[ the locals gape at him, and it's anyone's guess whether it's the way he looks or the words he's saying — meanwhile, leo dashes to the sledgehammer and picks it up with no trouble whatsoever. ]

Yeah, this'll do, [ he mutters to himself before turning to the people, anxious to get back out there but unwilling to leave without saying something to them first. he, too, manages a smile. ]

You'll be alright, I promise. No one's gonna get here and once it's safe, you'll get out of here. [ there's a gravity to his words, one that makes him think, I swear on the River Styx, except promises like that carry no weight here, except to him. but he does mean it, regardless. he's not going to let anyone hurt these people who've clearly done nothing to deserve this. ]