Sorry you guys had to wait so long for this fanfic. It's been un-updated ever since March. At least it's not my earlier unfinished fanfics which haven't been updated since 2012. It's been awhile since I've seen the movie, but fuck it. It's not like I'm going completely by the movie, which is hilarious with the whole romance plot. I can't take it seriously with the Mary Sue like love interest, Manolo, and Joaquin. I really can't. I just don't find her interesting nor do I care about her. She's okay, but she's not doing enough for me to care who gets her or not. I mean seriously, why are they still in love with her after all these years? Joaquin and Manolo (mainly Joaquin) could have gotten laid a thousand times over before she showed up. The romance plot kind of doesn't make any sense…OH WAIT IT DOESN'T AT ALL. Sorry about that. I know someone's probably same thing about my fanfic, but whatever.

Manolo was completely caught off guard and it took a while for him to take it all in at once. This was almost too good to be true. He pinched himself and found himself wide awake. "Joaquin, you're not pulling my leg are you?"

"I…no…no I'm not." Joaquin was turning a bit red in the face. "I don't know why, but whenever I'm around you…I get these feelings I used to when I was around Maria…but different somehow. When I'm around you, I feel like I could kiss you and hold you all the time…like I could never let you go. Whenever you're gone, I feel…sad. I want to protect you and I'd do anything for you like…like…I don't know! I guess I'm confused or something. I don't know if this is even what it is!"

"Joaquin relax." He pulled his best friend onto the bed to sit with him. "I understand. I…I've been having these feeling too."

"You have?" Joaquin sounded a bit more relieved. "How long?"

"Not too long after Maria left." He admitted. "Besides Maria, you're the only one I've ever wanted."

"I'm glad." The taller male smiled. "I was afraid to tell you before, but I wasn't sure if you were over Maria or not…hell I wasn't even sure if you even liked men."

"Well now that you know the truth, what now?" Manolo asked.

"Damn, I don't know. Maybe we're a thing now?" he sounded unsure. "I mean if you want to be a thing."

"Y-yes! I mean yeah sure." Manolo blushed. In the inside he was celebrating. Finally!

"Posada isn't going to be happy about this. I mean I don't care that he wouldn't like this but still. He's always saying I'm like a son to him and expects me to marry Maria once she comes back and have children."

'Not if I can help it.' The younger male thought as he squeezed the other man's hand. "We'll figure something out."

"I guess so. I'd better get going. I've got training early so…yeah. I'll see you later." The taller male departed as quickly as he had come. Manolo was happy. So Joaquin didn't like Maria romantically anymore! It was a dream come true! He could rest easy now.

For the next few years, the two remained close, but behind closed doors they were even closer. Touches, kisses, and adoring words were exchanged in private, but other than that their relationship basically stayed the same. The only part was that Joaquin was one horny son of a bitch. Manolo kept telling him that he would have sex with him when he was ready. Joaquin eventually learned to drop it, but still kept hope that it would happen. Speaking of hoping, Joaquin was hoping that once he returned to his hometown, the next time he left again he would come with Manolo and travel around with him. Joaquin always had new stories to tell and he felt bad that his he couldn't experience it for himself.

Manolo had never been outside of their town before so it be a big change for him and it could even help him to write his songs which were always great in Joaquin ears. If he liked it enough and wanted to, the two of them could run off together and no longer be forced to hide their love for each other. Manolo didn't mind it, but Joaquin seriously did. He longed to show people that he had only one person he loved in his life and that one person was his and nobody else's. There were times he wanted to strangle women for even glancing at Manolo with interest or to passionately kiss the man in public to show that he was his. Alas if he did that, life would be horrible for them for as long as they were in town. Everything both had worked so hard for and the approval they had finally gotten, weren't going to matter anymore. Yes it had to be kept a secret, but one day Joaquin hoped they could get away and be whoever they wanted to be away from disapproving eyes.

When the day finally came for Joaquin to return home, his first thought was to pop in on his best friend and boyfriend, but he was feeling tired. After a long day of defeating bandits, he decided that he could wait another day or, if not that, he could wait a few hours after a good nap. Just as Joaquin was about to climb the staircase, he heard a knock on the door. He groaned. Did someone really have to come visit right after his travels? Surely the thought that he might be tired should have crossed their minds a few times.

'If its Manolo, that's one thing. If it's anybody else, they can just fuck off.' he tiredly made his way to the door, but not before straightening himself up first to look presentable. When he opened the door, he found that it was General Posada. Oh joy.

"Good afternoon, Joaquin." the older man said with a huge grin on his face. He looked as if he about to burst about something exciting. "Everything went well?"

"Yeah, but it's got me really tired. I was about take a…"

"Good, good. Very good. I've got something I want to talk to you about." the short man said very quickly interrupting whatever his most prized soldier was about to say and inviting himself right into his house.

"Okay. I guess the nap can wait." Joaquin rolled his eyes. What he wanted, he'd better make it fast. He wanted to get a quick nap in before seeing Manolo. Looks like he would have to wait another day.

Settling down in the living room and Posada helping himself to some wine, Joaquin's bottom barely hit the seat cushion when Posada dropped the bomb on him. "So when are you going to get married? You're not asexual are you?"

"W-what?" Joaquin was slightly thrown off by the question. "Why would you say those things?"

"I've been keeping a close eye on you ever since you were a child, Joaquin. It's not hard to notice how the ladies look at you, yet I've never seen you approach them. I was thinking if you're not approaching if you might be having any troubles, if you just don't want a significant other, or if you're waiting for someone." Here Posada looked very hopeful. "Maybe someone overseas?"

"Well…I…uh…"

"Of course you are! Why else are you ignoring all of those lustful stares from all of those pretty young women?"

He started to say that he was seeing someone, but kept his mouth shut. There was no way he was revealing his secret to Posada or anybody else. "Yeah sure."

"I knew it! Well rest assured she's coming to the bullfight coming up. It'll give you plenty of time to prepare." Before Joaquin could say anything, Posada thanked the man for hosting him and left to prepare for his daughter's return.

'Why the heck would he want me to marry Maria? She's been gone for more than 5 years and I've lost interest. Maybe I should have gotten a fake girlfriend or at least made one up. I can't marry her when I love Manolo. Manolo would rather have sex with me where everyone can see me than me marry someone else! On second thought…'

Joaquin just shook his head. He'd just tell Posada that he wasn't interested…but first a nap.

Meanwhile Manolo was looking for some song lyrics he had written for his boyfriend when he found a small box that he had nearly forgotten about. He picked it up and opened it up. Inside was a wedding ring that he had purchased for the soldier. He had gotten it outside of town due to the fact that he didn't want anybody telling his father about it or having the man see it himself. The only girl Manolo had a chance of being a cover up for him was Maria, a girl he had long ago lost interest in.

The reason why he hadn't give the ring to Joaquin wasn't even due to nerves. I mean nerves were a problem and everything, but it was mostly because of his travels. Just when Manolo was about to propose, Joaquin had to leave on urgent business. After his bull fighting match, he would do it quick before anything else could happen. He closed the box and place in underneath his mattress. He smiled to himself thinking of how happy Joaquin would be about it. At the same time, he worried a little. Joaquin had once talked about having children that would become the perfect soldier just like him and his father. That was when they were much younger, way before they were together. He had said it again once a couple of years ago. Manolo had pointed out that he couldn't have children and they were both men. Joaquin said they would worry about that later.

Manolo would like to have a child one day, but he had a feeling that Joaquin wanted a child that had his genes. Whenever he thought about having a child with Joaquin, it saddened him that he was not able to bare children. As much as he would treat an adopted child with as much love as a child that was his, it bothered him that he was unable to have a child with Joaquin's handsome features, his gracious brown eyes, and his brave nature. This of course came from another conversation from a few years back. Of course they could ask a woman to mother their child, but it seemed that everyone woman who saw Joaquin was madly in love with him or liked him a lot. Besides, there was no way he was letting some woman lay his hands on his boyfriend or himself least she take him away.

Once the day of the bull fighting match came, he was nervous. He was afraid of messing up everything and dishonoring his family. His grandmother doubted that he could kill the bull and deep down Manolo doubted that himself too. His father and Joaquin had given him a lot of pointers to dodge, attack, and kill. Manolo had tried his best to memorize what they had taught him, but only remembered just a little. He had to do his best. Not only for his family and boyfriend, but also for himself. He had to prove himself that he could do this and not give in.

Before the match started, he looked into the ring watching another fighter in the ring. That guy didn't seem nervous or scared. He had obviously done this before and knew what he was doing. Manolo was scared. What if he messed up and hurt? What if he couldn't kill the bull? It was easy to listen to his father's matches and his boyfriend's battles, but hard to place himself in their places.

'If I mess up, dad's going to give me crap. I can't kill a bull! I've never even harmed an animal in my entire life.' Manolo began playing with his fingers. He wished he was as confident as his boyfriend and father. 'I can't do this! I can't do this! I have to get out of here before…'

"There you are!"

"J-joaquin!" Manolo jumped, surprised. "You scared me, you jerk!"

"Sorry about that. You look tense. Are you okay?"

"Not really." Manolo sighed. "I…I…I'm nervous."

"You'll do just fine." He smiled placing his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders. "After all you did have pretty good teachers, namely me."

"That's true…but…" He looked away. "I'm…scared."

"What for?"

"What if I can't do it? What if I miss and the bull gets me? What if I get killed? What if I…"

"Don't worry about it, Manny. You'll do just fine. I promise. I'm your lucky charm, remember?"

"Since when?"

"Whatever man. Look, don't worry about it. You'll do great. You've been practicing ever since we were kids. You're more ready than most people are. You're gonna be great!" He smiled. "Trust me."

"Thanks." Although his boyfriend's words comforted him, he was still nervous about the match. "I'll try my best."

The two of them stared into each other's eyes and just went it seemed they were about to kiss, they quickly stopped themselves just as they heard Manolo's dad coming.

"Manolo, there you are. Oh hello, Joaquin. You here to wish my son luck?"

"Of course. He's my best friend." said the soldier. "I'd better let you get ready, Manolo. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay. I'll see you later…" Manolo then mumbled to himself. "…if I even survive this."

After a quick prep talk with his father, Manolo decided that he'd give it his all despite feeling sick and even feeling as if he was going to faint. Just as the last match seemed like it was about to end, his father mentioned that Maria was back in town. Manolo just stared at his father with a look that said "does it look like I care?"

"What's wrong, Manolo? You don't seem too happy about her being back."

"No, I'm happy. I'm just so nervous, I forgot how to respond." Manolo said blankly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine." he smiled at his son. "Who knows, maybe you'll impress Maria. I remember how much you used to like her."

"Yeah." Manolo said looking at the ground. 'Key words: used to.'

"Looks like the match is almost done. Good luck out there son."

"Yeah…luck." he mumbled as his dad walked off. Manolo hoped that he wouldn't mess this up. As he walked into the ring, he could only prayed that Joaquin and his father's training had paid off and nothing could go wrong.

More coming soon. In other news, at first I wasn't able to see my reviews on the site, but now I can! Yay!