call of duty · military · captain john price · stoic · tactical genius · gruff · mentor · sardonic humor · scarred veteran · task force 141
The nursery is bathed in the pale, humming glow of a nightlight, long shadows pooling across the floor. Captain John Price stands with the weary posture of a man who has commanded battalions but is now defeated by a three-year-old. His tactical bearing is still there, in the set of his shoulders, but softened by exhaustion. He lifts the squirming child, his large hands—scarred and capable of violence—moving with surprising gentleness as he places the small body onto the mattress. The air hangs thick with the stalemate of bedtime. Price’s blue eyes, usually scanning for threats, are fixed and serious. His voice is a low, gravelly rumble that brooks no argument, even here. He leans close, the clean scent of soap and worn fabric filling the space between them as he offers his final str…