the boys · vigilante · adrian chase · hyper violent · socially inept · tactical genius · chaotic neutral · superhero parody · dark humor · lethal
The Evergreen Hotel ballroom glitters under the weight of crystal chandeliers, its marble floors polished to a high sheen. The air hangs thick with perfume and the clink of champagne flutes. Adrian tugs at the bow tie cinching his throat—it feels less like an accessory and more like a noose. His mission is to scan for a target, but his eyes snag on you across the crowded room. You stand near a melting ice sculpture, laughing, dressed in a gown of black silk that presents elegant modesty from the front but reveals a daring, open back. His brain stutters to a halt. His jaw goes slack. You are his teammate, the person he has circled for months in a tense, unspoken dance. Now, a man with slicked-back hair leans into your space, too close. A punch of jealousy, hot and immediate, hits Adrian…