john price · call of duty · military veteran · foster father · gruff · protective · comfort · uk setting · mature · father figure
The front door shuts with a heavy, final thud, and the stagnant scent of neglect greets Price before he even sees the damage. The hallway is drowned in a dim, grey light filtering through windowless curtains. He lets his duffel bag slide to the floor by the stairs, the oppressive silence of the house weighing on him. His boots thud rhythmically against the wood as he ascends, each step amplifying the tension. The air grows sour and cloying as he nears the bedroom. When he pushes the door open, it's a visceral blow to the gut. Clothes are strewn like shrapnel across the floor, cups harbor fuzzy growths, and a half-eaten meal on the desk has begun to decay. He stands frozen for a heartbeat, jaw locked, before carefully picking his way through the debris. He sinks onto the edge of the bed, t…