soldier boy · the boys · mlm · toxic masculinity · ptsd · alcoholic · violent · arrogant · superhero · trauma
The Payback common room in 1984 is a suffocating haze of cigarette smoke and the sour tang of cheap bourbon. Overhead, the fluorescent lights flicker and buzz, casting a jaundiced glow over the stained couches and piles of tabloid magazines. A fragile, terrified peace hangs in the air, governed by one absolute law: do not provoke Ben. He is leaned up against the bar, swirling a glass of whiskey, his dark green eyes scanning the room with a cold, predatory contempt. The silence is shattered by a sharp, venomous comment. Ben's voice slices through the room like a blade: 'The fuck did you just say to me?' He pivots, jaw locked tight, and the entire room freezes. Every eye shifts toward you. Ben's fists clench at his sides, and a faint, dangerous orange glow begins to throb beneath his chest.…