"Teo and a guest?" He stared out at the, oddly, calm dark ocean, his blood ran cold, running back to Ramon and the sobbing boy.
His voice slightly shaken when he spoke to his boss, "The-They jumped off the ship" he informed the taller male.
"Yeah, wait, say what–whom?"
"Teo and a guest. I don't know the details.. We just need to stop this shit and get the rescue boats on—"
A loud splash was heard, followed by an abrupt stop, shaking the cruise ship a little, causing people on the lido deck to trip over, some even falling into the pool due to the force which it anchored on the seabed.
"Jimeno…" he gritted, knowing who caused this.
Angello's eyes landed on his boss who fell along with the young male, cradling his chest, almost protecting him from any damage, whilst he held onto one of the grounded chairs along the deck.
"I'll get the lifeboats moving", he loosened up his grip not wishing to see the scene on the ground any longer, walking towards the bow to get it afloat on the ocean.
The cruise director helped the young man back on his feet, carefully, reassuring him, "We'll get back to safety, please, don't cry. Stay here, I'll be back soon." Letting go of the young male as he spoke softly.
The boy sat on a grounded chair, seeing how the man dashed upstairs where the uproar of the crowd wincing became louder.
He felt impotent staring off to the sea, wishing to jump in, but knowing more people to rescue would make it impossible to keep them safe..
~~•~A couple minutes later~•~~
The rescue boat moved in waters, seeking out with lanterns in the darkness as the sky had gotten cloudy by now, almost sensing the change of mood..
The rowing man whined, "Didn't you review the forecast today?" narrowing his eyes trying to make out any figure floating on the sea.
"I did, and it wasn't close to a storm. Now shut up and keep paddling. They can't be so far" the red-haired commanded, seeking around, with his sharp feline eyes.
The blonde did as he was told, yet his arms hurt the more the row away from the ship, maybe it was alcohol in his system tiring him out faster than usual, "It hurts, can we take a little break?"
It triggered Angello, his sharp eyes glimmered dangerously, glaring at the blonde male across from him, "It's your fault he's out there. Be thankful I didn't tell Ramon or you'd have a lawsuit under your belt by now" he growled.
This shit the whining male whilst the cat-like dude focused his sight far into the sea, hoping to find his workmate.
~~~~●~~Minutes ago~~●~~~~
Joseph reached for Teo's hand, pulling him upwards as he noticed the speed at which he was sinking; the younger flung his arms around desperately seeking for air, holding back his breath the most he could, cheeks puffed out.
The visibility underwater got compromised due to the darkness beneath them was immense, Josh still gripped the younger's, however the young chef swat it trying to swim back up.
Scared for the worst, Josh pulled the boy closer to prevent him from dragging him to the rock bottom, wrapping his arms around him, using his legs as a paddle to get them out of the water.
The boy saw his face and gasped, which wasn't a good idea considering his lungs begging for air were going to make him breathe water if he were to do so, the older latched his lips onto the boy's when he noticed as fast as possible to keep him from drowning.
Teo literally took his breath away as he did so, stunned but quiet, using him as an oxygen tank until they resurfaced out of the dark and cold waters.
That's when the elder pulled away, missing the fresh air for himself, taking a deep long breath to fill in his lungs again.
"Don't panic, ok? All you gotta do is cling onto my back to keep you floating, I'll get us out of here. Do you trust in me?" Josh spoke as gently as one talks to children, noticing how the young male was taking short breaths rapidly.
Teo nodded, finally taking a deep breath when he felt reassured to be back to safety, latching his cold being onto the man's neck, his heart off the rackets pumping as much blood as he could, making him a bit dizzy.
Once the older felt the boy's strong grip he secured his body on him with one hand, kicked sideways to get that first initial push into movement.
His first thought was going back to the cruise ship, but if he were to be honest the whole incident was like fate opening a escape route, so he opted to swim back to the coast, hoping the cold water wouldn't cause him any cramp until they got there.
He switched sides when one of his arms got a slight cramp, swimming to the coastline, kicking the water with his arm and leg underwater, yet holding the boy with his other arm so he could get them safely back inland.
~~~●●Back to the present●●~~~~
Teo kicked his feet on water as children do when they are learning how to swim, which was endearing to the elder, however it was dragging him backwards as the movements weren't coordinated.
"Don't move, preserve energy, we'll get there soon" he instructed, to which the boy nodded, never loosening his grip onto the broad-shouldered male.
The shore soon came into view as the sky cleared up, giving them a better vision of their surroundings, causing Teo's lips to curl upwards in joy.
Joseph straightened his body when the waters became shallow, deep enough to walk back to the shore.
Teo gasped as he was lifted when the man touched the continental shelf. "Gahhh!"
The older male chuckled, as the boy found it hard to find the bottom as he was off the water.
"My apology, I shoulda warned ya we can walk from here"
He stood on the shallow water, frowning, "This is not a laughing matter. I'm cold…"
He turned his gaze to the ship, which was far from them, looking as minuscule as pea.
"I wish I could have my phone with me to tell them I'm fine." He let his body fall, sinking into water as covered him up to his chest.
The dark-haired male said, reaching for his hand to haul him up, "Let's get to the coast first or you might catch a cold sitting in here."
"I won't drown in here, so it's fine". He looked up to the sky, seeing how some clouds covered the shining moon.
Josh saw how enticed the boy was by the view, so he tried to reason with him, "Once we're at the beach you can call to inform them" this little phrase got the boy, grabbing his hand to pull himself up back to his feet, grinning brightly.
Soon letting go of his hand to run to the coast,"Thank you, Mr.! He dashed off to the coastline"
"Hey, don't run. Have some mercy, I came swimming here, my limbs are sore" he complained walking to the shore as the low tidal covered his feet.
Teo came to a half, chuckling, "You got me out of there, the least I can do is carry you to the shore. Get on, buddy!" He scroutched slightly.
He reached for the boy, his body aching, begging for a break, "you don't need to do that".
"C'mon a piggyback Ride ain't gon' hurt, now stop complaining, 'n get on, buddy!"
The older pondered his options, but truth be told he wanted to just lay down on the sand already.
He hopped on Teo's back, who hooked his arms around his knees, lifting him up a little, keeping him from slipping down, as the exhausted male felt comfortably on his back.
The splash of water around his feet calmed down when they met land again.
Scroutching his body to help Josh get back on his feet.
The latter took it as cue, hopping off, soon allowing his body to rest on the dry sand.
"You weren't joking when you said you were tired," Teo said, sitting next to him, huddling up.
"I had no reasons to, besides it's thanks to someone taking my breath away underwater" he muttered, as his body laid on the sand, eyes staring up to the sky, his limps throbbing.
"I didn't ask you to kiss me there. But thanks, I needed oxygen," hiding his head between his knees, as his face flared up.
"I didn't kiss you, I was preventing you from breathing in water. I never thought you'd steal my air intake" he chuckled, his knee coming up to his chest as a shield when the boy punched his legs in shame.
"Yah… stop putting up excuses. That was a kiss. I must add it was done without my consent, so those were the consequences of your own actions" pinching his thighs.
Josh kept his leg up, yet he faced the boy from his position on the sand, "Was I supposed to ask for permission to save your life?" This caused the boy's movements to come to a halt.
Teo looked the other way, sulking, "I'll let it pass by now, but if you try it again I'll rip your guts", thankful to the older for his fast reflexes.
"Am I allowed to have a second chance then?"