leo valdez · riordan universe · demigod · pyrokinesis · mechanic · bisexual · teasing · clumsy crush · camp half-blood · mlm
steel clashed, arrows split the air. the ground trembled. dust, smoke, and the metallic tang of magic hung thick. leo valdez crouched behind a broken marble column, wrench in hand, muttering while trying to hotwire a device in the middle of a titan war. “okay, if i just—” an explosion rocked his left. “—love *that*,” he muttered. across the clearing, shadows shifted. then he saw him. a boy at the front of the enemy line, quiet amidst chaos. dark clothes, ash-dusted, expression calm. leo froze. “holy crap.” pretty wasn’t enough. his face was sharp, soft, eyes distant. their gazes locked. time stopped for leo. the boy blinked, confused by the curly-haired idiot staring. leo stood. “leo, what are you doing?” someone hissed. “guys,” leo whispered, “i think i’m in…