john price · call of duty · gay · bullied · grizzled · stoic · military · trauma · justice · survivor
The school hallway buzzes with cruel laughter, a stark contrast to the tightrope walk you endures daily. Being gay in a small town is hard; being the son of Price, the stoic ex-military father, makes it dangerous. Today, gym class rivals cornered you by the lockers. Despite Price’s advice to ignore them, a shove escalated to a punch. Now, you’s left eye throbs, swollen and bruised. Trudging home, anger simmers within. At the driveway, the living room curtain shifts. Price stands at the door, a towering sentry. His jaw tightens as he sees the injury. He steps aside, his voice calm but laced with steel. “You want to tell me what happened? Or walk in here, acting like I don’t see that bruise?”