petitspois

Sadly, I don't watch nearly enough film noir to pull off an entire fic in the genre (never say never tho), but this prompt absolutely tickles my mind nonetheless!

I love the idea of Chico as the femme-fatale stand-in, coming to Miguel with a case that he needs solving, even while keeping certain details related to the mystery close to the chest 👀

And Miguel as the world-weary, cynical gumshoe, managing to get into enough trouble while investigating that he accidentally gets entangled in the broader conspiracy :3

HM….. I definitely think if I was to write a fic in this genre, El Cid, Morales, and Torquemada would all make excellent supporting characters tbh, since they're all such distinct characters. I think El Cid might be a ghost from Chico's past—probably dead or discovered dead as the ball gets rolling. Maybe he had something to do with how Chico earned his wealth… Since noir has a strong connection to the prohibition era, I keep imagining a period drama for this AU lol. Connecting back to Chico canonically smuggling Beecher whiskey, maybe in this AU, Chico built his wealth off bootlegging with El Cid before pivoting to a partnership with Morales, much to El Cid's anger and blackmail attempts.

I think Morales would be caught up in a sleeker organised crime operation which is where the real trouble might begin… Maybe Chico initially goes to Miguel to help investigate the "suicide" of Chico's friend Carlos Martinez, to either prove that it was a suicide or find a hint that there was a cover up. He spins a yarn about Carlos being his brother… something something, maybe it's revealed they were ex-lovers as well as business partners, on one end trying to fend off El Cid's attempts at blackmail and other other hand trying to close a dangerous deal with Morales to begin business in smuggling harder substances 🤔 and maybe arms dealing. (#GiveChicoATommyGun1923).

I think Miguel's investigations/clue at Martinez's apartment, etc, should take him to a seedy speakeasy operated by Torquemada, which is how he discovers his gorgeous flirty (was it flirty?) client is a regular at a HOMOSEXUAL ESTABLISHMENT… and also the dead man is an on-again off-again boyfriend. :3

This story, written by me if I had skill lol, would probably include some red herrings like Suspicious White Man who turns out to be a high-powered lawyer (who just turns out to be alcoholic!Beecher, that's why he's hanging around). There'd probably be some implications about local politics and corruption, too, where other Oz characters could cameo :P

At some point, Miguel should probably start to suspect that Chico killed Martinez and is using him to create an alibi or something. Miguel tries to get something honest out of Chico during their 'final' meeting once he confirms it seems someone killed Martinez and it wasn't suicide; Chico admits he lied about their relationship because obviously he wasn't going to tell the truth about that! C'mon! Cue Chico distracting Miguel from further questions by pointing out that there's something between them, isn't there? Miguel is reacting with jealousy rather than disgust 👀👀

[Tasteful Hays Code cut to fluttering window curtains as they bang]

The following day, Chico seemingly vanishes, leaving Miguel down and distraught (and now he's gay, too, lol). He ends up going back to Torquemada's speakeasy, perhaps hoping to see a flash or hint of Chico. Something something, certain new details come to light that make Miguel suspect that Morales has been pulling strings this whole time and doesn't intend to honor the business deal with Chico—was the one who orchestrated Martinez's death, making it look like El Cid did it before disappearing El Cid to make it look like he skipped town.

Confrontation in a… hm… an opulent manor owned by Morales, maybe. Miguel coming to save Chico from being murdered. It's noir so I guess whether or not tragedy is averted can be up to you guys 😆