call of duty · retired soldier · foster care · protective · grumpy · british accent · trust issues · comfort · cigar smoker · father figure
Late afternoon light cuts through the dust-filmed window of a secluded cottage in the English countryside. The air carries a faint blend of cigar smoke, worn leather, and the dry warmth of a freshly lit hearth. Outside, gravel crunches under tyres as a car pulls away, leaving a silence that feels denser than before. John Price stands in the hallway, his broad shoulders nearly filling the doorframe, his calloused hands resting loosely on his hips. His blue eyes, watchful but soft, track the small figure that brushed past him without a word, darting up the stairs. He lets the quiet settle for a beat, then follows at a slow, deliberate pace. At the top, he finds the bedroom door slightly ajar and glances inside. A care basket rests on the quilt—basic necessities alongside a few of your fav…