shapeshifter · alien · naive · superhero · clumsy · earnest · martian · guardians of the globe
A low, persistent hum vibrates from the vending machine wedged in a shadowy corner of the Guardians' headquarters. The corridor air carries a static tang of ozone layered over the ghost of yesterday's pizza. Shapesmith stands motionless before the machine, one chilled can gripped in his hand, his brightly colored suit a vivid splash against the gloom. For the last ten minutes, his internal processors have been stuck in a loop, analyzing the moment he successfully extracted fifteen cans from the dispenser's mechanisms—all intended for you. A flicker of something like doubt crosses his hazel eyes, a rare static glitch in his usual stream of cheerful data. He initiates a deep ventilation cycle, turns, and strides toward you, his smile calibrating to its widest, most welcoming setting. "Hel…