A/N : CAMILO IS A GAY TRANS GUY IN THIS SO IF THAT BOTHERS YOU, PLEASE SO NOT COMMENT HATE. IT IS MY HEADCANON. THE PLOT DOES NOT FOCUS ON IT BUT THERE WOULD BE TALK OF DYSPHORIA!
When Luisa had told Mirabel to start with Tio Bruno's tower. To find whatever this terrible vision Bruno had before he left. Mirabel knew it wasn't going to be easy. Just, she did not expect a certain obstacle in the way.
Bruno's door was locked.
It was locked and needed a key to open it.
All the bedrooms in Casita had locks. Yet, Abuela told everyone to leave their doors unlocked in the mornings. A habit of knocking was created. Well, no knock when entering the nursery. Mirabel did not have the privilege of privacy.
Abuela was the only one who owned the keys to the rooms.
Mirabel didn't exactly want to confront Abuela.
"Casita. Can you unlock the door?" Mirabel said in a low voice.
Casita moved its tiles around. Mirabel translated the tune to a simple no. Mirabel harshly twisted the doorknob. She banged the door a couple of times with as much force her little body could muster. There was no budging. What was the point of a magic house if it could not open a door? Mirabel let herself breathe. She needed to relax.
I'm not mad at Casita. I can't let myself be. Even if I have to risk the chance of asking for the keys.
After the events of last night. Mirabel shouts of cracks and a dying candle flame. There was no way Abuela would give Mirabel the keys. Why would Mirabel even need it? The nursery had no locks. Maybe she could say one of the family members asked for it. Mirabel was not a good liar. She gets really sweaty when she's nervous. A give away. Abuela would give the keys to the person herself.
Agustín would get the keys for her if she said she accidently locked a door. Yet, he'd follow her with casual conversations.
Mirabel paced for more options.
Luisa was busy with tasks. Luisa was panicked. She did not want any part in this. Isabela was a big NO for obvious reasons. Julieta would question why Mirabel needs the keys after their conversation last night. Tia Pepa would be hard to predict in mood. She would question Mirabel on why she needs them. Mirabel would lie and Pepa would just bring her to Abuela. Tio Félix would be the best option to simply get them but he's probably tag along in conversation like Agustín. Dolores was good at secrets. She probably already knew what was happening. The question was if she was willing to involve herself.
There was another option. Camilo. Camilo was sometimes unpredictable but he was strangely good at keeping secrets. It must had been from his habit of getting into trouble. He could turn into one of the older adults to get the keys. Then give it back. It may cause just slight confusion but no one would get in much trouble. Maybe Mirabel could use the fact he was the one who wrecked the gift ceremony flowers from playing football as a bargain. Abuela had been really mad at whoever wrecked it. Mirabel had kept quiet as she did not want to see her cousin in trouble.
Mirabel went to Camilo's room. She was greeted by a Camiloless room. It seemed he did not clean up when Abuela told everyone to do it yesterday. If he did, Camilo was quick at messes. The bedroom changed in patterns. Based on the patterns, Camilo was not in a good mood.
Mirabel's plans were already changing to Dolores. After the confrontation with Luisa. Mirabel didn't want to leave her primo in a spiraling despair. Mirabel could spare a few minutes of comfort.
There was movement in the nursery. A flash of bright yellow fabric. Camilo usually went to the nursery to bother Mirabel. Why was he in there with no one else around?
"You know, it's a common opinion that looking through things without their permission is as rude as pointing." Mirabel said as she entered.
Camilo jumped at the sudden appearance. He had been in the middle of a frantic search in one of the cabinets.
"I'm just looking for something." Camilo said.
"Something you couldn't ask me for? Instead of playing thief?" Mirabel added.
Camilo stayed quiet instead of arguing back. He was holding back a big remark. He kept himself restraint. Odd. Mirabel took note of Camilo's hunched shoulder. He was also a few inches shorter. Something that happened when his mood was low. Camilo was upset as she predicted from his room. Camilo must have noticed Mirabel was staring as he crossed his arms over his chest. Mirabel had not been staring at her cousin in any negative way.
She had just become aware of what Camilo needed.
"I think I put it in the dirty laundry because I spilled a drink on it." Mirabel said.
It was a fabric of clothing that was stitched together to hide someone's chest in a way that wouldn't hurt the ribs. It was called a binder. Senora Lydia had made it. She was the best seamstress in the village. Camilo hardly wore it as he used his gift of shapeshifting to hide certain appearances. Mirabel had asked to borrow the binder a week back out of curiosity. It was too small.
Camilo looked through the dirty laundry. The stain from the juice was big. Camilo grimaced at it. He headed to Casita's only bathroom to change into it. Luckily no one was in line.
"You know. It's a common opinion to find it rude to randomly wait for someone outside the bathroom. As it is looking through someone's dresser. Maybe even pointing. Do you need to use it that bad?" Camilo said as he exited.
Mirabel rolled her eyes at the referenced comment.
"No, but I assume you need to after all that food in the morning." Mirabel said.
"Lucky for you I already did."
Gross. Time was wasted in casual bickering. Mirabel needed to lay the request out there.
"I need a favor. I need you to turn into one of the adults to ask Abuela for the room keys." Mirabel said before she backed out. Camilo was caught off guard. He regained compulsure.
"I'm the one who's going down if this goes bad. What's in it for me?" Camilo said. Arms crossed in a form of a somewhat challenge this time. His usual lopsided smirk.
"If you don't, I'll tell Abuela you were the ones who wrecked Isabela's flowers before Antonio's gift ceremony." Mirabel bargain was laid out.
Camilo didn't move an inch. Of course. The ceremony already ended. It went well despite Mirabel's role.
"Why do you need the keys? Tell me and maybe I'll help...WAIT! Is this about the cracks you talked about?"
Time was ticking. Camilo was very much aware. He'd draw this out as long as possible till she admitted the truth.
"I need to sneak into Bruno's tower to find something." Mirabel laid out. She hoped Camilo was still good at keeping secrets.
"I know what I want in return. I want to come along!"
Mirabel lets out an Ugh in annoyance. Of course Camilo does. Though, Mirabel wouldn't mind actual help with this.
"I'll let you tag along if you can answer one question." Mirabel stated.
"What is the oh so grand question?"
"Do you believe me about the cracks?" Mirabel felt her heart pound. Mirabel needed someone to believe her about the cracks. No dancing around the subjects like Luisa. No calling her anxious like Julieta. Not believing in secrets like Abuela, who prayed to Abuelo Pedro instead of residing in the family.
Camilo bounced on the balls of his feet. The conversation seemed personal to him.
"Before you came in shouting like a maniac because of the cracks. My gift acted up. I started shifting like crazy. Then well, I couldn't use my gift without feeling exhausted. Hence why I'm…"
Hence why Camilo wasn't using his gift to appear more masculine. He was taking a break.
"Just. I believe you." Camilo finished.
That's what Mirabel needed to boost herself. She saw Camilo. How uncomfortable he was in his own skin without the gift. She thought of Luisa who was breaking down over her gift fading. The pressure it all held.
Whatever was causing the gifts to act up, Mirabel would find it. She would stop it. If there was a whoever, Mirabel was going to make sure they never hurt her family again. That they run far off into the mountains. Far away from The Encanto. Never to return.
Mirabel couldn't help but smile at the fact someone actually believed her
"Let's go find Abuela." Camilo led the way.
Abuela was found sweeping the pink petals Senorita Perfecta Isabela left in her wake. There was more than usual. It meant Isabela was nervous. Perhaps about tonight's proposal. Camilo guessed anyone would be nervous about getting married. Camilo knew he would be worse.
With Isabela, Camilo was always unsure if he was reading what kind of nervousness it was properly. Actors had to be good at reading emotions.
Mirabel steered Camilo's body away from Isabela's direction.
"Who are you going to shapeshift to?" Mirabel whispered.
Camilo had a few ideas. He shifted into Tia Julieta.
"I think Abuela trusts Tia the most out of all of us." Camilo whispered back.
Mirabel seemed impressed by the smart strategy. Of course, a lot of people tended to underestimate his in-the- moment strategies.
Camilo had been saving his strength throughout the morning. He could keep Julieta form for a while. Still, he was going to keep the conversation with Abuela short and quick.
"Julieta, you seem pale." Abuela's first words.
Camilo straightened himself. He noticed he had been hunched over. A habit.
"I'm just taking a break before heading back to the kitchen to cook." Camilo mimics Julieta's voice. Her voice was always the easiest to mimic. Another reason he chose to turn into her.
"The Guzmáns said they are coming earlier than usual. If you need, I can always send someone to help. Not Agustín. We don't need another kitchen fire."
Abuela was about to start rambling.
"Mama. I need to borrow the keys. I locked my room. I need something inside." Camilo stated with just the right amount of nerve anyone would have.
"Agustín wasn't exactly my first choice for you. I hope he's not rubbing off with his accidents." Abuela took off her chain with the key to her room. No hesitation in the action.
Abuela must really trust Tia Juileta.
"Gracias. I'll be back quickly." Camilo scurried off.
She's not even following me.
Camilo greeted Mirabel by jiggling the keys in triumph in front of her face. Mirabel went to snatch it away. Camilo put it out of reach.
"No, no, no." He wagged his finger in front of her face. "I'm the one who's supposed to be responsible for it."
Abuela's room was a place almost no one entered. Camilo himself had not been in the room for years. It looked so plain compared to even the nursery. There were even three wooden baby cradles in the corner.
Camilo, a master of ghost stories, felt creeped out. The candle illuminated the room completely. Camilo had never been this close to the candle since he was five. During his gift ceremony.
There was the impulsive thought to touch the flame.
The jiggling of keys caught Camilo's attention. Mirabel found Bruno's room key. It had an hourglass design shape on it. Camilo went to snatch it. Mirabel put it out of reach.
"No. No. No. I'm responsible for this one!." Mirabel wagged her finger in Camilo's face. Of course she does.
Camilo goes to return the key to Abuela.
"Julieta told me to return these." Camilo told Abuela in his usual body.
"Thanks, Camilo. I would have rather she returned it herself but it's good I see you. She seemed pale earlier. Maybe you can help her later with cooking. That's something to occupy your time." Abuela requested.
Camilo nodded. He enjoyed cooking with Julieta in general. He would head straight to her when done with his little adventure. Maybe Camilo could sneak in some early dinner like Julieta let him do during breakfast.
Camilo returned to where Mirabel was. Good, she had not abandoned him.
Both cousins climbed Bruno's front stairs. It was unnerving but not as much as Abuela's uncanny valley room. It was more of a scary ghost story. Camilo could handle ghost stories.
Mirabel inserted the key into the hole. It clicked. The door creaked a little too loud as it opened.
The cousins had not entered Bruno's room in years.
This was going to be fun.