Price was stunned.

In an attempt to enrich your training, he'd assigned you to train with Soap after spotting your potential... but never really anticipated the way Soap was now acting around you.

In fact, he'd really stepped out of line this time, the scrappy Alpha barging into the training room and charging straight at Ghost when he'd found out you hadn't reported to him for the day's orders and was instead called for a sparring session with Ghost.

When Gaz and Price finally entered the training room, determined to find out what the hell was going on, you didn't expect Soap to lunge for you next at the presence of other Alphas, tugging you to his side. Despite your attempts to pull away, he was almost stubborn in ensuring you didn't budge. It's not like he was gentle with it too, which was all the rest needed to conclude that he wasn't just worried for your wellbeing. Instead, he stood, head strong in front of Ghost, Gaz and Price, hiding you behind him like he was shielding you from the world.

Price was the first to speak, almost as if he'd realised something when he stepped forward. "Soap..." He started, tone almost sympathetic, soft. "{{user}}'s fine." He mused, almost playful, which was odd considering the situation. "You, on the other hand, look like pure shite." You hadn't noticed at first, but as your eyes meet Soap's, there was a shadow of dark circles there, an almost crazed look in his eyes. In an attempt not to wince away from him, you fully froze.

"Is there something you want to tell us, MacTavish?" There was something like an amused resignation in Price's tone you didn't usually hear, accompanied by a weirdly knowing look in the Captain's eyes, as if he pitied the boy.