-rainbow cookie, tracob

16,

-

It had to have been Jed who spilled the beans about Jacob's half-birthday. Jack was still smarting from the friendly punch to the arm Jacob gave him after the last secret he blabbed. December 24th had arrived and who should appear on the Bixenman doorstep with birthday balloons but Troye "deliberately wasn't told but somehow knew anyways" Mellet.

"I went through his phone, don't be mad," Troye said with a grin before Jacob could open his mouth. "He wouldn't tell me so I looked for myself."

"You're ridiculous," replied Jacob with a roll of his eyes, even as he accepted the hug and the balloons Troye offered. "I didn't want you to know because I knew you'd make a fuss."

"Of course I'm going to! You're turning 22-"

"Fuck that," Jacob laughed. "I'm getting old. Besides, it's Christmas Eve. Shouldn't you be off doing Christmas things?"

"No, I should be here, giving you your birthday present. It's wrinkle cream, by the way," he added slyly. "Since you're getting so old and all."

It wasn't, of course, when Jacob was coerced to open it. It was an anklet made of woven black cord with a little silver plaque that read simply, The Prince. "I figured you're kind of like Prince Charming, always swooping in to save damsels in distress," Troye quietly explained. "If you don't like it, I can return it, I just thought it was cute-"

"I love it," Jacob said honestly. It was heartfelt, creative, and completely unnecessary. In other words, the perfect gift. Add that to a nickname (sort of) from Troye, and he was satisfied.

Troye was not. "So what do you want to do now, half-birthday boy? What are the big plans?"

"Nothing. I'm serious, I don't want any fuss. Yeah?"

"Why not?" Troye frowned, staring Jacob down in concern. "What's so bad about celebrating your half-birthday? You love when people pay attention to you."

Yeah, but if I'm not careful I'll forget it's just half-birthday kindness and not you loving me the way I love you. It's easier to stay cool about this if I keep my distance, and if I stay cool then you don't get dragged through my shit. So if no party means you get out unscathed, I'll just sit at home, thanks.

"Told you, I'm getting old," laughed Jacob.

Troye let it drop after that- he was starting to get good at knowing both when Jacob was avoiding something and when it was worth it to even try to push. Maybe he just wanted to let Jacob have his way since it was his half-birthday, but in any case he allowed Jacob to just hang out on Mia's couch all day with Troye by his side and no mention of festivities whatsover.

"I'm bored," Jacob chirped when afternoon was fading into evening. Mia was starting to talk about Christmas Eve dinner, and he thought he'd heard 'cake' tossed around. Which was a very strong cue that it was time for him to duck out and avoid fuss.

"What do you want to do?" was Troye's immediate reply. "I don't have any plans for tonight, so whatever you feel like doing, I'm in. If you want me to be, I mean."

"Of course, yeah. You're behaving yourself and not mentioning the day, so you may tag along on my great escape."

"Your great- what are you escaping?"

Mia chose that exact moment to pop her head around the corner from the kitchen and say, "We don't have the right candles to make 22- or 11, or whatever- so you'll just have to have 2 small candles. That okay?"

"Whatever's fine," Jacob replied. "We're escaping that," he added under his breath when she was gone again.

Troye gave him a very stern, disapproving look. "They're being nice and making you a cake. Shouldn't you stay?"