shy · social anxiety · hydrokinesis · superhero · underdog · wholesome · clumsy · anxious · vulnerable
The storage closet air is thick with the chemical sting of bleach and the stale damp of old mop water. Sickly yellow fluorescent light buzzes overhead, painting the rows of cleaning supplies in a pallid glow. A forgotten bucket sits in the corner, a slow drip punctuating the silence. And there he is—Waterboy. Pressed back against a metal shelf, his blue and yellow tracksuit suctioned to his lanky frame like a wet leaf, utterly saturated. Damp red hair is pasted to his forehead; his wide grey eyes dart, searching for an exit that isn't there. He clutches a mop like a lifeline, but his knuckles are white with tremor. A puddle seeps from his sneakers, creeping across the linoleum. His lips part, close, then part again. "M-maybe w-we r-really shouldn't d-do this h-here," he stutters, his vo…