Work Text:
Camilo had talked to his Tío Bruno and finally come to the conclusion that he wasnt a creepy asshole, he just happened to have told a few bad prophecies and everyone took them the wrong way. He also knew Bruno had visions for Isabella, Dolores, and Maribel, and all the family before him. He found a jealousy in it- he was just as important, right?
The nagging question left in his head had him at Brunos door, it was nice to see it glow for once in his life.
Knock, knock, knock
Camilo stood, worried he wouldn’t get an answer, but the door slowly opened, Bruno standing there looking like he just woke up. “Oh- Oye Camilo” he yawned, rubbi ng his face “Tío, i need a favor, its important!” Camilo urged, being the dramatic child he always was.
“What is it? Are you okay?” Camilo groaned in frustration “Tío, i want to see my future”
There was a moment of silence, and a brief second where bruno looked as if he would throw up right there. “I don’t know, chamaco..” he said wearily, but Camilo knew the chances he was taking getting told his future. Maybe he would be in movies. Maybe he would meet the love of his life. “Come on, please! Im your nephew! The last time we talked was when i was 4, i caught you in the kitchen and you told me you were Santa’s brother!” Camilo whined, having a fit in Bruno’s doorway. With a loud sigh, Bruno decided to be a good uncle and let Camilo in.
They set up a circle of salt, and made a fire in the center where they both sat across one another. Camilo’s hands laid in Brunos and the magic began- green glowing eyes searched over millions of glowing particles as they finally grew together, forming visuals.
“Okay, okay, i see you.” Bruno said “you’re- well, not any older, i don’t think. Still a small guy” He continued, drawing a “hey, now!” Out of Camilo in displeasure of his descriptions but let bruno go on
“..who’s that?” Bruno almost murmured to himself
“Who’s who?” Camilo asked eagerly, practically squeezing the blood out of Bruno’s hands with how hard he was holding
“Ay,,,i cant be sure- he’s..about your size, maybe a few inches shorter.” Bruno went on, but then he stopped and grew a very confused look on his face
“What?”
Silence
“What is it, bruno?”
Another moment of silence
“Are you kissing boys in the village lately?” Bruno asked, and kt seemed so out of place. “Boys?? What? I- no?! Thats- me? Boys? What??” Camilo babbled on, confused but also growing a wall of defensiveness. Why would he kiss a boy?He’s mostly a guy, thats weird isn’t it?
“Well- vision shows me you’re gonna be smooching with someone in a red hoodie” bruno said, as if it was funny.
“I..okay- is that it?” Camilo asked, a bit thrown off by his new prediction
“Theres fruit kinda..flying around but..thats all. I don’t know what any of that means” Bruno murmured, his eyes losing their glow and the salt settling around them in a messy circle once more. He handed camilo the plate, who examined it in silence
It felt weird, Camilo felt like he found out something about himself that he shouldn’t have . “I..thank you, tío bruno. That was nice” he said, bidding his uncle farewell and leaving his room, wishing he could tumble himself down the millions of stairs as he walked down back into the casa. “Red hood. Fruit. What is this, red riding hood?!” He scoffed to himself, walking and walking around the house till he realized he was in the dining room where everyone else had been, and where bruno was sitting now. They were all eating, chatting, seeming happy. Camilo, on the other hand, had a storm of confusion in his mind.
Pepa, his mother, and the weather expert, took notice to the look on her sons unusually dulled face. There was about 3 seconds between him sitting down, and his mother picking him up out of his chair into the other room without a question. Once seated in the farther room, where even Dolores couldn’t eavesdrop.
“Why so sour, mijo?” Pepa cooed to him like when he was small. Camilo felt sick, what would everyone else think?
“..Mama. Bruno gave me a prediction” he said, chewing his fingernail nervously as his eyes stayed on the ground “..he saw me..kiss someone?” He said, not even sure how to sugarcoat it. Camilo hadn’t ever had to question his own sexuality, let alone admit that he was confused to his mom.
“Oye, thats great niño! That just means you’re going to be quite the ladies man!” Pepa said sweetly, pushing the smaller boys hair back. With that action, she realized Camilo’s eyes were watering just slightly. “Mama.” He said, a little defeated “He said i was kissing a boy” he whispered, looking at her in fear of what she would say to him, or do, he had heard plenty of unpleasant stories from the village people who were in the queer community about being shunned or beaten.
The hand that he feared would strike his face never came, nor the searing hot words of hate that he expected; but hands gently cupping his face
“Dios mio, honey- why are you crying? Thats okay, theres nothing wrong with that” came Pepas motherly voice, and a warm embrace that he melted into “You’re no different than any other madrigal, mi amor. You’re a strong, blossoming young man” she cooed, kissing his forehead sweetly
“Thank you, mama” Camilo said, although the anxiety lingered “..ay, mijo, why don’t you take a walk to the market square? Get yourself a treat while you’re there” She said, fishing a handful of quarters out of her dress pocket and dropping them into Camilo’s satchel “gracias, mama. Ill be back before dark” he said happily, taking his change.
The evening set in, the sunset finally arriving and leaving the sky a beautiful mishmash of reds, pinks, and orange. It made for a peaceful walk, chatting up people he passed by, and partially forgetting his earlier predicament.
Camilo arrived to the market square, eyeing the little shops to see what he wanted to spend a few dollars on, and he spotted some fresh, vibrant fruit. Excited, he pulled his stachle up- upside down.
The sound of small clinks as Camilo’s change fell into the street, some coins rolling away fast. He was embarrassed dropping everything in-front of everyone there and began racing to pick it up, his eyes darting around a little as it felt like everyone was looking and laughing.
“Hey, is this yours?” A voice came from behind him. Camilo turned around and swore his heart just filled and popped like a balloon- there was a boy..in a red hoodie. Camilo stared at him for a second before coming back to his senses “u-uh- Si, thank you” he stammered, taking the coin from the other boys hand
“What were you gonna buy, amigo?” The boy asked, still sticking around as Camilo was trying to count his change and make sure he had enough money left from the lost change “ugh…man,, i was going to buy a few uchuvas but i don’t have-“
Camilo was cut off by the sound of the register at the fruit table dinging “four uchuvas, there you go young man” said the older woman who was selling at the fruit stand
Camilo looked to the boy who walked back over to him with a plastic bag in hand, and Camilo could see four uchuvas sitting neatly inside.
The red hoodie…the fruit…was this the one?
“U-uh..hey- i didn’t get your name, amigo” Camilo stopped him before he could walk away, eager to know who the mysterious handsome young boy was. “Oh! Im Miguel! Miguel rivera- and, say, you’re the Madrigal boy aren’t you?”
Every word that rolled out of Miguels mouth had Camilos brain zapping like a broken radio. “Y-yeah- yeah thats me” he said, a new warmth blossoming in his chest and his face
“Oye, we’ll have to hang out together- my family is visiting Columbia for the whole summer” Miguel spoke happily, smile as sweet as could be. Camilo took notice of the far-left gap in his teeth, his mind deciding it was extremely charming for the boy. “Oh, wow- y-yeah! We should! Uh- i..i have to get back home right now but..” Camilo paused to think, but didn’t get a chance to finish
“See you later, alligator?” Miguel smiled
Camilo’s face burned red and he laughed heartily
“After a while, crocodile”
That one lovely summer had to come to an end one day, but even as the seasons changed and Miguel left back to his hometown in Mexico, Camilo still got packages and letters from his soulmate.