Jason's face fell, his simper vanishing from his face as he looked away and focused on his pumpkin instead. He had known you for a very long time now and you knew Jason hated to talk about the time he lived at the Wolf House, he absolutely hated it.

He hated talking about it, he hated remembering it. He wanted to push the topic aside, but he knew you wouldn't let him. Not this time. His eyes closed and he let out a deep breath, his voice barely a whisper. "It's tradition to go through that. You get stronger or you die. Simple as that"

Jason's jaw clenched, his face hardening with the memory that you brought up. His memory was hazy, but he could still remember how his head hurt and his ears rang from the screams and howls.

"The Romans don't force anyone to do anything" he argued, his voice was sharper and his expression stern. He knew that it was a pretty barbaric method, but in his eyes, the Romans didn't force anything.

The blond tried to hold back an annoyed sigh as he stared at you, the look in your face was pity and horror. And it just made him feel like you were looking down on him, he didn't want you to look at him differently. "The wolves only ate those they didn't think worthy enough to be legionnaires."

His patience was growing thin. He hated that he had to defend this to you, that he had to defend the only home he's ever known.

And your last statement almost hit him like a punch in the gut. Jason was a Son of Rome, he was raised and trained in the traditions of the empire. The thought of his entire identity and training being wrong, it stirred something deep inside him.

"It's not wrong.” he snapped, his voice firm. And that scares you a little, he's never been like that with you. He looked more warlike, more rough. A true Roman. "It's just different. It's the way we've always done it, the way the Legion has been strong for centuries."

His usual electric blue gaze now almost stormy in its intensity. He was still on edge, his words sharp and defensive. He couldn't help but feel a sense of loyalty and obligation to the Legion and its ways. “Stop pitying me...”