With a soft scarf tucked around her cheeks and mouth, Maria's soft puffs of air billow out gently across her nose, giving it a tickle. As cold a day as it is in Virginia, it hasn't stopped their afternoon on the town being enjoyable. The coats they had bought for the winter keep them warm, even if their faces are turning rosy.
Passing by one of those "strip malls" (she's been inside a few for the novelty of it, but prefers the small one-of-a-kind boutiques around the towns in order to help the local economy), there's a curious sight across from one of the entrances. Walled off to the on-looking public, men and women are flying by one another at unnatural speeds. It draws in Maria's attention immediately, and with a glance at Manolo by her side, she quickens her pace to cross the small crowds.
There's plenty of open room around the rim of the wall; no one seems so fascinated by this as she. So when Maria finally rests her hands on the top to watch over the small stage, she's delighted by what she sees. It's not what she expected at all! It's ice! The whole floor is smooth as glass with women and men, even children gliding across it in skates. Some are naturals at it. Others, not so much. One man wobbles too much to one side and falls to the ground.
"Oh no..." It pulls a sputtering laugh from Maria that she tries to quiet with a gloved hand.
Manolo stands beside her, and though he's plenty interested to see what the natives are doing, he has a harder time tearing his gaze away from the delight shining in Maria's large eyes. Of course, he winces when that poor guy topples onto the ice, but her half-successful attempt to hide her laughter like a proper "lady" makes Manolo give a chuckle of his own.
"People here...they like to do this in the wintertime," he softly comments. "Somehow, it kind of reminds me of something from a storybook."
Turning to Maria, he offers a gloved hand and a warm smile. "Would you like to try?"
Maria hums thoughtfully at his comment, considering the comparison. It is rather fanciful, she can agree. And when Manolo invites her to try, she grins and takes his hand.
"Of course," she says, as if anything would have stopped her. But she pulls him along instead, her hand warming slowly against the knit fabric of their gloves all the while looking for who ever is supervising the ice stage. Surely there are skates they can borrow for a little while, right? Not everyone is coming from far and wide with their own pair. Thankfully in big letters (and in several languages), there's a SKATE RENTAL sign. So she drags Manolo to them and finds a very welcoming woman who greets her with a chipper voice.
"How much do the skates cost?"
"Thirteen dollars to rent. For each pair," she specifies after a beat. From what Maria has learned from the value of United States currency, it seems a little expensive for something so frivolous, but it's not like they will be doing it every day. One try might be all Maria will want.
She looks at Manolo to make sure he's still on board, then nods to the woman. "Okay, we'll take two pairs."
"Great! What's your size?"
"Oh, uhmm..." She's not sure offhand. They are listed on the bottom of shoes, right? Bunching her long skirt a little bit, Maria bends her knee and picks her foot up. Maybe Manolo can give her a hand with it.
"O-oh, uhh..." He kneels down and peers at the the sole of her shoe. "It says a size 6, so let's go with that." Having already purchased his own shoes, he actually does know his own size for once, and he quickly relays that number to the lady behind the counter as well.
Apparently they're supposed to pay upfront, though, so Manolo quickly takes out his wallet and...pretty much empties it out for her. Twenty-six dollars. Ouch. Oh well. He doesn't sweat it too much. It's not like he was planning on spending it on anyone else but Maria anyway.
"Here," he brightly says, handing the smaller pair over. "I think there are some lockers over there by the benches."
Oh Manolo. She can't even get her purse open fast enough. With a flat grin, Maria takes the pair of boots from his hand and walks along with him to a row of benches and lockers to change out their shoes.
"I could have paid my half, you know." She bumps him with her hip to get the point across. Not that she doesn't appreciate it, but he should never feel like he has to spend more than his share in this--what they have with each other. She has a paying job, she's happy to help out.
Then she sits down on the bench and starts unlacing her winter boots.
"I know," he says with warmth in his brown eyes. "But I wanted to."
Of course, he can understand why someone like Maria wouldn't want someone paying her way all the time, so he lightly bumps her arm and adds, "Maybe you could grab dinner?" It's punctuated with a sheepish grin because, really, he didn't have to empty his wallet, but...well, here they are.
He settles down next to her and starts to pull of his shoes. The silence that falls between them as they change into their skates is comfortable, and he sneaks another look at the profile of her face, wearing a tiny smile.
"Alright," she smiles lightly to herself. They can try someplace new tonight. Maria's been keeping clipping and articles bookmarked to her phone of small vegetarian and special dietary-friendly restaurants around the city. And, hey, Manolo can't complain if she's the one paying (not that he ever would).
With both boots tugged off, her feet are set firmly on the carpeted floor. She purposefully wore her pair of toe socks that Manolo had bought for her shortly after arriving. They are bright turquoise with pink little pigs stitched all over. They were so precious, even if a little annoying to get on (she usually missed a toe and always had to sit back down and refit the darn socks). But it's worth it to wear when she can anytime they go out together. She wiggles all of her toes across the carpet to watch the piggies squirm.
When she finally looks up and sees Manolo staring, she stares back. It's questioning at first, as if she's waiting for him to say something, but then her face softens and she matches his own grin. "Thank you, for doing this with me."
Seeing those socks on her feet always makes Manolo's day. The moment he stumbled across them in a small novelty store, he'd instantly thought of her, and so he just had to get them.
The thanks is a bit unexpected, though, and his eyebrows raise in surprise. "I should be thanking you, though. I never would have thought to try this alone!"
And it was true. There was something too lonely about gliding along the ice without a warm hand to hold onto.
"Ay, Manolo." Her laugh is short and soft as she fits on her rather dangerous looking skating boots. "We need to work on your sense of adventure." It is certainly a joke, of course. This is the same man who has gone to the Land of the Forgotten and back to save San Angel and be with her. He can find adventure if the goal is right, but he makes a wonderful partner in crime, too. Maria is satisfied with her constant wing man.
Lacing up the boots takes an exorbitant amount of time. They can't be too loose or else they bend, but too tight makes her feet hurt. She has to try it twice to find a good balance. But once she does, she immediately stands up on her feet. And then falls right back down on the bench. No doubt Maria looks as startled by her fall from grace as Manolo.
The adventure comment earns a lop-sided grin from Manolo. He knows she's just teasing him. Lord knows he had no problems getting roped into whatever scheme Maria cooked up when they were children. And that much, so far, seems to have stayed the same despite their time apart.
He watches her lace and re-lace her boots. If Maria is having trouble, then Manolo isn't sure how he's supposed to manage. Of course, he's more inclined to say "good enough" and leave himself with questionable balance, but...that isn't really much better, is it.
When Maria suddenly falls back onto the bench, though, he nearly jumps out of his skin. Thankfully, she doesn't seem hurt, but he decides to check anyway. "Are you alright?"
There's a weak chuckle now that the sudden jolt has worn off.
"Fine, fine. I guess I forgot these aren't ordinary shoes." This time, however, she waits for Manolo. "How're yours? Not too loose?" She knows you well, son. She wouldn't like you cutting corners and rolling your fool ankle out on the ice.
"I don't think so?" That's not the inflection of a man who's sure of himself, though, and he lightly shakes his foot to see if the skates are at least securely fastened. "They're not falling off, anyway."
Maria rolls her eyes a bit and scoots closer. She slides her fingers between his pants and the leather of the boots. There's too much room, that much is obvious. So she unlaces them and tightens up the slack around his ankles.
"Too tight?" she asks, testing it for herself with her fingers.
Manolo's smile turns a bit sheepish when she ends up having to undo the laces herself. He can't deny that her way of doing things leaves his skates feeling much more secure on his feet, though.
"No, I think that's...perfect, actually," he answers, finding himself charmed and maybe a bit distracted by how small her hands are. It's strange to think that he's the only one in this rink who knows how lethal they can really be.
"Good," she agrees, giving his knee a quick squeeze. "Let's go." Maria offers her hand to Manolo when she slowly and carefully stands up the second time. It's more than a little awkward trying to balance her weight on two thin points of pressure, but her center of gravity has been well mastered thanks to her martial arts training.
She's more concerned about how she will ever get Manolo onto the ice.
Manolo takes her hand and follows her example, wobbling to a stand and jutting out his other arm in an attempt to maintain his balance. "Woah, hahah..."
He looks over to the entrance of the rink and gives her an optimistic smile. "It doesn't seem too far. We can do this."
Famous last words, maybe, but that doesn't deter Manolo who begins to lead the way with unsteady legs.
"Yes. We've got this." If nothing else they can certainly balance each other out if need be, Maria keeping her hand on Manolo's arm. If Maria's struggling she sure doesn't show it! Her sights are on that stage of ice!
And when they get to the nearest entrance, she only pauses for a moment before pulling her skirt up cautiously and placing a skate down on the slick slab of ice. The left follows swiftly, and she's there standing on the ice slowly drifting away from Manolo.
"Ohh haha..." Her laugh is pure delight. "This isn't so hard!" Famous last words, indeed.
He reaches out for her as she seemingly floats away, and his face lights up at that beautiful laugh. Honestly, he could just stand and watch her from there. Before she can get too far, though, he decides to take a crack at it himself, stepping out onto the ice.
"Hey, wait for me," he says with a light laugh of his own, and before he either of them can add anything else, he's gliding toward her -- but his eyes grow wide the second he realizes his poorly-thought plan didn't take into account how he's supposed to stop.
With a soft chuckle, she slowly turns her body around to meet Manolo. Now that they are both out on the ice, Maria is excited to hold his hand and skate with him. It sounds very... romantic, and she extends out her right for him to take. Then she extends both arms out because Manolo has that look on his face, and his skates certainly show now signs of slowing down.
"I can't--I can't stop," he blurts, a clear thread of panic running through his voice now. "Maria, look out!"
What else is she going to do, though? Manolo squeezes his eyes shut moments before his body painfully plows into her, and they both go tumbling across the ice together. "Ooof--!"
Ohhh dear. Maria has enough time to get into a defensive stance, but it does little to help her on skates. She goes down with him, squawking most unladylike. She lands on her backside, which is fortunate, though her wrist hurts a bit when she reflexively caught herself. Other than that (and a nice bruise the next morning on her butt), no harm no foul.
So she reaches for Manolo instead. "Are you alright? Manolo?"
"Ugh...I'm fine..." Manolo's elbows and knees hurt, but it's not any worse than some of his less-than-stellar practice sessions in the bullring. Concern etched into his face now, he looks up at Maria and grasps her hand.
"What about you?" he anxiously asks. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Once she's sure he's fine, Maria cracks a smile and starts laughing softly. "I'm alright, I'm fine," she assures, holding tight to his hand as she prepares to find her footing again under the flowing fabrics of her skirt.
"Here, let's try this again." Keeping her core tight, she rises back onto her blades without pulling on Manolo. Now they can worry about him. "Ready?" she asks, bracing her weight low to keep him balanced while he gets his legs under him. Teamwork!
That alone makes Manolo feel a lot better about this whole thing, and he nods before clutching onto her steady hands. He's focused, moving slowly and carefully as he shifts his legs back under him. It was a miracle Maria didn't get hurt during their collision just now. Manolo doesn't want to test their luck a second time.
Thankfully, he succeeds, and he meets Maria's large brown eyes. Whether it's from nerves or the sheer delight of having her so close, he can't say...but, his shoulders still start to shake, and now he can't stop laughing to save his life.
So I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train. Keep falling in love, which is kinda the same
It was hard not to get wrapped up in his own thoughts these days, but difficult to avoid now that his employment situation wasn't that stable. He had even more free time on his hands now that he'd recorded all his ideas for the concept album he'd been determined to finish.
With the refurbished iPod Joaquin had given him for Christmas, Manolo wandered through the downtown area. The earbuds weren't the greatest quality, but the music provided an excellent soundtrack for his afternoon walk, and served as a short reprieve from having to think about the Soviets, war, or more imPorts getting hurt.
Unfortunately, it also served as a dangerous distraction. Manolo moved to cross the street, stepping out from behind a parked truck -- and right in front of an incoming bus. The only warning he got of the impending collision was an urgent horn blaring at him to move. But it was too late. The vehicle was coming too fast, impossible for even the greatest matador to dodge.
As frustrating as this day has been, at least the administration's welcome crew were kind enough to outfit her with warm clothes on this exceptionally cold day. Even with her new "telephone", she's just as lost as she was when she came in. Perhaps moreso with the added digital device she now heeds to master.
But Maria refuses to let this get her down, though. It's a beautiful day and she has a wonderfully delicious hot cocoa (made with soy after she raised concerns being a vegetarian). She is hellbent on making the best of this situation, so she appreciates it when karma intervenes just for her.
Across the sidewalk someone turns and it's "Manolo?" As plain as day, it's him. That's when Maria sees the car heading straight for him. "Manolo!" Heart suddenly lodged in her stomach, she follows after him without a moment's hesitation. She could do nothing to save him last time, she would be damned if she allows it twice. Even if this is nothing but a bittersweet dream, she isn't letting him end up with the same fate.
It all happens so fast. Maria gets to him in time, but not soon enough to move him away. The only thing she can do is hold him tight to her and throw out her hand in the hopes that she is what they say she is now. Then there is the horrific sound of metal crunching and folding against her small body while her eyes are glued shut and her mind racing and praying away.
He's not sure what happened -- only that one second he was staring down at certain doom, and the next he was clutching onto his savior for dear life. The twisting of the metal screams against his ears, barely drowning out his own yells.
And then everything suddenly grows still, the stench of smoke clouding his senses as he slowly blinks his eyes open. He's vaguely aware of shouting, of something warm and wet on his temple, but all he can do is look up, dazed, at the woman who just saved his life.
The curve of her face, those brown locks of hair, and the way her jaw is set in determination are enough to stop time itself.
"Maria...?" His voice comes out in a shuddering breath that almost aches with how much he wants this to be real.
She can still hear her own name so that's a good sign. One cautious eye opens and everything is as it was, except for the wreckage wrapped around her. By all accounts she should be dead, or gravely injured. But she feels fine.
"Manolo..." She hasn't forgotten the reason for her brazen act, but it's hard to shake the sight around her. A crowd of people gawking while traffic backs up and car fluids spray across the asphalt in front of him. "Are you hurt?" Her small hand reaches up for his bleeding forehead, wiping it away to get a better look.
He doesn't even realize he's bleeding until she touches his forehead, but he's too awestruck by that face to pay much attention to his wound, much less the damage around them. "I'm okay," he assures her, suddenly reaching for her other hand, as though he's afraid the wind might carry her away. "Ay, Maria. It really is you! I thought--"
It's only then that the fumes from the wreckage reach his nose, and he looks at the broken vehicle in front of them. "...Woah."
"Right. Yes..." That whole business. Now that Manolo is safe, she is more than a little embarrassed by the display that has consumed them both. She can hear sirens in the distance that have her worried.
"Manolo, maybe we should..." With a firm arm around her love, Maria gets him up to his feet and starts heading for the sidewalk past the gawkers that don't seem to know what to do. Should they stop them? Well, she isn't waiting to get caught question in a world she doesn't understand yet.
Manolo throws a glance over his shoulder, uncertain of whether leaving is the best idea. This is technically his fault for not paying closer attention (and he's pretty sure Joaquin will give him an earful when he hears about this), but Maria's arm is wrapped around him, he's pressed against her side, and he's just so giddy because Maria is here, she's really here, and--
"How did you do that?" he breathlessly asks. "Maria, that was incredible! You saved my--" Manolo blinks, and he grows quieter. "...You saved my life. Thank you."
"I'm not sure." She simply trusted the file given to her about magical powers would keep Manolo safe. It's all she could do really; there was only a split second to decide.
"You don't need to thank me," she tells him, leaning in close to brush her nose against Manolo's cheek. "You need to watch where you're going! Manolo, you almost got hit!"
"...I know," he says, genuinely apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Maria." Even after all these months, he's still not quite used to all the traffic and vehicles. And when he's lost in his own little world, he forgets that there are routinely things that can run him over in a matter of seconds. In the end, though, he knows those are just excuses for his carelessness, and not good reasons for almost getting hit by a big truck.
He can feel her breath against his neck, and he shivers. When Manolo looks into her large brown eyes, he can't help himself. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulls her in for a firm kiss on the lips.
That is the last thing she expected. Well, maybe not the last thing, but she's practically swept off her feet all the same, hands pressed to Manolo's strong chest to keep her balance.
Manolo lingers against her warm mouth for a moment that stretches into eternity. He savors the weight of her hands against his chest, the scent of her hair (even with the fumes from earlier, it's heaven to him), etching this moment into his memory the best he can.
When he finally pulls back, his heart hurts at the thought of separating again, prompting him to wrap his arms around her in a tight embrace.
He buries his face against her neck, his throat closing as he slowly starts to realize that this is real. She's here. "It's been five months," he chokes. "I was afraid I'd never see you again."
"It's...hard to explain." He's barely able to wrap his mind around it even when he's not all emotional. "Chakal, the bell. Those are the last things I remember before waking up here...five months ago."
He swallows hard and flounders for what to say about his death. As far as he's concerned, he is dead, and this is all just a detour before he finds himself back in the Land of the Remembered all over again. But how can he bring himself to say that? Oh god, he'll have to tell her about his powers. He doesn't want Maria to look at him the same way Joaquin had.
There's so much she wants to say, so much to ask. She lifts his head up with her hands and looks into his eyes. But there's someone behind him pointing their way to a few men in uniform.
"We should... talk about this later, come on." Grabbing him by the collar, she starts walking quicker like she knows where she's going. Chuy is out in front keeping people out of their way with a few annoyed bleets.
Maria's gaze warms his chest, and for a moment he's content to just look into her eyes. But then she's pulling him along with a clear purpose, earning a small noise of surprise from Manolo. He doesn't question question it, although he can't help but perk up a bit when he hears the familiar goat-like noise that isn't from a goat at all.
"No way, Chuy's here too?" he whispers, delighted as much as he is surprised.
"Of course." Chuy is always with Maria, like a good boy. As fussy as he is, Maria can't help the affectionate smile that graces her dark face watching him lead them somewhere more private.
"We need to find somewhere to lay low..." And while she may have the idea, Manolo is the one who has the experience in this world, not her.
"We can go back to my place," he suggests, but he immediately wonders if maybe that's a little too obvious. "Or find a bus that will take us out of town? I wonder if they'd let Chuy on board if we bought him a ticket..."
A ludicrous thought to most people, perhaps, but Manolo is being completely serious.
His suggestion makes her laugh lightly. If they were back in San Angel that wouldn't be a ludicrous idea at all. Travelling with poultry and animals is nothing strange. But this is an urban city. Perhaps some citizens would be offended.
"Is your place... close?" Is that too presumptuous?
"Yes! I know the way there by heart." He reaches for her hand with a loving smile, but his white-knuckled grip betrays the tension in his body. Elation and anxiety coil in the pit of his stomach, sending his heart on a high-speed horse chase and his stomach into backflips. Maria is here...
"Wow," he says with a giddy laugh, "I can't wait to introduce you to my roommates." Then, with wide eyes, he rubs the side of his head. "And Joaquin! Wait 'til you see the look on his face! He's gonna be so surprised!"
"Yes!" He can scarcely believe it himself. "We arrived the same day, actually. All those months ago..." A lot has happened since then, and the smile fades from his face for just a moment. But then he focuses on the warm fingers interlocked with his own, which helps keep him grounded in the present.
"You're gonna love so many things about this place," Manolo told her. "The shops, the foods, the automobiles. Everyday I have been here...I thought of you, Maria."
He smiles against her mouth before resting his forehead against hers. "I just...there's so much I want to show you," he murmurs. And he didn't think he'd ever get the chance, he almost adds, but there's no reason to spoil the moment by dragging sad things back to the surface again.
He blinks back the moisture collecting in his eyes. Manolo's cheeks haven't hurt from smiling this much in a long time.
"Come on, it's not far," he assures her. With that, he begins leading the way. After a pleasant walk of talking and laughing that somehow passes by both fast and slow all at once, they arrive on the doorstep of Heropa 015.
"Everyone might be at work," he confesses as he unlocks the door. He's more or less the only unemployed bum in the house, but that's not a very romantic thing to say, so he keeps that to himself too. "If that's the case, we can always go somewhere else. This just, you know...seemed like the best place to go first..."
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doublechaser2015-12-05 05:24 am
🎶 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Passing by one of those "strip malls" (she's been inside a few for the novelty of it, but prefers the small one-of-a-kind boutiques around the towns in order to help the local economy), there's a curious sight across from one of the entrances. Walled off to the on-looking public, men and women are flying by one another at unnatural speeds. It draws in Maria's attention immediately, and with a glance at Manolo by her side, she quickens her pace to cross the small crowds.
There's plenty of open room around the rim of the wall; no one seems so fascinated by this as she. So when Maria finally rests her hands on the top to watch over the small stage, she's delighted by what she sees. It's not what she expected at all! It's ice! The whole floor is smooth as glass with women and men, even children gliding across it in skates. Some are naturals at it. Others, not so much. One man wobbles too much to one side and falls to the ground.
"Oh no..." It pulls a sputtering laugh from Maria that she tries to quiet with a gloved hand.
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"People here...they like to do this in the wintertime," he softly comments. "Somehow, it kind of reminds me of something from a storybook."
Turning to Maria, he offers a gloved hand and a warm smile. "Would you like to try?"
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"Of course," she says, as if anything would have stopped her. But she pulls him along instead, her hand warming slowly against the knit fabric of their gloves all the while looking for who ever is supervising the ice stage. Surely there are skates they can borrow for a little while, right? Not everyone is coming from far and wide with their own pair. Thankfully in big letters (and in several languages), there's a SKATE RENTAL sign. So she drags Manolo to them and finds a very welcoming woman who greets her with a chipper voice.
"How much do the skates cost?"
"Thirteen dollars to rent. For each pair," she specifies after a beat. From what Maria has learned from the value of United States currency, it seems a little expensive for something so frivolous, but it's not like they will be doing it every day. One try might be all Maria will want.
She looks at Manolo to make sure he's still on board, then nods to the woman. "Okay, we'll take two pairs."
"Great! What's your size?"
"Oh, uhmm..." She's not sure offhand. They are listed on the bottom of shoes, right? Bunching her long skirt a little bit, Maria bends her knee and picks her foot up. Maybe Manolo can give her a hand with it.
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Apparently they're supposed to pay upfront, though, so Manolo quickly takes out his wallet and...pretty much empties it out for her. Twenty-six dollars. Ouch. Oh well. He doesn't sweat it too much. It's not like he was planning on spending it on anyone else but Maria anyway.
"Here," he brightly says, handing the smaller pair over. "I think there are some lockers over there by the benches."
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"I could have paid my half, you know." She bumps him with her hip to get the point across. Not that she doesn't appreciate it, but he should never feel like he has to spend more than his share in this--what they have with each other. She has a paying job, she's happy to help out.
Then she sits down on the bench and starts unlacing her winter boots.
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Of course, he can understand why someone like Maria wouldn't want someone paying her way all the time, so he lightly bumps her arm and adds, "Maybe you could grab dinner?" It's punctuated with a sheepish grin because, really, he didn't have to empty his wallet, but...well, here they are.
He settles down next to her and starts to pull of his shoes. The silence that falls between them as they change into their skates is comfortable, and he sneaks another look at the profile of her face, wearing a tiny smile.
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With both boots tugged off, her feet are set firmly on the carpeted floor. She purposefully wore her pair of toe socks that Manolo had bought for her shortly after arriving. They are bright turquoise with pink little pigs stitched all over. They were so precious, even if a little annoying to get on (she usually missed a toe and always had to sit back down and refit the darn socks). But it's worth it to wear when she can anytime they go out together. She wiggles all of her toes across the carpet to watch the piggies squirm.
When she finally looks up and sees Manolo staring, she stares back. It's questioning at first, as if she's waiting for him to say something, but then her face softens and she matches his own grin. "Thank you, for doing this with me."
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The thanks is a bit unexpected, though, and his eyebrows raise in surprise. "I should be thanking you, though. I never would have thought to try this alone!"
And it was true. There was something too lonely about gliding along the ice without a warm hand to hold onto.
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Lacing up the boots takes an exorbitant amount of time. They can't be too loose or else they bend, but too tight makes her feet hurt. She has to try it twice to find a good balance. But once she does, she immediately stands up on her feet. And then falls right back down on the bench. No doubt Maria looks as startled by her fall from grace as Manolo.
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He watches her lace and re-lace her boots. If Maria is having trouble, then Manolo isn't sure how he's supposed to manage. Of course, he's more inclined to say "good enough" and leave himself with questionable balance, but...that isn't really much better, is it.
When Maria suddenly falls back onto the bench, though, he nearly jumps out of his skin. Thankfully, she doesn't seem hurt, but he decides to check anyway. "Are you alright?"
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"Fine, fine. I guess I forgot these aren't ordinary shoes." This time, however, she waits for Manolo. "How're yours? Not too loose?" She knows you well, son. She wouldn't like you cutting corners and rolling your fool ankle out on the ice.
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See? Good enough.
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"Too tight?" she asks, testing it for herself with her fingers.
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"No, I think that's...perfect, actually," he answers, finding himself charmed and maybe a bit distracted by how small her hands are. It's strange to think that he's the only one in this rink who knows how lethal they can really be.
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She's more concerned about how she will ever get Manolo onto the ice.
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He looks over to the entrance of the rink and gives her an optimistic smile. "It doesn't seem too far. We can do this."
Famous last words, maybe, but that doesn't deter Manolo who begins to lead the way with unsteady legs.
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And when they get to the nearest entrance, she only pauses for a moment before pulling her skirt up cautiously and placing a skate down on the slick slab of ice. The left follows swiftly, and she's there standing on the ice slowly drifting away from Manolo.
"Ohh haha..." Her laugh is pure delight. "This isn't so hard!" Famous last words, indeed.
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"Hey, wait for me," he says with a light laugh of his own, and before he either of them can add anything else, he's gliding toward her -- but his eyes grow wide the second he realizes his poorly-thought plan didn't take into account how he's supposed to stop.
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"Uhmm...."
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What else is she going to do, though? Manolo squeezes his eyes shut moments before his body painfully plows into her, and they both go tumbling across the ice together. "Ooof--!"
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So she reaches for Manolo instead. "Are you alright? Manolo?"
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"What about you?" he anxiously asks. "You're not hurt, are you?"
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"Here, let's try this again." Keeping her core tight, she rises back onto her blades without pulling on Manolo. Now they can worry about him. "Ready?" she asks, bracing her weight low to keep him balanced while he gets his legs under him. Teamwork!
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That alone makes Manolo feel a lot better about this whole thing, and he nods before clutching onto her steady hands. He's focused, moving slowly and carefully as he shifts his legs back under him. It was a miracle Maria didn't get hurt during their collision just now. Manolo doesn't want to test their luck a second time.
Thankfully, he succeeds, and he meets Maria's large brown eyes. Whether it's from nerves or the sheer delight of having her so close, he can't say...but, his shoulders still start to shake, and now he can't stop laughing to save his life.
So I walked under a bus, I got hit by a train. Keep falling in love, which is kinda the same
With the refurbished iPod Joaquin had given him for Christmas, Manolo wandered through the downtown area. The earbuds weren't the greatest quality, but the music provided an excellent soundtrack for his afternoon walk, and served as a short reprieve from having to think about the Soviets, war, or more imPorts getting hurt.
Unfortunately, it also served as a dangerous distraction. Manolo moved to cross the street, stepping out from behind a parked truck -- and right in front of an incoming bus. The only warning he got of the impending collision was an urgent horn blaring at him to move. But it was too late. The vehicle was coming too fast, impossible for even the greatest matador to dodge.
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But Maria refuses to let this get her down, though. It's a beautiful day and she has a wonderfully delicious hot cocoa (made with soy after she raised concerns being a vegetarian). She is hellbent on making the best of this situation, so she appreciates it when karma intervenes just for her.
Across the sidewalk someone turns and it's "Manolo?" As plain as day, it's him. That's when Maria sees the car heading straight for him. "Manolo!" Heart suddenly lodged in her stomach, she follows after him without a moment's hesitation. She could do nothing to save him last time, she would be damned if she allows it twice. Even if this is nothing but a bittersweet dream, she isn't letting him end up with the same fate.
It all happens so fast. Maria gets to him in time, but not soon enough to move him away. The only thing she can do is hold him tight to her and throw out her hand in the hopes that she is what they say she is now. Then there is the horrific sound of metal crunching and folding against her small body while her eyes are glued shut and her mind racing and praying away.
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And then everything suddenly grows still, the stench of smoke clouding his senses as he slowly blinks his eyes open. He's vaguely aware of shouting, of something warm and wet on his temple, but all he can do is look up, dazed, at the woman who just saved his life.
The curve of her face, those brown locks of hair, and the way her jaw is set in determination are enough to stop time itself.
"Maria...?" His voice comes out in a shuddering breath that almost aches with how much he wants this to be real.
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"Manolo..." She hasn't forgotten the reason for her brazen act, but it's hard to shake the sight around her. A crowd of people gawking while traffic backs up and car fluids spray across the asphalt in front of him. "Are you hurt?" Her small hand reaches up for his bleeding forehead, wiping it away to get a better look.
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It's only then that the fumes from the wreckage reach his nose, and he looks at the broken vehicle in front of them. "...Woah."
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"Manolo, maybe we should..." With a firm arm around her love, Maria gets him up to his feet and starts heading for the sidewalk past the gawkers that don't seem to know what to do. Should they stop them? Well, she isn't waiting to get caught question in a world she doesn't understand yet.
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"How did you do that?" he breathlessly asks. "Maria, that was incredible! You saved my--" Manolo blinks, and he grows quieter. "...You saved my life. Thank you."
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"You don't need to thank me," she tells him, leaning in close to brush her nose against Manolo's cheek. "You need to watch where you're going! Manolo, you almost got hit!"
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He can feel her breath against his neck, and he shivers. When Manolo looks into her large brown eyes, he can't help himself. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulls her in for a firm kiss on the lips.
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When he finally pulls back, his heart hurts at the thought of separating again, prompting him to wrap his arms around her in a tight embrace.
He buries his face against her neck, his throat closing as he slowly starts to realize that this is real. She's here. "It's been five months," he chokes. "I was afraid I'd never see you again."
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Maria catches the back of his neck, keeping him close, fingers curling in his dark hair. "I thought you were dead. Chakal—!"
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He swallows hard and flounders for what to say about his death. As far as he's concerned, he is dead, and this is all just a detour before he finds himself back in the Land of the Remembered all over again. But how can he bring himself to say that? Oh god, he'll have to tell her about his powers. He doesn't want Maria to look at him the same way Joaquin had.
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"We should... talk about this later, come on." Grabbing him by the collar, she starts walking quicker like she knows where she's going. Chuy is out in front keeping people out of their way with a few annoyed bleets.
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"No way, Chuy's here too?" he whispers, delighted as much as he is surprised.
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"We need to find somewhere to lay low..." And while she may have the idea, Manolo is the one who has the experience in this world, not her.
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A ludicrous thought to most people, perhaps, but Manolo is being completely serious.
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"Is your place... close?" Is that too presumptuous?
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"Wow," he says with a giddy laugh, "I can't wait to introduce you to my roommates." Then, with wide eyes, he rubs the side of his head. "And Joaquin! Wait 'til you see the look on his face! He's gonna be so surprised!"
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"Joaquin is here too?" This all seems too good to be true now. it's with light-headed relief that those she loves will be here with her.
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"You're gonna love so many things about this place," Manolo told her. "The shops, the foods, the automobiles. Everyday I have been here...I thought of you, Maria."
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"If you keep talking like that, we are never going to reach your house."
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He blinks back the moisture collecting in his eyes. Manolo's cheeks haven't hurt from smiling this much in a long time.
"Come on, it's not far," he assures her. With that, he begins leading the way. After a pleasant walk of talking and laughing that somehow passes by both fast and slow all at once, they arrive on the doorstep of Heropa 015.
"Everyone might be at work," he confesses as he unlocks the door. He's more or less the only unemployed bum in the house, but that's not a very romantic thing to say, so he keeps that to himself too. "If that's the case, we can always go somewhere else. This just, you know...seemed like the best place to go first..."