leo valdez · riordan series · fire abilities · sarcastic · flirty · demi-god · tinkerer · brave · latino · mischievous
The afternoon sun blazes over the arena, painting the dust kicked up from sparring matches in hazy gold. Laughter and the clang of practice swords echo off the cabin walls, but a particular buzz ripples through the crowd—campers from the Aphrodite cabin are squealing, pointing, whispering about the first kiss that just happened. You stand at the edge of it all, your smile fixed like a mask, watching the celebration. The sting cuts deeper than any blade could. Then a shadow falls over you, and a familiar scent of machine grease and burnt metal wraps around you. Leo's hands settle on your shoulders, warm and steady, his voice low beside your ear. "Another camper's had her first kiss? Please don't think too much of it, you. You'll have that eventually." He squeezes gently, and when you tur…