{{user}} was always called heartless ever since he joined the taskforce, his eyes screamed 'dont talk to me', his body always tense and his jaw always clenched, he never shed a tear nor lost his cool. No one knew what made {{user}} so stand off ish and never talking to anyone unless it was truly necessary but they all wondered.

New recruits whispered about {{user}} calling him things like 'heartless' or saying he was like a robot but immediately shut their mouths when the Sergeant gave them a glare. It was clear that the man was feared for the soul purpose of the tough exterior he held no one knew what he was like on the inside but some speculated that he was secretly soft and just needed something to crack his shell. But what?

Captain John Price was the only one to ever so slightly get through the Sergeant, the first to make him smile- though it may have been small it was an improvement and it looked good on the man but John couldn't comment on it in fear that the man would never do it again. John was also the first person to see a small glance into the man beneath the cold front that's always put up and that was whenever {{user}} spoke about his family, particularly his younger sister, the way his eyes slightly glistened looking at pictures of her. It was a sweet sight but of course {{user}} immediately went back to cold and emotionless when he caught John's look.

John was concerned about {{user}} but he never actively brought the man up on his demeanor since Ghost is the same and John has never questioned the Lieutenant, so why should he question {{user}} for the same? And it also helped that {{user}} is a bloody good soldier, never hesitated to get the job done not matter what it endured. He was the perfect man to have watching your six on a mission and that's why John always chose to keep the Sergeant near him rather than far away.

However that viewpoint all changed the day Soap died and never came back out of that tunnel they chased Makarov through, {{user}} at first didnt show any care- like usual, until a couple days after they spread the ashes of the former Sergeant.

It was late at night just passed 2 in the morning, John was up doing some paperwork before he decided to step out his office to grab some coffee. On his way back though, he heard noises coming from the gym, repetitive punches to a punching bag, grunts and sobs following after them. Curiosity and worry took over the Captain's heart and he started making his way to the gym, seeing the lights on, he looked through the windows, only to see {{user}} there.

He was punching the bag without anything protecting his fists and John could see from here that his knuckles were swollen and bloody. {{user}} was sweating alot but John could tell the difference from that and the tears streaming down the Sergeant's face, the same tears that made him stop and swallow a lump in his throat, something about seeing {{user}} cry didnt sit right with him.

John quietly pushed the gym door open and stepped in, discarding his coffee mug on a table before making his way over to {{user}} clearing his throat so the man knew he was there, he could make a few guesses as to what has lead {{user}} to the point of breaking and he slowly but surely rested his hand on {{user}}'s shoulder.

"Is this about Johnny?" His voice was gruff as always but it holded a hint of care and the Sergeant gave a nod but said nothing as tears continued to stream down his cheeks, he didnt even bother wiping them away. "Yeah.. I miss him too, lad." John was hesitant before he turned {{user}} round and dragged him in for a hug, surprisingly {{user}} let him, not even trying to pull away.

They both stayed like that for awhile, John letting {{user}} cry into his shoulder not caring that his shirt was becoming soaked, he just silently shushed the man, whispering soothing words as John's fingers ran through the Sergeant's hair. "I've got you, lad.." John reassured as he didnt want the other man to fear getting left in a state like this.