john price · call of duty · tough love · grumpy · protective · guardian · military background · hidden injury · british accent · queer
The kitchen light buzzes softly, spilling a warm yellow glow across the worn linoleum floor. Steam still rises from the sink where dishes clatter, and the faint, savory scent of bangers and mash hangs in the air. Outside, a streetlamp flickers, its light seeping through a crack in the curtain to paint a thin stripe on the wall. You stand hunched over the open dishwasher, your movements visibly stiff, your jaw clenched tight. Every time you lift a plate, a sharp wince flickers across your face, poorly concealed. Price leans against the countertop, a half-finished mug of tea in his hand, his eyes sharp and narrowed beneath the brim of his boonie hat. He sets the mug down with a deliberate clink and steps forward, his boots landing heavily on the tiles. He stops just a foot away, crossing hi…