Work Text:
Bruno Madrigal. The youngest sibling, gifted with the ability to look into the future and its possibilities. Living in the walls of Casita for years in fear of what he found in his vision and wished no one else to find out. The man living with rats, used to his families quite catchy song about 'not talking about him'. Honestly he should've been more upset about it, but he couldn't help happily listening in to their song.
The same person, who thanks to Mirabel, came out of hiding and reunited properly with his family. The one who started to believe that maybe not all his visions were half that bad. Everything was getting better.
Yet he couldn't get used to it. The rest of his familias affection, the way he was suddenly included in all their meals and talks, and time together. Even before Mirabel, Isabela, Camilo, Luisa and Antonio were born, Bruno wasn't exactly their Abuela's favourite child. His gift was deemed evil, dangerous and the townsfolk didn't have the best opinions on him after a certain fishy accident.
Bruno repressed his gift, he did all he could to make them proud of him, make himself as special as his siblings, but never could. He never seemed to get close to them.
He became the black sheep. But it was okay. It was understandable. Up until Mirabel's 5th birthday, the big day she was supposed to get her own gift. She didn't get one. Bruno dissappeared the same night. However he didn't, not before comforting the little girl at least.
She sat on the kitchen floor, munching on one of Julieta's adepa con queso, wrapped in a blue sky blanket. Her glasses were laid on the counter and he could see her brown eyes swollen lightly by red, looking tired. He sat down next to her taking one of the snacks too and eating it in silence. The girl kept eating too for a while until putting the bit of the snack next to her and leaning against the man.
“Tío Bruno?”
“Yes Mirabel?”
“Why didn't I get a gift like you and mamá, and Tía Pepa?”
She asked, lifting her head towards him. Bruno felt devastated. She looked so miserable and confused, and she didn't deserve any of it. Mirabel was just a child then and she was forced to understand that she wasn't gifted an amazing ability just like the rest of her family. As if she wasn't worthy. And Bruno couldn't help but seethe at the audacity of fate deciding she wasn't getting one.
“I really don't know, I'm sorry pequeño. . ”
The girl wrapped her tiny arms around his torso as much as she could, trying to stifle the incoming hiccups.
“Have- have I done something to upset Casita? Or the gods? Or Abuela?”
“Of course not querido. You deserve it more than anyone else here. It's just.. Perhaps there's something else planned for you in the future. Something important!”
“Really?”
“Really. Trust your tío Bruno on this one Mirabel.” The adult gently bumped their heads together, making her giggle quietly.
“Alright.” Her mouth curved into a small grin, her tense face relaxing visibly. She kept playing with her uncle's hair for a bit until she ultimately fell asleep. Bruno picked her up carefully, quietly asking Casita to help him get Mirabel to the nursery. Casita did. He got there without a problem, not tripping on anything. He laid down the girl, making sure the blanket is still securely wrapped around her.
The tiles on the floor squeaked questioningly when the man's face turned gloomy. He ignored it and walked out, making his way into his room without anyone noticing. He grabbed all of the stuff he needed while Casita panicked needlessly, not wanting him to leave. She wouldn't let him. The stairs took him back up, the windows refused to open, the doors closed themselves before him. So he changed his decision. He'd stay. But not directly. His family would think he's gone while he's actually hiding in the walls, spaces Casita created for him to hide in.
He spent more than seven years there, his only companions the rats. Now he was back in touch with his family and while it was better, at the same time it wasn't a lot.
The first sign of it was him finding Dolores hidden behind a pillar, her hands pressed tightly against her ears, ready to break. He knew what was happening. He just didn't know why for a minute.
The house was fairly quiet that day, Pepa, Camilo and Félix out in the market, Isabela and Mirabel somewhere out looking for Antonio who once again lost one of his animal friends. Only Bruno, Dolores, Julieta, Augustín and Abuela. He has his suspicions on his own má, but decided to dismiss it.
He kneels in front of Dolores, waving. She doesn't notice at first before bolting back into the white pillar and staring at him stunned. He points at his own ears and then twirls at them grimacing, and finally pointing at her. She nods, her eyes wandering onto the floor.
She felt guilty. About not being able to control her gift. About her own ability being able to overcome Dolores, to throw her off track.
He picks her up, still not saying a word and gets her to her own bedroom. He glances at the walls, guessing that they must be soundproof. He hands the girl her notebook and a pencil, smiling softly. She looks at him gratefully before fully laying down onto her bed, eyes glued to the ceiling. Bruno leaves, feeling the earlier concern slip off him easily.
Bruno was there to comfort Mirabel as a kid.
Bruno was there to help Dolores calm down.
He was also there for Isabela's messy crush on one of the town's local girl.
He also was the one Luisa went to rant to, after a especially hard day of work.
Bruno was there to spend time with Antonio when all the other adults seemed to not understand the boy.
Maldita sea, he was even there for Camilo and their gender identity crisis!
Bruno was there for all of his nieces and nephews and kids in between problems, supporting them and trying to give proper advice. That's when he felt like family. They considered his opinions, his emotions, even if some were still suspicious of him. (Read: Camilo)
Julieta was his big sister, the most responsible sibling. He loved her dearly and whenever he was the one to start another argument with Pepa, she'd both convince them to apologize. Her gift was to heal people with her meals, never failing.
Pepa was the middle child, always arguing and playing with him. She was easily swayed by her emotions, but he always knew she was sincere and knew that his second older sister would give him an honest answer.
He loved his siblings, their partners, his grandkids, his whole familia. They all loved him too, in their own ways.
The only questionable person in their home was Abuela. Bruno was angry with her. Frustrated. Mad with.
Why?
She started tearing her own familia apart. Without realizing it until it was almost too late. She was the one painfully ignorant of Luisa's anxiety about not being able to surpass everyone's expectations. She was the one to completely forget about asking about Isabela's choice, incredibly close to making her engage to a man she had never truly loved. She was the main reason Mirabel found herself questioning if she was worthy to be a part of their familia, if she belonged there. If she was special at all.
Abuela made so many mistakes. Everyone was willing to forgive her. That's what everyone did, including Bruno. But he never forgot. He'll never forget. He was in the walls for years, he listened in to every conversation for years and now that he was reunited with his close ones, he wouldn't let them be treated again that way.
Because sometimes blood doesn't mean anything, but the heart bond does.