Age (Xibalba and La Muerte)
Xibalba glided through the graveyard in silence, watching the mortals light their candles and place their offerings for Los Dias de los Muertos. Children playing while parents and elders place only the best of bread and flowers on their loved one graves. He held his staff of the two headed snake on his right hand, a symbol to his power. He glided towards a lone old man, his body shriveled and his bones weak as he shakenly placed marigolds on his wife's grave. A potrait of his wife laid across the tombstone, an old women with sliver hair, that died last year. Xibalba came up behind him, and tilted his head. Watching the sands of time slowly run out, the old mortal only had a few grains left. He put out his gloved hand reaching for him, he just needs to touch him and he would meet his wife again.
A harsh slap rang, making him recoil as he clutched his hand.
"Not yet, Xibalba." sternly said his wife, La Muerte. He rubbed his hand slightly giving her a small scowl.
"But I'm doing him a favor!" he whined, his fingers twitching to take his life. "Just look at this poor mortal, don't you see he misses her?"
La Muerte placed her hands on her hips, pivoting them to the side giving him a dissaproving look.
"Of course I do." she answers gently going up beside the grave motioning to the portrait. "But it is not fair to take him too early, he still must say his peace with his family not to mention his grandchildren. We must give him a chance to say goodbye."
Xibalba crossed his arms stubbornly. "Alright…"
Satisfied he watched as she walks away from the mortal towards him.
"And you know the rules, since you lost the bet with Manolo, no more playing games with the mortals." she said sternly. He let out a exasperated sigh, his arms going limp to his sides.
"I know! I know…you don't have to repeat it everytime we go out." he said bitternly, she placed a finger over his mouth making his eyes widen slightly as he turned silent. She let out a soft laugh. She always have that effect on him.
"I think I do, my love..I know how tempting it must be for you." she whispered. He pulled away giving her a pout.
"I never have any fun anymore." he complained. "Curse that wager…"
"Oh hush." she started waving him off as she loops her arm under his. "Must you always be a sore loser?" she mocked as they walked through the graveyard, unnoticed by the people. Xibalba placed his hand over her in a soft touch,
"I can't help it, I never win anything…except you that is." he muttered. She shoots him a glare.
"Do you regret me?" she accused. He immeditaly regretted saying that phrase as he began to stammber an apology.
"N-no! no,no,no of course not I meant that as a compliment, my love…hehe." he chuckled nervously patting her hand slightly. She pulled away with a huff and crossed her arms.
"oh no, don't give me the cold shoulder!" he moaned moving in front of her face, she turned away holding a stern frown. "La Muuuuuerte!" he whined holding his hands out despretly towards her.
"I told you I did'it mean it like that! please?…I'm sorry!, please forgive me." he said grabbing her hands placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles, but she was adament. His eyes lower trying to think of a new plan of attack and suddenly thought of one, it might cause him pain or it might cause La muerte to forgive him.
"My love?" he called, causing her to let out a sigh and turn to him. She was wrapped around his arms with his lips locked against hers. Her cheeks flared up becoming redder than a chili pepper. She pushed him back harshly giving him two quick slaps.
"Xibalba!" she shrieked mortified that he would do something so boldly. Even if she did like his approch. The shock of the slap didn'it deteer him as he still kept one arm around her waist and the other delictly rubbing his sore face. La Muerte eyes soften at him and press her lips on his cheek and cupped his face making him look up at her. "Oh Balby…always trying to make me happy."
"Then my stragedy worked?" He perked giving her a devilish smile.
"No…I just pitied you." She answered. He frowned making her laugh.
"Why don't you take me seriously anymore?" he asked, when they were younger she turned flustered and stammber everytime he kissed her. La muerte took his hand leading him through the graveyard again.
"I'm not young anymore," she replied, even her appreance might question some, inside she felt like an old women. "Or impressable….I am different now since I was young, or did you fail to notice?" she said giving him a wink. He shrugged as she lead him behind the church away from the mortals.
"You seem to act the same to me, but when we were young…"He paused looking her over. She eyed him giving him a small frown.
"Do you want me to follow you like a young girl again?" she questioned. Xibalba moved his jaw to the side in thought.
"No…" he replied, lifting his hand to her, holding a dying rose. She accepted it with a smile, he leaned foreward pressing his cheek to hers as he wrapped his arms around her. She let out a small blush. "I was stating how different we have become."
She nuzzled into his neck loveningly.
"I still think of you as my strong conquerer." She admitted. He pulled away giving her a grin.
"Do you now?" He questioned, his ego growing. She nodded.
"Of course, I never think of you any less."
"Well thank the realms." He said with comedic relif.