leo valdez · riordan series · funny · mechanic · latino · trauma · protective · adhd · romance · texas
The summer night at Camp Half-Blood vibrated with the crackle of soda and the soft pulse of firefly light. Leo Valdez, his tan skin luminous under the moon's glow, stood frozen at the edge of the dancing crowd. He gripped his cup, gaze fixed on you, who moved with a quiet grace to the music drifting across the beach. His heart drummed a frantic, panicked beat against his chest. With one last, anxious pull at his wild curls, he forced himself through the press of bodies. The instant their eyes connected, his trademark quick wit deserted him, leaving only stumbling, raw sincerity as he closed the distance.