Beautiful Bruises ~ Camilo Madrigal x Reader

Rescued

When you woke up the next morning, you raced for you chores, finally finishing feeding all of the animals. You patted your cow on the nose before racing for the village to find Mirabel.

Although you couldn't go straight to Casita, since Camilo was there, you suspected that Mirabel would be in town anyway. She was always doing something kind, like entertaining the kids or helping out with mundane chores.

As you suspected, you found her in town squashed in an embrace from her older sister, Luisa. She set her down and walked off with a bunch of donkeys as you approached, leaving Mirabel looking bewildered and confused.

"Oh, hey, (Y/N)," she said before you could speak up. "What's with the gloves?"

You stared down at the leather gloves you had worn to hide the slowly fading bruises.

"Oh, just... yard work and gardening, you know? Gotta keep my hands clean..."

"Oh, nice. Well, I gotta go, no time to hang out... sorry!" she called behind her as she walked off, but then she mumbled something to herself that shoved the thought of your silk glove right out of your head. "So Casita's cracking, and Luisa's power is fading-"

"Wait!" you cried, interrupting her. "Casita is breaking?"

She froze, her eyes wide, and started to inch away backwards.

"Heh... you weren't supposed to... know..."

"No, I... I felt it shake that night," you said before she could disappear. This made her pause. "I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but... I felt it."

Mirabel slowly smiled.

"This is great. You can help me find out how to fix this! I'm so glad I'm not alone anymore. Come with me - I'll fill you in." As you started to walk toward Casita, her clinging to your arm, you forced yourself not to be alarmed. Camilo wouldn't find you - not if you were careful to avoid him.

"We're going to go to Bruno's tower and see if we can find any clues. It should be pretty easy - the door is only closed off with a few boards," Mirabel informed you.

You nodded, slipping behind her as she snuck through a side window. She leads you to Bruno's door and starts struggling to get the wood off.

"Keep a lookout," you instruct. "I'll get the wood." She nods reluctantly, and you get to work, your arms strong from years of carrying things on the farm. Finally, you finish, and Mirabel shoved the door open with your help.

"Whoa," she breathes as the two of you gape at a large hourglass shape cut in the wall with sand falling down it. "Looks like that's the only way we can go."

Before you can protest, she scampers over and slides down without a word. You slap your hand over your mouth to cover a scream, horrified. What if there was nothing at the bottom? Mirabel was too trusting!

Suddenly, you hear the scuffle of footsteps behind you.

"Shoot," you breathe, running to follow her. You muffle another scream as you slip down a sandy slide, landing on your butt in a pile of sand. When you look up, spitting sand out of your mouth, you almost wish you hadn't.

"Stairs. So. Many. Stairs," you groan, but Mirabel pulls you to your feet from under your armpits.

"We'll never make it if you complain like that," she says wisely as she begins to tramp up the stairs. You follow, remembering that someone could be right behind you.

And of course there was.

"Mirabel?" you hear someone shout when you were about 50 steps away from the top. Mirabel was on the right side, more visible to those below. She peered down and cursed under her breath.

"Who is it?" you question. The voice had been so distant that it was muffled, but you had an idea who it might be.

"Camilo," she grumbles, confirming your suspicion. "Now we have to tell him what's going on."

"Do we though?" you asked, your voice high pitched. You quickly cleared your throat. "I mean..."

Before you could say anything else, you arrived at the top. Mirabel struggled to open a strange door, enlisting your help. Finally, you drag it open to reveal lots and lots of sand. Mirabel starts digging around gleefully.

"Look!" she cries, holding up a glowing emerald shard. "I don't know what these are, but they look promising."

You nod and kneel next to her, pawing through to sand and pulling out little glowing pieces, tucking them in your skirt pocket. Moments later, the ceiling began to quake.

"Whoa!" Mirabel shouted over the din. "Grab the rest of the pieces, quickly! This could be our only chance to get them!" The two of you scrambled to grab the rest, finally completing your fast and racing for the doorway even as sand and rubble piles up, blocking your path. Mirabel manages to climb over it, and you do the same, barely escaping.

You're so relieved that you made it out, you don't realize a boulder if about to fall on you until you look straight up. And freeze.

Suddenly a strong hand snakes out, grabbing your waist and spinning you into them. You bump into their chest, inhaling what smells like coffee and pancakes - they smell safe. But when you look up, your eyes widen. Camilo, the boy who knows your secret, stares down at you with terrified green eyes, his chest heaving.

And he still hasn't let go of your waist.