16. Antonio
Antonio
Some days he hated his job. When it got busy, when people couldn’t seem to keep themselves alive, his frustration mounted. Three lost tourists, four boating accidents, fire support in three different cities, and a car accident caused by drunken tourists all in just five days. He was exhausted.
Worst of all… Lucky hadn’t been responding to his texts.
If they hadn’t been read, he might have just assumed Lucky was busy. Considering his own schedule, he couldn’t possibly hold that against the charming omega consuming his thoughts. But they’d been seen. And in turn, a quiet unease built in his stomach.
With an orange sunset burning his eyes, Antonio called Lucky. He was almost surprised how quickly the call was answered. Only it wasn’t Lucky’s voice that came down the line in a hushed whisper. “You have weird timing.”
“Jack?” There was a rustle, like fabric, and a groan somewhere not into the speaker, “Is… Lucky hasn’t been replying and I got worried, is everything okay?”
“No. Actually… Maybe you have great timing.” Jack hesitated. There was more rustling and the sound of a door closing.
“What happened? Please, I’ve been going half insane…” He wanted to be there for Lucky in any possible way.
“The protections have lapsed. Ten years, not fifteen…” Jack breathed out, the rush of it crackling through the phone, “What did Lucky say over the radio when you met?”
Antonio furrowed his brows, tired brain struggling to grasp the question. “When he was hailing mayday?”
“Yeah, yeah… Mayday, Captain Saavedra.” There was expectation in the way Jack said it. An expectation Antonio knew he would meet. His spine straightened, already turning the key as the engine came to life. He was tired. He worked for five days straight. He didn’t care.
Lucky needed him.
“Mayday.” Antonio repeated, “I’m on my way.”
Jack met him at the door. With messy hair and bags under his eyes and a look of relief that made Antonio feel like a hero.
Despite the heroics he performed daily, it was not the same as having those you cared for look up to you.
He hardly knew Jack, but he had seen in Lucky’s face the love he had for his twin.
If he could do anything, he would live up to the hope in Jack’s eyes.
“What happened?” He asked, breathing in the warm scent of coffee wafting from the steaming cup in Jack’s hand.
“Here, I realized you probably just got off work and could use a pick-me-up.” Jack offered. Antonio gave a grateful hum as he accepted the mug, taking a long sip before Jack could even ask if he needed milk or sugar. “I’ll take it that I was right.”
“Long shift.” Antonio sighed, closing his eyes a moment, “But please… What happened?” He understood the issue at hand. The protected status of Playa del Tesoro had lapsed, but he needed to know the full picture so he could help without overstepping.
“Like I said, it was only registered for ten years… Lucky’s taking it hard.
It looks like it might have been caused by some smudged ink.
” Jack ran a hand through his hair, fingers catching in half-undone braids.
“Mom was really sick towards the end there. Her hands shook a lot. But she was stubborn. She would have wanted to fill in the papers on her own, she would have reviewed on her own too. It just… looks like she made a mistake.”
Antonio nodded silently. He handed the empty mug back to Jack. “Would it be alright if I took Lucky with me?” If the omega wanted to even come… but he pushed the insecurity aside.
“Sure. I don’t think dad’s looking for him. And honestly, if anyone can drag him out of the funk, I think he’ll be glad it’s you. I’m his brother, he knows all my tricks, and they’d work eventually but like…” Jack pressed his lips together, “Just… consider this a vote for you, alright?”
That meant more to him than Jack could possibly imagine.
“Thank you.” The whisper came out rougher than he would have liked but Jack graciously ignored it.
“He’s upstairs, first door on the right. He’s a lump in the lefthand bed.” Jack pointed up the stairs, “I’ll make myself scarce.”
Before Antonio could protest or spill more watery gratitude out to the dark-haired omega, Jack disappeared into the kitchen.
Antonio placed a hand on the banister, hesitating.
Hesitating. He jumped into raging waters, ran into fires, and spent nights searching forests for missing children. Lucky needed him.
With a deep breath and a prayer to a God he hadn’t spoken to in years, Antonio crept up the stairs. He followed the path Jack laid out, turning the handle with far more confidence than he felt.
The room was dimly lit, only a few dying golden rays streaking through the gaps in drawn curtains. Lucky was indeed a lump. He was curled, watching, with puffy eyes cracked open.
“You’re not here.” Lucky croaked, voice rough with a sorrow Antonio longed to share.
“I am.” He knelt beside the bed. The room was full of the combined scent of Jack and Lucky. Saltwater taffy and cinnamon, mixed in a way that reminded him of carnivals and horchata and joy even when Lucky looked so sad.
“You look tired.” Lucky whispered, sniffling.
“So do you.” Antonio cupped Lucky’s cheek, “Come home with me?”
“…I haven’t showered.” It wasn’t a no.
“I have a shower. And a large bed. And some hot chocolate. We can hide for a bit… and if you can’t sleep then we can watch the stars until things feel alright.” Antonio leaned in to press a kiss to Lucky’s forehead. “Let me kidnap you, mi amor.”
He managed to find the right words because Lucky offered him a fragile smile and nodded. “Okay…”
Antonio picked Lucky up, blanket and all. Jack was nowhere to be seen when he carried the omega down the stairs and out to his car, though he had a feeling the other was watching them.
“You’re like a caterpillar.” Antonio teased softly, buckling Lucky into the passenger seat.
“Not nearly as cute as one.” Lucky huffed, wriggling. Antonio climbed into the driver’s side, pulling away from the house. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your texts…”
“Texts aren’t important.” Antonio peered over his shoulder to back out of the drive. Once they were out on the road, he tucked his hand behind Lucky’s neck. “You’re important, though, and if I can do anything to help…”
“…This is helping.” Lucky spoke softly, tilting his head forward. Antonio rubbed the back of Lucky’s neck, coaxing a soft purr from the omega.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly. Twilight turned the sky purple and soft.
“Not yet.” Lucky sighed, “Maybe after that shower…”
“Okay.” He wanted to kiss Lucky’s forehead, to pull the omega into his lap and promise to make it all better.
That’s what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to fix things.
Antonio Saavedra fixed problems. But this wasn’t a puzzle to solve or some heroic moment.
This was Lucky’s feelings. This was hurt and sorrow and grief, wounds he couldn’t just stick a bandage on.
If he couldn’t fix the big things, it was time to employ his mother’s tactics. Aim small.
Small started with carrying Lucky into the house, to the bathroom, and running him a warm bath. It was kissing his forehead as he helped Lucky out of pajamas and folded the beautiful knit blanket carefully. And it was turning lavender scented body wash into fragrant bubbles.
“You’re really good at this. At caring for people.” Lucky hummed as he slipped into the hot water, cupping some of the bubbles between his palms.
“You make me want to be good at it.” He stuck some of the foam onto Lucky’s nose. The smile he earned was honest and soft. It wasn’t big or beaming, but it was real and it made his heart ache with affection. “I’ll go get that hot cocoa ready. Take all the time you need.”
Not want. The amount of time he needed. Antonio would wait, no matter how long it took.
“Actually, could you make it wine instead? I think I could just use something a bit stronger than chocolate.” Lucky, tipped his head backwards over the edge of the tub.
“Wine.” Antonio nodded, drying his hands with a towel.
He took the blanket and Lucky’s laundry with him, leaving a robe behind for the omega to change into once he was done. Antonio padded downstairs, dropping Lucky’s pajamas in the laundry room on his way to the kitchen.
There were several good bottles of red wine on his rack. Ones his mother gifted him from Spain. He picked two, opening them to let the alcohol breathe. Outside, the sky had shifted from twilight to true dark.
Just like that, he had an idea.
Instead of more time spent curled in bed, maybe what they both needed was a night under the stars… And he knew just the place.