Chapter Text
Bruno disappears the day after his niece's gift ceremony. You'd been at work that morning, so you didn't see much of the actual fight, and none of the Madrigals will give you a consistent account of what happened. Alma, Bruno's mother, says that Bruno had a vision he didn't like and ran from home on his own accord, while little Delores swore that she had heard her abuela screaming and smacking him with a newspaper, chasing him out the door. Neither of Bruno's sisters will talk.
For the first few days or so, you don't think much of it. You worry a little of course, but Bruno had always been known to run off to his tower in times of stress. He and you have been together for a few months now, so you know each others' habits well.
But then a week goes by. You start asking around. Not the Madrigal family, they wouldn't talk if you asked them, but people around town. You and Bruno had tried to keep your relationship on the down-low, so asking too many people about Bruno felt risky. But now that's the least of your worries, because nobody has seen Bruno, not at the shop where you work, not at any of the local farms, not at any of the restaurants in town. And everyone knows all the Madrigals, they know what Bruno looks like and wouldn't mistake him for anyone. So, you figure he's gone into hiding. That's okay, you try to remind yourself, he is surely safe, he will come out eventually. And you really, really don't want to intrude. You and Bruno are close for sure, but you know how much of a toll Bruno's powers and his family take on him. You figure you should give the poor man space to breathe, no matter how concerned you may feel.
Two weeks pass. You realize, too late, that you have never actually been through the door in the Madrigal home with Bruno's portrait etched into it. And now, it is boarded up. Just two weeks and the tower has already been boarded shut. As you consider grabbing a crowbar, you see a rat scurry through the bottom of a picture frame. The frame opens to a staircase, which leads to a long hall of boards and cracking plywood. You realize that you are now in the casita's walls. The tunnel goes on and on for what feels like miles. And then, you find a door.
You carefully open the door to what has to be a hidden room. It is dark, cold, dusty, and utterly empty with the exception of the sound of rats scurrying. You check the furniture, the walls, the floor: no signs of life.
And then, as you're about to turn around and leave, you spot, in the corner, something draped across a futon. It can't be…heart racing, you walk towards the corner, bracing yourself.
Sure enough, it's him. Lying on his front, arms and legs bent at strange angles. As gently as you can, you turn the unconscious body over to his back and slip a cushion under his head. Bruno had always been scrawny and pale, but you have never seen him like this before. He doesn't look alive, he doesn't feel alive, he's just like a corpse. For a few moments, you can't get it out of your head that Bruno is gone, he's dead, you should start saying your goodbyes. It doesn't make sense, it can't be. He wouldn't do this to himself. His family wouldn't do this to him.
Back before things had gotten bad, before his family shunned him, Bruno had predicted your future together. He had seen the two of you living in a beautiful house in the valley, in each other’s arms every night. He had seen you grow old together. Bruno dying before he turned forty was never part of the plan. He just…couldn’t.
“Brunito? Please, sweetheart,” you notice a few little rats curled up in Bruno’s ruana, seeking warmth. You wonder if they're as scared as you are. Just as all hope seems lost, his chest heaves up and down and he slowly blinks.
“(Y/N)?” His voice is hoarse and broken.
“Oh, my sweet baby. What happened?”
“No…go away…you don't...” Bruno makes a feeble attempt to flip back over, but ends up just flailing his arms a bit. You take his hand into yours and rub his palm with your thumb.
"Shh..."
“You’ve…just got to…let…me go. You…don’t deserve…” Bruno had always been dramatic when he was upset. You were used to that. It was okay, he would always just run to his cave, spend a few days alone making premonitions, and return with a clearer mind. You had no way of preparing for this.
“Bruno, mi vida! I would never leave you. I’m not going to ever leave you, never again.” (Y/N) cupped Bruno’s cheek with his hand and felt that his skin was terribly thin and dry. “When was the last time you had water, love?”
“I don’t know…a…week maybe.” No wonder he looked so sick. He was dying. (Y/N) had to take a few deep breaths to keep himself from losing it completely.
“Oh god. You know how lucky you are to be alive right now, right? Brunito, baby, I am going to fetch some water, I will be right back, just try and hang on, alright?” He squeezed Bruno's hand and ran out of the room, back through the sketchy hallway, and into the kitchen to fill a pitcher with salt water. Luckily, since it was the middle of the night, nobody saw him run in and out of the house. Navigating the secret passageway with the heavy pitcher was tough, but (Y/N) made it, and he heaved a sigh of relief when he found Bruno still conscious.
You help Bruno grip the cup and drink the salt water. The way that he's able to keep it down feels like a good sign. You pour another cup, and again he takes it well. You still don't know exactly what's wrong with him, what's bothering him or how to fix it, but solving the dehydration that's killing him feels like a start. Tomorrow, maybe, you can sneak some of Julieta's food to give to Bruno and cure his hunger.
“Do you think you can take more water?” Bruno shakes his head.
“Alright, we can try again later.” You kiss his cheek and he closes his eyes for a moment. For a moment, you think he's at peace, but then his eyes shoot open and he gasps.
"Tell me you didn't find the vision."
"What vision?"
"The one about Mirabel." Maybe he
"I didn't. I didn't even go into the cave, I came straight here and thank God I did."
"I've gotta destroy that." That really doesn't seem like a good idea, but you're sure that Bruno didn't mean it. People say unreasonable things when they are sick and tired and anxious.
"Alright, baby, that's okay." He seems comforted by that, by the thought of destroying whatever painful vision had angered his family. He closes his eyes again.
“I’m tired.”
“You can sleep. I will keep you safe.” Bruno sighs and you run a hand along his forehead, smoothing back his hair. Bruno nuzzles up to the soft hand.
“You sleep too.” You want so, so bad to fall asleep next to Bruno, it's been weeks and you miss your loving nights together. But you know that the poor man isn't out of the woods yet. He really should be in a hospital, but that's completely out of the question so instead you are going to stay awake and make sure his body doesn't give out in the night. Luckily, he seems to be doing well. He should turn out just fine. But, he needs rest.
“I can’t, I’ve got to watch over you.” Bruno groans. “Just for tonight, querido, then I'll sleep with you all you want. Here,” you scoop his thin, frail body into you arms and give him a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Mmmm, te quiero. We're gonna be okay. You predicted it, remember?"
"Not really." The poor dear is so tired. A rat crawls up your back, which would normally make you jump and scream, but you just let it be. Bruno feels so heavy and warm and alive in your arms.
"Well, I remember. We're going to be just fine, I promise."