Félix and Agustín were far more wary than any of the others to talk to Bruno. Unlike them, they weren't blood-related. They had married into the family when the triplets were in their mid-twenties, and they'd had little contact with Bruno before then. They had been leery of him when they'd first joined the family and had never tried to connect with Bruno. As far as they'd known for the longest time, Bruno hadn't ever tried either. But the vision showed that at one point, he'd been willing to. They needed to talk about it, but catching Bruno was like trying to catch the wind. Besides, from what Pepa said, he wasn't willing to talk with them.
After discussing things with Félix, Agustín convinced him to just get it over with. So they waited until they knew Bruno was out of his room before they retrieved the vision. They found him in the kitchen, muttering to his rats and tearing an arepa apart as he fed them bits and pieces. They paused, unnoticed, in the doorway, and they stared at Bruno. Both of them realized at the same time that their brother-in-law no longer scared them. Their intense fear of him, bred in the village and swollen by various terrible rumors was gone, replaced by a longing for friendship.
"Hey, bro," Félix finally said.
Bruno's head jerked up and his eyes immediately landed on the tablet. He bared his teeth and stepped back, looking so wild and terrifying that for a moment they were scared again. Bruno's eyes dashed around, looking for an escape, and Félix realized that he felt cornered because the two men were standing in the doorway. He grabbed Agustín's arm and pulled him aside.
Bruno relaxed a bit and stared at them.
Agustín and Félix glanced at each other before Félix tried again.
"Can we talk?"
Bruno stuffed the rest of the arepa in his mouth and stared coolly at the two men as he deliberately chewed far longer than he needed to. He finally swallowed.
"No."
With that, Bruno shoved past them and headed into the courtyard. Agustín wasn't going to let him just walk away, and he grabbed Félix and followed him.
"Please, Bruno," Agustín begged. "Give us ten minutes. That's all we want."
Bruno looked over his shoulder, his eyes smoldering. "No." His tone was clipped, and he headed for the stairs to go up to the second floor.
Panicked and irritated, Agustín watched him go and scrambled for any way to keep him there. What would Mirabel do?
"Casita, help us!" Agustín exclaimed.
The tiles rippled, and the stairs turned into a slide. Bruno yelped as he slid back down into the courtyard. The stairs folded away completely, leaving Bruno stunned.
"Hey! Bring those back!" he snapped, standing up. "Now, Casita!"
The house rippled stubbornly, and Bruno scowled. Félix seized the opportunity.
"Look, we need to talk, Bruno. Just ten minutes."
Bruno ignored him. "Casita, you bring them back now!"
Casita didn't even move. Bruno's face twisted, and he spun on his heel and stormed to the front doors. He jerked on them, but they were securely locked.
"¡No, Casita!" Bruno shouted. "¡Abre las puertas! Now!"
Casita didn't listen.
"¡Ay! ¡Casa estúpida!" He kicked the door, and Casita shivered.
Bruno turned to go to a new room, but he only took two steps before Casita sealed all of them. He was trapped in the courtyard with Agustín and Félix. Bruno looked around, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Casita! I'll climb the walls! You know I can! Let me out!"
Agustín approached, the vision in his hands. "Please, Bruno. Give us a chance."
Bruno froze at those words then turned his head slowly. "A chance?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Yes. We want a chance," Félix agreed.
Bruno stared at them for a moment then began to laugh. It was not his usual laugh. It was bitter and terrible to hear. As it rose in pitch and tone, doors began to open and the family came out of their rooms. Agustín and Félix stood very still, suddenly aware that Bruno wasn't the only one trapped.
"You want me to give you a chance?!" Bruno cackled. "Why should I? Huh? You never gave me one! El monstruo loco is just too bad. Why should he get a chance? The villagers say he's demented, you know! He sends his rats to hunt down naughty children. And he causes no end of nightmares for the villagers. Not to mention he lures young virgins into the jungle to defile them."
Agustín and Félix backed up a little, disturbed by the unhinged note in Bruno's voice. But when he spoke next, the calm, calculating tone he used was somehow worse.
"You want to talk about this? Fine. Let's talk. I was willing to be your friend, to help you settle into the family. Juli and Pepa were so happy to have found such wonderful husbands, so I overlooked all of your faults, your little indiscretions from your younger years and gave you a chance to really be a part of the family. A lot of good that did me. Turns out el monstruo loco doesn't get a chance."
Félix and Agustín flinched, and Bruno peered at them then looked up at his mother. A small smile upturned the corners of his mouth and he looked back down at his brothers-in-law. They saw at once that they were about to regret talking to Bruno as his eyes flashed.
"Did you know that you were lucky to even be allowed in this family?" he asked, keeping his voice raised enough for the whole family to hear. "I could have told mamá a few little stories, and you never would have been allowed to marry my sisters. I should have told her then, but I think now is as good a time as ever, don't you?"
Félix and Agustín stood petrified in front of Bruno. He couldn't! He wouldn't… would he? But he could, he would, and he did.
Turning to Agustín, he began to walk forward. Agustín hit the wall, pleading with his eyes for Bruno to not do it. Bruno didn't care.
"You've always been so clumsy. Juli loves you because of that. She gets to care for you, and you get to be as clumsy as you want. But she doesn't know what you were really doing when you got your injuries. She never would have fallen for you if she had. Sneaking into shops after dark with the village boys, stealing things, and never getting caught despite the fact that you're so clumsy that you never left without getting hurt."
He smiled grimly. "You fit in just fine with the family because you don't need any gift from Casita. It is a legitimate miracle that you're even alive after all the stunts you pulled as a teen. Though I suppose you should thank Juli for that."
Bruno stared at Agustín then looked up at Julieta, who was grasping the railing with her eyes wide. She looked shocked by the revelation that her husband had been that kind of boy. Bruno's eyes gleamed, and he turned back to Agustín.
"Bruno, please," Agustín said weakly. "Let's be reasonable."
"Reasonable?" Bruno laughed. "Okay, we'll be reasonable. Just like when you started getting hurt on purpose once Juli caught your eye. Anything to be close to her, right? And such fanciful stories you told! She was enthralled by your bravery, fighting off the other boys to try and stop them from stealing. All the while, they were in on it. You would go to Juli with an injury and the goods you stole in your pocket and lied to her about how you got hurt. And dear Julieta has enough compassion even for a pendejo like you! But even you knew she wouldn't be impressed by the truth."
Agustín was pale with shame and fear as Bruno glared at him. He poked Agustín's chest, leaning close. "I knew all of this, Agustín. I knew you lied and stole things because I was there, even though I was never noticed or included. I heard your plans, saw you strut around, as proud as can be, because you had finally stolen the greatest treasure of all. I knew you had, and Julieta's heart was yours. I didn't mention any of this because she loved you."
Bruno's eyes held fire as he stepped back. "There are more stories I could tell. Like the flower pot story. Oh, and the chili pepper story is good too! Want to relive your younger years? You'll never be able to show your face in Casita again, but it sure would be entertaining!"
"Bruno, stop!" Félix exclaimed.
That was a mistake, and Félix knew it as Bruno turned and stalked up to him, his expression cold. Félix backed up until he hit a wall, and Bruno turned his wrath on him.
"Oh, so you want a turn? Okay then. How about your boasting that Pepa will scream for you 'just like the other ladies, if you know what I mean, hombre,'" Bruno mocked, doing a good impression of Félix at the end.
Félix cringed as there was a startled crack of thunder from his wife. His face burned, but there was no escape. In trapping Bruno, they had been trapped, too. Nothing could stop Bruno from telling them exactly what he thought of them, just like they had wanted.
"Let's not forget your lovely brother, Darío, too! You looked up to him. So much that you would sneak out with the older boys to smoke cigars in the jungle and get drunk on viche. And let's not forget your hobby of beating up younger boys just for fun. The smallest slight on your manhood, and you just had to 'teach them a lesson they won't forget.' Such a brave, strong man you are!"
There was silence as Bruno stepped back to look at both men. "I know more. I know everything you used to do. And despite what I knew, despite all the stupid stuff you did, all your dumb mistakes, I was willing to let you into the family. I was willing to give you a chance to prove that you had grown up into someone better. But mamá wasn't impressed with you, did you know that? I could have stopped your marriages by just telling her one story about each of you. She asked what I thought of you, and I stood up for you because my sisters loved you. I could have ruined your lives if I wanted to. But I decided to give you a chance. And then you decided that el monstruo loco doesn't get one because you're so much better than me!"
Bruno's eyes were bright as he continued, pain flashing across his face. "That night was your chance. And you are not better than me. I was a good boy. I didn't sneak out. I didn't drink or steal or beat up other kids. I didn't want to stay home, but I had no friends left to do anything with because of Darío. Not to mention I lived in a magic house that had strict instructions to not let any of us sneak out. So I stayed home and listened to mamá. And yet you're the ones who got married, and to the best women in the whole Encanto! You both have a family and a good reputation despite the stunts you pulled. Where's my family? Where's my reward? Oh, I suppose it was being driven into the walls because el monstruo loco cursed his family with his power! One hell of a reward, ¿sí?"
He crossed his arms and swallowed hard, looking ready to break. "You want a chance? Give me a good reason to give you another one."
Agustín and Félix stood rooted to the spot, burning with shame. They stared at Bruno, filled with the cold realization that they had been terribly unfair to him for no reason, The man before them could have utterly destroyed their lives and reputations with a single conversation with Alma. She was so influential in the Encanto, and she would not have hesitated to go to their families. Bruno hadn't said a word, and despite that, they hadn't given him the same clean slate. As the silence stretched on, Bruno looked up at the family then smiled.
"I do believe mamá is going to want to have a little chat. And your wives, too. I suppose you won't be going to the vegetable garden any time soon. That's a shame."
Bruno turned and strode over to the doors. He yanked on one then stepped back and kicked Casita hard. The house shuddered and opened its doors, allowing Bruno to leave. He turned back before he left and glared at Félix and Agustín.
"Neither one of you is good enough for my sisters. I've been wanting to say that for years." He paused then smirked. "Thanks so much for the talk. Hope we can do it again soon.¡Adios!" He turned and left, and Casita closed its doors behind him. Then there was a loud, terrible silence.
Agustín and Félix couldn't move for several moments. They finally managed to look at each other, shocked and horrified by what had just happened. The whole family was looking at them, their gazes heavy and accusatory. The two men couldn't even look up, unable to face them after such revelations. Silently, they ducked their heads and headed toward the living room in the back of the house. Casita unblocked all the doorways, and the stairs clattered as they reformed. Not one of the family came downstairs to talk to them though, choosing instead to return to their rooms to process what had just happened.
Félix and Agustín paced restlessly for awhile. After they were sure the family wasn't coming after them, they hurried to the front doors. Just as they'd feared, the cracks going from Bruno over them were far worse. They were jagged and so deep that they were surprised Bruno hadn't shattered the door when he'd kicked it the second time. Depressed and feeling more hopeless than ever, they returned to the living room.
Nobody joined them. Julieta didn't even make dinner. The kids came down to grab food at different times, but none of them even tried to talk to Agustín and Félix. They were glad. The shame was still too raw. What did their children think of them now? And their wives? And most of all, what did Alma think? Did she regret letting them marry into the Madrigals? Miserable and tired, they restlessly paced and tried to think of what they should do next.
Late that night, long after the rest of the family had gone to bed, the two men heard the doors open and a soft murmur. They hurried to the doorway and peered out at the courtyard. Bruno had finally returned, and he looked entirely different. Relaxed and gentle, he mournfully stroked the inside of the doors, rubbing right where he'd kicked.
"Lo siento mucho, Casita," Bruno cooed. "Forgive me?"
Casita's tiles rippled, lifting him up in a wave of motion. Bruno smiled as he settled back down. He looked very tired as he turned around, and his eyes caught sight of his brothers-in-law standing in the doorway of the living room. Both men let out noises of fear and quickly ducked back inside, unwilling to stir Bruno's wrath again. They were still unnerved by how such a gentle, kind, quiet man could be so viciously cutting when riled. They weren't going to risk it again. It would be better if he just went to bed.
Félix and Agustín sat down and looked miserably at each other. They had done this to themselves, and there was no way out of it. Then there was a soft clink from behind them, and they turned to see Bruno come in with three shot glasses and a bottle of aguardiente. Neither of them dared to move as they watched him walk over to a chair nearby and set down the glasses on the table between them. He opened the bottle and poured the alcohol then grabbed two glasses and set them on the table in front of them before he sat down in the chair and took his own.
When he stared at them expectantly, they quickly took up the proffered drinks. Bruno gazed at them with his intense eyes then held up the shot. They toasted him back then drank. It was a strong batch, and they all coughed a little before setting aside the glasses. Bruno poured another shot, leaving it on the table as he placed the bottle between them and sat back.
There was a long silence that wasn't entirely uncomfortable before Agustín cleared his throat. "You're right. About us not being good enough for your sisters."
Bruno looked at him impassively. Agustín continued anyway.
"If it matters, I do regret what I did. I was muy estúpido. It always seemed like such an important thing, to steal from others. I was good at it despite my clumsiness. But it was wrong. And it was underhanded to trick Juli like that. If I could go back, I would change it."
He looked down at the ruby glass then picked it up and threw it onto the floor. It shattered and Bruno raised his eyebrows at his brother-in-law. Then he sat bolt upright and watched in astonishment as the pieces of glass stitched themselves back into a whole tablet. He was clearly surprised that the vision could become whole again after it was shattered.
"But you can't change the past," Agustín said, and he picked up the tablet and set it back on the table.
"Pepa is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Félix said ruefully. "And I wasted so much of my life trying to be the big man, just like Darío. But none of that mierda matters now anyway. Pepa will never see me the same again."
"We deserve it," Agustín sighed. "We should have given you a chance, Bruno. There are no excuses. You don't have to forgive us, but we are sorry."
"Yeah, bro," Félix said earnestly. "And we'll still take care of your sisters, even if they don't `deserve us."
Agustín snorted. "If they'll still have us," he grumbled.
Bruno gazed at them then reached for his second shot. He swallowed it down then set the glass back on the table and spoke for the first time.
"I wouldn't worry."
They looked up at him, surprised. "What?" Félix asked cautiously.
"About Juli and Pepa. They'll be mad for awhile, but you've spent too many years together for them to stay upset. Give them a day or two to think it over then go all out in a gesture of love and devotion, however you do that, and then talk with them. It shouldn't be too bad. Except for the lightning. That'll sting."
Agustín and Félix stared at Bruno, unable to process that he was giving them advice to stay with his sisters. Hadn't he just told them they weren't good enough for the family?
Bruno peered at them. "I'm sorry for losing control like that."
Félix glanced at Agustín, and they both relaxed as the latter reached for the bottle. Agustín poured them each a shot and then settled back.
"I don't think we can blame you, hombre," Félix said, picking up his glass. "We really were awful back then. Guess we haven't changed."
"You have, actually," Bruno said. "You've both grown into good men. I suppose I didn't see that because I hated you for not giving me a chance." He paused and looked away. "I noticed, you know."
"Noticed?" Agustín prompted.
"You two tried to talk to me, to invite me places, to get to know me, and I wouldn't let you. After that night, I couldn't trust you. I thought for sure you were lying about wanting to do that stuff with me because why would you give me a chance? You'd said I didn't deserve one, and I believed you meant it. So I decided not to give you one."
"You treated us far better than I would have in your position," Agustín said, swirling his drink.
"It was for my sisters, not you," Bruno admitted.
Félix nodded. "You're a good brother. And I'm sorry I ever thought otherwise."
Bruno smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "Thank you. That means a lot."
"So… we cool, bro?" Félix ventured after a moment.
"Yeah," Bruno said, looking amused. "We're cool."
Bruno glanced down at the ruby glass and picked it up. He scanned the image and looked relieved. Then he noticed his brothers-in-law looking at him, puzzled.
"I wanted to make sure the vision was what I thought it was and I didn't explode for no reason." He stood up and stretched. "I'm going to bed. I'm tired. And there's still one more." Bruno rubbed his eyes. "Hasta mañana, mis amigos."
Bruno handed the vision to Agustín and left. They were elated to see green fingerprints on the glass, and they watched as a new image was revealed. To their astonishment, the new scene that formed was the one they had just experienced. The three of them sat together, nursing drinks and talking.
"No comprendo, amigo," Félix said. "Why is this what we get?"
"Because this is the first time we've ever had a civil conversation with Bruno by himself," Agustín said softly. "He has nothing else with us."
They both stared for a moment before taking their shots.
"Well, one is a good start," Félix admitted. "After we deal with the wrath of the family, I think we can start to make more."
They put away the aguardiente and left the living room. As they headed for the stairs, they took a detour to the front door, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. But no, the cracks over them were now gone. Puzzled but relieved, they finally went upstairs to go to bed. They'd have to deal with the ramifications of what Bruno had told everybody tomorrow. Somehow, they'd make it through. Bruno did appear to be on their side now, and that, at least, was a comfort.