So, I have this specific headcannon stuck in my brain that while Félix may be nice and sweet and gentle, he can also be mildly horrifying if given the right circumstances. Especially when those circumstances involve someone hurting Pepa.

Enjoy~

Two thousand, six hundred and ninety-three

To most people, that was just a series of numbers. To Félix Castillo, it meant so much more.

What does it mean, you ask?

Only the most important thing in his life! It was the number of days that passed since he laid eyes on his one true love, Pepa Madrigal. While each those days had their own set of memories, and wonderful feelings, today was the day. The most important day of his life so far.

Today was the day he asked Alma Madrigal for her daughter's hand in dating.

But Félix, don't you mean marriage?

Oh no. That would come later, once he'd proven himself a worthy man to both Pepa and her mother. Not to mention that Pepa just recently turned fifteen, which only made him sixteen. No, he'd wait a few more years before that time came.

Félix walked down the street, lost in his own thoughts. His plan was simple enough. Bruno told him earlier in the week that Alma would be spending the day checking up on the progression of the new houses that were being built, which worked out perfectly. It gave him plenty of time to speak with Alma before he needed to meet up with the redhead. Hopefully, her answer would be yes. Félix prayed to every dios he could think of.

You see, one of the local bands were putting on a show tonight. Music. Dancing. It would be the perfect place for him to ask Pepa to officially be his. All he needed was a yes.

And a rose. Alma liked roses.

"Hola Félix!" Turning to his left, Félix noticed four boys waving him down. Armando, Diego, Orlando, and Manny stood in the alleyway between two houses. Félix knew this spot well. A long time ago, it had become their preferred hang out spot.

"Hola amigos!" Félix wore a wide grin as he waved back at his childhood friends. He could see the different colored marbles that littered the area around them. It didn't surprise Félix though. He remembered how he and his friends would play canicas for hours.

The youngest of the group, Diego, held and extra pouch up. "Do you want to play a couple rounds with us today?"

"No can do." Félix offered an apologetic smile. If he didn't already have plans, he would have stayed. But today was far too important for him to fall behind. His window of opportunity to catch Alma was small. "I have a few errands to run before I meet up with Pepi today. Lo siento."

"It's okay, amigo. We'll have to get together soon though! I've been practicing. I'm sure I can wipe the floor with you now."

Before Félix could respond, Armando scoffed. "Don't hold your breath, Diego. He's too good for us now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Armando rose to his feet. He narrowed his eyes at Félix. "It means, ever since you started hanging out with that weather freak and her siblings you don't want anything to do with us anymore."

"That's not the truth and you know it!" Félix growled. He knew where this conversation was heading. It wasn't the first time this specific argument came up between the pair. "The only reason I don't hang out with you anymore is because of how you treat Pepa and her siblings! If you would just give them a chance, you'd see they're actually really great."

"She's a freak Félix! They all are."

"Don't call them that." Félix clenched his hands into fists. He took two angry steps toward his friend. Tension filled the alleyway as Armando closed the gap between them. The two stood only inches apart. Manny, Orlando, and Diego shared an uncomfortable look. Not once any of them witnessed an argument between the two.

"Hey! Break it up guys." Manny stepped in between the two, gently pushing them a few steps away from each other. "We're all friends here."

"Yeah. Right. I've got to go." Armando kicked the makeshift circle, scattering the marbles. Giving Félix one last glare, he stomped out of the alleyway.

"Sorry about that, Félix. Armando's been in a... bad mood lately. He didn't mean anything by it. He's happy for you, we all are." Diego tried to assure him as he patted Félix on the back.

The others hadn't noticed, but Orlando did. He watched as Armando became progressively more and more jealous of the time Félix spent with the triplets. They had tried, many times, to hang out with Félix. However, Félix and Pepa were always together. Which, the others didn't mind. Over the past six years they had spent many days playing with them. Armando, on the other hand, refused to even entertain the idea of spending time with the Madrigals. Especially Pepa.

Félix turned to his friend, giving him a hopefully sincere looking smile. "Thanks Diego. I'll see you later. Maybe we could hang out next week."

"Hola Hermanito." Pepa held out her hand and pulled her brother to his feet. Bruno rolled his eyes. He just finished with his last vision of the day.

"Two minutes." He reminded her as he shook his poncho, trying to shake some of the sand off. The less he brought home, the less he'd have to sweep tomorrow. "You're two minutes older than me."

She plucked a stray leaf out of his hair. "It still makes me older." Pepa said as she shoulder-bumped her brother.

"Whatever. Are you finished?"

Pepa nodded. "The fields are watered for another week."

"Are you okay?" Bruno searched her eyes, trying to find any traces of sadness. Unlike him, his sister couldn't just 'call forth' her powers. Her gift never shut off. Constantly connected to her emotions. Which only meant that she could summon the rain when she felt angry or sad.

"Don't worry. It was natural today."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I tripped on a rake." Bruno laughed as the image floated into his mind. He could picture her, standing beside the crops, tapping her foot angrily as she seethed. It was a relief though. There were some days where Pepa would have to work herself up, just to start the rain. And once she got into her head, it was hard to get her out.

"Come on guys. Let's go home." Bruno said. Pepa watched as two small rats crawled up his legs. He didn't move as they scurried up the inside of his poncho, each taking one of his many hidden pockets. Once his friends were settled, the siblings started their walk back to Casita.

They hadn't made it far before Pepa stopped. "Oh! I almost forgot. Here." Reaching into her bag, she pulled out two small chunks of corn. "This is for Hernando and Jorge."

Bruno gave her a grateful smile as he offered them to the rats.

Pepa didn't like rats, or small creatures of any kind really, but her brother did. Bruno didn't have any human friends. Instead, somehow, he managed to make friends with the rats that lived inside Casita. She would bring them home treats, and put up with the scurrying along the floor, as long as it made her brother happy. And they stayed out of her room.

"Well well well. If it isn't the Walking Disaster." Ahead of her, she could see a boy leaning against one of the houses. Walking closer, she realized it was none other than Armando. Pepa ignored him. It wasn't the first time he tried to pick a fight with her. Ever since she and Félix became friends, he tried any chance he could. He would call her names, crack some jokes, then leave before Félix showed up. Pepa refused to let him ruin her mood today. So, she walked past him. "Hey! I'm talking to you."

She spun around fixing him with a glare. She could feel the small cloud forming above her head. "What do you want, Armando?"

"I want you to stay away from Félix, Freak."

"Pardon?"

"You heard me. I want you to stay away from. Let me guess, you think he likes you? Maybe even loves you?" Her face flushed at the thought. She really liked Félix. Armando gave her a wicked grin. "Ha! I was right. I hate to break it to you sweetheart. You're misunderstanding the situation. He's too nice to tell you to scram. He feels bad for you because all you do is follow him around like a puppy that's lost its master."

Bruno could see the cloud above his sister's head turning darker. Armando had struck a nerve. "T-that's not true! Félix likes hanging around with us." His sisters always stood up for him when he needed them. Finally, he could repay them. Or at least try.

"I'm sorry, did you say something Fish Killer?"

"Hey. Leave him alone." The wind around them picked up. It was a warning.

"Or what? You'll strike me with lighting?"

"Do you really want to find out?"

"Ooh. She's mad now. Go on. Do it." Armando challenged. He gave her a smug look as she took a step back. He took the chance while could, pushing on. He'd make her regret turning his best friend against him. "That's what I thought. You Madrigals think you're soo much better than everyone else. I think you need a reality check. The only thing you are, are freaks of nature. If I don't stop it, you'll just end up dragging Félix down with you."

"Come on, Pepa. Just ignore him. He's trying to get you riled up. We need to go if we're going to meet Félix." He hoped the mention of Félix would be enough to sooth her. At least until they got away. Then he would be able to talk to her more.

Pepa nodded as she let her brother pull her away from the boy. Her hands found their way to her braid as she repeated the mantra her mother had taught her. "Clear skies. Clear skies."

"I didn't say you could leave!" The seer watched as his sister spun around, ready to give him a piece of her mind.

It happened far too quickly for him to stop it. He heard the sickening crack as a large rock connected with the side of Pepa's temple. Thunder roared as she fell to the ground. Reaching a hand up, she covered her head, too stunned to do anything.

Bruno watched as Armando turned and ran down the road, away from the pair. He took a few steps forward, ready to chase after him. A small sob stopped him. He swore, but turned back to his sister. Bruno watched in horror as a thin line of red slipped under her fingers.

"You look awfully happy there Félix." Santiago, one of the village's jewelers, chuckled as Félix walked into his shop. To say Félix Castillo was happy would be an understatement. No, he was ecstatic. On 'cloud nine' even.

Alma accepted his proposal. She had given him her blessing. He could ask Pepa to finally be his. Or at least, his novia.

"I am. Tonight's the night I ask Pepa to go out with me." Félix said dreamily. He looked over the many bracelets that littered the counter. The right one, that's what he had to find. He needed to find something that symbolized his love. Something perfect, just like his Pepa.

"Ah, young love. That makes sense." The man laughed as he watched the determination on the boy's face. "Have you figured out on how you're going to ask her yet?"

"Yes. Tonight-" Before he could finish his sentence, a loud rumble of thunder shook the building. "Excuse me."

Clear. The sky had been clear just moments earlier. There was only thing that could have causes just a shift in the weather. His Pepa. Looking into the sky, he found a rather angry looking thundercloud. Hail started to fall from the skies above. Breaking into a sprint, he rounded the nearest corner.

That's when he spotted them. Bruno stood back, away from the swirling tornado. He knew Pepa would be inside the center of it. Félix slid to a stop beside Bruno. "What's going on?"

Bruno pulled him to the side, both of them narrowly avoiding the lightning that struck the ground. "There was an argument. And, I didn't see it in time. I-I think I seen blood."

That was all Felix needed to hear. "Stay here. I'm going to her."

Pushing through the wind was easier than he thought. Pepa sat on the ground, in front of him. He could see the watered-down red streaks flowing down her face. What really concerned him though, was the blank look. Keeling down, he called out to her. She didn't speak to him, just sat there, stunned. Gently, he placed his hand over hers. "Pepi?"

He watched as she blinked a few times, as if just registering his presence. "Félix?"

"Yes, Mi vida. I'm here now. Everything's going to be okay."

"F-Félix." His heart shattered as the tears welled up in her eyes. She threw herself into his arms, nearly knocking them both over.

He spent the next few minutes rubbing soothing circles on her back and whispering words of comfort. He pulled her tighter to him as another round of pained sobs racked her body. Never in his life had he felt so much anger. Someone dared lay a hand on his princesa. He would make them pay.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. Being angry wouldn't help anything. Whoever it was could wait. Right now, the crying girl in his arms needed him more. He just needed her to calm enough so he could get her to her sister. Thankfully, it only took a few minutes for her tornado's winds to die down. The angry cloud above her shrunk down, until all that was left was the steady fall of rain.

He could run in rain. "I'm going to pick you up, okay?" She nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. She hid her face in his shoulder. "Let's get you to Julieta."

Bruno reached Casita first. Their home must have sensed the urgency, throwing its doors open before Bruno even reached them. Once inside, Bruno started to shout for his sister. "Julieta!"

"Bruno?" The healer leaned over the banister, looking down at her brother. She could see the panic that flooded his features. Quickly, she made her way downstairs, but her brother had already sped off towards the kitchen.

"Where are they?" Bruno muttered as he dug through the cabinets. "Quick, we need an empanada. An arepa. A sandwich. Anything!"

"I don't have anything made yet. Mamá took everything I had down to the village."

Turning around, he grabbed his sister's shoulders and gently gave her a shake. "Then I need you to make something, fast!"

"You're scaring me. What happened?" Casita's doors opened once more. Félix jogged in, Pepa in his arms. She paled at the sight of blood that trailed from her sister's ginger locks. "Dios mio. Pepa! Casita!" Without hesitation, the house shuffled over a chair. Julieta rolled up her sleeves, ready to make something. She pointed to the chair. "Sit. I'll be right back."

Félix nodded. He sat on the chair, keeping Pepa in his arms. He swayed back and forth. She kept her head buried against his shoulder, her wet hair framing her face. He wanted to ignore the worried looks Bruno kept giving them. The two shared a look, both thinking the same thing. They wanted... No, they needed to see how badly she was injured. "Pepi, mi sol, I need to see how badly you're hurt."

She nodded, lifting her head up. Keeping his hold on her waist, he pushed her soaked hair behind her ear. His temper flared again. A large gash rand down her temple, starting just below her hairline. The area around it, already turning many angry shades of purple. The pair of gasps from behind him let him know that the others had also seen.

"Félix, here."

Taking the sandwich from Julieta, he offered it to Pepa. "Pepi, amor, I need you to take a bite." With shaky hands, she reached out and took the offering. Slowly, she took a single small bite and closed her eyes. Félix watched in awe as the gash healed instantly. The deep purples fading, leaving no trace of the mark. "Is that better?" The redhead nodded. "Is the pain gone?" Another nod. "Good. Just rest for a little while. I'm here. Everything's okay now. Don't worry."

Julieta took the remaining food, setting it onto the table. She turned to her brother. "Bruno, what happened?"

He felt the two pairs of eyes watching him, waiting for an explanation. "Pepa and I were walking home, and there was a boy waiting for us. He started calling us names, the usual. We started to walk away when he started yelling about how Pepa was bad for you, Félix. She turned to say something, but he threw a huge rock at her. It hit her in the head."

"He what?!" Félix roared. Pepa jumped in his arms as the shrunken cloud above her head lit up with a few warnings of lighting. Taking a deep breath, he apologized. "Lo siento, Pepi. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Do you remember his name?"

"Armando." Bruno said awkwardly. "It was Armando."

Félix listened as he heard the sound of someone following behind him, but he paid them no mind. He had a score to settle, and no one would stop him.

"Félix! Hey, wait up!" Bruno's green poncho came into his sight as the youngest triplet easily caught up.

"You should be back with Pepa."

"So should you."

"Don't worry. I'll be back before she wakes. But first, I have some business to attend to." He could see Armando, just walking down the street like nothing had happened. Stalking up behind him, Félix grabbed the back of the boy's shirt, pulling him into a side alleyway before throwing him up against a house. "What did you do?"

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything." Armando said as he, unsuccessfully, tried to pry the shorter man's hands from his shirt.

"You're going to stand there and tell me that you didn't throw a rock at Pepa? That you didn't make her bleed."

Armando dropped his innocent façade. Letting his arms fall to his side, he returned Félix's cold stare with his own. "Fine. Yeah, I threw the rock. I'd do it again to. You'll thank me one day. You might not hear it, but I do. Everyone's talking about you and her. They're not saying good things Félix."

"Do you think I care what they think?!"

"You should! She doesn't care about what happens to you! You have real friends that care about you. And I think it's time for you to choose. Me or her."

Félix shook his head and released his grip on Armando's shirt. "Her."

"What?!"

"You heard me. It is, and always will be, her." Leaving no room for questions, Félix turned away.

"Listen here!" Armando moved to pull Félix back to him. Without warning, Félix slammed his fist into Armando's face. Bruno winced at the loud crack that echoed throughout the alleyway. Hitting the ground, Armando clutched his bleeding nose.

"No!" Félix shouted as he stood over his former friend. "You listen. If you go near her again, or even breath in her direction, not even Julieta's powers will fix you. Now, get out of my sight."

There were many things Bruno wanted to say. Thank you for defending Pepa. For caring about Pepa. For being kind to all of them. For not just using them for their gifts.

But Bruno was never good with words. Or people. Instead, he reached out and patted Félix's back as they both watched Armando run. "Nice punch."