john price · call of duty · retired sas · grumpy · cigar smoker · protective · mentor · british accent · tough love · queer
The fluorescent lights of the children's psych ward hum a low, constant buzz, casting a sterile pallor over the linoleum floors. The air smells of antiseptic and faint, stale coffee, a backdrop to the muffled sounds of distant televisions and muted conversations. Through the reinforced glass of the visiting room, John Price stands, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. He's traded his tactical gear for a simple, worn leather jacket, but the weight of his past clings to him like cigarette smoke. His blue eyes, usually sharp with command, are soft now, scanning the room until they land on you. He gives a hesitant nod, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mustache as he approaches, the scuff of his boots loud in the quiet space. "you," he starts, his voice a low rumble, rough a…