A/N: Alejandro uses his first Influence to help the Madrigals and the family he left behind begin to heal.
Chapter 7: It's Hard to Know That You Still Care
Encantober Prompt Day 15: Healing
It took Bruno a painfully long time to make it back to the stables, situated on the rough dirt road to the mountains. The stables belonged to Alejandro's brother and sister in law, the Rojas family. Lucía's sister Sofia had married Lorenzo Rojas after a passionate and tumultuous courtship that had been the talk of the town for weeks, and they now had five children and owned and cared for the majority of the horses and donkeys in the Encanto, though many of the farmers owned their own smaller livestock. Their home and their barn were the closest buildings to La Casa Madrigal, and their grazing fields stretched out behind them, toward the mountains.
Unfortunately for Bruno (and for the rest of the villagers), the barn door had swung open during Casita's collapse, and nearly all of the Rojas animals - horses, donkeys, goats, even chickens - had panicked in fear and raced into the surrounding jungle, following the animals escaping Antonio's room. Lorenzo, his sons, and his brothers were all currently searching the jungle for them and for Mirabel.
The only horse left was Itziar, a stubborn, middle-aged mare that loved food more than adventure and was thrilled that she had the spilled feed in the barn to herself.
During Casita's collapse, Lucía had been in the middle of an impromptu story-time session, and had evacuated the village children with her to the cornfields behind her father's shop. She'd spent the past few hours returning the children to their frantic parents and reassuring Josefina. She'd tucked her daughter into bed and made her way back across town, where she was currently sitting with Sofia in the Rojas kitchen, sipping on coffee and discussing the events of the evening, currently unaware that Mirabel had disappeared.
And now, Bruno had realized there was only one horse left to borrow, and was currently pacing outside the barn in the shadows. He would occasionally stop and step forward, with his head lifted high, only to freeze and shrink back into the shadows again. Whatever he was thinking he was thinking internally, so Alejandro had no way of knowing what his hold up was.
Alejandro kept flitting between Bruno in the shadows of the barn and Lucía at Sofia's kitchen table, and as he did so, a vague plan began to form in his mind.
When Lucía offered to tidy the barn for Sofia, Alejandro smiled, his soul filling with a hope and excitement he had not felt in years.
If he could have, Alejandro would have been tapping his foot impatiently. As he was floating, he had to settle for tapping his fingers impatiently on his arm. Lucía had nearly finished her work in the barn - wrangling Itziar away from the spilled feed, cleaning it up, tidying the stalls - and Bruno hadn't approached her at all. He could tell the man was considering it, first approaching, then receding back into the shadows. He knew Bruno wanted to seek out and help Mirabel, he could tell Bruno wanted to use Itziar to get to her - but he was struggling to overcome that fear.
The fear of a tiny woman who was no more than an inch shorter than himself, and who was currently talking to a horse in a baby voice.
"Mercy," Alejandro whispered.
The butterfly appeared at his shoulder.
"I think - I think I should use my first Influence," he said softly. There was no real need to whisper - it wasn't as though Bruno or anyone else could hear him - but the man was so skittish Alejandro had the irrational fear that if he spoke too loudly, Bruno would bolt.
Mercy fluttered and said nothing.
Alejandro looked at the butterfly. "Ah…any thoughts?"
Mercy flew before him. "Your Influence is yours to use, Alejandro Moreno. If you are searching for guidance, consider these questions: Do you think asking Lucía for help aligns with Bruno's personality and desires? Do you think this meeting would help heal the Madrigals and your family?"
Alejandro mulled it over. He knew Bruno wanted to help his family. Asking Lucía to borrow Itziar would be uncomfortable for him, but Alejandro knew Bruno was more than willing to do things he didn't want to do for the sake of helping his family. He was fairly certain Bruno could be influenced to approach Lucía. And he knew his wife. If Lucía saw how earnest he was, how desperately he wanted to find Mirabel - her compassionate heart would win out and despite her worries of what Sofia would say, Lucía would loan him the horse.
Bruno needed to get to Mirabel. And if all three of them - Alma, Bruno, and Mirabel - had the opportunity to talk, to be together, away from the eyes of the town - Alejandro knew that would be a huge step in healing the Madrigal family. While Bruno could wait until Lucía left and steal Itziar, Alejandro doubted he'd get very far on her unless he knew how to handle her. Ten years in the walls didn't do the man any favors in regard to physical activity, specifically - horseback riding. And Lucía playing a part, however small, in their reunion - it would be the perfect opportunity to draw his family and the Madrigals closer together. The Madrigals helped Lucía and Josefina, as they helped everyone else in the town, but at the moment the two families weren't particularly close. Alejandro was fairly certain the Madrigals still felt guilty for not being able to save him.
"Yes. And yes." Alejandro said confidently. But even as he spoke, he wondered. Using an Influence was a huge deal. This seemed like the perfect opportunity - and yet - he doubted.
Bruno chose that moment to knock over the pitchfork propped against the barn door, which then knocked into the box of horseshoes and bucket of nails sitting on the workbench, also beside the barn door. He'd been leaning over the table, peering around the door, silently watching Lucía coo to Itziar as she brushed the dust off her hands, and he lost his balance. He froze at the clatter and pressed himself into the shadows as Lucía cautiously peered around the open doors.
Bruno held his breath and stayed completely still.
Alejandro sighed, and made his decision.
He focused and his hand glowed golden with the gift of divine Influence. He touched Bruno's shoulder, feeling warmth flowing steadily from his spirit, and Alejandro spoke.
'Go to her. Show yourself. Ask her for help. Borrow the horse.'
His voice was his own, and yet - it was tinged with the warmth and authority that Mercy's own voice held whenever he spoke.
Bruno's shoulders relaxed slightly, but he still hesitated - and Alejandro thought of Lucía, of her kindness and her steady presence and her calming personality, of the way she looked for the best in others and always sought to understand them. If anyone would help the Prodigal Prophet of the Encanto - it would be her.
'Ask her, Bruno. Look at her. She is kind. She will help you. Go.'
Bruno took a deep breath, his hood still covering his face, and stepped forward.
Alejandro's first Influence faded, spent.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Ahhhhh!"
Alejandro didn't think it was possible but Bruno's shriek was even higher in pitch than Lucía's. They both jumped back from each other, Lucía startled by the hooded man appearing from the shadows, Bruno startled by Lucía's screech and her brandishing her lantern like some sort of weapon in self-defense.
Well.
This was going great.
"I mean - uh - ah - " Bruno straightened and cleared his throat, putting his hands awkwardly on his hips. "I require your fastest steed." His voice was deep and confident and disguised as Hernando's.
Alejandro's shoulders slumped and his spirit slowly sank toward the ground as they continued their awkward, stilted, back and forth.
"Who - who are you?"
"I am Hernando!" Bruno announced dramatically.
"Seriously?" Alejandro murmured to Mercy, who was perched on his shoulder. "He's - he's seriously going with Hernando right now." He cringed and shielded his eyes with his transparent hand, wanting to look away and yet - unable to do so. He had to witness the results of his first Influence.
"You can Influence a man to action, but you can't always predict the manner in which he approaches said action," Mercy said. He sounded amused.
Alejandro groaned as Lucía attempted to hide a skeptical laugh and politely turned down 'Hernando's' request to borrow the horse.
"She would've given her to Bruno Madrigal!" Alejandro cried to Mercy, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "She would've loaned Itziar to someone looking to help find Mirabel! But I don't blame her for not giving her sister's last horse to a mysterious whacko who refuses to show his face, claims his name is Hernando, and demands her 'fastest steed'. Aaauuuughhh!" He waved his arms through the air in frustration. "Mercy!"
Mercy flapped beside him, unperturbed by Alejandro's frantic flailing.
"Patience, Alejandro. Don't be so quick to doubt them. Let's see what happens next, mmm?"
Bruno had taken to pleading for the horse, his voice losing its confidence and reverting to its familiar, quiet rasp. He rubbed the back of his neck, nervous, and in doing so, pulled his hood away from his face.
"Look," Mercy said, landing lightly on Alejandro's shoulder once again, his touch feather-light.
"Bruno?!" Lucía gasped. "Bruno?!" She repeated again, her voice getting louder and more shrill with each word, as she recognized the missing prophet. "Bruno Madrigal?!"
Alejandro looked up, hope lifting his spirit.
"Shhhh shhh shhh shush!" Bruno's eyes darted around frantically, holding his hands up to placate her. "Don't scream. Please don't scream. I've had a very – very trying day and I really don't need to deal with the whole 'mob of pitchforks and torches' thing right now."
Alejandro's mouth curved up into a smile - his first genuine smile untinged by grief or regret in years - as he watched them interact.
It was painfully awkward at first, with Lucía apologizing profusely for making noise attempting to kick the fallen pitchfork away, and Bruno attempting to answer her questions with the fewest amount of words and smallest amount of information possible.
When Lucía bit her lip and re-introduced herself and offered her hand to shake, Alejandro grinned.
It was working!
And then Bruno stumbled awkwardly, again, over his explanation of why he wanted the horse, and began to panic when he looked up and Lucía was no longer in front of him.
But Alejandro wasn't worried. He knew Lucía would help him. He knew Lucía would loan Bruno the horse.
And as he stood beside Lucía and watched Bruno ride away, he was filled with gratitude - toward Bruno, for taking the step to seek out help so that he, in turn, could seek out and help his niece - toward Lucía, for offering that help, for being the generous and compassionate person he knew she could be - and he was filled with gratitude that his first attempt to Influence had not ended in total disaster.
Mercy did a little flip before him, and Alejandro could swear there was pride in the spirit's voice as he spoke. "Well done, Alejandro Moreno. Well done. Your first Influence was well used."
It was tempting - extraordinarily tempting - to use another Influence in the hours and days that followed.
But if Alejandro was saving his last Influence in order to accompany Lucía after her death, that meant he had only one left. And he had to save it, to store it up and use it at the exact right moment for maximum impact.
Thankfully, Influencing Bruno to approach Lucía for the horse started a chain of events that allowed the families to begin their intertwining paths of healing, together.
Bruno found Alma and Mirabel, showing up at the tail end of Alma's confession and apology to Mirabel. Alma shared the truth of Pedro's death, how hard it had been for her, and the depth of her grief. Mirabel, like the beautiful masterpiece she was, began to help piece her Abuela's heart back together with the golden bonds of compassion, understanding, and forgiveness.
Alejandro watched as Alma embraced Bruno, as she urged him to come home, as his family welcomed him home with tears and open arms, as Dolores visibly relaxed at his appearance, and as Alma publicly apologized to her familia - and to Bruno - in front of the crowd of villagers waiting to rebuild Casita.
Alejandro watched as the town and family worked together to sift through the wreckage of a lost miracle, Bruno's awkwardness and clumsiness making Alejandro hover anxiously nearby.
Alejandro watched as Itziar wandered away in the direction of the stables, annoyed that Bruno had forgotten her and hoping that Lucía would find her before it affected her relationship with the Madrigals. (But he was not wasting an Influence on a wandering horse. Especially one that was wandering toward home.)
He watched as Lucía approached Bruno, as they found Itziar together, as Lucía explained everything about Bruno borrowing Itziar to Sofia, as the Madrigals began talking over lunch.
He watched, tension growing in his soul as he overheard the Madrigals discussing where Bruno had been for ten years - and why - and he fretted as they argued over where to stay as their home was rebuilt. He watched as Lucía overheard as she helped herself to coffee from the table nearby, as she approached with her father and daughter, and as José offered his home to the Madrigals - the entire family of twelve invited to stay with their small family of three.
"Accept," Alejandro chanted under his breath, hovering around the huddle of Madrigals considering José Hernandez' offer. "Accept, accept, accept." He knew he could not Influence them just by saying the words, but willing it to happen - putting it out there - it couldn't hurt, could it? It was almost too good to be true; this offer, their potential acceptance -
He caught the tail end of José muttering to his daughter. " - don't think two bedrooms will be enough, mi querida," he said softly.
Alejandro moved closer.
She nodded resolutely. "I'll clean up Alejandro's studio."
José placed his hand on Lucía's shoulder. "Are you certain, mi amorita? If we offer, you cannot back out."
Lucía took another fortifying breath. "I am certain." She nodded decisively, and her father squeezed her shoulder, pride and affection on his face.
Alejandro froze in place.
His studio.
She would clean up his studio.
It would be the first time she'd entered it since his death.
"Thank you again, for your generous offer," Alma said. "We will stay with Señor Hernandez and his family, at least for tonight."
A strange, bittersweet warmth spread through Alejandro's soul, and he knew then, without a doubt, that he'd used his first Influence wisely.
Lucía had taken the first steps toward healing, and so had the Madrigals.
The road to healing was not easy nor was it smooth, but Alejandro glowed with pride as he watched la familia Madrigal heal alongside Lucía and Josefina, their paths sometimes in parallel, sometimes overlapping.
Lucía allowed herself to cry, just a bit, as she cleaned his studio, her fingers trailing over his sketches, over his paintings, over the book they'd begun working on together.
Dolores confessed to her madre - and to her tío - the burden of knowing he was in the walls.
Luisa began to read again in her free time, her habit encouraged and enabled by her new proximity to the Encanto's makeshift library.
Antonio mourned and accepted the loss of his gift, wrapped in the warmth and empathy of his family.
Bruno found the courage to help outline the floorplan for the new Casa Madrigal with sand, and to help lay the bricks for its foundation - and as he did so, he also found a small sense of contentment and belonging in the community that had been lost to him for a long time.
Isabela found the courage to break things off with Mariano, feeling the freedom to be herself - to figure out who she was - for the first time since she was a child.
Mariano wrestled with the knowledge that he'd loved the idea of Isabela and not the actual person.
Julieta had a long talk with her daughters and niece, listening to their feelings and reminding them of how loved and valuable they were, just in and of themselves.
Bruno pretended to be Hernando and Jorge - not as a crutch to help himself, but as characters to help the niños in his life - first Antonio, then Josefina, who'd begun arguing with a boy from the village while waiting for Julieta to come help her injured friend, and then - by popular demand, as word of his acting skills spread amongst the village children.
And after Lucía witnessed his performance and his flustered embarrassment and stuttering explanation, she laughed . It was neither mocking nor nervous, it was neither judgmental nor uncomfortable. In fact, she looked at Bruno with a gentle smile that made her eyes crinkle at the corners. She looked happy. Alejandro realized, wistfully, that it was the first time she'd laughed, truly and freely and genuinely, since he'd died.
Sure, Josefina made her smile, and Josefina could pull a laugh out of her when she tried - but it was the first time she'd found something that brought her joy outside of their daughter.
Her reaction seemed to please Bruno as well, because the man held his head higher for the rest of the afternoon.
And the healing continued.
Julieta confronted her mother for all the things she'd done that hurt their family, allowing herself to be something other than calm and steady for the first time in a long time. She and her brother and sister had long conversations about their feelings, their memories, and their futures.
Alma listened. She listened , and she learned, and she grew to be a better madre and a better abuela.
Alejandro delighted in watching his daughter. Josefina blossomed at the attention the Madrigals gave her, showering them in turn with her adoration and innocent, whole-hearted affection. It was bittersweet to watch her grow closer to the Madrigal men, in particular. Félix danced with her in the evenings and played pirates with her and Antonio; Agustín read her her favorite stories and snuck her candies from his vest pocket. She was particularly enthusiastic about Bruno and his rats, all of which had miraculously survived the fall of Casita and all of which were currently residing in Alejandro's old art studio. When she began holding Bruno's hand as they walked to and from the rebuilding of Casita, casual as could be, and he smiled down at her - it warmed Alejandro's soul to see that his baby was so well loved.
Camilo, with Pepa's help, worked through his feelings about his tío Bruno's leaving, and his return.
Dolores confessed her feelings to Mariano, and they began courting - a source of joy for the whole family. Alejandro rejoiced with them.
And then - one day at lunch, when Casita was nearly complete, Antonio innocently asked Josefina if she missed her padre, and Alejandro felt like he was dying all over again at her answer.
"Yeah, sometimes. I don't remember a lot of him. And when I think about that I didn't get to meet him, not really, sometimes I get sad. Because I was just barely three when he died, and that's practically a baby! But it's okay, because Mamá tells me about him all the time, and I can see his work all around, in town and in my room and in books, and even in the mirror! Mamá says I have his hair and eyes. Except my hair is a lot longer than his. I've seen it in photos. And so I do my best to know him so I'll recognize him when I go to heaven. And we'll have lots to talk about. So I just don't get to see him for a long time. But I'll see him again."
Alejandro wished he could cry.
"I miss you too, bebé," he murmured, settling himself gently beside her. "I miss you so much. I wish I could dance with you and read you stories and hold your hand, Sefinita, mi fresita. I wish I could be there for you - I wish you knew I was here with you, right now. I'm sorry, Josefina - "
"Lareina, Lorenzo, and Valentino!" Bruno Madrigal shouted suddenly.
Alejandro startled and looked around. What on earth -
The rest of the family looked just as confused as Alejandro felt, and Bruno allowed Dolores to begin explaining the characters and plot of his telenovela to everyone, except -
Except Lucía did not look confused.
She was staring at Bruno Madrigal, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in the trees and glinting off the golden tones and unshed tears in her warm brown eyes. She gave him a small smile of gratitude, and Bruno blinked, his eyes darting to the left and right as though to make certain she was actually directing that look at him.
Lucía nodded, a tiny, almost imperceptible bob of her head, and Bruno's lips twitched up into a tiny, pleased smile of his own.
Alejandro could have kicked himself.
He would have, had he had the physical feet necessary to do so.
Of course hearing Josefina talk like that would trigger Lucía's grief.
Not that there was much he could do about it.
Apparently Bruno Madrigal had taken care of it, and now his wife was looking at him like he'd hung the sun in the sky and set it on fire, just for her.
Which is, technically - metaphorically - what he'd done.
In order to distract his familia from Josefina's words and Lucía's reaction to them, Bruno had just unleashed Dolores and her love for his telenovela in all its glory on his familia, and he'd never hear the end of it again.
(Not that Alejandro thought Bruno truly minded, really. He was just obviously slightly embarrassed by all the attention it was bringing him.)
Alejandro should be grateful, he knew that - and he was, mostly.
If he also felt the slightest twinge of jealousy, he resolutely stuffed it down, far away into the deepest recesses of his soul.
He felt guilty afterward.
On the walk home that evening, Bruno and Lucía talked about his telenovela, and Bruno inadvertently revealed that Dolores knew about it because she had listened to him in the walls for ten years. Lucía was understandably shocked. She'd known about Bruno living in the walls after Mirabel inadvertently revealed his secret while petitioning for his rats to stay, claiming them as little adopted Madrigals. But she hadn't made the connection that Dolores had heard him all that time, and she reacted to that particular revelation like a punch to the gut.
Bruno was embarrassed and miserable.
Lucía was mortified and apologized profusely for bringing up something so painful.
And thus began an insanely awkward back and forth in which they both attempted to simultaneously thank the other for their help thus far and apologize for being insanely awkward.
When their argument (Could it even be called that? It was more a competition to see who could be the more deferential and contrite) reached its head, Lucía and Bruno stood facing each other, still, in the center of the street, brows drawn together in irritation and lips pinched in frustration.
It was Lucía who broke first and laughed.
"Look at us, behaving like middle-aged children. Bruno?"
"Ah – yeah?" Bruno's hands, which had balled themselves in his ruana in a fit of nerves, began to relax.
"Perhaps – we just decide to be friends and call it even? There's no need to try to repay favors or keep track of debts when you're friends."
Lucía saw Bruno as a friend.
The small, tense twinge of jealousy that had been nestled inside Alejandro snapped and dissolved, and he was filled with guilt and compassion.
Of course Lucía saw Bruno as a friend.
And the man obviously needed one.
Alejandro knew from experience that Lucía was the best friend anyone could ask for. She was kind and unassuming and compassionate and generous and dependable - all things Bruno could use in a friend.
The Madrigals, and Bruno in particular, had proven themselves to be good friends to her as well. They inspired her to face Alejandro's art studio again. She'd smiled and laughed more in the past few weeks than she had in total the past few years. And she'd allowed herself to cry, if only for a moment.
He shouldn't have been jealous.
Wasn't this what he stayed here, for? To help both families heal?
And they were healing.
He hadn't even had the urge to use another Influence, they were doing so well on their own.
They'd even made a doorknob for Mirabel; a grand gesture of acceptance and acknowledgment for all she had done and for the beautiful person she was; the person she had been all along.
If anything, he should be happy that Bruno and Lucía were kindred spirits, finding comfort in their families and their stories.
And he was.
Alejandro was happy for them.
If it was a conscious decision more than a spontaneous feeling, well -
That was just a sign of how strongly he still loved his wife.
A/N: I am cackling with glee. It has begun!
The next chapter for this story will be posted for Encantober Prompt Day 20: Prophecy
Thank you so much for reading and for your support!
