matador (manolo sanchez x reader) ₊˚

the in-laws

"(Name)!"

The distant call of Manolo's voice pulls you out of what feels like a deep slumber, his voice echoing through your head like a crystal clear memory. An exhale forces its way out of your mouth, your eyes flickering open to the low overhang of a familiar tree.

Once your eyes adjust to the sight, you gasp, turning your head back and forth to peer around. A hint of a headache lingers at the back of your mind, until pieces of your past start interlocking together. You gently hoist yourself into your side, standing up like a fawn taking its first steps. You place a palm on the great tree next to you, rubbing your eyes and taking a deep inhale.

The tree, the one that Manolo took you to...

Manolo...

Your eyes widen, your mouth hanging open when you start to realize what happened. That strange purple snake, Manolo's proposal, your return to San Angel. The shocked expression on your face melts into a frown when you realize how grim your death was.

Death, it's so strange to be even thinking about your own death. You just died.

Right when your love proposes, you slip straight out of his reach. You never got to say goodbye, nor will you probably see him for a good while. Maybe he'd move on, find a new wife to love...

You wonder if Maria and Joaquin are doing okay, how long it'd take before they'd all stop grieving your death.

Barely, you notice how your flesh and skin had been replaced with milky white bones, hundreds of tiny engravings and designs etched into your arms and fingertips. You're wearing what looks like what you passed with: the simpler dress that you threw on earlier. You give your face a few experimental touches, squinting when you don't feel a nose where it should be.

The distant sound of music lulls you away from your thoughts as you peek your head upward to search for the source. All at once, your eyes brighten with amazement, the fatigue in your bones instantly melting away. You take a few steps forward in awe, resting your eyes upon the vastly beautiful Land of the Remembered. The view almost makes you laugh: you'd never imagine that it'd be this huge and lively. You eye the various decorations thrown across stacked houses, colorful garlands hung from one building to another, cool light glowing from what seems like an endless abyss below.

You close your eyes to deeply listen to the vivacious music below, hearing thousands of different voices and tunes all melting together into one. Instruments go for miles ahead, like guitars, maracas, trumpets, violins, or thunderous drums.

Just before you could peel your eyes open, you feel yourself being violently tackled, thrown against a heavier set of bones. You barely manage to brace yourself, keeping yourself standing with an awkward movement of your legs.

"My love!"

Your eyes practically open at the speed of light, seeing a very familiar matador suit and signature ponytail. Arms tight around your midsection, you gasp in pure bewilderment, lightly wrapping your arms around the figure enveloping you in shock.

"Manolo? Manny, is it actually you?" You ask hesitantly, rising up on your tippy-toes to embrace him. You only receive a tighter squeeze in response, practically making your bones creak.

"Wha-how, where did you come from? How did you get here?!" You frantically ask, using your palms to try to push him off of you.

Manolo stubbornly doesn't let go, tenderly burying his face into your shoulder with a deep sigh.

"I thought I wouldn't see you again." Manolo mumbles happily into your ear.

Manolo feels your face contort into a deep smile, sighing blissfully as you wrap him up into a tight embrace. For a moment, the two of you just stand there, leaving your hearts to touch one another. It feels to you like the music's gone to a near stop, instead hearing just his fluttering heartbeat.