La Luna - His Time || Bruno Madrigal Fanfic || Book Two

Down The River

Bruno's POV

The moonlight glowed through our windows, sculpting her beautiful features as she laid in bed. Her arms held the blankets close to her chest while steady breaths were the only sound in the dim light. I thought about the day we had together. Everything went perfectly, just as I had hoped. If those were to be the last memories of us together before I left, I wanted them to be special. Maybe they will bring her some comfort until I return. This wasn't something I wanted to do to her but I had to go. I've never been of any use to anyone, ever. When I thought my gift was only hurting the family, I hid. Sure, I had left then too but what did I do all that time... Nothing. This wasn't like back then. I've changed and I see what I have to do now, for her, for our boys, for our future. Having something worth fighting for has changed me and I can't even picture the person I was before they lit up my world, crashing into it and warping the very fabric of my being. Until the end, I will fight this time. I watched her for a moment longer, wanting to remember every line, curve and sound that was my Luna. Swallowing my nerves I closed my eyes. "Please, forgive me.", I whispered my quiet prayer into the night. Tiptoeing out of our bedroom I took one last look at her before shutting the door quietly behind me. Please let her be okay, I pleaded, bracing myself in the doorframe.

Creeping down the hall to Mateo's door I opened it, careful not to make a sound. His body snuggled in his bedsheets, one leg poking out of the side, as it always did. As I walked closer I noticed all his drawings on the walls. So many of us, in all different colors. My heart pounded harder looking around at all the reminders of the family I'm fighting for; this new piece of life I've managed to carve out for myself from the wreckage of my fifty years of loneliness. The delicate sun bleached hair of his rested haphazardly on a pillow. Tiny curls poking out from every side. I bent down, kissing his head and inhaling his minty smell. My eyes were stinging at all the memories. I had to go before this got too hard.

Benji's door almost mocked me as I looked at it in the hallway. It wasn't long ago that he was the one that sent us spiraling down a dark hole after him. I understood why they did what they did back then but I understand it even more so now. I wasn't leaving the outcome of my family up to fate anymore. I've hid in the shadows for so long, never truly living until they came along. I need to do this for them, for our future.. For what Diego had shown me. My breath hitched remembering the images our Diego projected to me. The details were lost but the message was clear. Emiliano would come for Chaina in our future and when he did, I wretched feeling the red hot vision flash back, Luna would fall. Something in our future was stopping her from being able to protect herself. I had an inkling but pushed it aside otherwise I wouldn't have been able to function. It didn't matter what the reason was. This was my job now. We had to change the outcome of her fate.

I opened Benji's door to his sprawled out figure, starfished over his bed, making me smile. Gone are the days when he slept in puma form. I feel proud that this home I made just for them gave him the security and comfort he needed to be himself. The floorboards creaked under my weight as I stepped, stirring him. "Pá?", his sleepy voice rasped out. "Shhh Benjito.. I'm just checking on you...", I stroked his dark hair that mirrored his midnight pumas. He let out a deep sigh as I pushed his hair back, engraving it into the rest of my good memories. Kissing his head, I smiled as the scent of the jungle flooded my senses. Our wild boy. "I love you.", I whispered.

Leaving out the double backdoors I exhaled, staring at the tree ahead. The one I had hidden my bag in, with the last of the things we'd need. Everything else was already at the river waiting for us. I focused on the branch above and phased to it, swinging the bag out from its hiding spot and over my shoulder. Only one more thing to do now. I phased down in front of our bedroom window, seeing Luna still sleeping soundly from the bed. My heart ached. This was going to hurt her and I don't know if she'll ever forgive me. I can only pray she'll understand. If she doesn't take me back, then I don't know... I pushed the thought away before I lost my nerve. "It's time.", Lo's voice sounded next to me as they approached. I swallowed, looking into our room, taking the box and letter I had for her out of my bag. Phasing inside in front of the dresser, not making a sound, I placed it down. Touching the surface of the paper one last time before phasing outside again. The sad faces of Lorenzo, Ciro and Arthuro looked back at me. Arthuro's pain etched into every crease, making me feel hollow. He didn't have to come but insisted. This can't break the girls. It won't. They're strong, I told myself.