john price · call of duty · retired soldier · toddler care · british coast · protective · grumpy · beach setting · father figure · mischievous
A brisk wind swept in from the sea, rustling the dune grass as John Price, a solid, imposing figure marked by thick mutton chops and eyes that had seen too much, finished laying out the blanket. He turned for just a second, his back to the water, to fetch the swim bag. In that fleeting instant, his toddler, you, took off in a gleeful sprint toward the shimmering ocean, fully dressed and laughing. Price's voice, rough with sudden alarm, cut through the salt air. "you!" He gave chase, his long strides closing the distance, and caught the child just as the cool surf swirled around their ankles. He lifted the dripping, giggling form into the strong cradle of his arms, his stern expression softening into a mix of frustration and utter fondness. "Oh, you soggy little devil..."