Beautiful Bruises ~ Camilo Madrigal x Reader

Slip

"That was my brother."

Camilo stared at you, his mouth wide open. You could almost see the cogs turning in his head.

"So... it runs in your blood. We can't work magic on you."

You sighed, looking at the floor. The room seemed to be getting darker as you spoke, dread setting in.

Camilo stepped closer to you, hesitating before reaching for your hand. You swallowed hard, fearing he would hate you now.

"I think... I might have an idea why," he said softly, tilting your chin up with his finger so you had to look him in the eyes. "What if your-"

"Guys! We're back!" Mirabel called over the edge, interrupting him. He glared at her for a moment before forcing a smile onto his face. "Can you shape-shift again now?"

"Yes," Camilo reluctantly responded, reaching for your hand as the other two jumped across to the other side.

"Meet you in Antonio's room," Mirabel shouted behind her.

"Antonio?" you asked, confused.

Camilo shrugged, sweeping his arm under your legs.

"Hey!" you cried, scrambling away from him.

"Whoa," he said, backing away with his hands up. "Sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you or scare you." He smirked after a moment. "Just sweeping you off your feet."

You glared at him, but suddenly his arms were under your legs and back and you were in the air.

"Ow!" you whimpered, grabbing his neck and arching your back so his arm wasn't pressing on your bruises.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, confused. "What did I do?"

"Nothing," you managed through grit teeth. "Just... get us up there, tonto."

He shape-shifted into a long-legged man, easily setting you down on the floor and hauling himself over the edge, too, before changing back.

"No, really," he said, pulling you closer by the waist. "What's wrong, (Y/N)?"

Your heart fluttered as he blinked slowly, a strand of his hair catching in his thick eyelashes.

He wanted you to trust him. You wanted to trust him. 

"You... were pressing on my bruises," you finally admitted softly. "Now let's go. They're probably waiting for us." You began to make your way to the exit of the passageway.

"(Y/N)!" Camilo called after a second, racing after you. "You can't just... say that and then run off." He grabbed your arm and spun you around quickly. "Since when we're there bruises on your back?"

You hesitated. He would be upset you hadn't told him before if you told him the truth, but you couldn't keep lying forever.

"Since my black eye," you said after a pause. Camilo's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled you into a gentle hug, careful not to hold you too tightly. Your eyes widened, and your arms hung limply at your side, unsure what to do with them.

Hug him back! your brain screamed, and at long last you managed to move your arms, wrapping them around his waist and tucking your head into his chest. You felt him smile into your shoulder as he stooped to lean his bury his head in the crook of your neck. You giggled as his curly hair tickled your face.

"All right, all right! Let's go," you laughed, pulling away and grabbing his hand. "Mirabel is probably waiting for us."

He let you lead him along, and the two of you raced through your house, finally reaching Antonio's giant room. You crept in to discover a whirling sandstorm spinning around the forms of Bruno and Mirabel.

"Whoa," you breathed, and you felt Camilo snake his hand around your waist, pulling you against his chest. Your face grew red, but you took a deep breath and forced yourself to calm down.

"Yes, tonto?" you teased.

"I'm not a fool for caring about you," he grumbled. "And... I'm sorry. For hurting you."

You snorted.

"Oh, come on. It's not your fault - you didn't know my papa had whipped my back."

You didn't become aware of your slip until you felt him tense behind you, his arms tightening protectively. When you turned, his eyes had a cold glint instead of their usual teasing one.

"Shit," you breathed, before slapping your hand over your mouth. "Shoot."