Chapter Text
Most of them hadn’t seen it coming.
It was such a subtle, slow change that they didn’t think much about it. It seemed innocent and it was, really, at least in the beginning. They all had seen something but no one quite dared to bring it up - not to them, at least.
Ironically, the first one to notice was Tio Bruno, the one that they’d spent less time with (with the whole living-in-the-walls-for-ten-years thing). It’s been months since Casita has been rebuilt and the magic’s come back and they all have settled into a routine.
Some changes had been made, of course. The Madrigals were no longer at the town’s beck and call - they would help, yes but they would make sure no one was taking more than they could handle. A lot had come out after the events, the pressure they all felt one way or the other to be useful or perfect or worthy of their gift, and they were determined to not let their family suffer again in silence.
And so, they’d gotten better at communication. And some broken bridges had been rebuilt.
Once a week, the triplets made sure to spend at least one day together, making up for lost time. It could be something as simple as sitting down in the kitchen, talking about the latest developments in town over a cup of café and the rest of the family would make sure to make themselves scarce for that while. It was the sibling’s time and they needed it.
Something similar happened to Mirabel with her sisters, especially with Isabella who still felt bad about the way she treated her little sis. They were closer now, always checking on each other and making sure the other was okay. During lazy days, they would go outside to Isa’s greenhouse, where she’d grow the most colorful, foreign and sometimes carnivorous plants she could think about.
Another change in the family dynamics took place between the same aged cousins, previously partners in crime that had drifted apart after Mirabel’s ceremony. They were now closer than ever and the adults found it delightful, they all remembered how Camilo and Mirabel used to be when they were younger: the constant laughter, the running around holding hands and gifting each other whatever they could find (and Félix and Agustin still remember the piercing shriek Mirabel had made when she had found an ugly, giant toad on her bed, one of Camilo’s gifts - to this day, they swear the entire Casita had shaken).
All of them could see glimpses of the past, of that amazing friendship, when they started spending more time together, when they would take care of Camilo’s babysitting chores together or sit side by side during meals, whispering and laughing about some inside joke.
The entire family made efforts to include Bruno as well, especially the children. Most of them had little to no memory of him and so, they wanted to try and spend time with their eccentric uncle to get to know him more.
The signs of his ten-year-old seclusion were still there even after months but they were determined to make their uncle feel as welcome and as part of the family as any other member. Of course, socially awkward Tio Bruno hadn't known what to make of the attention and had applied his favorite technique of entertainment and diversion: telenovelas.
(The children had mixed reactions to that.
For one, Dolores loved them - she liked the drama and the twists and the romance of it all. She had admitted to sometimes listening to them when Tio Bruno was inside the walls which had made him blush and beam. Antonio liked them too, easily entertained by the moving rats and the crazy stories.
As for the others, well, they honestly just liked to spend time together even if it meant rats and monologs).
Anyways, the first indication had been during one of the rats’ performances - this one about the forbidden love between a married man and a young woman, they face many obstacles because of the spiteful wife, who is determined to make his life miserable. Or something like that.
However, Mirabel had spent most of the night embroidering something (she wouldn't tell anyone what she was doing, but no one was particularly worried as she seemed to be shining with excitement), and by the middle of the production, she could feel her eyes closing, the feeling of heaviness pulling her to sleep and winning without much of a fight.
No one paid much attention to it as the telenovela reached a plot twist (apparently, the young woman was pregnant), but Camilo felt the weight when his cousin's head fell on his shoulder. He was just slightly taller than Mirabel, enough that he didn't have to make so much of an effort to see her mass of tight, dark curls. It was like a jinx, he thought, the way he couldn't focus on the story anymore.
He hadn't noticed how pleasant his cousin's hair smelled, it was definitely a fruity aroma - he idly wondered what she used on it as it looked so soft and graceful. From his taller point of view, he could almost count her eyelashes through her askew glasses. Maybe he could count the faint freckles that adorned her nose…? He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the slightly confused glances Tio had sent them, nor did he noticed when minutes later he shrugged and focused again on the telenovela.
Extract:
Bruno had been confused.
In retrospect, it was kind of funny.
At first, he wondered if Mirabel had something on her face and that had been what captured Camilo's attention. He even waited for one of Camilo’s silly pranks: messing her hair or hiding her glasses but after a few minutes, he couldn't possibly mistake that look for anything else than well, adoration. He wondered if Mirabel knew - demonios, he wondered if Camilo knew. What about the others? He subtly glanced around the room and -
No, Dolores and Antonio seemed to have their whole attention where Hugo and Pablo, the rats, were acting out the part where Ana Lucía fainted. And even though Luisa and Isabela were looking at the theater, he could faintly hear their whispers about this person in town or this new stand in the market.
So no, they hadn't noticed.
Now the question was whether to say something or not.
He glanced back at them, noticing how natural they looked like that and with all the wisdom that came with having his gift, he shrugged and decided that it’d be hilarious to see what happened on its own.
His focus was redirected when the cruel wife found out about the pregnancy and started planning some scheme. He really made the best telenovelas.
The next one to notice that their gestures went a bit beyond a cousin relationship was Julieta.
It happened during one of those way too long days: there was an ailment that was going around town, runny noses and fever in every house. Unfortunately, the Garcia family's house had fallen apart and the older son and a couple of neighbors had been injured trying to save as many things as they could. It had been solved, and Luisa had helped with the remains but she had been making batch after batch of food for the sick and those that had been injured. She was exhausted.
Mirabel had graciously offered her help making dinner for the family - even though her Mama was the one in charge of food, she knew how to cook and it's not like they needed magical food for dinner as none of them were sick.
— I don't know what I did to have such an amazing daughter. Gracias, mi vida — she sat down in a chair in the corner of the kitchen, close in case her daughter needed her but otherwise taking a needed break.
— Mami, está bien. You shouldn’t exert yourself. I’ll have this done soon, you just rest — her daughter started to quickly chop the ingredients, getting into the cooking without another word.
Julieta took a sip of her tea and sighed, looking forward to a hearty meal and some sleep after. Her eyes looked up at the sound of footsteps, seeing her oldest nephew enter the kitchen. His stance was relaxed but his ruana and pants seemed to be somewhat dirty.
She was about to greet him when he swiftly made his way to Mirabel, hugging her from behind and laying his head on her shoulder, peeking at the food she was making.
She stopped and hesitated - from the entrance of the kitchen he wouldn't have seen her, not without looking around which he hadn't done. She debated with herself for a moment but surely it was nothing, right? It wasn’t like she was intruding.
— Hola Camilo, had a good day? — she asked, keeping her tone casual like he was not holding her daughter, his cousin by the waist in the middle of the kitchen.
She didn't know what she was expecting - a guilty face or a startled jump or something except Camilo calmly looked over and started telling her about how he'd been with Antonio and his animals playing in the nearby forest, finally releasing Mirabel to grab an arepa. Julieta felt herself relax and follow the conversation.
Dios mío, she really needed the rest then.
Extract:
Holy shi-
hands
H A N D S
Big, warm hands
in her waist
She knew who they belonged to at once: no one quite touched her like he did and the curls that she could see in the corner of her eye when his head fell on her shoulder gave it away too.
She didn't know why, but she had to make a conscious effort to keep working on dinner and - was her face red? Why did it feel like it was? Maybe the fire was too high, she should probably turn it down a notch, she didn't want the food to burn and why hadn't he said anything at all? Maybe she should say som-
Her Mama talked, asking Camilo about something she didn’t quite register, and she swears she almost sliced her finger right off. She had forgotten her Mama was there.
miércoles
The rest of the conversation was a buzz in her ears and she is just glad they weren't talking to her because right now her whole attention was on breathing normally and calming her heart.
(could they hear it?
It was so loud)
Which was normal, of course. She had been startled.
Mirabel turned down the heat of the stove, praying her cheeks were back to normal.
It was a known fact that the ones that'd wake up first in the Madrigal household were Julieta and Mirabel. Julieta had always had that habit, she had a large family and she wanted to make a good, fulfilling breakfast for all of them - She also had to start preparing some food for those that might need it in town. Mirabel's habit was born of a need to help as much as she could, no matter the time and so, she helped her Mama with gathering the ingredients, making breakfast and setting the table for 8 people.
Her Mama would finish up in the kitchen while she knocked on everyone's door, making sure they were all up - which most of them were, the only exceptions would usually be Antonio and Camilo.
Pepa came out of her room, dressed and ready for the day, telling her husband to go ahead as she went for the boys. Antonio was easy enough to wake even though the sight made her want to take a picture and leave him be: he had taken to let Parce, his jaguar, sleep with him in his hammock/bed and they were snuggled together.
With a still sleepy Antonio in her wake, she moved towards Camilo's room.
Which was open. Good - that meant that he was awake and she could head down.
But she couldn't, she didn't even know why
Surely the way Mirabel, her sobrina, practically her boys' favorite prima, was passing her hands through his hair was not the reason. They were close and his hair was a mess and putting your hand on someone's cheek meant nothing. Maybe she was just trying to get his attention and -
And she could keep going, really.
She hadn’t stood there because of any of that.
And she definitely was not thinking about how that scene reminded her so much of her sister affectionately caressing her then-boyfriend Agustin.
The gesture… it was just so similar...
But no, that's silly.
Pepa went downstairs, nails marking her skin and small cloud (and a confused Antonio) following her.
Extract:
Knock Knock
Camilo groaned, trying to bury himself in his blankets. Maybe if he didn’t move, whoever was on the door would go away. He waited a few seconds and right when he was about to fall asleep again, another knock disturbed him again.
— Too early — he called out. The list of people who’d wake him up was a short one but he knew either way he wasn’t getting any more sleep. That didn’t mean that he couldn’t try.
A loud, enticing voice brought him back and out of his head — Come on, Cami. Breakfast's ready! — and honestly, of all the things she could say she always said the right ones.
He got out of bed, yawning while heading towards the door, drowsy eyes not seeing much. He opened it and there was Mirabel. She had an apron so he assumed she had been helping in the kitchen before and her hair was picked in a bun most likely to avoid getting it dirty with the food. Her smile was bright and contagious and he couldn’t not smile back. Her glasses were a bit lower than usual but he could still see her striking round eyes that were watching him with a gentle humor and confusion.
Huh?
— Goodnes, Cami, are you there? I’ve been trying to get your attention for a while now — she laughed, assuming he had been too dozy to answer. Her hands moved to his hair, trying to tame his own curls into something more presentable, missing the way Camilo leaned into her touch — Let’s go, then. Get a grip and come down, everyone’s ready for breakfast — With a too soft smack against his cheek that couldn’t be anything but playful, she turned around.
Camilo could just stared at her, dazed and overwhelmed by the realization that he just thought that
He’d been thinking about Mirabel like that (definitely not the same way he thought about Luisa or Isabela, that much he knew)
He’d been starving for longer contact than that
Since when, he wondered, and how did I not notice it before
Looking back, he’d been treating her differently for a while now: rushing through his chores to spend time with her or tagging along during hers, going out of his way to make her laugh and making sure she didn't run out of materials for her sewing projects.
He struggled to not gape at her during breakfast, sight fixed on his plate.
What now?
They’d been lucky as it could have been worse. After the accident when Luisa had picked up the brick and stone remaining, she’d tried to be around more to avoid another tragedy. But she’d been falling back into old habits, accepting every single (and sometimes stupid) request. Mirabel didn’t understand why they needed help to move a table but she’d be damned if she let her sister be pressured again by the townsfolk.
At Mirabel’s request, Luisa was to rest for the next couple of days. A short vacation, she said, the town can manage and so can we. And she’d been right, the chores had been divided and even Casita helped move whatever was needed.
One of the usual chores that Luisa would do was cutting wood, not only for Casita but also for the townspeople that couldn't. In the spirit of letting her daughter relax, Agustín had volunteered himself, Félix and Camilo saying that between the three of them ‘it was going to be a breeze’.
Well, it wasn’t.
By the time they were back, they were drenched in sweat and it was almost time for dinner, sun setting down behind the mountains of Encanto. They went to the family room and sat down, Camilo loudly groaning and complaining about his aching muscles.
A light-hearted laugh caught their attention — What muscles are you talking about, primo? — And Camilo would have answered something back were it not for the tray Mirabel was carrying. Lemonade, tasty-looking with ice cubes lemonade (if you’d asked him, he’d probably say that Mirabel was an angel then, no matter what she had said).
As if she’d read his thoughts, she moved around the table and the sofa, giving one glass to each one of them and greeting her father with a kiss on the cheek.
— So, how was it? — she asked Camilo teasingly, having heard his complaints from the kitchen. She slowly got behind the chair he was seated in, hands brushing the sweaty hair out of his face.
— Awful, absolutely vile, I’ve never appreciated Luisa like I do now, that’s for sure — That got a giggle out of her and earned him a light smack on the top of his head as he smirked at her. Her hands didn’t leave him, though. On the contrary, they fell to his shoulders, slowly starting to massaging them.
— Aww, look at you, poor baby. Are you very tired? Do you miss babysitting now? — She continued to tease him, not stopping her impromptu massage. Camilo faintly hummed his acceptance, not bothering to answer, just melting at her touch.
They failed to remember they were not alone.
Extract:
Félix liked to think he knew his children. Sure, there were things here and there that he missed but not about his middle child. Not Camilo. He knew that boy like the palm of his hand: his love for dramatics, his gentle demeanor towards his mother and aunt even though he wanted a mischievous reputation, the way he’d cared for Antonio and all his little quirks that may give him away even if he was wearing someone else’s face.
He liked to think Camilo was like him.
And he knew that look damn well.
The look he gave Mirabel when she entered the room, even before realizing that she was bringing them drinks, was like she’d hung the moon and the stars.
It was a lovestruck look.
The same look he gave his Pepa.
And even if he hadn’t been sure about it, the way they orbited towards each other, naturally touching each other was a dead-giveaway.
He glanced at Agustín, wondering if he had worked it out as well but no recognition or surprise appeared on his face. He doubted Pepa would be happy about this at first but he loved his son and if this is what (who) he wanted, he wouldn’t stand in the way.
Extract 2:
Of course he knew.
He knew the way half the boys in town looked at Isabela and how she didn’t like anyone in return.
He knew about Luisa’s belief that there weren’t any boys that liked her and about the farmer's son and his crush on her.
So, of course he was aware of his little mariposa and her cousin. He didn’t even need Bruno’s gift to see it coming. Agustín’s been looking over any boys that got close to her since she was thirteen, for the miracle’s sake.
He’s always got an inkling about Camilo but now it was painstakingly obvious. It had been apparent to him that they didn’t know about each other’s feelings though.
But he trusted Mirabel and even though he’d deny it, he’d always go easy on her.
With everything that had happened, Mirabel was pretty satisfied with the way things were. She was healing. Her family was healing. Her Tio Bruno was back, part of the family again. And she felt worthy and like she belonged for the first time in years.
She just wished someone had informed her bullies in town.
A couple years older than her, they’d been around since she was ten. However, they were not stupid - they never approached her close to any other Madrigal, not even Isabela when they were at odds.
She never told anyone either. It was one of those things you don’t think it’s important enough and she didn’t want to inconvenience anyone because of some mean-spirited words and some shoves.
Hence why she was confused when they approached her one day while she was out with her sister. Granted, Isabela and Luisa were a couple of stores back but it was still weird.
— Mirabel, que sorpresa! And here we were thinking you were hiding in that house of yours. Finally acknowledge that there’s nothing useful you can do around there? — She sighed, already tired. The unofficial leader of their little group, Andrés, always came up with comments he thought were hilarious.
Mirabel firmly believed that the other two, Valentina and Samuel, only laughed because Andrés’ father was a respectable merchant in Encanto.
— Come on! Are you deaf now? Maybe you are after having that house fall on you. Is that why all the others are so nice to you now? Do they pity poor, giftless Mirabel? — Mirabel blushed but kept looking at the stuff displayed on the shelves, knowing well they’d retreat if they didn't get a reaction out of her — That’d explain why they added you to that door. A bit of an afterthought, if you ask me…
— Good thing no one asked you, then — Camilo’s voice sounded harsher than she’d ever heard. Luisa was behind him, threatening in a more subtle way than Isabela who’d chosen to appear a giant sundew, one of her favorite carnivorous plants. Even though Luisa was the strong one, Mirabel knew that she needed to get them all out of here before Isabela and/or Camilo started a fight.
At the very least, she didn’t want to be here if it happened.
— Come on, guys. It’s nothing. Can we go to the other store now? I’ve been waiting for you — she said to them, completely ignoring the other three, hoping they would listen to her. As expected, the bullies had cowered under the presence of the other Madrigals.
— What? No, Mirabel, let me show them a bit of respect to these hijosdela — but Isabela was swiftly interrupted by Luisa, who had been looking at Mirabel, recognizing the silent plea.
— Fine — ‘as long as it doesn’t happen again’ went unsaid but she made sure to glare at them just so they would get the message.
One hand on Camilo’s arm and the other on Luisa’s, Mirabel led them out of the store. She refused to look at them, embarrassed and hoping they wouldn’t bring it up either. But of course they would, who was she fooling?
— Mira… does that happen often? — She heard her cousin ask. Watching them from the corner of her eye, she noticed how they were looking at her. Concern. Anger. Pity.
She couldn’t stand it.
— Mirabel, wait! — They called for her and dios, she wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of going back to Casita after that. But she needed the space so she kept running, tuning them out.
— There you are. Thought I lost you — She groaned. She’d been expecting him to follow her but not to find her so soon. She grabbed her knees, bringing them to her chest and resting her chin on top of them.
Camilo watched her. Her eyes wouldn’t meet his and she was absently playing with the grass that was close to her hand. She had run a good 15 minutes to a familiar pond, the one their parents used to bring them to spend time together, before it all got complicated.
— Come on, Mira. Talk to me — He tried again, voice soft. It hurt him to consider all of the things she could be thinking now. The fact that he hadn’t known about this , them was hurting him. Why hadn’t she told him or anyone? They would have helped, made sure it never happened again.
He just wanted to take her in his arms and protect her and make sure she was not thinking less of herself.
— That’s like the opposite of what I want to do, Milo — she whispered, barely looking up.
— Fine… but you do know they’re wrong, right? — He wouldn’t force her but he needed to make sure she knew. He insisted when she just turned her head, tight-lipped — Right?
— …are they?
Camilo felt like screaming. Like finding the idiotas that were responsible for the meek, shaky tone of her voice.
Mira had been doing so well. She had been vibrant and lively and he hated that a few stupid lies could crumble all that.
— Of course they are! You know how lost we’d be without you, Mira. We needed you, we still do — He sat by her side, as close as he dared, gathering all his strength for the next part — I need you.
That got her attention.
She looks up at him, a questioning look in her eyes, unsure of how to react or what he was trying to tell her.
Did he even mean it? Or was he trying to get a reaction out of her?
He passed his hand through his hair. Now or never, he thought.
— Mira, I like you. Like a lot.
— Milo, what…? — but he cut her off, before he lost the courage. Dios, he wished he could just tell a joke or something to make the moment lighter. But no, Mirabel deserved better than that.
— We’ve been spending so much time together lately and you’re amazing, Mira. Absolutely so, I wished you could see yourself the way I see you. You’re pretty, kind, talented, good with the kids in town and you care for every single one of us and I just… Am I messing this up? — He looked at her, insecure.
Was he talking too much? He shouldn’t have done this now, she wasn’t feeling well and what if she felt pressured or thought he -
The brief, gentle pressure of her lips meeting his own shut him up. He looked at her misty eyes, disbelieving.
— You’re the only one, Milo. And that was perfect.
It took him a few minutes to register what she had said, what she had meant. But when he was back, there she was, a sweet smile and soft eyes looking at him the way he had been hoping for weeks now.
His hand went to her hair, making sure to be deliberate just in case she didn’t want to. Her head stayed still as he approached though and when he finally kissed her, his hand dropped to her cheek, caressing her, trying to express how much he yearned for this, how much he cared for her.
Her free arm moved around his middle, tightening as to return the feeling. Her touch lingering as much as his racing heart and his fluttering stomach.
This time it lasted longer.