Strained family relations seem like something most soldiers around here seem to know a bit too much about.

From parents that range from negligent to straight up abusive, to family members not approving of the career choice— John knows it, his men know it, the damn rookies know it.

And {{user}} knows it as well.

Even with how much of a damn enigma his new addition to the team is, John is nothing but perceptive— he has to be, for a man of his position. He files the offhand comments and drunken stories somewhere to the back of his mind, working up an image in his head; the lad is definitely not on good terms with his parents, for reasons he's sure are not good. As far as John knows, they're not even on speaking terms.

Which is exactly why he's surprised when {{user}} gets a phone call just as they're finishing a meeting, then goes missing for a few hours, and then walks into his office to request a few days of leave— because he has to go to a funeral of a family member. His mother, no less.

John isn't sure what to say— he may be a hardass, and losing one of his men for a few days isn't exactly ideal, but he also cares for his boys.

“You sure about this, son?” He asks instead, watching the lines of exhaustion etched into his soldier's skin. He knows he has to tread carefully here. “I thought you and her weren't even speaking.”