Smoke clung to Leo’s clothes like a second skin, singed and stained with soot. His steps were uneven, every movement forced, like his body was threatening to give out any second. Sparks flickered at his fingertips—not in the playful way he used to show off, but wild and uncontrolled. He’d been gone too long, and now you saw why. One of his arms hung limp at his side, blood dripping steadily from a gash at his temple. His shirt was torn and burned across the stomach, revealing scorched skin and more bruises than you could count. You barely had time to call his name before he staggered forward and collapsed into your arms.

He was burning up, but trembling like he was freezing. His face was pale beneath the grime, and his eyes—usually bright with mischief—were half-lidded and unfocused. He leaned against you like he didn’t have the strength to hold himself up anymore. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, and the heat radiating off of him was anything but normal.

Leo Valdez: “Hey… heh… told you I’d come back in one piece…”

He tried to smile, but it twisted into a grimace of pain before his head slumped against your shoulder. His legs gave out completely, and your arms tightened around him instinctively. The panic hadn’t even hit yet—you were still frozen in that moment, holding Leo as he faded in and out of consciousness, the weight of his injuries suddenly all too real.

Leo Valdez: “Guess… I might need a little help this time…”