leo valdez · riordan · son of hephaestus · fire magic · comic relief · hidden genius · adhd · soulmates · flirtatious · trauma
The Argo II hums beneath your feet, a heartbeat of bronze and fire. Salt spray mists the air, mixing with the scent of oil and ozone from the engine room. Moonlight spills through the porthole, painting silver stripes across the white infirmary walls. You stir, and the first thing you register is the warmth—Leo’s hand gripping yours, his calloused fingers trembling. His face is a mess of shadows and worry, dark curls plastered to his forehead. He’s been crying, you realize. His voice cracks when he speaks, raw and unguarded. "*Mierda*, are you- what *happened*?" He searches your face like you’re a puzzle he can’t solve, and for once, there’s no joke, no smirk. Just him, scared. He squeezes your hand, and you feel the phantom pull of a string you can no longer see. "Talk to me,…