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Camilo was up late tonight. The moon was full and cast shadows all around the house. He tried not to think about his Tio, just months before, skillfully using them to avoid being seen.
Camilo didn't have many memories of his Tio. He slightly remembers Abuela yelling his name after closing the door on another villager complaining about a vision.
He tries not to remember her yelling, though.
Camilo enters the kitchen and slightly jumps at a hooded figure messing around in the kitchen, before realizing it was just his Tio Bruno.
Right. He's back. Camilo reminds himself to keep note of that, but it's hard with all the other changes in routine since Casita's rebuilding.
"Hey, Tio. Up for a late-night snack? You're not the only one." he says, trying to make idle conversation with, if not for the blood relation, could be considered a stranger.
"Uh, hey Camilo."
His Tio seems focused entirely on something else. Camilo's toes grip the edge of the tiles leading into the main area of the kitchen before stepping in curiously.
"What are you doing?"
Tio Bruno jumps a little when he realizes he's gotten closer, but then he straightens up and faces him. Camilo notices the kettle in his hands.
I, uh, forgot where your Tia kept the tea" Bruno chuckles awkwardly. "It's been a while."
Camilo shape shifts, he doesn't really know into who right now, but he does know he's taller. He opens the top-right cabinet and grabs a box before shifting back.
"Here."
Bruno stares in what looks like shock and amusement for a while before grabbing the box.
"Heh, sorry. I'm not used to seeing that up close. It still kinda amazes me."
Camilo gives an awkward half smile while tilting his head.
Bruno sets up the tea, and Camilo takes note he preparing enough for two. He guesses he can stay down here a bit longer. He idly drums his fingers along the countertop. His Tio speaks.
"So, what are you doing up anyway? Do you need a story like when you were younger?" Bruno chuckles, wiping away some water droplets.
The drumming stops. This wouldn't have shocked him as much if it was just some random blathering joke his Tio made. But Camilo has been thinking about this for years. It's something he kept to himself, one of his personal mysteries that he'd never solved.
The unknown figure that used to tell him stories. He gave it some thought one day and assumed it was his Papi, even though Camilo knows his Papi can't make up a story if his life depended on it.
Because of that fact though, the figure always remained faceless in his mind. But now, the faceless figure and the soft masculine voice were placed as Tio Bruno's.
Case closed.
"Camilo? Are you okay?" Bruno stopped his repetitive motions on the counter, anxiously rapping on the wood of the cabinet doors.
"Yeah, just feeling, I don't know relieved? Complete? You just solved one of the mysteries in my head." Camilo relaxed a little more against the counter, suddenly Tio Bruno seemed a little more like family. "I didn't know that you were the one that used to tell me stories."
Bruno gave a little half smile of his own, wringing his fingers together.
"Yeah, we used to make them up as we'd go. I'd say something like 'A rat goes to explore...' and you'd reply with 'A castle'. It was really fun, and you couldn't sleep without it. Your Mama had a little problem with it though, it'd always make you stay up a little later. Sorry, I'm rambling again..." he trailed off awkwardly.
Camilo smiled. The memories of that weren't too apparent, but they were there.
"Nah, it's okay. Seems like we used to have a lot of fun."
Tio Bruno seemed just as joyful and reminiscent.
When the tea was done, they both sat down and had a conversation for the first time in a while.
Tio Bruno is definitely family.