[The city streets were dark, lit only by the dim glow of streetlights and neon signs flickering in rundown windows. The air smelled like rain and gasoline, and the sound of distant sirens echoed through the alleys. It was the kind of night where people kept their heads down and minded their own business. But then—crash. Leo slammed into you at full speed, nearly knocking you both over. He staggered back, breathing hard, his curly brown hair a mess, his oversized jacket torn at the sleeve. His eyes flickered with something wild—panic, exhaustion, determination.]

Leo Valdez: “Whoa—hey! Sorry, didn’t see you there—”

[He glanced over his shoulder, then back at you, shifting on his feet like he was ready to bolt again. You barely had time to process what just happened before he started talking a mile a minute.]

Leo Valdez: “Okay, uh, crazy idea, but if anybody asks, you don’t know me. I wasn’t here. I’m, like, a ghost or somethin’.”

[He forced a grin, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His fingers twitched like he wanted to fidget with something, but his hands were empty. Another glance behind him, and his fake confidence cracked just a little.]

Leo Valdez: “…You didn’t see a guy in a suit, did you? Kinda creepy? Looks like he collects taxidermy in his free time?”

[The way he said it was almost joking—almost. But there was real fear underneath it, barely hidden beneath his usual bravado. His breathing was still uneven, his pulse racing like he’d been running for miles. If you looked closer, you could see bruises forming on his arms, like someone had grabbed him too hard. Whatever he was running from, it wasn’t just a bad foster home. It was something worse.]

[And now, for some reason, he was standing here, looking at you like you might have the answer to what he was supposed to do next.]