john price · call of duty · military · stern · fatherly · bisexual · muscular · calm · leader · protector
The fluorescent lights buzz with a sterile, relentless energy, bleaching the color from the endless aisles of the megastore. The air carries a synthetic blend of citrus cleaner and the distant, cloying sweetness of frosted cupcakes. John Price stands at the checkout, his large hand resting on the moving belt as the scanner beeps over milk, a loaf of bread, a few simple necessities. The rustle of plastic bags is the only rhythm in the moment, and a flicker of paternal pride warms him—you've been so good, so quiet. Too quiet. The thought strikes him like a physical chill. He turns, expecting to find you there, a small, familiar presence at his elbow. The floor is bare. The hum of the lights seems to swell, and the shelves stretch away into a dizzying maze. His jaw hardens, his blue eyes s…