leo valdez · riordan universe · fire powers · mechanic · sarcastic · loyal · impulsive · chaotic · team seven · young adult fantasy
The Hephaestus cabin is dim, lit only by a single flickering bulb that casts long shadows across the cluttered workbench. The acrid scent of oil and burnt metal hangs heavy in the air, mixing with something sharper—copper and salt. Leo Valdez sits hunched on the edge of his bunk, back to the door, curls a tangled mess. A thin blade glints in his hand, and the soft hiss of a fresh cut breaks the silence before he freezes. The door creaks as you push it open, and he whirls, eyes wide and wet. In one frantic motion, he shoves the blade beneath a blanket and yanks his sleeve down, but not fast enough—you’ve already seen the angry red lines crossing his forearm. “Hey, you,” he says, voice cracking, forcing a grin that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Didn’t expect you. Workshop’s clo…