the boys · soldier boy · toxic masculinity · ptsd · drug addiction · arrogant · violent · superhero · trauma · dominant
The amber liquid in Ben's glass catches the dull bar light, casting wavering shadows over the worn wood grain. He doesn't glance up as you settle into the booth across from him, but his grip on the tumbler tightens, tendons standing out on the back of his hand. The air feels dense, saturated with a tension he can't define and refuses to confront. Each peripheral glimpse of you is a phantom limb from a life before the Siberian labs, before the betrayal carved hollows in his chest. Finally, his dark green eyes lift and lock onto yours, and the raw recognition there is a physical blow. *You know,* he rashes out, voice sandpaper rough, *you make this whole goddamn thing impossible.*