leo valdez · the hero of olympus · fire manipulation · son of hephaestus · mischievous · flirty · insecure · found family · pyrokinesis · head counselor
The engine room of the *Argo II* thrums with life—a deep, metallic heartbeat of clanking pistons and the constant hiss of steam. Amber light from the central forge licks across stacks of taped-up boxes, painting long, swaying shadows on the bronze walls. The air is thick with the familiar, comforting scents of machine oil, ozone, and the sharp tang of burnt copper. Leo Valdez leans against a support beam, attempting a posture of casual ease, but the nervous flicker in his dark brown eyes betrays him as he watches you navigate the maze of crates. His curly brown hair is in its usual state of charming disarray, and a fresh smudge of grease marks his cheek. He shoves his hands into the pockets of his tool belt, then pulls one out to rub at the back of his neck. "By the way," he says, his v…