matador (manolo sanchez x reader) ₊˚

the perpetual flame of purity

The day after Dia de Muertos, you and the rest of your friends spent the day running and playing through the streets of San Angel. Passing by various chickens and torero posters, you quickly slide down the banister of an old staircase, Maria following after with her toy sword in hand. Running so fast, you could barely hear Joaquin and Manolo chasing after, as you and Maria join hands and run towards the market.

Whilst running, Maria skids to a stop, nearly sending you tumbling onto the ground in the process. Nestled underneath a wooden fence was the cutest, most adorable little pig. With its giant eyes and wagging tail, both you and Maria swoon in unison, and you resist every urge to reach out and pat its head.

"He's so cute!

The sharpening of a knife pulls you out of your trance with the pig, tapping on Maria's shoulder to point at the butcher shop. The both of you grimace at the thought of such a cute pig being used for chicharrones, until an idea pops into your head.

"You know, as noble warriors, it would be our responsibility to provide freedom to all in San Angel." You slyly say, a smirk evident on your face.

Maria's face brightens up, nodding. "Si, Senorita (Name)... We must free these imprisoned creatures!"

The two boys catch up to you and Maria, staring at the baby pig.

"(Name), what are you-" Manolo starts.

"We have to free the animals!" You exclaim, and Maria nods.

"Huh?" Both boys say in unison, with strikingly different expressions.

"Freedom to all!" Maria yells, striking down her toy sword onto the rusted chain of the fence.

"Hold on, Maria, don't-"

. . .

Under the hot summer sun, General Posada paces back and forth beside the statue of Captain Mondragon, as a crowd begins to form.

"People of San Angel, please! I beg you. After the revolution, we need more volunteers to join this mighty brigade!"

The general points his hooked hand to a group of discombobulated soldiers, skinny and shaking like leaves. Nobody seemed promising.

"A... heroic brigade, to protect us from Chakal!" The general announces, unrolling a wanted poster to reveal Chakal's terrifying, grotesque face. The audience screams in terror at the mere sight of Chakal, until they hear a low rumbling in the town's distance.

"Chakal is here!"

The townspeople scream once more, expecting the presence of Chakal and his Bandidos. Screams come to a stop when a simple baby pig prances down the road, and the audience sighs in relief.

"Freeeeedom!"

Like a wave of water, you and Maria, along with a giant stampede of pigs scatter throughout the town. Your excited screams can be heard throughout the air as you ride on the back of a random pig, Manolo barely managing to stay sitting behind you as you rampage the pig through the town center. Joaquin soon follows behind Maria, sprinting on foot with the rest of the pig stampede.

"Ay, Maria, (Name), what have you done now?!"

Maria's chants of freedom soon melt down into a gasp when she spots her angry father, her pig headed straight for him like a bowling ball to a punch of pins. She braces for impact, until Joaquin and Manolo manage to tumble and hit General Posada directly on his head.

The frail general passes out onto the ground, and the two boys crashland into a basket of fruit.

"Maria, quick!" You yell on your pig, leading her towards a hidden corridor.

As the both of you press against the concrete wall, you peer around the corner, your eyes widening at the sight of a giant, angry boar charging towards town square.

"Oh my god..." You mutter, your gaze urgently turning to your two other best friends. As the boar came closer and closer to the town square, your anxiety could only escalate at the thought of your two best friends being brutally trampled into pulp.

"Maria, look!" You whisper. She gasps, and the baby pig from earlier lets out a bleat.

While Manolo could only gasp in shock, Joaquin hurriedly lept out of the fruit basket. Heroically, he runs through the worried crowd, right towards the angry boar. Instantly, he shoves Maria's father aside, turning his body to receive the blow.

You shiver when you spot Joaquin getting rammed by the boar, expecting to see blood and dislocated limbs. Instead, your face contorts into awe when his body skids back into the cobbled ground, leaving Joaquin safe and unhurt.

"Is he okay?" Maria asks, and you nod.

You never notice the way Joaquin readjusts his vest, to hide the Medal of Everlasting Life.

Unsatisfied, the boar searches for another victim, opting for Sister Ana instead. The boar turns around, steam shooting out from its nostrils as it prepares to charge for the innocent nun.

"No retreat?"

"No surrender!"

boar

"Toro toro!" You hear him cry.

Maria gasps, watching as Manolo narrowly escapes the tusks of the giant pig. The townspeople begin to cheer for Manolo, watching as the Sanchez boy taunts and tricks the boar. You can barely keep your eyes off of your best friend, noticing how instinctual his movements seem to be.

Unexpectedly, Manolo spots you from your place around the corner. You meet eyes with him for a second, before the little boy skillfully leads the boar to crash into a nearby shop. Carlos Sanchez throws his fist in the air, cheering for his son in his first successful bullfight.

"I didn't know he could do that." You say to Maria, and she pulls you back behind into your hiding spot among the pigs.

"Manolo is a Sanchez, it's in their blood." Your best friend replies, petting the baby pig in her arms.

The next thing you know, you hear a thunderous, "MAAAAAAAAAARRIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAA!" from General Posada. You and Maria exchange fearful glances, knowing better than to disobey an angry dad. WIth his hands rested on his hips, and an angry expression upon his face, you and Maria emerge from your hiding places.

"I'm sorry, Papa, it's just that I-"

You gasp.

"Manolo's guitar!" You exclaim, kneeling down to gently pick up the mass of broken wood and string.

General Posada gives both you and Maria a stern look.

"Maria, this rebellious nonsense ends now!"

He turns to you, his eyelid twitching in anger. "And you! You have been a terrible influence on my daughter!"

You recoil at the sound of his voice, feeling your lip start to quiver. Posada then turns back to both you and Maria, as you both have your heads down in shame. "You both are going to become proper ladies!"

"Why?" Maria asks, and you nod.

"Because I said so! (Name), I have discussed this with your parents, and they agree that your behavior is unacceptable! I am sending you both to Spain. The sisters at the convent of the Perpetual Flame of Purity will straighten you out."

You gasp in utter shock, matching expressions with the rest of your friends. 

"But Papa!"

"You aren't my father!"

The general puts up his hooked hand. "No. It is decided, now you two, go home!"

You feel the sting of tears pricking at your eyes, clutching Manolo's guitar in your arms.

"(Name)-" Manolo exclaims, but you ignore him.

Maria's already started running, and you chase after her, sprinting away to Maria's house with a broken guitar in your hands.