The Legend of the Three Caballeros
José x Reader (one sided!)
(Slight) Panchito x José
Gender Neutral!Reader
Hanahaki Disease
⚠️ Trigger Warning: ⚠️
Blood
A/N: Hanahaki Disease is an old wives tale in this universe and only a few know of it and fewer catch it.
"Maybe tonight you can tell him," Donald said, getting ready to go out. He has been doing this for weeks. I hummed, digging through the stack of games. "Don't deny it. You know what I mean."
"Nope, no clue," I said, booting up the gaming console.
"Tell José you like him already. Your mushiness isn't healthy for you or me," Donald mumbled.
"José and Panchito are made for each other." The admission made chest hurt a little.
"They don't really like each other, it's just their personalities," Donald shrugged.
"Don't you have a pickup to make?" I threw a game at him.
He slipped out, and Panchito joined me. José came in after thirty minutes later and leaned over the back of the couch as me and Panchito bashed on one another. A green winner screen lit up, and José jumped over the back of the couch.
"Great job, companheiro!" José hugged me. "Better luck next time, querido."
It was nice to see him smile so brightly, even if the hug did hurt my insides. Donald walked in and hid something behind his back.
"Well, now that Donald's back, I believe it is a very important day, mi amigo!" Panchito wrapped an arm around José.
"Happy birthday," Donald smiled and held up the cake he had been retrieving for us.
"No! Simpático! You didn't have to, mi amigos!" The parrot smiled.
I was so happy at the sight. I swelled with emotions. I was glad just to be by his side. He was my best friend, and this was going to be the best night for him.
"Time to party!" Panchito turned on the stereo and music poured out of it.
José grabbed my hands and spun me. We all danced, even Donald, who could use a lesson or two. After an hour of dancing, my lungs felt like they were going to burst. I needed to sit. I collapsed on the couch while José was showing Panchito the ropes for a dancing game. Those two were always so cute together, yet they still remain only friends despite my hints to ask the other out.
"You looked flushed," José said, handing me a beer.
"Just warm," I said.
It was warm in here, and the beer wasn't helping. I pressed the bottle to my face as Donald finally made us cut the cake. He lit the candles and sat it on the coffee table.
"Make a wish amor," Panchito beamed.
"What more could I want? I have a home surrounded by assombroso amigos." He wrapped an arm around me and the other around Donald. Panchito crush all three. I couldn't breathe. They let go, and I coughed.
"Are you feeling okay, ____?" Donald asked.
"I swallowed wrong," I lied, holding in a cough. My lungs burned.
"Here, amigaço." José hand me a drink that thankfully wasn't beer.
"Thanks," I choked out. I took a sip, but it didn't help.
Donald passed out the cake, and my chest continued to burn. There was a tickle in the back of my throat. I cleared my throat. Donald turned the music back on, and José grabbed Panchito's hand. I smiled and tasted something metallic. Not again. I slipped into the bathroom. I coughed so hard I thought I'd run out of air. Then I spit blood in the sink. I stared at the crimson liquid on the white bowl. Why now? There was a soft knock on the door.
"____? Are you okay?" José asked.
I coughed and nodded. I knew he couldn't see me, but I couldn't get words out. I spit out a clump. I thought it was blood at first, but it was too bright. It was yellow and purple. That wasn't known, but it still freaked me out. I just wanted to pull the covers over my head until my grandma stopped telling me stories of the people how coughed up flowers until they died. That didn't happen to normal people. Tonight was about José. I had to stay focused. The door clicked open, and I turned on the sink, washing everything down.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Great," I wheezed. "Let's go birthday boy."
I pushed him back into the living room. Panchito had rigged up a limbo bar and talked Donald into doing it.
"____'s next!" José cheered.
As I bent to go under the bar and I saw Panchito steal a kiss from José. My knees buckled, and I coughed into the hardwood. Blood splattered everywhere, and I covered the yellow clump that I had spat on the ground. José handed me a napkin when I stopped; Panchito moved me away from the mess; and Donald panicked behind us.
"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no! Are you alright?! Was this from the last adventure?" Donald paced, rambling to himself more than to me.
"It's just a cough. Not like it's going to kill me," I laughed, then coughed.
I hit my chest, and blood soaked the napkin. Not completely convincing. A yellow petal clung to my lips. I went to whip it away but José stop me.
"What's this?" José picked up the blood-soaked leaf.
"Is that a flower petal?" Panchito asked.
"Don't be silly," I forced myself to my feet. "I don't want to ruin the night."
"____." José said my name disapproving.
"This has been going on for months. I'm fine." I waved them off. I realized my mistake after they gasped.
"Months? Why didn't you tell us? What can we do? Can we stop it?" Donald panicked and his questions became more and more incoherent.
"There's nothing wrong," I coughed and doubled over.
José hovered over me, rubbing my back, attempting to soothe me, but it only made it worse. I pushed him off me and moved to the couch. I spit a lump into my hand. I opened my hand and a yellow and pink flower unraveled in my grip. Brazil's national flower sat in my palm. The edges were soaked red, but the inside was pristine.
Donald looked at me sadly he must've know the stories too. There was no point in denying it anymore. I crushed the blood-soaked petals in my hand. I was going to die.
Word Count: 1100
Portuguese:
querido - babe
companheiro - comrade/mate/friend
simpático - nice/likeable (pet name)
assombroso - amazing
amigaço - buddy