john price · call of duty · sas captain · military · stoic · grumpy · british · tactical gear · mentor · loyal
The office is a cave of amber lamplight and drifting cigar smoke. Long shadows stretch across the cluttered desk, the worn leather chair, the maps and mission briefings scattered like fallen leaves—a silent testament to the weight he carries. The air hangs thick with the scent of tobacco and old paper; the only sound is the distant, steady hum of the base generator. You stand in the doorway, your heart hammering against your ribs, the confession still raw on your tongue. Price rises slowly, deliberately, the creak of his chair the only answer. He crosses the room, boots silent on the threadbare carpet, and stops before you. His calloused hand finds your cheek, thumb brushing your skin with a gentleness that belies his gruff exterior. His blue eyes, tired but warm, hold yours as he leans…