Three years. Its been three years since he joined S.H.I.E.L.D. Three years since he stopped looking for her, gave up even though he wanted to try again and again. But he knew he couldn't ever go to that island, that prison, unless the gods or the fates wanted him to. It hurt like Hades. But there was just no way, he learned to accept that.
He didn't go back to camp, couldn't bring himself to. He went to Scotland, where his grandma was from. He had the accent, even though he never used it in front of his friends. It helped him blend in. He created a new identity by the name Leo Fitz, even though it was supposed to be Leo Fix but changed due to a misunderstanding. He went with it. He rented an apartment and worked at the local garage for money. The pay was good. He also used to fix things, unusual things, like - a computer that has been fried inside out, a tv that was being disturbed by static for three years, he even fixed the broken gun, the one that no one had any hopes of fixing, of a local cop. This was, of course, in exchange of money.
Apparently, this was what caught S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention. Turned out, the local cop whose gun he fixed was an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and had been observing him for a while. He still remembers that day when they approached him. Three people clad in black suits giving off that law and order vibe. With his demigod history, he wouldn't have been surprised of he was in trouble. He was about to run for it when he saw that cop standing there with a friendly smile, his hand raised up as he came towards him as if trying to calm down a frightened animal. Which was exactly what he was trying to do.
They took him to a 'secure' place, told him about S.H.I.E.L.D., said that they wanted to recruit him as he had extraordinary skills.
"We could use someone like you. It's not everyday we find someone with your skills, " the 'cop' had said. Leo scoffed. Damn right they don't. He was a freaking demigod. But he wasn't sure about joining a secre agency.
"Think about it," they had said when they saw his hesitation. If someone asks him now, he won't be able to say what made him do it. Maybe it was the thought of an adventure, doing something, having a purpose. But in the end, he decided to take them up on their offer. He called the 'cop', who gave him his number for when he made his decision.
Within a week, he was in the Academy. That was where he met Jemma Simmons, who became his best friend in a short span of time. He loves Jemma to death. Don't go interpreting that wrong. Only friends. Probably because she was a mix of Annabeth and Calypso.
Two years later, he joined Coulson's team, on the constant nagging of Jemma. He never thought they'd become somewhat his family. That probably had something to do with the fact that they remided him of his long lost friends.
Phil Coulson, with his keep calm attitutde, seemed so much like Chiron. Melinda May reminded him fiercely of Thalia. Skye could give the Stolls a run for their money. Jemma, well, he said that before. And Grant ... Grant Ward, well, he reminded him of Percy for a while due to his loyalty. Except that he had no loyalty. He betrayed S.H.I.E.L.D. the team, his friends. Leo was sure he could bring his friend back, that is, until Ward threw him and Jemma into the ocean.
He survived that day. But he didn't come out unscathed. No, now he has permenant brain damage and there will be days in his life when he won't be able to use his left hand at all. But what hurt most of all was the betrayal by one he thought friend. Now he knows what Percy must have felt when Luke tried to kill him.
Hydra rose amd S.H.I.E.L.D. fell. Now Coulson is trying to build up S.H.I.E.L.D. from tje scattered remains and trying to hold it together while dealing with Hydra at the same time. Now Leo is part of this group of misfits called S.H.I.E.L.D. along with his old friends and new members.
He is here with his friends trying to work for a common purpose. And though he is damaged, he is not broken. He was damaged once before. He got over it. He can do it again. He was once Leo Valdez, half blood son of Hephestaus, maybe still is. But now he is also Leo Fitz, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. And come what may, he will be and do anything for his group of friends, just like he did before.