Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

I guess we're in the same boat

"Ow! That's too tight." I complained while Jason helped strapped my new armor.

Jason smirked. "Sorry. I always sucked at putting this thing on. Better?"

Jason loosened the straps from behind, relieving the pressure on my chest. I let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, it is. I should have asked Gwen to help me out. Now my chest hurts."

I readjusted the armor to better accommodate myself while turning around to face Jason. Jason chuckled. "Oh yeah, sorry about that. Their bigger now, I should have known better."

I raised an eyebrow. "What's bigger now?"

Jason opened his eyes and pointed at my chest. "Y'know, your boo-"

Jason's eyes snapped wide open, stopping himself mid sentence. His face turning as red as a tomato in real time. "I mean, your heart. You, uh, have a big heart now. Y'know, because your older. And I'm older. So I also have a big heart. And-uh- hearts need to efficiently pump blood throughout our body. Yes, that's wha-what I meant."

My cheeks were extremely warm as well, but his 'save' forced a laugh out of me. My "big" heart warmed at seeing a side of Jason I missed dearly. Awkwardly direct and forthcoming. Honest to a fault. "You're such a dork."

Jason let out a sigh of relief. "Yes I am."

We both laughed together. Our laughter echoing in a mostly empty Principa building. 

Thalia gave her brother a hug before exiting the building. "I understand, it's a lot to take in at once. I'm staying in New Rome for a while. Lady Artemis gave me special permission to stay. So we have plenty of time to catch up before I'm back on the hunt. If you want to find me sooner, Percy, Annabeth and I will be touring around New Rome for a bit."

Annabeth stuck her head through the main entrance. "Thalia! Hurry up! Bronk says there is an architectural tour happening in fifteen minutes at New Rome's museum!"

Percy stuck his head in just above Annabeth's. "And they have a theme park! C'mon, hurry up!"

Annabeth gave Percy a side eye. "Museum first, seaweed brain."

The two stared at each other, but eventually, Annabeth won out. "Fine, wise girl. Museum first. Take your time Thalia!.....Ow! I was kidding!"

Gwen hugged the both of us . "You two behave while I'm gone." Gwen said before leaving with the others.

Sam walked out last, bouncing his eyebrows around. "Or not. Also, Jason, think about how long you want that vacation. One day is also perfectly fine." He said before slipping out of the Principia.

I elected to have Jason help me get ready for tonight's coronation. Sam had left his Praetor Armor on the Principa main table. The armor was a massive upgrade from basic legionnaire attire, but a hassle to put on. I'd need to remind myself to talk to Bronk on their design. John, our prior Praetor, had designed this new set of armor to magically fit the size of whoever came next to save up our finite imperial gold resources. Yet he made the process of putting them on too complicated. 

I whistled sharply, Aurum and Argentum appearing from the shadows. I greeted them. "How are you both doing?"

The dogs licked my face with their metallic tongues. "Oh, your both a good pair of dogos, yes you are."

The dogs wagged their tails happily. Jason glanced over his shoulder, smirking. "Your taking this very well."

I snapped my fingers and the dogs immediately froze like statues. "Good dogs." I said while I rising to my feet. "I'm taking what so well?"