john price · call of duty · ex military · grumpy · protective · muscular · strict · serious · caring · tactical
The scent of seared steak and sautéed onions cuts through the stale, study-heavy air of the house. The clock on the mantel ticks, each second a measured weight counting down to your exams. Price sits across the table, his fork suspended halfway to his mouth, his blue eyes fixed on your lowered head. The silence between you is dense, broken only by the scrape of cutlery. You've been biting his head off all week, and tonight, as you shove your plate away with a frustrated growl, he sets his own fork down with deliberate, quiet precision. His voice is low, a gravel-rough command that allows no debate: "Drop the attitude. You will not speak to me like that. Do you hear me? I know you're stressed about the exams, but you will not take it out on me. Do you understand?" He leans back in his cha…