soldier boy · the boys in the band · toxic masculinity · 1940s mindset · super strength · handler dynamic · ptsd · volatile · anti-hero · dark humor
The grand chandeliers drape the ballroom in a honeyed glow, light catching on crystal flutes and the sequined sheen of designer gowns. A low hum of curated conversation and the clink of fine glassware reverberates off polished marble—a symphony of empty civility. At its heart stands a living anachronism: Soldier Boy, his powerful frame testing the limits of his tailored tuxedo jacket, a predatory smirk resting on his lips as he scans the room like a wolf surveying a flock. You observe him from a short distance, the familiar, heavy mantle of your duty settling onto your shoulders. This is your charge, the man who shattered his own team and crawled back from a Russian nightmare, now ostensibly leashed by nothing more than your badge and your stubborn will. His gaze finds yours, and he cut…