Live To Serve, Serve To Live

Chapter 5: Random Scene 3: Won't You Let Me Cheer You Up?

"Uh... there, there." Bruno patted her back, trying to think of a way to help. "I'm sure he'll be alright, Ayla. H-he has to be, or he won't see your super cool painting. No one can die in good conscience without seeing your super cool painting, and you said your bro was a good one, so..." He paused. "Matter settled. Then. Yep."

"Thank you, mi amigo." Ayla gave him a shaky smile, one that was gone almost as soon as it was there. "I appreciate you trying to cheer me up. But until I know that my brother will be okay, I don't think I can be cheered up."

"I understand." Bruno nodded. He really did. If Julieta or Pepa were hurt and he had no way of knowing if they would be okay or not, he didn't think anything would calm him down, no matter how hard he knocked or how many of his rats cuddled with him.

Of course, he wouldn't have that problem. He would just check... their...

Oh.

Bruno's eyes widened. Maybe he did have a way to help, after all. He bit his lip, not entirely sure if he should do this or not.

Ayla sniffled, rubbing a hand over her tear-streaked face.

Screw it, Hernando wasn't the only one who could be brave.

Yes I am.

Shut up.

"Ayla?" Bruno waited for her to tilt her head towards him in acknowledgment. "Did you mean it?"

"Mean what, Bruno?" Ayla sighed. She was getting annoyed, he could tell. He was very good at telling when people were getting annoyed with him. He had a lot of practice with it.

But he could also tell she didn't want to be annoyed. She was just sad.

So he would make her less sad.

Hopefully.

"When you said you wouldn't blame me if anything bad happened in a vision," he clarified quietly. He didn't really doubt her word on that, he just... He needed to hear her say it, before he committed to this. "That you know I don't cause what happens, I only see it."

Ayla blinked. "Uh, yeah, of course I did. Why?"

He took a deep breath, asking a question that he hadn't spoken in over a decade: "Would you like a vision?"

"What?" Ayla sat up straighter, face turned fully towards him. But instead of looking eager or curious or even fearful, she looked distressed. "Bruno, no, I wasn't trying to hint or anything. I know you don't like doing visions–"

"I love doing visions," Bruno admitted, quietly, fist tapping rhythmically against the bench. It was the first time he'd said as such to anyone but his rats, and Dolores he supposed, since he was a child. He shook his head, a chuckle slipping out. "Dios mio, Ayla, do you even know what it feels like? To peer into the sands of time? I can literally see the future, Ayla! How many people can say that and mean it? It's my Gift, my purpose, I may have avoided it for ten years, but..."

He sighed, frowning. "I really only hate seeing bad stuff, and being blamed for it." He perked up. "But y-you wouldn't do that, right? And, and you weren't even trying to get me to do a vision! I've said how many times now that I would do anything for you? And yet you didn't even think about trying to use that promise to make me give you a vision."

He gripped her hand, staring into her eyes in a way he hoped was earnest and not creepy. "You didn't try to use me, Ayla, or my Gift. Despite really, really needing it. If it... If I can give you any peace of mind at all about your brother, will you let me? Will you let me give you a vision?"

Ayla was breathing deeply. Bruno vaguely noticed that his knocking and her breathing had synced at some point, slowing both. She closed her eyes, steadying herself, before opening them again with a firm nod. "Okay, Bruno. Let's do this. Show me what you can do, my friend."

Bruno grinned, jumping up and pulling her after him. "Okay! Let's go to– actually, first I need some more incense, then we can go to my vision cave."

"Your vision cave?" Ayla repeated, letting herself be pulled through the market as Bruno looked for the incense he needed.

"Well, normally I just do my visions alone and then bring them to people," Bruno explained. "But for you, I figured I might as well let you have the full experience. That way, you can know about your brother the moment I do." He paused, looking back at her. "Unless you don't want to come to my vision cave. I, I mean it's perfectly understandable if you don't, it's a bit creepy after all and I–"

"Bruno." She huffed out a laugh, putting a hand on his cheek to silence him. "I said I wanted to see what you could do and I meant it. I'd love to see your vision cave."

"R-really?" Bruno asked hopefully. She nodded, making him grin and redouble his efforts to find the incense, gently pulling her with him. "Then I promise you, you are going to get the show of a lifetime!"

Just hopefully not your brother's lifetime, Bruno thought but did not say. Everything would be okay, he was sure of it.

And if it wasn't... Well, at least he'd be there to make sure Ayla didn't go through it alone.

If she'd let him, anyways.