21. Lucky
Lucky
The food was amazing. Skewers, birria, picanha, pernil, all served with a feast of sides.
By the time Lucky got back to his clipboard and fliers, he felt ready to be rolled home.
Antonio had stepped away to get them some fresh drinks but as Lucky sat in the shade, he could see the alpha was surrounded by friends.
The names were a blur in his head. Antonio introduced him to numerous people who clapped him on the shoulders and shook his hands before their attention settled fully on their captain. He would know them all with time, but their love for Antonio was heartwarming.
“It’s never ending.” A voice at his shoulder made him jump, surprised to find Misha standing beside him. “Sorry, I came over to add my name to your petition.”
Misha avoided calling it little. Lucky appreciated the effort, sliding the paper across the table with a pen. “What’s never ending?”
“That.” Misha gestured towards where Antonio conversed with his team. “They never stop being needed. It’s constant. The work, the meetings, the prep, the hours and hours and hours spent away. Antonio and Mateo are the first ones in and last ones out.”
“That’s admirable, isn’t it?” Lucky felt like Misha was giving him a warning.
Misha was a beautiful omega. Older than he was, closer to Antonio’s age.
He had short blond hair carefully styled in a charmingly casual way that seemed effortless.
There was something plastic about him. Like he was trying so hard to be friendly but didn’t really care about the conversation or about Lucky. It was strange. Lucky didn’t like it.
“At first.” Misha agreed with a shrug. “Until he’s missing important events, can never be nailed down, and is constantly leaving you standing around waiting for him to return.”
Lucky wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say to that. “Well… I’m good at keeping busy.”
“I thought I was too.” Misha sighed, “I also thought after a severe injury, I’d be free of all this but here we still are.” The frustration in the blonde’s voice was clear. Whatever long standing argument Misha had with Mateo, Lucky didn’t want to be a part of it.
“I think the work they do is important and it’s kind of them to sacrifice for it.” Lucky pressed harder this time, turning to look at Misha properly.
Misha just shrugged, leaning over to sign the petition. His perfectly manicured nails sparkled with gold shimmer. “Good luck with him, then. Antonio hasn’t even brought anyone to the BBQ until now. That’s how married to the job he is. Just make sure you know what you’re in for.”
“…I think I understand. Thank you.” Lucky worked up his best ‘disarming a professor’ smile. He didn’t understand, not one bit, but he knew when to pick his battles. Misha signed his name with a flourish.
“Sorry for the wait, Lucky.” Antonio appeared at his side with a paper cup fruit juice and a charming smile. “Ah, thanks for signing Misha. I know, with your job, that it might be a conflict…”
The blond waved dismissively, “Shutting down competition is always a positive. Anyway, I’m taking Mateo with me to another event. Make sure people are actually dying before you call him, yes?”
Lucky saw the way Antonio’s smile tightened even as the alpha nodded, “Of course. Have a good evening.”
Patting the bench beside him, Lucky watched Misha walk away. “He’s intense.”
“Did he say something to you?” The way Antonio phrased it and the anxious crack in his voice made Lucky look up at him. There was tension in his face that hadn’t been there when he was talking to the crew.
“He was telling me about Mateo.” Lucky says because the rest are things already covered. Work, scheduling, dedication. What was left to discuss there that they didn’t already understand?
“Ah… He told you about his scars?” Antonio asked softly, leaning into Lucky’s side.
“Not exactly. Just that he mentioned an accident. I think he believes that should be enough to scare people off.” He rested his head on Antonio’s shoulder. “I fear he chose the wrong person for that lesson.”
“It doesn’t scare you?” Antonio almost sounded amused.
“No. Unless it scares you that I could be killed by a shark?” That earned him a laugh. “We are passionate about our work. I can’t even imagine wanting that to change.”
“Mm… Did you get all your signatures?” Antonio changed the subject gently.
“Yes. The entire crew signed, several promised to come to the town hall, schedules willing, and… and we’ll see.” Lucky sighed.
“We’ll see it through.” Antonio wrapped an arm around him. It felt like partnership.
The house is a flurry of activity ahead of the town hall.
Jack dusted green glitter gel along the part between Lucky’s dutch braids while Lucky freehanded green hearts on Aurora’s cheek.
Serena had found a color to match Aurora’s neon green braids and decorated her own panda buns with green ribbons that she shared with Jack.
Joe wore a bright green headband and allowed Jack to dust his eyelids with duo chrome green and gold eyeshadow.
Even Teague collected his copious curls and braids into a low ponytail held by a green ribbon and wore a green shirt with the Marine Center’s logo printed on the back.
“Ready?” Jack asked as he finished off Lucky’s hair.
“As I’ll ever be.” Lucky sighed, grateful when Jack wrapped him in a hug.
Teague moved the final batch of premade signs into the Center’s van with Joe, “Alright kids, time to move out.” They all piled into the vehicle, practically vibrating with energy the whole drive over.
Hulltown, the capital of Paradise, was alight with town hall attendees.
Lucky took a moment to center himself, pressing his fists to his eyes and counting backwards from ten.
The air in the van was warm and just a little too sticky for comfort.
Wind from the bay cooled the sweat on his brow as he climbed out.
His sandals smacked against the concrete.
“Lucky, look!” Jack shook his arm, pointing at the people milling about the town square.
In the flier, they asked supporters to show up wearing green. He hadn’t expected many people to listen. He had been wrong.
Attendees had green wrist bands, green shirts, green hair ties. Someone even had a green top hat. Lucky tipped his head back. He would not cry and mess up the painted hearts on his cheeks right before the meeting.
“You alright?” It was a different voice, not his brother or his friends, but Antonio who stepped up behind him. Strong hands settled on his shoulders, looking down at Lucky with a worried expression.
“No.” He leaned into Antonio’s chest, “But better now that you’re here.
” He could have said fine. Could have offered casual reassurance and a false bravado in the face of the executives and district leaders already gathering on the stage.
But this wasn’t for them. This was for Antonio who searched his face with dark eyes and squeezed his shoulders reassuringly.
“Good enough.” Antonio pressed a kiss to his forehead. He released Lucky, drawing attention to the men and women of the SAR squad who wore their team shirts and looked eager to be there. “Grab signs and start handing them out!”
“I want to make these tie wearing assholes uncomfortable.” Lucky grumbled.
“Lucky, you should move to the front.” Teague stepped up, nodding to Antonio, “This is your fight, kid.” His dad pinched his nose and gave a deep, rumbling laugh when Lucky batted his hand away. “Don’t let them intimidate you. The entire island is on your side, alright?”
“I’ll make them listen…” Lucky agreed, hugging his dad tightly. He caught Antonio’s hand in his, looking up the alpha as he stepped back from Teague. “Come with me? You don’t have to but…”
“Of course.” Antonio brought Lucky’s knuckles to his lips, “I’m behind you every step of the way, carino.”
They pushed through the crowd, smiling and greeting people as they went.
At the front, Lucky looked up at the old wooden stage.
Through Paradise’s long history, meetings were held at this square.
First, the captains who founded the island held the first votes and heard complaints from their crew.
Then the island was split into districts and representatives were elected.
The first laws were discussed right where the stage stood.
History was in full effect—the people had a complaint, and the representatives were gathered to listen and discuss. What happened would send out ripples into the future.
Lyrica Beach set a precedent. Lucky needed to overcome it.
He almost laughed when he saw his grandfather waving at him. The old man with his long grey beard and laugh lines gave him a thumbs up from the stage.
“My grandfather.” Lucky nudged Antonio, gesturing.
“The representative from Rosaria, right? I’ve spoken with him before.” Antonio squeezed his hand, offering his own wave to the man on stage.
“Right, I keep forgetting which of us is actually famous.” Lucky teased, bumping his hip into Antonio.
“We can guarantee at least one vote against the development project. Esmeralda also tends to vote island first. Lyrica Beach, Topacio, Hulltown, Rubí and Sapphira beaches, Verde Cliffs… Those I am uncertain about.”
“Lyrica Beach has plenty of reasons to not want a new resort and general development project to pull bodies away from them. The others really are hit or miss.” Antonio shook his head, “Unfortunately, the Verde Cliffs representative is likely pro-resort.”
“Yeah, she’s pro-development in general.” Lucky shrugged.
Before they could discuss further, a bell was rung several times to quiet the crowd and bring attention to the front.
The representative from Hulltown stood in front of a microphone stand, fiddling with the height.
“Thank you all for coming to the town hall! This is the second one of the year, but I am thrilled to see a much larger number of attendees than the one at the start of the year. As you all know, I am Alexander Dove and I will be leading today’s session. ”
He paused, looking over the crowd. “I see many of you have heard about the development plan for Playa del Tesoro. We have invited speakers from the Imperial Resort chain to speak on behalf of their company and assuage any fears.”
“What about the turtles!?” Lucky shouted towards the stage, taking his place front and center. Maybe he didn’t look like much, but he was not going to back down.
Alexander Dove was a kind man with curly grey hair who made his money off the trade of rare dyes and paints sourced only from Paradise.
He was a bit eccentric and Lucky knew his daughter in passing as she always attended the beach clean-ups.
Right now, he looked entirely trapped. A man in a tidy suit so out of place for the island casual everyone else was dressed in stepped up to the mic.
“We have heard about the turtle concerns. Our surveyors have done an excellent job going over extant documents and combing the land to catalogue any at risk animals. We consulted paperwork and found that any potential preservation work lapsed over two years ago without any turtle sightings.” The words were paired with a perfect veneer smile.
Lucky hated every word.
“There have been sightings of the particular leatherback species known to nest in Playa del Tesoro!” Lucky argued back, “My findings were documented through the university. Also, why was the Marine Research and Rehabilitation center not consulted?”
He was viciously pleased that the suit looked uncomfortable.
“Sightings does not provide conclusive evidence that those turtles nest at Tesoro. Hadita Island is another hatching ground and has more recent nests. It is already a protected space with limited human traffic so we should be focused on that.”
“You can’t train turtles to go somewhere else. If even a single turtle from the clutch hatched on Tesoro returns, it will want to lay its eggs on the beach and needs the safety and peace to do that!” Lucky argued. A scattered echo of support came from behind him.
“We intend to host educational excursions for people to be able to see turtles and learn more about them along the Sirena Reef and with guided snorkel tours around Hadita. We would even be open to have those tours handled by someone from the Research Center. Perhaps yourself?” The suit’s smile was not kind.
“You are speaking as if the sale has already been confirmed.” Lucky tilted his head, “This measure has not been approved yet by the representatives, there has been no public vote to proceed.”
That went against the bylaws. And the agenda did not state that a public vote would be held today.
Alexander Dove was quick to step up to the mic once more.
“Based on the precedent set by Lyrica Beach, we feel there is no need to hold a vote over the land sale. The new development project will not be given a representative unless the need arises. For now, it will be managed by the Rubí Beach representative.”
It was like getting punched in the stomach. The wind went out of him so suddenly, he almost choked.
“Are you saying there is no way to stop the sale? That you won’t be listening to concerns?” Antonio’s voice almost shocked him. The warm hands that settled on his shoulders helped Lucky regain his footing.
“We will listen to concerns about the development project both here and throughout the year, but there will be a sale of land. The Imperial Hotel has presented the most comprehensive project, though they are not the only prospective buyer.” Alexander attempted to soothe the crowd that churned behind Lucky.
“None of this feels like it is for the island!” Someone shouted.
“Which is why my vote is against it.” Lucky’s grandfather stood, hands shoved into his pockets. “And I won’t be participating in the rest of the townhall.” The old man left the stage, and the crowd began to rumble.
Chants of ‘No Hotel!’ broke out as bodies pressed forward. Lucky’s ears were ringing. The other representatives attempted to sooth the crowd, but it was clear no one was listening.
And still, there were some that were for it.
Their voices rose as well, arguments swirling as the representatives attempted to reclaim the attention of the crowd.
“We will hear all complaints, but we must remain civil! We welcome you to send your concerns to your representative for further discussion.”
Lucky hated it. They weren’t being heard, despite the insistence from Alexander Dove that they would be.
Before he could find his own voice, the ripple of the crowd pushed against them once more.
This time, Lucky lost his footing, crashing hard against the brick.
He hissed, whining as a strong hand wrapped around his arm to haul him up.
Something hot dripped down his calf, but when he looked up, all he saw was Antonio’s face with his eyes a storm of unconcealable rage.
“Enough!”