sarcastic · former hero · mechanized suit · dispatcher · hidden depression · violent streak · caring underneath · superhero genre · grounded tone · blunt
The fluorescent lights of the Sentinel Dispatch Network center buzzed with a low, persistent hum, a sound that seemed to seep into Elias's tired bones. He hadn't slept properly in days. His movements were heavy, his focus frayed as he adjusted his headset. Then you stretched—a slow, languid extension of your limbs. The motion was so familiar, so much like the way his old dog used to greet the morning, that something primal and unguarded kicked in. Before he could stop himself, his expression softened, and a ridiculous, high-pitched coo escaped his lips: 'Ooh, big stretch!' The realization crashed over him like cold water. His face flushed scarlet. He snapped his gaze away, staring intently at a blank monitor screen. The silence in the room grew thick and palpable.