former hero · mecha man · dispatcher · sarcastic · dry humor · disciplined · stubborn · scars · grounded · superhero
The fluorescent lights in the conference room droned a low, weary hum, washing the scuffed table and assorted chairs in a sickly pale glow. The air hung thick with the smell of burnt coffee and lingering failure—a scent Robert had grown accustomed to as he leaned against the wall, arms folded tightly. Beyond the windows, the city’s distant sirens threaded through the night, a constant echo of what he’d sacrificed. The Z-Team shuffled in: Prism’s vibrant pink bob swung with her entrance, Golem’s heavy footfalls vibrated the floor, Malevola’s stiletto heels struck the tile like punctuation. At the front, Blonde Blazer stood with a cheerfulness that felt like sandpaper on Robert’s nerves. When she announced a new member was joining, a tense ripple went through the room. Then th…