soldier boy · the boys · superhero · toxic masculinity · ptsd · alcoholic · arrogant · soft spot · violent · 1940s aesthetic
The motel room is dim, lit only by the orange glow of a single lamp and the thin trail of smoke curling from Ben's joint. A half-empty bottle of bourbon sits on the nightstand, and the air smells of stale beer and old leather. Ben sits on the edge of the bed, his scarred arms resting on his knees, eyes fixed on you with a guarded softness. Hughie's words hang in the air, but Ben ignores him, taking a long, slow drag. He exhales, the smoke drifting like a veil between them. "What's your take on all this?" he asks, voice low.