reflection ● jason grace

Jason has a realization

No one really got any sleep that night.

The Senators were all huddled together on the Sunflower Field, walls around them. Still, Leila and Daniel didn't want to leave the residents of New Rome by themselves until it was absolutely necessary. No one knew when the monsters would attack, but panic was spreading through the camp anyway. Even the toddlers knew the legion was surrounded.

"I can fly above," Jason offered. "Try and see which side has the most monsters."

Daria looked at him like he was stupid. "You would give away our position."

"We're surrounded, Daria. I'm pretty sure they already know where we are."

"I can literally feel where they are without you risking-"

"Well, you weren't exactly offering, so I-"

"Shut up," Daniel snapped at them. "In case you two hadn't noticed, we're about to go to war."

Daria blushed in embarrassment. "There are a couple on the expanse of the Tiber," she muttered. "But most stretch from the Field of Mars around New Rome. Like, a lot."

Leila grimaced. "I figure their plan is to attack the residents to cause mass chaos. The younger legionnaires like Anna and Oliver are ready to fight, but..."

Anna and Oliver, the praetors when Jason and Daria came to camp. They were young, and they helped the legion from time to time, but they had a young child. Jason knew that Leila and Daniel would sacrifice themselves before they let parents fight.

"We'll have to leave people here, then," Mitch said firmly, a battle-ready gleam in his eyes.

"The Third Cohort has the most archers," Daria said, doing the mental math. "They can stay here along with-"

"-half of the centurions," Daniel finished. "Battle will be cleaner that way."

Jason was struck by the four leaders in front of him. They seemed to all be thinking the same thing – an eye for strategy that Jason didn't really have. He shook himself out of it. He was the son of Jupiter. He didn't need strategy to be able to lead.

He saw Daria talking to her co-centurion, Rachel, discussing which one would stay behind. Jason turned to Gwen, raising an eyebrow.

"Go," she said firmly. Her reddish-brown hair curled over her face. She was older, Jason figured she knew what she was doing. "Be smart."

"I'm staying here," Daniel said to Leila, with a glance at Mitch. Daniel loved the thrill of battle, Jason didn't get why he was willing to stay here until he looked lower, where his hand was intertwined with his boyfriend's. Daniel hated PDA. Jason bit back his smirk.

"Take the Second Cohort with you, centurion." Leila told Jason. "You'll need the extra strength. Sofia," Leila turned to her best friend. "You go with Jason as well. Follow his command."

"Yes Leila." Jason nodded at the girl, and Kai, the centurion of the Second.

"What's your plan?" Jason heard Daniel ask Daria. "You've only got 30 legionnaires in your cohort."

"Create a ditch." Daria had obviously thought about her response, though Jason wouldn't put it past her to come up with a plan in a couple of minutes. "Spread my legionnaires out, and we'll have the advantage. We might be few, but we're strong."

Daniel nodded, hand still in Mitch's even though the son of Mars was talking to someone else. "Jason," he said without looking at him. "Come here."

Jason quietly did as he asked. Daniel's usually harsh eyes were dotted with flecks of gold now. He untangled himself from his boyfriend to kneel in front of Jason and Daria which was annoying since Daniel was only a few inches taller than him.