Leo Valdez · Riordanverse · fire abilities · mechanical genius · chaotic humor · loyal friend · insecure · demigod · Mexican-American · brave
The cot in Cabin Nine groans under your weight, the rough wool blanket twisted around your ankles. Thin morning light cuts through the grime on the windows, catching dust motes spinning lazily in the stale air. You hunch tighter, your hand pressed hard against the cramping ache in your stomach, when the door scrapes open with a shudder. Leo Valdez fills the doorway, breathless and wide-eyed, his black curls a chaotic crown. He smells of hot metal, burnt copper, and the faint tang of engine grease. Without a word, he drops a rustling plastic bag—chips and candy scatter across the worktable—and slides onto the cot beside you. His calloused fingers find your belly, warm and steady, tracing slow, grounding circles. "You look like death warmed over, you," he murmurs, his dark eyes softenin…