It probably shouldn't have been too surprising that after Bruno's surprise performance with the children, he was exhausted. Bruno could barely stand up and Mirabel helped him back to the Parish with a big smile on her lips.
Everyone was smiling.
It was clear, a barrier had been broken, another major mile stole in bringing the family together and helping Bruno.
They had carefully collected all of his writings and brought them back as well, now they were neatly laying on one of the tall shelves until the family could figure out how to best protect the pieces of paper.
By the time the family made it back to the Parish in the afternoon after a hard day's work, no one was really that surprised to see Bruno sleeping on one of the couches. All rolled up in his Ruana and an extra blanket and with the rest nestling with him as well.
He looked happy though.
"Aww." Mirabel smirked. "Cute."
"He looks like a Burrito," Camilo commented and Antonio chuckled. "That's a Bruno burrito."
"He does!" Antonio grinned.
"Hey… You know what the short term is for a Bruno Burrito?" Camilo asked and Antonio shook his head. "A Brunito." Camilo ended.
Mirabel had to leave the room before she just burst out laughing accidentally waking her uncle.
At dinner, Bruno was blurry-eyed but more relaxed than any of the other meals and for the first time, he actually managed to engage in conversation with Felix and Agustin. Discussing some ideas on how to rebuild Casita.
He also ate the things that Julieta said he needed to eat. At every meal, Bruno now had to drink a glass of whole fat milk, eat one avocado, and have at least one fruit. The rest was optional and they knew they shouldn't push Bruno to do it.
He wanted to do better. So he was going to do what he could. They just had to give him space. And be happy when he ate an arepa.
Julieta made sure there was always some 'Bruno' food available meaning, Arepas with extra butter in the dough. Pandebonos that was now more cheese than bread. Small Portions of casserole mixed with heavy cream.
Camilo had finally managed to sneak one of the creations out of curiosity and then had to talk about how unfair it was because… These things tasted amazing! Even better than Julieta's normal cooking.
"Well Camilo," Mirabel said. "The issue is that if you were to eat that version of Mama's food every day. And in the same amount you eat her normal food. You would grow a gut just like Gustavo. That's sort of the point of this food." and Camilo pouted.
Within a week Bruno had managed to stay awake long enough to ask if he could put Antonio to bed. Making Antonio squeal delighted as everyone had now been telling the five year old how Bruno used to tell them bedtime stories and that's when he came up with them. Of course, he had been asking when it was going to be his turn!
Now was the time and Bruno put an over-exited Antonio into bed. It almost felt like opening the magic door once again! What was he going to get? What was it?
"I seriously need a talk with those lemurs." Bruno sighed as he shook his head. "They know what they did!"
Antonio gaped. "What did they do?" he asked.
And Bruno started telling. About a Lemur who had learned a really bad word and shocked all of the other animals. Finally, the animals had gotten enough and chased the lemur down with a bar of soap to wash his mouth clean and Antonio laughed and giggled. As he heard about how the Capybara became the Lemurs downfall as the capybara was in the way of the lemurs escape and just refused to move away. No reason. He just didn't want to move.
And finally, a tired happy Antonio was all tuggered out as he laid down with tired droopy eyes and Bruno smiled as he put the blanket over Antonio's shoulders tugging him in.
Quietly Bruno tried to leave the room as he opened the door and halted.
Right in front of him, on the other side of the door was a whole group of the younger generation sitting on their knees looking up.
"Don't mind us," Dolores whispered.
"I was just trying to learn from your technique," Camilo informed. "That's all."
"That one was really funny," Isabela smirked. "How do you come up with them?"
"Well actually…" Bruno hesitated. "I don't entirely come up with them myself. You guys always affected how the story would go. It's more like a… back and forth." he said as he stepped over them so he could close the door behind them.
"Oh, I get that." Camilo nodded. "When I perform it always changes depending on how my audience is acting. You sort of have to play with them."
"Right. Right." Bruno held up a hand. "Like I said. It's more like a back and forth. And sometimes people say stuff and you just grab it like… The ugly princess. That one did come about because Camilo asked why Princess's always had to be beautiful. So I went with it."
"Oh… Cool." Camilo gasped. "Tio, did you ever perform in town?"
"Erhm… No." Bruno said.
"Why?" Camilo asked. "You're amazing."
"Well because I…" Bruno halted. "Erhm. People…. Were very rarely happy to see me. So." he shrugged.
"Oh." Camilo was reminded and he looked down. "Right… Sorry," he whispered as he looked down. "I mean… I'm sorry about what I said about you. I didn't really mean."
Bruno looked at Camilo then smiled gently. "It's okay," he said. "Kind of a cool ghost story in town huh? The big menace that brought chaos to the Encanto and made bad things happen. And maybe he still haunts us." he held up his hands and then lowered them. "If I had been in your position. I don't think I would have been able to resist…. Also… I erh… I don't know if you remember but.."
Camilo glanced up.
"We kind of ran into each other in the kitchen when you were little. Around eight I think." Bruno said. "Doing a thunderstorm… I think I really scared you. You kind of fainted."
Camilo's eyes widened. "I thought that had been some sort of fever dream! That did happen." he gasped.
"Sorry." Bruno blushed. "If it helps any you really scared me too. I thought I was going to have a heart attack." he gasped then shook his head. "I was just… Looking for food."
Camilo bit his lip. "That's kind of funny if you think about it isn't it?"
And Dolores chuckled into her hand.
Bruno laughed as well and yawned. "Well… I'm afraid your old Tio is tired. I'm heading for bed."
"How are you sleeping that much?" Camilo asked.
"It's called getting old kid." Bruno replied running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, my Mami, Papi, Tia, or other Tio don't sleep that much." Camilo pointed out.
Bruno blinked then shrugged. "I get overwhelmed. Inside the walls, there weren't that many impressions. Now they are everywhere. It makes my head swim."
Dolores nodded. "I get that."
"You should go sleep, Tio." Isabela smiled amused and Bruno nodded.
"Thanks. Well… See you tomorrow." he yawned as he left.
And the kids all smiled amused.
