Both Cami and Mira ended up dozing off at the table, exhausted from their chase. Bruno didn't mind. He left them to their nap and nervously took what he thought he'd need.
A satchel for his rats to sleep in, though they generally preferred to stay in his ruana.
He had his preferred ruana on. Madre had tried to get him to wear more colours but he always loved green the most.
For a moment he stood in the middle of the room, second-guessing his decision.
But after deciding to go, he couldn't bring himself to change his mind.
He really wanted to see the lanterns up close.
And maybe, he wanted to see some of the world.
Madre had always said that it was dangerous and nothing good waited for him out there. And these kids had certainly been chased by the kinds of terrible people she'd spoken about.
But at the same time, these kids also came from that outside world. Vibrant and full of life and laughter in a way Bruno had never seen.
And they'd also understood what it was like to be locked up for safety for most of their lives.
It was amazing to him that they had left their home and chased after danger just to save something precious to their kingdom.
They were... kind. Something madre said didn't exist out there.
Bruno found that... he wanted to get to know them. Wanted to see more of this spirit that drove them, hear more of the laughter.
The pair had tumbled into his life so abruptly with smiles and laughter and Bruno was fascinated.
A few days spent with them before returning to his quiet life with madre seemed like an amazing time.
At least he'd get to say that he saw the lanterns that he'd loved since he was six.
"I think we're clear!" Camilo declared, leaning so far out of the window that Rico made a panicked sound.
Mirabel just gave the man a bright smile. Camilo wouldn't fall. He was too used to scaling Casita all over the place to fall out of a tower.
Rico was certainly odd but he seemed nice enough. Her primo and her had decided right at the beginning not to tell anyone who they actually were, sticking to their nicknames instead.
Telling strangers they were literal royalty seemed like asking to get kidnapped.
Not that they thought Rico would do that. He honestly seemed sweet and a bit awkward about social stuff.
If he'd been locked up here his entire life, that made sense to her.
Mirabel frowned to herself as Rico peered out of the window when Camilo swung himself down to start climbing. Something about the entire thing felt... off.
Sure, she'd never left Casita before this whole thing but... she'd also never been alone.
It seemed cruel, to leave him all on his own. But that wasn't really her business. If that's the life he wanted, well... everyone was different.
She followed Rico out the window and eventually they were all on the grass, Camilo having helped the poor man climb down.
The way he stared around at everything in awe made her stomach flip uncomfortably and Camilo's eyes narrowed.
He'd... never even been down here? Seriously?
She understood not leaving this hidden place but... not ever leaving the tower?
