Author's Notes: Well, here is chapter 2! Originally I thought I would put up another El Dorado fic between this and chapter 1, but the idea turned out to be lengthier than I'd first thought, and I had people waiting for this, so I prioritised it. x3 Which may I point out, doesn't often happen xD So rejoice! And read on!
Disclaimer: The Road to El Dorado and related awesomeness is © DreamWorks Pictures. However, I do own Miguel's sister and the plot of this fanfic. So no stealy plz thx.
You Fight Like My Sister!
Chapter 2: I have a cunning plan
It was a fairly simple plan. Miguel and Rosa would start up an argument in the street, which would turn into a swordfight and hopefully draw a crowd. Whilst they were distracted, Tulio and his nimble fingers would relieve the crowd of their spare gold. The reason that they'd never done it before was because it required three people to carry out, and they could never really trust any of the other street rogues not to try and take more than their fair share of the profits – or all of them. No one is wary of being conned like conmen.
"So… we start fighting, and you pick pockets?" summarised Miguel after Tulio had outlined the plan to him.
"…Pretty much, yeah," said Tulio. When put like that, the plan seemed too simple, too shaky. It was bound to go wrong. He was just about to tell Miguel to forget it when his friend beamed at him.
"Sounds good to me!"
Tulio breathed a silent sigh of relief. He felt like he could never quite be sure of himself unless Miguel approved, which was why Miguel tended to win arguments between the two (that, and The Face was awfully hard to resist). When Miguel did agree with one of Tulio's schemes (and most of the time, he did), his enthusiasm was such that all things seemed possible, even to Tulio's cautious mind.
Rosa, of course, was thrilled with the plan, and thrilled with the idea that she was being entrusted to help her big brother and his best friend with one of their money-making ventures.
"It'll be great! My swordfighting skills will be so amazing that no one will be able to take their eyes off me!" she declared, dancing about with a sword in her hand. Tulio had to jump back to avoid the point of the blade, and decided that enthusiasm definitely ran in the family.
"Be careful with that, Rosa!" Miguel chided. "And listen." He took her by her shoulders so that she was forced to stop twirling and look up at him. "You can't tell mum and dad about this, all right? They're not allowed to know where the money came from."
"So what will you tell them?" asked Rosa. "If they ask?"
"Um…" Miguel hadn't thought of that. He looked at Tulio, who was always far better at inventing things on the spot.
"Tell them… Tell them that you were paid to run an errand!" supplied Tulio. "For a soldier. Or a nobleman. Take your pick."
"Yeah. I ran an errand for a soldier." Miguel breathed out in relief. It was lucky that he had Tulio to rely on for quick inventions that would get them out of difficult situations. It didn't matter if he was 'dull-brained' so long as he had Tulio with him.
"So when are we doing it? Today?" asked Rosa, wriggling out of Miguel's grip and engaging in another swordfight with the air. Fortunately it was early enough in the morning for the streets to be deserted, so she had plenty of room to spin around, stumble and nearly fall before Tulio caught her halfway. Her face rapidly turned pink – living up to her name – as she disentangled herself and straightened up.
"Are you all right?" Tulio asked her.
"Yeah! Fine!" replied Rosa breathlessly. Miguel just shook his head.
"No, we're not doing it today," he said, "because you still need to practice. People won't be dazzled if you fall over like that during our distraction. We have to keep it going long enough for Tulio to go round the whole crowd."
Rosa stuck her tongue out at him. "I bet I can still fight you into the ground! Come on, big brother, let's duel." She pointed the sword at him.
Tulio laughed at Rosa's attempt at fighting talk. "Yeah, go on, 'big brother'! Let's see if you can win against a girl."
Miguel grinned slyly. "I won against you, didn't I?"
"Oooh, low blow," said Tulio, but he grinned as well.
This time, Tulio was the one to lean against the wall and watch as Miguel and Rosa engaged in combat. He could see that Miguel was going easy on his sister, and that he had to step it up a little as she proved more competent than he expected. Rosa's brow was furrowed in concentration as she parried Miguel's blows with all the strength in her nine-year-old arms. They were already starting to ache, but she was determined to keep it up for as long as she could.
For his part, Miguel found fighting his sister oddly like fighting Tulio – an inexperienced Tulio. His best friend was right, though: Rosa had learnt a remarkable amount in just one day, and he could feel her adapting to his fighting style as they went along, learning to predict some of his moves and thus blocking them better. She'd make a fine swordswoman yet.
After not much longer, however, Rosa suddenly dropped below one of his blows and sat down on the ground. "Okay! Okay! You win for now, I'm tired." She flopped onto her back and let the sword roll out of her slack grip, forcing a startled passer-by to skirt around her as they made their way down the street.
"There's no 'for now' in swordplay!" Miguel told her. "You either win or you lose, and since you're giving up…"
"No!" Rosa began to struggle back up, then gave up and lay back down. "I just – need to catch my breath…"
"Let the lady rest!" said Tulio, stooping to pick up Rosa's sword. "You can do battle with me in the meantime, and rest assured I will not pull my… er… slashes!"
"That's fine with me!" retorted Miguel, and they began fighting. The fight lasted until Rosa decided she had recovered, with neither boy willing to concede the duel. Then Tulio took over with Rosa, helping her to improve her technique and giving her pointers on fighting Miguel, which was an odd experience for Miguel as he heard Tulio describing things he wasn't even aware of doing in battle. He realised, though, that he could probably explain Tulio's fighting style equally well. Afterwards, Rosa sat down to rest in the sunshine whilst the two boys practiced, and so on until sunset brought an end to their activities.
The next few days were much the same, though with Tulio and Miguel taking time out to swindle a few pesetas out of some particularly clueless local thugs. Rosa was grudgingly allowed to watch, but not allowed to say anything on pain of a very severe punishment. She knew better than to ask to join in.
Finally, Tulio pronounced Rosa ready to put their plan into action. It was Friday, which meant that the actual day would be Saturday, and market day. This could be good or bad depending on their luck: good, because more people meant more pockets to pick, and bad because more people also meant a higher probability of being found out. Tulio explained this all to them as they walked home that evening; Rosa nodded solemnly, but Miguel just shrugged it off. "That's what makes it fun!"
Tulio sighed. Enthusiasm was all very well, but it would be nice sometimes if Miguel appreciated the seriousness of things, the risk involved. "What I'm saying is that we have to be careful."
"And we will be!" replied Miguel cheerfully. "But honestly, Tulio, what could go wrong?"
"Hundreds of things," said Tulio, and began to list them.
Nine o'clock on Saturday morning found Miguel ambling around the edge of the sea of market stalls, pretending to browse the wares on display. Any minute now, Rosa was going to come up to him and start a fight. He wasn't sure how, exactly; Tulio had whispered something in her ear, which meant that it could be practically anything. If it was something lewd, Miguel would kill Tulio for corrupting his sister. Still, the element of unpredictability meant it would seem more genuine. Miguel hoped Rosa would come soon; some of the stall-holders were giving him suspicious looks because of the sword in his belt, and because he kept wandering around the same area. He had to stay on the outskirts so that they had space for the swordfight.
"Hey, you!"
Miguel jumped at the shout, having been caught up in his thoughts. He turned to see Rosa standing a few feet away, and managed not to show any signs of relief. It was fortunate that all the cons he'd done with Tulio – even the unsuccessful ones – had improved his acting skills.
"What?" he asked as Rosa stormed over, sounding as annoyed as possible. She was wearing a pretty, un-patched dress, in order to look like someone of decent social standing and not just a peasant girl. No one would bother to watch a fight between two lowly street urchins. It made her look older, as well; Miguel just hoped it wouldn't get dirtied in the swordfight.
"You! You broke my sister's heart!" Rosa looked furious, and he silently approved of her acting skills – right before she slapped him across the face.
Miguel's hand flew up to his red cheek, and he didn't need to fake the look of indignation that spread over his face. He vowed to get back at Tulio for thinking this up – though Rosa looked like she was enjoying herself, too. "What invention is this? I have never met your sister!" Miguel cried.
"You mean you don't remember her, you unfaithful heartbreaker! Have you charmed so many women that their faces blur into one?" The loud dispute was beginning to attract attention as shoppers turned to watch the commotion.
Miguel was slightly shocked by the words coming out of his sister's mouth. He'd like to think that Tulio had told her to say all this, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Rosa was making at least some of it up. What was more, it was quite possible that she had learnt these things from listening to himself and Tulio.
"I can assure you that I have never broken a single heart in my life!" Miguel widened his eyes at Rosa to signal her to move backwards so that they would have more room. She got the message and began to back away, snorting to show what she thought of his protests. "And what's more," continued Miguel, advancing and closing the distance, "if your looks are anything to judge by then I doubt your sister is comely enough for my taste!"
Rosa gasped with outrage, even flushing slightly, and Miguel had an idea that she wasn't pretending any more either. "Why, you rogue!" she shouted. "I have a mind to teach you a lesson… with this!" She suddenly darted to one side and retrieved her sword from where they had concealed it earlier, behind one of the many fountains that decorated the town square. "On your guard!"
It's 'en garde', thought Miguel, but now wasn't the time to correct her wording. "If that's the way you want it, then so be it," he said, and drew his own sword. "We duel!"
They launched into battle, and Miguel noted out of the corner of his eye that the loud clash of metal was drawing yet more onlookers; they now had quite a crowd. Miguel searched for Tulio's figure among them, and paid for his lapse in attention with a badly-blocked lunge from Rosa that sent him stumbling backwards. "Careful!" he hissed at her. Miguel upped the force of his attack, driving her back, until her foot caught in the hem of her dress and she tripped, ripping the garment as she fell. Miguel tried to keep his face impassive as he pointed his sword at her. "On your feet!" He was aware that the crowd was yelling abuse at him for attacking a young lady, and it was only a matter of time before someone came to help Rosa up.
Then she was on her feet again, expression dismayed – what would their mother say about the tear? – but managing to turn the situation to their advantage. "You scoundrel!" she cried. "Can you not involve yourself in a situation without ruining something?" They both fought harder and faster, with the eyes of half the marketplace on them.
"Hey! That's them! It's those kids from before!"
The shout made both Rosa and Miguel freeze, which was a fatal mistake, as it only confirmed what the guard had suspected. Miguel could see him at the forefront of the spectators, pointing an accusing and triumphant figure at the fair-haired siblings. Other guards were turning, taking notice – and then, even worse:
"They've got our swords! And there's the brat that stole them!"
The finger this time was pointed at Tulio, who stood stock still next to a woman whose purse he had been about to take. He put on his most innocent expression. "Who, me?"
Unfortunately, it didn't work, as a man nearby checked his belt and gave a cry of alarm. "My purse! It's gone! Thief!"
There was no time for improvisation; Tulio started running, pushing his way through the gathered masses, and as he reached Miguel and Rosa, they ran with him. Once they reached the other side of the square, Tulio ducked into a side alley, and the other two followed him. It didn't matter whether or not they knew where they were going; every time there was a turning, they took it, and all the time, Miguel could hear the footsteps of the guards in hot pursuit. He caught Rosa's hand and pulled her along behind him; she was flagging, already tired from the swordfight, but she kept running without complaint, and Miguel thought that the footfalls were growing fainter – were they? Another turn was made, and another, and Miguel had to strain his ears to hear their pursuers now. They were getting away!
Encouraged, he put on another spurt of speed, and Rosa struggled to do the same. They were in an entirely unfamiliar area of the city now, but it didn't matter; they could find their way back later. As long as they were home by sunset, their mother wouldn't worry unduly. The torn dress was another matter, but it could be mended, and Miguel was confident that Tulio would think of an excuse for them to use.
At last they collapsed, in a dank, cobbled alley lined by houses, with a washing line stretched overhead. Miguel doubled over, gasping, and Rosa sat down completely without caring about the state of her dress. Tulio leant against a wall, also panting hard. Miguel listened out for the sound of running feet, but all he heard was his own heartbeat, pumping at twice its usual rate. He couldn't stop a grin from spreading across his face. "Yes! We did it! That was great!" He straightened up as his breathing began to slow, and asked Tulio, "How much did we get?"
Tulio was grinning as well. "Loads!" He pulled out a few small purses and no small amount of coins from his pockets. There was also a pretty brooch, which he presented to Rosa with a bow. "Your spoils, milady." Rosa took the brooch and gazed at it reverently.
"Once we get home, we can divide it all up properly," said Tulio. His smile faded and he added, "But we'll have to steer clear of the marketplace from now on."
"Oh, only for a few days," said Miguel dismissively. "They'll forget our faces soon enough. Besides, this lot will last us ages!" He gestured at the loot.
"Well… maybe," agreed Tulio reluctantly. He looked around with a thoughtful frown. "You know, I think I might know where we are. More or less. Let's try going this way." He started in what seemed to Miguel to be a random direction, but Miguel followed him happily enough, reasoning that if they got lost, Tulio would be able to get them back on track. He had done before.
"By the way," said Miguel as they walked, "I have a bone to pick with you about the things you told Rosa to say to me. Apparently I'm an 'unfaithful heartbreaker'?" He glanced sidelong at his friend.
"What?" Either Tulio was genuinely confused by this, or he was doing a very good job of pretending. "I told her to say that you owed her money!"
"What?" Both boys stared at Rosa, who tried and failed to look innocent. "Rosa, you little minx!" said Miguel. He went to give her a push which she dodged, and danced away giggling. "That's the last time you help us out with a plan!" he threatened.
"No way!" said Tulio. "She was great, you know she was. And she'll be especially good for the next idea I have in mind…"