#adelio x mirabel

[toasterdrake]

ok, y'all here on tumblr haven't heard about this before but i made an encanto oc. and i wrote something for him :)

his name is Adelio Santiago, he's Italian-Colombian, 16, love interest of Mirabel

unless i write something else for him (which is very likely) this will probably be the first and last time you hear about him

i've drawn him plenty of times but nothing quite captures him like this sketch i made during class 😔

fic below:

Becoming friends with Adelio had been both a blessing and a curse. The curse, disguised as gentle words and flirtatious comments, had come into effect when Mirabel fell in love with her best friend. Only to watch him make his way through partner after painful partner. He always had a knack for choosing people least suited to him. Which were, of course, anyone that was not Mirabel. (Hey, she’s allowed to be selfish sometimes!)

First, when they were twelve, was Josefina. A brat of a girl, her attitude as domineering as her freakish height. Their relationship had lasted barely a month, ending in a horrific explosion from Josefina, claiming that Adelio hadn't been spending enough time with her. Even then, when Adelio was a friend and nothing different, part of Mirabel had still been grateful despite the anguish Adelio suffered. Josefina had hurt her friend. Mirabel had walked Adelio home every night for a month afterwards, glaring at Josefina when she tried stalking them back to Marco’s house outside the safety of the village. Mirabel would protect her friend.

Other partners had passed by in blurs of meaningless weeks, joy and sadness flowing in then swiftly out through Adelio's life. Somewhere along the way, Adelio did what he always did, and Mirabel saw him in a new light.

Then when they were fourteen: Sebastian. A dark-skinned boy, nice enough but a little brash. Adelio's longest relationship to date: over half a year. Everything had been perfect - for the happy couple, anyway - until a late November day. Adelio’s fifteenth birthday, in fact. The 25th. Mirabel had pulled on Sebastian’s braids so hard his beads went flying across the street, one ripping through Pepa’s beautiful new embroidery design. Sebastian’s hair had quickly frizzed up in the following rainstorm. 

Since that day, Adelio had sworn off dating, sure that he would dedicate himself to an aromantic life like his older and more worldly cousin Marco. For all Mirabel tried to accept this - and by God, she tried - this development was heartbreaking. Even more so than the constant dating. Because now, she had no chance. Now, there was no hope that he would finally see her differently. Now, Mirabel had to contend with her own suitors.

And Adelio did not like that.

With every hopeful approach, he did his best to kill her. Kill her with possessive touches, wordless glares, special treatments. He wouldn’t let anyone even consider pursuing a relationship with Mirabel. 

Eventually, people just assumed they were a secret. As much as the two denied it, both despised every valid attempt. Mirabel and Adelio were always together, never apart, never something different than what they’d always been.

Until a special spring day. Mirabel’s fifteenth, ironically. Ese bastardo (that bastard), Sebastian, showed his face again. This time for Mirabel. If he couldn’t have one of a pair tied at the hip, he’d have the other. 

Or so he thought - Adelio was quick to change his mind.

Adelio’s flaming torches danced, trails of heat and fire painting the air, recounting stories of wild animals to the gathered crowd. The spokes woosh, woosh, wooshed as Adelio twirled zealously, slender fingers nimbly spinning the torches in great arcs. The rapid pounding of tamboras reverberated around his head, replacing his heartbeat. 

Sebastian’s arm crept around Mirabel’s waist. She tried to shift away, but Sebastian applied an insistent pressure, teasing her closer to him. Mirabel's breathing picked up as he dug his fingers into her hip roughly. She winced as he squeezed hard enough to bruise the skin there. 

He stepped fully behind her, his other hand on her shoulder pulling her into his chest. Mirabel felt her control slipping away. She was helpless at the angle he'd enforced - any attempt to flee would cause her to lose her balance and fall into him instead. Her chest heaved in panic, a faint ringing persisting in her ears.

Then Adelio's fire wooshed safely over Mirabel's head. The flames swelled too close to Sebastian's face. He flinched away from the heat. Mirabel took the given opportunity to stomp on his foot. Sebastian's instinctive response was to relinquish his hold on her, allowing her to disappear into the crowd.

Sebastian tried to pursue her, intent on stopping her before she reached the safety of her family.

Adelio interrupted his progress.

Adelio discarded one flaming spoke with a strong gust of breath, twirling the other to create a fiery shield. "No further," he hissed, blocking Sebastian's path.

Sebastian, proving his stupidity, tried to shove his way past. Adelio slammed the spoke across his dominant arm. Sebastian screamed as the hairs on his arm lit aflame.

"How about Casita and I help you with that!" Adelio growled, tossing the torch to the floor.

He grabbed Sebastian's face, fingers digging into his temples, and shoved him down towards the ground. Casita scooted over a trough of water just in time to catch him. Sebastian, balance lost, plunged headfirst into the icy water. Adelio let go while he spluttered, fighting to the surface, limbs flailing. The trough was shallow, the water sloshing about in wild waves that spilled over the lip onto the tiles.

People rushed forward to help Sebastian free. He stood supported by two villagers, soaking wet and shivering. He snarled at Adelio. Adelio raised his chin defiantly, eyes sharp as daggers.

"Eres un bastardo. Manténgase alejado de ella." (you are a bastard. stay away from her)

Sebastian's response was to spit on the ground before him. Adelio grimaced, but let him be led away without further grievance.

Mirabel, protected by the huddle of her family, didn't see either boy for a while after.