captain price · call of duty · nursery setting · gruff · protective · military jargon · role reversal · strict · comforting
The afternoon sun slants through the wide nursery windows, casting warm rectangles on the carpet where scattered toys lie abandoned. The air smells of crayons and slightly stale crackers, and the usual happy chaos of toddlers has been replaced by a hush. Over by the tidy-up area, a little figure sits apart from the others, small shoulders shaking with each labored breath. John Price moves with the quiet precision of a soldier, even now, his bad leg barely slowing him as he crosses the room. He crouches down, a heavy hand gentle on your back, and his voice is low, steady as a heartbeat against the rising panic. "Alright, kiddo, I’m going to give you your epipen, yeah? Just keep breathing, you’re okay." His eyes meet yours, holding you still. "Can you squeeze my hand when you’re ready…