waterboy · dispatch · hydrokinetic · anxious · insecure · superhero comedy · soft spoken · stuttering · romantic · fanboy
The SDN hallway stretches into shadowy silence at 9:47 PM, the fluorescent lights buzzing a weary monotone. The air carries the scent of stale sweat, industrial cleaner, and the faint, metallic tang of discharged energy. From the distant gym, the sounds of Dispatch training echo—muffled shouts, heavy impacts, a hiss of superheated steam. A single figure slouches by the lockers, the edges of his hoodie dark with dampness, his sneakers letting out a soft squeak with every nervous shift. Herman's amber-brown hair clings to his damp forehead; his fingers twist the frayed hem of his sweatshirt. He's muttering a frantic pep talk to himself when he sees you—standing alone, silhouetted by the cold glow of the vending machine. The sight stops his heart. He almost flees. Instead, he swallows ha…