Terrace

[The Exodus]

Santiago Ortiz

Honestly, if Santiago never had to be subjected to Zorro references, insinuations that he was in Paris illegally, or slurs about his hygiene again, he’d gladly shut up about Toddy’s stupid clothes and bad attitude. That simple. Toddy, though, seemed shocked by that concept and he sat back down. He played with his (stupid) phone that Santiago had just inadvertently promised not to destroy.

"I can reel it in. If not for our sake but-" Toddy paused to look up from the phone and take a swig from his flask. Santiago supposed it was for dramatic effect. Just because he promised to keep his criticism to himself, didn’t mean he couldn’t think snarky things. "His sake."

Santiago didn’t have to ask to know Toddy was talking about Myron. Myron’s life was pretty much shattered. Unrecognizably so. He’d once had a fiancée and a whole slew of things in the future to look forward to. Now, he had a couple months of therapy under his belt, PTSD, a dead brother, and a crazy ex-fiancee with whom he was still infatuated. The last thing the man needed was his two best friends—the only remainders of his support system to attack.

“That’s one thing we can agree on.”

[Deleted]

Toddy St. James


“That’s one thing we can agree on.”

Toddy St. James rose a hand up above his head as to Amen to that. It was probably the only thing that he and Santiago Ortiz would ever agree on.

Myron Bolitar should feel oh so special, shouldn't he? The love that they both had for that boy was sickening. Moreso with Santiago, because who were they kidding? Toddy was the best friend longer, therefore that was the strongest. It had to be. Whatever, he was not going to think on it. The last thing Myron needed to deal with was a jealous Toddy. He would even admit to being a fierce bi*ch when he turned green. What Myron needed was support and peace in at least one aspect of his life. Since every other asepct in his life was just a hot mess, Toddy supposed it would have to be the friendship that would have to remain classy.

"Mhmm." Toddy noised, sliding his phone into his jacket pocket, looking out into the Paris skyline. "He's beginning to repeat his jokes. He needs a little stability in that head of his."

Leaning back onto the ledge with a palm he smirked, shaking his cross foot up and down. "If I hear one more joke about his name, I will make him not remember his name."

[The Exodus]

Santiago Ortiz

Santiago took a swig from his flask. Agreeing with Toddy was either worth celebration or made him need a drink. He couldn’t tell which it was now. Toddy murmured in agreement.

"He's beginning to repeat his jokes,” Toddy said, as if confessing. “He needs a little stability in that head of his. If I hear one more joke about his name, I will make him not remember his name."

“No kidding,” Santiago said, shaking his head. “He’s beating a dead and decaying horse at this point.”

That painted a nice visual for Santiago, who’d been spending most of his free time in a morgue lately. He chuckled grimly and started tracing over the letters engraved on the flask.

“He needs to move on. With jokes, life, dating… Whatever, as long as he stops with the name sh*t.”

In every sarcastic statement, a grain of truth.

[Deleted]

Toddy St. James


“No kidding. He’s beating a dead and decaying horse at this point.”

Toddy St. James cocked his head, attempting at smiling but there was no point. Instead he picked up his pretty little flask and tried to get that not so pretty little imagery out of his head. Santiago said horse- Toddy says pony. Santiago Ortiz chuckles at his morib comparisons, and Toddy St. James takes a drink. This was the way their sugar cookie crumbled.

“He needs to move on. With jokes, life, dating… Whatever, as long as he stops with the name sh*t.”

Nodding, Toddy put a hand to his heart. "I agree wholeheartedly." Then he sighed, looking down at his designer shoes which he often did when he sighed, because they were to die for! "But we cannot rush him. One thing I know about Mr. Smartass," Toddy explained, crossing his legs and leaning over them. "Is that he takes his time when it comes to the heart."

Rolling his eyes, Toddy St. James took another swig. "Disgusting."

[The Exodus]

Santiago Ortiz

Toddy must have been drunker than Santiago realized. A sober Toddy probably wouldn’t “wholeheartedly” agree with Santiago under any circumstances. Maybe if Santiago had a gun pressed to Toddy’s temple. But other than that…

Unless Santiago made a very, very solid argument. He didn’t want to push his luck. Instead, Santiago looked up. You couldn’t see any stars in the city. Shame. He studied swirls of colored smog that reflected the lights below.

“But we cannot rush him. One thing I know about Mr. Smartass," Toddy explained, crossing his legs and leaning over them. "Is that he takes his time when it comes to the heart."

Rolling his eyes, Toddy St. James took another swig. "Disgusting."

“Tell me about it,” Santiago said. He hadn’t realized until the words were out there that he’d been nodding as Toddy spoke. Maybe Santiago was drunker than he realized. Or Toddy made a very, very solid argument, too. “He needs to get laid. All there is to it.”