The evening hung heavy over everyone's heads as they tried to process the battle that had taken place between Tzekel‑Kan's sorcerous stone jaguar and the two now mortal men. Thanks to her new friends' agility and cunning, Chel was safe. The town witnessed in horror the attack from their disgraced high-priest upon their gods, before carrying away their favorite to shower him in praise and welcome; leaving a less charismatic god and temple thief to return to their dwelling. There, they solidified their plan. They were to leave El Dorado in the morning, with nothing but their boat, their gold, and each other. Not the plan that Tulio had wanted, despite previous statements. He sat with stubborn pride on his face and a guilty lump in his throat. Chel sat with him in the dark, holding his hand in attempts to comfort the now friendless conman. The near run in with death phased him very little, compared to the news of his partner's decision to remain in Paradise. Chel was made aware that Miguel had discovered their secret. Not that she cared, really... but it wasn't her intention to tear the Spaniards asunder. Falling for Tulio was never a part of her own plan, but as they've all come to learn, plans change.
It wasn't much later when a vague silhouette of Miguel pushed the curtain aside and appeared in the doorway. The two looked up from their seats, not saying a word. Tulio's eyes locked with the other man's briefly until he spoke.
"Don't mind me, I'll be sleeping in the other room."
Chel squeezed Tulio's hand as she stood, hugging her arms and glancing sadly at Miguel before brushing past him out of the temple. The blonde felt shame as she passed, realizing that his only disdain with the girl was pure envy. Another sin to add to his record. Who could blame her?
"Miguel please," Tulio forced as he rose to Miguel's eye level. "I honestly don't know what you heard, but you're bei-"
"How long has it been going on, anyway?" Miguel interrupted, voice calm, eyes narrow.
"What?"
"I was just wondering, was it the whole time? Because I thought we had a deal."
"For Christ's sake, is that what this is about?" Miguel began walking towards his assumed half of the house. Tulio followed him. "I'm sorry, okay?! I don't know what happened, I never meant for her to be with me over you!" He wasn't really sure what he had meant to do. It was another poor decision made out of selfishness. He was a man in the habit of taking desirable things in life, including women. Chel was a different breed of girl. Chel the accomplice. Chel the deviant. Chel the complete knockout. But Chel was no Miguel...
"It's not that," Miguel said, trying to roll the tears out his eyes.
"Then what, what should I be apologizing for, oh mighty one?"
The shorter man whipped around, quickly losing control of his emotions.
"You don't have to say anything, Tulio, it's quite evident that you only care about yourself." Miguel's counterpart pressed a hand over his eyes.
"Miguel, my god, what are you talking about..."
"All this time you've only cared about your money!" Miguel cried, "it was never about El Dorado, it was never even about Spain, you just wanted to take what you could from these people and go live out your life with your precious gold, it was always all for you!"
"Not for me, Miguel, for us!" Tulio barked with desperation. Miguel was silent, his expression softening as the other man firmly took hold of his shoulders. "Don't you get it?!"
With that, Tulio only allowed himself a few seconds to plan his next move before leaning forward and pressing his lips to Miguel's. A move he had meant to make many times in the past but never could. Whether it be Spanish rule, the eye of God, the blurred reciprocation, or just plain nerves. But much like many of Tulio's plans, they were hardly plans. Just playing things by the skin of his teeth. Nothing ever scared him like this did.
Tulio pulled away to reveal a stunned Miguel. All anger had drained from his face. Tulio's hands slowly slipped off of his partner's shoulders.
"Yes, I want money," Tulio courageously continued to the dead air, "of course that's what I want. With my share Id-... retire, I'd give up conning, I could finally stop running! Stop worrying what fresh Hell tomorrow will bring! Instead, I could... settle down, have a real life. We both could." Tulio's blue eyes burned into Miguel's. With little thought, he brought one hand back up to gently cup Miguel's face, feeling the course whiskers against the base of his palm. It took all of his fortitude to mutter his next confession. "I want you to have the life you deserve... I just wanted to be the one to give it to you."
Suddenly Tulio's protective nature made more sense. A multi-year partnership peppered with impure thoughts, and Miguel had never once considered the possibility of Tulio loving him the whole time. And though nothing could stop Miguel's insatiable adventurous streak, settling down suddenly didn't sound so bad. Tulio took his hand away, using it to run his thumb and fingers down his cheeks as he stepped away. He let out a tiny huff of a laugh, unable to believe what he was finally saying out loud. He felt a pang of embarrassment, his emotions shifting from vulnerable to defensive. He turned back to Miguel.
"But if you wanna throw it all away, then stay. Be my guest," he said bitterly. Miguel was at a loss for words. He kept a strong composure, still combatting the radiating sickness of jealousy as it was introduced to shock, guilt, and pride. He would not allow Tulio to manipulate him. He would not collapse into the other man's arms and sob. No matter how much he may have wanted to. Instead, he would respond with dignity and poise. He would meet Tulio's disclosure with feelings of his own. Reasonability. But before he could push the words from his mouth, Tulio started for the door.
"The place is all yours," Tulio spat begrudgingly. A statement only Miguel could sense was laced with sorrow. "I'll be back in the morning for my share." With that he left. Several daunting moments of silence passed before Miguel stepped back into the wall and slid down to the floor. He felt like a coward. Like he had just let the greatest thing he'd ever had slip through his fingers. The greatest thing he could have had. All due to petty jealousy. He himself would have gladly pursued Chel and it wouldn't have meant anything close to what the two men had. He dressed his wrist in red sleeve before using it to wipe away tears. He began to feel the emptiness of his decision. His fate could be forever sealed, perhaps in life and after. And all for what? Would any of it be the same on his own? Miguel regretted not telling Tulio earlier. Regretted his naivety and useless denial. Now, he was left to the future of his lonely divinity, along with the romantic and haunting conceptions of what could have been. There lied the eternal punishment, not from the God above but from the one within the walls of his own flesh.