Chapter Text
She had given him her gifts, and now it was time to leave. She watched his excited face as they danced with the animals he could talk to, and felt tears welling up in her eyes as she slipped out of the room, heading to her roo- the nursery.
Mirabel Madrigal was fifteen years old, and she still didn't even have her own room. No privacy, no nothing. Was she even still part of the family..? Did they even care about her anymore?
The tears threatened to fall as she carefully shoved her stuff into her book bag, hearing the Casita creak as she did. She knew the house was confused, wondering why she was leaving but-
"I'm sorry, Casita. I... I didn't want to leave today but I.." She wiped away her tears. "Nobody cares about me. Not even my own mother!" She finished packing her bag, slipping out the door and down the stairs to the kitchen, where she stored up enough food to last her a while. "I.. I hope to see you again, someday Casita."
She pushed open the front door, and started walking. The streets were empty, everyone at Antonio's ceremony, so nobody would stop to ask where the forgotten member of the Madrigal family was going.
Mirabel continued walking, headed twords the mountains. She probably wouldn't be able to get over them, but she could try... Or Maybe- footsteps made her freeze up, and as she turned around, she was greeted with a tall, shinny looking man, who stopped a couple of feet away from her.
"T...Tio... Bruno...?" Where the- how the-
"Where... Where are you goin, kid?"
"Out. Like you did- am I hallucinating you...?" She starts to walk again, and Bruno follows her, falling into step.
"No, your.. your not. Casita was worried so it sent me and-"
"How did-"
"I've been living in the walls." That makes her pause, staring at him. "I... I didn't want to leave you guys and, uh.. yeah. Casita showed me you were leaving but by the time i-i had worked upt eh nerve to follow you were... Well, you walk fast."
She just huffs, stopping at the base of one of the mountains and looking up it. There had to be some sort of cave system or something through here. The town usually did trades with other towns outside of the valley, which meant somewhere here was the exit.
"What.. are you trying to accomplish..? Your family would miss you-"
"Have you seen anyone come for me?" She spits out, a frown on her face. "Dolores with her superhearing magicalness? Camilo, with his shape shifting gift?? Antonio, Pepa, Anyone?! Nobody cares about me!" Mirabel didn't mean to go off on him, but her emotions were just boiling over. "Dolores can probably hear this whole conversation- most likely heard me saying goodbye to the Casita. Did you see anyone coming for me?"
"N-no-"
"Exactly." She heads to the right, sticking along the mountainside until she finds what she's looking for. "Just.. go back home, Tio." She stops just as she's about to leave, looking over at him. "I... Atleast you have a gift. Look on the bright side!" She flashes a weak smile, trying not to cry. "The kids always said I was adopted since I didn't get a gift."
"Mirabel-"
"Bye." Mirabel turns around, starting to head through the small opening, pushing branches out of her way as she heads through, hearing footsteps behind her after a while. "Go home."
"I can't do that." Bruno follows her, looking at her. "What type of Tio would I be to let you just.. leave? At.. atleast let me come with you."
"You still have a family here!"
"You do too! Julieta-"
"Most likely doesn't even know im missing at all."
"Kid, we... we gotta work on your self-esteem." Mirabel only scoffs, heading through the woods. "Why.. Why are you really leaving..?"
"I.. I've always tried to help. I know I don't have a gift, I know I'm not strong or pretty or..." She sniffles. "I just want to help. I want to be as amazing as the others- I.. I just wanted to make the family proud... But I wasn't. I wasn't making it proud. All I was doing was getting in the way, over and over again."
"But your not-"
"I am. I'm sick of waiting on a miracle- sick of waiting for someone to come along. I heard Abuela the other day talking with mom on how to marry me off once I reach 18. They want me out of the house. All I am is just a disappointment to them." Mirabel wipes the tears falling. "So.. now I'm no longer a burden. They can have their perfect gift filled family, and I... I'll find somewhere."
"Thats what you think..?"
"That's what I know." She stops, looking at him. "You don't have to come with me. Stay here. Stay with your family. I.. I've never been apart of this family." Her chest hurt. "I'll never be apart of the Madrigals. I don't know why I deluded myself into thinking I would be."
"Kid, I-i know Julieta's your mom. I-i was there, helping as she had you. Sitting with your sisters as they were worried about you being okay- I mean it was.. scary but-" He sighs. "if.. if your going to leave, I'm coming with you."
"Please dont."
"That's not something you can argue against." Great. Now she was just selfishly taking her Ti- Bruno away from his family. She only turned away from him, and started walking again, hearing him catch up. "Where are we going?"
"Anywhere. Just... Not there. I.. I can never go back." They fall into silence for a second. "I.. I am happy for him."
"I never said you weren't."
"I'm just.. Jealous." She laughs sadly. "Jealous of a five year old, god, what the fuck is wrong with me. I just.. why wasn't I given a gift...? Why was I the only one..? Why wasn't I given a door, a room..? I'm fifteen! I shouldn't have to share a room with the newest baby that comes along!" Bruno just listens as she rants, angry at the world. "All I wanted was to be accepted... I just wanted to be accepted."
"I get it." Bruno whispers, and she just wipes her tears, straightening up. "Mirabel, maybe you should tell them all this-"
"Like they'd listen. C'mon. I know there's a town close by, we can get there by nightfall." She didn't want to tell him she was already thinking of going back. She didn't want to tell him she was already doubting this whole mission. Mirabel takes a deep breath, before continuing along. Town first. The thoughts would leave when she got there, right?