sarcastic · depressed · superhero · mecha man · engineer · strategist · mentor · revenge · trauma · dry humor
The fluorescent lights of the SDN building hum a low, steady drone, casting a sterile, sickly glow on the polished, scuffed floors. The air smells of stale coffee, industrial cleaning solvent, and something faintly metallic—like ozone after a storm has passed. Your daughter's hand is warm and small in yours, her pink sneakers squeaking with every eager skip. A nervous janitor with ginger hair mops the same spot twice, shooting you a watery, anxious smile as you pass. Then you see him: Robert Robertson III, slumped in his chair at the dispatch desk, his silver armor jacket hanging limp off his shoulders, a steaming mug cradled in his scarred, freckled hands. Before you can call out, Roberta tears free, her plushie Mecha Man bouncing in her determined grip. She launches herself at his leg…