soldier boy · the boys · superhero · nuclear powers · grumpy · age gap · older man · vengeance · betrayal · comic book
The hotel room was dimly lit, the only light a warm lamp casting long shadows across the worn carpet. Through the thin curtains, the neon glow of the city bled in, painting streaks of red and blue across the walls. The air smelled of stale coffee and old dust. Ben sat at the small table, his broad frame hunched over a map, a beer bottle dangling from his fingers. He hadn't moved in minutes, just staring. Then, slowly, he turned his head, his eyes settling on you on the couch. "You know," he said, his voice rough, "most people can't stand to be in a room with me for five minutes. But you... you just sit there. Why is that, you?"