Chapter Text
Rudy's pov
--- Valeria and Alejandro get together first even though Rudy and Ale joined the at the same time in the military. Fear of being judged for loving a man ultimately stopping Rudy from confessing to his best friend-- and besides, Valeria is pretty, top of her class, and strong, drawing people in without effort. How could he compete with that?
- Except, as time passes, he realizes that the ache in his heart doesn't stem from jealousy nor envy-- at least, not entirely. As Rodolfo watches them saddled up next to each other in the mess hall, arms around shoulders and grins plastered on their faces as they talk about how badly another recruit fucked up on the obstacle course (not that Alejandro can laugh too hard at that when he injured his ankle the year prior), he finds himself wanting to be in the middle. Laughing and talking about everything that happened that day; the seemingly never-ending tests, the bone-snapping training course, how awful the food is, and just why the hell their training sergeants have to yell so damn loudly at them. He wants it all. He wants Alejandro and he wants V-- no, don't even go there Parra. Rudy shakes that thought out of his skull before it can go any further. What was that? I mean, sure, for the previously listed reasons Valeria was charming and overall amazing, beating most of the guys when it came to just about anything. Schoolwork, handling weapons, the rigorous physical exercises, you name it. He admired her, that's all, and besides: why would he be crushing on his own crush's girlfriend? That's... redundant. Right?
- He absolutely freaks the f-out. Pacing in the men's bathroom with hands on either side of his head, worrying his bottom lip and wondering what's wrong with him. He's in love with his best friend, that can be considered normal. But carrying feelings for Alejandro's girlfriend while also harboring feelings for him? That can't be. Rudy sits in a dim corner beside the stalls with his knees to his chest, the wall to his right offering privacy as he spirals again (I'm sorry y'all for making our puppy sad).
Alejandro's pov
--- He knew. He knew from the moment she threw him over her shoulder during joint combat training that Valeria Garza was a force to be reckoned with. On his ass, he practically growled up at her like a dog, deep oak eyes lit in anger and a burning sense of shame. But through that self-pitying blanket he wrapped himself in, Alejandro held a newfound respect for her that day onward (that sense wavering now and again every time she grinned down triumphantly at his defeated form) which grew when she helped him to the medical staff's ward. Limping from a twisted ankle ("such a princess move, Ale. Almost thought I had to carry you in my arms for a second there..." "quiet, gilipollas."), she hauled his ass to get his ankle wrapped in ice. Grumbling, he ground his jaw together whilst crossing his burly arms. How could he have made such a stupid mistake? Surely the rain making the course wet and slick wasn't helping him finish any faster, but the sight of Valeria right in front of him, with that stupidly attractive smirk of hers, made him want to chase her. In his haste, Alejandro's boot slipped on the large wooden log five feet above the mud. Trying to re-right himself, his hands, arms, and legs shot out to coil around the wet wood, dirt shoving up his blunt nails as he clawed at the wood. It was a mix of him not being fast enough and the log simply being too smooth that caused him to awkwardly land on the side of his ankle, all 179 ib. being placed on a small portion of his foot made him automatically jolt. Making the already bad and ungraceful landing worse. Mud soaked his uniform and some splashed onto his teeth bared in pain. Alejandro clutched his ankle, a colorful string of curses passing his lips. The others pass him, some throwing him pitying glances and some not even giving Alejandro a first glance.
-All except for Rudy, of course. Sweet, attentive, patient and loving Rodolfo. Alejandro's heartbeat picks up when Rudy slides under the log and is at his side in seconds, hands pulling him from out of the puddle with multiple boot-prints indenting the saturated ground. His doe brown eyes glisten in the fog of the early morning sun, asking where the pain is and cradling him is his smaller, yet all the same, strong arms (not all men are built like Ale, after all). Thankful that the mud caked on his cheeks is covering his blush, Alejandro grits out that he's fine. His ankle is in pain, but he can move it and it doesn't feel broken. Gulping, Alejandro can't help but let his eyes flit between Rudy's concerned eyes and his thin, petal pink lips. If he just leaned in a little closer.....
- A sharp slap to his shoulder from behind stops his homo thoughts cold turkey. He shoots up (Ale swears he saw his great grandma behind Rudy for a moment) and glares behind him. It's Valeria with a Chesire-cat grin affixed to her naturally radiant facial features. Apparently, everyone is done with the course minus Rodolfo. With a wink and hand on his shoulder, Valeria assures Rudy she can help him to med bay herself, so he can finish knowing Ale was in capable hands. He nearly misses the emotionless pass over the usually bright eye's Rudy has, he'd even think it was his imagination if it weren't for how tightly his grip was around his body. Relenting, Rodolfo smiles stiffly at her and nods, handing him over to Valeria and running off to the next obstacle. Brushing what just happened off, she helps Alejandro up and gets him to the medical staff on site. Sitting grumpily in a chair, she teases him relentlessly and they bicker. But it isn't anything too skin-deep, almost like an old married couple in fact. Somehow the conversation takes a turn, and the pair talks about their individual lives in Las Almas, how they grew up, and their love for the place.
-- They grow closer after that, something about soldiers in arms or something. I actually have a bit of a hard time picturing exactly what the confession would entail. But I'd like to envision it as them lovingly bickering back and forth, it turning into aggressive flirting ("you like me, admit it~" "yeah, well, you have a nice ass to look at and a... rather attractive laugh *coughs*...." "...wait what."), and tumbles into an unspoken admittance of romantic interest.
-- Once Alejandro comes to terms that he not only loves his girlfriend but his stupidly sweet best friend, he develops feelings of self-loathing, thinking he's just a selfish, horny bastard and how he feels is wrong. You can't love more than one person in a romantic relationship. Can you?
Valeria's pov
--- She laughs her ass off after beating Alejandro in mathematical scores-- again, mind you. Taking her due reward, she swipes the bottle of peach whiskey from a grumpy Alejandro and chugs it in front him: stolen goods from the mess halls pantry, all hers to enjoy now. All three of them hide in the utility closet in the base's gym so as to not get caught drinking their seniors' goods. Sat down and downing the bottle, she notices how distant Rudy's grown and pinpoints the issue near-instantly. He's upset now that Alejandro and she are an item now, unable to spend their free time with just the pair of them; how they started out.
- As observant as ever, she catches Rodolfo looking at her from the corners of his eyes. Not with hate or distain like she was expecting, but with curious, almost confused glances. Like he couldn't quite figure her out, or maybe himself, who knows, he sure didn't. Curled in on himself, eyes averted yet still soft, and a melancholy air about him tells her everything she needs to know in his demeanor. Rudy doesn't despise Valeria; he's just reluctant to get closer, like he's afraid of something. Is it her? No, he'd be acting more skittish if that was the case. Is it her romantic relationship with Ale? No, she'd just deduced that that wasn't it, not the entire reason anyhow. Valeria finds herself pursing her lips, mulling over what could be making the kind and gentle man so upset. But why does she care so much? It's not like she and Rodolfo are dating, so why is she so torn up internally about his happiness? Fuck. She needs to stop thinking so hard and just finish her whiskey, make even more fun of Alejandro, eat dinner then head for the woman's barracks.
-- I think she'd actually be pretty open to the concept of a polymorphous relationship, not giving a single shit about traditional rules or standards. Screw them; why not live life the way you want to? Love who you want folks.
They finally get their shit together <3
Another day of hitting the gym and library passes, and they're actually free for once in the evening. So, most of the kids decide to hold a bonfire (with permission, ofc). Some snacks are brought and made, a few kids having actually commandeered some Hersey's chocolate bars, a bag of marshmallows, and some sweet biscuits that would work as gram crackers. Among the stolen goodies (that the adults will never find out about if you eat the evidence, no?), drinks are passed around the contained fire and loud, boisterous laughter echoes throughout the woods at dusk. The warm scent of smoke, snacks, and the forest surrounding them make for an easy atmosphere.
Rodolfo nurses a cup full of whatever juice was contained inside as he watched Alejandro grin wide, leaning into Valeria's ear and whispering something in that undoubtedly husky tone of his. It turns out to be something humorous, seeing as Val bursts out wheezing and pushing him back by his shoulder, nearly tipping her drink onto the dirt. A weird, fluttery feeling rushes through Rodolfo's veins and arteries as he watches the domestic scene, happy yet saddened, wishing he was the cause of her laughter, that he was being held to Alejandro's side so snugly. Hardened muscles easily felt under that short-sleeved shirt of his. Was he doing that on purpose? Driving him crazy with just a smile and a bit of his biceps showing? He lets out a ragged sigh and lowers his gaze to his drink, thinking better than to walk up to the couple and do something he might regret.
Shooing the dirt with his boot, he downs whatever drink it is past his gullet in one single motion. The slight burn doing nothing to alleviate his troubles. Sensing his loneliness perhaps, a girl around his height comes up to him with a friendly smile, her deep brown hair curling around her bare shoulders elegantly.
"Hey, are you doing okay hermano? You're drinking by yourself all the way over here."
Rodolfo gives her the best reassuring smile he can scrounge up in his current emotional state, jerking his head behind him at the ahuehuete tree he's leaning on.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that hermana. The trees make for good company."
"Because they don't talk?"
"Because they don't mind letting me use them for support and don't expect me to say anything." Rudy's chuckle dies in his throat, realizing that he came across as rude. His doe eyes widen in fear at her shocked face, and hands come out to awkwardly flounder between the two. Thinking she did something wrong, they apologize at the same time, stumbling over words for who gets to be sorrier. Seeing as this was going nowhere fast, they pause and stare at one another before laughing. Her hand over her eyes and Rodolfo's over his mouth, eyes enhanced by the flickering firelight as their shoulders shake. Once the laughing turns to giggles and finally die down into the occasional snigger, she speaks first.
"It wasn't even that funny of a situation to laugh for, but God knows I needed that little release from all the stress we go through here."
He nods, fixing the few strands of hair that fell over his eyes, the reprieve from his current emotional dilemma making his cheeks flush cutely. "I completely understand-" "Carmen" "-Carmen, you don't have to explain anything to me."
With a significantly more relaxed air, the girl- Carmen- and him chat for a while longer. Finding interests in the same things and agreeing on certain things while disagreeing (respectfully) on other topics of interest.
"No but, who the hell puts fruit on a pizza? That has to be a deadly sin." "A tomato is technically a fruit you know," "oh yeah? Says who?" "Says scientists," "have scientists tried pineapple on pizza? With all due respect to you Parra: disgusting." He lets out a sharp whistle at that, a grin gracing his lips with his hands held up for a moment in mock surrender.
"Fruit pizzas exist you know," she snorts at that, playfully rolling her eyes and bumping shoulders. When did she get so close?
"Yeah, but that makes sense when it's based on fruit; a sugar cookie base, cream cheese on top, and shiny fruit scattered about. I get that, but I draw the line when my meats and fruits are intermingling." Rudy snorts and shakes his head, "damn hermana-- with all this talk on food you're making me hungry."
She's about to say something but stops, eyes fixed at his shoulder. Carmen reaches a hand out for his thin, long-sleeved blue shirt. Rudy doesn't say anything as her smooth, tan skin plucks something off the fabric. His heart doesn't race, not like it does for them. Pulling her arm back, she shows him a leaf. Must've fallen off a branch. Carmen's hand lowers, the thin and pointed leaf fluttering to the ground where it was originally intending to go. She doesn't move from her spot, feet firmly planted on the forest floor, but her hand moves back up his body, gently resting over his heart that does not beat for her. He knows he should pull back, the longing in her eyes is misplaced. It isn't fair to her, and it wouldn't be faithful to himself.
Rudy goes to reject her when he catches sight of a black head of hair dash behind the girl. "Rodolfo, you're unlike any other man or boy I've met; you're respectful, kind, actually funny, and so irresistibly..." Carmen lets her long eyelashes slip shut and she leans in.
Before things can escalate, a hand clasps around Carmens shoulder, and a voice so cold it makes even Rudy shiver at the emotionless sound of it speaks a foot behind her skull, and it isn't even directed at him. "I'm afraid he's already made plans with us, chica. You're excused."
Carmen shakes in the dragon-like grip, turning around to meet the steely eyes of one Valeria Garza. "Y..yes ma'am," she manages to squeak, the poor girl scurrying off to a small group of girls on the other side of the fire. Turning to the scary woman, Rudy gulps and runs his free hand up and down his jeans to try and get rid of the sweat. "Uh, did I actually make plans and just so happen to forget, or-" "No Rudy, you didn't." She turns to him after making sure Carmen didn't try to come back, giving him a look that reminds him of his mother whenever she's disappointed in him. Feeling very much like he's in for a scolding, he hunches in on himself and goes to say something but is interrupted a second time.
"Cariño, you're scaring him," it's Alejandro, walking behind Valeria and placing a tentative hand on her ribs, not wanting to be on her warpath tonight. Rudy breathes a sigh of relief, facing Ale he goes to silently thank him when he observes that he is avoiding his eyes, preferring to stare at the trunk of the tree instead. Rudy cocks his head to the side, what's up with them? They were having lots of fun earlier by the fire, laughing and drinking. Did it have something to do with Carmen, or did they have another fight, spurred on by liquid courage this time? He can hazard a guess though, going off on the way her eyes are possessively running over him. Regardless, he keeps his questions to himself. Valeria looks him over toe to head a third time and scoffs; it isn't about his appearance he can tell. More on the recent situation.
"You're too nice Rudy, letting her touch you when you clearly weren't interested. If I hadn't stepped in, you would've had to deal with her tomorrow."
"How could you tell I-" "your stance. You were stiff and rigid after she touched your shoulder."
"You were watching for that long?"
"We both were," Alejandro adds, now staring at Rudy. The sudden attention from both of his crushes paired with the light, fruity alcohol well into his system by now makes his knees weak and flat cheeks deepen in color. He huffs in slight embarrassment, scratching his cheek and drawing attention to the cute mole around his chin. An action that pulls their eyes to his skin in a desirable way that makes him burn hotter. "You guys uh-- really didn't have to, you know. We're in our twenties now, I can handle myself."
"We aren't doubting you, Rudy," Alejandro gives Valeria a look, "just looking out for you in the same way you do for us."
Ah. Right. Just friends. That was platonic.
The disappointment settles over his heart in a cumbersome manner; he keeps a smile on anyways.
"Of course, yeah no I get it." At the change in tone, Alejandro and Valeria exchange curious glances and train their deep eyes back on him. With the silence stretching on for longer than anyone was comfortable with, Alejandro pulls his arm away from Valeria and walks back to the fire, grabbing three bottles of 'juice' and taking Rudy's free hand. The action is so unexpected Rudy jumps and accidentally drops his plastic cup. With his second hand now free, Valeria slides up to his other side and slips her hand in his slightly larger one, tightly curling them together. She takes an offered bottle from Alejandro and the couple lead him further into the forest, hand-in-hand. They go a good distance in, knowing they can just follow their tracks back to base once they were called in for bed.
Now at a small clearing, they all sit down on the damp and cold grass, the sun having fully set some odd minutes ago. Lying on his back, Rudy looks to his left and right, Alejandro and Valeria respectively on opposing sides, with him in the middle. Head leaning back on his arm, Rodolfo takes in a shaky breath and closes his eyes, senses trying to imprint this into his brain forever. The icy-wet blades of grass poking and cooling his skin through the material of his shirt, the gentle warmth on his right from Valeria and the more intense heat to his left where Alejandro still holds his hand. The scent of the resting wildlife surrounding them and the faint cherry alcohol on each of their breaths. The stary sky looming above them, dark streaks of blue, black, and purple smeared across the atmosphere like paint and small white dots flicked onto the canvas.
Yeah. He wants to hold this memory deep in his heart, on a shelf where he can go whenever he needs it and relive tonight where it's just the three of them in the endless sky reaching for eternity.
In time, the silence is broken. This time by Rodolfo himself, "I think..." he swallows, finding it difficult to breathe, "I really I love you guys. Less, in a platonic sense and more of a romantic one, or a spiritual one."
"...I thought you were afraid of ghosts?"
A snort coming from Valeria ruins the moment, and Rudy lets go of Alejandro's hand to playfully swat at those biceps of his. Thankful for the interruption. "You know, I had a nice speech in mind, but you've forced my hand to trash it."
"Pfft-- that sounds more like a blessing than a loss."
"Wait wait no Rudy-- you have to tell us, I'm sorry for teasing you." He snorts at Alejandro's attempt at an apology and waves him away, even as the larger man adjusts his position to half-lay over him.
"I have the devil and angel on either shoulder." Rodolfo mumbles, pretending to be exasperated.
"Yes, but the question remains: who is who?~"
Valeria snorts and flicks Alejandro's nose for getting too close and overall being a dork. "Well, I'm no saint. If anything, this group contains two devils and one angel as far as I'm concerned."
"Valeria how could you! Rudy's right here... ow! Okay okay I'll stop just-- quit it with the hitting, will you?" Alejandro huffs indignantly and nurses his nose. Chuckling, Rudy lets out a long exhale and turns his face to rest on Valeria's thigh, her skillful hands coming down to run through his hair.
"...I love you both." He hoarsely whispers, lips trembling as his breath and blood levels rise and fall like roller coasters. Giving one another a look that Rudy's beginning to understand, they stay silent and just hold him. His head on Valeria's lap and her hands in his hair as Alejandro holds his side, large and rough palms tenderly stroking up and down his hip. With their gentle and patient ministrations, Rodolfo's heart rate slows into something considerably normal. They tell him how much they love him back in the way they caress and touch him, skin running over skin and fingertips brushing over his fluttering eyelids and parted lips.
"We love you too, Rudy." Their actions say.
"...okay but seriously, who orders tangy pineapple, with a heavy meat sauce?"
"I AM NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN YOU TWO."