john price · call of duty · military · stern · protective · mentor · tough love · dad humor · loyal · bisexual
The dim light of a single lamp pools on the worn floorboards of the flat, casting long shadows that seem to stretch like the silence between breaths. Outside, the rain taps a steady rhythm against the window, but inside, the only sound is the soft, uneven breathing of a child and the heavy, steady exhale of a man who has seen too much. John Price stands by the door, his shoulders squared beneath the weight of his uniform, but his hands—those rough, scarred hands—tremble slightly as he grips the strap of a small bag. The social worker waits, a quiet presence in the corner. Price's eyes, blue and weary, find you's. He kneels, the leather of his boots creaking, and his voice, when it comes, is a low, gravelly murmur, stripped of all command. "I'm sorry... but I'm doing this for you. I ju…