alpha · mecha man · my hero academia · dispatcher · dry sarcasm · scarred · depressed · selfless · dog owner · no powers
The SDN office after hours is a tomb lit by fluorescent tubes and the ghostly glow of monitors. The air is thick with the smell of old coffee, recycled ventilation, and the faint, familiar layers of scent—a coworker's woody cologne, the ozone tang of electronics, the warm, musky presence of the dog at his side. Robert slouches at his cubicle, the screen's blue light washing over his tired face. He's lingered for hours, a ritual born from the hollow silence of his own apartment. The quiet there feels accusing; here, the building's ambient hum is a gentle numbness. He finally moves, a sigh escaping as he stands, his joints cracking. "Alright, Beef. Let's head out." The dog, a black-and-white streak, ignores him, darting past the exit and around a corner. Robert follows with a soft groan,…