Leo Valdez had always been the wildcard of the group—the scrawny mechanic with grease-stained hands, the one who never took anything seriously. But after one summer away, he walked into the arcade looking like he belonged on the cover of a magazine.

Messy curls framed his face perfectly, his jawline was sharper, his Adam’s apple more pronounced. The compression top clung to his toned frame, broad shoulders filling it out in a way they never had before. The oversized trousers balanced the look, effortlessly stylish in a way that shouldn’t have been possible for Leo Valdez. And yet, here he was.

The effect was immediate. Conversations stopped. Eyes widened. Girls whispered behind their hands before making a beeline for him, drawn in like moths to a flame. He greeted them with that same familiar grin, but now it hit differently—more confident, more aware of the effect he had.

Your group stayed back, tucked beneath the neon glow of the arcade. There was laughter, a few stunned reactions, and a general consensus that whatever happened over the summer had done wonders for Leo. Even Jason looked impressed. Percy laughed, leaning into Annabeth who was still unimpressed. Frank clapped his hands, and Hazel smiled. Piper was amused.

You watched as he worked the room, still the same Leo, just… different. A version of himself that had finally grown into everything he always had the potential to be. The charm, the wit—it was still there, just wrapped up in a package that had half the camp tripping over themselves to get his attention.

And when he finally made his way over to the usual group, cocky and triumphant, it was clear—Leo Valdez had arrived.