Work Text:
Bruno's POV
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." I whispered, gently grabbing my sister's hands.
"A vision of the past...it's not a good idea. The magic, it-it always makes the vision bad. Always." I emphasized, pursing my lips.
"Please, Bruno, could you try? For me? I want to see him, just once. That's all I've ever wanted." Julieta begged, her eyes watery.
I could feel my resolve breaking at her pleads, but I shook my head, knowing that I shouldn't give in. She has the photo of him. That will have to be enough, I thought, my heart breaking when mi hermana tore away from me, rushing to the kitchen.
It's for her own good. I reassured myself, fighting the urge to call her back, and give her what she wanted. She just doesn't know it.
Sighing, I headed to Antonio's room, deciding that maybe some distance and time would help my sister forget about her request. Trudging up the steps, I pondered how the simple movement somehow seemed more arduous than usual. Finally, I reached the top of the staircase, pausing for a moment to glance in the direction of my tower.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to knock on my nephew's door, plastering on a smile.
Some things are better left in the past, or never even seen at all.
•~•
Dinner that night was an unusually somber affair, what with Julieta still having tear tracks on her face, and Agustín studying me with narrowed eyes. I could feel everyone's eyes darting between Agustín and I, but I kept my head down as much as possible, focusing on the food in front of me.
If I can just make it through this meal, and go to sleep, everyone will move on, and it'll be like today never happened. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow we can even-
"Tío Agustín, why are you glaring at Tío Bruno?" Camilo asked hesitantly.
I looked up, noticing my brother-in-law frowning down at my sister.
"It's nothing, Camilo. Let's just eat, okay?" Dolores suggested, a tight smile on her face.
"But I just-Ow! I mean-okay. Sounds good." His smile looked a bit like a grimace, not that I really blamed him.
Am I glad that Pepa was never much one for kicking. I shuddered mentally at just the thought of how painful such torment would have been. Her lightning bolts were bad-
"I'm upset with Tío Bruno, because Julieta went to talk to him, and now she's here and she looks like she's been crying. I don't know what happened, but-"
"Agustín, it's fine." Julieta interrupted, placing her hand on her husband's arm. "I wanted a vision of the past, but-but Bruno told me that he couldn't do it. You know he can't control what he sees, so don't blame him."
"But I thought you told us that you could sometimes have visions of events that have already happened?" Mirabel piped up, tilting her head.
I winced. "Technically, I can. But the one Julieta wants...no. It's not possible."
"But how do you know?" Agustín persisted, his eyebrows furrowed.
"I just do." I stated, staring down at my plate.
"But how?" The tone of his voice was demanding as he leaned towards me.
"I just-I just know, okay?" I shrunk in my seat, fighting the urge to flee.
"Agustín, please, it's not-"
"But how do you know?"
"I just-I just-"
"Mi amor-"
"How?!"
"Because I've already tried it before!" I choked out, tugging on my hair to the point of pain.
"Because I've already tried it before."
I stared at Julieta and Agustín, waiting for them to say something, but they just sat there with blank faces.
"You think he wasn't the first thing I tried to see once I realized I could look into the past?" I shook my head, laughing bitterly. "You weren't the only one who wanted a memory of their father."
"So, late at night, when you and Pepa and Mamá were all fast asleep in your beds, I decided to try it. To try to see mi papá, just once. And do you know what happened?" I murmured, studying my shaking hands.
"I saw the moment that he died. Over and over again." I clasped my hands together tightly, trying to control my racing heart.
"I couldn't get the vision to stop, no matter what I did." I smiled, the salty taste of tears filling my mouth. "For hours, all I could do was watch him be murdered, until finally, I passed out from exhaustion."
Taking a deep breath, I pushed my chair back, the screech it made on the tiles breaking the deafening silence of the room. Standing up, I walked around the table, my footsteps like thunder. I paused at the exit, contemplating what to say to my stunned family members.
"I'll-I'll be back in a few hours. I-I need to get some fresh air." I muttered, walking out of the room, and then, the house.
Our magic, our miracle...they all come from his sacrifice.
I headed into the jungle.
Every one of their gifts meant to save them from the soldiers, because Papá couldn't.
I hit a branch out of my way, continuing down the well-worn path.
Julieta's cooking could have healed any of her wounds.
Hit.
Pepa could have struck them down with lightning.
Hit.
Isabela could have hung them up by vines.
Hit.
Dolores could have ran for cover the second she heard their horses.
Hit.
Luisa could have thrown a boulder at them.
Hit.
Camilo could have disguised himself as a fellow soldier.
Hit.
Antonio could have had his jaguar eat them.
Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit. Hit.
I fell to my knees, staring up at the mountains that surrounded the place I called home.
And me?
I let out a high pitched laugh, the sound slowly transitioning into wheezes as I sobbed into my arms.
I'm just here to remind everyone how lucky they are, and just why they have the gifts they do.