Blue Flames and Black Candles

That's It! Granny's Going In A Home!!

A severe thunderstorm was brewing around Casita when Mirabel, Bruno, Antonio, and Tas managed to get up the hill. They burst in as the rain let up slightly before hail began pelting down. They could hear the loud yelling from the kitchen. Antonio was sent upstairs to his room in case Pepa was still swearing up a storm, literally.

"Care to explain how and why you made my son cry? Huh Mother? What excuse do you have for making a five year old cry?" Pepa was in Abuela's face, absolutely furious. "I had to find out from other people that my son spent the morning crying because of you!"

"Pepa, calm down. It's begun to hail. We can discuss this like civili-"

"No! No, mother, we can't just talk about this! You made my child, your grandson, cry because you forced him to Mirabel and her fiance, who you chose might I add, instead of letting him stay with the other children in town! You took him away from his friends for what? Some petty feud you created between you and Mirabel because you don't think she's a valuable member of this family?"

"Pepa!"

"She's right, you know. You've treated me terribly since I didn't get a gift. Everyone knows it. You push everyone too far, to the point that most of us can't stand to be near you! Luiza has anxiety, Delores is traumatized by some of the things she hears, Camillo is elbows deep in an identity crisis, and Antonio is terrified of disappointing you! I have given up at trying to please you! I will never be good enough for you, none of us will!"

Tas had moved forward as Mira broke down, sobs ripping their way from her throat, and gently pulled her into a hug. He pat her back as she cried and pierced Abuela with a glare. Pepa and Felix looked shaken at the sight. Mira had never been one to cry in front of other people, barely doing so in front of her parents.

"You know what? Mama forgive me, but this needs to be said," Tas muttered before turning his attention back onto Abuela. "You don't deserve to be a mama! Or an abuela, for that matter! Honestly, I don't know how you can sit there and justify making two of the nicest people in the village cry in one day and we're not gonna begin to broach the subject of Bruno right now. I don't know why they still put up with you!"

Tas didn't allow Abuela to speak, merely scooping Mirabel up, and walking out. The girl was obviously tired and there was no way in hell he was leaving her to Abuela's care. Bruno had followed them out, grabbing an umbrella, opening it, and handing it to Taz. He gave the boy a smile while opening the door, both understanding that Mirabel shouldn't be staying in the same house as Abuela.

Tas had almost forgotten about Wisp, who had perched on the upstairs bannister near Antonio's room, but was pleasantly surprised when the little bird hopped onto his shoulder. He began the walk back to his house, he knew his mother wouldn't mind that he half-kidnapped his fiance. Actually, the overprotective woman might try to fight Abuela on principle. Still, the girl who had dozed off in the crook of his neck deserved to get some peace and quiet away from her family.

They had finally gotten back to his house when the rain finally let up. He tried to get the door open, failing miserably, before knocking to get his mama to open the door. It took a few minutes, which was spent with him holding Mira close to his chest so she wouldn't get too cold and trying not to freeze his own ass off. When his mama finally answered, he just smiled before pushing past her and set Mira down on a small sofa in their living room.

"Care to explain, Tas?"

"Her Abuela sucks! She treats her terribly! I couldn't leave her with that woman! She's like how HE was."

"Ok, come help me make dinner. We'll wake her up when the food is ready," his mama didn't ask anymore questions, knowing what he meant. She just smiled, threw a quilt over MIrabel, and walked into the kitchen with Tas on her heels. The two began to make Arroz con pollo and tamales. They worked quickly, dancing around each other with practiced ease, and had quickly made enough food for the three of them with extra, which would be saved.

"Go wake her up, please. I'll make plates!"

"Psst. Psst! Mira!" Tas nudged at the girl, receiving half hearted grumbling and her swatting at his hand. "If you don't wake up I'm eating your tamales!"

"Eat them and die," she sat up. Her hair was a tangled mess and her glasses were barely hanging on her face, but both were quickly remedied. She looked around for a second before, "where are we?"

"You kinda fell asleep on me and I don't trust your abuela, so I brought you to my house to spend the night. Now, Mama asked me to get you for dinner, so let's go!"

He half-dragged her to their table and pulled her chair out for her. His mama laughed at his attempt at chivalry. He then plopped down in his chair with a lopsided grin. Wisp flew in from the living room to perch on top of Tas's head, who could only pout as his mama and Mira laughed.

"So, Mirabel, right? Tas has spoken a little about you, but I would like to get to know you. So tell me something about yourself."

"Oh, there's, um, there's not much to know. I learned to cook from my mama, I didn't get a gift from the family miracle, I got a gift from a black candle in a cottage in the woods, and my favorite color is purple."

"Backtrack there missy."

"Okay. I was upset at Abuela and I took off into the woods at night, stupid I know. But I found Wisp who led me to this abandoned cottage. I went inside, again stupid I know, and I lit this candle inside that has a blue flame that doesn't go out or burn the candle down. It gave me a gift! I can make and control flames, though I need to practice more."

"Well, you know it was stupid, so that's a start. You are not to practice this gift without proper adult supervision, this includes me, this does not include any of your siblings or cousins nor Tas. If you practice with your Tio, I want him to have a bucket of water in case of a mishap. Next, you are always welcome in this house, no matter what time it is, if you need a place to stay. Last, your abuela is a bitch and I may fight her the next time I see her."

"As much as I would love to see that, I ask that you try to resist the urge. I know I do."

Tas, the poor dear, had been taking a drink of water at the time and ended up having to violently cough and wheeze as he choked on the water. This of course had Mirabel in stitches as his mama watches the two fondly. Of course, Tas pouted at the lack of help from the girls. Dinner was finished at a much more sedate pace.

"Alright you two, time for bed."

"Alright mama! Come on Mira, you can have my bed. I'll take the couch."

"Oh, are you sure? I'm fine with the couch!"

"I am not letting you sleep on the couch. You get the bed," Tas was digging through his wardrobe for some extra sleep clothes. He eventually just grabbed one of his comfiest shirts and an old pair of shorts and tossed them to Mira. "This is the best I can give you, sorry. If you need anything, I'll be in the living room."

Tas left Mirabel standing in his room. It was small, but comfortable with the basics: a bed, wardrobe, and nightstand. It had drawings hung on the walls, most of different landscapes around the village, but one in particular caught her eye: a drawing of her was hung up next to the door, obviously new and well made. She changed before falling into the bed, the scent of honey and citrus lingering.

She spent around an hour laying there, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. With a sigh, she sat up and looked around. It was practically pitch black, so there was nothing distracting her from sleep, so why was she still up? It took another few minutes for her to stand up and creep to the living room. Tas was asleep, half hanging off the couch. She moved over, nudging him gently until he woke up. She shoved him over and slipped under the blanket. He sighed, threw his arm over her, and went back to sleep, her following soon after.