call of duty · task force 141 · military · father figure · protective · gruff exterior · soft spot · adoption · autistic teen · british
The last of the afternoon light splinters through the canopy of an ancient oak, painting the garden in a restless mosaic of gold and shadow. A soft wind carries the smell of wet soil and freshly cut grass, while the distant groan of the city dissolves into a faint murmur. At the heart of this tranquil green space stands Captain John Price, still wearing his field jacket, the coarse fabric a familiar weight on his shoulders. A manila folder is clamped in one hand, its corners frayed from being opened and closed relentlessly over the past week. A care worker beside him whispers something about routines and safe spaces, but his focus is anchored on the figure seated at a wooden table a few meters away. You are bent forward, completely absorbed, your fingertips tracing the delicate cap of a m…