matador (manolo sanchez x reader) ₊˚

the land of the remembered

That night, after Manolo managed to wake back up and return to his home, Xibalba loomed between the dark corridors of the Posada estate. He eyes Manolo as he saunters back home,

"At this rate, I will lose the wager!" He mumbles to himself.

Thinking, Xibalba gazes left and right, until his staff falls right into his view. A sinister smile grows wide on the god's face, as he gives the staff two taps on the ground. The once rigid cane unstiffens into a fluid, two-headed snake; Más y Menos.

"Fix this for me, old friend." Xibalba beckons, before dropping them to the floor.

The two-headed snake discreetly slithers away, as Xibalba disappears in a whirlwind of black.

. . .

You woke up conveniently at the crack of dawn, catching hints of lighter colors floating through your curtained window. Just as the moon begins to set, you silently slip on a newer, lighter dress. It's a mystery how you managed to be able to sleep last night.

Careful not to wake up Maria or Chuy, you quietly slip out the front door with excitement bubbling in your chest.

You break into a slight jog as you file through the sidewalk, fixing your hair and making sure you look good for just rolling out of bed.

You arrive near the bridge of your childhood, pleasant memories of you and your friends pouring into your mind. Just as you hear a rooster crow in the distance, you excitedly peer left and right, before your eyes finally settle on a beautiful setup.

Your jog comes to a halt, your heart beat picking up in your chest when you lay your eyes upon a trail of lit candles. Manolo smiles at the way the candlelight glows against your skin, picking up his guitar to pour his heart out. Hearing the distant strum of a guitar, you gasp, your eyes following the trail of candles up towards the lonely island.

"Wise men say,

Only fools rush in."

Rays of sun glow just behind the horizon, casting a darling magenta hue across the sky. Manolo watches as you saunter across the bridge, admiring the candles, the already gorgeous view. You start to wonder how long it actually took for Manolo to light every single candle.

"But I can't help falling in love with you."

A natural smile blooms across your face when you finally see Manolo, leant against the giant tree centered in the island. He beautifully strums the guitar, and you sigh at the fluidity of his music. Manolo's heart starts to accelerate as you step closer, trying his best to keep his composure.

"But I can't help falling in love with you."

Manolo's eyes finally meet yours, and you marvel at how purely he looks at you. You gently smile, the sun rising just a bit further warmly glow across the island. Manolo finishes his song off with a few simple strums, smiling back at you with his pupils dilated wide.

You nod your head slightly, urging him to continue.

He sets his guitar down to rest against the tree, peering out towards the bridge. Manolo gently places his warm palms on your shoulders, guiding you to turn around. He subtly kneels down to whisper into your ear, chills going down his spine as you subconsciously place a hand on top of his.

"This is what I wanted to show you."

The sun rises, thick beams of light cutting through the sky and shining onto San Angel all at once. You see everything, sunlight bouncing off of the various edges of your hometown, all to shine brightly in an array of rainbows. The ridges and curves of the desert surrounding San Angel burn a golden orange color, while the light reflects off the surrounding lake to shimmer brightly.