Skyler watched Luca as he spoke to his acquaintance on the phone. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to distract himself. He couldn 't be sure of their relationship as Luca never spoke to him about his old life. But he did hear Luca tell the other person that he missed them. That meant they couldn't just be mere acquaintances. Whatever their relationship, they must have liked each other. At least a little bit.
He couldn't help but feel a slight twinge as he realised there was so much about his best friend that he didn't know. He wouldn't ask, but that did not mean that he wasn't curious. Some part of him just hoped that there would come a day when Luca felt ready to come to him, all on his own, and want to tell him everything. Skyler would never judge, no matter what his friend had to tell him. They were true friends, friends for life. They were family and they had every intention of being in each other's life for the rest of their lives. Or at least that was how Skyler felt. He wanted them to go grey and old together, having lived through it all, seen it all, and remained close. He couldn't imagine a future without his best friend in it. It was like imagining a future without the sun.
"Thank you. I mean it. I don't know what I would do without you, Jules. It hardly seems fair for me to say that, considering... But please, never doubt how grateful I am to you... I know. You too. Okay, we'll see you there."
Skyler swallowed noisily, fighting the urge to ask his friend who this person was to him. "Well?" He asked in a small voice.
Luca raised his eyebrow but didn't question it. "I know where they are. We're going there right now. My friend will meet us there."
"Your friend?"
"Yes." Luca's tone made it clear that he wasn't interested in answering any more questions about their relationship.
Skyler started the car and glanced at his friend. "So where are we going?"
Luca showed him the map on his phone and off they went. They sat there in silence as Skyler zigzagged between the many other cars full of people trying to get home sooner than everyone else. Since everyone reasoned like that, none of them would end up getting home early.
It was not a comfortable silence. Skyler was worried about his father and Luca was worried about his friend. At the same time, Luca also hoped his friend wouldn't ask any questions and he felt worried over meeting Jules after spending so much time apart. It was a bit too much going on all at once. Every time he tried to relax, he saw Rue's smile in front of him, and his worry increased once more. Why would fate arrange for him to meet someone who was so much like him, who understood him so well without he, himself having to explain anything, and then steal the person away from him like this? No. The Universe couldn't be so cruel. Their story just couldn't end like that. Rue had to be okay. His mild concern over Skyler and Jules meeting each other for the first time and Skyler finding out more about his past was nothing compared to the fear he felt from just imagining not being able to talk to Rue again.
Skyler smiled. "Look at this place. What does it remind you off?" He asked as he drove into a smaller neighborhood with picturesque homes with blooming gardens, tree houses and swingsets.
Luca couldn't help but glance at his friend and smile. "When we ran away together but didn't go further than the tree house. You really believed no one would find us there, but your father knew all along. Then he sent us up a basket with dinner and a few extra blankets in case we got cold. You were stubborn though, and we ended up staying there for two nights."
Skyler snorted. "I don't know how I thought Mica and James wouldn't be aware that we had left or that we had suddenly taken up residence in the tree house. I mean, it didn't even have all four walls."
"We were young. But yes, that was adorably innocent of you and admittedly a bit concerning, especially considering we were almost thirteen at the time. No matter how much Mica worked, there is no way he wouldn't notice our absence. Why was it that we left, do you remember?"
"I don't remember why, but I was mad at them and decided to run away. Not that I made it far. But you still wouldn't let me go alone."
Luca shrugged. "Of course not. If you were going to do something stupid, the least I could do was be there for it. Plus," he frowned, "I don't trust you on your own for too long. Then or now. Your cooking alone is hazardous. It's a good thing Mica sent us food."
"Hey, I can make a mean omelette, okay?"
"And...?"
"Fine, so my culinary skills start and end with an awesome omelette. But I least know how to make a good cup of tea."
"...only after I taught you how. The first time you poured half the package straight into the boiling water and let it seep for twenty minutes."
Skyler looked horrifed. "It was so bitter." he shuddered.
"Where would you be without me..." Luca shook his head with a light smile.
"Nowhere." Skyler said seriously. "You know that right?"
Luca opened his mouth but closed it again. "I... What do you mean?"
"You and I, we're family, okay? I don't care that we don't live together anymore or that you would rather work at that hotel than work at the firm. We're still family. I still want us to be close. To talk to each other. You know that you can talk to me about anything, don't you? I know that I am not always good at the emotional talks, but please, if there is anything you ever want to tell me, you can. I want you to."
Luca stared at his lap. He couldn't look up and he couldn't look at his friend. He didn't want him to see just how affected he was by his words. He wasn't used to being cared for in such a selfless way. He kept replaying Skyler's words in his head and it made his heart squeeze uncomfortably. Now, so many years after they first met, he realised he was still waiting for that moment when something he said or did would prove to be too much. When his life, his past, would get in the way of their friendship and darken his friend's heart.
"Tell me what you are thinking, please."
"I didn't know."
Skyler waited for him to continue, but began to lose his patience almost immediately. "What?"
"I didn't know if we were still friends. The kind of friends we used to be. I didn't want to presume anything. After all, I am not a kid anymore. I have my own place now, and I support myself. I... I guess I wasn't sure if I had a place in your life anymore. If it was right for me to be a part of yours. I am indepted to you and your family, and I likely always will be, but beyond that... You have no obligations toward me."
The car screeched to a halt and Skyler somewhat pulled over by the sidewalk so that he wouldn't be in the way for other cars.
"What?" he breathed in a low voice.
"What do you mean what?"
"Do you honestly think that we were only friends because you needed a place to stay? As if we saw you as nothing more than a charity case?"
"I didn't mean it like that--"
"That's what it sounded like to me."
"You don't get it!"
Skyler's eyes widened at the force of his friend's voice. He made a point never to raise his voice. Before he could say anything, Luca continued.
"You have lived a sheltered life, Skyler. And don't get me wrong, I will always be happy for you. Happy that you got to grow up with a family like yours, in a house like yours. But your life is so perfect. How could I? How could I tell you what I am really like? What I have been through? What I have seen? You have always been such a happy and innocent guy. I did not want to be the person to..."
"What?"
"To show you what the world was really like."
"Luca, I am an attorney. I know that the world isn't all sunshine and daisies. I am also mixed. I have had more than my share of prejudice thrown my way."
Luca smiled sadly. "I know you have. But it's not the same." He swallowed his sadness. "No, we're not the same."
"So what? Do you honestly think I didn't know that? Don't you think I see that you are holding back? I know that face you make when you think back to how things used to be for you. That face you make when I know your head is full of memories of a world and a life I know nothing about. But I never ask. I never ask you about it because I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to be the reason why you have to relieve any of those painful memories."
Luca took a deep breath. "They weren't all painful."
"But most of them were?"
He couldn't deny it. "You don't want to know. I... I love the way your eyes still sparkle. Even with all the negativity and conflict you face in your line of work every day. I don't want to be the person who caused your eyes to dim. The very idea is painful to me. It's like being the one to tell a five year old that Santa isn't real. No one wants to be that guy."
"I am not a child anymore, Luca! I am an adult and you don't need to protect me from the world anymore. Yes, if you tell me about your past, I will likely be angry with whoever it was that hurt you. Even if it turns out to not be a specific person, but society and the world as a whole. I may cry, depending on what you tell me. But Luce, having those feelings won't kill me. They won't change who I am. And they will not end our friendship. I get that you think you were trying to protect me, but isn't there a small chance you were also trying to protect yourself?" Skyler stared deep into his eyes as he placed his hands on Luca's shoulders.
"You don't have to protect me, Luce. And I am so, so sorry you ever felt that you had to protect yourself from me."
As soon as he saw the tears in Luca's eyes escape against his will, he removed his seatbelt and threw his arms around his friend. He hushed him gently as he rocked them back and forth.
When Luca spoke again, it was in a small voice that neither he nor his friend recognised. "I felt tainted. Whenever I thought of my past and looked at you and your family. I felt dirty. Looking at your family, I felt like I was still the little homeless boy standing outside some family's window, looking at them, wondering what that might feel like. I was always on the outside looking in. And I didn't... Your family is beautiful. You all speak to each other, listen to each other and you honestly care about each other. Your life felt so pure to me. Too pure for someone like me to be part of."
Skyler held on to him a little tighter. "I don't care what happened to you in your past. Wait, that didn't come out right. The truth is that I want to know, if you want to tell me. I want to know, because I want to know everything about you. But there is nothing you could tell me that could make me look at you differently. That could make me think less of you. I am not as pure as you believe me to be. Nor are the rest of the family. And I am a little hurt to hear that you felt, no, feel like that. Like you're not part of our family. Because you are. We all think of you as part of our family. Mica and James always refers to you as their son. And to me and my siblings, you are our brother. I thought you knew that."
Luca mumbled something against his shoulder.
"What?"
"I really didn't."
Skyler shook his head as he stroked Luca's hair. "So... who is this person we're meeting?"
Luca laughed lightly. "He is a friend, and I owe him my life. We decided not to see each other anymore when... when I went to live with your family."
Skyler pulled back a little and stared at him meaningfully.
"Our family. He realised, before I did, that I would have to start over. That I couldn't enter a new life with an armful of baggage from my old one. I couldn't risk my past catching up to me. It could have ended badly. For all of you."
"And he is meeting us?"
"He is. Someone he knew told him who these guys really are. They're bad news, Skyler. Really bad news. I promise I will tell you about my past, but not right now. And please don't say anything weird to Jules. I owe him so much. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him."
"Then it is only right that I thank him. As your best friend and brother."
They both put their seatbelts back on. "Ready?"
Luca felt like a huge weight had lifted from his shoulders. "Ready."
***
"You can pull over here."
"But we aren't there yet?" He said and pointed to the map.
"The house is supposed to be just around the corner. But you see that man there? That's Jules. He must be here for a reason."
"Okay. Pulling over." Skyler said as he turned the wheel.
Jules seemed taller than Luca remembered him. Then again, it was over a decade ago that they last saw each other. He always knew Jules would end up being tall. But he had definitely filled out over the years. His shoulders were wide, wider than he remembered, and he looked like he could pick up a log over his shoulder and not alter his expression in the slightest. He remembered all the times he had protected him when they were kids. All the times he'd slept in his arms, lying on his chest. Though they had been kids at the time. Still short and scrawny. But he had always felt safe with Jules. Even when the world around them was anything but.
He wore a long-sleeved blue shirt over a white t-shirt. Around his necklace was the necklace that Luca remembered he used to see the Owner wear. Ah. Jules must have taken over for him, he realised. It had been over a decade after all. Luca's heart squeezed at the thought of the Owner not being there anymore. He had hoped he'd be able to see him one more time. To be able to thank him.
***
Jules frowned when an expensive looking car pulled over. Oh. He'd know those eyes anywhere.
"Luca."
Luca's eyes met his and his whole face lit up. "Jules. Thank you for doing this."
"Was there ever any doubt?"
He chuckled. "I guess not. I am thankful you haven't lost your saviour complex."
Jules snorted, "What saviour complex? We both know I'll always come to your aid. Then and now. A lot has changed, but that never will."
"I am glad." Luca smiled. Not caring if it would be awkward or not, he walked up to his old friend and gave him a hug. As he let him go, he noticed he was not alone.
"Um, hi." Luca said to the three men that stood next to Jules. He looked back up to Jules. For a moment, it looked like he was fighting a blush, but Luca figured he must've imagined it. "Introductions maybe?"
Skyler walked up to them and put his hand forward. "Hi, I am Skyler. Thank you for doing this."
Jules shook his hand and introduced himself. The other three men introduced themselves too, but none of them were big on shaking hands. The tallest one had shoulder length black hair and pale blue eyes. He was called Marcus. The slightly shorter redhead, with emerald eyes, was called Bly. The third guy was about the same height as Luca and he had curly, brown hair. His skin had an olive tone and his eyes were hazel. He had a little beauty mark on his chin and his name was Lune. Luca thought him to be quite pretty.
"What do you know about them? The people who took my dad." Skyler asked.
"And my friend." Luca added quickly.
Jules stared at him for a moment before responding. "They're incredibly dangerous." he told him and then he turned to Luca. "That's why I couldn't let you go alone."
"He's not alone." Skyler argued, his ego feeling slightly bruised for the second time that day.
"You?" He scoffed, though not unkindly. "At most he could use you as a human shield. Luca may still be able to handle his own, but two people against these guys? You both would've been killed."
Skyler looked like he was about to argue, but Luca fixed him with a look.
"They are contract killers. Both started with petty crimes and then worked their way up. But unlike others in their field, they don't do it for the money. They accept payment, but any money they receive is simply a bonus to them. An added perk. Ultimately, they kill because it gives them great pleasure. Especially when they get to watch." He shook his head.
"From what I've heard, they began murdering people long before they began being paid for it, and they are known for being unnecessarily brutal. And that is by assassin standards." Bly told them.
Marcus stepped forward. "One of them is referred to as "KW", killer whale. Even if they were hired for a clean hit, he is much too sadistic and warped to keep it that way. He always plays with the victim first, and he likes to take his time. He tortures his victims, mentally and physically, until there is nothing left to save. No part of their bodies or their minds is left intact by the time he is through with them. Only then does he take their lives. The other guy is no angel, but out of the two of them, he's the voice of reason."
Skyler took a deep breath and exhaled in a shudder. "Why would they take my dad?"
"Your father was never the target. He was only in the wrong place at the wrong time. I believe it was Rue Spring they wanted." Lune said matter-of-factly.
Luca frowned and looked at Jules. "I never told you his name."
Jules smirked. "As if you would need to. We're the eyes and ears, remember?"
"Why do they want Rue?"
"From what I was able to find out, it seems that Rue's grandparents may not have been his actual grandparents. His "grandmother" was the one who ordered the hit."
"But his grandparents, or whoever they were, are dead. Aren't they?"
Jules nodded. "Indeed. But it seems she ordered the hit many, many years ago. And the target back then was both Rue and his mother. They clearly failed as only his mother died. Now it seems they are determined to finish the job. From what I gather, the sadistic one is the one who is pushing this. He appears to have had a..." Jules made a face, as if he had just thought of something nauseating.
"He was in love with Rue's grandmother." Bly clarified. "They had similar sadistic, psychopathic tendencies. A match made by Lucifer himself, I suppose."
"Were they a couple?" Skyler asked.
Jules shrugged. "I don't know. She died married to her husband, but married people do cheat. Regardless, it seems like even though she has passed, this guy is determined to prove himself to her. From what I've heard, I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't actually grasped that she is dead. Either that or he intends to follow her."
"But why here? Why would they take them here? It's a nice neighborhood, idyllic-looking even. Wouldn't it be better to have taken them to some warehouse or something? "
Jules snorted. "Indeed it would. And they might have realised that, had they been thinking clearly. But the house they lived in is just around the corner. The Wry's. That's the address I gave you. Perhaps this guy wanted to feel close to her when he finished the job? I don't know. He's clearly not all there, so I don't think we should spend too much time trying to understand the inner workings of his mind."
Skyler nodded. "So what do we do now?"
"We will break into the house. We will do our part to break them out," Jules nodded to his friends, "and then when your... when they are both safe, we will make our leave. We'll call the police as soon as we are on a safe distance away from here. We can't be here when the police arrives, for obvious reasons."
Luca placed his hand on Jules arm and squeezed. "Thank you for doing this."
Jules smiled warmly, though to Skyler, his smile looked a little sad. He let his fingertips gently trace the skin on the back of Luca's hand before he removed it from his arm. "Time to go."