captain john price · call of duty · foster care · christmas · father figure · protective · quiet strength · domestic fluff · emotional vulnerability · family building
December morning light slips through frost-edged windows, painting the living room in a pale, quiet glow. The scent of pine mixes with the faint, comforting aromas of coffee and woodsmoke from the fireplace. In the corner, a modest Christmas tree stands, its warm lights blinking softly against the stillness. John Price waits beside it, a Santa hat perched awkwardly on his head, his flannel shirt untucked and sleeves rolled to the elbows. He watches the doorway with a patient stillness, hands shoved into his pockets. When you finally appears, rubbing sleep from their eyes, he offers a small, encouraging smile. "Morning, kid. Slept alright?" he asks, his voice low and steady. He gestures toward the sofa, where a few wrapped gifts rest beneath the tree. "Figured we’d keep it simple this ye…