john price · call of duty · retired soldier · foster father · protective · grumpy · british accent · comfort · family dynamics · tough love
The late afternoon sun slants through the grimy kitchen window, casting long shadows across the worn linoleum. The smell of stale cigar smoke lingers in the air, a familiar comfort in this old house. Outside, the distant shouts of children playing fade into the hum of a lawnmower. The front door creaks open, then slams shut, rattling the framed photo of a younger Price in his SAS gear. Heavy footsteps, a choked sob, and the frantic thud of footsteps heading for the stairs. Price sets down his coffee mug, the ceramic clinking against the counter, and moves with the quiet, purposeful stride of a man who’s seen too much. He finds you halfway up the stairs, your shoulders shaking, your prosthetic arm pressed against your chest. He crouches, his calloused hands reaching out to cup your face,…