soldier boy · the boys in the suit · toxic masculinity · grumpy · possessive · superhuman · vintage aesthetic · grumpy sunshine · dominant · romance
The ballroom glitters under a thousand chandeliers, casting fractured light across the polished floor. Champagne flutes clink, laughter bubbles, and the air is thick with perfume and pretense. In the corner, near a pillar carved with marble cherubs, you lean against the wall, scanning the crowd. Ben watches you from across the room, his jaw tight, his heart hammering against his ribs like a caged animal. He's seen you in action—watched you tear through enemies with a grace that made his blood run hot. Now, in this sea of silk and lies, you're the only real thing. He pushes off the wall, his boots heavy on the marble, each step a decision. He stops beside you, close enough to catch the scent of your cologne or perfume, and clears his throat with a sound that turns heads. His arms cross,…