BTLG- The Noble Ice Cream Man- Cuba x Reader

“Nuhhhhhh”

Water floating in particles surrounded you. Like the world was suspended. Each droplet reflected the water bubbles’ surface in iridescent light.

The feeling of weightlessness finally reached the corners of your conscious mind making you wake up.

You blinked in surprise.

The weightlessness feeling just refused to go away. It was as if you were stuck between your body and your mind.

Though you felt like this, you unexpectedly twitched your fingers. In confusion, you moved your body to see you were in fact in full control of your body.

You breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew! I thought I was going crazy for a second-”

In complete irony, when you looked down below you, you saw a rushing waterfall beneath you while you were in the air. By the time you even realized you were somehow floating, you fell.

“AHHH!” you screamed as you fell with the waterfall. Droplets that used to be suspended in the air now fell in tune with you. They grazed your face and latched onto your hair. Your shirt and shorts were dotted with water droplets as well as your skin.

You didn’t know how long the waterfall was. Heck you didn’t even know if there was rocks in the bottom to kill you.

Your screams were finally silenced as you hit the water. It felt like you were barreling through a concrete wall.

But of course when is the pain over?

The strong current of the waterfall pulsed underneath you dragging you further under it. At one point when you reached for the surface, it pulled you under once again. In agony for air, you screamed. Then to shut you up, the harsh current hit your head against the bottom of the waterfall. All remaining air in your mouth flew away from your mouth, as you were knocked half-unconscious.

Everything around you was a haze of flashing lights and colors. You asked yourself: ‘Is this how I go?’

 A disembodied voice answered, ‘Only if you want to’

Too tired to care that this was someone one else talking inside your head you asked, ‘But how on Earth can I survive this? I feel like I’m dying’

The voice answered, ‘Oh ______ don’t give up that easily. I mean I did get you here’

‘What?’

‘Let’s make a deal. You survive and I in return take something I want from you’ A disturbing chuckle erupted from the said voice.

Bewildered to even comprehend that you can survive you weakly thought, ‘How do you know my name? And this deal- what do you mean? What do you want?’

The voice casually stated, ‘Simple. You survive and your memories are mine’

‘Wha-how in the-NO!’ You feebly tried to get away from it, but how can you get away from an unseen thing…especially if it was inside your own mind?

‘Too late!’ It said in a sing song voice. A roaring noise erupted inside your ears and what little strength you had left you threw your head back in pain.

‘That was easy enough to get’ it stated. Miraculously, the pain subsided after it said, ‘Pleasure to see you again. Bye!’ The voice finally disappeared.

Your mind was unable to take much more of the mental beating as your body was taking the physical beating of the waterfall. Eventually one had to give. You didn’t know which one fell first, but as you finally slipped your eyelids shut you welcomed the bliss of sleep.

~~~~~~Timeskip Of a Well-Built Shirtless Cuba and Ice Cream Dripping Down His Pecs (hurr hurr)~~~~

‘Ice cream!’

That was the first thought that always came to Cuba’s mind when he had a particularly stressful day. The world meeting sucked as usual except this time it ended with Cuba arguing with America about the embargo.

Not wanting to get anymore angry than he already was, he pushed all thoughts about the meeting away. He hoped to see Canada later in the day to hang out. As he looked to the clear blue sky, he remarked that the humidity in his tropical island wasn’t as bad as usual. In fact, it felt pretty nice with a light breeze coming from the west.

After going to the ice cream parlor, he looked around to see if anyone was watching him. Then deciding that no one was he went into a secret path in the deep section of the rainforest. Eating his ice cream quickly before mosquitos could touch it, he continued to walk to his destination.

When he finally reached it he breathed a sigh of relief. In front of him stood a beautiful sparkling waterfall with a fairly large pond surrounding it. The waterfall bubbled and roared. The rainforest around him was buzzing in excitement like a new secret just arrived. (Hint hint?)

“Weird. The forest seems livelier than usual” Cuba said.

Removing his sandals and soaking his feet in the pristine water, he breathed in deeply. When he opened his eyes again, he saw a feminine looking body lying on top of a rock in the far side of the pond. The rock she was on was to the side of the pond, but she was not close enough to easily reach land in a few breaststrokes. It seemed she was not fully on top of the rock, so it seemed any minute she would slip off. The situation was even more dire, when he saw her mouth agape like a deceased person with no movement in the chest.

“Hold on señorita!” Cuba yelled as he took off his colorful shirt and jumped into the water. “I shall save you!”

He reached your body effortlessly and noticed the rock was too little to perform CPR. Taking a chance, he picked up your body and headed toward shore. Immediately once he touched land, he gently laid your body and tilted your head up. Performing thirty chest compressions, he still saw you were not responding. Tilting your head a bit more up, he then did two rescue breaths. By the time he performed the second breath, you started to stir.

In the same second he realized you were finally responding, you snapped your eyes open.

To say shock ran through your mind would be a lie. Many emotions speed through you but the most prominent one was one of complete bewilderment. A full on blush exploded across your cheeks and part of your nose. Someone was kissing you and it wasn’t just anyone it was:

Carlos Machado. Otherwise known as the personification of Cuba. He was much more attractive in real life than in just the anime! Coffee brown hair damply hung in dreadlocks framing his masculine face. Beautiful caramel skin was softly touched by the sun’s light. Dark amber eyes were boring into your [e/c] ones as his lips were still in contact with you.

You could have stayed in that position with him forever if not for the need for air. You turned your head to the side, breaking contact between his lips and yours. Spitting out water and gulping in fresh oxygenated air, you sat up away from him. Then you looked back at him still red in the face.

A moment of total silence commenced until you broke it. “Why were you k-kissing me?”

He was captivated in your beauty when you woke up. Shaking his head from his daze, he answered, “I w-was saving you”

“Saving me?” your eyebrows lightly furrowed. “You mean I…drowned?”

He shook his head. “I not sure, señorita. You were unconscious when I got to you and you weren’t breathing. I had to perform CPR”

“Oh” you said for lack of better reply. “That makes sense…but why did you save me? Not many people go out on a limb for someone anymore…”

In all sincerity, he held your gaze and answered, “Because I cannot just stand by when someone needs my help”

Your lip slightly quivered and the total honesty of his words. With voice full of emotion you said, “Oh Carlos…”

Cuba felt like getting closer to you until you mentioned his name. He gave you an unidentifiable look.

You were confused by the look on his face. Trying to remember what you said before, you realized you said his name before he told you. ‘Stupid! Why the hell would I say that? Now he is going to be really freaked out by you!’

Cringing to what he might do, you said, “Sorry if I creeped you out. I just happened to recognize you from an internet forum”

“I-“ He stopped himself. He didn’t know how to respond. If seemed so strange that a girl that sprung up from almost nowhere, actually knew who he was. Deciding to ask a simple question he said, “Okay, señorita….where do you come from?”

Happy to answer you replied, “That’s easy! I am from-“ You couldn’t remember. Frantically searching for a supposed-to-be-simple answer, the side of your head started to throb. “O-ow!”

Carlos in one second after hearing you stop yourself and saying “Ow!”, he saw a gigantic bruise forming on the side of your head. In alarm, he got close to you once again and demanded, “What happened here?” He gently brushed his fingers to your bruise.

You once again tried to remember how you got that bruise when you faintly remembered the waterfall slamming your head at the bottom of the pond. You relayed what you remembered to Cuba. He then asked, “Why-actually how did you even get to the top of that waterfall? Steep rocks surround it”

Recollection of how or why you fell from the waterfall started to get fuzzy and blurred. Replying, “It’s hard to remember almost anything before I got that bruise”

Determining you were speaking the truth, Carlos nodded. ‘Poor chica. First she suffers a tramatic experience and now she has amnesia. Ey way…but I can still help her’ “Why don’t you come with me?”

Your eyes widened. “Y-you would d-do that for m-me?!”

He grinned. “Why of course! Anything for a guapa chica in need!”

You gave him a closed eyed smile and almost teared up. Both of you stood up together and Cuba looked to you adoringly.

He walked in the direction of his house when he remembered something. Abruptly turning to you he said, “I never asked you your name, señorita”

A little taken aback by his sudden movement and his question, you answered, “My n-name is _______”

“That’s una linda nombre! Nice to meet you~” He exclaimed.

You giggled at his enthusiasm and said, “Thank you! You too”

You looked down and finally realized he was shirtless. He was well-built though he did have a bit of chub on his sides. You blushed and giggled slightly.

When Carlos asked, “What?” You replied, “You have no shirt”.

He became flustered and quickly walked over to the place where he threw his colorful shirt to save you and put his shirt back on.

After you and Carlos soon headed to his house while excitedly talking to each other the whole way.

~~~~~~~~Timeskip Of Carlos Looking Down At Your Soaked and Dripping Body~~~~~~~~~~~

Cuba warmly welcomed you into his home. You said your thanks and looked around in awe.

Carlos didn’t mind you over but he wanted to take you to the hospital to check your head but you waved him off. It’s not that you were ungrateful for his offer; it’s just the thought of being in a hospital being so close to Death made you wince.

Fortunately, he did not press the problem further and got very hungry. He felt that he should dinner right about now…and what better way to make dinner than make it for a pretty girl!

Looking to you he asked, “______, would you like to join me for dinner?”

You smiled. “Yes. That would be wonderful”

He was ecstatic. “Do you mind if I make Boliche?”

“Err I’m not sure what that food is but sure whatever” You shrugged.

“You will love it” he assured you. He went to the kitchen.

You followed him to the kitchen. You kinda felt bad he was going through the hassle in making food for you after he saved your life.

He turned back to you and as if reading your mind he said, “Don’t worry I will make dinner. You just rest”

You pouted. “I feel bad making you do all this for me… also I want to know how to make Bo-leche?”

“First of all its pronounced Boliche; plus I offered; you don’t have to do anything”

You crossed your arms over your chest and said, “Well I am not leaving this spot until you let me help you”

Carlos gave one look to your face, saw you were as stubborn as he was, and sighed. Jesus he liked you before and now he liked you even more! “Fine but I’m doing all the cooking, you just peel the plantains and stir the rice”

You raised one hand up in a salute. “Yes sir!”

Carlos rolled his eyes smiling and started cooking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Timeskip Of Cuba Wearing A Colorful Apron Shirtless~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Boliche came out absolutely delicious!

You were pretty satisfied that you helped make such a great dish…and with Carlos no less!

It was very funny when you watched him like an awed child cooking so professionally. He was like a wizard in the kitchen that knew all the tips and tricks. He knew when and how to prepare the food every which way then when he motioned for you to get the plates, you were so impressed that it took you a second to understand what he was saying. Fumbling to get the plates, you gave them to him and he split the portions equally.

Now here you were sitting near your magical chef. Eating together made the atmosphere feel very intimate and you felt happy.

“Carlos this is so good! God one day you will teach me the ways of cooking so awesome!” You took another forkful of Boliche into your mouth.

He made a huge grin. “I am glad you love this so much. I will teach you cooking ‘awesomely’ after you heal”

You puckered your lips then in mock anger said, “Fine…but I can’t wait~”

In amusement he shook his head.

You were so hungry that you finished eating your dinner a little bit before Cuba did. You started poking your tummy through your now dry shirt and jokingly said, “If only there was dessert”

Obviously taking you seriously, Carlos said, “There is an ice cream parlor down the street!”

You opened your mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.  “Carlos I was joking. I am so full! Are you still hungry?”

Carlos partially drooped his head. “Sí, I am always hungry for ice cream…”

Guilt for unintentionally insulting him, you stood up from your chair and said, “Oh come on I was kidding! Are you mad?” He didn’t look at you and pouted. You tried to think of something to cheer him up and then you got an idea. “That was insensitive of me to say. I’m sorry. But I know how to make you feel better”

He didn’t look at you but asked, “How? By ice cream?”

You almost facepalmed. ‘Jeez what is it with him and ice cream?’  You told him, “No it’s not ice cream. But it’s something better. It’s called-“ You inched closer to him “-A TICKLE FIGHT!”

Launching yourself at him, you tickled his chubby sides. He began laughing so hard that he almost fell out of his chair. Then standing up with you, he began to retaliate. You began laughing just as hard and soon you both fell on the floor together. You guys were still tickling each other when Canada came, opened Cuba’s front door, and said, “H-hey Cuba are we hanging out t-today? Or did you f-forget?”

Then he saw you and Carlos on the floor together laughing and in compromising positions. He full-on blushed.

You and Carlos stopped play fighting once you heard Matthew come in the door. You both looked at him shocked, looked back to each other and blushed. Then you both quickly got off of each other and stood up.

Cuba said, “Hombre what are you doing here?!”

Matthew said, “You invited me r-remember?”

Carlos rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh yeah…”

You on the other hand felt very awkward and just stood there.

Matthew noticed you and politely asked, “W-who is this?”

You spoke up. “I’m _____. It’s nice to meet you Matthew”

He looked to you shocked. “Y-You notice me? And you know who I am!?”

Carlos looked to you equally shocked, “You know him?”

You smiled sheepishly. “I guess so”

Canada was too shocked to ask anything as he tried to process what just happened. You on the other hand all of a sudden felt tired and yawned.

Cuba who was clearly eager to get out of this awkward situation said, “_______ how about I show you to your room” Then he said to Canada, “Amigo you stay here while I show _______ to her room”

Matthew nodded numbly and still looked baffled.

Carlos led you to your room and opened the door for you. You turned on the light switch to the side of you and your mouth dropped open.

All of his nation’s colors were equally represented in the room. The color of blue covered the walls, white was for the floor, and red was in all of the tapestry. His flag was hung over a large expanse of a wall at the side of the door.

Realizing that this was no ordinary guest room, you realized it was his room. “Is-It can’t be- This is your room!?”

He nodded his head.

“But why? I would have been okay with any other room” You stared at him wide eyed.

“In all honesty I would be honored if you slept in this room tonight…you-you are special”

“I-“ You were speechless. Needing to do something to thank him, you embraced him tightly.

Tiny shock passed through him before he grasped what was happening. Then he lightly picked you up causing you to giggle.

After he set you down you looked up at him and said, “Thank you Carlie. For saving me from Death, for the cooking, for being there” Everytime you said one reason you inched closer to his face and then in a split second you kissed his stubble (sadly not the lips).

Getting very shy you stepped away from him and fake yawned. “Whew! I’m a little sleepy, I should go to bed now”

Carlos didn’t know what to do with himself so for a moment he stood there surprised and then with flushed cheeks said, “I-I need to go downstairs and talk to C-Canada” He was stepping out of the door when you quickly said:

“Goodnight!”

Smiling and saying, “Buenas noches” he closed the door gently.

You flipped out once the door closed. You had to muffle your girlie jubilant screams with the soft blankets. “Oh my-I actually did it! I kissed him! Well kind of- but whatever! My God!” If today could be described it would be called a fairytale. Your wish to be with your Latin love came true from that funky mirror!

But as you lay there, you remembered that you were slowly forgetting your old life and the people, and more importantly, your parents you left behind in your own dimension.

Now all that worried your mind was “Why am I forgetting them?...”

“…And how do I get back home?”