12. Antonio
Antonio
Antonio felt terrible ditching Lucky in the middle of their lunch date.
A few hours after the rescue concluded, the guilt came to gnaw on his bones.
He hadn’t even said goodbye. Why hadn’t he said goodbye?
Despite the reassuring words he’d given Lucky after their first date, applying them to himself seemed impossible.
Curled in the bunk, unable to sleep despite the exhaustion burning in his joints, Antonio found himself staring at Lucky’s contact page. His thumb hovered over the call button. Was Lucky eating dinner? Was he watching a movie with his family? Was he out with friends?
Would he be interrupting Lucky’s life?
He was a contradiction. He could take up space, command a unit, manage media and politicians and disgruntled tourists with ease.
But when it came to those he cared about, Antonio always resorted to making himself small.
No need to pay him too much mind, no he didn’t need anything, he was always absolutely fine.
The idea of interrupting Lucky had his mind spiraling.
He would never admit the amount of time it had taken him just to ask Lucky out to lunch…
But he wanted this to work. He wanted Lucky. Even now, curled in a cramped bunk trying to forget incompetent tourists and their crying children, Antonio wanted Lucky. He could practically taste his saltwater taffy scent.
With a deep breath, he pressed the call button.
It rang five times. Long enough for Antonio to regret pressing call. Long enough for him to regret ever picking up the phone at all. Then Lucky’s voice came through the line.
“Antonio! Hi, how are you?” There was some background noise, “Hold on, let me step outside.” He heard some voices and Lucky must have pulled the phone away from his ear to talk to someone.
Then there was the familiar sound of a sliding door before Lucky’s warm voice returned.
“Sorry about that, I’m out on the porch now. ”
“Not to worry, I’m the one who should be sorry, am I interrupting?” That familiar icy fear of imposing on someone compounded with the guilt of ditching Lucky mid date.
“No, no, I’m just at a friend’s house. We’re supposed to be studying but to be honest I think we’ve just turned it into a snacks and music night.” Lucky’s laugh was just as sweet over the phone. “We saw you on the news, actually!”
The obligatory interview after the boat crash.
Not his favorite activity but it did keep them in the public eye.
“Anytime we break out the dive gear, the media gets excited. I was just glad the kids were okay. Not putting them in life jackets could have resulted in far worse fates. They were lucky the sea was calm.”
If it hadn’t been such a beautiful day, the outcome could have been disastrous.
“It’s amazing how people underestimate the sea… And overestimate their nautical skills.” Lucky’s sigh crackled through the phone line. “Anyway, is everything okay otherwise?”
“Yeah, well…” Antonio hesitated, “I just wanted to give you a call to check in. I’m sorry about ditching you like that. Unfortunately, with calls like that, it’s really a matter of seconds counting.”
“You forgot your own words so quickly.” Lucky didn’t sound upset, just amused. Antonio really wished he could see the omega’s face. “You got called in and then you saved like five little kids. How could I possibly be upset about that?”
That’s how it should work. Antonio knew that, and always hoped to meet someone who understood, but rarely did it work out that way. “I know but… Still, I forgot to say goodbye, so I just…”
“Just felt like you needed to apologize?” Lucky finished. There was a moment of silence that seemed answer enough as Lucky sighed again. “I’ll have you know, I ate your skewers. Technically, a friend helped, but I did most of the eating. So I think we can call it even.”
Antonio leaned back against the wall, laughing softly. “Really? Were they all as good as I thought they would be?” Relief finally eased the tension from his shoulders.
“They were. You’ll just have to find a chance to pop in on me again so we can do a take two. Eventually you’ll get to eat all your own skewers, I’m certain.” Lucky teased.
“Eventually.” Antonio’s agreement morphed into a jaw cracking yawn.
“You sound ready for a nap.” Antonio wanted to disagree, but he knew it was the truth. “I’ll let you go but…”
“But?” He pressed gently, rubbing a knuckle into his eye to keep sleep at bay.
“I know our schedules are kind of messy and unpredictable but, well, I do a few mermaid shows each month at the Marine Center. Nothing too fancy but it makes the kids smile and I’ve been told I really look great with a tail.
I was thinking, if any of the dates work out for you, maybe you’d like to come see?
” Lucky sounded nervous as he extended the invitation, as if he wasn’t certain Antonio would accept.
“I’m almost insulted that you think I wouldn’t want to.” He hummed, smiling as Lucky huffed in response. “Send me the dates, I’ll let you know what day works for me. Hopefully the kids won’t mind me stealing the pretty mermaid away though…”
“Hm… I think they’ll be okay, considering the mermaid invited the charming prince himself.
” The flirting came so naturally that Antonio could hardly recall why he’d been so worried.
There was a sound in the background, like knocking.
“I’m being summoned back to the snack circle. You should get some rest, too.”
“Alright… Have fun with your friends. Buenas noches.” There were other endearments on the tip of his tongue, but it just didn’t feel right. Not yet…
“Buenas noches, Antonio.” Lucky echoed. Antonio was certain the omega was smiling.
This time, he had no trouble falling asleep.
It took two weeks to find time for the mermaid show.
Through those days, they texted, called, and even sent pictures.
Antonio snapped some shots of the stray cats he fed, and Lucky sent beautiful images of brightly colored reef fish.
It wasn’t enough. By the time his day off rolled, he was desperate to see Lucky again.
When Antonio was twelve, his class did a field trip to the Marine Center.
Back then, it was still called Paradise Aquarium.
The research and rehabilitation facility was still under construction and the building they were allowed in was small, dingy, and dark.
Teague Wilde was young then. The man who went on to become an internationally renowned researcher had been quite the upstart.
They had only just begun to gain the funding and renown they now held.
Now the compound that had grown to several sprawling buildings with cheerful signs and white walls covered in fish murals was an attraction on par with the amusement park. Giant sea pens were built into the inlet, each one marked with the same golden logo Lucky wore on his shirt.
Antonio walked up to the ticket booth shaped like a giant piece of coral. “Hi, I’d like one admission ticket and is there a special ticket required for the mermaid show?”
The teen working the booth shook her head. “No, though if you would be willing to make an additional donation to the Mermaid Reef Fund, every penny goes to protecting our local reef structures.”
“Then let’s do that.” He placed a hundred-dollar bill on the counter.
The currency in Paradise had various island images on them but the hundred-dollar bill in particular felt fitting since it had a picture of a sea turtle.
The teen put a stamp on the back of his hand that looked like a green starfish and gave him a pamphlet.
Antonio read over the map but as he entered the aquarium, there really was no need. It was impossible to miss the crowd of children gathered in front of a massive tank built into the back wall of the main room.
Maybe Lucky really was a mermaid.
His tail was iridescent white with each scale delicately lined in gold.
The long, frilled, silicone fins were a mix of gold and white and shimmering pink.
Lucky wore a top made of strand after strand of pearls and golden chains, all pinned down by a chain that wrapped around the dip of his waist. The same dip Antonio’s thumb had traced during that night of passion…
A crown of coral and crystals was pinned into auburn curls. He really did look like a mermaid princess. Lucky blew bubbles to the children as kisses and pressed his hand to the glass. A few times, as Antonio moved closer, Lucky swam up to get air.
The moment Lucky saw him, he was gifted one of those warm smiles that made his heart skip several beats.
Rainbow reef fish swam around Lucky who offered some food pulled from a pouch around his hips. It was covered in shells to make it look like something a proper mermaid would own. When the sailors named Sirena Reef, surely they were imagining Lucky.
Music played through the room before a voice came over the intercom.
“Thank you all for stopping in for the mermaid show! Our resident mermaid princess has some very important work to do but he’ll return for another show next week.
If you would like to learn more about our mermaid’s work and how we protect the reef he calls home, please be sure to look for the mermaid symbol on plaques placed throughout the exhibits or visit our website! ”
Lucky waved eagerly and blew more kisses to the crowd of eager children. He did a flip to ecstatic cheers before vanishing through the top of the tank and out of sight.
A door beside the tank opened to reveal a smiling employee in a red shirt showing the Marine Center logo.
His black hair was pulled into a ponytail with braids interspersed through the strands and glittering with gold accessories.
“If everyone would like to wait a few moments, our mermaid princess will make a rare appearance with the help of Paradise’s very own Antonio Saavedra. ”
Caught off guard, he blinked dumbly as the young man stared at him expectantly.
The cheers of the children pulled him from his stupor. He stepped through the doorway, holding it open for the omega who slipped past him. “Come on, Lulu is this way. I’m Jack, by the way. Lucky’s been talking non-stop about you, so I just had to see what the fuss was about.”
Jack. Lucky’s Jack. Lucky’s twin brother Jack.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. Lucky has spoken highly of you.
” Bowing his head, he was struck by how much Jack looked like Teague Wilde.
He had the same warm brown skin and black hair as the man plastered on page three of the pamphlet still folded in Antonio’s hand.
He tucked the pamphlet away hurriedly and offered his hand to the omega.
Jack cocked his head to the side and smiled like he knew something Antonio didn’t. He bypassed Antonio’s offered hand to grab his wrists and lever his arm up and down. “Highly is a word! I doubt he had as many nice things to say about me as he does about you.”
Antonio wasn’t entirely sure he understood but Jack let go of his arm and motioned for Antonio to follow him through the employees only area.
Up a flight of metal stairs, Antonio found himself on a platform that extended over the massive tank. It was a good thing heights didn’t bother him. Lucky was sprawled half out of the water, drying off his upper body with a towel.
“Found your boyfriend, dearest princess.” Jack teased, trotting across the platform with ease.
Lucky’s head jerked up, with a smile so wide that Antonio had to swallow down the desire to kiss him. “I’m so glad you made it!”
“Me too.” Counting down the days to his next day off had been painful. “I hear I’m supposed to escort the mermaid princess?”
Lucky laughed, nodding, “I need to get from here to the other side of the aquarium where the breakroom is. Normally, I’d just change up here and take the back way but we’re actually introducing some new fish that were rescued from a pet shop and the temp tanks are blocking the hall…
” Lucky waved his hand, “Sorry, it’s a whole thing.
Long story short, I need to walk past the kids, and I hate ruining the magic so I was hoping you might be interested in playing helpful knight? ”
“I would be honored, but it seems more accurate that I play the dashing sailor making off with a beautiful mermaid instead.” He crouched down to Lucky’s level.
“Oh my, a daring pirate captain has come to steal me away?” Lucky’s arms curled over his shoulders, slim fingers stroking the back of his neck.
Jack made a gagging sound in the background. “Could we hurry this along before the kids get antsy? Vámonos!”
“Go take care of the fish, Jackie!” Lucky huffed, waving his brother off who shrugged before making a big show of stomping off. “Twins, what can you do with ‘em?”
“I should be asking you that.” Antonio snorted, “Is he mad or…?” He didn’t want to make a bad impression.
“No, absolutely not. He just likes to drive me crazy.” Lucky smiled, a teasing gleam in his eyes, “But he is right, we shouldn’t keep the kids waiting.
Even if I’d like to drag you down for a swim.
” The way Lucky glanced from his lips to his eyes and back again made him think it wasn’t a swim Lucky had in mind.
“Yeah… we shouldn’t keep the kids waiting.” He repeated, leaning that much closer. But just when he could have kissed the omega, he lifted Lucky into his arms. Lucky squeaked and clung to his shoulders. “Come on princess, your adoring audience awaits.”
Lucky kissed his cheek and gave him a look that went straight to his cock, “Take me away then, captain.”