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."

16. Continence

︵‿୨ - March 21 1951 - ୧‿︵

"Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock on wood."

Early. Strange. Bruno always arrived at the same time every day like clockwork. He was very reliable in that way. Something Wilfredo generally appreciated.

He'd just finished serving Robledo his lunch. Wilfredo was nibbling on a grapefruit at the desk when he heard the familiar knocking. He popped another slice into his mouth. Looking up from the lesson plan he was double-checking. He took a sip of midday coffee and got up to answer the door. Sure enough, there was Bruno.

Standing there with an adorably awkward smile. His hands fidgeting in front of his chest.

"You're here early." Wilfredo chuckled. Doing well to hide the confusion that threatened to surface on his face. He poked his head out the door and looked about. Camilo was nowhere to be seen.

"Camilo is out with friends. He'll be over when we're ready to start." Bruno confirmed shyly. A warm goofy smile that wouldn't leave his face. There was a tense excitable energy to him that made Wilfredo's skin prickle. It was electric and contagious.

He felt that wave of childish excitement wash over him and did his best to keep it contained. He hadn't felt like this since he was a kid. It was a silly, impractical, feeling. Warm and sincere, and entirely too risky.

He raised an eyebrow back at Bruno. "A bit eggar today are we." He waved Bruno inside and went back to skimming over the lesson plan. Doing his best to carry on as though nothing had changed. "Funny you should show up now. I just finished serving Robledo his lunch. He hasn't got down for his nap yet."

Of course with story hour now being split into two events Robledo was usually awake for la clase juvenil in the afternoon. Bruno was usually here for las clases juvenil anyway. Robledo usually spent junior story hour out on the little balcony on the second floor. Robledo was never in the library when Bruno arrived.

"I know." Bruno replied bluntly.

Wilfredo looked back up at him confused. Bruno was a seer for sure but, his visions weren't that specific. Were they? No. Bruno had described his abilities before. He certainly couldn't pin down when Robledo would be out by the minute. Bruno had knocked the second Wilfredo sat down.

"Were… were you spying?" He asked incredulously.

Bruno fiddled with his hands. His eyes darting about the space. "N-no… Sí."

Wilfredo was stunned silent. The door to Robledo's home had a window. Bruno could have seen them in the kitchen from there. Was he seriously just waiting outside for Robledo to eat?

Bruno's excited smile faded and he looked anxious and scared. "I… That was weird, wasn't it? P-Perdón, Perdóname, I, I didn't mean to be, I wasn't thinking-"

Wilfredo cut him off. Cupping Bruno's cheeks in his hands. Gazing into those big brilliant hazel eyes. Glittering green where the warm sun streamed in through the open windows. "Cálmate amor. Está bien. I'm not mad." He chuckled softly.

He probably should have been in all honesty. If he'd caught anyone else spying like that Wilfredo would have been deeply unsettled. No, this was Bruno. Bruno was good and pure. He meant no harm.

Wilfredo couldn't help the slight melancholy that sunk in as he considered how normal this behavior was for Bruno. For so many years it was the only way he could feel close to his loved ones. It was strange. Probably not very healthy. Nevertheless, it was a sign of Bruno's love. For better or worse.

"I-is something wrong?" Bruno stammered out.

Wilfredo let go of his face. "No, nothing's wrong-" He caught himself and winced. Remembering his promise from the night before. He took a deep breath and puffed up his cheeks in mild frustration. Pinching his fingers together and tapping the air beside his head. He didn't think the no-lying rule would matter much. It was just now dawning on him it might be more of a challenge than he'd first anticipated. Too late now. He'd agreed to it and he wasn't about to go back on it now.

He let out the breath he was holding with a tired sigh. "No actually… It's not that anything is wrong. I was just thinking about your time in the wall. It makes me sad to picture you living in such a state. That's all." He admitted honestly. He'd have to be more guarded with his emotions if he wanted to avoid explaining them. That might be difficult. Counterproductive perhaps…

"Oh." Bruno looks some parts sad and some parts relieved. He stared down at the floor and a small smile crept to his lips. A faint blush on his cheeks. "It's nice to know you care so much."

That answer worked. It didn't upset him. He seemed flattered.

Wilfredo could feel the blush creeping into his own face. This man really was a contagion. Wilfredo combed his fingers through his hair and looked away. "Well, after last night… It would be quite the disappointment if I didn't, wouldn't it?" He joked.

Of course, he cared. It was Bruno. He deserved the world. Deserves happiness. Wilfredo would never not care.

Bruno's smile widened into a mischievous grin. Wilfredo only caught it out of the corner of his eye, however. Already turning back to his work. He noticed but didn't give it much thought. He should have. It startled him when Bruno suddenly pulled him down to kiss him. Shoving him back up against the desk and trying to eat his tongue.

Wilfredo nearly lost himself to that kiss. It was clumsy and unskilled but so full of passion. He felt young and dumb. Felt that familiar thrill. A familiar panic…

Wilfredo rushed to shove Bruno off him.

"Bata ya! What if someone sees!" Wilfredo hissed.

Bruno shrunk back like a beat puppy. "B-but…" Big pleading eyes and quivering lip. Almost like he was trying to take Wilfredo apart.

Wilfredo felt a deep twisting knot in his chest. This was going to be a struggle. He steeled his nerves. Held Bruno by his shoulders and rubbed his hands up and down his lover's arms. His lover… right… they were lovers now weren't they? That is what Wilfredo agreed to last night. He hadn't dreamed it. Hadn't dreamed all those lovely, beautiful, things Bruno had said about him.

Bruno adored him. He'd made that very clear. Why, was a mystery to Wilfredo. All he knew was that he couldn't let this lovely fae down. He only had a little over a month to give this man the world. He knew he had to do his best. Had to be the best lover he could be. He wanted to be worthy of this pure creature.

He knew that was an impossible task. He could try to be, just for a short while. He could manage that.

"Bruno we have to be careful." He warned gently. His voice soft and his touch even softer. Like handling porcelain. Pulling Bruno close and holding him by his hips. They were alone in the library right now. Their voices low. No one else would likely come by at this time. They had a few minutes where he could indulge.

Bruno turned a deep crimson staring back up at him. The look of lovestruck awe in his eyes was intoxicating. Wilfredo could get drunk off Bruno's love.

Wilfredo couldn't help the wicked little grin that consumed his face. He leaned in to whisper in Bruno's ear as he held him. "We have ten minutes before los niños empiecen a aparecer. Make it count."

He let his fingers slip up under Bruno's shirt. Feeling the goosebumps on his skin. Hear the faint shutter from his precious fae. Bruno was so easy to tease. It was utterly delicious.

Bruno took his offer. He grabbed Wilfredo by the collar of his cardigan and pulled him back between the bookshelves. Out of view of the windows where they would be shielded from any possible passerby. Consuming Wilfredo in another bestial kiss.

Bruno was clumsy. Wilfredo didn't mind it. He could teach.

He snickered and kissed up the side of Bruno's face. Whispering against his skin. Pressing him up against the shelves. "Déjame llevar mi amor."

Bruno let out a soft little squeak and sighed. "S-sí, gracias." He breathed.

Wilfredo stroked Bruno's temple. Ran his fingers through dark salt and pepper curls. Sinking into the crook of Bruno's neck. Savoring the feel of his skin. The smell of him. The scent of incense. He smelled holy.

The way Wilfredo kissed him was slow and deliberate. Guiding Bruno's lips and tongue. Feeling Bruno melt in his hands. Moaning softly. Long spindly fingers explored Wilfredo's body. Starting up at his shoulders and working their way down his chest.

Wilfredo knew his body wasn't much. He didn't need to be reminded of his own lack of discipline. Feeling hands exploring repugnant folds. The contours of his own sloth.

Without skipping a beat Wilfredo lifted Bruno up off the floor. Forcing Bruno to wrap his arms around Wilfredo's neck with a startled yelp. Wilfredo rested Bruno against his hips. His back pressed against the shelves. Gripping his thighs and driving his new lover wild with deep, passionate, kisses. Determined to steal the breath from his lungs.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

He put on his best performance but still tracked the minutes in his head. He needed to stop himself in time for Bruno to cool down before the kids arrived. Not a particularly romantic thought. A practical consideration. He still needed to keep Bruno safe. Happy and safe… That would be a difficult balancing act. Never mind that, he could manage. For Bruno, he could manage.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

When he felt the time was right to cut him off he pulled away. Kissing the side of Bruno's face to ween him off. Bruno was panting for air and grinding against him. Flustered and eggar. Wilfredo only chuckled as he held him. "Cálmate amor. Cálmate." He soothed.

Bruno whined as Wilfredo set him down. "No es justo."

"Oh, de verdad?" Wilfredo chuckled. Holding Bruno close. Swaying slightly. Rocking him on his feet. "And what else would you have me do? You shouldn't start something you can't finish." He warned.

Bruno puffed up his cheeks indignantly. Wilfredo had to try and contain the urge to laugh. What did Bruno think couples did? Even normal couples still had to practice self-restraint. They couldn't very well make love in the middle of the library in broad daylight.

"Are you going to be alright when los niños get here?"

Bruno groaned and pulled away. Wrapping his ruana tight around him. Attempting to hide his arousal. All swaddled up in his colorful cocoon.

Wilfredo didn't have so much trouble. He had more control of his body. It had cost him fully appreciating Bruno in the moment. One of them had to be responsible. He'd relieved himself the night before when he got home… and that morning before breakfast… so that helped… He kept his mind on other things while he entertained his lover.

Wilfredo tsk-tsked him playfully and went back to his desk to look over the lesson plan one last time. Something he'd been trying to do before Bruno distracted him. They had a few minutes. He was a bit buzzed himself. He knew he could cool off in the minutes they had remaining.

Bruno should be fine, right?

Bruno walked up behind him to peer over at the lesson plan. Still bundled up tight. "Exegesis?" He pondered aloud.

Wilfredo nodded. "It just means to critically examine a literary work. To analyze its meaning and intention. The same thing we do with anything else we read really but the term exegesis is usually used to describe taking this same sort of analytical lens to scripture."

Bruno screwed up his face for a moment. "You're going to critique the bible?" He replied incredulously.

Wilfredo combed his fingers through his hair. Carefully considering his answer. Bruno's reaction had been telling. "Possibly. Mostly I just think it's valuable to approach scripture the way one approaches any piece of literature. Curiosity and critical thinking are virtues. You see value in developing a robust understanding of your beliefs, es así?"

"Oh, sí, sí. Cómo no?" Bruno laughed with an exaggerated hand wave. He was very clearly uncomfortable. The thought of taking such a magnifying glass to holy text made him nervous. The two of them had never really discussed religion before. Wilfredo was suddenly realizing that might be a topic to avoid probing too deeply into.

"You know you don't need to stay here por hora superior. Está bien si quieres parar esto." Wilfredo reminded him gently.

Bruno snapped up and rushed over. Forcing an awkward smile. Flopping sideways to lean against the desk in an attempt to look casual. "No, no. Why would I do that? Estoy bien. Puedo hacer esto."

Wilfredo frowned and combed his fingers through his hair. Don't lie. Just chose your words carefully. "It's just, after the Shakspere incident I was worried that maybe some of the subject matter por la clase mayor might be a bit much for you."

Bruno bit his lip. His eyes went wide. He tensed up. A couple of rats scurried up his clothes. One nested into his shoulder. The other found his hands. Bruno pushed away from the desk to stroke their fur as he floundered for a reply.

How long had those rats been here? They must have fled when the two of them were… That was a little unsettling. Wilfredo wasn't quite sure how he felt about Bruno's pets being so privy to their… exploits.

"I can handle more mature material. No soy un niño." Bruno insisted. Straightening up and trying to stand firm. His confidence didn't last very long however before he shrunk back slightly. Looking back at Wilfrdo anxiously. Trying so hard to hide it. "I thought last time you were just saying that because you didn't want me around." He confessed.

Wilfredo felt his whole body deflate. He never meant to punish Bruno. To make him feel unwanted… "Bruno no." Wilfredo put a hand on Bruno's shoulder to steady him. "I could tell some topics leave you stressed. I just didn't want to push you out of your comfort zone, that's all."

Bruno's mouth formed a harsh flat line. He fidgeted. Unsure how to feel about Wilfredo's concerns. Bruno wanted to be seen as strong and mature. Wilfredo imagined not many people saw him that way. He wasn't trying to make Bruno feel small. He only wanted to ensure his comfort.

"You know I wasn't mad at you." Wilfredo assured him. His hand dropped to his side. Tucking into his pockets and staring down at his shoes. He realized how his behavior must have looked. "I wasn't ignoring you because you rejected me." He clarified. He leaned back against the desk. Taking a subtle breath to calm himself. "I was hurt and that wasn't your fault. You didn't owe me anything. You still don't. It was selfish of me but it was hard to talk to you after that so I kept to myself. Besides, I had other things to worry about." He still did. He shifted his weight and preened again. Looking back to Bruno's face. Worried about what he'd find.

Bruno seemed to relax. Collecting his thoughts. He looked a bit more confident if a bit ashamed. He scratched at his beard. "That makes sense. Perdón por enviándole señales confusas. I wasn't really thinking."

Wilfredo shook his head. "I still shouldn't have yelled at you. Perdóname?"

Bruno tucked his rat into his front pocket. Beatrice then. She was always the one who stole his pocket. The one on his shoulder was a large male. Carlos or Sergio. Probably Sergio. Looked too young to be Carlos.

"Estás perdonado." Bruno assured with a playful smile.

He fell onto Wilfredo's chest. Smiling sweetly up at him with the most adoring eyes. Wilfredo wasn't used to being so adored. It was a strange feeling. He felt a warmth spread through his chest and up his face. Wrapping his arms around his little lover in turn. "So are you staying? It's up to you. There's no wrong answer."

That wide toothy grin spread across Bruno's face. He snuggled into Wilfredo's chest and made him burn. "Claro que me quedo." He assured confidently. "Eres el único lugar donde quiero estar."

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Bruno scrambled into the seat behind the desk when la clase mayor arrived. Rushing to hide his still lingering excitement by curling up in the seat. Wilfredo found it a bit strange. He would have thought if nothing else exchanging apologies would have been a bit of a mood killer. It certainly was for him.

Nevertheless, the day carried on more or less as planned. No major hiccups. The teens flooded into the space and Mirabel and Camilo exchanged pleasantries with their tío. It was painfully obvious to Wilfredo that Bruno was uncomfortable talking to them. The teens didn't seem to give it much thought. Bruno knocked on the desk and Wilfredo pulled their attention away from him with pleasantries of his own. The sobrinos seemed to drop any suspicions after that.

Wilfredo took a seat in one of the reading chairs while the kids all crowded around. Sitting on the floor or leaning against bookshelves. Camilo invited himself to sit on the edge of the desk and cracked jokes to entertain his classmates. He reminded Wilfredo of Jacqueline in a lot of ways. Boisterous and mischievous. He teased one girl Ayla in particular for bringing a notebook with her.

"Venga Ayla. Where not at school. You don't have to take notes. No one's grading you." He stretched out some foreign leg to bat at the girl's short braids with his foot.

Ayla was seated on the floor. She swatted away toes he borrowed with a huff. "Just because you don't like to think doesn't mean the rest of us have to be as dumb as you."

The rest of the class snickered and jeered. Camilo didn't seem bothered though. A faint blush bloomed amongst his freckles. He watched Ayla with a toothy grin that looked all too familiar. Wilfredo had seen that face from Bruno before. Must run in the family.

Cut, but it wouldn't get him out of trouble. Ayla didn't seem to be a fan of his games. If someone didn't nip this in the bud early Camilo might keep escalating for her attention. The boy would just have to learn to get a woman's attention some other way. Or cut his losses in favor of someone better suited.

"There's no need for insults mija." Wilfredo chided gently. "But I do appreciate having such an attentive young mind among us." He glanced back at Camilo with a sharp smile. "I think some of us could benefit a great deal from dedicating our appendages to something more worthwhile. Perhaps if you picked up a pen every now and again you wouldn't have such wandering hands?"

A few more classmates snickered. Camilo's smile turned sheepish. He rubbed at the back of his neck.

"I wonder what tu madre would say if she heard you'd been touching chicas guapas without asking." Wilfredo thought aloud. Tapping his finger to his lips.

Camilo turned pale. He waved his hands in a rush to protest but was cut off by Bruno and Mirabel's laughter.

"Ah, no seas dura con él." Bruno sighed. Wiping a tear from his eye. "Es sólo un poco de travesura. He didn't mean any harm."

Wilfredo leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow at him. "En serio?"

Funny. Bruno didn't seem to accept that mentality when Duilio's son was acting up. Wilfredo knew Camilo was a good kid at heart. That wasn't really being called into question. Dominic was probably a good kid too. Wilfredo had certainly seen him around comforting his mother since the divorce. He wasn't a bad kid. Duilio was a bad father. Bruno couldn't Camilo get away with things just for being his sobrino. That's how you end up with boys like Dominic.

Bruno seemed to realize what Wilfredo was implying and shrunk in on himself. Remembering that day by the river where he'd been fuming over how Duilio and his boys treated Jacqueline. Bruno hadn't said anything to Wilfredo. Only nudged Wilfredo when Jacqueline was groped. Wilfredo hadn't been paying them much mind but he was hardly unaware of the atmosphere at the time. He simply had enough self-restraint not to glare openly at the crowd the way Bruno did.

"Mami really doesn't need to know." Camilo insisted. Desperately scrambling to downplay his infraction.

His prima leaned up against the desk beside him. "I don't know maybe you need a good zap." Mirabel teased. Eliciting more snickering from their peers.

"Sí, bueno, maybe Abuela would like to know you've been seeing Oscar behind her back." Camilo snapped back. Arms crossed. Grinning wickedly. Convinced he'd gotten the upper hand.

Bruno looked alarmed. "Eso es tu nuevo novio?!"

Wilfredo rested his jaw in his hand. Leaning against the arm of his chair and stifling a laugh. Bruno wasn't stupid. Far from it. He could be very clever in some ways. His social awareness, however, left a lot to be desired.

"Ay, what's wrong with mi harmano." Carmen protested. The tiny thirteen-year-old was seated on the floor by one of the bookshelves. Oscar never joined them for story hour but his little sister sometimes did.

Much of what Wilfredo knew about the boy came from his hermanita. Carmen would often stay late after story hour to talk. From the sound of things, she didn't often feel like she had many people to talk to at home. Wilfredo didn't mind giving her space to vent her thoughts. Her stories about her parents often reminded Wilfredo of his own. She liked to sing but their parents considered it an unproductive talent. They wanted her to apprentice with the town cobbler.

Vega monte. The only lady friend Jacqueline had. Wilfredo had stopped by to chat with her before. She seemed like a kind woman. He couldn't fathom why Jacqueline enjoyed her company. He decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Vega was a positive influence. Jacqueline needed more people like that.

Kind or not he knew Carmen didn't want to make shoes. She wanted to sing, to perform. Unfortunately, that wasn't a real career in a town like this. She could sing to her heart's content. It wouldn't be seen as a valued contribution. She would hardly be destitute if she dedicated herself to such a passion. She wouldn't be respected. She wouldn't carry her family's good reputation.

Alternatively, she could marry a respected man and bear lots of children. Wilfredo had a feeling that wasn't a future she wanted either. Her brother Oscar was notorious for his bad temper. His antisocial tendencies. He supported his sister's passion. As Carmen told it, he was one of the few people who would listen to her sing. Read the songs she wrote. He liked her singing.

"Por favor can we get back to reading?" Ayla whined. "I want to-"

The other teens groaned collectively before she couldn't finish her statement. Ayla was a library mouse. A natural academic. Wilfredo adored such passionate curiosity. Her classmates were less fond of it. She often broke up their fun in her pursuit of intellectual stimulation. She was another student who would stay behind after story hour. She'd even visit the library by herself which few people did. Less talkative than Carmen. It was clear to him that the local school wasn't satisfying her needs. She kept coming by looking for new sources of intellectual stimulation.

Most of the kids who joined him during holy week for bible study were only here to avoid more dull traditions at home or church. That or their parents wanted some space to themselves while the kids were out of school. Ayla on the other hand had approached last week's discussion with elation. The way her eyes lit up. The thrill of analyzing something sacred with a critical eye. Wilfredo saw himself in her. He remembered how it felt when he was that age. How big the world suddenly felt when he realized that even the highest authorities were not beyond questioning.

Wilfredo couldn't help the laugh that escaped his chest at the bored groans of the other students. He knew they'd take to the conversation soon enough despite their mild protests. It all felt so familiar. Ayla looked so frustrated and discouraged. He couldn't help feeling endeared. He knew that pain all too well. He peered down at her notepad through his lenses. She'd left it laying open in her lap. The words were upside down. He could see a list of questions.

She'd read ahead. Written down the various contradictions she had spotted in the passages they meant to read today. He noticed a small inconsequential contradiction that he had on his list when he was young. It didn't affect the story in any way. Few people would have cared but it was a contradiction nonetheless. Her notes were well organized and sorted.

"Who can tell me who carried the cross to Golgotha?" He asked the small crowd. Taking a question off the top of Ayla's list. One he felt would engage the class.

Ayla perked up as if to ask a question but was interrupted by Rocío who spoke first. One of the Espina twins. "Obviously Jesus. Everybody knows that. It's why we hike to the top of Pico Pedro on Friday." Pedro's peak being the tallest of the magical mountains that surrounded the valley.

Wilfredo had been told the mountains emerged miraculously from the ground. He wasn't sure how much he believed that story. That said, considering he'd seen so many things in this town he couldn't explain it didn't seem outside the realm of possibility. He was still trying to wrap his head around it all in truth. He'd seen proof of Bruno's future sight.

While he'd been subtle about it he'd gone out of his way at this point to witness every Madrigal gift. Making mental notes of what he could observe at a distance or glean from casual conversation. Too polite to question them directly. He wanted so badly to sit each of them down and bombard them with intrigue. To test the boundaries and mechanics of their abilities and learn all he could. Alas, these were people, not lab rats. At the end of the day, it wasn't his magic and it certainly wasn't any of his business what they did with it.

The mountain had been named after Bruno's late father. Wilfredo wasn't sure how Bruno felt about this local tradition. It was common in plenty of places to make the way of the cross. Wilfredo's own parents used to take him and Jacqueline on the long hike up Monserrate every year. He wondered how it must feel for Bruno to have a celebration of christ so associated with his father's sacrifice. The association wasn't intentional. The mountain was named when the town was founded and was only selected later for this tradition because of its size. Still…

Pedro was a folk hero. Just as mythical a figure as the rest of the Madrigals, if not more so. His children and grandchildren were alive and well. They lived among the town. There's a kind of mundanity that elicited. No matter how spectacular you are, people grow accustomed to your presence. The same was not necessarily true of the dead. Wilfredo was a history professor. He knew all too well the way death had a habit of making people seem larger than life.

What must it be like to live in the shadow of such a figure?

"I do believe Ayla had something to say." Wilfredo corrected. "Try to wait your turn next time to answer." He shifted his glasses and looked back to Ayla. "Did you have something to add?"

Ayla looked back at her notes. "John says Jesus carried the cross but Mark, Mathew, and Luke said it was a man named Simon."

Wilfredo smiled coyly. "It was standard practice for the condemned to carry their own cross. John's account would make sense." He drummed his fingers on his bible before flipping through the pages for emphasis. Pretending to double-check as if he hadn't memorized such details years ago. "It is odd that Mark, Mathew, and Luke all make a different claim. According to them the Romans seized Simon of Cyrene off the street and made him carry the cross."

Ayla raised her hand with a follow-up. She didn't need to but Wilfredo respected the courtesy. No doubt she wanted to avoid making Rocío's earlier mistake. He pointed to her and she asked. "Who's Simon of Cyrene?"

Wilfredo felt a playful warmth in his chest. He shrugged nonchalantly. "Hard to say. He's only ever mentioned in this part of the story. All we know is where he was from and that he had two sons Alexander and Rufus."

"Then Mark, Mathew, and Luke are wrong." Rosita the other Espina twin.

The Espina family were farmers with five children. The eldest was a girl named Lucera who wore men's clothes. Wil had his suspicions about her. Especially whenever he saw her around town with Isabela. He's keep that gut feeling to himself. He had a strong sense for these sorts of things. Lucera seemed like a very loving and responsible older sister. The youngest was a caffeine-addicted little boy named Juancho who was always just a little too loud. Thankfully he wasn't terribly difficult to corral.

Wilfredo had ridden with the Espina family to the city before. He'd been stressed out and seeking his own recreation at the time. He was grateful he still had the wherewithal to learn each of their names and personalities. To get a feel for their family dynamic. They were a close-knit and good-humored family. He knew they were one of the families who sent their kids to school. Not really because they thought the kids needed it. It was simply a way to keep the kids stimulated and busy.

"Te parece que sí?" Wilfredo questioned playfully. The Espina kids were a very confident bunch. They always stated their thoughts with such certainty. That confidence could be a double-edged sword if they didn't learn to temper it. Their older sister seemed to have a sensible head on her shoulders though. Wilfredo wasn't worried. "Why do you think the accounts differ?" He coaxed.

Rosita and her sister went quiet as they considered the question.

Camilo shrugged. "I mean someone probably just remembered it wrong." He stated plainly. The answer seemed obvious to him.

Mirabel, however, seemed a little unconvinced. "I don't know, that seems like a weird thing to misremember. Something that important and life-changing?"

Wilfredo tilted his head and raised a hand to offer a proposition. "Maybe, but memory can be flawed in very interesting ways. It isn't perfect and people forget all kinds of things." He grinned and combed his fingers through his hair. "Camilo thought your Tio was some gangly giant." He teased.

Camilo turned red and groaned.

Ayla raised her hand again. Wilfredo called on her. "Sí Ayla?"

"If three out of four people say it was Simon, doesn't it make sense to believe the story that most people agree on?"

Wilfredo nodded. "That would be a very sensible approach."

Rodrigo sat near the front and screwed up his face at Wilfredo. "You're a history teacher, sí? Why don't you just tell us which version is the right one." He looked annoyed. He thought Wilfredo was playing games with him and was less than amused.

Rodrigo didn't attend regular classes. Most of the children who attended story hour at the library were students but not all. School attendance wasn't a requirement in El Encanto and only about a quarter of the families in town made their children attend daily.

Wilfredo understood why. It was a rural community where most children would grow into their family's trade. Not many parents would see a rounded education as much of a necessity. Still, it saddened him. Learning was important. Even if the subject didn't seem useful at first glance. He always believed in the importance of learning how to learn. In asking questions. Approaching the world with curiosity, humility, and skepticism. He'd seen plenty of teachers whose only concern was training children to memorize and regurgitate information. That wasn't teaching. Not the kind that mattered.

Rodrigo was expecting Wilfredo to give him the answer because that's what he was accustomed to. It wasn't just schools and teachers but parents and grandparents and priests. He, like many kids, grew up expecting to be told what to do, what to think, what to believe. To follow the wisdom of his elders without question. Wilfredo refused to play the role of such an elder. The boy might find it frustrating but free thinking was a virtue Wilfredo would preach with more fervor than the bible.

"I don't have the answer." Wilfredo replied honestly. "History is a practice of taking what remnants we have of the past and trying to piece together the most likely sequence of events from the evidence available."

Ayla raised her hand again. Wilfredo chuckled and called on her again. "Sí Ayla?"

"So then it makes more sense to assume John was the one misremembering, sí?" She wasn't subtle. Reiterating her point from before. Seeking validation for her theory. "It seems more likely that one person would misremember than three."

"Navaja de Occam." Wilfredo replied with pride. "The hypothesis with the fewest assumptions is often correct." She was a clever girl. While he wanted to keep the conversation open-ended he would still do his best to encourage her.

"Ugh, that's so stupid." Camilo whined.

"Camilo!" Bruno scolded.

Camilo held a hand up in self-defense. "Not Ayla, the story. The Simon version is boring and makes no sense. Why would they drag some random nobody off the street and make him carry the cross?" He gestured to Wilfredo. "You heard Wil. They used to make people carry their own cross, so why not Jesus?"

"Maybe Jesus was too weak to carry it?" Rocío suggested. The twins were trying to make sense of this challenge to the assumptions they had approached the conversation with.

"Jesus is the son of god. He's magic. He can do anything." Camilo argued back. "Besides you just know he would want to carry his own cross. He knew what he was here for. He wouldn't want to make one of us carry his burden." Ever the lover of theatrics. Camilo played himself off very aloof but he had a sense for artistry and narrative.

"Most people would agree es mejor cuento." Wilfredo agreed. He kept his language passive still and avoided stating his own opinions directly.

"Pero no es un cuento, es historia." Herberto argued. Another Espina child. Younger than the twins. "It's the word of god. It can't be wrong."

Herberto's older sisters turned to him. "Then why does it say different things?" Rosita challenged. Her sister watching their brother intently. Almost challengingly.

"The story may be holy but it was still written by mortal men. People are flawed. Sometimes they forget or misremember." Wilfredo pointed out. "But if that's not the case then what do you think happened here?"

Herberto crossed his arms. Furrowing his brow to think. He was thirteen. Short and chubby. The way his cheeks puffed up when he thought was positively adorable.

"Maybe Jesus carried it part of the way but got tired so they had Simon carry it the rest of the way. That way everyone's right."

"That's certainly a possibility." Wilfredo granted.

The boy beamed with pride. Satisfied with having answered a difficult question. Truthfully, there was no obvious right answer in such situations. Wilfredo wasn't going to take that victory from him. It was as good an answer as any other. The important thing is that the conversation got him to consider things he normally might not have.

The remainder of the discussion carried on much the same way. They would read and Ayla would point out contradictions where she could. Always asking questions. Her peers went from lamenting her passion to becoming absorbed in it. She was contagious when given a space where she could thrive.

Story hour ran over time with kids bouncing theories off each other. Some like Herberto prioritized reconciling contradictions. Some like Ayla took an impartial investigative approach. Trying to find the truth with the evidence presented. Some like Camilo engaged with it like a literary analysis. More concerned with what made for a compelling narrative. It was no wonder he was Bruno's co-writer on their stage plays.

Bruno's responses were… interesting. Once the actual discussion started Bruno seemed to grow quiet. Only speaking up occasionally to help reign in an overheated argument or slightly too meanspirited teasing. Wilfredo couldn't help but notice Bruno's discomfort. His lover was clearly trying to hide it. He wasn't succeeding.

Wilfredo was learning more about Bruno's relationship to religion. In many ways, they were still getting to know each other. Wilfredo hadn't been certain how that conversation would go. Seeing Bruno shy away from such critical conversation made Wilfredo worry that perhaps this was a topic better not brought up between them. He wasn't confident Bruno would like Wilfredo's answers if he asked.

No matter. Wilfredo wasn't staying forever. It didn't matter if they disagreed on such subjects. It's not like they'd be together for long. Best not to rock the boat and just enjoy their time together. Be the best lover he could be.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Once the older kids filed out Wilfredo opted to take some of his notes on the students and drop them off at the school house. Bruno practically clung to him all the way. Refusing to leave his side. Wilfredo had to reign in his puppy dog infatuation on more than one occasion. He hated doing it but it was vitally necessary they not make a scene of themselves.

They passed neighbors preparing vibrant displays to carry through the streets during tomorrow night's procession. Those who weren't setting up decorations were hanging about with friends and family. Laughing and playing. Many greeted the both of them warmly as they passed and Wilfredo always reciprocated in kind.

A gaggle of younger children were playing on the little wooden playground outside the schoolhouse. Antonio seemed to be leading the pack. The once shy boy had really come into his own. Now a bold leader among his peers with his fierce and trusty steed. Truthfully Parce still filled Wilfredo with deep anxiety. Having such a deadly apex predator at the beck and call of such a small child was worrisome. At least the feline seemed to be of a rather agreeable temperament. Wilfredo couldn't say the same for his mother's late house cat.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

"Oh, Hola Señora." Wilfredo greeted with the faintest hint of surprise. He wasn't expecting to see Señora Delgado there. The school was out for the holidays. She should have been at home or out celebrating.

Poking his head through the open door he found her hunched over her desk grading papers. She looked weary and disheveled. Wilfredo's shoulders went slack. His spirit fell as it dawned on him why she was here.

Delgado looked up from her desk. Her messy bun coming even looser from the sudden frenzied motion. "Oh, Señor Fontana. Bruno…" Her wide eyes lingered on the town prophet.

Wilfredo could feel Bruno tense up behind him. "How about you go play with los niños? I'll only be a minute." He reassured.

Bruno looked anxiously back at Delgado. "Ah, s-sí." He agreed. He offered his former friend a timid nod. "Me alegro de verte Ana." He smiled meekly before retreating.

Ana Sofía. That was her name. Bruno called her by her first name. It reminded Wilfredo that the two of them had gone to school together. Bruno was a fair deal older than her and the two were never directly in the same class together. Still, they were both taught by Robledo. She was a peer to him.

For some reason, it felt strange to consider. Bruno usually addressed her formally in front of the kids. His words to her were brief but laced with a kind of familiarity that Wilfredo envied. Why? Of course, Bruno had a life of his own. His years in the wall had robbed him of much but, once upon a time, he had friends and classmates. He had a whole community. He'd hardly come to Wilfredo some empty vessel for him to fill.

So why did it sting to be reminded of that?

Wilfredo shook the clinging thoughts from his mind. None of that mattered. His colleague was clearly distressed and that was far more important than his own petty feelings. He stepped inside holding his notes to his chest. "Tienes problemas mantenerse al día?" He asked her gently.

Ana Sofía's son Gabrio had been born with a heart condition Julieta's cooking couldn't cure. It seemed her magic couldn't change the way a person was born. Wilfredo didn't see the boy around too often. Unsurprising, his mother was a teacher. It made sense he wouldn't want to spend his free time at a library.

He was often bedridden for periods of time and had little less to do but read. He wouldn't want to spend what time he had out of the house on more reading. Ana Sofía would sometimes stop by the library to ask Wilfredo for something for her son to read.

The boy had been doing poorly lately. Another one of his frail spells. It was clear from the look on his mother's face that worry and lack of sleep had left her to fall behind on her work. It was understandable and deeply unfortunate.

Ana Sofía sighed. "Su padre está con él. Está bien. Sé que está bien." She explained. She was more reassuring herself than she was Wilfredo. "I need to get this done."

Wilfredo set his notes off to the side and placed a hand on Ana Sofía's. Stilling her pen. "How about you let me help you with these? We could get the grading done faster if we split up the work."

Ana Sofía looked back up at him with sad tired eyes. His heart ached. He deeply resented the briefest ghost of envy that had passed his thoughts a moment ago.

Wilfredo took half the stack and a pen and sat down at one of the desks. Ana Sofía thanked him for his help and he reassured her. He asked her to come to him if ever she needed help. He knew his way around a classroom. He could be doing more than tutoring her students and sharing his notes.

He didn't regret sending Bruno out. Ana Sofía was in a delicate place right now. Wilfredo knew full well it wasn't Bruno's fault. The seer could no more control the boy's fate than Wilfredo could. He wondered if Ana Sofía understood that. The way she looked at Bruno it was clear she was afraid of his predictions. That one day he would come to her baring the news of her son's grim fate.

As far as Wilfredo could tell, the boy's condition sounded manageable. Sometimes he would struggle and need extra care. They'd only ever had one or two really bad scares and mostly seemed to know how to avoid such things. Despite that, one could hardly begrudge a mother for her worries.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

"Muchísimas gracias." Señora Delgado gushed as he placed the stack of graded papers on her desk. The mundanity of grading papers had seeped into him and lulled Wilfredo into a comfortable familiarity.

"You sure you don't need help with the exams?" He offered. There was still more to do. Señora Delgado had exams to craft for her students. She hardly seemed in the right mindset to do so. Not that he was giving her his undivided attention anymore…

Wilfredo leaned back against her desk. Arms crossed to obscure his body. He'd discarded his cardigan at the desk he'd burrowed. For some reason, the schoolhouse was always a bit warmer than the library. Something about its design. Maybe its placement in the town. Absent one of his usual layers he was more prone to trying to hide his features. He had more than one reason for his heightened insecurity.

"Death to the rat king!" Came a shockingly loud war cry from a shockingly small person playing in the yard.

Wilfredo probably shouldn't have been thinking about such things at a time like this. His heart went out to Señora Delgado. Truly it did. Yet the warm reminder of his precious fae was still enough to cause his mind to wander.

Wilfredo glanced out the window to watch Bruno nimbly evade a small army of younglings and wild animals. Playing colorful, inventive, games with his sobrino and friends. Bruno may have been less engaged in their discussion earlier with the older kids but he flourished among the little ones.

Wilfredo loved working with children. He loved nurturing young minds. He envied Bruno's youthful energy. Wilfredo could never keep up with their games the way Bruno could. He was shockingly athletic despite his appearance. Flexible and fast. Despite his usual clumsy awkward nature, shockingly coordinated when properly motivated.

Wilfredo loved watching them run about and shriek. Bruno was such a beautiful soul. The way he smiled and laughed. His melodramatic flair as he reveled in the role of a cartoonish villain. Watching him play with the children had washed away Wilfredo's former sobriety. Lost yet again in the man's wonder. Bruno was a real person god had blessed him enough to know. He still hadn't quite gotten used to that.

"I don't know, I need to section it off for different levels." Ana Sofía's words pulled Wilfredo back to reality.

No longer floating. Returned to the cramped schoolhouse. Returned to the sorrowful reminder of this woman's struggles. He felt guilty for getting distracted. For relishing in his own joy in the presence of her struggle. He turned his head to offer her a reply.

"I know I'm less experienced with mixed-level classes but I'm sure I could manage it." He insisted. It almost offended him that she thought the demands of a small-town schoolhouse would be a challenge for him. It shouldn't have. It was petty and didn't matter. He doubted Ana Sofía even considered the implication of what she was saying given her frazzled state.

She continued to scan ineffectively over her notes as if Wilfredo hadn't spoken. She looked exhausted. She was worried about her son. She shouldn't really be working at all. She should be at home with him.

Wilfredo offered her his hand. Shaking the mild frustration at being pulled away from his blissful distraction. Looking her in the eye and choosing to focus on the woman in front of him. On a person who was struggling and needed help.

"Here, give me the lesson plan. I can talk to Señor Robledo and see if, between the two of us, we can't come up with something." This was of course a token gesture of humility. Wilfredo didn't need Robledo's help. He wouldn't waste the old retirees' time with something he could very well do himself. He knew Ana Sofía would trust the man who taught her the trade.

A little white lie perhaps. One with nothing but good intent. Only to ease her anxiety. This woman needed rest. She needed to be with her son right now. A small lie to do some good. A worthy trade.

Ana stood up and surprised Wilfredo with a hug. Leaning over the desk to offer him this token of affection. "Gracias, eres una santa." She sighed.

Wilfredo wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. "I don't know about that." He chuckled softly. Attempting to defuse the mild discomfort of such unearned intimacy. He'd let himself be distracted from her pain. He wasn't doing anything special. "I'm just glad I can be of some service." He tightened his hold for a brief moment to reassure her. "Todo va a estar bien." He whispered.

Ana Sofía passed him the lesson plan as she pulled away. Rubbing at her temples. Attempting to collect herself. She seemed comforted, if still persistently exhausted. Just forming thoughts at this point seemed a struggle for her.

Wilfredo never had a sick child. He couldn't speak to that fear, but the exhaustion? He was no stranger to that feeling. The kind of fatigue that seeps into one's soul. The fatigue that was already creeping in again. He needed another coffee.

To him, it was an old friend. An adversary he had long since given up trying to best and simply learned to live with. Not everyone was equipt to live in a constant state of exhaustion though.

If he could help alleviate that for others that's what he would do. After all, he had no good reason for it. He was just lazy. The least he could do was muscle through it and make himself useful. Debticate himself to those who earned their rest.

Ana Sofía looked like she was about to say something before a low roar followed by a shrill shriek ripped both their attention from the desk.

"AY!"

"Parce, parar! no más!"

Wilfredo was out the door in an instant. The school had a grassy yard attached where the kids would play after class. Worn down in places from many games of football. A simple wooden playground on the opposite end.

The current scuffle kicked up a distressing amount of dirt. Thankfully, it didn't take long for the dust to settle and reveal Bruno pinned to the ground by Antonio's jaguar "friend" Parce. Antonio was trying to pull the large cat off by the scruff of its neck to no avail.

"It's just a game Parce! We were just pretending!" Antonio pleaded.

Wilfredo wanted to rush in immediately. A strong primal instinct wanted to do whatever it took to protect his new mate. His mind was sharper than that. Wilfredo was a man with sense and once he calmed himself he realized the animal didn't seem to be trying to hurt Bruno. It merely pinned him. Nothing more. Bruno was laying on the ground. His face in the dirt with a two-hundred-pound predator on his back. He was mostly fine.

"Rindo! Rhino!" Bruno pleaded.

Wilfredo set the lesson plan down on the bench outside. He approached the animal slowly. Shooing the other children out of the way.

"That's enough." Wilfredo announced to the crowd and diminutive onlookers. "The game's over. Don't crowd."

The children looked disappointed if a bit guilty but didn't protest. Wilfredo wasn't particularly skilled with animals. Parce seemed tame enough.

"Antonio."

"Parce's not listening to me!" Antonio whined as the large cat continued to sit on his tío and ignore his protests.

Wilfredo did his best to avoid direct eye contact with the beast and tried to draw on what he knew of pantheras and other similar animals.

"You need to be stern with him." He instructed the boy. "Calm, don't shout, but be stern."

Of course in any normal situation, he would never tell a child to talk back to a cat that could crack skulls with its jaws. He'd be telling them all to back away slowly and not take their eyes off it. Antonio wasn't any ordinary child and Perce wasn't any ordinary jaguar.

Antonio nodded resolutely and took a deep breath. Walking around to the animal's face. He looked Parce directly in the eye. Something Wilfredo would normally strongly advise against as most animals would see that as a sign of aggression. Most animals had minimal, if any, comprehension of human speech. Parce understood Antonio.

Even knowing this Wilfredo placed a protective arm across the boy's chest. Fully prepared to yank him out of the way should the large predatory mammal be offended. Holding his other hand up to look larger and avoiding any sudden movements.

"Parce, parar, mal." Antonio told him sternly. Parce's ears flattened back. His head lowered. A guilty expression spread across his face. "Get off of Tío Bruno." Antonio instructed. "You're hurting him."

The overgrown house cat let out a sad whine before finally stepping back and freeing the small man. Bruno gasped once he managed to get a full breath of air into his lungs. Finally free from the crushing weight.

"Bruno, te encuentras bien?!" Wilfredo felt that same protective instinct kick in again as he offered a hand to help Bruno up. Wilfredo had to restrain the urge to pull Bruno close. To smother and kiss him.

Bruno took Wilfredo's hand and offered an awkward, bashful, smile. "Está bien." He insisted. "It was just an accident. No causé ningún daño. We can keep playing." Just as he made the ludicrous suggestion he righted himself and his back made an unsettling cracking sound.

Wilfredo winced sympathetically alongside him. "That doesn't sound good."

"Oh, I've had back problems for years." Bruno hand waved. "No es nada."

"Estás bien!" Señora Delgado called out from the door of the schoolhouse.

"Estoy bien Ana." Bruno called back with a little wave.

There it was again. That little tinge of something that made Wilfredo feel guilty. Ana Sofía was a good woman. Wilfredo would have to make it up to her later. The struggling woman sighed and announced she was headed home. Bruno bid her a fond farewell and Wilfredo promised her he and Robledo would see to the exams.

Wilfredo turned Bruno around in his hands to inspect him.

"Oh? Ya dije que estoy bien." Bruno insisted.

Wilfredo would decide that for himself. Bruno's colorful ruana was now covered in dirt and heavy paw prints. Rather miraculously it wasn't torn. Wilfredo took Bruno's shoulders in his hands. Probing along the man's spine with his thumbs.

"Ay!" Bruno yelped in pain.

"Lo siento." Wilfredo apologized. Not quite expecting such a reaction. Bruno's shoulders were horribly knotted. It shouldn't have been a surprise considering his chronically terrible posture. Wilfredo held Bruno in place with one hand and continued to probe along his back with the other. "You really need to stop slouching."

"Uhg, Mamá and Julieta have been telling me that for years." Bruno groaned. "If you think thahhh-" His back arched. He let out a pained breathy sound. Wilfredo had hit another sore spot.

Wilfredo looked around. Suddenly self-conscious of the sounds Bruno was making. The gaggle of kids were watching the two of them and milling about. Waiting to see if Bruno was ok. More likely for some, to see if punishment would be dolled out for their dangerous game. Antonio esspecially looked to be some mix of guilty and concerned. Hugging Parce around his neck as he awaited the adult's verdict.

Wilfredo took his hands off Bruno and smiled sweetly down at him. "Don't worry. He's not hurt. But you should all be more careful next time when you're playing. Parce is very big and strong and things could have gone very poorly."

Antonio nodded and squeezed Parce tighter. "We'll be more careful next time."

Wilfredo fixed his glasses and popped back inside the schoolhouse to check the time. "It's almost time for story hour." He called back to the kids. "You better run on ahead niños or you'll be late." He teased.

A couple of kids squealed in delight and ran off. Antonio hopped on Parce's back. "What about you and tío Bruno. Won't you be late?" He questioned.

Wilfredo shot him a cocky smirk. Smoothing his hair back with his fingers. He leaned against the doorway. "I'm never late." He replied confidently.

Antonio snickered back and seemed content with his answer. Darting off on Parce.

Wilfredo beckoned Bruno over with his hand. He stepped inside to collect his cardigan. Once Bruno was standing timidly in the doorway and out of public view Wilfredo turned to him again. Standing close and taking hold of his hips. Bruno let out a little squeak but seemed pleased.

"You should come by the cabin tonight. I can see if I can't work out some of those knots." He offered softly. His thumbs rubbing little circles into Bruno's narrow waist.

Bruno blushed and leaned into him. Tracing his fingers along Wilfredo's chest. "Oh, so you're una masajista now too." He giggled. Wilfredo loved the way Bruno touched him. Loved being so utterly adored.

He leaned in closer to whisper in Bruno's ear. "Hardly a professional." He confessed. "Though some have praised me before."

He felt Bruno shiver. He pulled back to show Wilfredo that big toothy grin on his face. "Is there anything you can't do?" Bruno teased.

Wilfredo shrugged. Failing to restrain the confident smirk on his face. "Some things." He admitted coyly. "Does ten sound good to you?" Wilfredo asked casually.

"A little early." Bruno admitted. "I think I can be out of the house by midnight."

Great. Wilfredo would lose sleep, again. Between Bruno and the festivities this week, sleep was going to be a struggle. He usually went to bed around nine and woke up at ten. An excessive amount of sleep. Even then he was prone to falling asleep at his desk on a slow day. Anything less than fourteen hours guaranteed he'd fall asleep somewhere tomorrow. Robledo already caught him napping earlier in the day after yesterday's debacle. It didn't matter. The fatigue was worth it for Bruno.

"Midnight is acceptable." Wilfredo replied evenly. Bruno'd seen him fall asleep twice now. It was embarrassing. He was in no hurry to explain his odd schedule to him. It would only make him look worse.

"Es una fecha." Bruno smiled.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

The two of them returned to the library. Wilfredo carrying Ana Sofía's lesson plan. Bruno trying to hang on him as they walked. Wilfredo kept having to correct him and it broke his heart. This man had no tact. Perhaps it was better he stayed single. He was bound to get them both caught if he couldn't learn to be more subtle. At least Wilfredo only had to protect him for a short time. Once he left Bruno would be back to normal, if perhaps a bit more self-aware in the future.

Story hour with the juniors was mostly little songs Wilfredo had written to help them remember the scripture. Watered down and less frightening accounts of things. They played games like El puente está quebrado. Bruno was far more lively and engaged this time. Less stressed by the subject matter and more in his element.

He lingered at the library until Robledo practically shooed him off to steal Wilfredo for himself. Jacqueline actually came home at a reasonable time on the old man's request and they sat down to dinner together. He corralled the two into praying with him and asked them about their days. They shared stories of the traditions they'd grown up with back in Bogotá.

All the while Wilfredo couldn't shake the thought of seeing Bruno again. Of meeting alone late in the night. He suspected he knew where things would go. Perhaps he hoped. With Bruno it was hard to tell what he'd do next. Truthfully Wilfredo knew.

︵‿୨ -❇- ୧‿︵

Wilfredo arrived at the cabin early. Brought a lantern from his room and coconut oil. The bed in the cabin wasn't much. An extra thick mattress on the floor. The bedspread looked like it might have been nice once. The color had mostly been washed out over the years. If he squinted through his glasses Wilfredo could just barely make out some smiling sun pattern on the faded quilt. There was a crude little wooden table by the bed where he set the lantern.

Waiting alone for a while he wondered what kind of memories Bruno had here. He knew it was a place Bruno built with his sister. That explained the crude construction. It was a safe place. Somewhere he could hide. Wilfredo chose the place for the bed and it's distance from anyone who might overhear them.

He was married to no particular expectation tonight. It would be foolish to get his hopes up for anything in specific. Bruno could be a tad unpredictable. Wilfredo wanted to feel safe. He was already feeling drowsy again. Bruno certainly was taking his time, wasn't he? After some thought Wilfredo decided to remove the quilt from the bed so as to avoid getting oil on it. It was as he was folding it up to place in the corner that he heard the door.

"Lo siento." Bruno called out. "Agustín wanted to play games, and Mamá wanted time to pray together, I hurried over as soon as I could."

Wilfredo stopped when Bruno noticed him from the doorway to the bedroom. Bruno looked down at the blanket in his hands.

"Oh." Wilfredo replied. He fixed his glasses. "I figured I'd move it just to make sure we don't get oil stains on it." He answered the unspoken question and set the blanket on the floor.

Bruno laughed and leaned on the door frame with one arm. The other outstretched hand resting on the other side of the frame. "Mi hermana's had three babies in that bed. I wouldn't worry about it."

Wilfredo self-consciously rubbed his hands on his pant legs. The female body was a miraculous thing. Miraculous but quite disgusting. He didn't need to know that.

"Sí, pues, pasemos. You should take your shirt off." He explained. Eager to shift the topic.

Wilfredo rolled up his sleeves. Bruno's eyes were wide. He stared absently back at Wilfredo. He ran his hands over his bare wrists.

"It'll be much easier for me to work on your back without your shirt in the way." He explained as though that were something that needed explaining.

"Ah, sí, sí." Bruno awkwardly shrunk in on himself. Tugging slightly at his ruana.

Wilfredo knew Bruno's mannerisms well enough to recognize his discomfort. While it might seem like an odd thing to be insecure about, he understood full well what he was feeling. Without saying anything Wilfredo went to sit down on the bed and fiddle with the lantern. Adjusting the brightness just to take his eyes off Bruno.

Sure enough, Bruno only began to undress once Wilfredo was no longer looking directly at him. Shamefully, Wilfredo did still peek from the corner of his eye. Admittedly he was eager to see him. Patience is a virtue. He'd get to take in Bruno's body in a moment. Wilfredo did catch a glimpse of Bruno pulling his shirt off over his head after undoing the top buttons. Got to see his muscles flex slightly before looking away again.

"Así que…"

Wilfredo treated Bruno's voice as an invitation to look at him properly.

He was still standing awkwardly in the doorway. One arm hung limp in front of him while the other gripped it. His hunched shoulders did little to complement his frame. His arms obscured his body from sight just a bit. Wilfredo was far from displeased with what he saw.

Bruno really was a beautiful man. He lacked confidence and good posture. Those things could be learned. His skin had a lovely olive tone. Flushed a bit in places. Dark hair spread out from the center of his chest, narrowing down towards his stomach. It formed a trail that frustratingly could only be followed so far as Bruno's arms obstructed Wilfredo's view.

Bruno cleared his throat. He brought Wilfredo's eyes back to his face where he swallowed nervously.

Wilfredo shook his head then patted the bed beside himself. "Lay down on your stomach." He instructed.

Bruno shuffled past him. He flopped down on the bed before shuffling a bit to line up better. At first, he buried his face in crossed arms. This wouldn't do. Wilfredo needed him to relax his shoulders. Wilfredo untied his ponytail and brushed his hair up and out of the way. Exposing his slender neck.

Wilfredo patted his shoulder. Reaching for the oil to grease his hands. "Rest your arms at your sides." He told him.

Bruno grumbled into the pillows. His ears flushing slightly. Still, he obliged.

"Have you ever had a massage?" Wilfredo asked. He began to spread the oil along Bruno's back. Starting at the base and working up.

Bruno turned his head to the side. Notably facing away. "Not really. I don't usually like being touched." He explained. His face flushed even more like it was something shameful to admit.

Wilfredo didn't think it was shameful. It made him feel special. This was a privilege not many people got to have. The thought brought a small smile to his face. That little spark of pride died pretty quickly. He went to probe at Bruno's neck and shoulders and was immediately met with a pained wheeze.

"Ay, lo sietno!" Wilfredo apologized. Easing up. Even the smallest pressure around the base of Bruno's neck made him wince.

"Estoy bien." Bruno croaked.

Wilfredo tried to work as tenderly as he could. Identifying the sore spots. He'd rub little circles with his thumbs along either side of Bruno's spine. Slowly working his way down. The tense parts, the spots that made Bruno wince the most, were definitely around his shoulders. There was also a spot in his middle back that made him groan.

"You carry a lot of tension in your shoulders." Wilfredo observed.

"That's not surprising." Bruno replied flatly.

Wilfredo ran his hands across Bruno's skin. Sliding them back up to the base of his neck. "I'm going to do something to loosen you up a bit. When I count to tres you take a deep breath in, then out, entiendes?"

"Sí." Bruno replied.

Wilfredo pressed his palms down on either side of Bruno's spine and counted. "Uno, dos, tres."

He waited to time himself with Bruno's exhale, then pressed down quick and firm. A slight jolt that made a loud cracking sound and seemed to knock the wind out of poor Bruno.

"Lo siento." Wilfredo apologized again. Watching Bruno's startled, pained, expression.

Bruno grunted into the pillows. He gave Wilfredo a brief thumbs-up before returning his arm to his side. Wilfredo couldn't help but chuckle.

"Okey, I guess I'll keep going." Wilfredo moved his hands a little lower down.

"Uno, dos, tres." Another crack. This one a little softer than the last. Bruno still gasped into the pillow.

He turned his head back to the side again as Wilfredo worked his way down. It got less and less uncomfortable the further down they went. Finally stopping once Wilfredo reached his lower back and received little reaction.

"There, that should help."

Bruno hummed a little drowsy reply. Wilfredo went about rubbing gentle circles back up Bruno's back.

He watched Bruno close his eyes. Properly relaxing under Wilfredo's touch as he worked. Bruno would let out occasional little moans and whimpers. Every spot produced a different sound. It was so tempting to just chase the most delicious sounds. His skin felt like warm silk under Wilfredo's palms.

Intoxicated by a low rumbling purr he received while he had his hands around Bruno's waist, Wilfredo leaned down to plant a kiss at the base of Bruno's neck. Bruno opened one eye to look up at Wilfredo curiously.

"Perdóname, I couldn't help myself." He replied sheepishly.

Bruno grinned like he was about to say something only to let out a breathy gasp when Wilfredo hit another spot on his lower back. He could have been more gentle. Those sounds were so addicting.

"I think…" Bruno panted. "You're enjoying this a little too much." He teased.

"Quizás." Wilfredo admitted.

Despite the kisses, the confessions. Despite knowing the taste of his cock. They hadn't been intimate for much more than a day really. Wilfredo didn't entirely know yet what the rules of engagement were with Bruno. It didn't help that many of his sexual escapades had been one-time affairs or relationships of conveniences that never extended beyond the physical.

Wilfredo was hesitant, but eager to test the waters. He leaned down and slipped curious fingers ever so slightly under the waistband of Bruno's pants. He brought his other hand up to stroke that gorgeous black mane. Seeded soft kisses along Bruno's neck, jaw, and cheek.

Bruno purred again. Tilting his head to lean into the touch. A very pleased smile spread across his face.

"Ya sabes..." Wilfredo mused. "I don't actually know what you like."

"lo que me gusta?" Bruno replied. Refusing to open his eyes as Wilfredo continued to rub little circles into his lower back with his thumb. Remaining relaxed and drowsy.

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

"Sí, you never told me." Wilfredo remarked. "I have my suspicions." He explained. He slipped his hand under Bruno's clothes to cup the soft flesh underneath. "But I'd rather ask directly before I make assumptions.

He kissed the back of his neck again. Bruno whimpered. His face flushing crimson again before he buried it in the pillows.

"I don't know what I like." Bruno mumbled.

"Are you sure about that?" Wilfredo was skeptical. He slipped his fingers deeper into Bruno's flesh and stroked softly at his entrance. The low moan it elicited suggested otherwise.

"Do you like it when I touch you there." Wilfredo teased. He could clearly tell what the answer was. The small nod Bruno gave him was almost as pleasing as the sounds he made.

Wilfredo massaged Bruno's scalp with his fingers. Kissing the crook of his shoulder. Bruno pulled his arms back up. Crossing them to better bury his face.

"Oh Bruno, it's nothing to be ashamed of." Wilfredo reassured. "I had a feeling I knew what kind of man you were."

Usually, when Wilfredo was the one on top it was with younger men. The sort who only started approaching him as he got older. He'd never entered a man ten years his senior before, though that certainly wasn't a problem. Only an oddity.

Wilfredo pressed down a bit. Testing Bruno's reaction. He watched his fae whimper and shiver. "Lucky for you I'm not particular either way."

Most men were very adamant. Not every man Wilfredo had been with saw him as an equal peer. Men like him were the deviant ones. A man could fuck another man and still pretend to be superior as long as he didn't play the role of a woman. Married men with normal lives who'd avoid eye contact should they encounter one another on the streets.

Wilfredo was generally not terribly drawn to younger men. That said, he'd experienced some of the worst on offer himself. He'd rather he got to shape a young man's formative experiences over men like that.

Bruno whined as Wilfredo continued to tease him gently. Tender flesh puckering around Wilfredo's fingertip. "Usas tus palabras." He chided playfully. He wanted Bruno to ask. Wanted to hear him say what he wanted done to him.

Bruno finally turned his head to face Wilfredo though he looked down. Trembling. Hiding behind a curtain of black curls. "You're cruel." He whined.

"How am I cruel." Wilfredo protested. He brushed Bruno's hair from his face. Wanting to see the face that dared make such an audacious claim.

Bruno trembled and whimpered as Wilfredo continued to massage his rear. Wilfredo propped up on his elbow now. Watching Bruno try to formulate a justification.

"You know what I want." Bruno complained.

"O sí?" Wilfredo asked. Bruno was right of course. Unfortunately for him, Wilfredo could play this game all night. As tempting as it would be to take Bruno right now, watching him writhe and plead was delicious. Besides, Bruno was still so green. He needed a gentle hand.

What Wilfredo wasn't expecting was the sudden force with which Bruno whipped around to grab him by the collar and smash their lips together. He was quick to force Wilfredo's mouth open in his frenzy. The initial shock quickly melted into intoxication. Bruno was getting surprisingly good at that. He liked kissing. Clearly liked it a lot. He was a fast learner.

Wilfredo let a dazed hum escape him as Bruno pulled away. What Bruno said next however quickly pulled Wilfredo out of the clouds and back to earth.

"Dejar de coquetear y cogerme." Bruno demanded.

He looked down as he spat out the words. Hidden again by that curtain of loose curls. The grip of his nimble fingers on the back of Wilfredo's neck was far from passive. Wilfredo hadn't been expecting a reaction like this. He was intrigued. Very intrigued.

Despite his aggressive plea Bruno still released a startled yelp when Wilfredo flipped him over on the bed. Wilfredo hovered over Bruno now on his hands and knees. Looking down at the now-exposed hazel eyes. The green in Bruno's eyes shimmered where the firelight hit them. Wide and searching.

Wilfredo leaned down to kiss Bruno for reassurance. He hadn't meant to startle him. It might take some practice to learn Bruno's pace. The man was a mess of contradictions. So full of little surprises.

Wilfredo pulled back and waited to see what Bruno would say next. Tilting his head back to watch him through his lenses.

"Por favor." Bruno pleaded. A sad desperate whimper. A far cry from his attempted dominance. Still just as hungry.

Wilfredo sat back on his knees and was quick to remove Bruno's pants and undergarments. Tossing them to the floor and taking a moment to simply admire the carefully crafted artistry in front of him.

Bruno looked up at Wilfredo with nervous eyes. Searching for approval. Wilfredo sat between Bruno's legs. Resting his hands on Bruno's bent knees. He kept trying to curl up on himself. Wilfredo slid his hands gently down Bruno's thighs to keep them from creeping too close to his chest.

Wilfredo could see Bruno's whole body now. His hands fidgeted in front of him. Despite that Wilfredo could now trace the line of salt and pepper hairs all the way down to Bruno's very erect cock. Flushed and dripping. Bruno was a bit bigger than average. Not the biggest Wilfredo had seen but certainly a pleasing size. Exaggerated slightly by its contrast with Bruno's slender frame. He was so slender. Wilfredo could trace the contours of Bruno's muscles. The bones in his hips. He had a soft belly that rose and fell with his breath.

Wilfredo's own arousal was starting to strain against his clothes. He still wanted to savor this a bit longer. He wanted to touch every inch of Bruno. Find every button, every switch. To play him like a shiny new instrument.

Wilfredo slipped his hands down Bruno's thighs. Making him gasp. Leaning down to kiss him again. Tasting his lips before tracing his scruffy jawline. Trailing down his leathery neck, and offering his adam's apple special reverence. Wilfredo kissed along Bruno's collarbone before settling into the crook of his neck to suckle at his flesh.

Bruno whimpered and gasped. Moaned as Wilfredo stroked his cock with his hand and slipped lower to lap at his nipple. Bruno whined and thrust impatiently into his grip.

"I, ah," He panted out. "I told you what I wanted." He protested.

"Paciencia amor." Wilfredo warned him sweetly. "You're always in such a rush." That was something that took little time to pick up on. Their first kiss was a blinding assault in the night, the second more timid, though by the third he'd regained some confidence. He had to think quickly last night to avoid being clumsily devoured by the hungry man in his lap. He was a mess yesterday and in no mood to expose any part of himself. He couldn't bring himself to ignore Bruno's desperate yearning for his attention. The fourth kiss this morning was just as sudden and a dozen times more reckless.

Bruno groaned in frustration when Wilfredo took his hands away to reach for the oil on the bedside table. He greased his fingers again and Bruno pouted beneath him. That little pout. This man was comically adorable. He gripped at the loose sheet Wilfredo had left on the bed. His legs curling and wrapping around Wilfredo's waist. Bruno had the audacity to grip Wilfredo between his thighs and grind up against him.

Even separated by two layers of fabric the feeling of Bruno's desperate body against him made Wilfredo shutter. He closed his eyes and bit his lip as he tried to recompose himself. Bruno was so warm and soft and beautiful. His thighs were so strong.

Wilfredo pulled Bruno's legs apart and reached down to slip a single knuckle into him. Bruno let loose a satisfied pouty little squeak. "Más, por favor más." He pleaded timidly.

Wilfredo leaned down beside him. Resting into a comfortable position. Careful not to rest too much of his weight on Bruno's leg and hip. Wilfredo propped his head up in his hand to watch Bruno's face as he played with him.

"I'm trying to be gentle amor." He explained. "I don't want to hurt you." That said, seeing how receptive Bruno was he slipped his finger in deeper. Watching Bruno's eyelids flutter. His back arched and his eyes rolled back in his head.

Bruno moaned as Wilfredo probed his insides. It didn't take long for Wilfredo to find just the right way to stroke his lover's prostate and make him drool like an animal.

"Por favor, por favor, you won't hurt me." Bruno gasped between glassy-eyed moans. His body whole body shaking.

"You sound awfully confident." Wilfredo replied with some suspicion.

Admittedly Bruno was surprisingly more receptive than Wilfredo had expected. His body, warm and silky and snug, was shockingly inviting. Wilfredo curiously slipped in another finger. Bruno grit his teeth in frustration. He tried to bear down on Wilfredo's fingers. Wilfredo only pulled back slightly in response which elicited another bratty little pout.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" He asked.

He was under the impression Bruno was a virgin. That's certainly what their conversations seemed to imply to him. He'd never directly asked. Not that it mattered to him either way. It was curious, trying to imagine what sort of experience a man like Bruno may have had.

"I." Bruno huffed. "I just, I may have, experimented, a bit…"

Bruno's face was a deep crimson. He turned away. Reaching up to grip the pillow and press into it to hide his embarrassment.

Now that was very curious. Wilfredo stopped dead to stare down at Bruno's trembling form. His obscured blushing face.

"What kind of experiments?" He asked.

Bruno blushed even redder. Something Wilfredo didn't know was possible.

"I don't have to answer that." Bruno replied bitterly. A reference to their deal. No lies. But an unpleasant question could go unanswered. "I, I just, I know what I can take. You won't hurt me." He insisted.

"You've been with other men before?" Wilfredo asked skeptically.

"No…" Bruno replied. He refused to elaborate further.

Wilfredo pulled his hand away to hover over him. To stare down at this beautiful, fascinating, person. Bruno reluctantly looked up at Wilfredo with pitiful shame in his eyes.

"Por favor, te quiero, necesito esto." He pleaded.

Now that, that hurt. It hurt in a profound way Wilfredo wasn't expecting. Wilfredo sat back to unbuckle his belt. He couldn't continue to tease him. Not like this. He'd take Bruno at his word. He desperately wanted to please his precious fae. He bitterly resented the shame. Bruno's pleasure should never have been a source of shame. Of course, it always was wasn't it? It was for Wilfredo once too. It still was some days…

Bruno's sad eyes lit up with anxious hunger. Watching Wilfredo intently. His hands gripping tightly to the bedding, shoulders hunches, fangs bared, eyes wide. It almost made Wilfredo hesitate a moment. He was never very fond of his body and to be stared at so intently never stopped being stressful. No matter how many times it had happened. He never would understand what other men saw in him.

Wilfredo only undressed as much as he had to. Poured more oil from the bottle to coat himself till his cock was slick. He sighed before taking Bruno by his hips and pulling him close.

Wilfredo leaned down once more to touch their foreheads together. This close together his vision was a blur. His glasses had slipped down his nose, and adjusting them now with his oily hands would accomplish very little. It didn't matter. Bruno could see him clearly.

"Está seguro de que su preparado." Wilfredo more begged than asked. Pressing himself against Bruno's twitching entrance.

He hoped to hear more words. More beautiful breathless confessions. He wanted to hear Bruno say it. Instead, Bruno wrapped his arms around Wilfredo's neck and kissed him deeply. Wilfredo wouldn't bring himself to hold back any further. It wasn't the answer he wanted but he moaned into that delicious kiss and pressed into his lover.

Bruno's head jolted back. Letting out a startled gasp. Unsurprisingly, Bruno was, in fact, not as prepared as he thought he was. This was exactly what Wilfredo had been afraid of.

Wilfredo pulled back a bit till he could somewhat make out Bruno's expression. "I can stop if you need-"

"No!" Bruno replied shockingly quik and with incredible certainty. "No…" His eyes grow drowsy. Relaxing back into the pillows. His body adjusting to the new sensation. Bruno's legs wrapped around Wilfredo's waist again. Attempting to pull him in deeper.

Wilfredo was slow and hesitant. Sinking in incrementally. Bruno let out a pained whine that made him hesitate again.

"M-más, estoy bien." Bruno pleaded.

"I don't want to hurt you mi amor." Wilfredo insisted.

"I don't care." Bruno spat bitterly. His eyes snapped wide almost as soon as the words left his lips. He looked back up at Wilfredo and clarified. "I don't mind the pain." He insisted.

Bruno's arms still hung around Wilfredo's neck. His delicate fingers combing through Wilfredo's hair and making his scalp tingle. The tender affection easing Wilfredo's anxiety as he sunk down to the hilt.

Bruno gasped again. Hugging Wilfredo tight to his chest. Wilfredo could feel Bruno's heartbeat against his face. He wrapped his arms underneath Bruno. Holding him tight in turn. His racing heart and shallow hazy breathing lulled Wilfredo into a lustful haze. He stayed like that for a moment and let himself enjoy the feeling. Warm and tight and smooth as silk. Bruno's body convulsing around him.

"Mi amor." Wilfredo breathed into the scruff of Bruno's chest. Drunk off the smell of him.

Bruno bucked back against him and sent a jolt of dizzying pleasure through Wilfredo's cock.

Wilfredo pulled away. Sitting back on his knees and gripping Bruno by the waist. He looked down at him. Foggy and enchanted by the sight. At this distance, he could see Bruno's face more clearly again. Bruno's arms had come to rest above his head. Nested in a bed of wild black curls that sprawled out in all directions. His chest heaved. Shallow labored breathes as he stared back up at Wilfredo. Bruno's eyes were lazy but still focused intently on him. Pupils dilated. His lips twitched with that same impatient hunger. He said nothing. Only watched Wilfredo expectantly.

Wilfredo might have thought of some sassy remark. Tried to pull more sweet candid words from Bruno's lips. He might have… had it not been for the way Bruno looked at him. He knew what Bruno wanted. Bruno had made himself abundantly clear. He was in no mood to waste more time on words. Wilfredo wasn't often in this position. Despite Bruno's lack of history he suddenly feared he might not live up to expectations. He would give him everything he had and hoped that would be enough.

Without another word, Wilfredo pulled out gently before slamming down to the hilt. Bruno let out a loud gasp followed by a deep guttural moan. Wilfredo watched shivers travel up Bruno's body. Bruno's thighs tightened their grip around Wilfredo's waist. Squeezing him tight enough to make Wilfredo gasp as he thrust against him.

So he did like it rough. Wilfredo was quick to oblige him. Holding Bruno's narrow waist in his hands as he thrust into him. Bruno's body was so small. So seemingly delicate. Wilfredo tried to maintain a gentle grip. Bruno's legs kept trying to strangle him. Not that he disliked the feeling. The firm grasp forced faint gasps out of Wilfredo and sent static waves of excitement through him that made him ache.

Bruno's body was so welcoming and eager. Sucking him in and squeezing him every time he made Bruno shudder and moan.

"Sí, sí, como así." Bruno breathed. His hands clung tight to whatever they could find. Beads of sweat forming along his trembling body making him shimmer like gold. His face flushed. Tears beginning to force their way past glossy eyes. The was some profound sense relief in his face. Something overwhelming.

Wilfredo couldn't imagine what that felt like. To be alone for so long. To crave this touch for so long. To finally feel that connection after so many years. Sex was something Wilfredo took for granted. For him had long since become a mindless self-indulgence. Pleasurable for sure. At times quite memorable and fun with a good friend.

Making love was something he hadn't done in a very long time.

Bruno whined with some urgent need as his face and body tensed. "Más, por favor, cógeme más duro." He begged.

Wilfredo's mind was already beginning to blur. He could feel the pressure building. It took all his focus to try and restain his body. Bruno clearly wasn't done with him yet. Despite his misgivings, Wilfredo pulled one of Bruno's legs from his waist and brought it up over his shoulder.

Bruno gasped and shuttered. The new angle brought Wilfredo deeper inside. Wilfredo kissed along Bruno's inner thigh. Stopping in places to leave little marks where no one would see. In a better world, he'd scatter those dark rosy kisses all over him. Show the world just how much Bruno was loved. In this world, the one they lived in, he could only leave a parting gift for just the two of them.

Bruno was tilted slightly on his side now. Clinging to the sheets like a life raft. His face now obscured behind hunched shoulders. His wild black mane. It didn't matter. Wilfredo's vision was growing hazy and unfocused anyway. The sound of Bruno's desperate pleasure was enough to send him over the edge on its own. He tensed his thighs and tried to focus. Bruno wasn't done with him.

"I, I don't know how long I can keep this up." Wilfredo confessed breathlessly. Trailing more kisses along Bruno's thigh. A gentle apology.

"Don't stop!" Bruno begged desperately. "Por favor, just a little longer." He sobbed.

Wilfredo watched as Bruno brought and hand down to strangle his own cock. The brutal way Bruno handled himself almost hurt to watch. It was his body and sadly Wilfredo didn't yet know it well enough to protest how he treated it. It still pulled a sad whimper out of him though. Like watching someone violently rake the bow across a Stradivarius violin.

That mild tragedy did buy Wilfredo a little more time. He was still growing winded and dizzy. He was so tired. His cock ached for release. Bruno wouldn't have to resort to such vulgar tactics if Wilfredo were just a bit stronger. He'd never been particularly ashamed of his own performance before, but Bruno was surprisingly difficult.

Despite it all though it didn't take long at all for his mind to go blank again and his body to betray him. He pulled Bruno in tight. Pressing in as deep as he could go as he filled him. Gasping and pumping him full in waves that radiated pleasure through him. His whole body shivering, tired arms trembling as he hugged Bruno's thigh.

Bruno didn't stop. Only gasped out at the new feeling. Jerking himself violently. Not long after Wilfredo's body relaxed Bruno finally managed to cum. His body convulsed violently. Clamping down tight around Wildfredo's now tender cock and making him cry out from the overstimulation.

It made him whimper and gasp but he couldn't free himself until Bruno was done. Bruno's body finally unwinding and going limp.

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

Wilfredo pulled out and collapsed on the bed beside Bruno. It took him a moment to catch his breath. His mind was reeling as he came down from the high. A confusing mix of emotions he didn't have the means to unpack right now.

"L-lo siento." He gasped. He tried to apologize for his poor performance only for Bruno to cut him off with a kiss. No longer frenzied and hungry. This was tender and passionate. Bruno cupped Wilfredo's face in his hands and stole his breath.

"Gracias, muchas gracias." Bruno breathed agaisnt his skin. "Te amo tanto mi vida."

Bruno kissed him again. Wilfredo suddenly felt like every nerve in his body had been stripped bare. He felt naked and raw.

"Amor? Qué pasa?"

Wilfredo didn't realize he was crying until Bruno pulled away to wipe the tears from his face. It only made it worse. His chest hurt. He tried to stifle a sob.

I'm alright. I don't know why I'm crying. It's ok.

Wilfredo couldn't say any of those things. He promised not to lie.

Wilfredo wrapped his arms around Bruno and pulled him close. Nestling his face in Bruno's shoulder. Bruno seemed a little surprised by the gesture. He wrapped his arms around Wilfredo's head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"S-sólo necesito un momento." Wilfredo shuttered against Bruno's warm skin.

"Tómate el tiempo que necesites." Bruno assured him gently.

His tender words only made Wilfredo shutter and sob. He buried his face deeper into Bruno. Desperate to stifle the pathetic sounds. He didn't deserve those tears. He wasn't a good man. He had no right to grieve.

"Sana sana colita de rana si no sana hoy sanara mañana."

That made Wilfredo laugh. It hurt to laugh. It didn't wipe the tears away. Only pulled some melancholy joy out of his pain. That was just what Bruno did to him, wasn't it? He was a beautiful mess of contradictions. Wilfredo loved this man.

He could never say it. If he ever said it, he could never take it back.