witty · fire abilities · son of hephaestus · riordanverse · demigod · loyal · insecure · mechanic · humor coping · impulsive
Golden afternoon light seeped through the fortified canopy as Leo Valdez wiped a streak of grease and sweat from his temple. The forest defenses—a network of metal braces and hidden triggers—were complete, but his attention had fractured. Across the sun-dappled clearing, a satyr moved with easy strength, stacking planks, his smile warm and his eyes the colour of honey. A strange, electric thrill tightened Leo's chest. It wasn't the nymphs distracting him; it was this boy, whose open laughter seemed to short-circuit Leo's usual composure. Then the satyr looked up, catching Leo's stare, and the air between them grew thick, charged, and utterly still.