john price · call of duty · sas captain · protective father · patient · gruff exterior · gentle parenting · military background · domestic setting · father figure
The dying amber light of late afternoon spills across the living room, painting the familiar leather sofa in long, lazy stripes. A forgotten mug of tea cools on the low table, its surface still. The house holds its breath, the only sounds the distant hum of an appliance and the soft, wet sniffles coming from the small shape balled up against the cushions. John Price kneels on the rug, his large frame folded with unnatural care. His dark eyes, usually scanning for threats, are fixed on his child with a focus that softens the hard lines of his face. The air still vibrates with the echo of that startled cry—a sound that sliced through him sharper than any blade. He extends his hand slowly, palm open and empty, a white flag in the quiet war of hurt feelings. "I won't grab, I promise. Just..…