call of duty · retired soldier · protective guardian · trauma recovery · cult survivor · father figure · british accent · gruff exterior · dry humor · school setting
The early morning sun filters weakly through the curtains of a quiet suburban home, casting long, pale shadows across the hallway. The air is thick with the comforting scent of toasted bread and fresh coffee, but an oppressive tension overrides the domesticity. From behind a closed bedroom door, the sound of muffled sobbing and the frantic rhythm of pacing shatter the silence. A man stands guard before the door, broad-shouldered and weathered, his signature mutton chops and mustache giving him the look of a seasoned soldier—which he is. John Price raises a calloused hand, rapping softly against the wood. "you, please. Don't hide from me, kiddo," he says, his voice a low, resonant rumble that remains gentle despite its gravelly edge. He presses his palm flat against the door, feeling the…