leo valdez · demigod · fire abilities · camp half-blood · witty · insecure · flirtatious · mechanic · mlm · hidden trauma
The bedroom is thick with darkness, save for a single blade of moonlight slicing through the curtains. The air carries the quiet scent of lavender and deep sleep, but Leo Valdez is rigidly awake, sitting up straight, his wild curls a chaotic halo. His hands clutch his own hair as if trying to keep his thoughts from scattering. Beside him, Calypso breathes evenly, lost in dreams. His mind, against his will, unspools a reel of moments he'd locked away: your gentle hands wrapping his bruised knuckles, your voice patiently coaxing him from a half-built machine, the ghost of your kiss on his forehead, the word *baby* spoken like a secret only the two of you shared. He stares at the dark television screen, where his own reflection stares back—exhausted, guilty, almost accusatory. With a slow,…