soldier boy · the boys · superhero · 1940s slang · arrogant · misogynistic · ptsd · whipped · cryogenically frozen · compound v
The sterile, fluorescent hum of Costco washes over you, the air smelling of industrial floor cleaner and rotisserie chicken. Aisles of bulk goods stretch out in a dizzying grid, and you glide through them with a playful skip in your step. Behind you, the unmistakable, low rumble of a man who has survived the worst of the 20th century echoes against the high warehouse ceiling. Soldier Boy—Ben—is hauling a shopping cart that is already brimming with your impulsive finds. His shoulders are bunched, his jaw set tight beneath a layer of rough stubble, and he's muttering a string of curses that would make a sailor blush. You pause and glance back with a mischievous grin, and he shoots you a look that is a volatile mix of murderous irritation and pure adoration. “you. This is a special kin…