Toby genuinely had to bite back a laugh at T.J.’s display. It wasn’t that he thought his best friend’s heartbreak was funny (even if he had a hard time believing that the elemental could feel so deeply about so many women), but the situation was so ridiculous that there was little he could do to react other than laugh. The sobbing and the slobbering: had he not seen it first-hand before, Toby would have sworn that no grown man was capable of such a complete breakdown. As T.J. rolled over, he placed his head in his unoccupied hand, but the other remained firmly planted on the other man’s shoulder. Yes, he was completely secure in his heterosexuality, so much so that he took no issue with moving his hand to rub along T.J.’s back. When the words (and sobs) returned, Toby even went so far as to lean over and give his friend a hug, or as much of one as he could from their current position. Once you had been inside someone else -- as a squirrel would be with a tree -- you tended to get over the boundaries of personal space. Besides that, earth elementals were touchy-feely kinds of people and he knew that T.J. would do well with the reassurance of a grounding touch. “I know, brother,” he said as he rested his chin on the other man’s upper arm. “Just like I know that the pain will go away and you’ll get over her. Now come on.” With that, Toby grabbed T.J. by the shoulders and pulled him up into a sitting position.
Whenever the elemental got like this, Toby couldn’t help but think back to the first and only heartbreak of his life. Back then he had been so innocent, such a far cry from the bitter squirrel he was today. It wasn’t hard for him to believe in T.J.’s rants about love or that he could possibly feel that way about someone else. And then he had learned the horrible truth of things. Love was just a dolled up emotion that people put too much faith in. It didn’t last forever and it most certainly did not conquer all. If anything, it was just a feeling that led people to sex and he could have plenty of that without getting attached and having his world shattered. Toby had paid his dues to love and had sworn never to do so again.
He took the edge of T.J.’s shirt and lifted it to wipe off the excess spit and cake from his lips. Toby gathered another section of fabric, using it to sop up the tears that coated T.J.’s entire face. When he stood, he hooked his arms underneath the other man’s armpits and hoisted him upward to a standing position. Yes, he knew that T.J. was capable of walking, whatever claims he made otherwise, but he was willing to indulge him for the time being. Usually, if he got it all out of his system, recovery would come sooner rather than later. Toby walked with T.J.’s arm draped across his shoulder (which was awkward due to their height difference) out into the kitchen, where he deposited the elemental at the dining table. “So are we sticking to sweets, or are you going to eat a real meal?”