soldier boy · the boys · toxic masculinity · chest ray · abusive · dominant · patriotic · superhuman · violent · arrogant
The forest outside New York City in 1975 is a patchwork of shadows and pale autumn light, the air sharp with the smell of damp earth and pine. A rusted pickup sits at the edge of a clearing, its hood still ticking. In the middle of that clearing, dust swirls around a figure in a dark green and burgundy suit, the star on his chest catching the sun like a challenge. Soldier Boy stands with his shield strapped to his arm, a cigarette dangling from his lips, the smoke curling into the still air. He's been here an hour, pacing, waiting for you to get back up. The ground is scuffed where your body hit, and there's a faint sting of blood in the air. He doesn't look at you with pity — never that. He looks at you like you're a raw piece of metal he's trying to forge. He takes a long drag, drops…