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Camilo sat on the final steps of the staircase, leaning into his palms as he stared forward at nothing. Since the miracle had been returned and abuela had been trying to be better about not reducing the family to their gifts (or usefulness thereof), they all had considerably more free time. Many went into the village anyway, accustomed to the familiarity of lending a hand. Some chose to stay behind. Today Camilo stayed home, alongside Mirabel and tío Bruno. And Isabela.
He didn't normally stay at the casita and for plenty of good reasons. Being alone usually led to boredom. Boredom led to thinking, which led to over thinking. Camilo had been adamantly avoiding thinking too much or too deeply for a long time, and he wasn't about to stop now. He didn't like his own thoughts when he was alone, when there was no one to make smile or tease or thrill with his special gift. It always led to dark and uncomfortable places, questions about himself he really didn't want to face.
So why was he here at all? Mostly because Isabela was, and annoying Isabela had been one of his most favorite activities since both of them were much smaller. Problem was, he was running out of ideas to catch her off guard. She was clever, far more clever than he was, and with her powers growing and encouraging a new side neither he nor the family had seen before, he wouldn't be surprised if she was more devious, too. That meant he had to think of something good…
Above him a door opened and shut, Camilo glancing up and seeing Mirabel leaving her room and heading for the stairs. Casita shifted Camilo over, giving her space to pass by as she came.
"Camilo? Why did you hang back?" She asked. He shrugged nonchalantly, trying not to act surprised as she sat next to him. Mirabel was one of the family members he was closest to, their age meaning they had grown together - even when his miracle separated them. She was always paying attention to the small things. He was wary as to what small thing she was picking up on right now.
"Eh, I'm trying to think of new ways to annoy Isabela." He admitted. It was the truth, after all. She snorted and shook her head.
" Why on earth would you wanna do that?"
"Well, ever since señor muy guapo Mariano started courting Dolores, I can't just turn into him to get her mad." He explained. She shook her head again.
"No, I mean. Why would you want to annoy her? Aren't you tired of tasting flowers? Plus, she's been favoring cacti lately…" Her tease trailed off.
"That parts no fun - I don't even know why she keeps aiming for the mouth!" He started, gesturing exasperatedly. "But like. It's funny when she's mad." He gave a smirk, Mirabel rolling her eyes. "Have you seen how scrunched up her face gets?"
"Trust me, I've seen her mad more times than I want to." Mirabel replied. She was quiet for a beat, Camilo satisfied in his explanation and about to ask her if she has any extra insights to offer when she continued. "Honestly it sounds more like you have a crush on her."
She gave him a sly side eye, an almost knowing look. Though his heart skipped a beat at her astute - far too astute - assumption, he merely shrugged, gazing off across the courtyard at one of the colorful walls.
"Nah, she's not my type. Too bossy." He lied. Mirabel would not be so easily swayed, though he expected nothing less from her. As annoying as it could sometimes be.
"Oh yeah? Then why are you so interested in getting her riled up?" She pushed, lips tugging into a smile.
"I told you, because it's funny when she's mad."
"Julio told me the exact same thing when I asked him why he kept picking on Sofia." She said, referencing a pair of the village's children. "And then his mamá told me just how in love he is with her."
"Yeah, well Julio is like 5, so not a valid comparison-" Camilo countered.
"Boys are all the same, whether they're 5 or 15, primo."
"-plus!" Camilo continued. "Plus, she's my cousin. Kinda weird."
Mirabel gave him a flat and disbelieving stare.
"Camilo, you told me that you wanted to marry me when we were 8."
"And! I grew up! And realized you're gross- yes, gross!" He emphasized at her incredulous gasp. She was hamming it up anyway. "All of you are gross."
"Boys really don't change, huh. Girls are all just 'gross' when you don't wanna admit you like one." Mirabel gave a dramatic sigh, as though he were a lost cause.
"Not all girls. Just my family. Who I don't have any interest in." Camilo said, feeling the way she was watching him. Too closely.
"You do realize I am the one Madrigal who you can admit this to, right?"
He let the question hang there in silence, debating his response.
"Look, even if I did like her like that-"
"Ah-hah! You do!" She almost yelled, pointing an accusatory finger in his face. He responded, scowling.
"- if I liked her… What would it matter? It's not like it would be mutual." Camilo said. "She'll be swimming in suitors soon enough."
"I mean… You could just go and tell her, and see what happens." Mirabel offered, switching from triumphant at having weaseled a secret from him to caring and casual.
"You know, Mirabel, not everyone is as keen as you to keep it in the family ." Camilo said, emphasizing the words with a smug grin. She gasped again, but it wasn't any more serious than the first time; he and Dolores both knew about her and Bruno. Even if the rest of the family didn't just yet.
"Okay, first of all, wow, rude. Second of all, I mean… she’s changed a lot. It couldn't hurt, could it?"
"You literally were warning me about the potential for cactus in my mouth two minutes ago." He countered. "Who knows where it would end up in this hypothetical scenario."
"Big words today, primo." Mirabel said.
He offered her his middle finger and she returned it. The door to her room opened again and Bruno came out, heading for the stairs. Camilo gave Mirabel a knowing grin. She shrugged and gave her own small smile.
"It's nice when most of the family is… Out." She said in her defense. Camilo gave an affirmative hum.
“Hey, we, uh, having a family meeting? Or is it cousins only?” Bruno asked, casita widening the stairs enough for him to walk past them. Camilo opened his mouth but was cut off by Mirabel.
“He was just telling me about his crush on Isabela.” He glared at her, Bruno looking surprised and out of his depth at the revelation.
“Oh- Wow. Uh. Well, I mean…” Bruno stammered nervously, then shrugged. Then his brows set almost seriously as he contemplated. “We, uh. We’re a strange family, aren’t we…”
“I keep you two a secret, and you instantly out me to Bruno?” Camilo asked indignantly, ignoring his uncle’s comment. Bruno gave a sheepish laugh, looking away from both of them.
“Think of it like Dolores and you. If Dolores knows, you know. If I know, Bruno knows.” Mirabel gave a shit eating grin that rivaled his own, but he considered her logic sound. She stood, taking Bruno’s arm.
“Wait, where are you two going?” Camilo asked.
“Into town, I want some new thread and he needs more paint.” Mirabel answered.
“Ahh, working on the finale for Los Ratas de Encanto ?” Camilo asked. Bruno perked up, and Camilo couldn’t help but admire how cute his tío could be when he was asked about something he liked.
“Yes! I’m hoping to have it done for next week.”
“You’re not gonna let Carlos get his way with Adrianna, are you? After he killed her husband, his own twin?” Camilo asked, leaning into a palm and leaning forward. Bruno chuckled and shrugged.
“I can’t give it away, sobrino, you gotta wait like everyone else.” He replied. Mirabel tugged on his arm with a sound of exasperation.
“C’mon Bruno, I wanna get everything before it gets dark. You two can talk about plots later.” Mirabel said. Bruno smiled and the two started moving towards the door. She called over her shoulder, “Good luck with Isa, Camilo!”
Camilo raised his middle finger again, but they were both already gone.