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The captain’s soft spots were clear. The way his eyes softened as he walked past a kid’s shop, or merely when he was closest to his team. The warmth would spread, settling the ache in his chest and the wobble in his legs.
Over time, Price found himself chewing his nails, tugging at his own sleeves when they felt “wrong”. His actions mimicked a child’s, but something in his mind was sure this felt natural. It soothed him to let go of all the work, to leave him floaty in his mind.
His eyes slowly drifted shut as he was sat at his desk, paperwork discarded on the desk. Not even a cigar to his lips to make him relax. Even as the captain of such a dangerous team, he needed ways to cope with the things he’d done and helped to do. There were plenty of unhealthy things he could do, but he didn’t. Getting hooked on something dangerous would end the team, Price couldn’t have that. His boys were his life, he’d never fail them in such a way.
Price squirmed in his desk chair until he got comfortable. There was a couch on the far right side of the room, it just felt like it would take too long to get there. His desk wasn’t even cozy, he had just the basic necessities. Nothing extra, despite wanting more. It was warm, but it wasn’t pleasing. A few small huffs, and whimpers came from him as he looked between the places he could sit.
The end of his sleeve slipped into his mouth, his head delicately placed on the edge of the wooden desk. Getting up would mean he’d get cold again in the time it would take to get to the couch. It already felt cold without his jacket. Wherever it went… He regretted misplacing it from it’s typical spot on the back of his chair.
A soft knock at the door got his attention, though his reaction time was slower than usual. He could only hope it was one of his boys.
“Come in.” Came the softer answer to the knock as Price pulled the sleeve from his mouth, posture straightening. He needed to be solid if he was needed by anyone outside of the 141 circle. His reputation was important to him.
“Cap’n.” A warm voice called out to him as the door opened. Simon stepped in, no folder or work in his hands. Not even wearing his full mask, just one that covered his lower face and neck instead. It was a sign of trust between Simon and the team, reserved for base only.
Relief washed over Price at seeing it was just Ghost, he let out a breath while his shoulders eased. Just Simon, without work, no stress. He let himself slip further, those soft blue eyes following Simon’s every move. They lacked the typical tenseness Price’s features usually sported these days.
“Simon.” He returned the greeting, sinking back into the leather of his chair. A hand rubbed over his brow, blinking up at Simon. He removed his hat, letting it thump against the desk as it fell. His head fell back against the chair. Stress slowly bleeding away as he got rid of the things that worked him up.
Carefully, Simon approached, standing just next to Price’s chair as an ungloved hand rested over the Captain’s head. Smooth strokes of the greasy hair. Somehow, it always seemed that Simon was so in-tune with every member of the 141, appearing near them whenever something was needed. If Price didn’t know any better, he’d say he could read minds.
“Let go, John.” Simon encouraged, soft just as Price needed. The strong hand on his head guided him to lean his head against Simon.
Slowly, he leaned over, just as guided. His head pressed against Simon’s upper abdomen from how he was sitting. Deep breaths filled his lungs as the hand continued to softly brush through his hair. The simplest things let the captain ease up, breathing in the comfort.
Letting go was usually easier said than done, but today had already gotten him slipping. The knowledge that he’d be caught as soon as he fell, like a safety net, would help him.
His head was gently cradled in his lieutenant’s hands, holding him safe. Promising to catch him, a silent protector. Always there to catch him.
“I’m here, John…” Words whispered delicately to Price, Simon’s head tilted down to watch the captain. Brown eyes scanning for any sense of apprehension. Simon found something so sweet about watching Price relax, simply because he was there for him.
Price’s eyes shut once more. Mind drifting and drifting till it found a safe place to land. Everywhere was safe with Simon, he knew that the man would always have his back.
“‘m tired, Si…” Price breathed out, extra air behind his words as they fell from his lips. It was no surprise he was tired. Full nights of sleep were hard to get in a team like their own, riddled with nightmares and fear. It was a wonder they all hadn’t decided to squish their beds together and sleep in a way they knew they all would be safe. Not to mention the work constantly piling up.
“Let’s get you up then, hm? To the couch, yeah?” Oh that sounded wonderful. He’d been eyeing it for some time, and just needed that little push. Simon was good at the gentle guidance for that sort of thing.
The choice was easy, especially when Simon was reaching around him to pull him out of the old desk chair.
“Yeah, please…” Price muttered softly as he was steadily lifted to his feet. As he suspected, chills ran down his back at the cold air. Blue eyes wide as he sucked his lip into his mouth, quickly getting far too cold.
While he was distracted, Simon leaned to the ground to pick something up.
Warmth was draped over his shoulders, a black jacket was pulled over him like it was a blanket. Price’s jacket he swore he misplaced.
“Your jacket was on the floor, bud.” Simon gently informed him, an arm wrapping around his back to help Price to the couch. The touch so tender, as if Simon was afraid he’d break the little one if he was too quick.
“Oh.” Price was quiet in his reply, his cheeks going a soft pink at the embarrassment over not remembering.
“It’s okay, John, I know you can forget when that little head of yours gets mushy like this.” Simon returned, helping Price to go sit down on the couch. The thing was old, but it just added in value to Price. It made the couch more comfortable with all the memories that were connected to that couch.
As he was steadily sat down with Simon’s help, an actual blanket was rested over him. A blanket with cartoonish forest scenery on it, Price remembers it as a gift from Gaz. It being hand made just made it more special. Price kept lots of things, like gifts, in the spaces he was in most. Which was why the blanket was in the office instead of his bedroom.
“There you are, let go, bud..” Simon muttered, a masked kiss being placed to Price’s forehead.
It almost made the little one squeal with how happy it made him. That kind of affection was so so rare to receive from Simon. His chest briefly tightened as he looked up at Simon with wide eyes, sparkling with sweetness.
“Si-” Price murmured, only to see Simon pull down his half mask.
With all the playfulness Simon could manage, he gave a small gasp as he pressed another little kiss to Price’s forehead. Giggles flooded the room, Price looking up at Simon with awe. His head tilted just slightly as if he was a puppy.
“There’s my little bear.” Simon grinned, threading his fingers through Price’s hair.
“Si!” The little one reached out to grab onto Simon’s arm, a wide grin on his face. A little obstructed by the beard, but seeing the bright eyes and smile lines would always make up for that.
Simon happily let Price grab onto his arm, watching how Price smiled. It warmed his heart, the same one he once swore was cold and dead. It hardly felt that way anymore.
“Woah there, you’re strong, mate.” Simon chuckled. Price only held on more, trying to tug Simon down to sit with him.
Simon didn’t need much convincing, he plopped down right next to Price. He knew for a fact that he’d be whined at if he hadn’t squished himself right next to him. Not that he minded. Having space was nice and all, but Simon would much rather have a happy little one. Price came first, always in these situations.
One of Simon’s arms were wrapped softly around Price’s shoulders, while Price maintained grip on the other one. Physical contact was important to the both of them, though Price enjoyed it much more than Simon did. For a little, it was quiet again. While Price relaxed against Simon and gently played with the fabric of his shirt, Simon kept his gaze on Price with a small smile.
A little knock, then two more, interrupted their quiet time.
Price looked up at Simon, his head tilted in confusion as if he didn’t understand what the sound was. Simon, on the other hand, knew exactly who it was. He slipped his mask over his nose again before giving a whistle to let the visitor know they could come in.
That response was reserved for one man only.
The door opened, Gaz stepping in. Between Simon and Kyle, they each had their ‘thing’ for their response to the door. Kyle had a specific knock.
Price pulled his legs up nervously as he watched the door creak open, glancing up at Simon for a moment. Fear in those baby blue eyes.
The arm around him squeezed gentle, Simon flashing him a little grin behind the mask. In the chance anyone else was there, he had the mask on.
Price’s sleeve was brought back to his mouth, holding the fabric in his mouth. His eyes following as Kyle entered and shut the door behind him. The look Price sported was quick to sink into Kyle’s mind, he’d seen it a million times. The way his mind worked, he could tell the little one was worried.
“Just me, lad.” Kyle was swift to speak, to soothe him.
A deep breath filled his lungs as he relaxed once again.
Nods were shared between Simon and Kyle, each sharing nonverbal cues as to how things were going. And Price was not paying attention, so it wasn’t an issue to share at all. He leaned himself firmly against Simon’s side. They were lucky that the couch was big enough.
The couch sinking down next to him got his attention again. Price looked up to see Kyle next to him. With gentle touch, the sleeve was taken from Price’s mouth. There wasn’t a chance to complain before Kyle’s arms were opened in a hug. Of course he couldn’t say no.
Price wiggled his way out of Simon’s arm to fall into Kyle’s arms. Quite literally.
“Woah, lad, careful!” Kyle was quick to chuckle as his arms closed around Price. Even though Kyle was the smallest of them in terms of weight and buffness, he easily pulled Price to a comfortable position where neither of them would strain their backs or arms.
A few huffs came from Price as he buried his head against the soft fabric on the sargeant’s chest. For once, Price didn’t want to be careful. That was his whole job, his whole thing. He was letting go, relaxing how he wanted to. He didn’t have to be careful, because he knew he’d be picked up as soon as he fell. Because he had a safety net.
“Let ‘im do what he wants, Kyle.” Simon spoke, reaching over to pat Price’s back. “Let ‘im let go for a while…”
Simon was always on his side on these things, he took extra good care of Price. Just like a kid, little Price needed to figure out the consequences himself rather than just being told to be careful. There wasn’t a need for him to be overly anxious over maybes and what-ifs. Their line of work gave them enough of those. A scrape on his knee or a bruise would always be something that could be dealt with simply, it wasn’t a bullet. There wasn’t a need for such intense worry.
A soft sigh escaped Kyle’s lips as he nodded softly. Simon was right and he knew it. Out of all of them, Price needed to let go the most.
“Jus’ used to telling Soap to be careful then, eh? The little bastard doesn’t know what ‘slow down’ means…” Kyle responded to Simon, his eyes following the way the lieutenant watched Price cuddle up.
His arms tucked up under himself as he had his forehead pressed up to Kyle’s chest, with just enough room to breathe. Getting himself as small as possible, it seemed. For Price specifically, it meant he was getting smaller but also more comfortable.
Kyle’s fingers thread through his hair, a hum of a children’s song vibrating in his chest.
“Johnny’s a special case.. Wreckless, I swear.” It pulled a small smile to Simon’s lips as he spoke. From what he could tell, Kyle just put Soap to bed. Those deepened eyebags under the sargeant’s eyes were one of the big clues. Soap was often getting hurt, as one of the little ones. They all had a lot on their minds, and the last thing any of them needed was a crying Soap because he got a booboo. It happened more than they’d like to admit.
“Soap’s sleepin’..?” Price’s small voice squeaked, his head tilted up to look up at Simon. Sweet blue eyes big as he was looking up at him. It was too cute.
Simon’s heart squeezed in his chest as he looked down at him. He pulled his mask back off again, giving a hum to let Kyle answer.
“He’s sleeping, lad.. It’s his nap time.” Kyle gently explained, as Price looked up at him.
Anyone could anticipate what Price wanted now.
He didn’t directly ask, but he whined up at Kyle and Simon. He wanted to go see Soap. His own eyelids growing heavier the longer he was up. It would be no surprise if he woke up at four in the morning that day, it happened more times than not recently.
His lip began to quiver as the other two men looked between each other and Price. Price wanted to see Soap! He wanted to now! He wasn’t above pouting for it. For a little while, he’d forgotten about everything that wasn’t in front of him. In a way, it was good to slip that far. But now he knew where Soap was and he remembered he didn’t have his whole family with him.
Who were Simon and Kyle to deny him that? Saying no to that sad face would be like a punch in the gut to all of them.
So off they went, Price holding hands with Kyle as they walked in the halls. Of course Price had his other sleeve in his mouth, no one told him not to.
There were no chewy toys on hand, and both Simon and Kyle knew they’d rather have Price chew on his sleeve than his fingers. There were a few times that Price had accidentally bitten a part of his nail off, and cried about it because he couldn’t sleep with it throbbing in pain. They had tried other things, none of which helped much.
The three of them walked to where Soap was sleeping, Simon was guiding them to the bedroom Soap was in. It ended up being Kyle’s bedroom, rather than his own.
Walking in, Soap was there curled up in the bed. Three blankets over him.
Without a second thought, Price let go of Kyle’s hand to go to Soap. They were lucky enough that they’d both just barely be able to fit. Price was eager to cuddle up, he kicked his shoes off and got under the covers right next to Soap.
“John, love-” Simon attempted to stop him, followed by a heavy sigh as he watched the man get cozy. If he wasn’t smart, he would’ve tried to keep Price out of the bed. But once little Price had an idea, he wasn’t backing down from it.
Price wanted to cuddle with Soap, so he would.
Kyle watched this with an amused smile, his shoulder leaned gently against Simon’s. There wasn’t room to fit them too, but that wasn’t a problem. As long as their boys were happy, it would all be okay.
Price cuddled up with Soap, his arms easily slipping around him to hug Soap. It appeared the smaller man was content, a small hum came from the sleeping little one as an arm wrapped around Price as well. Price placed his head against Soap’s chest.
He got what he wanted, his family all in one room. Safe and sound. Nothing to stress about. Nothing that needed to be done immediately. There was time for a breather.
Kyle and Simon seemed to get the memo, the two of them having found their own places on the floor against the wall.
It didn’t take long for the room to go back to silence, with breaths filling the gaps. They were all together, that was what Price needed. Time to let go, for pure air to fill his lungs rather than suffocating smoke. He needed time to be coddled, time to be picked up and put back together, no matter if the hands that did it were shaking. It was his family.
Sleep came quickly for the captain, his eyes drifting shut as he relaxed further into the bed. Then it was Kyle, who easily fell asleep against Simon’s shoulder after a long day of chasing around a chaotic little Mactavish. It made sense that he was tired after all that. Simon didn’t let himself fall asleep like they did, but his head rested on Kyle’s. Instead, he purely enjoyed how soft this moment was.
Safe and sound, warm and cozy, home and peaceful. That was what Price needed to end the day with.