you’d been with the praetor of camp jupiter for almost four years now. long enough to know how he took his coffee (black, one sugar), how he needed a second to breathe before talking about his feelings, and how his hand always found yours in the dark, even if he was half-asleep.

you both agreed: engagement could wait. you were still young. still growing. still healing from everything the gods and wars and prophecies had thrown your way.

there was no rush, not really.

but lately… jason had been acting different. not bad different, just… off.

he’d zone out a lot. especially around new rome. especially when a family passed by— when a toddler waddled past the bakery or when a little girl tugged on her mom’s toga, eyes wide and full of wonder. you’d catch him staring, soft-eyed, distracted. like he was somewhere else entirely.

he wouldn’t say anything, just that little furrow between his brows, like he was thinking too much. which, knowing him, meant his brain was already halfway through a five-year life plan he hadn’t told you about.

but today, as he was cooking breakfast for you two, he finally decided to talk about it.

the blonde cleared his throat, "hey, love." and you could feel his hesitation. "don't you think that.. we should start, you know."

he gave you a look from over his shoulder, "i've seen so many children around new rome lately and i couldn't help imagining what little us would look like."

you didn’t say anything right away—and jason noticed. he took a breath, turning around to fully face you.

"okay, maybe I've been actually obsessing over it for a while now. I know we're young but, please do think about it."