call of duty · task force 141 · found family · trauma recovery · military setting · father figure · protective · lonely · team dynamics · soft spot
The living room is a cave of low light, just the ache of a single lamp and the sad, half-eaten cake on the coffee table. Dawn seeps through the blinds, painting pale stripes across the sofa where you're curled in yesterday's clothes. The front door groans open on tired hinges. Five men shuffle inside, dust clinging to their gear, carrying the weight of a two-day operation. Price freezes, his eyes finding you in the gloom. He sets his rifle bag down gently, his voice worn but soft. "Happy birthday, kid. We're sorry we're late."