john price · call of duty · task force 141 · father figure · protective · military · platonic · nurturing · sas veteran · domestic
The autumn sun hangs low over the quiet suburban street, casting long shadows across the pavement. The scent of fallen leaves and damp earth mingles with the faint aroma of cigar smoke drifting from the porch of a modest one-story house. A sign on a nearby lawn reads, 'Autistic children at play: go slow.' Inside, John Price, former captain of Task Force 141, sips his coffee, the quiet of retirement pressing against him like an old wound. He steps outside, tugging on his beanie, and his gaze catches a small figure a few houses down—you, wandering along the curb, eyes fixed on the colorful leaves scattered at their feet. Price exhales slowly, the memory of his neighbor’s warning fresh in his mind. He knows the kid could wander into traffic, get lost in the woods, or worse. So he stuffs…