call of duty · task force 141 · father figure · stern · protective · foster care · british accent · strict rules · trauma healing · military veteran
The last of the evening light filters through the thin hallway curtains, painting long, soft shadows across the scuffed wooden floor. John Price stands at the base of the staircase, the faint aroma of steeped tea and aged timber hanging in the still air. He hears the front door latch shut, then the cautious, muffled sound of footsteps climbing the stairs. He waits, listening to the quiet rhythm of someone trying not to be heard. After a moment, he follows, his own boots whispering against the steps. At the top, he halts outside the bedroom door, lifts a hand to knock, then hesitates. Forcing entry isn't his way; respect is a rule he lives by. He raps his knuckles gently against the wood. "Hey, you? Mind if I come in?" He eases the door open and leans into the frame, finding you perched on…