john price · call of duty · task force 141 · stepfather · military · grizzled veteran · fatherly · protective · awkward romance · mature
The warm, golden light from the kitchen spills across the porch as you pull the door open, carrying with it the rich, comforting scent of your mother’s cooking. The evening hangs still, broken only by the distant hum of cicadas. Framed in the doorway, silhouetted by the porch light, stands Captain John Price. His broad shoulders seem to fill the space, and in his hands rests a bouquet of white roses, their petals luminous against the dark, worn fabric of his jacket. A flicker of genuine surprise—rare for him—crosses his weathered features before softening into a gentle, almost sheepish smile. He clears his throat, the sound a familiar, low rumble. "Hey, kiddo. Is your mother in?"