Chapter Text
A very sleep-deprived Marco walked into the cafe with his precious daughter in his hands. She kept on babbling nonsense, which meant she was close to speaking, as she tugged a little too harshly on his ears. He curses internally at his idiotic self for wearing dangling earrings today. He orders a coffee then sat down to wait for his order. He stares at his lock screen too long to be considered normal. His daughter makes grabby hands for his phone seeing her mother on it.
“Polo!” One of the employees shouted which made Marco sigh.
“It’s Marco but whatever.” He says as he takes his drink. He’s grateful for the woman who held the door open for his as he was now juggling a baby in one hand and a hot drink in the other. The woman gives a smile as she stares at him and his baby.
“What the fudge stick!”
He straps her in her baby seat, he checked if it was secure three times before he decided it was safe enough to drive. His phone rang and he answered with a sigh.
“Marco!” His boss, Ludo, shouted into the phone.
“You’re on speaker and Emma is with me,” Marco says in a calm voice.
“Ah, you still have that thing I see. I never understood why you never gave her up for adoption.” Ludo says in an irritated voice.
“What do you want Ludo?” Marco asked trying to cool his temper, it would do no good for him or the baby.
“There is a few last minute patchwork that may take you the whole night … good luck with that,” Ludo says before he hung up.
Marco let out a long groan before he went over in his head who was available to babysit Emma. Ferguson and Alfonso went overseas, Brittney hated children and those were his only friends. There was always Janna, nope, nope , nope. The last time she baby sat she taught Emma how to set things on fire, not his favourite moment. His parents went on a little trip with his little brother. He sighed then turned to look at her once he was at a stoplight.
“Want to go on an adventure?” He asks in the most whimsical voice he could come up with. Emma’s eyes grew three-time bigger as she clapped and laughed like she understood what her father just said. He lets out a small laugh and turns around to continue his drive.
He reaches not long afterwards, he was glad he always carried his and Emma’s bag everywhere they went. He unstraps Emma after his bag is safely secured on his back and positions her on his hips, supporting her back.
“Marco? What are you doing here?” One of the receptionists, Skullnick, asked. Despite that horrible name, she was a really sweet and kind person.
“Ludo.” He explains and she gives him a look of understanding.
“You couldn’t find anyone for Emma?”
“They’re either out of town or irresponsible.” He explains and she chuckles.
“I can look after her if you want?” Marco gives her a look of relief before going over everything about her and telling her to call her in case of emergencies.
“Marco I know these already, I’ve looked after her before.” She laughs again.
“But……still.” He sighs and nods. She could do this, she did it before. He gave Emma a kiss on her forehead before he ran off to the elevators.
Marco had no idea why he was so anxious, maybe because it was close to his wife’s death anniversary.
Jackie Lynn Thomas-Diaz.
She did have a ridiculously long name and when asked she said she would never change it for the world. Her chill and easy going personality made her a likeable person in the industry. When news of her death struck it was like predators from publishing firms ready to pounce at any scoop about her death. The tabloids were ridiculous saying Marco rigged her car. Or that he wanted Emma all to himself or that he was cheating and paid someone to kill her to avoid confrontation.
Marco sued them all. He never liked listening to bullshit, especially when it was about him and his family. They should know not to mess with him. He was known to be ruthless and cruel but that all turned to mush once he met Jackie.
The elevator doors opened and Marco stepped out catching his tired looking reflection.
When he arrived at his shared office he saw papers scattered all over the place. This triggered his slight OCD but not enough to send him on the verge of cleaning till spotless. He sometimes wonders how he takes care of a baby when there are always unexpected messes at unpredictable times.
“Tom?” He called. When he received no answer he walked further into the room and sat in his chair. His office overlooked most of the city and it was truly beautiful at night. Too bad he never actually gets to enjoy it.
He gets engrossed in work. He is an editor for both film and photography, it’s something he has a love hate relationship with. Their company was supposed to showcase a new series that he was pretty sure would be shit but he was under a contract and his boss hates him. If he could he would quit and start his own company. Probably steal Tom from them as he had a promising future ahead. Promising if he doesn’t work here.
He used to adore working here a couple years ago until the company got a new CEO, Ludo. Ludo came and approved of every single idea, horrible, shit hitting the fan god forsaken horrible ideas. They all had potential to grow but Ludo didn’t care. He always rushed production and development and never gave them enough time to actually edit. Why? Because he makes money or used to anyway.
Maze Films is not what it used to be. Just a few more months and Marco would be contract free. He’s thought about opening his own company but with Emma and everything else he feels it would be too much of a load. Will he renew his contract? Absolutely. His work is shit but they pay a crap ton.
Marco jumped when he heard something shift beside him and looked over to see Tom yawning beside him. “You were here the whole time?” Marco asked still surprised.
Tom looked at him confused for a second before he turned on his hearing aids. “What did you say?” He looked tired and worn, his usual mullet was beginning to look like a very messy haircut. His hair covered most of his eyes and he looked paler than usual.
“What are doing here so late? You have exams tomorrow.” Marco says to him. He had been here for three hours, wow, time flies. He calls Skullnick and tells him she’s already on her way up.
“I know but the deadline is tomorrow and I don’t feel confident airing this shit.” Tom states. Marco glimpsed at the glass windows to see Skullnick walking with Emma.
“You have ten seconds before Emma gets here. Let it out.” Marco says and Tom did let it out. He curses a string of curse words right up until Skullnick punches in the passcode. “Hey baby!” Marco coos at his daughter as she made grabby hands for him.
“Tom what are you still doing here, you have exams.” Skullnick scolds a very tired Tom.
Tom was barely pushing twenty-one but he had a lot of potential to grow. Well, Skullnick and Marco saw it. Tom was very happy to get a paid internship at one of the best film industries in the country, up until he met Ludo. He stopped giving a shit about the projects he was assigned and bullshit his way through most of the meetings.
Marco has no idea why Tom decided to work really hard tonight of all night. “Fine, I’ll go,” Tom mumbles as he begins to pack his bags.
“I’m guessing you have videography tomorrow .” Marco says as he plays with Emma, who is laughing cutely.
“Ah, yeah yeah I do.” Tom sighs and sits on the table his bag on one shoulder.
“You’re the top of your class in all subjects, one of your ideas was bought by a company and you have many companies wanting to get a piece of you.” Marco states.
“I haven’t had a mind blowing idea since I came here, other students are coming to push me out of my top spot and I haven’t heard a call in three months.” Tom counters.
Marco sighs. “You’re young kid…”
“My hearing aids must be acting up, did you just call me kid?” Tom said in a playful tone. Skullnick lets out a laugh and bids them a goodbye, wishing luck on Tom’s exam. “You do know you’re only seven years older than me, right?”
“Yes, kid, seven more years of experience. You are just going through a rough patch now in no time you’ll see companies calling again.” Their company did do some agency work, giving newer employees exposure to newer forms of editing or software. Tom’s phone buzzed and he rolled his.
“I gotta go. Later Emma, later old man.” He rushes out before Marco could come up with a comeback.
“Do you think I should leave this place?” Marco asked to Emma who giggled. “I take that as I yes.” He smiled a little sadly. “But I have to take care of that kid.” He was the one who requested to put Tom in his office, Marco bought him a desk and taught him what he learnt from his previous teacher. He never really told him his name, Marco just called him Sensei.
Marco spent the rest of his time editing, taking breaks to make sure Emma wasn’t bored. She was rarely fussy, only acted up when it came to bath time or feeding time. She rarely woke him up at night only if she had a nightmare and she normally wakes up at the same time as him. All these good factors but he was still constantly tired.
Taking care of a baby and going to a job that makes you work twenty-four seven was tiring. He made it work though.
Marco created a makeshift bed for her under the table, she was loaded with pillows and blankets. He was glad that through his paranoia he stocked up on pillows in the office. Emma giggles when Marco tickles her. “Fudge stick, let’s get you cleaned up.” He brought her to his personal bathroom and tidied her. She never made a fuss tonight which made him ecstatic.
He puts her on her makeshift bed, under the table and made up a story on the spot. He never accounted for bringing a story book. After she fell asleep he kissed her goodnight before going back to work.
Marco woke up the following day in a state of panic, where was Emma? He was about to call a whole search party but then he saw a note from Skullnick, she took her to give her a proper bath. Marco sighed in relief.
Not long afterwards Skullnick entered with Emma. “Ah you’re up.” She smiled softly. “I was just about to wake you to go get some breakfast, no she did not eat as yet.” She answered before he could ask.
“Thanks Margaret.” He croaked.
“Ah, I can see your breath from here.” She jokes pointing in the direction of the bathroom. When Marco comes out she hands Emma to him, after reminding him to take out the earrings. “It’s currently eight, your deadline is at nine thirty then you have a meeting for a new presentation at ten.” She briefed. “Unfortunately, I’m leaving for a few hours. Eric complains that he hates his dad and so I have to pick him up.” She says sadly. Shared custody was horrid thing he hoped never happened to him and Jackie, instead she died but, yeah.
“Ah shit Ludo hates children.” Marco groans. “You know what, he’ll just have to deal.”
“Good luck with that.” She chuckled before leaving.
“Let’s get you some breakfast.”
Marco was the first one in the meeting, not surprising. “Okay Em, I’m gonna do some more work okay? I need you to be quiet for a while, yeah?” He nodded his head and Emma followed the movement with wide eyes.
After a few more minutes other employees came walking in staring at Marco as if he had grown a second head. Everyone knew Ludo hated children but they needed to know Marco despised Ludo. He was one out of a few who actually talked back to him.
Emma began babbling as if telling a story and Marco listened as if he understood what she was saying. Tom came in not long after and Marco glared at him.
“Go to school.” He ordered.
“But- Fine.” Tom sighed and stepped back through the door.
“If I found out you weren’t I’ll probably kill you.” To everyone else it looked like Marco hated Tom after all he did receive one of his famous death glares. To Marco and Tom they cared, he knew Tom hadn’t begun his test yet and was worried he would fail. Coming to this shitty job was to escape that.
It took a whole half hour for Ludo to finally show up. He let out a high screech before he pointed to Emma. “What is that thing doing here?”
“You know Ludo, you were once this thing also.” Marco rolled his eyes.
“How dare you compare me to that vile creature.” He demanded. Just then Emma let out a cute giggle when she created a snot bubble. Marco chuckled before taking a wipe from seemingly nowhere to clean her face.
“Just pretend she is not here,” Marco says not paying attention to his boss.
“Quite impossible when she’s chewing on your thumb.” Ludo points out. He stared at them for a moment before he shivered then began the meeting.
After a long, very long day Marco finally arrived home. Emma was already sleeping so he placed her in her crib that was beside his bed.
He fell asleep staring at the last picture he ever took of Jackie.
.............
“I can’t believe he did this!” Jackie screeched.
Marco had known Jackie from he was seven, they confessed at ten, went on their first official date at thirteen. They never had their first kiss until sixteen and he proposed at twenty.
All these years and he had never seen or heard Jackie screech, she was always chill. Even if the situation was getting out of hand or if it annoyed her majorly.
Jackie worked for a different company, she was an actor and a model, one of the best. Well known by most and it was never because she had a disgusting personality. Often times her company took her kindness for granted. So when she downright refused an offer that she didn’t like and told them specifically she wouldn’t do it they took that for granted.
What made her pissed was the fact that they announced it publicly and without her consent. She had called Marco on the phone fuming over the outcome. He had calmed her down for the most part, even got her to laugh and her calm self was back.
She continued to talk to him over the phone as she drove to work to have a chat with her bosses. She had stopped at a stoplight and drove again when it went on green.
What none of them accounted for was a speeding truck to hit Jackie’s car from the side and send her flying to the other side of the road.
“Jackie!” Marco had shouted when he heard a loud crash. He called multiple times but didn’t hear an answer. He had got up out of his chair and ran down the multiple stairs, the elevator took too long. When he reached outside of his work building he saw a black Tundra with the same license plate number as Jackie. He still didn’t believe though so he ran to the car only to see his wife covered it blood and her body in a very uncomfortable position.
Marco woke up to the sound of Emma crying, grateful that she woke him up from that nightmare. He got up and took her out of the crib rocking her back and forth until she fell asleep again.
He then sat back on his bed with Emma in his arms. “I guess you had a nightmare too, Em.” He whispered softly. “Gosh I miss your mom so much.”
When he wakes up again, the sun is shining through his slightly open blinds and he realized he never put Emma back in his crib. He sighed before beginning his daily routine.
“Marcelo!” The employee shouted which made Marco sigh.
“It’s Marco but whatever.” He mumbled before he took his coffee.
He continued to carry Emma to work for the rest of the week. Marco also notices that Tom had been spending way too much time at the office.
“There’s our precious granddaughter!” Mrs. Diaz cooed as she took the baby.
“Ah mom I’m late for work,” Marco whined slightly.
“It’s okay Marco we got this.” Mr. Diaz replied as he tickled Emma who giggled in response.
“Okay I’ll see you guys later.” He said as he gave them all a kiss on the cheek.
When Marco arrived at the office he goes directly to Tom’s desk to see him sleeping under it with a blanket wrapped around him. Marco sighed before he went to his own desk to begin to work on the new proposal.
When Tom woke Marco gave him the lunch he ordered for both of them.
“Want to tell me why you’ve been sleeping in the office for the past two weeks?” Marco asked nonchalantly making Tom choke on his nachos. “Don’t ask me how I know you weren’t exactly discreet,” Marco stated.
“It’s actually been a month so I give myself a high five for the unknown two weeks.” Tom retort before he resumed eating.
“Tom?” Marco sighed finally looking at the boy.
“They left again a-and sold the apartment.” He mumbled the ending. Tom looked at the floor as it seemed more interesting than looking at whatever reaction Marco had on his face.
Marco was of course pissed. Tom’s parents, his family actually had a nasty habit of abandoning him. Since he was little he kept on moving from one kin to the other. His parents took him back a few years back but always threatened to leave if he didn’t behave. The thing was, he was a model child and student. Parents, mothers especially, would always tell their children about how ‘perfect’ he was.
Marco wouldn’t have been totally pissed if they didn’t sell the apartment. “Where are you staying now?” He asked masking his anger.
Tom shrunk into himself a little as he mumbled the answer. “The school’s locker room.”
“Speak up,” Marco commanded which made Tom flinch.
“T-The school’s locker room.”
“Excuse me?”
“I-it’s only until the end of the semester then I’m going to grandma’s.” He jumped to reply. “If she’ll take me.” He mumbled again once he saw Marco’s glare.
“The semester ends in a month, you’re gonna stay there until then?” Marco paraphrased.
“I-yes.” Tom gave a small nod.
Marco stared at the barely adult in front of him. He looked a little skinnier and tired. Marco knew Tom saved a lot of money in the bank, it was his advice. He knew he had enough for him to survive because even the interns gets paid well. Marco knew Tom was probably scared of being alone in the locker room, that’s why he barely slept. He also knew Tom didn’t like strangers, he doesn’t trust them, he gets paranoid.
Marco also knows he had a spare room that he could give to Tom. He knows Tom trusts him and finds comfort in being at work, that’s why he slept here. Tom also loved Emma so that was a plus.
“Tom.” He sighed. “Tom, hey look at me.” When Tom looked up it looked like he was on the brink of tears. “When work is over, you’re going to get your things from the locker room. Okay.” When it looked like he was about to protest Marco continued. “I’ll drop and pick you up, you’re staying with me for the time being.”
Tom was in utter shock. He knew Marco was kind but never knew he was this kind. Tom jumped up and hugged him. “Thanks Marco.”
“I-yeah,” Marco said as he patted Tom’s back. “No problem.”