Go ahead and laugh // open+invitation // even if it hurts

[jacob w.c.]

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob felt his heart sink when the first face he saw was Caesar. He wasn't quite sure what he'd been expecting but he certainly didn't care to see the yellow cat right now. He didn't feel bad about punching him but he supposed he ought to be civil now. Thankfully, Roxanne and Greed also soon approached and he offered them light smiles, although that faltered when he heard Greed refer to him as 'lover boy'. It didn't take much to figure out what that referred to but Pincher and Jacob had never dated and, even if they had, that was a rather sensitive topic to bring up currently. "Um, hi. 'S nice ta' see ya'll. Anyway, I jus' came ta' give ya' this invitation ta' a big feast with games n' stuff for us all ta' celebrate the new territory n' everythin' now that Snowbound's settled in," he explained, exhaustion clear in his tone. He'd barely slept since he heard about Pincher's death. He wasn't sure who to turn to anymore or who to talk to. For three months, he'd told Pinch everything. He had people who loved him and who he loved in Snowbound but it wasn't like he could tell Izuku or Harrison about his problems.

He thought he caught a scent of coconut and cigarette smoke but he ignored it. Such smells had plagued him since Pincher's death, mingling with the smoke that constantly plagued his mind as if to taunt him in some awful way. He heard that the first thing often forgotten was someone voice or scent but Jacob never forgot anything because he saw it every night. When he was alone, he could hear the voices of his Ma and Pa begging him to save them somehow. Sometimes he would see Jersey or his Babbo, who insisted they were in some sort of terrible peril. For the last week or so, Pincher had been added to that list. Then he heard his voice and Jacob still did his best not to look but he couldn't help it. He sounded so happy. He never sounded happy, not in the nightmares or hallucinations. Then he began pushing through the other pirates and Jacob's eyes widened, a gasp seizing his chest and tears pricking his eyes as he realized this was all real. Pincher was here, standing in front of him. This wasn't a nightmare or hallucination or a trick of his own mind. This was Deniz.

"Pinch! Oh my- oh gosh-" His words were barely breathed out before he ran forward and, without hesitation, attempted to give the other man a kiss. The usual caution he put towards showing Pincher any affection in front of anyone had apparently left as he pressed himself against the doberman in a tight hug. "What- I don' understand-" He could barely catch his breath enough to force words out as tears rolled down his cheeks. He wrapped his paws around him, a wide smile on his face as he tried to calm hiw own breathing so he could speak. "Oh, Deniz," he spoke softly enough that none of the others should be able to hear him as he buried his head against the captain's chest. —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"

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