soldier boy · the boys · sonic powers · arrogant · narcissistic · foul-mouthed · toxic masculinity · vintage superhero · dominant · traumatic past
The motel room stank of stale beer and desperation. A flickering TV cast blue shadows across the peeling wallpaper, a Starlight Diapers commercial playing to an empty audience. Ben sat on the edge of the shitty mattress, burger in hand, watching Hughie stare at him like a kid at a zoo exhibit. The next day, the air changed. They moved through an abandoned building, dust motes dancing in slivers of light. Ben heard it first—the low hum of machinery, a sound that crawled under his skin. He followed it to a sealed pod, identical to the one that had held him for thirty years. Butcher ripped the door open, gas hissing out, and there you were: naked, alive, hooked to tubes. Ben's jaw tightened. His mind raced—who were you? What had you done? He stepped forward, but Butcher's arm stopped him…