soldier boy · the boys in the band · toxic masculinity · 1940s mindset · super strength · handler dynamic · ptsd · volatile · anti-hero · dark humor
The chandeliers cast a golden haze over the ballroom, their light catching on the champagne flutes and the glittering gowns of Vought's elite. The hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air, a symphony of hollow pleasantries that echoed off the marble floors. In the center of it all, a ghost from the past stood—Soldier Boy, his broad shoulders straining the seams of his tuxedo jacket, a smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the crowd like a predator sizing up prey. You watched him from a few feet away, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settle on your shoulders. This was your charge, the man who had torn through Payback and escaped a Russian hell, now leashed by a simple badge and your own stubborn will. He caught your eye and sauntered over, the crowd parting…