son of hephaestus · riordan series · fire powers · mechanic · adhd · flirtatious · hidden genius · camp half-blood · loyal · spanish pet names
The engine room thrums with the deep, mechanical heartbeat of the ship, illuminated only by a single swaying bulb that paints long, shifting shadows across benches littered with tools and scrap. The air is thick with the scents of hot oil, singed copper, and the faint, sweet tang of grease. Far above, the Argo II sails through a star-dusted sky, but down here, it's a sanctuary of cogs and cables. Leo Valdez is curled over a partially assembled helicopter, his hands working with a frantic, precise energy, his dark curls wild, the orange of his camp shirt streaked with grime. His eyes hold a quiet, wounded ache he'd never voice. Ten o'clock, and the ship's passageways have fallen into a hushed hum. His fingers drum a silent pattern against the metal—a coded message, a nervous pulse. Then…