A little something based on multiple different Tumblr posts.
//COCO SPOILERS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK\\
"It's time to go Hectór." Imelda's hand rested gently on his shoulder.
"Just- One more minute." He spoke softly, which surprised Imelda.
"I- Okay. Be sure not to stay too long." The rest of the skeletal family walked down the trail of cempasuchil out of the courtyard, leaving Hectór at the ofrenda.
He looked around the ofrenda room at his living family for the first time since dying. It felt so good to be remembered, to have a home and a family to call his own.
"¡Oye! Dante, come back!" A young child's voice cut through the courtyard, along with quick dog paws across pavement tiles. Hectór peeked outside to see Dante streaking after a small cat, with the young primo chasing after both.
Golden petals flew through the air as the trio weaved through adult family members. Hectór chuckled and sighed, remembering how adventurous his little Coco has before his untimely death. He was beyond happy he could now spend the afterlife with her.
Realizing what time it was, Hectór figured he aught to start heading back to the bridge, until-
"Hectór?" It was Miguel, standing in the doorway.
"Holá, m'ijo! But, I thought you couldn't see me?"
"I shouldn't be able to, I haven't seen you all night, up until now! What are you still doing here?"
"Eh, I stayed a couple extra minutes, what this being my first Dia de los Muertos with a family to visit." Hectór shrugged, acting like his rib cage wasn't bubbling with excitement just being there.
"Hectór, Dia de Muertos is ending in a couple minutes. Shouldn't you already be across the bridge?" Miguel scolded him teasingly.
"Ay, m'ijo, relax! I've got plenty'a time!" Hectór waved the worries away, until a loud sound chimed, echoing through the air.
"The bell, Dia de los Muertos is over."
"Well now what? They probably already took down the bridge."Hectór put a hand on his hip and thought. Most may have considered it the end, but after nearly getting forgotten, Hectór was a reckless soul.
"Does this mean you get to hang out until next year?" The recklessness had rubbed off on a certain chamaco.
"I dunno, I feel like there's probably a reason nobody stays over here all the time."
"Hmmmm.... Oh! What if-"
"Miguel?! Who are you talking to, mi angelito?" Abuelita walked in and abruptly stopped in her tracks. "What is- What is that?" She lifted a quivering finger straight at Hectór, glanced behind himself in confusion.
"You can see me? I thought it was just him." He jerked his thumb over to Miguel, who smiled nervously.
"What is- Who- How in-" Abuelita sat down in one of the wicker chairs scattered about, head in hand. "I must be seeing things."
"No abuelita, he's real, see? Holá Hectór!" Miguel knelt next to his grandmother while waving hello to Hectór who stood awkwardly across the room.
"Holá m'ijo. Holá Señora. You must be my sweet Coco's daughter I've heard so much about." He smiled as sweetly as he could, but it didn't reach his eyes. They flitted around nervously.
"And- And- How? Why can I see you?"
"Ah, I believe it's because Dia de los Muertos is over. I'm not supposed to be here, I need to get to the Land of the Dead."
"Don't worry Abuelita, he'll be gone before you know it."
"Wait! I- I'd like to talk to him, if- If that's alright."
An hour later and the whole Rivera family had been introduced to Hectór, who was answering as many questions as he could while strumming Miguel's guitar. Once the initial shock was over, everyone quickly grew to love the skeleton.
"Ah, Imelda? We go way back, to when-" A discordant twang shot from the guitar. "My fingers slipped, heh. It's not easy being dead." This resulted in many giggles, before they urged him to continue his story.
"Alright, so you know the song Un Poco Loco? Well it was a sunny day, and Imelda thought we should-" A slap echoed as Hectór's bare foot hit the cobble. "Hehe, my foot fell asleep!" He shook his leg, before letting it travel up his body, making his head spin. This resulted in lots of laughs, but a concerned little prima cautiously approached him, tugging his newly-repaired pants.
"Um, abuelo? Do you need to go home? Your fingers and toes are sleepy." No one could say no to the little angel, so Hectór prepared to head out.
"I'd better go with you. We can't let everyone know you're a skeleton, right?"
"Sí Miguel. That's the only reason you should come." Hectór threw a teasing glance his way before the two set out, red jacket coving his skeletal arms.
"Hey! Nice paint!" A young man called across the street, stumbling ever so slightly. His friend laughed and caught him as they both fell onto a bench.
"Well, I think we're safe like this. Let's get going!"
And so the two amigos, one living and one not-quite living, raced each other down the street.
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AAAAAAA Coco is my soul I could just eat it asdfghjkl- Part 2 for this coming soon, most likely! (Also I scribbled that drawing and edited it so many times it doesn't look like anything lol)
