Beautiful Bruises ~ Camilo Madrigal x Reader

At Last

Everything.

You snuck through the alleys, finally slipping through the front door, freezing when you saw Mirabel. She waved at you with a smile, and you relaxed, waving back but not bothering to try and smile. She was still unaware. 

Once you made it to the nursery, you quickly slipped on your leather gloves. Their cool familiarity comforted you.

You snuck up the stairs, clambering onto the roof.

"Please don't see me," you pleaded quietly, peering behind you. The coast was clear, so you raced forward and snatched the candle from the windowsill, replacing it with the fake. You quickly lit a match and transferred the flame to the wick, having to try twice with your shaky hands. You turned around, triumphant, and immediately froze.

"Antonio," you breathed.

He was standing below you, at the top of the stairs. His tiny mouth was open wide in surprise, but he didn't say anything. You quickly slid off the roof, kneeling next to him solemnly.

"Can you keep this secret?" you whispered, your voice pleading. "To keep your family safe?"

His wide brown eyes met yours, and he drew his eyebrows together. You could see the conflicting emotions raging in his eyes - loyalty to his family and the desire to keep them safe.

And maybe even a little bit of trust in you.

"Yes," he decided, pursing his lips and nodding. "I can." You smiled, standing up to leave, but suddenly he tugged you back down and embraced you. You winced, confused, but he just held you tighter. "Your brother," he mumbled. "He's looking over here."

You gasped quietly, hurriedly hugging him back. You had forgotten he was older now - and yet he was incredibly intuitive for a 6-year-old boy.

"He's gone," he finally said, and you pulled away.

"Thank you," you said, meaning it. "I couldn't have done this without you." You turned to go, but paused, biting your lip. "Tell Camilo... I didn't mean it. Any of it. And I'm sorry. I was just trying to keep him safe."

Finally, you started off, your boots clicking against the tile floors. You slid out the nursery window, too apprehensive to use the front doors. The large clock in the village read 3:00; time was passing quickly. You silently cursed your mother for not specifying a time - she had merely said the evening. You decided to lie in wait until 5:00 and then go to your old house.

"I hate this," you whispered to yourself as you sat down heavily on a cardboard box in an alley. You cupped the candle in your hands, staring down at the delicate flame gently blowing in the breeze. "I'm sorry. I'll try to protect you." The candle glowed brighter for a moment, as though acknowledging your words, and you smiled.

"You can try." You looked up, nearly dropping it. Carlos stood over you, staring down at the candle. "I'd be careful with her. She can do crazy things."

"What do you mean?" You stood up slowly, staring him down. He could easily steal it from you, or tell someone. But he hadn't yet - and he knew something you didn't.

"You honestly think you're the first one she tried to convince?" He snorted, looking away. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now."

You paused to consider it, and your eyes slowly widened. You should have paid more attention to him all along.

"You're Camilo's friend, so she tried to convince you to take the candle for her... and when you didn't, she made Lucía like Mateo instead. She slipped into her mind." You lowered your eyes. "You cared about them that much?"

Carlos shrugged.

"He's my friend, but that wasn't all of it. If she gets ahold of the miracle... who knows what she'll do with it. She could take this village down single-handedly."

"Then why are you allowing me to do this?" you asked suspiciously. "If you sacrificed so much to stop it in the first place, why allow me to ruin everything?"

He sighed.

"I don't know what she told you she'd do, but I don't doubt it was something serious. I saw the way you look at Camilo - you wouldn't betray him like this unless it was something big."

"I'm not betraying him," you snapped, groaning when he rolled his eyes. "I have a plan. Trust me."

"It won't work. Not with her powers."

"I'm immune to her powers," you responded immediately, causing his head to snap up. "She can't control me - my papa passed that trait down. So did she, I suppose."

He ran his tongue over his teeth, thinking.

"You have an advantage, then. Use it well." You watched as he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving you alone and oddly hollow.

He was the only one who knew what you were truly going through, and he had left. Maybe it was for the better - at least he couldn't get hurt anymore.

The next hour passed slowly. You knew the Madrigals would soon realize the precious candle was missing. Camilo would know it was you. He would know, and yet he wouldn't tell anyone. Because he still loved you, no matter how much pain you caused him.

You snuck out of the alley, slowly making your way to your old house. The sight of its shuttered windows gave you the chills, and you drew your jacket tighter, readjusting your grip on the candle.

"Mama?" you whispered into the lengthening shadows.

"At last."