WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob had been working on cataloging the new herbs he'd brought back from the Typhoon when Jersey had come to visit. He didn't mind the company and he was more than used to multi-tasking with Jersey around. Besides, with Izuku's injuries lately, it was nice to have someone to talk to while he worked. He tried to juggle his duties between being chief and frosthealer as well as he could but sometimes he missed out on the more social activities that really kept him going. It was nice to sit and talk to his big brother, even if he did have to work while he did it. When he heard his comment about the weather, he chuckled and shook his head. "I like it. I wear my sweaters n' all tha' though so 'm sure it don' bother me as much as it does you. Plus I got thicker fur than ya' do anyway, even without all the bandages n' stuff." That was only partly true. While his fur was certainly thicker where he had it, most of the areas covered by his bandages were hairless because of the scars. Still, there was no denying Jacob probably retained heat a lot better than the feline did.

He had just been glancing up when Jersey noticed the cut. He'd nearly forgotten about it, honestly, although the memories of the lighthouse were clear in his mind. Pincher's teeth had just been a bit sharper than he'd anticipated. When he was asked about it, his mind began to try and think of excuses. But then Jersey demanded an answer. "Oh, uh, w-well, I-" his voice faltered while he tried to think of a decent excuse. Obviously telling the truth was out of the question but Jacob was a terrible liar. Then it came on him. Just tell things in half truths. Substitute the word 'kissing' for something more indicative of a fight and Jersey would probably just let it go. "Oh, well, ya' see... Pincher was kinda' drunk after the blind date thing so I decided ta' 'elp 'im get home n' then, uh, well, once we got there, he... he jus' punched me. I mean, really, we punched each other but he was kinda' drunk n' I don' think it was even that big a deal-" he answered, although nervousness slipped into his tone. He honestly hadn't been in very many fights so he was going to be stuck if Jersey asked him to describe it in full detail but he hoped the feline wouldn't be that observant.  —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob let out an aggravated sigh as Jersey asked who Pincher was. He didn't have a reason to be annoyed but he rolled his shoulders back and stood, starting to walk towards the entrance. He had an idea of what was coming and he hoped his big brother would let go of his plans if they were in public. "'E's the captain in the Typhoon. Tha's all," he answered, somehow managing to keep his voice study. He could still remember the doberman in the moonlight. "Well, I mean, yeah. It wasn' tha' bad, though. Really, Jersey," he answered, trying to make himself sound extra convincing. "No, I didn'. Not everyone's solution ta' everythin' is tryin' ta' punch someone. Besides, he's... he's my friend. I wouldn' wanna' hurt 'im." Like he even could. Jacob was pretty sure Pincher was just made out of muscle, the ocean, and stale cigarette smoke. An oddly relaxing combination, if you asked him. He wasn't sure how that was possible but he was convinced of it. —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob wasn't sure why he felt so defensive but he felt annoyance prick his consciousness when he heard the way Jersey posed his first question. "Don' say it like tha'. They're real nice Jersey," he muttered, flicking his ear in irritation. Then he heard the second statement and a low whine came from the canine. "I am not! I jus' don' think everythin' can be solved by hittin' someone," he snapped. While he was generally a patient individual, Jersey was an exception. When he began to accuse Pincher of sending people after him, he turned and seemed even more angry than before. Pinch never sent no one after me! Tha' was all Guru's fault on 'er own n' he was real mad 'bout it. He even punished 'er. Besides, 'e's the one tha' helped me after I was captured. 'E 'elped me get better, Jersey. 'E ain't a bad guy," he insisted before letting out a huff and turning. Then Jersey spoke again and he felt panic spring into him. "No!" The word came without a thought. When he realized his mistake, he tried to backtrack. "It wasn' tha' big of a deal, Jersey. It's fine. 'M fine. Ya' don' need ta' go see 'im." —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob let out a sigh when his big brother sat down and let out an even more irritated huff as he did the same thing, frowning firmly at the older man. Maybe that would make him stop being such an idiot. "I'm not defensive!" he argued, frustration now clear in his tensed position and his tone. While Jacob was generally pretty passive, Jerseyboy always seemed to know how to press his buttons more than anyone else and if he was an elevator, Jersey was usually insistent on clicking every floor. At his second statement, Jacob's eyes widened. Did he know? No, he couldn't possibly. It was just another one of his dumb jokes. Besides, it wasn't like Deniz was his boyfriend. They'd just kissed. That was all. "He-" his voice faltered before he cleared it and insisted, "He ain't my boyfriend, Jersey! We're jus' good frien's is all." —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"