#dude the lyrics they left unchanged are actually so interesting to look at in the context of UDAD

[soapdi-spencer]

I CAN'T HEAR ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN WITHOUT IMMEDIATELY GETTING THE URGE TO FAVOURED SON!! IT'S A PROBLEM!!!

[welcometophu]

Not Your Destiny: Chapter 11

Marked Book 1: Not Your Destiny

Chapter 11

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Ángel spends Friday on the road. There are enough calls for trouble that he’s constantly out, sometimes with Luca by his side. He changes four tires before lunch, and jump starts three cars and a delivery truck. He swings by the mall twice, fighting through thick holiday traffic that seems far busier than it ought to be on work day. He gets into one argument that needs to be cleared up by mall security before the guy will leave Ángel alone; it’s not his fault that his truck is blocking the parking lot aisle while he gets yet another car going right after lunch.

By three, he’s hiding in the back, slumped into one of the chairs, wheeled into a corner with the lights out. Gabi walks in and flicks the lights on, and Ángel winces, puts a hand up.

“Oh, you’re in here. That explains why the truck’s here.” She drops a stack of paperwork on the table. “Tony’s whining about the fact that you took Luca out on no less than six calls today, and Luca’s grumbling about people in general. What’s your preferred whine for the day?”

“I’m tired, the grease is never coming out from under my fingernails, and I have to go back to the mall after work.” Ángel rubs his hand across his forehead. At least his hands are mostly clean, and he’s pretty sure he’s not leaving grease streaks behind. He could be wrong. “Tanner’s picking me up tonight because I’ve still got gifts to get, and if I don’t get something nice for Maritsa’s tía, Abuela will be disappointed although it’s possible I might just skip that. Besides, now Hayley wants to get something for Tanner, and I’m assuming vice versa. Today is Emerson’s last day of school before break, and he says he hasn’t done any shopping.”

Ángel’s a little concerned about taking Emerson into a place that’s going to be noisy and chaotic, but both Tanner and Emerson swear he’ll be fine. And Tanner’s already overprotective enough.

“I’ve got a few things left to get,” Gabi muses. “Luca’s always got things to get, but he schedules all his time with his friends after Christmas so he can hit the sales. And I would absolutely bet that Tony’s put off everything so far.”

“You have my sympathy if you’re thinking of going anywhere near the mall tonight,” Ángel says dryly.

Gabi laughs, pats his shoulder. “We’re going with you,” she clarifies. “Let Tanner know that we’ll meet them there around five thirty. We’ll make Tony drive.”

The phone rings, and Gabi picks it up, singing out the greeting for Mollicone’s. Ten minutes later, Ángel’s back in the tow truck, and an hour later he’s pulling into the garage with fresh grease streaking his skin, and a thick blot of oil across his forehead.

He’s busy right up until they close at five. Luca wedges into the bathroom with him, as they scrub the grease from their skin, and compare the way the ridges of their fingerprints are still dark. They stay there, trying more techniques to get rid of the grease, until Tony claims the space for himself.

Tony drives a serviceable SUV, nothing like what Ángel expects after Cleto’s rebuilt Camaro and the modded compact that Luca drives. It looks like something a mom drove off the lot a few years ago, completely unmodified, unchanged from its original purpose.

Luca and Gabi climb into the back seat, leaving the front for Ángel. He sits down, and Tony looks over at him, silent, brows drawn and furrowed. Ángel reaches for the seatbelt, breaks away from Tony’s gaze to buckle in, then crosses his arms and tries not to sink down in the seat. “Gabi invited me,” he mutters, and Gabi fails to choke back laughter in the back.

Ángel can see them in the mirror, the way that Luca claps his hand over Gabi’s mouth. He rolls his eyes, glances at Tony instead.

Tony’s hands rest on the steering wheel. From this distance, and with Tony mostly still for the moment, Ángel can make out the words inked inside his left forearm: There is nothing more important than those you love by blood and bone and heart. Howl for home.

Ángel smiles slightly. Now that he’s seen the lyrics, he recognizes them. “Howl For Your Heart,” he says, and Tony’s gaze shifts to him again as he starts the car.

“Not a lot of people know it.” Tony twists his wrist, lowering his hand for a moment before he brings it back up and rests it on the wheel. “She’s not mainstream.”

“She’s on college radio,” Ángel points out. “And she goes to PHU. I’ve heard her perform. She’s good. I like most of what she does. She does this thing where she makes a point with her words, where she talks about things a lot of people don’t like to put out there in the light. Like Talent. Or sexuality.”

“Yeah.” Tony goes silent, licks his lips as if to taste the words he doesn’t say.

“What’s the rest of your ink? And is it only on your arms?” Ángel isn’t sure if it’s too personal to poke at, but he’s curious. This is actual ink, not a soulmark. It’s interesting, and a safe topic as far as he’s concerned. As long as Tony agrees.

“I have a pair of crossed arrows on my back,” Tony says. “Between the shoulder-blades. The pattern on my right arm is whatever I want it to be. Whatever I feel like adding. Most of it’s just design. It doesn’t really mean anything.” He lifts his hand from the steering wheel, rotates his arm slightly in the space between them, showing Ángel both the inside and outside.

Ángel wants to reach out and grab his hand, hold him still long enough to take a good look, but Tony’s driving and that wouldn’t be safe. He spots something that looks like a series of circles and crescents down the line of his inner forearm, and something else that looks like a bird in flight on the inside of his wrist. The back is decorated in intricate swirls, with occasional jagged geometrics, and a black rose just beneath the elbow.

“Cool,” Ángel says, and Tony rests his hand on the steering wheel again. “Do the arrows mean anything?” He hesitates, gestures at Tony. “The ones on your back.”

“History. Family.” Tony’s jaw is tight, and there’s a soft noise from the back seat. Ángel glances up at the mirror, and Gabi’s expression is just as shuttered as Tony’s.

“I won’t pry.”

“Don’t lie,” Luca says easily. “You’ll pry. You’re just learning which things you can pry into and actually get an answer.”

“Probably true.” Ángel’s curious, and he’s never been one to let a thing go. But he can wait, too. He’s more patient than he acts, and he wonders if they’ll warm up enough to let him in on the secrets.

It’s one thing to be told you’re part of the family, after all. It’s another thing to be allowed to see the skeletons stashed in the closets.

The line of cars outside the mall stretches down the street, creeping along. It’s even worse now than it was during the day, but at least this time Ángel’s not worried about someone creeping too close to the tow hitch on the back of the truck. The only spaces left in the lot are on the far edges, and Ángel already has three texts from Hayley asking when they’ll get there and where they should meet before they’re even parked.

Just got here. Meet us at the food court, in front of the Tex Mex place.

Ángel could use a snack after a long day. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. He stuffs the phone in his pocket as they start walking toward the mall. “Food court. Hayley’s there with Tanner and Emerson.” At the curious looks, he adds, “Tanner’s little brother.”

“Kids.” Gabi smacks Tony’s chest. “You need to get presents for Zita’s kids. Because I’m betting you haven’t been able to figure out what to do with them yet.”

Tony shoves his hands in his pockets, shrugs. “Stuffed animals? Something noisy that’ll piss Zita off?”

“She’ll get revenge. You really don’t want to do that,” Luca mutters. “I like it when she feeds us. Please don’t piss her off.”

Tony grumbles, and Gabi knocks into him as they walk. Ángel feels a little awkward, like he’s intruding on a family moment, then Luca drops an arm around his shoulder and drags him closer, so they all walk together.

Hayley waves as they approach, bouncing on her toes, sparks all around her. Emerson lifts a hand, then goes back to focusing on the taco he’s holding, trying not drip as he bites into it. Ángel introduces everyone, finishing just as Tanner comes back and hands a bag to Ángel.

Two tacos with everything. His usual snack, ever since they were old enough to be dropped off to hang out at the mall all day on a Saturday. They don’t hold a candle to the home-cooked meals Abuela makes, but at the same time, they’re a different taste of childhood. And exactly what he needs.

Ángel crams one into his mouth, bright bubbles popping just on the edge of his vision. He turns in time to see Emerson explaining something quickly to Gabi, bubbles bright around his head. He frowns at the number of them, at the way they seem to bob in time with the Christmas music playing over the loudspeakers.

“Tanner,” he says quietly, waiting until Tanner glances over. “Is Emerson okay?”

“He says he is, but crowds aren’t really his thing.” Tanner’s worry furrows his brow. “Dude, I can’t tell him he can’t be at the mall; he won’t listen. He’s fourteen. He’s started insisting on shit. But we’ll keep an eye on him.”

Ángel is pretty sure that Emerson’s been making his opinions known for a lot longer, but he’s not going to argue with Tanner over it.

“How do we want to do this? Who’s shopping for who, here?” Luca asks. “Me, I’m as done as it gets before Christmas. Anyone I don’t have a physical gift for gets a playlist.” He gives Ángel a look, and Ángel wonders just what’s going to be playing in the car after Christmas.

“Tony needs presents for Zita’s kids,” Gabi offers.

“I need something for Tanner,” Hayley says quietly, her smile tight and rueful. She glances at Tanner; as he touches her shoulder, her smile eases into something more natural.

“I need something for Hayley,” Tanner says, “so obviously we’re splitting up.”

Luca tucks Tanner’s hand into the crook of his arm. “I’m coming with you, because I don’t know what kind of taste you have, but I can save you from doing anything embarrassing.”

Gabi doesn’t bother to try to hide her laughter. Neither does Emerson.

Tony rolls his eyes. “Fine. Hayley can help me figure out something for the kids.”

“Don’t say you want her help because she’s a girl,” Gabi warns.

“I want her help because she’s been helping Zita with the kids,” Tony mutters dryly. “For fuck’s sake, Gabi. Go with Luca and Tanner. I know you want to.”

“Fine, you take Ángel and Hayley, and I’ll get to keep talking to Emerson because Tanner’s overprotective.” Gabi pushes Ángel. It’s strong enough that he wavers, bumping up against Tony, who steadies him on his feet. “We’ll meet up in an hour and switch things up.”

Ángel catches Tanner’s eye, tries to make sure he’s okay with it. When Tanner nods, and Emerson starts chatting with Gabi again, Ángel shifts his attention to Tony and Hayley. “I guess it’s just the three of us.”

Hayley frowns at Tony. She starts walking; Ángel catches up quickly and touches her elbow to guide her since she has no idea how the mall is laid out. “You’re Zita’s brother, right?” Hayley finally asks.

“The oldest of the boys,” Tony confirms. His expression shutters as Hayley’s gaze slips over him. Arms crossed, he returns her look evenly.

“She’s not checking you out,” Ángel mumbles. “That’s just Hayley.”

“What?” Hayley stops, rocks back on her heels, then runs a step catch up with them again. She puts her hands on his forearm, pulling back sharply when he moves sideways, away from her. “Oh, sorry, I mean. I didn’t mean to do that. Touch you. Or act like I’m checking you out. I mean. Ángel’s my ex-boyfriend. And I might be kind of thinking about dating Tanner—we’re soulmates, so it’s all pretty complicated. I was just curious. And you’ve got cool ink, and you kind of look like Zita only way more imposing. Do you always scowl?”

Ángel rubs a hand across his mouth, trying not to laugh.

“Zita says you’re the serious one, although she also said that Mollicones aren’t really friendly. She thought the kids might be friendlier if they hang out with me more, but they already seemed really friendly? We went out, and they like talking to people, and don’t worry, I checked with Zita first and she said it’s okay, as long as we keep an eye on them.” Hayley winds down, hands falling as the speech ends. She twists her fingers, as if she doesn’t know what to do with them. “I like the kids. They’re pretty cute. And I don’t think Zita’s unfriendly at all. And Gabi seems nice. She was nice when we went out. I didn’t really see you while we were at Antigone. You were there, right?”

Tony licks his lip, jaw tight for a moment. “I was there. I even danced.”

Hayley’s eyebrows go up. “You did? I didn’t see that. Although it was pretty packed on the dance floor, which is probably why—” She cuts off abruptly, gaze flicking to Ángel.

“I was also drunk,” Ángel replies blandly. “We can say it. Ángel was drunk, and dancing with strangers, and doesn’t know who his soulmate is. In other words, I screwed up.”

Tony grunts softly, and Ángel can’t tell if it’s meant to be judging or sympathetic.

Probably judging.

He lets the subject drop, and Tony doesn’t seem inclined to bring it up again. Hayley huffs, and plays with sparks across her fingertips for a moment, before she spots the sign for Great Little Minds.

“Oh!” She claps her hands together, reaches for Tony’s hand and doesn’t let go as she tugs at him. “This is the best store. You’ll find something wonderful for the kids here.”

Ángel hangs back, because he wants to see this. Hayley has her fingers tangled with Tony’s as she drags him into the store. He can hear Tony’s protest that the kids are too young, but Hayley manages to get him into the back area, with science toys for toddlers, and Tony goes quiet.

There’s a display full of forensic kits in the front, and Ángel lingers, looking at them. Then he spots the temporary tattoo maker off to one side, and he picks it up, curious how it works. It looks like a sticker printer, only the ink and paper are different. There’s an instruction book on the counter; Ángel picks it up to skim through it. In the end, it seems like a lot of work—it’s black and white only, and the instructions include touch-ups to the image once it adheres to the skin, as well as how to add color, and use a fixative. But it’s still interesting, and certainly a unique take on a toy.

“Come outside.” Hayley wraps her hand around the meat of his arm and pulls, and Ángel goes with her. Tony stands in line behind four other people, with what looks like half the toddler stock in his arms.

“Is there a reason you’re dragging me out of the store? Maybe I wanted to buy that,” Ángel protests. Not that he would. He doesn’t have a lot of money, and he’s not spending what he’s got on a toy, but it was interesting. And if they can make one to sell, he must be able to DIY it if he goes looking. He pulls his phone out, sends a text to the group chat with Tanner and Hayley: Remind me to look up methods for printing temporary tattoos. It could be fun, right?

Hayley frowns, glances at her phone. “Did you just text me after yelling at me?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve texted you while standing next to you,” he points out. He glances back at the store, and Tony’s still in line, with only three people ahead of him now. “What was so urgent?”

“Oh. I.” Hayley licks her lips, rocks back on her heels. She fiddles with a strand of hair, makes a face. “I still have no idea what to get for Tanner. I mean, I briefly considered getting him a paper airplane book. One of those ones that has a hundred different pages because I thought he’d actually be really into that, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing I’m supposed to get him. Since there’s that whole maybe kind of dating thing going on.”

“You kissed,” Ángel says plainly. “You’re dating. It’s not going to offend me if you say you’re dating my best friend.”

“Are you really over it?”

She’s too good, and they’re too close for him to lie. “No,” he says quietly. “But I’m dealing with it. So you want some kind of a romantic gift?”

“I want something that means something,” she says. “And while paper airplanes might say hey I think you’re an adorable goofball, they don’t really say anything meaningful or give the idea that I know him in any way. Does he like superheroes? Or movies? Or cars?” She glances back at the store. “No wait, Tony likes cars. Tanner just seems to be happy he has a truck to drive and didn’t really care about the Camaro or anything. That Camaro was actually pretty cool, wasn’t it? I mean, it’ll be better when it gets that one part painted, but—”

She stops as Ángel touches her cheek.

“Go get the paper airplane book,” Ángel says. He leans down, forehead to forehead, and breathes deep for a moment to get her to breathe with him. “Tanner will love it, and you can still get him something else. We’ll find something fun.”

“Okay.” Hayley inhales, exhales on a long, low breath. “Okay. I’ll do that. Superheroes?”

“Not superheroes.” Ángel nudges, and she heads for the store.

He knows exactly what Hayley should give Tanner, but she doesn’t have to buy it. It’s already in a box, not yet wrapped, buried in one of Ángel’s bags back at the house. Ángel can find something else, because at this point, he’d pretty sure Tanner would love anything Ángel did.

But a stethoscope? A good one, that he’s going to need when he goes to medical school in two years, and that he can use next summer when he’s volunteering at the hospital? That’ll cement Hayley’s place in Tanner’s heart.

And Ángel knows that he can help Hayley come up with the idea on her own. She and Tanner have been hanging out together non-stop. Hayley just needs to step back and process long enough to figure it out.

And this is what his life is: helping his best friends get together.

When he looks again, Hayley’s in line, a large book clutched to her chest, and Tony’s coming out with three bags. Ángel snorts. “Did you buy one of everything?”

“Shut up,” Tony mutters. “Zita doesn’t let me get a lot for them. She doesn’t want them to be spoiled. So I had fun, and I can blame it on Hayley.” When he blinks, the gruff expression is replaced by innocence, and it makes Ángel laugh all over again.

“Devious. I like it.”

It’s going to be a bit before Hayley’s done, so Ángel offers to take one of Tony’s bags. He isn’t surprised when Tony refuses, and they stand in silence while waiting.

“What shopping do you need to do?” Tony finally asks, just as Hayley puts the book on the counter, and starts digging for her wallet.

“I don’t actually need anything. Well,” Ángel corrects himself. “I should get something for Maritsa’s tía, but I might ask Hayley’s help with that. And I have this whole other group of people who just decided to invade my life, but at the same time, my car’s dead and my job is going to pay for my car, so I don’t really have money. I think I should make cookies or something. Joey’d love that.”

“Joey?”

“My step mother. She thinks I trash the kitchen when I cook.” Ángel pastes on an expression of innocence. “Not true, and I do clean up.”

“I think they’d like cookies,” Tony says quietly, and then Hayley’s there, with the book in her hands, shoving it at Ángel.

It is a really cool book. Tanner’s going to love it.

They meander around the mall for a bit, looking in shops. Ángel lingers in the shop that sells crystals and other foci, while Hayley pokes through the magnets, and Tony hovers by the door, expression twisted with discomfort. They start walking back to the food court when Ángel’s phone buzzes with an incoming text into the group chat.

Emerson’s not feeling well. I need to get out of here.

Shit.

We’ll meet you at the food court again, Ángel sends back. He shares the text with Tony to explain.

When they gather together again, Emerson’s sitting in a plastic chair, the bubbles around his ears a violently silverish pink. Gabi sits across from him, her hands moving as she speaks quietly, and Emerson nods slowly at her words.

“He’s getting a headache,” Tanner says, lips pressed tight together. “It could just be a headache.”

“Or it could be an oncoming seizure, I get it.” Ángel looks to Luca and Tony. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Thanks for giving me a ride over and shopping with us. Did you guys have any luck?”

Luca smirks. “So much luck.”

“I found a few good gifts,” Tanner says, cheeks flushed and warm.

“Good, then you can help me bake,” Ángel tells him. “I need gifts and I’m broke.”

“Does anyone want to catch a movie while we’re here?” Gabi asks. “I mean, we’re here and all. Hayley? Ángel?”

Hayley chews on her lip, gaze darting from Gabi to Emerson to Ángel to Tanner. “I’m… I’m going home with Tanner and Emerson,” she says. “Like, just in case.”

“Ángel?”

“I’ll go with them, too.”

“Dude, no.” Tanner shakes his head, claps Ángel’s shoulder. “Hayley’ll be there, and we’ll get Emerson home and that’s pretty much it. He’ll take his meds and sleep probably, and maybe we’ll watch a movie there or something.”

In other words, Tanner wants alone time with Hayley.

Okay.

Ángel grits his teeth. “You could drop me off—”

“Great, we’ll bring Ángel home after the movie, or maybe after dinner,” Gabi says. She bounces out of her chair, winds her arm around Ángel’s arms and tugs him close. “I get to pick the movie. You can pick where we eat after, and please make it real food, because Luca always just wants to get sundaes for dinner.”

“There is nothing wrong with ice cream for dinner,” Luca protests.

“You need protein,” Gabi and Tony say in chorus, Tony far more seriously than Gabi. She smirks, and Tony rolls his eyes.

It still doesn’t feel right, like he’s shirking best friend duties. But if he follows Tanner, then he gets in the way. Kind of fucked either way.

“I’ll be fine.” Emerson manages to get close enough to hug Ángel, pat him on the back before he stands on his own, slightly wobbly. “It’s probably just a headache. I’m okay.”

A bright gold bubble pops loudly, the sound dissonant and in conflict with the constant Christmas music from the speakers.

“We’ll be okay. Stay,” Tanner instructs.

Ángel hesitates, but then they’re walking away, and he’d look ridiculous if he tried to run after them.

“So, what’s wrong with the kid? He seems nice, but the older one watches him like a hawk,” Luca says.

“Seizures.” Ángel doesn’t want to go into too many personal details, but this much seems okay. “It’s part of his Talent. It creates synapse jumps in his brain, so when the bubbles pop up, they can cause seizures. And anything that triggers them—noise, crowds—is a bad idea. He’s got stuff he can do to minimize it—seizure meds, and some rituals—but it’s never perfect. He’s been doing better.”

He doesn’t want to think about whether this might mean changing Emerson’s plans for high school. Ángel really hopes it doesn’t come to that. He wants Emerson to live the normal life that he’s been hungering for.

Gabi looks at Tony, and Ángel feels like he might as well not be there between them. Gabi raises an eyebrow, and Tony grunts softly.

Luca touches Gabi on the shoulder, then Ángel. “Come on. Let’s go. Ángel, consider tonight my Christmas present to you. I’m taking you out—dinner and a movie on me—and it’s not even a date!”

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