To Love at all is to Love Entirely

by alex the bordercollie

"Cada parte de mí está equivocada. My mind, my heart, even my gift, it's all wrong." Bruno spat bitterly as he hugged his knees. Tears were streaming down his face now. "I know it feels like the world has no place for you. Por favor, Te lo ruego, don't ever give up looking for one. If you can't find a place then makeone, pero nunca te rindas."

5. Champion

︵‿୨ - January 17 1951 - ୧‿︵

Pain.

Bruno awoke to a sudden stabbing pain in his chest. At first, he tried to shift positions. Just ignore it. It'll pass. The more he lay there the worse it got. His chest kept getting tighter and tighter. His breathing grew shallow. It felt like the room was closing in on him.

Out. He had to get out. He needed to move. He needed to run.

Doing his best to try and stay calm he slowly propped himself up on his arms. Stretching out his legs and pulling off the covers that felt like they were going to strangle him.

Breath. Just breathe. It'll pass.

He couldn't breathe. It wasn't working. More space. He needed more space.

Don't panic. He was fine. Shut up! What was wrong with him!? Why was he like this!? Shut up! Just shut up! Calm down. Everything is fine.

His body was so tense it made it difficult to move. It took all his power not to bolt in a random direction. A primal instinct urging him to run. Don't run. Just breathe. Air. He needed air. He managed to finally take in a sharp shaky breath as he pulled himself out of the bed. It felt a little better to stand in the center of the room. Nothing was touching him.

His rats eyed him cautiously as he began to hyperventilate. That first breath of air spurring on a panicked frenzy for more. Breathe. Just try to breathe. His frantic gasping wasn't working. He wasn't getting enough air. He knew he needed to calm down or he'd asphyxiate.

He crossed his fingers tight and held his breath. He lowered himself slowly to the floor. Careful not to let his body collapse under him. A few seconds? Minutes? He just sat there, fingers crossed, eyes closed. He held that breath and tried to count. He tried to focus on something other than his racing heart and screaming lungs. What else could he feel? There was sand on his bedroom floor. He'd need to sweep later. His hair felt a little greasy. He should get a bath after this. He could feel his toes curl and intertwine as he wrung his feet together. He could feel the strain in his fingers and slowly loosened them.

Ok. Now. Try again.

He finally let out the breath he was holding. Slowly. Not all at once. He had to stop himself a couple of times to control his speed. Once his lungs were emptied he counted again. He waited. Now breathe in. Slowly. Don't rush. In through his nose. Out through his mouth.

Heartbeats passed as he repeated the process. Each breath was easier to control than the last. The tension in his muscles began to ease. Finally, he uncrossed his fingers and looked around. The rats, who'd been watching him intently, took a few timid steps closer.

"Estoy bien." He soothed though his voice was breathy and hoarse still. "Gracias por esperar." He thanked his furry friends for their patience. Smiling softly as a few ran over to swarm him with gentle kisses and cuddles.

He sat there on the floor for a while. Trying to give each one a token of his affection. He loved his pets. They were such good company. They understood him. They'd seen this before and they knew what to do. Had they tried to touch him before he had calmed down it would have made things worse. Now that he was in control again, tired, aching. Their affection was greatly appreciated.

He sighed deeply as he rubbed at the pain in his sternum with his palm. He was going to be sore for a while. Worst case scenario breakfast would resolve the aches and pains. His eyes were burning and tired. Had he been crying? He didn't think so. He couldn't tell if it was from the panic attack or lack of sleep.

He lifted his aching joints off the floor and walked over to the clock on his dresser to check the time.

"Mierda." Three AM. It was going to be a long morning.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Since he had time to kill he decided to trek down the stairs for a bath first then he'd come back up to sweep. When he lived in the walls it had been paramount he only left his enclosure when the family was asleep. He didn't have to hide anymore. Still, he maintained a habit of washing up at odd hours. He preferred the privacy it afforded him. He could enjoy the warm water as long as he wanted and bask in the quiet. He didn't have to fight anyone for the bathroom. He'd gotten sweaty in his sleep, as he usually did, and his hair was overdue for a wash so perhaps this abrupt wake-up call was a blessing in disguise. He wasn't certain what had caused it. He'd learned years ago that trying to root out the cause of every little panic attack was a fool's errand. This wasn't the first time he'd been woken up like this and it probably wouldn't be the last.

He lathered his dark curls with the shampoo his sobrina had made for him and laid back. Stretching his legs out and resting his head on the lip of the tub. The warm water felt good on aching muscles. It was strange though. He hadn't had a panic attack like that in a while. Once the tablas had taken off he'd started to calm down considerably. He'd fallen into a comfortable routine with his family. What was different? Then he remembered the blond man. The one who'd nearly given him a heart attack on multiple occasions.

That might do it.

Bruno sank down till his nose brushed the surface of the water. A hot flush rising to his face as he grumbled little irritable bubbles into the water. He was alone but that didn't make him feel any less humiliated.

Things were good. Life was good. He was home again. He was loved. His mother was mostly content with him.

How? How did this happen? Bruno hadn't felt like this since he was a boy. A stupid hormonal teenager. He'd only had a few crushes on real people in his lifetime. Though fantasies about men in stories he read weren't rare. He thought he'd outgrown these feelings. It felt like falling into a deep pit. One he couldn't possibly have seen coming.

What was it about Señor Fontana that had riled him up so much? Perhaps no one else in town could light him up like this because he knew them all. Every man in town was someone with which he had history. Most of it unfortunate. This man was new. He didn't know Bruno. Didn't have a reason to hate him yet. Maybe it was the playful, audacious, way he appreciated Bruno's puns. Perhaps it was his confident posture. The way his eyes lit up when he shared from his extensive pool of knowledge. The gentle way he had touched Bruno's face.

He could still remember the man's hands on his face. He felt his fingers through the thin fabric of a handkerchief. Even with the obstruction he couldn't stop himself from taking in every detail he could. His touch had been gentle, tentative, precise. His fingers were plump and he could feel a writers callous through the fabric. He had desperately looked anywhere but the man's face in the moment and couldn't help but notice his left hand looked significantly softer. His nails were very well-kept. The man seemed immaculately well-groomed.

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Bruno groaned in frustration as he became aware of the way his hands had been absentmindedly migrating along his own thighs. He was aroused. He was ashamed, but aroused non the less.

Bruno pulled his disobedient hands away from his thighs and fidgeted as he considered his options. He looked over to the bathroom door. He never forgot to lock it, yet always felt compelled to check. Juileta was always the first one awake. She wouldn't be up for at least another hour. Surely?

He could finish washing up. Retire to his room and wait it out. How long would that take? As Bruno had gotten older his libido had only become more and more muted. Nevertheless, when his body did demand attention it was usually very stubborn. He always made sure Dolores was asleep in her room whenever he indulged in his worst impulses. He could still recall with some horror a few agonizing hours spent in the wall waiting for her to retire for the night. One would think the feeling would have passed in that time. No. That would be too easy. It was bad enough his mind had always been defective but his body wasn't much better.

He looked back at the locked door again. Still locked. He could take care of this problem in his room. He was safer there. Then again... he'd have to scale the tower first. An uncomfortable prospect in this state. Shoo away the rats. The bathwater felt nice. It eased the ache of anxiety in his muscles. He didn't want to leave the tub. He probably should.

Bruno dunked his head under the water to wash the soap from his hair. He held himself under longer than he needed to. He didn't need to submerge his face. Holding his breath helped him to recenter himself. He waited till his lungs were screaming before resurfacing.

Taking in deep greedy gulps of air he thought again. The cool air of the room was a very brief shock to his system. He'd removed his whole upper half from the warm bathwater. It didn't last long. The heat still crept back up his body and made his mind boil.

He checked the door again. Still locked.

There was a small wooden stool next to the tub where he'd laid out his towel, a hairbrush, clean clothes, soaps…

He removed the toiletries to knock on the wooden surface and held his breath again. He prayed this wasn't a mistake.

This wasn't the safest place. Someone could wake up early. They only had one bathroom.

The throb in his groin was beginning to grow painful. He was going to be just a little selfish today. He had time. He could take a chance and try to just relax. Let himself enjoy the process instead of treating it like a chore. An awful thing to want considering the object of his desires. No that didn't matter. It was his secret. He'd decided it long ago. No one knew. No one would ever know. He could have this defect all to himself.

Bruno let out a shaky breath as he slid back down into the water. He stretched out along the length of the tub and tried for a minute just to relax. Another deep breath, then another. The hot water massaged his bones. He could still smell Isabela's shampoo.

For a moment he closed his eyes and just enjoyed the calming sensations.

His mind began to wander back to the newcomer. Slate gray eyes, always scanning, evaluating. The smell of old books clung to the man's clothes, ink and graphite too. He smelled like a classroom. He wondered what kind of teacher he was. Was he strict? Surely he must be.

A man that proud, that controlled and precise. The way he'd playfully scolded Bruno for his juvenile humor.

His hands had begun to migrate again, gentle, tentative, precise.

He felt guilty. Imagining another man this way. A stranger. It felt so disrespectful. It didn't matter. He was going to be selfish today, just for a bit.

Bruno's own hands were rough, long bony fingers strangling his cock as he thought of the soft, carefully manicured hand that had distracted him from focused gray eyes. His hands felt wrong. He pulled away as he imagined the sting of a ruler against his knuckles. Rubbing at the imaginary pain with his thumb. Recalled the way Señor Fontana had stood so close to him in the library. So close he could feel the man's breath in his ear.

"You'd best do it right or not at all." Bruno had the man's mannerisms committed memory. They'd spent barely a day together, yet his voice, the way he spoke, it clung to him.

Bruno reached his shaky, clumsy, spidery fingers out of the tub to fumble around in the supplies he tossed to the floor. Discarded in favor of warding off misfortune. Isabela had developed a whole skin and hair care routine for him to follow. A bit excessive, a bit tedious, but the lotion she made for him was silky smooth.

Once he found the right glass bottle he slipped back down into the tub. Water splashing over the side. Displaced by his clumsy movements. He lifted his feet up onto the sides of the tub to raise himself slightly above the water level. He spread the lotion along his palms before corking the bottle again and tossing it aside.

Reaching down he touched himself tentatively. The lotion didn't disappoint. His hand now slid smoothly along throbbing, aching flesh. He wondered what those soft hands felt like. Not small like a woman's hand. Wilfredo's hands were large and sturdy looking.

Bruno muffled a low moan.

This was Fontana's fault.

"Some people lack an eye for beauty."

He had called Bruno beautiful. He knew he probably hadn't meant it that way. It was probably some childish fantasy clouding his perception. Wishful thinking. A very dangerous thing. But… He was normally so well-spoken, so precise in his language. Was he really the sort to be misunderstood?

The thought of being admired sent shivers down his spine.

He couldn't help but suckle on his fingers to stifle depraved, pleasured, sounds. He imagined careful calculated touches. Gentle instruction. A cool, even voice in his ear demanding nothing less than perfection.

Bruno wasn't perfect. He wasn't beautiful. He would gladly accept the consequences of failure if it got his knuckles racked by the ruler. If it got him the professor's attention.

His breathing got heavy and labored. He started to grow light-headed. Intoxicated. He recalled the smell of old books. The rush of feeling warm breath in his ear. He removed his free hand from his lips and allowed shallow gasps to fill the room as he tried to get oxygen to his brain. He reached down to probe at his insides. He thought of thick heavy hands. His own fingers were long and spindly but he could barely register the difference. He was lost in his own thoughts. He felt an electric spark rushed through him as he stroked that sensitive spot inside.

This was sinful and wrong. He was filthy degenerate and he knew it. Now he'd involved an innocent bystander in his twisted fantasies. It was the man's own fault. He had flirted with Bruno. He'd been kind, playful, he called him beautiful and made his mind race. How dare he?! How dare he have the audacity to have such steely eyes and kissable lips. Such plump, soft, kissable lips...

"Dios mío." He wanted that man. He hadn't felt so infatuated since he was a boy. Sad memories of hiding an erection he got while receiving a beating somehow only tightened the knot in his stomach.

Why was he like this? Why did he dream of being abused? He didn't want to be hurt. Not really. He'd beat enough times to know it wasn't something he fancied. He wanted attention. He wanted a man to be so wholly fixated on him he didn't care if it was a beating. Even the professor, for as gentle and deliberate as he seemed, he could only imagine being scolded, ordered, punished. Fitting the man who made him feel like a child again would make him want to be his student.

He felt so close but the feeling kept escaping him without release. The familiar struggle brought a frustrated whimper to his lips.

"You're talking too long." The cool stern voice tutted its disapproval. "If you're going to waste my time-"

"I can do this." Bruno whispered aloud as he cut off the strict phantom in his head. "I can do this, I can do this…" His words were breathy but steady as he prepared himself for one last attempt at release before he'd be forced to surrender.

He plunged his fingers as far in as he could reach. Groping at his insides with force as he rubbed himself raw. It hurt for a moment but he was so close.

His feet slipped from the edge of the tub. His whole body tensed and spasmed, causing him to slip back under the water. Hitting his head on the edge of the tub in the process.

The sudden violent jolt of pain brought him down quickly from his lustful fog. He bolted upright to cough up the now salty bathwater.

It took a minute to catch his breath. The stress of being so aggressively ripped from his bliss causing him to knock impulsively on the stool by the tub. Oh god did someone hear that?! The sharp throb in the back of his skull was less of a concern than the loud sound he'd made when his head hit the ceramic. He prayed Dolores hadn't woken up early. Prayed that no one heard the noise downstairs. The last thing he needed right now was a concerned family member rushing to check on him.

After a few moments of silence he finally relaxed a little. He couldn't hear anything past the door. No stirring outside. He was safe. He wasn't fine. Nothing about him was fine, but he was safe.

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Bruno had to hand it to Isabela, her shampoo worked wonders. He'd never been very good at taking care of his hair. It had a terrible habit of matting as he often neglected it or simply let the rats have their way. When he used her sweet-smelling concoction it didn't tangle nearly as bad and was far easier to brush. Even felt silky to the touch. He coiled a black ringlet around his finger a moment and ran his thumb along the smooth texture.

Isabela said he had beautiful hair. She used that to justify her insistence he take better care of it. Maybe she was right?

Wilfredo said he was beautiful. Why would he say that?

He thought back to the way his new acquaintance had spoken with his mother. He had in fact not said the nicest things about her. Despite that, Wilfredo made it sound like Bruno had sung her praises that night. Why would he lie like that? Was he lying to him too? There had been a moment that night where, despite his better judgment, he felt like he could trust this new person. For a moment despite himself. He let the darkness slip out. Wilfredo seemed like maybe he understood. At least a little. Had that been a lie? When he told him he was beautiful, was that a lie? What of the warm smiles that night? His laugh?

He wanted to like Wilfredo. He did. He seemed understanding, funny, and intelligent. He loved spending the rest of the night with him and his crazy sister listening to wild tales of city life and watching the man's eyes light up when he shared from his encyclopedic well of knowledge. Despite their pleasant chatter that night, he never could shake that nagging fear in the back of his mind after their conversation with Mamá. Everyone in the family seemed to want him to make friends, be more social. His cuñados had praised him after watching him with the newcomers that night. Amazed he'd won over such a beautiful wild woman.

He shook his head with an ironic half chuckle. If only they knew. Jacqueline was pleasant enough company for sure. He wasn't sure he'd ever understand what all the fuss was about. She let him ramble at least and that was nice. Despite things going well at the festival he'd not spoken to them since. Then again it had only been three days. He wasn't sure how often one was expected to talk to friends. Where the balance was between too clingy and too aloof. He wasn't sure how to talk to them. How to talk to him. He wasn't a teenage boy anymore. He was too old to feel this way. He wasn't sure it would be good for him to hang around a man who had such a strong effect on him. Seemingly without even trying. That kind of lonely pining was something he abandoned in his youth.

As he finished brushing his hair he wondered if he should shave. His whiskers were getting a bit longer than he'd prefer… No, it can wait a few more days. He was still shaky and tired. Today wasn't a good day for that. He'd learned that lesson the hard way.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

He hadn't realized how long he'd been lingering about between the stairs, the bath, and quiet contemplations in the mirror. He was about to turn down the narrow hall to his room when he was startled by his sister's voice.

"Bruno you're up early."

It was Julieta. She always woke up before the rest of the family. She liked to get started cooking early since she would have to produce enough to take into town every day. He had recommended to her that perhaps she could reduce her workload by simply cooking as needed. It didn't matter. She still worried that if she didn't make enough something might happen. There had been a couple of incidents. Cooking takes time. Accidents don't.

He understood his hermana's anxieties probably better than most. Being the perpetual worrier that he was. It still hurt to see her work herself to the bone every day.

"Y-yeah. I uh, I couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd get a bath while everyone else was sleeping." He replied awkwardly. He hoped she wouldn't ask why. He didn't need her fretting over him. Over nothing. He was ok. He knew that. It could be hard to make other people understand.

Julieta adjusted her apron thoughtfully like she was about to ask. "Are you going back to bed?" She said finally. He was glad she wasn't looking for him to justify himself.

"No, I mean, I was thinking I might sweep up a bit but really I could do that anytime." She hadn't said it but he could tell she wanted to talk to him. "I could help you with the cooking if you like." He offered.

His hermana smiled softly. "I'd like that."

Bruno's morning was filled with laughter as he assisted Julieta in her duties. It seems she didn't have anything, in particular, she wanted to talk about. She just wanted to spend time with him. He hadn't helped his hermana cook in… so long.

Even before the wall he had grown increasingly more distant from his mother and sisters. Back in his forties most of his time was spent working or playing with the little ones. Since folks in need of his gift usually came to him he spent more time at home than anyone. This tended to leave him the de facto babysitter any time Félix and Agustín were busy. It was a bittersweet time. On the one hand, he enjoyed the company of children. They were easily entertained and generally unbothered by his oddities. On the other hand, his mother had all but given up entirely by that point on expecting much of anything from him. His sisters were too busy most days to spend much time together. The children were wonderful but children don't make up for adult companionship. Among the adults, he'd become a ghost in his own home long before he hid himself away. It was no wonder his absence left such little impact.

He rubbed at his wrists as they ached from kneading dough for yet another batch of arepas.

Julieta noticed him wince and gave a light chuckle. She grabbed one off the stack they had made. "It's not easy is it?" She teased

Bruno took it with a grateful nod. "I don't know how you do this every day." He smiled before taking a small bite. The lingering pain in his chest finally subsided. He turned to watch Julieta as she began forming little balls from the dough to throw on the griddle. She looked sad.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

Julieta turned to him surprised as if she hadn't realized how obvious she was. "Oh uh, no. I was just thinking." She said. She looked away thoughtfully for a moment as she resumed her cooking. "It's been so long since we've cooked together like this."

He wondered if his hermana could read his mind. They were triplets after all. Stranger things have happened.

"Sí." He replied. He glanced down at the floor. "I remember when we were kids, Mamá worried the magic would be weaker if we helped you."

"I remember." She sighed. "You know what I think?" She asked rhetorically as she flipped the arepas.

"Hm?" Bruno mumbled curiously through a mouthful of food.

His hermana walked over to pat his cheek playfully. "I think my magic is even stronger when we cook together."

Bruno laughed at the suggestion. "I dunno, my cooking is pretty bad." He replied playfully.

Julieta giggled. He loved her little laugh. Her smile. He missed making his hermanas laugh. He missed it so much it ached.

The two grew quiet again. He watched her face fall.

"What happened to us?" She asked the ground.

"Time, I guess." Bruno replied.

He wasn't sure how else to explain it. How else three children who shared a womb together, practically shared a mind once upon a time, could grow so distant? He watched as subtle tears began to spill down his sister's face. Rushing to comfort her in a panic.

"Hey, hey, it's ok. Hermana, I'm here, everything's good now." He tried to reassure as he brushed tears from her cheeks.

Maybe that primordial connection was still there. Perhaps she really could read his thoughts. Perhaps it would be better if he kept his distance. Perhaps it would be better not to overwhelm the two women he loved so dearly with his pain. His silly, childish, pain.

"I missed you, so, so much…" She choked out. Slight tears turned into small quiet sobs. "I know I don't say it enough…"

Bruno hated to see her like this. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone. That seemed to be the only thing he was capable of. If only she knew how much he had missed her. How much his heart ached every day to be with her and Pepa and the kids…

He forced down the tears that threatened to well up in his own eyes. He needed Julieta to be ok. He needed to be a man and comfort his sister.

"Don't apologize." He soothed. He held her face in his hands. Firm but tender. "I made a mistake. I hurt you. I didn't mean to, and I won't make that mistake again." He assured her.

She looked back up from the floor to meet his eyes with those beautiful coffee lakes. She placed her hand over his though her face didn't change.

Bruno was pulled away from the moment as a burnt smell hit his nostrils. "Julieta the food!" He yelped. He snapped his attention to the griddle.

She wiped the tears from her face and went to collect her last batch before it was ruined. It didn't take long before the rest of the family began spilling out of their rooms to start their day. Whatever moment he and his hermana had shared in the kitchen had passed without a second thought. When Agustín came down to plant a loving kiss on his wife the tears had already been cleared away. She smiled at him lovingly. No sign of the sorrow she'd expressed lingered on her face.

Maybe that was better. No one would know how he'd made her cry. Despite it... he still left a bitter pain in his chest. He slinked out of the kitchen before his groggy brother-in-law could notice him.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Breakfast was largely uneventful. He noticed the slightest twinge of skepticism on his mother's face when Julieta mentioned that he had helped her cook this morning. She made no comment of note however and simply thanked him for his friendly gesture. He always sat at the end of the table. Opposite his mother. It put him as far from her as possible but gave him a clear uninterrupted view of her face. Alma was a stoic woman but he knew his Mamá's subtle tells. She seemed to be making up new chores for him to do as of late. He knew why. He still wasn't doing readings. The tables de ratas were a nice way for parents to get an afternoon away from their little ones, but it was hardly something she would consider a service. Those only happened once a week anyway. Some folks had asked if he could do them more often as it was a useful distraction for the kids. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he could write that fast. He could tell his mother was getting restless with his lack of contribution. He'd have to start finding ways to pull his weight or she would no doubt ask him to return to doing visions. He was surprised she hadn't already if he had to be completely honest.

It wasn't until he was left alone with his cuñados to do chores that his day got interesting.

There was a knock at the door.

"Félix? Agustín? Someone's at the door!" He called out. Of course, it was silly. They were busy cleaning the bedrooms. He was the one in the courtyard.

"You get the door mano. You're right there!" Félix called back. Mostly playful, but slightly annoyed by the sound of things.

Bruno sighed. There came a flurry of rapid taps on the door. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the neighbors today.

He crossed his fingers and set his broom upside down against the wall and made his way to the door. He replied to the stranger on the other side with six of knocks of his own before he opened it just a crack.

"Señora Madrigal is out at the moment, but I can take a message." He sighed as he poked his head out. When he looked up, however, he realized he was in for an entirely different sort of interaction.

Jacqueline let out a shrill little squeal. "Look at that! Just the man I wanted to see!"

Dios mio.

Wilfredo stood behind his overly eager sister looking a tad embarrassed. He'd left his cardigan at home and was just wearing his sweater vest and white button-down. Sensible, given the warm weather. Odd he didn't roll up his sleeves at all. Not even the cuffs come to think of it. Jacqueline's eyes had that mischievous glint in them he'd seen that first day at the bar. What was she up to this time?

"You came… for me?" He replied slowly.

"Sí, estúpido." She replied teasingly. Making a move closer to his face.

He pulled back slightly which opened the door a bit wider in the process.

"Some nuevos amigos invited me to go fishing by the river and since you're one of mi nuevos amigos I thought I'd invite you."

Friends? Since when?

"Perdone?" He flustered, though he tried to stay polite. "I'm one of your friends? Me?" He stammered out.

"Hm, hm." She hummed smugly.

"Since when exactly?" He barked out before he could filter himself. He recoiled at his own words. He didn't mean to be so rude. He wasn't certain how much he cared if Jacqueline liked him, but didn't intend for his antisocial tendencies to make that decision for him.

Jacqueline seemed undeterred, however. His rudeness didn't even cause her a moment's pause. "Since I decided you're my friend." She replied matter of factly. As though that was a sufficient answer.

Bruno was considering explaining to her he was pretty sure that's not how friendship works. Although it's not like he would know. All his friends were rats. His thoughts were interrupted when Agustín came sauntering over.

"Bruno have you seen-" He cut off as he laid eyes on Jacqueline who was now standing on the threshold.

When did she get so close? What was with this woman and invading his personal space?

"Señorita Fontana!" He smiled brightly. "It's good to see you. How have you been enjoying your stay in the valley?"

Agustín walked up behind Bruno and rested a hand on his shoulder. He wasn't sure if that was meant to be comforting or to trap him in place so he couldn't flee from the awkward interaction. Perhaps his brother-in-law was simply very unaware of himself.

"Oh, this place is wonderful." Jacqueline beamed.

"El Encanto is a lovely village. I'll give it that." Wilfredo added as he adjusted his glasses.

"I was hoping I could borrow Bruno here for an afternoon. Some friends and I were going fishing and I thought I'd invite him."

Agustín grinned down at Bruno. Dios Mio. Not like that. It's not what you think.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea." He answered on Bruno's behalf.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm not any good at fishing." Bruno corrected shyly. He wasn't good at a lot of things.

"Nonsense, it's easy. Besides, you could use the fresh air." Agustín insisted.

Curse this man and his dumb friendly face. Bruno looked over to Wilfredo. Surely a studious man like him wouldn't have come by just to kidnap him and force him into idle chit-chat.

Wilfredo seemed to read the pleading expression he didn't realize he was making. "I was just going to come by and ask for the book you borrowed, but Jacqueline had other plans. Honestly once she makes up her mind on something it's easier to just go along with it." He chuckled sweetly. His smile seemed a bit more timid than usual. Just a bit.

"It would be more fun with you there though." Wilfredo added and Bruno felt uncomfortably warm. Wilfredo was just as much a hostage as he was in this situation. He'd rather be hostages together.

"Well, I guess… I guess it wouldn't be so bad." Bruno replied slowly as he struggled and failed to come up with a good excuse to weasel out of it.

"That's the spirit!" Agustín cheered as he slapped Bruno on the back. The suddenness of the gesture pushed him forward towards Jacqueline who grabbed him by the arm.

"B-but my chores!" He stammered.

"You were nearly done with them anyway." Agustín dismissed. "I can finish up for you."

"B-but, I should at least go get the book…"

"It'll still be here when you get back. Besides, you wouldn't want to take it to the river with you."

Bruno began to stammer incoherently. Jacqueline squeezed his shoulders. "Con calma Brunito. It'll be fun."

Unable to come up with another way to stall, he allowed Jacqueline to take him by the wrist. Dragging him down the hill. His sister's husband waved them goodbye and wished them a good day. The traitor.

Wilfredo walked up behind him and leaned in to give him a small smile. "Lo siento."

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Beatrice and Carlos were accompanying him today. They'd come down to find him in the kitchen that morning and were now observing Bruno's new company. Every time they'd talked thus far Wilfredo had seemed like a confident outgoing person. He'd even worried if perhaps he was only humoring Bruno when they spoke. Now as his sister dragged them along towards the river, taunting him mercilessly, it seemed like that mask was slipping just a bit. Wilfredo as it turns out was also prone to introversion not unlike Bruno. At least as far as his sister told it. It was weirdly reissuing, knowing he wasn't the only one who felt strong-armed by the overbearing women in his life.

"Honestly I don't know what you'd do without me." Jacqueline tutted.

"My job. I'd imagine." Wilfredo replied dryly.

"Oh please no one visits that stuffy old library anyway. You need some friends before you go crazy in there with your books."

Bruno could swear he'd had the exact same conversations with Pepa before. He had to stifle a laugh as he took in the look of defeat on the blond brother's face.

"We're not staying here. I think I can survive a few months on my own." He whined.

"Don't worry. Mis hermanas are like this all the time." Bruno smiled awkwardly at Wilfredo. He walked along a little hunched with his fingers constantly fidgeting in front of himself. Awkward as it felt he did enjoy watching the siblings bicker. It felt like he got to see a side to Wilfredo he hadn't before.

Wilfredo however looked over to him as if he was only just remembering he was there. Immediately straightening up. He plastered on that smile again. The one he wore to the festival. Beatrice who'd seemed especially interested in the man shrank further into Bruno's pocket when he did so.

"Oh, no pasa nada. Jacqueline and I just like to tease each other is all. Really I came to make sure she wouldn't be too much for you to handle."

Bruno had found his smile pleasant enough before. Now he wasn't sure he trusted it. It was a very specific smile. One that didn't quite reach his eyes. The one he gave his mother. The one that seemed to break apart what seemed like brief flashes of sincerity.

"Pues, vaya." Bruno snorted. "Gracias for looking out for me I guess." He replied sarcastically. Maybe a little harsher than intended.

Wilfredo looked like he was formulating a reply but a familiar voice cut him off. Well familiar to Bruno at least.

"Eh, Jacqueline, Bonita! Get over here!" Bruno looked down the hill to see a cluster of men by the river.

Only men, he noticed. The man who was waving to his new "friend" was Duilio. A man a couple years younger and perpetually larger than Bruno. Despite being older he had many memories of Duilio's bullying when they were children. Years of insults and humiliating pranks. The whole gag was here too. Duilio's stooges.

Elonzo was Duilio's best friend. A bit more jovial and always seemed to have a better sense of when to pull back. Despite his more lackadaisical and cheery demeanor, he was always willing to back up his ill-tempered friend.

Gideon had never been the smartest of the bunch. A bit younger than Duilio and Eleonzo and significantly smaller though he made up for it in intensity. It didn't take much to set him off. His hot-blooded nature was likely why Duilio was so endeared to him. That and he could be easily persuaded.

Marcos had only really started hanging around the crew after an earthquake Bruno predicted destroyed his family's home and crops. Bruno was in his twenties at the time. The earthquake had nearly leveled the whole town. His sisters held off on having children in the proceeding years as the town was built back up its former prosperity. The earthquake hurt everyone yet Marcos was especially fond of taking it out on Bruno.

Nacio was by far the youngest here. Bruno would hardly remember the boy had he not thought it funny to trigger one of Bruno's panic attacks in the middle of the plaza when he was a teen. He had to be what? Twenty-six now? Twenty-seven?

Vicente, his father made cigars. No doubt he'd since learned the trade. Bruno wasn't interested in catching up. He drowned one of Bruno's rats in the river once. He'd refused to use his powers to help the greasy boy manipulate a girl he liked.

Last was Andres who Bruno knew little about. The man didn't talk much. Bruno only recalled his name because of an incident where he had gone missing when they were still in la clase juvenil. The whole town had gone looking for him. They found him playing with dead frogs in an obscure part of the woods.

Barring Nacio, these boys had made up half the male student body growing up. Of course, he hadn't talked to these people in years. They were all married with kids of their own, lives, better things to do than pick on Bruno. Bruno could feel Carlos tense upon his shoulder and reached a hand over to soothe him.

They made their way down to the river and Jacqueline planted a kiss on Duilio's cheek. The boys hooted and hollered at her and exchanged their greetings. If Jacqueline was so desperate for male attention, there were plenty of kinder, prettier, men in El Encanto. Surely she could do better than Duilio? The man's receding hairline certainly wasn't doing him any favors.

"I think I'm starting to see what you meant when you said she would get into trouble." Bruno mumbled under his breath to Wilfredo. Like him, his companion had stopped a safe distance from the raucous crowd of overgrown teenagers.

"You know them I take it." He replied evenly.

"Bueno sí." Bruno replied a little surprised by the statement. "In a town this size, you tend to know most people."

If Wilfredo was embarrassed he didn't let it show. "Just clarifying is all. You think these people are trouble?" Still that same casual smile.

"What are you waiting for? Come over and grab a rod." Jacqueline called out to her brother.

His face fell for a moment as a flustered expression flickered across his features. It was cute. Alas, it passed in an instant as the polite smile returned. He made his way down to introduce himself to Jacqueline's new friends without protest.

Bruno didn't want to go down there but knew he wouldn't be left alone if he didn't. He followed behind slowly. Quietly. Perhaps if he kept to himself Duilio and his gang would ignore him.

"Ey mira, es mala suerte Bruno!" Elonzo called out to him with a wave.

"Ole! Bad luck Bruno." Cheered Marcos.

So much for being left alone.

"Bad luck Bruno?" Wilfredo repeated quizzically as he looked up from the fishing rod he'd been handed.

Bruno rubbed at his arm and looked down at the ground.

"You haven't heard? Bruno's visions are the worst." Marcos was eager to explain.

"Visions?"

"M-my gift." Bruno stammered out before someone else could answer for him. When he'd told Wilfredo about the miracle he'd deliberately avoided mentioning his own powers. He really didn't want to have to explain to the Fontana siblings why he would not, in fact, be reading their futures.

"I can see the future, sort of, sometimes. They aren't always clear…" He started to stammer and felt his chest tighten a little. He felt exposed. Standing on the riverbank in front of a jeering crowd. He pulled his ruana closed in front of his chest. He missed his old poncho. He felt naked.

"Son claros bien, claramente terribles." Gideon laughed at his own attempt at a joke.

"Every time he has a vision something bad happens." Another voice.

A chorus of his childhood tormentors. Of all people, why did Jacqueline have to befriend these people?

Bruno went and found himself a large rock to sit on by the river. A good distance away. It was under the shade of the trees. He felt a little bit safer. He wasn't scared of these people. Not exactly. Most of them had been much nicer to him since he'd returned. That didn't mean they were friends.

"That's not true, he's had a few good ones." Señor Pezmuerto added.

Bruno looked over. Pleasantly surprised. José had always been rather kind to him, but he was a good twenty years younger than him so they never had that much of a relationship. Especially after…

"Oh please, your wife still won't shut up about that stupid goldfish." Duilio griped to his brother-in-law.

José rolled his eyes as he reeled in his line to prepare for a fresh cast. "Just settle down already. I'd actually like to catch something today."

José didn't seem terribly fond of his cuñado. Bruno couldn't possibly imagine why.

Looking around Bruno noticed what looked like Duilio's two sons. What were their names again?

"Bonita, I thought I'd introduce you to mis hijos." Duilio cheered to Jacqueline. He grabbed her gruffly by her hip and yanked her to the ground beside him.

Seeing her manhandled like that brought bile to Bruno's throat. He said nothing. She seemed content to be manhandled. It wasn't his business how she preferred to be treated.

He looked to Wilfredo. That was his hermanita. Was he going to say anything?

Wilfredo gave a polite nod to José after baiting his hook and walked over to where Bruno was sitting. He didn't say anything. Duilio began showing off his sons to Jacqueline. Showing her off to them.

Wilfredo came and sat beside him. Notably on the opposite side of him from the rest of the group. His expression was calm. Unreadable.

Jacqueline giggled and batted her lashes as Duilio teased his boys, Dominic and Desmond. He kept his hand resting on Jacqueline's hip. He was married of course. His wife Elena was a lovely woman. He didn't deserve her. Bruno hadn't seen the Morales boys in a long time. He barely recognized them. The older one Desmond was about Isabella and Dolores' age but Dominic the younger was around Mirabel and Camilo's. Too young to be encouraged to drool over a middle-aged woman by their pig filth of a father.

"I have to admit, it is a very lovely day." Wilfredo's idle chatter broke Bruno from his thoughts. Pulling his eyes away from the disgusting gaggle of men.

"I guess you have my sister to thank for that." Bruno spoke slowly. His eyes started to wander back toward the rest of the group. Why wasn't Wilfredo saying anything?

"Tu hermana must be good at what she does." Wilfredo replied.

Bruno was considering speaking up. Should he say something? It wasn't his business. Why did he agree to this? Why was he invited?

A set of chubby fingers snapped in front of his face and caught his attention. He looked wide-eyed back at Wilfredo who seemed a little concerned.

"Te encuentras bien?" He asked.

"Ah, s-sí." Bruno replied. He pulled his knees up towards his chest and leaned forward onto them. For a moment he almost reached back for his hood only to remember the ruana Mirabel made him didn't have one. The lack of shelter made his toes twitch. Beatrice squirmed her head out to rest between his knees and avoid being squished while Carlos looked for a place to nest in his hair.

"I'm just questioning tu hermanita's choice of company." Bruno spoke softly so as not to be overheard by the others.

Wilfredo could hear him of course. "I do that all the time." He sighed. Bruno looked back at him. He looked disappointed as he watched his sister laugh and entertain. "But she does what she wants. I learned that the hard way years ago."

"She's going to get herself into trouble." Bruno warned.

"Oh, I know it." Wilfredo looked down at him. The blue of the river reflected in his eyes like water on stone. "I can't prevent it. Only do my best to prepare for it."

"Espera lo mejor, prepárate para lo peor, verdad?" Bruno gave a small half-hearted chuckle as he leaned back on his hands. His shoulders were still pulled to his ears and Carlos was burrowing into the hair at the nape of his neck. Beatrice was carefully observing Wilfredo. "I wish more people thought like that." Bruno sighed.

"So you…" Wilfredo looked puzzled as he thought of what to say.

"You want to know about my gift, don't you?" Bruno finished for him.

Wilfredo stood up to cast his line. Seemingly having decided where to aim. He sat back down again and avoided acknowledging Bruno's reply.

"I've never actually been finishing. I've read about it of course. I doubt I'll be very good at it though. Theory and practice and all that."

Bruno eyed him curiously. He scrunched up his nose as he tried to figure out what Wilfredo was playing at.

"So you're not curious?" He asked skeptically.

He watched the corner of Wilfredo's mouth twitch ever so slightly. "It has… piqued my interest." He replied evenly.

Bruno had to fight the urge to smile. Wilfredo was trying so hard to play it cool. If he'd learned one thing about the man so far it was his love of learning. He saw the look of fascination in his eyes when he spoke of the various topics he was researching. Bruno's gift wasn't something he liked to talk about. He'd avoided the conversation up until now. For once, he was almost excited to share his gift with someone. If only to see that fascination in the younger man's eyes.

"I know I kinda skipped over it before." Bruno replied smoothly. He scratched at his chin. "It's just, the rest of the family has such wonderful gifts, and mines just sort of, well…"

"Yours is bad luck. I heard." Wilfredo replied. Somewhat irritable as his eyes gestured back to the group. The rest of the party seemed to have well forgotten their presence by now.

Bruno sighed deeply. "I can see the future." He explained. "But... it's mostly just the bad stuff."

Bruno could feel the other man's eyes bore holes into him. Wilfredo's gray slates shimmered with that signature fascination. He never liked being the center of attention. Being a spectacle. For some reason, Wilfredo's gnawing curiosity was suprisingly endearing. For once it almost felt nice to be an object of fascination. It helped that it was just the two of them. The crude cackling of the rest of the group having faded into the background.

"Before you ask. I'm not going to give you a vision." Bruno replied.

Wilfredo looked like he regained his self-awareness. He straightened back up and returned his eyes to the river. "Sí, sí, por supuesto. I wouldn't want to impose. Besides, I have nothing I'd want to know." His lips twitched again. "Except perhaps… What are they like? Your visions. How do they work? How far into the future can you see? How detailed are they? Can you have visions about people or places you've never seen? How much do you need to know about something or someone to see their future? Can you show other people?..." He stopped himself before asking more questions.

Bruno stretched himself forward till he heard a slight pop in his back then draped his arms across his shins lazily.

"A ver, they're kind of fuzzy, fragmented. I mostly just get little bits and pieces, no sound, just images. Usually the futures of people I know, but sometimes I see things in my dreams I've never seen in a vision. If I really focus and I can project them for other people to see, but the naturally occurring ones, only I see them."

Bruno stopped short of the headaches, the fevers, the delirium of being plagued with visions for days at a stretch. Thankfully he had learned to suppress them years ago. Now they only triggered when he wanted them to. Which was to say very rarely. He was enjoying his chat. Enjoyed Wilfredo's curious nature. He didn't want to dampen the mood.

"Fascinante." Wilfredo replied as he stared out at the river. Deep in thought.

A moment or two passed in comfortable quiet before.

"Apuesto a que I can skip this rock all the way across!" Jacqueline challenged loudly to Duilio's younger son.

Bruno stretched out his legs and leaned back on his hands. He and his companion both turned to watch the teenage boy stagger up onto a large rock next to Jacqueline. She teased him playfully and they began their rock skipping competition. Much to the dismay of his Tío José who seemed to be the only one actually trying to fish.

He wasn't sure he was comfortable with the way she talked to such a young boy. She pushed on his shoulder and giggled and jeered the same as she did with the men.

"Seems like they're having fun." Bruno almost grumbled.

Wilfredo adjusted himself to place the fishing rod between the rocks. Freeing up his hands. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a matchbox and a small cigar tin. The sound of a match being struck brought Bruno's attention back to him. His eyes grew a little wider despite himself.

"You smoke?" Bruno inquired.

"Occasionally." Wilfredo replied as he cut his cigar with a pocket knife. A valuable-looking piece with a polished wooden handle. He lit the end, shook out the match, and brought a cigar to his lips. His very plump lips.

Wilfredo held it for a bit before releasing a breath of sweet-smelling smoke into the air. "On a nice day like this, it's a good way to unwind. The brand I like is a bit expensive. I'm trying to conserve, but the weather is so lovely it'd seem like a wasted opportunity."

Bruno almost recoiled but couldn't quite bring himself to do so. Stunned as Wilfredo leaned in closer to him to add, barely above a whisper. "Besides, a touch of sophistication distracts from the plebeyos."

Bruno let out an amused throaty purr of a laugh. He didn't know he could make those sounds. He could smell the tobacco on Wilfredo's breath and felt a wave of heat wash over him. He crossed his legs in a manner he prayed was subtle. Wilfredo pulled back to look back out at the river. He really should stop hanging out with this man. He was doing bad things to his head.

"Nice try niño." Jacqueline jeered as Dominic's rock sank halfway across the river. "You throw worse than mi abuelita."

"Big talk señorita." Dominic laughed though Bruno could hear a twinge of irritation in the boy's voice.

He looked over to watch Jacqueline wind up her next toss. Bruno jolted upright. Dominic groped Jacqueline's backside with enough force to send her stumbling off the rock. Bruno shoved Wilfredo's shoulder without taking his eyes off the scene. Did Wilfredo see what just happened?

The river that cut through the Encanto was partially man-made, well, Madrigal-made. Luisa had carved a few channels through the valley and they would divert the river through different channels as needed throughout the year. As a result, there wasn't so much a shore as a drop-off.

Wilfredo looked over but didn't seem too worried. Jacqueline's head bobbed back up out of the water. She laughed and sputtered swears at the boy and the cackling crowd as she pulled herself out of the river. She didn't seem terribly upset. Bruno was though. Figures Duilio's kids were just as bad as him.

Well, Dominic at least. Desmond was the only one besides José who didn't laugh.

"You alright señorita?" José asked. Jacqueline wrung out her skirt with her fists.

"Muy bien!" She snarked to José. "Duilio! Vigila a tu hijo!" She warned. Duilio simply laughed.

"Try something like that again and I'm telling your mother Dominic." José scolded.

Dominic blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Lo siento Tío." He said bashfully.

"Don't apologize to me!" José corrected. "Apologize to la señorita!"

"Tome las cosas con más calma en el niño. Los chicos son chicos." Duilio interjected.

Of course, he'd have to open his big stupid mouth the second any real parenting starts to take place. Bruno groaned and rolled his eyes. Wilfredo gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. Signifying his shared frustration. That was nice at least.

Jacqueline came plodding up to them in her bare feet as she shook the water from her heels. She looked a bit shorter. Bruno hadn't realized how much height her shoes added. Most women in town didn't wear heels. Even still she was tall for a woman.

She hovered over the two of them. Blocking out the sun. Dripping wet and frustrated. "Dame eso." She demanded to her brother who obediently handed over his cigar. She plopped down beside them like a fish and took a deep inhale from the cigar. Bruno could see the angry creases on her face though she was smiling. It reminded him of the strained faces Pepa would make on a bad day. After a few seconds, she breathed angry smoke out her nostrils like a dragon. "I still like Marlboro's better." She griped as she passed it back to her brother.

"Sí, cause you like bazofia." Wilfredo replied as he took back his cigar.

Bruno let out a little amused snort as he thought of Duilio and his gang. Jacqueline had such terrible taste. Wilfredo took another puff from the cigar before nearly stopping Bruno's heart.

"You want a taste?" He offered.

Bruno looked down at the cigar in his hands then back up to the man's face. To his lips.

"No, gracias, I don't smoke." He replied with an awkward smile. Screaming internally at the perverse demon in his head.

"Mira, Brunito es un buen chico." Jacqueline cooed mischievously. She grabbed Bruno by his arm and leaned heavily on his shoulder. The sudden invasion of his personal space was deeply unappreciated. She was uncomfortably young and wet.

He struggled very slightly to weasel his arm out of her grip only to fumble sideways into her brother.

"Deberías dejar de coquetear con viejos." Her brother chided.

Jacqueline merely quirked an eyebrow at him as she chewed her own devilish grin. Bruno looked up at Wilfredo confused only to see a bright red blush consume his face. He'd not seen that before. Wilfredo shoved Bruno off of him in a hurry and hunched over on his knees to angrily puff away at his cigar. Whatever unspoken communication had passed between them was beyond Bruno's understanding.

"What's the matter, Brunito, can't handle a real woman?" Elonzo called out.

Bruno could think of a few things to say. Unwilling to degrade Jacqueline any more than the other men already had, he kept his mouth shut. Shooting him an angry glare instead.

"See this is what happens when you don't talk to people." Duilio mused to his older son. He leaned back and took a sip from his canteen.

Desmond was seated beside his father. Still holding his fishing rod and staring absentmindedly across the river.

"You don't start acting normal, you're gonna wind up like mala suerte Bruno over there." He scolded.

"Don't be too hard on him." Nacio, who was only a few years older than Desmond, defended. "He's not half as ugly. I'm sure you'll find someone who'll marry him."

Bruno rolled his eyes. He was going to tune the crew out again but the ensuing conversation demanded his attention. Duilio irritably snapped his fingers in front of his son's face when the boy wasn't responding to one of his inane questions.

"Hm? Sí Pa?" The boy fumbled out dreamily. Only half turning to his father. His eyes were locked on something across the river.

It was Luisa. She was doing construction work on a new storehouse. She'd been working more lately. Bruno worried a tad. She had been eager to show him her little wooden sculptures but hadn't brought any new craft projects to his attention as of late. She looked sweaty but made no indication she was tired.

"Ooooooh!" Dominic cheered. From his vantage point on the rock, he could see what had captured his brother's attention. "Easy Hermano, that woman would crush you!"

Duilio looked across the river to Luisa. "¡¿Estás bromeando?!" He grumbled.

Desmond finally pulled his wide eyes away from Luisa to look down at his fidgeting hands. "I just think ella es guapa is all…" He mumbled softly.

Bruno's heart ached for the child. He looked so small as he shrunk under his father's disapproving glare.

"Guapa?" Duilio grunted like the pig he was. "That's certainly one way to put it."

"I don't know hombre. I'd let her do things to me." Marcos countered.

Bruno couldn't help but feel sick. Marcos was forty-seven and married. Luisa was a child.

"¡Ole! That's mi sobrinita could you not!" He protested.

Duilio laughed.

"Sobrinita? Esa cosa? Sobrinota's more like it!" Duilio sputtered out between side-splitting laughter.

Bruno felt the dusty furnace in his chest spark to life. Cosa? Did he just call Luisa a thing?!

"Qué dijiste?!" Bruno barked. His voice was hoarse. He had to fight past the tightening in his throat to spit the words out.

"Relájate, amigo. We're just joking around." Gideon teased.

"Ignora a esos imbéciles." Wilfredo whispered. He put a hand on Bruno's arm to try and stop him from getting up. Bruno shook off his grip. He didn't hesitate to take a few steps toward the crowd.

"Say that again!" He challenged as he came to stand over Duilio.

Bruno was small but with Duilio sitting on the river bank, his shadow cast over the man's face. Duilio lazily dragged his eyes up to meet Bruno's. Mild irritation as though he thought Bruno was being unreasonable. He was being unreasonable?!

"She looks like a man in a dress. What do you want from me?" He took a swig from his canteen again before laughing. "Lucky for you we got enough maricóns in this town who'd be willing to marry her."

WHAM!

Duilio went tumbling back from the force of the blow. Shocked and confused. His eyes darted about for a moment before slowly bringing his hand to his face. His nose was bleeding. The look he gave Bruno mirrored Bruno's own shock.

Bruno stumbled back a step or two. His fist was still raised in front of him. He stared down at his own hand as though he didn't recognize it. He couldn't unclench his fist. The adrenaline was still racing. Bruno wasn't a violent person. He didn't pick fights. The shock started to diminish as he remembered the disgusting things those men were saying about his sobrina. This burn in his chest. That fire in his veins. It reminded him of a panic attack, but this was different, this was focused.

The crowd let out a chorus of hoots and hollers. Duilio got to his feet.

He was taller than Bruno and significantly wider. He towered over him as he cracked his neck and shook his shoulders loose.

"Would you look at that?! Bad luck Bruno wants to fight!" He crooned. His voice sent a cold chill down Bruno's spine.

There it was. The panic. It was back.

Bruno swallowed hard but pulled both fists up in front of his face. He was shaking. He wasn't going to back down. He'd started this.

He looked up at Duilio's smug face and steadied himself enough to shoot back a determined glare. He knew he couldn't win. He was prepared for the pain he knew was coming. It wouldn't be his first beating. He'd live.

"You sure you wanna do this hombre?" Duilio gave him an out.

"Leave him alone, Duilio." José pleaded halfheartedly.

"He's not worth it." Andres called out without enough interest to so much as turn to look at them.

Not worth it. No. Bruno wasn't. Luisa was.

Duilio took a few steps closer. Bruno took a step back. The larger man leaned closer to his face.

"If he wants a fight I'll let him have one." Duilio insisted.

A few of Duilio's friends had begun to form a circle around them. Bruno hoped they were only spectating.

"Oh we're doing this now are we!" Jacqueline's voice cut through his growing nerves. He looked back to watch her run over with a manic grin. Removing her dangly gold earrings as she did so.

"D-don't-" Was all he could manage to choke out before she leaned up against his back with her fists raised.

The men cackled and a few reached out to grab Jacqueline. Bruno stared back at her wide-eyed as she managed to punch Marcos in the throat. She sent Elonzo to the ground with a knee to the groin. They were outnumbered. Gideon and Andres managed to grab her and pull her out of the ring that had formed.

The force of her struggle shoved Bruno forward into Duilio. His fist met Bruno's face with a loud crack. Bruno stumbled back onto the rocks. He could feel the familiar sting of split skin along his cheekbone.

"Estás bien Elonzo." Duilio laughed to his best friend who had doubled over. Clutching his wounded manhood.

"Perra's got some real fight in her." Croaked Marcos. He grabbed Jacqueline by her hair to help restrain her.

Jacqueline struggled against the gruff hands holding her arms behind her back. "There's more where that came from!" She spat. She seemed more frustrated than scared. Bruno wished she was scared. Wished she had some common sense.

"Calma señorita. We're all amigos here." That was a lie. "Let los chicos settle this ey?" Elonzo soothed. He'd made it, with some difficulty, back to his feet. He held her chin and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "Eres demasiado bonita para ser rudimentaria." He reasoned gently.

"And just sit back and let my friend get beat? Nah, I'm loyal, unlike tus putas." She snarked. She bit down on Elonzo's thumb and made him wail like a child.

She got a few laughs from the crowd and seemed oddly pleased with it.

Duilio yanked Bruno up to his feet by his ruana. He couldn't help but grab the man's wrist to steady himself. Hoisted up like a rag doll.

"You should sit this one out chica. He's not worth messing up your pretty face."

Bruno looked over to Jacqueline. She looked like she was planning her next attack. Don't hurt her. Don't do something stupid, Jacqueline.

Bruno looked back up to Duilio whose heavy chest shook with laughter as Jacqueline managed to slam her head back into Gideon's teeth. The man stumbled back and Bruno knew he needed to get people's eyes back on him again. Get them off of Jacqueline.

He closed his eyes and took a deep shaky breath.

He could feel them. His visions. Like a dull throb in the back of his skull. He wasn't scared. He wanted something bad. He wanted something that would hurt.

"Mierda está haciendo!" Duilio shouted as he dropped Bruno who stumbled a bit but kept his balance.

He couldn't see what was around him, but he could hear. Hear the shouts and the wind that picked up around him. His visions had always been disorienting. After going so long without them it was an especially strange sensation. He hoped for something good. Something bad. Something that would hurt Duilio.

He could see Duilio. He looked the same. This is the near future.

Bruno couldn't escape the grin that made it to his lips. He watched Duilio beg and plead. A small object was thrown at him and bounced off his chest to the ground…

A ring?

"Your wife's going to leave you. Soon." He chuckled out.

"Cierra el hocico!"

He felt another fist make contact with his face. His vision grew hazy and flickered for a bit like TV static. His hair was yanked back and his head was shoved down into the rocks. Hard enough to make images flicker again.

He could see Duilio's wife screaming. He'd never seen Elena so angry. She was usually such a gentle soul. Now her face was twisted in grief and rage. Her boys stood back. Desmond was comforting his mother…

"Wow, your wife really hates you." He managed to sputter out through bloody lips. He managed a cruel gleeful smile in what he hoped was the direction of the real Duilio's face. Hard to make eye contact like this.

Truth be told the sight of Elena so enraged hurt to see. Whatever was about to happen. She didn't deserve it. He wouldn't let pity that show. Not right now. Duilio hadn't earned his pity.

More blows to the face. His vision grew blurry as the future faded from sight. His awareness returned to him. He finally had the wherewithal to curl up and cover his face with his arms. Undeterred, Duilio resorted to stomping on his ribs. Bruno could feel the wind being knocked from him. Loud cracks from delicate bones.

"GET OFF HIM!" He heard Jacqueline shriek and struggle. Followed soon after by the pained groans of another man.

"You want what he's having, puta?!" Duilio shouted as he kicked Bruno's ribs again.

Bruno tightened his grip on himself all the more as he prepared for another blow. Then suddenly… nothing.

"I think you should leave Señor Morales."

That was Luisa's voice.

Bruno pulled his arms down just enough to peer upwards. His vision was cloudy. Half-blinded by the sun and the blood dripping from his brow. That silhouette could only be one person. As his eyes began to adjust he could see her holding Duilio off the ground at arm's length. His startled expression was immensely satisfying, or it would be at least had Bruno not needed his sobrina to come and save him.

"Oh, I, We- we were just having a little disagreement." Duilio stammered as he craned his head back to give Luisa a nervous smile.

She looked unamused.

"Go home." She half suggested half ordered. She set him back down on his feet.

"Sí, Sí, Gracias, Disculpa…" He stuttered out before waving to his friends. They were all more than happy to drop the firebrand who'd been giving them so much trouble.

Bruno simply lay limp on the rocks as he watched them leave. The rage had died down. He was tired. Everything hurt. Still, it was satisfying watching them run off like frightened little boys.

"Tío Bruno, are you all right?!" Luisa was worried. So worried. It hurt. He hadn't meant to hurt her.

He looked up at Luisa who was kneeling over him. Her stern expression had disappeared and now all he could see was a frightened little girl. Great. As if one traumatized niece wasn't enough.

"I'm fine." He croaked. He could taste blood in his mouth. His voice didn't sound convincing. He knew that.

"I went to get help as soon as the fight started." Wilfredo explained.

Bruno had forgotten all about the professor in the scuffle. Wilfredo stood behind Luisa looking down at Bruno with concern. He looked sweaty and flushed. His glasses were crooked. A departure from his usually calm, composed, presentation. It took a moment to register but Carlos and Beatrice were perched on his shoulders. They must have run off in the scuffle. Fled to the nearest person with any good sense.

"You ran away and just let him dar una paliza!" Jacqueline accused.

Bruno could hear her storm up the rocks to her brother. Luisa gingerly tried to lift him up.

"I ran to get help! You know! The sensible thing to do!" Wilfredo protested.

Bruno winced as Luisa tried to slide her arms under him. Carlos and Beatrice scurried to his side though waited to touch him.

"No, no, I can…" He tried to protest. He pushed off of her shoulder to try and lift himself upright. Pain. Searing pain shot through his chest and nearly made him vomit. He collapsed back into his sobrina's arms again. It hurt to breathe.

"You're in no condition to walk home, Tío." Luisa scolded as she pulled him closer to her chest.

Strong as she was, she was gentle. Every touch from Luisa was tender and precise. Like she was handling a broken bird. Bruno groaned in frustration and went limp as he allowed her to lift him up off the ground. His rats scaled her towering frame to observe Bruno from her shoulders. She cradled him like a child. The best he could manage was to flop one humiliated arm over his face as she began to carry him back towards the house.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Wilfredo fretted as he followed behind with Jacqueline in toe.

Bruno wanted to tell him they'd done enough. He wanted to tell him to leave. That this was why he didn't leave the house. When he tried to speak all he could do was suck air in through a pained hiss.

Luisa, of course, demanded to know what happened. The Fontana siblings did their best to fill her in on the conflict as they made their way back to Casita. Wilfredo hadn't seen Bruno's vision. Jacqueline had though. She gushed excitedly over how amazing it was. Even had the nerve to make him sound intimidating and manly. Macho... He certainly didn't feel macho.

Their trek back didn't go unnoticed.

"Dios mío! What happened?!"

That was Isabela's voice. Of course. Of course, it was.

Bruno lifted his arm slightly to peer down at her. Isabela ran up to check on him. Forcing Luisa to a standstill to avoid a collision. Her clothes were muddy. She had been working the fields. He figured her work must be done for the day. Likely she was headed home for a well-deserved bath and a rest. Now he's just ruined that for her.

He couldn't restrain the pained hiss that escaped him when she placed her hands on his face. Inspecting every cut and bruise. He tried to gurgle out some reassurance. The others spoke before he could get enough air in his lungs to do damage control.

"He got in a fight down by the river." Luisa explained.

"A fight?!" Isabela took a step back in disbelief. "Who did this?!"

"Duilio Morales." Jacqueline replied before anyone could stop her. Please don't encourage her.

Bruno could see the blood boiling under Isabela's skin.

"Where is he?!" She demanded.

"Oh you should have seen it. Luisa sent el cabrón running home with his tail between his legs." Jacqueline enthused. She was enjoying this a little too much. The fight hadn't been that impressive.

"Por favor, don't encourage her." Luisa begged Jacqueline though she was too late. The oldest Madrigal grandchild was already storming off back towards the village. Wilfredo looked like he made some attempt to reach out to stop Isabela before silently backing off when he saw the rage on her face. Luisa contemplated going after her for a moment before looking back down at her battered tío. All Bruno could manage to do was look up at her apologetically.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Luisa was careful to avoid bumping Bruno's head on the door frame as they entered through the side door. She sat him down as Casita pushed a chair out for him. They rattled Thier tiles frantically when she approached with Bruno's limp body. Another wave of nausea-inducing pain shot through him once he was placed upright. He leaned his head back and let it dangle over the edge of the chair. Jacqueline was quick to take a seat. When he peeked one eye open he noticed Wilfredo standing anxiously in the doorway.

"You can sit." He croaked out. It was obvious his new "friends" weren't planning on leaving just yet. If Señor Fontana was going to hover he might as well at least be comfortable.

Wilfredo said nothing. Only offered him a pained, sympathetic, expression before walking around the table to sit across from him. Notably slightly askew. Not angled directly towards him.

"I can't believe you would do all this for me." Luisa scolded. She returned to the dining room with a glass of water and a couple of arepas on a saucer.

It hurt to speak. Hurt to move. Bruno couldn't resist the urge to prop himself up and choke out the words.

"Eres mi sobrinita." He croaked.

Luisa sat the plate and glass down in front of him before taking a seat. She looked so scared before. She still did now, but more frustrated than anything. Bruno reached forward to take the food. Wincing at the sharp ripples of pain the mild gesture sent through his body. He wanted to talk more. He needed to console her. He would tolerate the pain to get the food down as quickly as he could manage.

He barely chewed and it hurt to swallow. Once he felt the effects kick in he let out a deep sigh. He could feel the burn of every bruise and cut, broken ribs knit back together, then relief. Bruno turned to look up at his sobrina. To look into her beautiful brown eyes. "I couldn't just let those pendejos talk about you like that." He insisted. He tried to smile. To joke. He was fine. He regretted nothing. Well… One thing.

Bruno's heart sank when he saw the tears welling up in her eyes. Luisa reached up to wipe them away before replying bitterly. "I know what people say about me. I don't need you to…" She looked back at him frustrated before looking down at the bloody arepa in his hand. Wilfredo offered Bruno his handkerchief. He would have protested ruining it if his focus hadn't been on Luisa. He took it absentmindedly and cleaned the blood from his face. Looking back to Luisa whose eyes and fallen to the floor.

Bruno set the handkerchief down and placed a hand on her shoulder. Leaning forward to try and regain eye contact. "You don't really believe the things they were saying, do you?"

"I thought you said you weren't doing visions anymore?" She changed the subject and Bruno felt a knot form in his gut.

"He wasn't exactly asking for it…" He replied shyly. Pulling his hand back to tug at his ruana.

"Oh, he was asking for it alright!" Jacqueline cheered. She slapped the table hard enough Bruno had to grab his glass before it spilled.

"I can't believe you missed it, Wilfredo. This is what you get for being un gallina."

Wilfredo glared at his sister from across the table. Bruno took a sip from his glass. He wasn't interested in getting in the middle of their sibling spat.

"At least I actually did something useful." Wilfredo spat back.

"I appreciate you coming to get me, Señor Fontana." Luisa interjected. Bruno could tell she was trying to smooth over the two hot-headed siblings. "Gracias for looking out for mi tío. Both of you." She added as she looked over to Jacqueline who, despite coming out this unscathed, had sent a few men home with some nasty bruises.

She never liked conflict. Seeing her now reminded him of the ways she'd try to distract him and Pepa when they fought. This sweet little girl who couldn't understand why the adults were angry. She just wanted peace in the household. Something that only ever seemed possible when Bruno wasn't around. Bruno's rats had returned to nestle in his ruana now that he was healed. Three of them now. The news was spreading it seemed.

"Lo siento mucho. We never meant to cause any trouble. I had no idea the sort of people mi hermanita had been associating with." Wilfredo flinched as Jacqueline kicked his leg under the table. It wasn't subtle as she shook the table, again. Bruno let out a little snort. Wilfredo noticed and Bruno was quick to look away and focus on his drink.

"It's really not a problem." Luisa attempted to correct. "Señor Morales is just un poco tosco."

Bruno choked on the water he was swallowing and Luisa was quick to lean over and pat his back.

"Un poco tosco!" Bruno coughed out. "That's one way to put it."

"You shouldn't speak poorly of our neighbors, Tío." Luisa warned. She was far too forgiving.

Bruno bit back the nasty things he'd like to say. "Un poco tosco or not, he had no right to say those things about you."

Bruno pulled Luisa's hand off his shoulder to hold it in his. Her hands were so much bigger now. They used to be so small. He rubbed little circles along her knuckles with his thumb. Pondering the memory of her tiny little hand clasping his finger. She was so strong even then.

He looked up at her. At her beautiful face. "Luisa you're a beautiful, kind, incredible woman. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently."

Luisa looked like she wanted to say something, but was cut off by an eerily familiar shout from the front door.

"BRUNO!"

Bruno swung back into his seat. Shrinking in on himself instinctively. Hands in his lap. Head down. A deeply ingrained response to his mother's fury. Juanita was here now. Squirming under his hands. He reciprocated the gesture with gentle pets.

Alma stormed into the courtyard dragging Isabela by her ear. She looked around and charged into the dining room where her eyes locked onto Bruno. Bruno could hear the pained sounds of his oldest sobrina. She was being dragged along. It made him wince.

"I caught Isabela harassing the Morales family and now I'm hearing about a fight. What is the meaning of this!?" Mamá roared.

Félix and Agustín emerged from Luisa's room. Presumably, they'd been relaxing. Her room was a popular spot for that. They called down over the balcony.

"Everything alright Abuela?" Félix asked gently.

"We heard shouting." Agustín added unnecessarily.

Alma looked over her shoulder to call back towards the courtyard. "This doesn't concern you hijos." She seemed to calm down a little. Realizing the racket she was making, though she was still very, very angry.

"Lo siento Mamá, it was my fault. I started the fight." Bruno confessed.

"With all due respect señora." Jacqueline cut in. Bruno peered at her through his peripheral but didn't move. Please shut up. "Duilio got what was coming to him. Bruno's vision was-"

Mamá had only just noticed the Fontanas. She cut Jacqueline off with a wave of her hand. She fixed her shocked, furious, gaze back onto Bruno after registering the disruption.

"You had a vision?" She demanded.

"Sí Mamá." Bruno replied softly.

Bruno looked up through a curtain of hair to watch her closely. He could see his cuñados making their way down the stairs to investigate the commotion. Mamá rubbed her thumb and forefinger together thoughtfully for a moment. She turned her attention back to the visitors. After looking them both over her eyes settled on Wilfredo.

"I think you two should leave." She suggested. It was clear from her tone it wasn't a request.

"Sí señora. We were just about to." Wilfredo replied apologetically as he got up from his seat.

"Perdona? Did I say I was leaving?" Jacqueline replied. She leaned back in her seat, one arm draped over the back of the chair.

Wilfredo fixed a stern glare on his sister.

Bruno tilted his head to watch Jacqueline. She looked lazily around the room. He knew full well by this point what a confrontational sort she was and only hoped she had the good sense to pick her battles.

Jacqueline pursed her lips before letting out a frustrated sigh and rising from her seat. She shoved the chair out with enough force Casita had to catch it and push it back in. Bruno watched her saunter around the table to stand by her brother. Forcing a smile for his mother.

"Lamentamos las molestias." She said before turning towards Casita's now open doors.

Wilfredo offered the intimidating woman one last apologetic nod before following behind his sister. Alma watched them leave, then returned her gaze to Bruno.

It was just the family now.

"What did you see?"

"His wife is going to leave him." Bruno swallowed the growing lump in his throat. He did his best not to squeeze poor Juanita. "I-I think I just ended a marriage…" He confessed.

His mother was silent. It was deafening.

"You're not seriously going to blame Tío Bruno for this are you?!" Isabela finally cut through the silence in disbelief. "What Señor Morales did to him was so much worse!" She protested.

"Isabela, not a word!" Mamá interrupted.

"But-"

Mamá cut her granddaughter off with a wave of her hand and a stern look.

"To your room, Isabela! I don't want to see you for the rest of the night."

Isabela looked like she wanted to say something more. Fortunately, hatever spark of courage had possessed his sobrina to defend him was quickly snuffed out.

"Sí Abuela." She replied bitterly before leaving for her room. Agustín watched his daughter stomp past him. He looked back to his mother-in-law before deciding to follow Isabela to her room. A smart call. Better to get the story from her at this point.

Mamá paced the length of the table in frustration.

"I can't believe you." She scolded. "And over what?! Some petty childhood squabbles?"

"Mamá, it wasn't-" Bruno tried to protest.

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" She cut off. She turned to look Bruno in the eye. He'd made the mistake of lifting his head and now was trapped in her burning eyes.

"You are too old to be behaving this way!"

He had nothing to say. She was right. He was acting like a child. He deserved this. He scared Luisa. Isabela was being punished because of him. Why couldn't he have just ignored them? Just stay quiet and not cause problems. Just for a day. Why was he always causing problems?

"Sí Mamá." He replied. His head dropped back down towards his lap.

Mamá exhaled sharply through her nose before straightening her blouse. "I'm going to go speak with the Morales family and try to smooth things over." She turned back to Bruno before she left. "As for your vision. You're certain of what you saw?" She asked.

Bruno was fairly certain. The vision hadn't seemed ambiguous to him. "I-it's possible I might have… I could have… It was a short vision." He replied.

Mamá seemed satisfied with his answer and turned to leave.