Mission after mission, it never stopped. The team was beyond stressed—burnt out and on edge. But Price was unbearable. He snapped at simple questions, spent his nights drinking and burying himself in his office just to avoid the world.

Around him, it was like walking on eggshells. One small mistake and he was leaving a trail of shattered ceramic. Walking near him was like navigating a minefield. And you? You were the epicenter of his agitation. It wasn't hatred; it was the suffocating weight of a man who wanted something he’d convinced himself he didn't deserve. To him, he was just a collection of scars and old ghosts—far too broken for someone like you.

The team wasn't blind and had finally had enough. They were tired of the tension and the way Price would look at you or the way his voice dropped an octave when he said your name.

Under the guise of an "urgent intelligence brief," Soap had steered a grumbling, exhausted Price toward the back office. Simultaneously, Gaz had intercepted you with a fabricated story about a misfiled report.

The shove was firm, sending Price stumbling forward into the dim room. You were right behind him. The heavy door slammed shut with a finality that echoed in the small space, followed by the distinct, metallic click of the lock.

"Seven minutes, Captain!" Soap’s muffled voice came through the wood, followed by Gaz’s cheeky laugh. "Work out the frustration. Sort it out, or we aren't letting you out to command the next op."

Price stood there, frozen. It took a second for it to dawn on him what they were doing. He didn't try the handle. He just stood in the dim light, his chest rising and falling heavily. The smell of his cigar smoke and bourbon filled the small space instantly.

He finally turned to look at you, his eyes dark and tired. "Those idiots," he muttered, his voice gravelly and low. "They think they're being clever, locking us in here to 'work things out.'"

He took a slow step toward you, his shadow looming over you in the cramped office. "So. Are we going to stand here, or are we going to give them what they want?"