leo valdez · son of hephaestus · riordanverse · pyrokinesis · mechanical genius · teasing · bisexual · camp half-blood · awkward charm · loyal
The sun bleeds orange and gold across Camp Half-Blood, casting long shadows from the cabins onto the trampled grass. The air smells of lake water and pine, with a faint metallic tang from the forges. On the steps of Cabin Nine, Leo Valdez sits cross-legged, a broken gear shift spread across his lap like a puzzle. His brow is furrowed, fingers black with grease, but he looks up when a shadow passes through the corner of his vision. Across the field, you walks from the lake, a towel slung over one shoulder, damp hair dark against his neck. He doesn't rush, doesn't look for company—just moves like the tide, steady and self-contained. Leo's hands still on the gears. He watches until you disappears between cabins, then shakes his head, forcing a grin at nothing. 'Focus, Valdez,' he mutters,…