Chapter Text
The day you thought a big storm was incoming. The day the ground shook, rumbled and cracked wide open. The day mountains split in two. The day Casita collapsed.
Your father and you had run out of the shop with the toolbox in hand, calling for the other neighbors to pick up their first aid kits and tools to help the Madrigals. There might have been casualties. People might have gotten hurt.
It was a miracle nobody got hurt. But, their home was gone. Their gifts were gone. They were one, long lost person richer though.
The town decided to help the Madrigals and help them build a new home. After all this family had done for the Encanto, this was the least you guys could do!
Even though your father wasn’t a carpenter anymore, you came from a long line of carpenters and still knew the trade. So it was only naturally you helped out here.
***
Your left hand rested on the ladder, the other held the wooden beam over your head against the pole. Trying to balance yourself and the beam on just your feet, your left hand let go slowly and reached for the hammer. The ladder wobbled dangerously.
‘’Pá, can you pass me the nails?’’
There was no reply. Great. Just a minute ago he had been 6 feet away. You tried to look over your shoulder, trying to call out again and see where your father went. A big, balding (he was usually wearing a mud-brown cap to cover his head) Columbian man with a thick black moustache wasn’t easy to miss, you’d think. The ladder wobbled even more, throwing you almost off balance and almost knocking you off.
Just in time, someone held the ladder. You were able to wrap your underarm around the wood of the ladder. ‘’Miercoles! That was close.’’ You sighed softly.
‘’And here I thought I was a magnet for accidents.’’ A voice chuckled beside you. You looked down at the grinning man. Not the man you expected (in all honesty, you had expected your father to come to the rescue. Like always). It was none other than Agustín, Julieta’s husband.
‘’Well, you are next to me right now, right?’’ You joked back. ‘’Could you give me those nails? I’m almost done here… Thanks.’’
After attaching the beam, you slowly let it go and stepped down the ladder. ‘’Thanks again, Agustín.’’
‘’De nada. We should be thanking you all for helping out.’’ He waved his hand. His gaze travelled over the newly build house and the people finishing the last touches. ‘’After all these months, I can’t believe it’s done after today.’’
You grabbed the ladder and put it away against the wall. ‘’You better. The housewarming is still up for tonight?’’
‘’Absolutely!’’ The tall man perked up and slapped your shoulders playfully. ‘’Even though it won’t heal you anymore, my Julieta will cook the best food you’ve ever tasted! It’s still food for the soul, you know! And there will be wine, dancing and music…’’
You laughed at his enthusiasm. ‘’You’ll play the piano, right?’’
‘’Of course. Please tell me your father and you will play too.’’
‘’You know we won’t come to a party without tiple and guitar. Some neighbors down the street will bring their acordeón, guacharaca’s and tambora!’’ Your heart was beating in your chest from excitement. ‘’I can’t wait to play some salsa, vallenato, merengue-‘’
‘’Marianna!’’ You heard your father calling you in the distance.
‘’Sorry, Agustín, I’ve got to go. See you tonight!’’
***
Sweat was dripping down your neck and back. Maybe you shouldn't have worn this big, ruffled dress. Your fingers burned from playing the tiple and your throat was sore from the singing and yelling. But oh, did you feel alive!
The night air felt cool on your skin and you could see the stars shining bright above the courtyard of the Casita. The courtyard was filled with people. People before you were twirling and dancing, singing along, laughing. All the worries, sorrow and grief seemed gone and non-existent.
After months of building with the whole town, the Madrigal home was finished. And somehow, the magic had returned to the house and the family. The house felt – no – was alive again and the gifts had returned.
You looked at the crowd and back at your fellow musicians. You were quite a group! Agustín on the piano. Next to him was Maribel playing the acordeón and singing. Whoever said that girl didn't have a gift they had never heard her sing and play!
Next to her was your father sitting on a stool. He always stood out in the crowd and most people found him intimidating at first. But right now, when he was playing the guitar and singing, he was at his brightest. He met your look and gave a nod. You didn’t even have to say it.
After playing the last notes of the song, you put down your tiple and got up to get something to drink. Behind you the other musicians started the new song.
You danced your way through the crowd, moving out of the courtyard. People laughing, dancing and flashes of twirling, colorful fabrics passed you by.
You were on the hunt for something to cool your sore throat. Tables on the side of the dance floor were cluttered with empty glasses, cups and bottles.
You stepped into the abandoned kitchen. Everyone had left to go out and dance the night away. No, scrap that. Almost everyone had left the kitchen to go out and dance the night away.
There was a couple bickering in the corner. You couldn’t hear everything they said, not that it was your business anyway. You tried get a glass of water and wanted to stay unnoticed by the bickering pair. In what cabinet did Julieta keep her cups?
The voices of the couple got louder by the beat.
‘’…maybe- maybe if you didn’t keep putting fishes in small glass bowls they wouldn’t keep dying.’’
‘’It’s because of your visions-‘’ The woman spat back. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
‘’There were no visions! It’s just common sense!’’ The man interrupted her. He huffed and clutched the wineglass in his hand tighter. Wine sloshed around in it, almost spilling over. "Stop keeping fishes if you can't keep them alive."
‘’You’re a jerk, Bruno Madrigal.’’ The woman huffed and stormed off, throwing you a glance as she passed you.
So far your plan to go in and out of the kitchen unnoticed. The man was still standing in the dark corner of the kitchen, looking at the doorway through where the woman had left. He pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows.
He had dark curly hair with streaks of silver and a slight stubble. The man was wearing a dark red blouse and matching pants. Only the white sandals and green ruana didn’t match his party attire. You looked back up and noticed his green eyes. He might be what, 10 or 15 years older than you, but if you had to be honest - you found him strangely attractive.
Finally it clicked in your head. What the woman just had called him and his appearance.
You quickly realized who he was: Bruno, the long lost son of Señora Madrigal. After 10 years of being gone, he had turned up the day the Casita had collapsed and the mountains had split in two.
There were rumours about how he had never left the Encanto. How he had lived in the walls of the old Casita...
During the reconstruction, Bruno had helped alongside his family. To everyone's surprise, he was very gifted with the spackle.
Even though his interactions have been awkward at times, he had tried his best to become friendly with his family and the townsfolk again. Before his disappearance, he had been know as 'bad luck Bruno' or 'bad news Bruno' among the townsfolk. It would take some more time for them to get used to him being around again. Fortunately, Bruno had a lot of support from Mirabel, his sisters and the rest of his family.
You hadn’t spoken to him a lot yet. But from what you could see, he hadn’t changed a lot in those 10 years you hadn’t seen him. He just looked paler (which would be logical if you had spend a decade inside a house) and more tired. He probably wouldn’t remember you from before…
Your gaze met his. He was looking at you now. Realizing you had been staring for a bit, you quickly turned around, acting like you hadn’t been eavesdropping his fight too. Right, cups..
‘’Top cabinet, on the left.’’ The voice behind muttered.
‘’Yup, correct.’’ You filled it with water. ‘’T-thanks.. And uhm- sorry about-‘’ You pointed your thumb at the doorway.
The man shrugged, taking a sip from his wine, ‘’I had it coming. I had to say something, you know? My visions don't kill goldfishes and Antonio really doesn't like her a lot.’’
You leaned against the counter, sipping the cold water. He walked over to you – well, maybe it was more of a drunk stagger. Bruno tried to copy your stance and resting his back against the counter. There was a moment of silence.
Now that he was closer, you noticed the small wine stains on his shirt and ruana. How much had he already been drinking?
Bruno sipping his wine. You sipping your water. Both of you looking straight ahead. Would it be rude to get up and just – you know – go? One part of you wanted to escape this awkward situation, other part of you was curious what this man had to say.
‘’S-so-‘’
‘’So-‘’
You chuckled. Man, this was awkward. ‘’You go first.’’
‘’You play the tiple, right?’’
‘’I make them too.’’ You confessed. ‘’And you have visions of the future, right?’’
Bruno made a face and bend a little sideways to you, as if he was about to tell a secret. ‘’Had. I don’t do that anymore… and-..uhm, people didn’t seem to like those.’’
‘’Ah, no… alright.’’ You tried. Small talk was hard! You bit your lip and fiddled with the bangle around your wrist. ‘’Do you like the party, though?’’
‘’It’s alright, I guess.’’ His voice got a little quiet. Bruno shrugged and looked in the direction where the music came from. You followed his gaze and looked back at Bruno.
If those rumours were true – not saying they are – you could understand why he would feel uncomfortable at parties. He might find it hard to reconnect with people again or be around so many at the same time.
A world of difference with you; not afraid to go up on stage, play music and have people watching you. You almost felt sad for this man, maybe you could help?
An idea formed. Your eyes lit up.
‘’I’m Marianna Garcia, Martin Garcia’s daughter. Just call me Mia, please.’’ Armed with a small grin, you softly bumped his shoulder with yours.
As if Bruno was stung by a wasp, his head turned back to you. He locked eyes with you again before quickly looking away to the ground. It took him a few seconds before he slumped back against the kitchen counter. ‘’Y-yeah.. I know you.’’
‘’Oh.’’ Not the reaction you expected, but okay. So he did remember you? ‘’From the shop or-..?’’
‘’N-no.’’ Bruno shook his head, immediately regretting moving his head so fast. He rubbed a hand over his forehead. Did he look somewhat greener to you?
‘’Want some water? Maybe no more wine?’’ You offered. Meanwhile you tried to take the glass of wine from his hands. Bruno sluggishly moved his hand away from you, almost losing balance, falling over your way. You held him back by grabbing his shoulder and pushing him away from you.
‘’…I’m good.’’ He muttered.
‘’You don’t seem so good.’’ You teased. You tried to hold back a giggle, it was just too funny to see this tipsy version of Bruno Madrigal.
There was a silence when your eyes met again. But it didn’t feel uncomfortable this time. You were still holding Bruno’s shoulders - he would probably topple over if you let him go. You could feel the warmth of his skin through the shirt.
You noticed Bruno was a little taller then you – only by a bit! And his long, dark lashes, even the light freckles on his face. His scent reminded you of smoky red wine and damp forest floor and… God, he was close.
With his free hand, Bruno grabbed the kitchen counter to prevent him from falling over.
‘’So… you know me?’’ You spoke softly, breaking the silence. You slowly let go of his shoulders and lowered your arms, thinking he was stable on his feet again. He was. Bruno didn’t step back, but remained close to you. His expression softened and his eyes half-lidded looking down at you.
He nodded. ‘’From before-‘’
Before Bruno could finish his sentence, a worried expression shot over his face. He abruptly turned his face away from you. He ducked, but was too late. Mere seconds later – and to your horror - the conversation had turned into a the very… nasty situation.
Bruno Madrigal had puked over your shoes before passing out.