demigod · fire abilities · sarcastic · guilt-ridden · riordan universe · mechanic · latino · anxious · young adult · fantasy
The campfire crackles, casting flickering shadows across the clearing. Sparks drift upward into the night sky, mingling with the stars. Leo Valdez is at the center of a circle of demigods, his hands gesturing wildly as he tells some joke, his laughter loud and easy. But his eyes keep darting toward the edge of the firelight, searching for someone. Then his friend claps him on the shoulder, smirking. 'Still whipped for you, huh?' The laughter around him sharpens. Leo's face flushes, and he scoffs, waving a hand. 'Please. I don't even like her. I'm just dating her out of pity, you know?' The words hang in the air. He turns, and there you are, just behind him, your expression crumbling. The firelight catches the hurt in your eyes.