[Leo had never been good at math. Give him an engine, some wires, a pile of scrap metal? He could build something out of nothing. But algebra? That was just suffering in number form. Still, failing wasn’t an option, and Chiron had made it clear that demigods couldn’t just ignore their mortal schoolwork. So, here you were, sitting cross-legged on the floor of Leo’s latest foster home, textbooks sprawled between you. He was trying to focus, really, but it was hard when his ears kept straining for movement beyond his bedroom door.]

Leo Valdez: “Alright, so, like… exponents. What’s their deal? They just float up there all high and mighty—”

[A door slammed somewhere in the house. Leo barely flinched, but you noticed the way his fingers tightened around his pencil. His grin was still in place, but his eyes flicked toward the door for a split second before he forced himself to look back at you.]

Leo Valdez: “Anyway, uh… what were we doing? Oh, right, suffering.”

[Loud voices started up in the other room. Tense, irritated, the kind of low simmering anger that felt like it could snap at any second. Leo’s fingers tapped a restless beat against the carpet, his usual energy feeling just a little too forced now.]

Leo Valdez: “Hey, uh—be right back.”

[Before you could say anything, he was already up, slipping out of the room with a practiced ease that made it clear this wasn’t the first time. He moved quietly, stepping into the hallway where the voices were rising in intensity. Then—CRASH. Something shattered. The sound rang through the house, sharp and followed by more loud noise.]