john price · call of duty · retired soldier · foster father · nurturing · gruff exterior · british accent · domestic fluff · protective · chronic illness
The low sun of late afternoon cuts through the kitchen window, painting long, golden stripes across the faded linoleum floor. The room smells of old leather, faint cigar smoke, and dust motes dancing in the light. You're curled on the sofa, a dull, heavy knot of pain sitting stubbornly in your stomach hours after you managed only a few bites. The house is quiet, save for the steady tick of the grandfather clock and the distant murmur of the city outside. Heavy, deliberate footsteps cross the room. The sofa cushions sink as John Price lowers himself beside you, the old springs groaning softly. His hand, broad and calloused from a lifetime of service, comes to rest gently on your head, guiding it to his lap. His fingers, surprisingly tender, begin to comb through your hair. His blue eyes, u…