Mahogany and Teakwood

Chapter 15: Basil

on lonely nights i start to fade

her love's a thousand miles away

"Anxiety, make the brownie stop eating all the candy canes!"

Roman, Virgil decided, had the most annoying whining voice on the planet. Some days, it made him want to dig his own ears out of his skull and replace them with noise-canceling cotton.

"You insisted on buying a tree and decorations," Virgil pointed out mercilessly. "You get to live with the consequences."

The brownie in question flipped Roman off from the countertop and munched his prize, spent wrappers piled around him. Roman, who was currently tucking lights into the branches of their table-top Christmas tree, pushed a hand through his freshly dyed hair and sighed. He'd given himself red and green highlights for the season, and somehow managed to make it look good.

"You also bought, like, fifteen boxes." Virgil gestured with the loop of lights he held. "Not even Remy can eat that many."

"Try me, bitches." The brownie kicked his legs. "Bear never buys holiday stuff. Such a bore."

"Coming from you, that's almost a compliment," Roman muttered.

Remy answered by licking a long, slobbery stripe up his candy.

"Yeah, well, I just hope Logan's not gonna be mad that we're decorating his apartment without him," Virgil grumbled.

"You worry too much." Roman rolled his eyes.

"It's a stupid holiday!"

"'Stupid holiday,'" Roman mocked. "You know, just because you don't like Christmas, doesn't mean you have to spoil the mood for everyone else." He looped the last strand over the tree and stepped back, picking up a box of ornaments.

Virgil took a few candy canes from their box, scowling, and hung one. "I don't dislike it," he argued. "I just don't see the point of making a big deal. None of us are religious, and kitschy human capitalism is hardly worth celebrating."

Roman spared him an eye roll as he snagged the bag of office supplies they'd picked up earlier. He began bending paper clips into hangers, tongue sticking out as he worked.

"How did you afford all this crap, anyway?" Virgil swept a hand across the piles of tinsel, ornaments, lights, and of course, the 4-foot tree currently occupying the coffee table. "You don't even have a job."

"My mentor Kate sends me money from time to time," Roman answered. "Smile takes care of their own."

"Moocher," Virgil muttered.

Roman huffed. "Oh, spare me the snobbery, you Incredible Sulk. I know you're not paying for those expensive-ass classes at that fancy-ass school on nine bucks an hour at some part time gig in downtown DeLand."

Virgil gritted his teeth but had to admit Roman had a point. "Touché."

"Look, I just thought some lights and decorations would be nice for when Logan gets back," Roman said. "Kate always has us decorate our murder's building for the holidays. We deep-fry a turkey, make hot chocolate, do a Secret Santa, go out to watch the Philly holiday parade..."

He trailed off wistfully.

"You know, hearing you talk about a 'murder' celebrating Christmas is really fucking weird..." Virgil started in a teasing tone, but trailed off when Roman's jaw clenched.

Too far.

"You miss them," Virgil said instead.

Roman nodded. "Kate's like a mom to me; Smile, like a family. I haven't been away from them for this long since leaving..."