-rainbow cookie, tracob

19,

-

The world continues to turn on its axis, despite the fact that everything feels a little unsteady now that Thomas is back. They can't quite ignore him; Troye reports that Thomas makes small talk with him before every class and insists taking the desk next to his own. They try very hard to ignore him anyway.

Troye copes by seeking comfort from Jacob, by turning to him like a flower to the sun, seeking any small trickle of affection he might be afforded. Jacob copes by providing a flood. He can't control whether there are negative presences in Troye's life, as much as he'd like to be able to. He can, however, make sure that the good far outweighs the bad.

He isn't alone in the endeavor- Jed and Jack are now almost as protective of Troye as Adam is, and the three of them rally around him in their unique little ways to make sure he feels loved and supported. Troye insists that he's fine. They form a safety net anyways.

But still, the one Troye really leans on is Jacob. It's always been Jacob.

"You're the best," Jacob is informed one day, a few weeks after Thomas rears his ugly head. They've been together for over a month and Troye won't quit saying stuff like that. Jacob also hasn't quit enjoying it.

"Am I?" he pretends to be shocked. "Why, whatever for?"

"I dunno. Reasons. And stuff."

"Not my dashing good looks, then?"

"I mean, I guess you're alright."

"My generally intoxicating presence?"

"I wouldn't say intoxicating, but."

"My awe-inspiring intellect, then, surely."

"We could go with that if it makes you feel better." Troye leans forward, bright-eyed, to give Jacob a peck on the lips. "You know, you're pretty when you pout." He kisses Jacob again, longer this time, just for good measure.

When he tries to pull back, Jacob moves with him and makes a small noise of protest. "Come back here, I'm not done with you," he insists, and Troye complies. Of course he complies- he always loves kissing Jacob, no matter the time or the mood he's in. The thought makes Jacob smile into the kiss. "You know, you're hot when you try to be an asshole but fail miserably," he teases right back.

For long minutes, they just enjoy the feel of each other's kisses. Somewhere along the line of growing up and having adventures, Jacob had forgotten how nice it was just to have soft lips on his own, slotting together and sucking and biting in an unassuming way. With Troye, though, he remembered. He let himself focus on the sensations caused by Troye's mouth and just get lost in it.

It wasn't long, though, before Jacob's cheeks were flushed and his heart racing. "Hey Troye?" he murmurs.

"Mmm?" Troye barely breaks the kiss to reply.

"Do you, um, want to move to the bed?"

Jacob expected it to be a monumental question, because it certainly felt momentous to him. But Troye only seemed bothered insofar as he had to pause his assault on Jacob's mouth long enough to reply, "Okay."

It's too easy. "Seriously, Troye," Jacob insists, tugging a lock of Troye's hair to get his attention. Apparently Troye's into that, because he just starts kissing Jacob harder. Jacob tries again. "Do you want to go to the bed? Give me the truth."

"Yes, Jacob, I do. Truth. I promise," Troye sighs, a little exasperated, and starts inching off the couch, tugging Jacob along and never halting the flow of kisses. When they reach the bed, it is with the gentlest of hands that he guides Jacob to lie back on the mattress. Just as gently, Troye moves to hover over him, hands on either side of Jacob's head and knees on either side of his hips.