Shifting Allegiances (Camilo x OC)

TW: self harm, mentioned as a single memory so not much

Fuck. Monday again. The weekend had passed far too quickly.

Buuuut, here she was. Elian woke up earlier than they would have liked, but not much else was new. She put on a simple outfit, grabbed a quick breakfast, and was off to work.

Her job was dull. She was in charge of doing money management for one of the market stores, in the back because their Abuelo didn't want them actually selling things. What if a Madrigal came and talked to her! What a nightmare! A calamity!

She had learned a long time ago how to handle her grandfather and what he wanted while still keeping true to what she wanted, and to be honest, what their family needed. He tended to have his anger in the driver's wheel, leaving it to Elian to be responsible and all that. Their Papa was weak-willed and didn't go against Elian's Abuelo.

They worked until about mid-afternoon, when Verónica came by to pick them up. "Heyyy chica! How're sales?"

"Nothing special. And I swear, If you're leading me to Camilo again, I will slaughter you."

Verónica laughed. "Geez, so violent. No, I don't want a repeat of last time. Besides, he'll probably find you. I'm setting up a picnic for Mirabel and myself, help me pick out some food?"

Wonderful. Hopefully those two would get together at some point soon.

"Of course, mi amiga. Come on."

They circled the square, and were about done when Camilo popped up next to them. "Hey Elian! Verónica!"

"Oh hey Camilo! You didn't get in too much trouble then?" Verónica said cheerfully.

"Oh... I am grounded. But that's never stopped me before."

"Oh?" Elian said, grinning inquisitvely.

"Yeah, our rooms are designed for our needs and wants. Apparently la Casita knew that I would need to sneak out every once in a while-- though Dolores can find me if she wants."

"Of course you have a system. You would."

"Do you get grounded, Elian?"

"Nah, not really. Only thing I would get grounded for is... welllll..." Camilo raised an eyebrow. "Interacting with a Madrigal willingly," she finished sheepishly. "My Abuelo hates you guys."

"Huh. Why?"

"Jealousy, mostly. He's upset you guys got the miracle and get to live like royalty while we... don't. We're kinda social outcasts, but that's our own fault."

"And he's been holding onto that... for fifty years?"

"Yeah."

Verónica interjected, "I'm going to find Mirabel, she seems really stressed so I'm going to take her on a picnic. See ya soon, chica!"

Elain waved farewell. "Good luck!"

"So it's 'chica' today, hm?" Camilo said.

"Si, niño bonito. You sure you'll be okay out here when you're grounded?"

"Yeah, I can always shift into Verónica if I need to."

"True," Elian said, smiling. "So... do you wanna go somewhere?"

"You got anything in mind?"

Elian hesitated. "...Yes," she decided. "Come on." She grabbed his hand and started leading him out of town.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

It was only a few minutes of walking in the woods when they came across a pretty stream. "This is my favorite place," Elian said. "Mi Mama used to take me here when I was younger."

"What happened to her?"

"She didn't like how mi Abuelo tried to control her," Elian said, procuring some empanadas she'd nabbed while getting stuff with Verónica. "And my Papa didn't stand up to him. She still lives in Encanto. I don't talk with her though." They sighed. "Fun stuff."

Camilo regarded her sadly. "That's awful. I can't imagine not having any member of my family-- and I have a huge family."

"Another thing Abuelo resents about you guys. He wanted that for us. But it couldn't happen after he made it to Encanto."

"How come?" Camilo asked, wanting to know more. Elian took in a large breath, and began.

"Because like your Abuelo, my Abuela died along the way here. She was actually friends with Alma Madrigal. But when she fell ill along the way, she couldn't keep up. they didn't have the resources to keep her with them. She was holding my papa's twin sister when she fell down somewhere along the path. Neither Abuelo nor Alma noticed she was gone until they couldn't go back." Elian sighed. "Abuelo couldn't love another. He had no siblings himself and didn't have any more children. And after the fiasco with my mama... It's just the three of us."

Camilo cautiously put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry that happened to him."

"Me too, believe me. He'd probably be way more satisfied with his life if they had lived. But he thinks that since he lost more, he deserved the miracle more. He didn't see why the Madrigals got the Casita and the candle and the gifts when he had lost his daughter and wife. My Papa is always sad. He's told me before that he sees his sister in his dreams."

"That's incredibly devastating. I understand his thought process."

"Oh, I understand it too. But his hatred isn't right. If he found out I was talking to you he would ground me for the rest of my life. And before I could work, he was so stubborn--" Now that their story had started coming out, the words wouldn't stop. "He refused to ask for help. Refused and refused until we were so hungry that I took a sharp rock and 'accidentally' cut my arm so I could get food from Julieta. It cured my hunger too, made me feel full."

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I got a pretty big reputation as a klutz when I would get random injuries every few days. They didn't know I was doing it to stay alive. My Abuelo didn't want anyone to know about our problems. He passed his pride on to me."

Camilo had teared up some at this point. Elian let out a weak laugh. "Sorry to burden you with all this. I probably shouldn't have said all that, but you know the last and only time I said all this was to Verónica about six years ago."

"It's ok, Elian. I don't mind. I... That's just awful. He doesn't deserve you."

"No one deserves me, Camilo. I'm just far too magnificent."

"Sure, hermosa. We can go with that." Camilo let the conversation lighten, but gave her shoulders a light squeeze before letting go.

A/N

Halfway done with chapter 12 ;-; I started this book 4 days ago tf is wrong with me
Also I'm pretty sure I have never made a main character that doesn't have trauma so uh enjoy