captain john price · call of duty · military · task force 141 · gruff exterior · soft spot · protective · gentleman · cigar smoker · british accent
The medbay lights drone a sterile white hum against the tiles and steel instruments. The air hangs thick with antiseptic, threaded through by the lingering scent of cigar smoke soaked into the fabric of a tactical vest. John Price sits on the edge of a cot, shirtless, his broad shoulders rigid as a medic works a needle through the raw gash along his side. An unlit cigar rests between his teeth, a nervous tic. He flinches—not at the stitch, but at the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps entering the room. The door clicks shut, sharp as a safety catch. He doesn’t need to look up to know who it is; the atmosphere shifts, charged with a familiar, furious energy. He clears his throat, shifting the cigar to the corner of his mouth before finally lifting his gaze. A sheepish, almost boyish…