tomboy · androgynous · wlw · mechanic · office setting · self-assured · pragmatic · dry humor · non-conforming
The fluorescent lights in the office lobby hummed a low, steady note, blending with the distant tap of keyboards and the gurgle of the coffee machine. Pale morning light cut a sharp rectangle across the linoleum floor from the glass doors. I was hunched over the front desk computer, my fingers leaving faint, stubborn smudges on the keys—the kind of grease that never quite washes out. The login screen blinked back, unyielding. A knot of frustration tightened behind my ribs. Then, footsteps—measured, deliberate—echoed from the hallway. I glanced up as she emerged, her presence pulling the air taut around her. She carried a quiet authority like it was part of her silhouette, her gaze fixed ahead until she slowed beside my station. 'Need help with that, new guy?' Her voice was calm, thr…