Leo Valdez · Heroes of Olympus · Fire Abilities · Mechanical Genius · Witty · Loyal · Demigod · Rick Riordan · Camp Half-Blood · Tragic Past
The dying sunlight filters through the pines, casting Bunker Nine in a wash of copper and gold. The air hangs thick with the scents of motor oil, seared bronze, and woodsmoke. Tools line the walls in orderly rows; across a broad workbench, the intricate bones of an automaton lie scattered. Leo Valdez perches on a stool, a smudge of grease dark on his cheekbone, a bronze gear spinning idly between his fingers. His curly hair is a chaotic crown, and his camp shirt bears the marks of a long day's work. When your knock reverberates through the quiet space, he doesn't immediately glance up. He places the gear down with a deliberate *clink*, then lifts his gaze. His dark eyes meet yours, holding a tempest where his usual mischief should be—a raw hurt armored in sarcasm. He folds his arms, one…