The Road to El Dorado: Miguel x Tulio
Fandom: The Road to El Dorado
Pairing: Miguel x Tulio
Author: paraserpiente
Theme Set: Alpha
Rating: G-PG-13
Warnings: Boykissing, drug use?
Author Notes: Unbetaed, because I have limited wireless here but wanted to get this up. First half is Tuliocentric; last half is Miguelcentric. Concrit welcome. (Hopefully the lj-cut works.) Enjoy!
1. Innocence
In youth, all of Madrid is a playground; it is only after the first arrest that one begins to fear the smiles of strangers.
2. Speed
Even as a child, it is Tulio’s custom to go at a steady pace, dragging his feet as his towheaded companion tugs at his hand.
3. Market
It is a high-stakes game they play for travelers: Miguel plucking his roughly hewn mandolin, beaming, as Tulio slips their belongings from the wagons behind them.
4. Devotion
Growing up sin mother or father, Tulio gets his first taste of loyalty when Miguel takes a clumsily thrown punch meant for his jaw.
5. Heaven
“Miguel,” asks Tulio sleepily one night, safe and sated on the warm roof, “D’you think this is all there is?”
6. Moon
“Nah,” replies Miguel, dreamy face made more so by the moonlight, “Someday, we’ll change everything.”
7. Pain
Miguel’s eternally infallible exterior betrays more than one might expect; it’s when he gets even louder than normal that Tulio knows he’s in serious trouble.
8. Hair
He grins as he spies the glint of sunlight off of Miguel’s head; despite their poverty, he can always count on his one bit of gold.
9. Weakness
Tulio hates to be vulnerable, and it’s why he keeps everyone at arm’s length (well, almost everyone).
10. Gift
Fifteen years after their first con, Tulio is still astonished at the way Miguel can charm a smile out of even the most hardened seaman.
11. Confusion
“A map?” Miguel asks warily, clearly thinking of landlocked Madrid.
12. Melody
From Miguel’s increasingly chaotic playing, Tulio can tell the sailor’s bet sends excited shivers of adventure down his spine.
13. Life
Tulio thrives on this: the flash of mock swordplay, the awe of the audience, and the glint of mischief in Miguel’s eyes.
14. Taste
It’s only after he realizes he wants to taste the sweat forming on Miguel’s temples that he stumbles in shock, one hand quickly coming over to cover his face.
15. Smile
Miguel crows triumphantly, covering for the sake of the crowd, but Tulio knows he’ll be interrogated mercilessly later.
16. Name
“I’ll kill you for this, Miguel,” he yelps as they plummet toward impending doom, and his last word seems fitting, somehow.
17. Bonds
“This isn’t quite what I expected,” Miguel admits sheepishly; Tulio glares at him, feeling the ropes cut into his wrists.
18. Forever
Down in the brig, days become weeks become months; though Tulio has tried to keep tally, the swimming in his head makes the moments into eons.
19. Sickness
The worst part, he thinks as he heaves into a corner of their prison, is that he cannot even see the sky.
20. Comfort
At night, he and Miguel curl around each other for warmth, the gentle brush of Miguel’s hand on his temple a distant reminder of a forgotten childhood.
21. Soft
It’s surprising, considering their rough livelihood, how gentle his palm is as it skims over Tulio’s torso.
22. Sensual
It’s probably the least romantic location possible, his fevered brain muses, but Miguel rolls him over and presses him close and things like that don’t matter anymore.
23. Kiss
Tulio’s sure he must taste like stale sick and fear; Miguel doesn’t seem to care.
24. Hands
As it turns out, Miguel’s callused fingertips are capable of far more than simply playing the mandolin.
25. Sex
Tulio swears under his breath, aches, yelps, arches, spills, and collapses against Miguel.
26. Happiness
Miguel can’t keep himself from whistling a contented tune as he watches Tulio sleep.
27. Potatoes
He peels one idly, concentrating on the lights in Tulio’s eyes rather than his harried, fervent plans.
28. Freedom
Sure, their escape wasn’t exactly foolproof, but they’re alive and safe-and that’s when Miguel sees the ship bearing down on them.
29. Waves
He flails beneath the surface, hoping against hope that his ill-taught swim lessons to Tulio hold true.
30. Rain
The skies open with torrential fury, and all he can do is helplessly laugh.
31. Sun
The incessant heat makes Miguel’s lips bleed and his eyes gritty; he lies listlessly against Tulio’s stomach, feeling his labored breathing.
32. Death
With mortality so close at hand, secrets begin to come to the surface-Miguel’s admission of years of unrequited feelings doesn’t even taste bitter.
33. Touch
The grains of sand spilling out of his grasp feel like adventure close at hand.
34. Fear
It doesn’t occur to Miguel to be afraid of the natives until he finds a spear at his throat.
35. Telephone
Tzekel-Khan views himself as a direct line to the gods; Miguel takes just the tiniest bit of vindictive pleasure out of telling him that the connection has been fuzzy for all of these decades.
36. Technology
They need a boat, they tell the Chief, which is advanced enough to get back to the spirit world-possibly stopping at Spain along the way to ascension.
37. Chocolate
The people of El Dorado can throw a truly glorious feast, and Tulio’s mouth tastes of cocoa and wine and laughter against his.
38. Supernova
Explosions of color burst behind his eyes; he dimly wonders if it’s the strange-smelling smoke, Tulio’s lips on the shell of his ear, or a combination of the two.
39. Blood
Tulio throws himself against Miguel happily as the final ball edges through the hoop; Miguel holds him close, not even noticing the trickle of wetness on his temple.
40. Jealousy
Chel is beautiful, as anyone with eyes can see; however, Tulio seems to see something even more, and that scares him.
41.Ears
He can hear them in the temple, cooing and gasping, and he realizes that his hands are clenching at the sound of Tulio’s pleasure.
42. Tears
Apparently, gods can’t bleed; Miguel wonders whether they can cry.
43. Lightning/Thunder
The roar of Tzekel-Khan’s creation echoes behind them as Tulio frantically grabs for Miguel’s hand.
44. Hell
Miguel contemplates not taking Tulio’s proffered help and instead following Tzekel-Khan down to Xibalba.
45. Clouds
He hauls himself up over the rim of the cliff, watching the magical storm clear from the night.
46. Completion
The boat is finished-all that’s left is to say goodbye.
47. Sky
Miguel can’t look at Tulio’s pained gaze from the deck of the ship; instead, he trains his gaze upward, willing himself to stay put.
48. Wind
All he can do is act-he leaps through the air, feeling it tear at his cloak as he rips the sail free from its binding and crumples onto the deck.
49. Home
“Are you crazy?” Tulio yelps, but Miguel looks at him and knows where he belongs.
50. Star
Things aren’t resolved, he knows-the gold is gone, Chel is still awkwardly present, and Tulio is obviously conflicted-but he is content; the only thing left to do is follow the North Star home.
Pairing: Miguel x Tulio
Author: paraserpiente
Theme Set: Alpha
Rating: G-PG-13
Warnings: Boykissing, drug use?
Author Notes: Unbetaed, because I have limited wireless here but wanted to get this up. First half is Tuliocentric; last half is Miguelcentric. Concrit welcome. (Hopefully the lj-cut works.) Enjoy!
1. Innocence
In youth, all of Madrid is a playground; it is only after the first arrest that one begins to fear the smiles of strangers.
2. Speed
Even as a child, it is Tulio’s custom to go at a steady pace, dragging his feet as his towheaded companion tugs at his hand.
3. Market
It is a high-stakes game they play for travelers: Miguel plucking his roughly hewn mandolin, beaming, as Tulio slips their belongings from the wagons behind them.
4. Devotion
Growing up sin mother or father, Tulio gets his first taste of loyalty when Miguel takes a clumsily thrown punch meant for his jaw.
5. Heaven
“Miguel,” asks Tulio sleepily one night, safe and sated on the warm roof, “D’you think this is all there is?”
6. Moon
“Nah,” replies Miguel, dreamy face made more so by the moonlight, “Someday, we’ll change everything.”
7. Pain
Miguel’s eternally infallible exterior betrays more than one might expect; it’s when he gets even louder than normal that Tulio knows he’s in serious trouble.
8. Hair
He grins as he spies the glint of sunlight off of Miguel’s head; despite their poverty, he can always count on his one bit of gold.
9. Weakness
Tulio hates to be vulnerable, and it’s why he keeps everyone at arm’s length (well, almost everyone).
10. Gift
Fifteen years after their first con, Tulio is still astonished at the way Miguel can charm a smile out of even the most hardened seaman.
11. Confusion
“A map?” Miguel asks warily, clearly thinking of landlocked Madrid.
12. Melody
From Miguel’s increasingly chaotic playing, Tulio can tell the sailor’s bet sends excited shivers of adventure down his spine.
13. Life
Tulio thrives on this: the flash of mock swordplay, the awe of the audience, and the glint of mischief in Miguel’s eyes.
14. Taste
It’s only after he realizes he wants to taste the sweat forming on Miguel’s temples that he stumbles in shock, one hand quickly coming over to cover his face.
15. Smile
Miguel crows triumphantly, covering for the sake of the crowd, but Tulio knows he’ll be interrogated mercilessly later.
16. Name
“I’ll kill you for this, Miguel,” he yelps as they plummet toward impending doom, and his last word seems fitting, somehow.
17. Bonds
“This isn’t quite what I expected,” Miguel admits sheepishly; Tulio glares at him, feeling the ropes cut into his wrists.
18. Forever
Down in the brig, days become weeks become months; though Tulio has tried to keep tally, the swimming in his head makes the moments into eons.
19. Sickness
The worst part, he thinks as he heaves into a corner of their prison, is that he cannot even see the sky.
20. Comfort
At night, he and Miguel curl around each other for warmth, the gentle brush of Miguel’s hand on his temple a distant reminder of a forgotten childhood.
21. Soft
It’s surprising, considering their rough livelihood, how gentle his palm is as it skims over Tulio’s torso.
22. Sensual
It’s probably the least romantic location possible, his fevered brain muses, but Miguel rolls him over and presses him close and things like that don’t matter anymore.
23. Kiss
Tulio’s sure he must taste like stale sick and fear; Miguel doesn’t seem to care.
24. Hands
As it turns out, Miguel’s callused fingertips are capable of far more than simply playing the mandolin.
25. Sex
Tulio swears under his breath, aches, yelps, arches, spills, and collapses against Miguel.
26. Happiness
Miguel can’t keep himself from whistling a contented tune as he watches Tulio sleep.
27. Potatoes
He peels one idly, concentrating on the lights in Tulio’s eyes rather than his harried, fervent plans.
28. Freedom
Sure, their escape wasn’t exactly foolproof, but they’re alive and safe-and that’s when Miguel sees the ship bearing down on them.
29. Waves
He flails beneath the surface, hoping against hope that his ill-taught swim lessons to Tulio hold true.
30. Rain
The skies open with torrential fury, and all he can do is helplessly laugh.
31. Sun
The incessant heat makes Miguel’s lips bleed and his eyes gritty; he lies listlessly against Tulio’s stomach, feeling his labored breathing.
32. Death
With mortality so close at hand, secrets begin to come to the surface-Miguel’s admission of years of unrequited feelings doesn’t even taste bitter.
33. Touch
The grains of sand spilling out of his grasp feel like adventure close at hand.
34. Fear
It doesn’t occur to Miguel to be afraid of the natives until he finds a spear at his throat.
35. Telephone
Tzekel-Khan views himself as a direct line to the gods; Miguel takes just the tiniest bit of vindictive pleasure out of telling him that the connection has been fuzzy for all of these decades.
36. Technology
They need a boat, they tell the Chief, which is advanced enough to get back to the spirit world-possibly stopping at Spain along the way to ascension.
37. Chocolate
The people of El Dorado can throw a truly glorious feast, and Tulio’s mouth tastes of cocoa and wine and laughter against his.
38. Supernova
Explosions of color burst behind his eyes; he dimly wonders if it’s the strange-smelling smoke, Tulio’s lips on the shell of his ear, or a combination of the two.
39. Blood
Tulio throws himself against Miguel happily as the final ball edges through the hoop; Miguel holds him close, not even noticing the trickle of wetness on his temple.
40. Jealousy
Chel is beautiful, as anyone with eyes can see; however, Tulio seems to see something even more, and that scares him.
41.Ears
He can hear them in the temple, cooing and gasping, and he realizes that his hands are clenching at the sound of Tulio’s pleasure.
42. Tears
Apparently, gods can’t bleed; Miguel wonders whether they can cry.
43. Lightning/Thunder
The roar of Tzekel-Khan’s creation echoes behind them as Tulio frantically grabs for Miguel’s hand.
44. Hell
Miguel contemplates not taking Tulio’s proffered help and instead following Tzekel-Khan down to Xibalba.
45. Clouds
He hauls himself up over the rim of the cliff, watching the magical storm clear from the night.
46. Completion
The boat is finished-all that’s left is to say goodbye.
47. Sky
Miguel can’t look at Tulio’s pained gaze from the deck of the ship; instead, he trains his gaze upward, willing himself to stay put.
48. Wind
All he can do is act-he leaps through the air, feeling it tear at his cloak as he rips the sail free from its binding and crumples onto the deck.
49. Home
“Are you crazy?” Tulio yelps, but Miguel looks at him and knows where he belongs.
50. Star
Things aren’t resolved, he knows-the gold is gone, Chel is still awkwardly present, and Tulio is obviously conflicted-but he is content; the only thing left to do is follow the North Star home.