We should talk about Bruno
Now that Bruno finally feels safe and loved again by his family in Casita, he decides to explore the village again after years of solitude. People are still scared or nervous around him in the beginning, but in time they losen up and see him for what he really is; an autistic introvert who happens to see bits of the future.
He becomes friends with a few of the local rats and one evening they lead him to the mill where they sometimes go to find grain.
The miller is a strong, fat cutie and Bruno feels all sorts of feelings the first time he gets caught collecting food with the rats. How did Bruno not know of this lovely man living up on the hill? For all these years he was right there.
The miller introduces himself as Fernando and asks Bruno and the rats to please stay out of his mill with a "next time, just ask" and a casual smile.
Bruno takes him up on the offer and the two of them ends up in deep conversations about their passions, their childhood trauma and growing up gay in a comphet society. The rats come with Bruno in the beginning but soon they tell him to go on his own. Hesitantly he goes on his own.
When Bruno finally finds the courage to ask Fernando out, it is awfully clumsy of course. But he just gasps "I thought you would never ask!"
Bruno blinks. He starts tapping the old pattern on the side of the mill knock, knock, knock, knock on wood but just when he gets to knock his head the second time, Fernando offers his hand. Bruno blinks again, stopping his pattern and slowly reaches out to hold his hand.
"I'm not... very good at this .." he mumbles.
Fernando smiles patiently and tells him "I don't have a lot of experience either. After many years, I sort of just came to terms with not liking girls and probably never finding a partner."
Warmth flushing through him, Bruno smiles and turns to embrace Fernando. He comes to him willingly. The short man looks up at Bruno, and he slowly brushes his lips on Fernando's forehead. Then pulls away and pulls up his hood, blushing again.
"We'll work on it," Fernando decides, "We have all the time we need..."
Then he walks into his house by the mill. Bruno just stands there with his hood up, fidgeting with Mirabel's embroideries on his green poncho. A rat shows up to stand patiently by his side.
Fernando comes out with a flourish, a picnic basket on his arm. He offers his hand again and this time Bruno takes it without hesitation.
