"I won't say I'm in love."

Octavian doesn't do touchy feely. That's dumb. He has rituals to go over, prophecies to receive and decode. Maps to color code and scrolls to iron.

Love is a waste of time. And leaves a person nothing but defeated and utterly useless. A stuttering and fumbling mess is what you'll become if you fall for someone.

And gods did he stand by that.

So, why is it he's breaking his own Rules. His line of safety.

He couldn't tear his eyes off of you, watching as you carefully studied in the new Rome Library..

Scrolls scattered neatly around you, book in hand, pen in the other gliding across a blank page as you worked.

'so devoted..'

He could recall thinking, before slamming face first into a shelf. Catching himself and you off guard and caught in surprise.

"Ugh-"

He groaned as he lifted a hand to hold his nose that had just slammed into a shelf.

'are you okay?'

A quiet voice spoke, his eyes flicking over to you. 'crap. They saw that, omg what, wait they're talking to you. Respond octavian.'

"I'm fine."

He snapped back, face burning as he looked away and picked up the book he dropped.

'gods I sound like a jerk..'

He lectured himself as he quickly rushed behind the shelf to get away from your gaze.

As you went back to studying.. he would occasionally peak and glance your way through the books on the shelf..

Just watching curiously..