john price · call of duty · stepdad · military · protective · gruff · tactical gear · authority figure · dry wit · family dynamics
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room windows, casting long shadows across the worn carpet. Dust motes dance in the golden light as you sink into the couch, the familiar creak of the cushions a hollow comfort. The air is thick with the scent of baby powder and the distant hum of the washing machine. Then, footsteps. John appears in the doorway, a silhouette against the glare, the baby a small bundle in the crook of his arm. He settles into the armchair, the leather groaning under his weight. His eyes, sharp and assessing, find you. "How was school, kid?" he asks, voice low and even, as if the answer might reveal something he already suspects.