Geek out with me

~*~

New Rome - Temple Hill 

Jason is dedicating a new temple. 

Frank approaches from behind him, knocking at the open door. 

"Am I interrupting?"

Jason turns, splashing oil from the ceremonial flask over the back of his hand. 

The scent rises thickly in the small windowless room, a gust of wind slams the door behind Frank. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he says, bumbling. 

Jason smiles kindly as he sets the oil on the altar and gets to his feet. He reaches out and clasps his hand on Frank's forearm, sending an electric sensation racing up Frank's arm. "Not to worry, big guy …" His eyes dilate. He squeezes. "Wow. You really got some muscle going on there."

Frank shivers as Jason drags his oily palm up Frank's forearm and grabs his bicep, squeezing it too. 

"Err …" Frank stammers, trying to suppress a shudder. It feels super hot in the room all of a sudden. 

Jason seems to realize he's being weird and lets go, then steps back and clears his throat. 

"Sorry, man. It just caught me off guard." He shakes his head, squinting behind his glasses like he's trying to see clearly. "Were you looking for me? Need me for something?"

Frank blinks, shaking his head as well. It's like a fog has gathered in his mind making it hard to put his words in the right order. 

"Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about …" What was it again? He looks back down at the his arm muscles now shining with oil under the warm glow from a wall torch. Was it about his muscles? "I remembered you talking to Percy back on the Argo II, about how your dad's blessing like … drop-kicked you through puberty."

Jason rubs his forehead, wiping the sweat back through his hair, his slightly overgrown bangs standing up in spiky points. With the torch light behind him it makes it look like his blond hair is made of fire. Frank bites his lip, suppressing a shudder. 

Jason gives a nervous chuckle, his cheeks pinking up. "Yeah. That was kinda embarrassing."

Frank nods emphatically, stepping closer. "I know, right? Mars did it to me too. It's why, you know, I got so big after that time in Venice."

Jason, nods along, bantering with Frank like they're best buddies. It's an odd feeling, but not unpleasant. Frank has always wanted to get to know Jason better. 

"That makes sense. You grew like four inches all at once. I remember you complaining –" he pauses, snapping his fingers like he's trying to find his words. They seem to have that in common as well. "– something about your clothes not fitting. But, honestly, they were baggy before. You look real good with more form-fitting cuts."

He wrinkles his forehead, brows furrowing. 

Frank isn't sure how to respond to that. Jason thinks he looks good? Like, Jason Grace with the most perfect, athletic, ideal body for a Roman soldier and he likes Frank's body? How does one accept a compliment like that?

Jason doesn't seem to find Frank's silence awkward. He keeps talking like they're old friends. 

"It was pretty similar for me – with Jupiter's blessing, I mean. I shot up about four inches." His cheeks color even more as he drops his eyes, leaning in and lowering his voice like he's sharing a secret. "My dick too. Seriously it went from average to … well …" He trails off, instead demonstrating the length with his hands. 

Frank's eyebrows shoot up. "Yes! Exactly! I mean, what the hell, Dad. I don't get a say in this? You just change me up without asking."

Jason shakes his head, clapping Frank's shoulder with his hand. It's really nice to be able to commiserate with somebody who understands. 

Then Jason wraps his arm around Frank's back, the heat pouring off him through the pontifex robes. Frank can't help thinking that this half-hug ought to feel weird, but it really doesn't. It feels good, like they're really bonding. 

"My dad didn't buff me up quite like yours though," Jason prattles on. "Or maybe it's just that natural animal magnetism you've got going on. Whatever it is, it's super hot."

Frank blinks several more times, processing those words. He's confused, but flattered, his heart beating fast. 

Jason wipes his forehead again, his breathing getting heavy. 

"Are you alright?" Frank asks, shrugging out from under Jason's arm and then grabbing his waist as Jason catches his balance grabbing Frank's arm. Again, that electric sensation rushes up Frank's arm, into his chest, and then settles warmly behind his naval. A throb of pleasure. "Maybe we should sit down," he offers, sliding his arm around Jason's back and guiding him to sit on the low wooden altar.

"Yeah," Jason says, grabbing at his pontifex robes. "Is it just me? It's hot in here, right?" He shrugs them off and then, still not comfortable, pulls his t-shirt off over his head. 

Frank feels it too, like that first spark under his skin has caught on fire and is finally burning bright, consuming him. He vaguely wonders if he should be concerned, but it doesn't feel like when he'd lit his firewood to free Thanatos. The stick was safely stowed in its fire-safe pouch. 

He notices Jason staring at him, at his shirt. He looks down. It's totally soaked with sweat, his nipples standing erect and obvious through the thin fabric. It's too much, too hot. He pulls it off and drops it on the pile of clothes Jason has left on the floor. 

"Can this altar hold us both? I'm kinda heavy …"

Jason doesn't answer, his eyes devouring Frank's chest even more than before, his hands reaching out, though he seems to realize he shouldn't touch without asking. He holds them still, seemingly not able to put them down. 

"You're perfect," he says, his voice low and growly. He meets Frank's eyes and he's got that wolfish gleam in them Frank has heard people talking about ever since he'd first heard Jason's name. "I mean, gods … your body. That's the epitome of a warrior's build. I uh …" He swallows hard, his eyes softening. It reminds Frank of how he'd felt with Mars and Ares constantly battling in his head, the struggle to focus with his attention split two ways. "I don't know what's gotten into me," Jason finishes, licking his lips, his pupils going huge and dark as more trails of sweat track the sides of his face from his temples. 

Frank is right there too. The draw, the compulsion. 

One minute they're staring, enraptured in each other's gaze and the next Jason has straddled Frank's lap and is kissing him within an inch of his life, his tongue invading Frank's mouth, his breaths hot and fast in his nostrils. Frank kisses back just as fervently, his hands on Jason's ass, and then running them up and down his back, gliding with sweat, or oil? 

And then Jason moves his kisses along the line of Frank's jaw, down his neck, pushing against Frank's shoulders until Frank gathers him in his arms, dragging him down on top of himself on the altar. Jason attaches himself like a leech, biting the juncture where Frank's neck and shoulder meet and sucking hard …

*A Few Hours Later*

Frank is the first to wake. The temple is warm and toasty, the torch still burning on the wall and sending a rosy glow flickering across their very naked and glistening bodies. The ceremonial oil flask lies empty on its side and Frank rubs his hair, sending droplets of sweat flying. Jason lifts his head from where it was resting on Frank's shoulder. They both turn to look at the goddess leaning against the temple door, her arms lazily crossed. She's wearing a simple chiton, a wry smile playing on her lips. 

"Pontifex, I admire your attention to detail. I have not been so thoroughly honored in centuries, millennia. A perfect dedication ceremony to consecrate my temple."

Jason sits up, his eyes going wide as understanding dawns on him. Frank wants to ask what he wants to say, but the goddess doesn't give either of them a chance to speak.

"And for your stunning performances, I, the goddess Volumptus, bestow on each of you my blessing."

Jason and Frank sit bolt upright, their hands extended … "Wait!"