Andre cleaned himself up quickly before running a bath for his traumatized lover. He felt like an absolute idiot for not realizing that Ramiro was a pervert. He could only imagine what his poor little mouse had just been through. It was lucky he had forgotten his money, otherwise who knows how far it would have gone.
The water in the tub slowly turned pink from the blood covering Bruno's skin as Andre cleaned him. Bruno sat still with a vacant look in his eyes not even flinching when the rag passed over the cut on his leg or touched the bruises on his back.
Eyeing the injuries, the captor hoped his lover didn't hold any of this against him. He was just trying to make things how they should be. But he was beginning to think maybe he had taken it a little too far. He had to fix this.
"Life outside of the encanto is very different than you are used to," He began. "In the encanto everyone works hard to live together in peace. Everyone plays a part in the community and helps those around them. But out here, it's different." Despite not getting an acknowledgement of being listened to he continued. "Life out here is dangerous. Everyone lives to survive on there own. It's every man for himself."
He rubbed the rest of the blood off his lover's face, then gently touched his cheek coaxing him to turn his head so that they could look each other in the eyes. "There are a lot of dangerous men like Ramiro out there," he explained, "It's why I can't risk you escaping. It's why I tried to teach you how to listen to me. One wrong decision, one wrong move, could be the end of us both. You must be able to do exactly as I say when I say it. Ramiro was my mistake, but I promise it will not happen again. I will protect you."
Bruno's eyes watered, he was scared of what that all meant. Scared that it was so truly dangerous outside the encanto. He thought back to his experience outside the encanto so far. They had traveled nonstop. They didn't stop in town at all and Andre had urged the horse faster when they had gotten near people. It was dangerous and Andre had been trying to protect him this whole time. It made sense, even his own father had been murdered before the encanto was created.
Tears dripped into the water and Bruno too a shuddering breath. He missed home and his family. He was still worried about them, but he had to believe they were okay because anything else would be unbearable. They were likely better off without him. His visions caused unhappiness and turmoil anyway.
Once Bruno was cleaned up, Andre gave him some clothes to wear. They were too big; the sleeves and pant legs had to be rolled up. But it was nice to not be naked. The larger man settled on the couch and had Bruno lay down with his head on Andre's lap.
Long rough fingers ran through the smaller man's hair. It was hard to relax at first, but exhaustion made his body relax and the petting became soothing. Not long after, he finally fell asleep and Andre remained there watching over him. Until there was a loud knock on the door.
Luckily, it did not wake his little mouse. He gentle moved off the couch and replaced himself with a pillow, then answered the door. It was one of his friends, Dante. "Hey man! Why haven't you been around to visit?" He exclaimed pushing past and into the house. Andre allowed him in and shut the door.
"Keep your voice down," Andre answered annoyed, "He's sleeping."
"Oh yeah," His friend said lowering his voice and walking over to the couch to take a look. "I heard you came back with someone. It's Bruno isn't it?" He questioned then added, "Older, yet cuter than I expected."
"I'm glad you came," The carpenter said ignoring Dante's comments. "I have a problem I need to take care of and I need you to stay here with him in case he tries to take off."
"Stole him instead of wooing him I see," His friend laughed.
Dante was Andre's closest friend. They had met when he had came to buy the land and build this house. Dante was also a part of a criminal gang that often did petty crimes, and occasionally big ones. Andre had used his own skills many times for the gang, from building to intimidation. It was how Andre had secured enough money to get his land.
"Just watch him," Andre ordered opening the bedroom door to work on getting the body out of the house. He set a blanket out to wrap it in.
"Damn man," Dante giggled, "That Ramiro?"
"Yeah," He responded hotly. "Turns out you were right. He's an asshole." Andre kicked the body hard for emphasis.
"What'd he do? Touch your boyfriend?" Dante received an angry look in response and snorted, "This keeps getting funnier by the second."
"It'll be less funny if I can't get this body out before Bruno wakes up." Andre hissed, dragging it to the door. "I don't want him to see it. He's scared enough. Hence my problem."
"You might have more problems than that," Dante countered smiling. Then made his face look serious. "There I was minding my own business- selling drugs -when, the the tallest most gorgeous woman I have ever laid eyes on approached me," He immediately got off track, "Seriously man, she was as tall as you, maybe an a bit taller. Damn, I could have climbed her like a tree. But then Maria would have my head, sometimes I hate being married."
Andre managed to drag the body out the back before closing the door to continue the conversation. "Get to the point," He stressed, knowing where this might be going. As amusing as Dante was, he was bad for serious situations.
"Right, so she and this other girl, who was equally beautiful. But in like a different way. She seemed graceful, yet had this super colorful bluish dress that said maybe she likes to party." Andre was getting it. The Madrigal's were looking for them.
"Was anyone else with them?" He probed.
"Yeah, I saw them leave town with three other people. A scrawny boy, girl with glasses, and another hot chica with big eyes." Based on the descriptions, Andre could guess it was the youngest Madrigals. He could work with that.
"What did you tell them?" He prodded.
"Well, they asked if I had seen your boy toy. And I said what everyone else in town said . I hadn't see anyone like that. No ones gonna snitch if they know what's good for them." Dante assured. "They know he's with you and that you're my main man. So not too big of a deal."
The Madrigals were being more persistent than he thought they would. "I'm going to need you to get your gang together tonight."
"You know I like to show who's boss. How bad we gettin?" Dante asked smiling approvingly.
"Deadly."
.=.
Nearly two hours after Andre had gone to dispose of the body, Bruno woke to a thin man wearing a brown ruana standing over him, staring. He really wanted men to stop staring at him. He sat up and averted his gaze, his heart raced.
The man hummed looking him up and down and deadpanned, "Tempting." Bruno started to tremble. Not again, please not again. Andre promised. Suddenly, the man burst out laughing. "I'm just fucking with you. I'm married." The man flopped down on the couch next to him, where Andre had been sitting. "I'm Dante, Andre's best friend," He winked but Bruno didn't see still looking away.
He didn't know who this person was or if he was telling the truth. It all could be some kind of trick. What if the house had been invaded and this man had killed the only person protecting him. Bruno could hear his heart thundering in his ears. Dread filled his mind and he began to feel sick and dizzy. He could vaguely hear the stranger talking to him, but it was muddled.
"Hey, are you okay?" Dante asked noticing the smaller man looking pale and a bit sweaty. He grabbed Bruno's shoulder to get his attention when he didn't answer. Bruno moved away and stood up. His chest was heaving like he couldn't get enough air, it felt like he was being choked.
"Oh shit," Dante said standing up. "Maybe you should sit down. I think you're having a panic attack or something." Bruno could no longer tell what was going on around him. He couldn't breath, he was going to die. Dante grabbed him by the shoulders and eased him onto the couch.
Bright green illuminated Bruno's eyes. "What the fuck?" Dante stepped away in shock until the smaller man's eyes returned to normal and he began to hyperventilate again. Andre came in at that moment.
"What happened," Andre asked exasperated.
"I don't know!" The other man answered looking on as Andre held Bruno close petting his hair. Bruno laid his forehead on the other man's shoulder. He was here, alive. If Andre was here, no one would touch him. He was safe. His breathing evened out and he let his captor squeeze him tightly.
"Dude," Dante finally said after some silence. "Something freaky happened. His eyes changed bright green. Was that his gift?" The thin man paced and stuttered a little, "I-I mean, I thought you were just fucking with me when you told me all those years ago. B-but it's true. I saw it. Holy shit!"
"His eyed changed?" Andre questioned. He lifted Bruno's head in his hands. "What did you see?" Dante listened in fascination.
"Death," Bruno said in tears. "I-I can't." He sobbed.
"Yes you can," Andre said sternly. "Come on, who dies?"
"I don't know, I didn't recognize him. He had deep cuts in his throat like a wild animal attacked him." Andre pulled his beloved back into a hug to comfort him.
"That is freaky shit," Dante breathed out. "Is that like the future or something?"
"We'll talk later Dante, Tonight," Andre responded. "Meet me here and bring Maria. I need someone to watch him."
"Yeah, sure, whatever you need," Dante agreed in awe then left.
.=.
The rat made little progress in making it back to the encanto. It ran along the road following the scent of the family, but the scent was fading, and it's tiny legs could only make it so far. Being out in the open also made the rat nervous. Which was justified when a harpy eagle swooped down and grabbed it causing the rat to squeek in terror.
The ground got further and further away as the rat watched the road and trees fly past. They flew following the road and then a sharp turn in to the mountains. The rat was surprised to recognize home. With some determination it bit into the eagle's leg causing it to let go.
The rat landed hard on the branch of a tall tree. Not wanting to be picked up again, it climbed down quickly and made a bee line for home. It didn't take long for the rat to see Antonio, the most sensible Madrigal of the house. It scurried up to him and crawled up his leg.
"Hi there," Antonio said letting the rat sit on his hand.
"Thank goodness!" The rat said huffing and puffing from all the running. "I need your help!"
"What's wrong?" the little boy asked growing concerned.
"Someone stole my custodian," he rats exclaimed. Felix came out calling for his son for dinner.
"Papi, what's a custodian?" Antonio asked.
"It's like a caregiver or a parent," Felix tried to explain. "Why?"
"This rat is saying someone stole it's custodian." Felix looked at it for a long time before it clicked in his head.
"That's not one of Bruno's rats is it? " The rat nodded in excitement. Felix's eyes widened and in a hurry he grabbed Antonio, who held the rat, and ran indoors to get everyone's attention.
When Pepa, Julieta, Agustin and Abuela gathered with Felix, Antonio, and the rat; the little boy was urged to translate.
The rat squeaked incessantly. "It says it knows where tio Bruno is," Antonio said excitedly.
"We have to go get him! And the kids too!" Pepa exclaimed with anticipation. A dark rainy cloud hovered over her head.
"It says it knows where Mirabel and the others are too!"
"We should go," Agustin agreed with Pepa.
"No," Abuela said. "We cannot leave the town unprotected."
"Then what do we do mama?" Julieta asked concerned for the safety of the children.
"Antonio can send one of his animals with a note," she decided, "That's all we can do." Everyone was dejected. Pepa's cloud thundered and rain fell soaking her. The worry for her children weighed heavily on her mind. Felix rubbed her back trying to comfort her. Agustin and Julieta held each other close with worry.
"Have faith," Abuela encouraged, "You all have raised the children well. They can handle this." She didn't quite believe this herself, but she at least believed in Mirabel. She had saved the miracle; she could save Bruno.