Work Text:
After months of hard work, the Madrigal’s house was finally repaired. It was just about ready for the Madrigals to move in; all that was left was for a door knob to be placed.
“We made this one for you," Antonio softly says while carefully holding out a golden door knob that is engraved with an "M" on it.
Mirabel's eyes widen, and she gently takes the door knob, cradling it in her hands. She looks up at the rest of her family, and her large doe eyes well with tears at their soft, encouraging gazes.
Antonio delicately clasps her hand in his and then beams at her when she softly squeezes it, his tooth gap on display.
Mirabel smiles back at him, and just as she's about to make her way towards the door, a loud, obnoxious voice calls out, "Hey, four eyes!" "Don't think that you're special or important because your family took pity on you and decided to include your giftless self with something." "You're still a clumsy, ugly, weird, useless perra who only knows how to mess things up."
Just like that, Mirabel's smile disappears as she turns around and faces Javier Alvaro, her childhood bully. From the moment her door vanished, Javier started making her life a living hell. Every day he'd insult and torment her, laughing hysterically whenever his cruel words caused rivers of tears to cascade down her cheeks. As the years passed, his abuse progressed to him hitting and pushing her.
Javier would trip her when no one else was around and grip her arms and wrists so hard they'd bruise. His tall, lanky form would tower over her, and he'd snarl out how ugly, stupid, worthless, and annoying she is. And how no one in the village likes her, and that everyone, including her family, only tolerates her because they need someone to take out their anger and frustration on.
Antonio balls up his small hands into fists, digging his fingernails into his palms, as white-hot rage burns through him at this stupid jerk making fun of his Mira. His beloved prima/mamí who raised him. She taught him how to speak, read, write, and count. Mira was the one who checked under his bed every night for monsters and who would sing him lullabies to help him sleep. The girl who dances and plays with him and who does everything in her power to make him smile when he's sad. Mira is his whole world, his everything, and he can't stand to see her sad or upset.
He glares at the stupid teen and barks, "Mira is the most special and amazing person in the world." "She's kind, and she's great at singing and sewing." "She's my Mamí, and the best person ever." "You're just a mean cabrón who bullies my Mamí because you're jealous that she has so much to offer and you have nothing."
“ANTONIO LANGUAGE!” Pepa exclaims.
Javier's cheeks flush red, and he sputters as he tries to come up with a response. The Madrigals and the rest of the villagers snicker and laugh at him, thoroughly enjoying the tongue lashing he received from the five-year-old boy. Mirabel can't help but giggle at how easily her hombrecito shut down her bully.
Most people would fall back and leave after being chastised and thoroughly embarrassed by a child, but Javier is a prideful idiota who acts without thinking things through. He clenches his jaw and gazes at Antonio with malice before raising his arm towards him, intending to backhand the niño.
SMACK!
Mirabel is sent crashing to the ground from the force of the slap she receives. She had been watching Javier carefully and knew that the bastardo would try to retaliate against her jaguarcito.
“Campanita!"
"Hermanita!"
"Sis!"
"Mira!"
"Mirabel!"
"Miraboo!"
"Mi nube!"
"Kid!"
"Mariposa!"
"MAMÍ!"
Mirabel's family members all cry out when she's hit, but Antonio's scream breaks her heart. Her dulce niño sounds so scared and worried.
Javier chuckles and snarls out, "¡Maldita perra!" "You had to get involved, and now you're on the ground where you belong."
Antonio runs up, kicks Javier's knee as hard as he can, and yells "The only perra here is you for hitting my Mamí!"
Javier grows and lunges at Antonio, but before he even lays a finger on him, Mirabel rises, winds her arm back, and punches him hard.
CRACK!
Javier yelps and collapses onto the ground as he clutches his broken nose, unsuccessfully attempting to stem the blood gushing out of it.
Mirabel is not an aggressive person, but witnessing this poco hombre try to hurt Antonio makes her blood boil. She scoffs at him and hisses, "You've made my life hell for years, all because I didn't receive a gift when you don't have one either." You're so sad and pathetic that the only way you're able to feel good about yourself is by bringing me down. I've learned not to care or listen to the lies coming out of your mouth, but you crossed the line when you raised your hand at Antonio. Only a cobarde poco hombre like you would try to hurt a child, and not just any child but my child. "If you ever attempt to harm even one hair on my niño's head or come near him again, you'll wish you were in hell after I'm done with you."
Javier holds his broken nose with one hand and flips her the middle finger with the other. Mirabel bares her teeth at him before lifting her leg back and kicking him as hard as she can right in the balls. She smirks at the girlish, high-pitched scream he lets out before he’s dragged away by some of the villagers.
A gentle tug on her skirt draws her attention, and she knows without even looking that it is her hombrecito.
Antonio gazes at her in awe and tearfully says, "Mamí you were so brave!" "You let that estupido jerk hit you so that he wouldn't hit me."
Mirabel kneels and softly replies, "Of course I did; I couldn't let him hurt you, Toñito. "I promise that no one will ever lay a finger on you, jaguarcito, not while I'm around."
Antonio's lip quivers, and she coos at him as she gently scoops him up into her arms. Mirabel hugs him tightly and then peppers kisses all over his face, making him giggle.
He clings to her and whispers, "Te quiero mucho, Mamí."
Mirabel swallows the lump in her throat and tenderly states, "Yo también te quiero mucho hombrecito, con todo mi corazón."