Mischief Not Managed

It was a relief when Miguel saw the compound, Pepita touching down silently and carefully on the old workshop he used to hide in.

"Home." He sighed, looking to his family. "So, am I gonna see you guys soon then?"

"Of course, mijo." Coco cupped his cheek in her hand, stroking it with her thumb, the boy leaning into her touch a bit. "Might not be all at once but we'll be here for you."

Miguel smiled, feeling his eyes get a little misty. It had been such a strange and stressful time. To know there wasn't anything wrong with him. To know everything was alright.

He hugged her tightly. She brought her arms around him, resting her head against his.

Even if it hadn't been that long for either one of them, it still felt like a century had gone by since they had interacted.

"Alright mijo, one for the road."

Miguel chuckled as Coco pulled away, Imelda and Hector bringing him into an embrace.

"Now, be good." Imelda brushed some of his hair aside, trying to make it look neat. Hector ruffled up his hair, thwarting her efforts as she gave him a look.

"Si, si ,I will."

"And for the love of music, don't say "I'm sick" to excuse an appetite if you don't want that vapor-whatever again!"

Miguel laughed, nodding. "I'm not doing it again. Don't worry." He moved to slide down from Pepita's back only to freeze remembering something rather unfortunate…

They had forgotten Dante.

"Em…. Mama Imelda?"

She sighed, putting a hand to her face.

"We'll get the pero."

Miguel gave a grateful look before sliding down, making his way to the cypress tree in the yard, climbing down. He waved to them before heading inside, bracing himself.

It wasn't long before a chancla flew at his head as he ducked, hitting the doorway instead. He gulped, feeling like he just saw the last several hours flash before his eyes.

Luisa was right in front of him, one of her other chanclas in hand, baby Socorro in the other.

"Where have you BEEN!?"

"Dante wouldn't come back!" He exclaimed, giving her an annoyed look. "He ran away and then I couldn't find him and…" His voice cracked, lowering his head.

"Now remember mijo, use the waterworks. Your mama is ready to whip out the shoe? A little bit of the "cute yet sad kid" look should-OW! IMELDA!"

"Don't give him ideas, Hector!"

Luisa was quiet studying him before tipping his chin up.

"Don't. Lie." She was giving him a dead serious look. "I mean it Miguel."

He gulped. He wasn't sure she would believe the real truth. He felt guilt bubbling up, knowing that for now he had to keep this secret.

"Did you find your friends while out?"

Eh? She's giving me an out?

However, knowing that if he said that he was out with friends and she called their mothers - they would all be in trouble.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I was exploring with Dante." That was as best as he could put it. He knew he wasn't crazy. That much he was sure of.

His family, he wasn't entirely sure would be convinced of that.

"And you didn't answer your phone why?"

Miguel fumbled for his phone, praying that the half charge he had on it had already died. He glanced at it seeing it was indeed dead as a doorknob.

"Phone died. I didn't notice. I'm so sorry." He frowned, feeling genuinely bad for lying. He would break it to her later, take the chanclas thrown and hope she didn't think he was nuts.

Luisa sighed, putting her free hand on her hip, giving him a stern look.

"Next time, come and ask before running off. Don't tell me you're getting Dante out of trouble and then not come check in. I mean it Miguel. I don't want a repeat of-"

"Dias De Los Muertos." Both finished.

She sighed, bringing him close, kissing his head. "Don't make me worry. I expect you to check in, okay? I don't mind you running around usually but please tell me if you'll be out late."

"I promise."

"And if you're in that desert take water."

Miguel looked at her stunned. She tapped his shoulder, showing him the dust that had accumulated during the flight home.

"Si, Mama."

"And a stick and a first aid kit. There could be snakes."

"Si, Mama."

She started leading him away. "And..." She lowered her voice. "You are SO lucky the twins broke the sewing machine or it'd be Abuelita here with HER chancla instead of mine. Everyone's been working overtime to get orders done."

Miguel swallowed hard, hugging her tightly.

"Te amo, Mama. Te amo."

She patted his head, smoothing his hair down.

"Te amo. But I mean it, this is your only warning."

"Si, Mama!"

I am SO lucky the whole family wasn't after me...

Dante's bark heard outside alerted him all was well this time.

Now… to talk Abuelita into letting Dante sleep inside.

oooooo

He had gotten up as early as he could for this. Even earlier than he normally did.

He was going to take this as seriously as he could. It was a new job and he wanted to do right by it.

"Hector, come back to bed." Imelda yawned, looking at her husband tiredly. "What are you doing? It's 6 in the morning."

"Getting ready to do my job as a guardian."

"You know we don't have to take shifts, right?"

Hector shrugged, slipping his vest on and running a comb through his hair. "Yes but I'm just… I'm excited." He grinned sheepishly in her direction.

Imelda smiled softly, sitting up a bit. "I know, mi corazon and I love you for it."

"And I love you." He went to her, kissing her head. "Sorry, guess I'm acting like a big kid aren't I?"

"No. I think it's sweet." Imelda brought her arms around her husband as Hector sighed, curling up with her again.

Maybe it could wait a few minutes. Imelda was pretty cuddly when she wanted to be.

He sighed, happily cupping her face in his hands, a loving smile on his face.

"Look at you mi amor. So beautiful."

"Muy guapo."

He chuckled, kissing her head. "Te amo, my love."

"Te amo. Keep out of trouble today."

"I will, I will."

"And keep Miguel out of trouble."

"... That's going to be a bit harder but I'll do my best."

Imelda nodded, hugging him tightly.

"Good."

Hector sighed happily, resting his head against hers.

"One more favor, mi amor."

"Si?"

She held something small and silver on a ribbon up for him to see.

Hector gave her a look.

"I am NOT putting a bell on him."

oooooo

The Rivera compound was quiet for the most part this time of day. The only sounds coming from the kitchen area as Luisa and Elena got the first meal of the day ready.

But the kitchen wasn't what he was concerned with. Though he would be lying if he said he wasn't excited he could walk the Earth without that bridge hindering him even a little.

No bridge today though! Just me because I got a job to do! THAT'S RIGHT! GUARDIAN SPIRIT, COMING THROUGH!

Hector would also be lying if he said he wasn't excited about this. At all. Because he felt like a kid in a candy store looking at everything in the house before he came upon the room he wanted. Phasing through the wall and taking a glance around.

It was a decent sized room, a writing desk, a backpack slung over the chair in front of it, a makeshift bed for Dante who was curled up comfortably. (Elena had caved. Exhaustion from the "incident" the night before won over.)

The boy's guitar case was also leaning against his desk, a song book propped up nearby as well.

"Heh, He really is my great-great grandson."

Hector looked to the bed about to speak up louder to rouse Miguel when he took note of how his descendant was.

Miguel looked completely peaceful, his breathing quiet, still fast asleep and in the world of his dreams.

Hector crossed his arms, feeling a bit bad he would have to tear Miguel from that but, he still had to get up and face the day just like everyone else.

So with much reluctance, Hector started to gently shake the boy.

"Buenos Dias, mijo."

Miguel mumbled, turning away from Hector. "Never, let me sleep forever." He muttered.

"C'mon, it's time to get up."

The boy tiredly shoved Hector's hand, away burying his face into his pillow.

"Go 'way."

I was never this bad.

Hector narrowed his eyes, shaking him more.

"Okay, Chamaco, I was being nice. Now you had your say - now get up."

Miguel let out a loud whine. "Dante, make him leave me alone."

Dante let out a snuff type of snore.

"Traitor."

Miguel normally had no problem getting up - but given the last incredibly long day he had the night before, all he wanted to do was SLEEP. Not go to school. Just. Sleep.

The boy, however, finally did roll over, looking up at Hector with a miserable look.

"I know you're still sleepy but you can't stay in bed all day. Now, come on."

Miguel stuck his tongue out a little.

Hector sighed.

"Alright. I'll just go get Imelda." He said, making his way for the door.

Miguel felt fear go through him. "W-Wait, let's not be brash!"

"No, clearly I'm out of practice with this!" Hector adjusted his straw hat, glancing at his great-great grandson out of the corner of his eye. Miguel was sitting up in bed, a look of terror in his eyes.

"Papa Hector, be reasonable!" Miguel pleaded.

"Are you getting out of that bed?"

The boy scrambled for the other side of the room, standing before his great-great grandfather with a hopeful look.

Hector gave him a look of doubt before he smirked, ruffling his hair.

"Finally. Now, vamonos!"

"This is gonna be a regular thing, isn't it?"

"You could've gotten the chancla from Imelda."

Miguel shuddered. He would rather be annoyed out of his bed then have Imelda's wrath.

"Si?"

"Si."

oooooo

School was not Miguel's favorite place to be. He had a few friends there sure - the ones who would sneak him music players or help him rescue old records from behind the music store in town but for the most part he was a loner at school.

He liked it that way.

But he didn't think that loner status would help when it came to his abilities. Even the way to school seemed to be transformed and no one else but him could see it.

Because while his teacher was droning on about math, his eyes kept going to the window in the room. The one that was right in front of a tree.

He really hoped he wasn't the only one noticing an old noose hanging from it.

Like, is it a spirit thing or is it real?

It was during break that he went to go investigate. The tree was as old as the school was, if not older. He couldn't remember how long it had been there. He just remembered when he was very young that Mama Coco told him how when she attended the school the tree was just a little sapling.

The noose, as far as he could, tell looked real enough but when he took a closer look he saw that it wasn't casting a shadow.

But he was willing to bet he could touch it. Miguel looked for a good foothold, grabbing onto the first low hanging branch he could see.

"NO!"

Only to be dragged down immediately by Hector, who was giving him a stern look. "Do you know how high that is!?"

"Si. I wanna see if that noose means anything recent." He pointed up at it as Hector followed his hand, narrowing his own eyes.

"Mijo, I don't think this is a good first test. You see how high that noose is right?"

"Yeah but if it's a clue to someone who can't leave this world, then I gotta."

Hector sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Where does he get this stubborn streak from?

"I still think it's a bad idea."

"Then you'll spot me."

Miguel went to try again, only for Hector to grab him around the waist, pulling him away.

"There is no one here attached to that thing. So it's a memory of the object. As in - YOU'RE NOT GOING UP THERE!"

"Oh come on! I bet Oscar and Filipe would let me."

"And face Imelda's wrath? Reeeal funny, Chamaco."

Miguel scoffed, crossing his arms. "Overprotective much?"

"I call that being a great-great grandpa and your guardian." Hector retorted.

Miguel rolled his eyes, muttering a little.

"It was gonna be cool."

"No, it was not."

"Hmph."

"HECTOR RIVERA GET DOWN FROM THERE!"

"Aw Mama, it's fine."

"I'm getting my shoe!"

"YIPE!"

Guh, he really is my great-great grandkid. Hector shook his head, searching his mind for something to distract Miguel with. "Hey mijo. How about we go over that song you were trying to work on?"

"Sure!" Miguel squirmed free before anyone else saw them, getting his little black songbook out of his jean pocket. "Alright let's see… I hadn't been able to work on this one properly in awhile."

Hector nodded to himself, satisfied as he followed after Miguel as the two began to discuss the music Miguel wanted to create.

He kept him out of the tree. It was a good day.

The bell in his vest pocket rang when he hurried after Miguel, reminding him of something.

Imelda doesn't need to know.

It was a long day after the fact. The powers were proving to be a distraction even if Miguel was normally good about buckling down and focusing. The noose wasn't the only thing distracting him. Due to how the buildings of the dead were constructed, he could hear almost every single thing.

Right above his school was a school for the dead children. He could hear them laughing and playing right above his history and science classes.

Hector felt for the boy, he did. He wished he could make it stop for a little while but it was something he would just have to get used to and learn to manage.

Miguel was very glad when the last bell rang for the day and he was able to leave, deciding he was going to walk home.

"So, how'd it feel being a guardian, huh?" He asked with a grin, taking a drink from his water bottle.

Hector smirked, ruffling his hair up.

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

Miguel chuckled, smoothing his hair down. "Ya sure? I thought I was driving you poco loco earlier with the whole tree thing."

Hector rolled his eyes, knowing full well if he hadn't been there, Miguel would've found a way up there. He had no problem climbing up high places to get to his goals.

"No. I was just like that when I was your age - minus the psychic powers but let's not do it again, okay?"

"I promise!" Miguel hugged the spirit, Hector's gaze softening as he returned the embrace. Miguel soon pulled away, running a little bit ahead, a cheeky grin on his face, holding something shiny and silver up for Hector to see.

Hector's eyes widened as he felt his vest pocket, finding the bell Imelda had given him was gone.

"You think I couldn't hear that all day?" Miguel smirked, reminding Hector far too much of himself at that age. With that said the boy turned tail and ran.

"MIGUEL! GIVE THAT BACK!" Hector called after, giving chase.

You know I'm starting to see the appeal of putting the bell on this kid!