A Marriage of Convenience: A Bruno Madrigal Encanto Fanfic

Chapter 13

Bruno had decided that Claudia needed a break. The poor girl was looking more and more tired everyday. He didn't want her to fall apart because he cared. So after breakfast, a few days after her talk with Julieta, he stopped her before she left the house. When he grabbed her hand to stop her he noticed her flinch, and it made him even more determined to enact his plan.

"What are you doing? I need to get to the Rojas. They're very big on timing." Claudia seemed nervous.

"I've already talked to mama, and she said that it's alright if you take a break today. So I thought we could just relax in our living quarters, if uh it's okay with you?" He rubbed his neck as he added the last bit.

Bruno had never seen anyone change emotions so quickly. She seemed tense and nervous one second, and after he said she didn't have to go she instantly relaxed. It was a good look on her.

"Of course! I'd love to!" Claudia quickly responded.

She would do anything for a day away from the Rojas. She was realizing the others were starting to notice, well except Alma Madrigal, but she was usually very busy. She had tried to hide the worst from them, but she knew they suspected something was wrong, even if it was just emotionally. She followed Bruno upstairs happily and when he gestured for her to take a seat on a pile of pillows, she immediately did so.

"So you know how I do telenovelas with the rats?"he began.

"Of course El Amor de las Ratas is the most entertaining thing I've ever seen!"

Bruno blushed. "Anyways, I was uh thinking about it, and what could make it better. And then it came to me. SETS!" 

He looked so excited that Claudia couldn't help but smile. He looked so pretty when he smiled. Wait, had she just thought that!? Well he was pretty, and sweet, and oh no.Bruno continued excitedly, unaware of Claudia's inner turmoil.

"So I got supplies and I thought today we could paint some sets." He held up some paint and some thick paper. "I figured it could be kind of, well, relaxing." He looked nervously at her. "I mean, if you want to of course."

"Sounds fun," she said, nodding. Maybe it would get her mind off the current issue.

"Good, cause we really need these backdrops, cause in a few episodes Maria is going to propose and we need the right setting for that."

They got to work painting, while Bruno talked about his telenovela plans. It was soothing in a way, but it left Claudia to her thoughts. She had a crush on her husband. Well, when she thought of it like that it sounded stupid, but she was freaking out. No matter what she thought he was too good for her. He was magical, and she was the opposite. Any small feelings had to be squashed immediately or they could be used against her.

"Uh Claudia?" Claudia looked up. "How are we gonna make the rats stand in front of the sets?" He looked so concerned over it, she almost laughed.

"Well…," she thought for a minute. "I've got it! We cut little head holes in. That way they'll know where to stand, and we can draw little clothing on the sets!"

Bruno got a giant grin. "You are a genius little mouse!"

"What?"

"Huh?" Bruno seemed confused as if he hadn't noticed the name that slipped out.

"You...you called me little mouse."

"Oh uh yeah," he looked away and rubbed his neck,"Umm I just kind of thought it suited you, cause uh you're tiny and kind of well…" he trailed off.

He honestly thought it was because she was small, cute, and kind like the mice and rats he had befriended. He couldn't tell her that though. Luckily she seemed to brighten at his explanation.

"Wow, I don't think I've ever had a nickname before. It's uh nice."

Bruno was confused. "Are you sure? I've heard the Rojas call you perrita."

The minute he said the word she tensed, her posture straightened and her eyes immediately went to the floor. Her heart rate went up to the point where she swore she could hear it pumping.

"Please…please don't use that." She quietly requested, "you can call me anything but that."

"But they-"

"I know. Sorry, I…I interrupted sir. I didn't mean to, I swear. I just…I don't think…"

"Hey, you're…you're okay. Deep breaths in and out."

Sir? The Rojas were supposed to be family to her. Yet their name for her induced such an instant response. It was almost like she had been trained like a...oh. They called her little dog not as a nickname, but as a threat. They were worse than he imagined. Her breathing hadn't slowed, so he took her hand. She jumped a bit at that and he gave her hand a small squeeze in apology.

"Hey little mouse. Could you look at me?"

She snapped her head up immediately, and it made him so sad to see the fear in her eyes. It was almost as if she felt like she had to do exactly what he said, and he didn't want that. He wanted the Claudia who made her own decisions. So he decided maybe the best thing was not to talk. It took a while, but eventually her posture relaxed and her breathing slowed. Her eyes had turned back down at some point and he could swear they were a bit watery.

"I'm sorry for using that...that word," he said with a hand squeeze. "I promise you it'll never happen again, ever."

"Thank you," she was still quiet, but at least she was talking normally instead of like every word made her more and more scared. "I...I have to go." She quickly got up, but he held on to her hand.

"Claudia," he sounded serious."I swear to you, if you just tell me what is happening then maybe I can...no I will help you. I just need you to let me."

Claudia looked like she would agree for a minute, but then she took her hand out of his grasp and turned away.

"You already help in ways you couldn't imagine. You make this hell worth it, all of you do. I promise when the time comes I'll tell you, but for now…"she sighed,"you'll just have to trust that I can handle it. Please just give me that."

Bruno would've responded, but his eyes began to glow and a random vision started. By the time it was over, Claudia was nowhere to be seen.

*****

That night he went to his mother. He had told his sisters earlier what had happened and they all agreed that the best course of action was to convince Alma to stop whatever was happening immediately. 

"Ah Brunito, what do you need?" She asked him with a smile.

"I want you to stop sending Claudia to the Rojas."

Alma seemed confused. "Did she ask you to do this?"

"No, but I just-"

"Bruno, I know you want to spend more time with your wife," Alma began, "but she's a Madrigal now. She has to serve the community. Plus I'm sure she enjoys spending time with her family."

"But-"

"But nothing. Now, I have to hurry or I'll miss the Guzman's baby shower," and with that she hurried out the door.

Bruno sighed. She hadn't even listened or understood. He hadn't even gotten to tell her his suspicions. It was always like this. Sometimes he felt like she didn't understand him or avoided him. It hurt, and it especially hurt now when he needed her help. How could she not notice the way that Claudia had changed in the past few days? He swore somehow and some way he would solve this issue for her.