Note: This one was pretty tough to write...Please let me know what you guys honestly think...I may edit/revise this later. Also, I tried to keep their relationship with their mother out of the story since we all know Mimi's mother calls her during RENT (stage version). Slightly AU though, since Mimi recalls the first time she met Angel during Angel's funeral. Enjoy! (Or leave feedback as to what you don't enjoy lol)
Angelo sat on his sister's bed, tears running down his cheeks. Maria wiped them away.
"Honey, it'll be okay. I promise."
"No it won't, Mar…He's gonna hate me."
"Ang, he won't hate you. And if he does, we'll leave."
"We?"
"You're my big brother, well, sister. You really think I'm lettin' you skip out on me?"
Angelo smiled and leaned in to hug Maria. She smiled back and stood up. Angelo did the same and took a deep breath.
"Okay…here goes nothing, chica."
"You want me to come with you?"
Angelo paused, but shook his head. "I gotta do this myself."
"Okay. Just, um, yell or something if you need me, okay?"
"Thanks, chica."
A few minutes later, Maria heard shouting. Their father was screaming at Angelo.
"You are my hijo—not hija! Chico, not chica!"
"But Padre—"
"Out of my house! Pack your things and get out!"
Maria could hear her mother crying. She grabbed her duffel bag and stuffed in whatever clothes she could find, along with a few pictures. When she was finished, she went to Angelo's room and stuffed his backpack with clothes and his drumsticks.
The yelling continued, Angelo now becoming just as loud. His tone, though, wasn't one of anger. Instead, he sounded hurt. Maria could tell he'd been crying. She slipped her jacket on and brushed away tears she hadn't realized she was shedding. Maria grabbed Angelo's favorite red jacket and headed downstairs.
Mama sat on the sofa, crying. Padre and Angelo stood staring at one another, each screaming. Angelo was crying. Maria stepped into the room.
"Stop!"
Her father spun and saw her with the bags. "You! You knew about this?"
"I know my hermana is hurting."
Crossing the room in two steps, he backhanded Maria. "You have no sister!"
Maria had been knocked to the ground but leapt to her feet. She picked up the bags. "Come on, Angelo."
"Maria, no. No, please, mi hija. Please…"
"I'm sorry Mama, we're going."
"Maria, you walk out that door and you'll never come back in!" her father warned.
"I will never walk back in until you accept my sister for who she is."
Maria reached a hand out to Angelo. "Come on, honey. Let's go."
"Maria! Angelo! Please, no…"
"I'm sorry, Mama," Angelo whispered. "I love you."
"I love you, Mama. I'll call."
Maria handed Angelo the backpack and red jacket. "Here."
Outside, the pair began to walk, neither certain of where they'd end up, neither caring. They walked in silence for the first hour before Angelo spoke up.
"You didn't have to leave with me."
"Don't, Angelo, I told you before that I would."
"I'm sorry he hit you."
Maria stopped walking. "No. Don't do that. Don't apologize for him."
Angelo nodded and pulled Maria into a hug. "What are we going to do, chica?"
"Get jobs…go wherever the hell we want."
"How does New York sound?"
"New York?"
"New York City's the center of the universe."
"True. And we've got money. Not a lot, but enough for a couple bus tickets, right?"
"Padre will look for you though."
"Then I'll change my name."
"To what? Mary Smith?"
Maria thought for a minute and then smiled. "Do you remember what you used to call me when we were little?"
"Mimi! Perfect! Mimi-chica."
"And I'll use Mama's last name."
"Mimi Marquez. Sounds beautiful, chica."
"And what about you?"
Angelo frowned. "We both know Padre won't look for me."
"But New York City…that gives us a chance to start over. You want to start over as Angelo Schunard?"
"I want to be who I feel I am inside," Angelo said quietly.
"Then Angel…Angelo is almost Angel and the name suits you."
Angelo nodded. A small smile tugged up his lips as he said it. "Angel Dumott Schunard."
"See? You're already smiling."
"Let's find the bus station."
