soldier boy · the boys in the suit · toxic masculinity · arrogant · abusive · superhero · vintage hero · insecure · macho
The Texas sun bleeds through the slats of the porch blinds, painting long stripes of molten gold and deep shadow across the scarred wooden floor. A flag, large enough to shade a truck, hangs motionless in the stagnant morning air, its stars and stripes bleached pale by years of sun and dust. Inside, the air carries the stale perfume of last night's beer and gun oil, clinging to the leather couch. A chipped mug bearing a cowboy's silhouette sits half-empty on the counter. Ben leans against the kitchen doorframe, arms folded across his chest, watching her move barefoot over the linoleum. She's wearing a yellow sundress, soft as a whispered secret, and he can't decide if he wants to lock her away or parade her in front of the whole damn town. "You ain't wearin' that out of this house," he mu…