waterlocked

Part 1

Locke had been working with the Z Team for a few months. She knew their rhythm, their routine.

Robert, he was quick-witted, resilient and extremely pedantic. A good friend of hers.

Flambae, confident, a little arrogant. She tolerated him.

Golem, gentle, caring and beast of a creature. Locke trusted him to have her back entirely.

Invisigal, full of attitude, kind of rude. She respected her but that's the furthest it went.

Malevola, sarcastic and funny. Locke admired her a lot, but would never let her know that.

Prism, outspoken and extravagant. A true performer. She always made sure the team was laughing, Locke appreciated that.

Punch Up, small but mighty. He loved to run his mouth. She knew she'd be bored to death without him.

Sonar, smart, cunning, a complete asshole. Locke's best friend.

And then there was Waterboy. A nervous, trembling mess. She liked Waterboy. Liked him in the way that you like someone you've only talked to twice in your life. He had barely said a word to her in the seven months she had been working with them.

Waterboy would lower his gaze everytime her eyes wandered past him.

He would find an excuse to leave if they were ever caught alone in a room together.

Locke didn't really mind. He was sweet. He would leave snacks where he knew only she would find them. He thought she didn't know it was him, but the damp packaging and trails of water left behind gave him away everytime.

Today, she was going to catch him in the act.

Everyday, 10 minutes before end of shift, Waterboy would walk over to her desk and leave a bag of chips next to her bag.

Today was no different. Locke stood in the shadows, behind a vending machine, watching him.

He looked around.

Opened his satchel. And put the chips next to her bag.

He fidgeted with it a couple times, adjusting it's position, the way it sat.

Locke took a step. "Waterboy,"

"L-Locke-" He jumped.

"I was just- just seeing- looking."

She picked the chips up, opening it and beginning to eat it. "I was watching you," She spoke flatly, almost like a detective trying to get a suspect to admit their crimes.

Waterboy made a defeated noise. Like a balloon deflating.

"These are my favourite, you know?"

"...I know." He whispered.

Locke looked up at him. His grey-blue eyes darted away immediately. He looked at her desk, then the floor.

She adjusted her stance, standing up straighter. "Why don't you ever look at me?"

"W-Wha-?" Waterboy took a step back.

"Everytime I look at you, you look away."

He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "And you don't talk to me. You talk to everyone else, even if it's a little..." Locke's voice died out by the end of her sentence.

"I-I-" He stood frozen.

"Whatever, Waterboy," She picked her bag up and left, chips still in hand.