older man opened the door to reveal a whole bunch of sand. More sand, in fact, than you have ever seen in your life! Following Bruno into the room, you started to kick the sand softly with each step. Sure, it would get all in your sandals, but a little shaking would get rid of that easily.

Not noticing your exhilarating experience, you had, Bruno addressed you as his pet rats climbed up his ruana.

“Wait here… I will go and put this away safely”, he said with a soft smile on his face, before he made his way over the giant sand bridge towards the small, walled in area on the other side. That’s properly his actual bedroom, you thought as you watched him walk away.

It was then that you realized what an honor it was to be allowed into the room. As a hobby glassblower, you always loved to experiment with different kinds of sands and what the glass would turn out to be. However, you would never just steal anything, even something as miniscule as some sand, so until the older man returned you decided to do something you haven’t done in ages.

Sitting down on the surprisingly soft sand, you began to make a small hill. Building sandcastles was something you always enjoyed doing, but as a grown woman it was frowned upon to enjoy such childish pleasures. Nevertheless, you enjoyed this moment thoroughly, carefully crafting a modest sandcastle.

Completely lost in the act, you did not notice the footsteps coming nearer until a shadow was covering you. Looking up, you saw Bruno, looking at you with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. What you did not know was the fact that in all of Bruno’s life, no one had ever built a sandcastle in his room. In fact, no one had ever played in his room. People deemed it too scary and colossal, fearing him, his powers to the extend, that no one even visited him in here.

“Care to join me”, you asked, trying to lighten the mood, unsure if playing with the sand was some sort of taboo.

Fortunately, this fear of yours was completely unfounded, as the older man sat down next to you, starting to build a sandcastle right next to yours.

“I haven’t done this since I got my powers”, he said, focusing on making a sandcastle that his rats could actually walk through. As beautiful as his memories of the beginning were, they were now clouded by the knowledge of just how much his gift hurt him and the people around him.

For a few moments, the two of you just played in the sand. After building a small tunnel underneath the two sandcastles to connect them, the two of you watched one of his rats do just what Bruno was hoping. Bruno Jr. walked through the sandcastle, looking all excited.

“Can I ask you a favor?”, you asked, nervous about coming off as a weirdo for the request. “Could I have some of your sand?... I blow glass in my free time and would love to see how this one reacts once melted”. While you rarely found time to enjoy this hobby of yours, the thought of using this special magical sand was just thrilling to you.

Half expecting a decline, you were surprised when the older man had one of his rats bring him a beautiful leather pouch. Although it wasn’t big, it had more than enough space for some sand to experiment with.

“Sure [Y/N], take as much as you need”, he answered while helping you to fill up the bag. The kind gesture made you even happier than you already were. As you tied the pouch tightly onto your belt, the older man got up, shaking off the sand from his clothes.

“We have been gone for a while… we should join the party again or else Abuela will worry”, he said, holding his hand towards you to help you up, an offer you gladly accepted. Carefully walking through the room, you held onto his hand as the path underneath you was uneven from your kicking earlier. The warmth of his hand tightly clasping yours was comforting, and neither of you even thought of letting go once you exited the room. It was only when you were about to join the party again that Bruno let go, holding the door open for you.

Although he was a bit awkward, but hey who were you to judge, it was these little actions that made you realize just how misunderstood he was. Of all the people in town, it was the outcast that treated you with respect and kindness. The mere thought of him already made you feel so at ease and warm, you couldn’t believe it yourself.

The mood did change quite a bit once the two of you were in sight of Abuela again. Expecting to be told off for being gone for so long, you were surprised when she faced Bruno with a stern face. “Brunito! How often did I tell you to shake off the sand before leaving your room”. It was then that you realized the small trail of sand behind you. However, this wasn’t one he created by himself. Instead, the majority of the sand trail was caused by you not bothering to shake it off like he did.

Wanting to tell her the truth, you were interrupted by an apologetic Bruno, who took the blame for the incident. “Lo siento Mamá!”. Instantly, her expression changed into a kinder one before she kissed her son on the cheek.

You weren’t aware of the fact that Bruno, though he rejoined his family, did not talk much with them. When he was told for something like hording Julieta’s food, a habit he still had from the years living in the walls, he would just look like a kicked puppy and stare at his hands. This small interaction felt like a much bigger gesture to Abuela than it would ever do to you.

Walking with you to a quiet spot, Bruno and you ended up talking a bit while watching the others dance. It wasn’t until Antonio asked both of you to dance with him, that the two of you actually joined the festivities. Who could say no to those puppy eyes?! At first, you only swayed a bit, unsure about your dance skills. That changed quickly though as you saw the older man dance sillier than anything you have ever seen with the little boy. Lifting the small boy up, he put him on his shoulders while dancing for a bit, before he looked at you.

Not wanting to be the odd one out, you too started to actually dance, or well whatever you would call your mediocre at best dance moves. Together, the three of you danced into the night, laughing happily and very much unaware of the odd look you received. No one had seen either of you dance as careless as now.

It wasn’t until the moon was already out and shinning brightly that you decided that it was enough for today. After all, you had a busy day ahead, especially if you wanted to try out your new sand. Antonio was already in bed, having been carried to his bedroom by his Papá Félix, it was just the two of you dancing among the crowd.

“I should get going, Bruno”, you exclaimed, having to speak up over the live music. Instantly you saw his expression change from one of pure bliss into a soft smile.

“I can walk you home, … if you want”, he offered again, not wanting to leave you just yet. It had been over a decade since he had this much fun, felt so carefree and normal. The thought of you leaving, even if just for a night, … it made him anxious.

“No! My parents are here, so I will walk home with them”, you replied, unaware of his current emotional state, before adding, “But you can always visit me at the workshop if you want!”. This surprised even you, as you always preferred to work in peace and quiet… but his company… it never felt heavy. No, it was pleasant!

Not wanting to impose, Bruno just nodded, watching you get your parents to leave. Yet before you left you would of course bid goodbye to everyone, but especially the host properly! Anything else would be bad manners!

“Goodnight everybody, and thank you so much for inviting me! Have a lovely rest of a birthday Señora Madrigal!”, you bid farewell to them with a big smile on your face, before turning to your previous dance partner “And thank you for your hospitality and company Bruno! I’ll see you around”. With that, your family made their way home, chatting about the wonderful night and what you missed due to your bathroom break.

What you were not aware of was how your small comment about Bruno caused quite a stir in the family. None of them were aware of what the oldest Madrigal son did with you, or why you would thank him specifically. Especially, Abuela wondered just what had happened… not having seen him this happy in what felt like an eternity.

Well, none of them knew what happened but one very gifted person. Dolores, heard every single one of your conversations and her Tíos soliloquies. He was not aware of his still prevailing habit of thinking out loud, and if it were anyone else, she would have said something. But her Tío Bruno? The way he spoke of you when he thought no one would hear it made her heart swell. He may not be aware of it himself, but she knew the signs of love when she saw them. As much as Dolores was known as a tattletale, she would keep this secret to herself. Maybe it was because this unfolding love story was better than anything she heard in a while…. Or maybe it was the fact that she wanted her Tío to experience this in private… in his own tempo. Regardless, she would leave you and Bruno be, hoping the day of your confessions and love would be near.