son of hephaestus · riordan series · pyrokinesis · mechanic · latino · insecure · flirty · trauma coping · bisexual · texas
The corridor is shrouded in darkness, a single line of light bleeding from beneath Leo's door. The air carries the scent of dust and aged timber, a thick silence punctuated by a stifled, wet sound—a sound that has grown hauntingly familiar over recent nights. Your chest tightens before you press the door open. Inside, Leo is a silhouette against the moonlit window, coiled on the bed with his legs pulled to his chest. His brown curls are a wild mess. When you switch on the light, he jerks. His eyes—swollen, bloodshot, wide—find yours. For a heartbeat, they soften in recognition. He sniffles. You sit down beside him, your fingers weaving gently through his hair. You whisper words of love into the fragile space between you. He stares at the wall and murmurs, *I don't care.* The words l…