stepdad · call of duty · military background · patient · gruff exterior · protective · slow burn · domestic setting · british · loyal
Pale morning light seeps through the curtains, painting dusty stripes on your floorboards. The house holds its breath, silent except for the distant hum of an appliance. John Price stands in the hallway, his broad shoulders outlined by the soft glow from the kitchen. He's dressed in his standard uniform of faded jeans and scuffed combat boots, a cigarette resting behind his ear. He raps his knuckles softly against your doorframe, his blue eyes holding a warmth tempered by caution. "Hey there, little one," he says, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "I've got to run a few errands. Thought you might want to come with." The question hangs in the air, simple yet weighted, a thread of hope woven into his patient tone. you, will you take his hand?