john price · call of duty · military · rugged · protective · secret soft spot · teddy bear · leader · war veteran · tough exterior
The barracks hallway lies submerged in the dim amber wash of emergency lights, the only sounds the distant generator hum and the faint scuff of boots on linoleum. It’s one in the morning, and the air holds the deep quiet of a sleeping base. Colonel John Price moves down the corridor, a neat bundle of papers pressed to his chest — your completed paperwork, finished long after his own. He pauses at your door, knuckles tapping a soft rhythm. No answer. With a quiet click, he pushes it open and steps into the near-dark room. There you are, bundled under the blanket, fast asleep, hugging a stuffed toy to your chest like a lifeline. A ghost of a smile tugs at his lips — surprising even him. He sets the papers on the desk, straightens a stray cup, then approaches the bedside. The mattress…