⋆˚࿔ husband!price headcanons because i need him as my husband!

husband!price who has nightmares because of his ptsd and finds your hand under the covers, intertwining his fingers with yours and resting it on his chest.

husband!price who can never button the top button of his shirt. always has to ask you to do it for him before he leaves the house.

husband!price who cleans up after dinner. you cooked so he'll clean the kitchen while you rest up.

husband!price who swears he didn't eat your cereal. literally kisses your face but you see it in his eyes. thing is, you bought the cereal he likes on purpose.

husband!price who says he's never tried mango before, just so he can see your shocked reaction. you literally challenge him to a fight because who hasn't tried mango!

husband!price whos hands are always rough, doesn't matter how much lotion he uses. you complain but secretly love the feeling. especially when he massages your back after a hard day.

husband!price who keeps track of the dryer so he can take out the clothes when they're warm and throw them on you. it became a thing back when you first started dating and stuck ever since.

husband!price who makes you tie his tie in the morning. doesn't care that he can do it himself. something about having you close to him. bedhead and morning breath never stopped him from giving you a kiss.

husband!price who can't make his tea right anymore. you had made it for him many years ago and now you're in charge of making tea. secretly loves when you add a bit of vanilla syrup in it too.

You notice him. Even if he doesn't talk, you notice him. You'll greet him in the hallways, ask how his day has been going with questions that can be answered with a nod or a shake of the head.

He's so un-used to being seen like this that it warms his heart, even if you do still get startled by him every now and then when he shows up out of no where in the med-bay standing at the door which you had only glances away from for a few moments.

He'll sit with you behind the front desk when he has time, you'll talk, telling him about your day and how many patients you've had and how stupid the new team coming to train at the base is because who in their right mind thinks its okay to run with a knife in hand???

Sometimes he'll scribble something in response onto a post-it, you'll read it and smile because every time he writes you something he'll doodle a little bug at the end.

Occasionally he comes in with a paper cut, or some other sort of injury which you patch up happily. You bought a separate tin of bandaids with little bug patterns on them solely to be used for him.

You love him, you really do, you love spending time with him, talking to him, reading his responses. You even take it upon yourself to learn sign-language in attempts at bettering your communication.

Roach nearly cries when you sign "I love you" to him the first time, he nearly cries when you use sign-language for the first time period. He pulls you into a rib-crushing hug, you forget how strong he is sometimes with how gentle he is with you.

<3

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John price falls for his sweet and shy secretary, despite their differences and her quiet traumas.

word count: 4.0k

warnings: mentions of unhealthy relationships with food and eating disorders, anxiety, shy and sweet!reader, soft and gentle Price, very self deprecating on Price's behalf, affection, pet names (pet, love, lovie, bird), swearing, she/her pronouns.

a/n: I love sad old man Price so much, this is definitely my most self indulgent piece but I wish I had that old man in my life x

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"Captain, look nicest way possible but you're having a fuckin' nightmare with paperwork and plannin'...just hire a lass to do it for you." Ghost had muttered as he leafed through the endless piles of outdated paperwork in John's office.

John sighed and waved him off, not in the mood for any lectures or help even though, he knew that he didn't someone to help him. Gaz, Soap and Ghost had already been looking for someone to help him out on the sly, and they had found the perfect girl for the job.

"Mate, I know a girl who can help...I'll give 'er a ring and get 'er to come down and give you a hand, yeah?" Gaz stated as he looked around in disbelief at the state of the office, whilst Soap just laughed and started shoving the paper into boxes for the poor girl to sort through.

"You'll like 'er, Capt...right bonnie lass she is..." Soap mumbled through laughs as John gave him a disapproving glare and continued to type away on his computer and ignore the lads.

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She wandered into the military base with her soft floral dress and kitten heels, hair neatly set in place and a smile that any man would go to war for. John waited patiently for her in the foyer, knowing she would have to sign in and receive her land yard and what not. Gaz had rang her and offered her the job which she jumped at the chance at, due to her office being shut down. John had been anxious about her arrival which the boys had ramped up with various comments about her sweet nature and pretty features.

The second you walked through the door, his attention was completely on you. His mind was reeling and his eyes were scanning over you as you spoke quietly to the man at the front desk and politely greeted any strangers.

Bright eyes. Nervous. Anxious. Quiet. Shy. Polite. Overly polite. Smiley. Kind. Sweet. Caring. Gentle. Delicate. Fragile.

“Evening Sir, I’m looking for Captain Price…could you help me find his office?” her gentle tone broke him out of his thoughts, she was talking to him. Shit, John pull yourself together. Acting like bloody MacTavish because the pretty lady spoke to him.

After a moment of just gawking at her, he registered her words and awkwardly pointed at his dog tags and replied, “That’s me…I’m Captain Price.” His tone was blunt and gruff but still polite, knowing she would likely be embarrassed by the interaction.

“Oh…right, okay…apologies Captain, you all ought to wear name tags or something…” She rambled awkwardly as she busied her hands with her handbag, clearly trying to find something. Her neat brows were furrowed together and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. He could see the shade of the dusty pink lipstick she wore, the shimmer of the gloss on her lips and her could smell the sweet vanilla of her perfume.

After a moment of searching, she produced a file of information and a small gift box. “These are my records and files, I was told to bring them?” which he replied with a simple’s nod before she continued, “And this is a gift…to say thanks for hiring me…”

He smiled politely and opened the small gift box, producing the small bottle of cologne she had bought for him. A posh, expensive looking bottle with an amber solution. A shy smile graced his face as he held the box tightly and tried to find his words.

"You didn't have to, pet...must have cost you too much," He managed to reply, the sweet term of endearment, Pet, it made her heart sing but made her feel at home.

Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink, her freckles stood out and her bright yet shy eyes held his gaze. She was perfect, she was sweet and polite and so damn pretty. He wanted to wrap his arms around her right there and protect her from everything, he knew he’d have to be brave and push these feelings down and pray she wouldn’t notice.

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By the evening, he had helped her set up her own desk in his office at the base. It was simple with a few draws and a newer computer he had managed to find for her, she added her own personal touches to the desk in the coming days though.

The next morning, she had waltzed in wearing another pale sundress with subtle heels, hair pulled back casually with a ribbon and little, loose curls framing her face. You could hear the soft tap of her heels and smell the comforting vanilla perfume she wore before you could even see her carrying the hefty box of personal items to John’s office. Well their office now.

“Good morning, Captain…” She greeted affectionately as she entered the office and placed the box onto her desk delicately. Her movements were gracefully yet quiet as if not wanting to be too loud or take up too much space.

“John.” He corrected her gruffly as he sipped his coffee and flipped through the pages of notes on his messy and cluttered desk. She waved him off casually as she unpacked her box, despite the differences in their authorities around the base, their personalities and their demeanours, the pair had clicked instantly. She was sweet, patient and kind but could hold her own despite having the personality of a shy mouse. John on the other hand was older, wiser, gruffer yet he liked how she smiled often, how colourful she liked things and he enjoyed listening to her humming and chatting. He felt comfortable around her, she had the peaceful and loving aura that he saw to be rare.

The sound of her humming filled the office, no music was playing but she was humming the tune of an old song John recognised. A small smile graced his lips as he looked up to watch her setting up the frames of family photos, small trinkets and bits of stationary out on her desk. It was all so painfully her, all pretty and clean. Finally, she lifted a small vase out of the box and set it next to her computer.

‘Tomorrow,’ He thought, ‘Tomorrow I’ll bring some flower for that vase’

And he did.

The next morning she came in holding a mug of coffee for him and the brightest smile as she saw the flowers. She slipped the mug into his hands and murmured a quiet “Good morning, John..” and turned away to admire the flowers. A shy smile on her lips, her quiet and sweet demeanour enhanced by her anxious behaviour.

“Think you have an admirer, pet…they were here this morning.” He mumbled gruffly, he himself becoming shy and reluctant to admit that he had been late this morning due to standing in the florist trying to pick out a bouquet for her.

She blushed deeply and chuckled, her words dissolving on her tongue and rendering her speechless. He took note of this, that deep down and behind her chatty and lovely facade she was quiet and shy, as if love came easy for her to give but never receive.

"MacTavish likes you...Gaz too, and I wouldn't be surprised if Ghost has a thing for you...hell half of the base is head over heels for you, lass." He muttered under his breath as he tried to avoid admitting it was him. But she knew, it was obvious.

"I love lillies...my grandma always used to have them in her house," She had said quietly the day before as she sat next to his desk trying to get to know him, "Surely you have a favourite flower, Ca- I mean John?"

They carried this on for a few months, every week a new bouquet would be waiting for her as she walked into the office; which was slowly becoming their home. She had made matching ceramic mugs for them, a photo of them at a celebratory dinner for one of the recruits was hung in the wall, sweet and floral candles littered the room, and John had started writing with colourful pens she had left on his desk. She had infected the office with her sweetness and light, she had also infected John for that matter.

She had been working with him for 8 months, and their next deployment was fast approaching. Since she had been working there she had gotten close to John, too close. Closer than anyone had been for a long time.

It scared him, but he loved it. He loved how her smile bought his back, he loved how her voice was like the songs of the birds, he loved how gentle and kind her words and hands were, he loved how she cared so much for him and the other. He loved her.

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"Price?" Soap had whispered quietly to him as they sat in a booth at the local pub. Price had taken Soap, Ghost and Gaz out to the pub with her to have one last night out before they all went on deployment.

Price just looked up at him as if waiting for whatever comment or ridiculous question he would ask him. He was used to Soap's lack of a filter or manners, which often made others uncomfortable or awkward. But, Soap's eyes were full of genuine nerves and anxiety, his voice was softer than usual too. That worried Price.

Soap's eyes were trained on Price's, usually polite and shy, secretary doing awfully loud and tone-deaf karaoke with Gaz. She was comfortable with the 141 by now, she knew them all and grew to be more like herself with them. But, nothing compared to how she was with Johnathan Price, he had drawn her out of her shell and had become her closest companion.

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She harboured insecurities and trauma, which was obvious to him in the way she avoided loud noises and flinched if people came to close. The way she would refuse to eat if anyone was in the room with her, or how she would push herself to do extra work just to make his life easier. She was sweet and selfless, but it hid the underlying problems she tried to shield from the others. But Price could read her like a book, every page was filled with poetry but the depth hidden between the lines told Price her story.

It had started with him bringing her lunch, just a small gesture of a small dish of soup and his homemade bread slid across her desk. He had left to heat it up for her and came back to offer her it, she had 'forgotten' lunch everyday for the past week, and he didn't like that. She was so kind and gentle to everyone else but towards herself she seemed harsh and cold, it made his heart ache.

"...'s carrot's from m'garden and some other veg...made the bread too, pet." He mumbled as he pushed the dish into her hands which rested on her desk, she couldn't bring herself to look up but he knew that the tears were brimming in her eyes as she shook her head. Her hands were trembling and he could hear her suppressed tears.

"I'm okay...you keep your lunch, John..." She whispered to try to hide the tremble of her voice, she seemed scared or distraught. All he wanted to do was hold and reassure her and feed her all the whole cooked meals in the world. He had the overwhelming urge to protect her. To show her love, to prove her own worth to her.

He shook his head and walked away. She thought he was leaving, so she sniffled slightly and blinked her tears back as she pushed the dish away. Trying to subconsciously push John away before he got too close.

He came back though, wheeling his desk chair over. After settling next to her in the chair he set his dish on the table with hers and whispered, "Made one for both of us...made it for you, lovie..."

Her heart ached and she whispered, "Why?" He had gone out of his way for her...again. He always did. Whether it was flowers or lunch or fresh bread or making her cups of tea or remembering the small details. He did it all off his own back for her.

So, every lunch break he would sit with her and they would eat together. Some days were worse than others but he liked caring for her and making her lunch. She had started eating properly, she looked healthy and bright so he was content. And, on some rare nights she would eat with the 141, as long as John was by her side to whisper reassurance to her with every mouthful.

"My brave girl..." He murmured against her hair as they sat in the cafeteria, they were one of the few people in the room as the night had grown dark but she wanted to try, "I'm so proud, look at you...my strong girl..."

His hand was on her knee and his nose was against her hair in an attempt to keep her calm as she ate. She had whispered that she was ready to try to eat in public, so he chose the night they were on a shift in the dark with few people to try to show her that it was okay. That she was okay.

"That's it...good girl...just one more mouthful f'me and y'there," He mumbled as he watched her tenderly as she ate the small meal. The plate was nearly bare when she started but she had almost eaten it all, the pride running through his body was radiating from him as he pressed himself closer to her and whispered, "I'm so proud...well done, pet..."

That night they had gone back to the office to get some work done but she had broken down. Tears and sobs, pain and pride. She had felt too many emotions but she knew she was safe with him. He built her back up to become the girl she pretended she still was. He never asked what caused it, only found ways to help her and piece her back together. He could see it anyway, he didn't her to relive it, he could see what had broken her in the way moved.

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"D'ya fancy 'er?" Soap murmured as he fidgeted with the pint glass on the table as he turned his gaze back to John. A quiet curiosity in his tone and a wonder in his watercolour eyes.

"I-" John cut himself off as he shook his head and shifted his gaze to her giggling and singing. Her cardigan was half hanging off her shoulder, her smile was brighter than anyone else's in the room and she looked down right beautiful to him.

Soap gave him a knowing look and sighed, "Have you told her?" He asked quietly, shifting over to let Ghost slip into the seat beside him as he arrived back from the bar with more drinks for the group. Soap gave him a look at said 'Don't say a word' as he turned back to John expectantly.

"No," He replied simply, his gaze trained on her, he was always focused on her and they could all see it. Her eyes locked on his, prompting a bright smile and a shy wave across the bar. He could hear the soft jingle of her bracelets as she waved, the tap of her heels as she hurried over to him.

Before Soap could reply, she had hurried over and slipped her cardigan off and settled it in John's lap. "Can you look after this for me...really warm, need a wee...wait which drink is mine?" She rambled in a tipsy manner as she leant close to John, closer than she usually would.

"Of course, pet...leave it with me and I'll make sure it's safe..." He replied softly, his hands finding her waist as he guided her closer to whisper, "you feeling okay...do you need anything...you need me to get you anything?"

She shook her head softly and leant in to kiss his cheek, a contented sigh escaping her under her breath. "No...I'm okay...just don't leave without me okay?" She whispered quietly before hurrying away to the ladies bathroom.

He chuckled softly and ran his hands over the fine, knitted cardigan that was radiating the scent of her vanilla perfume and felt just as soft as her skin. He shook his head to himself and turned his attention back to Soap and Ghost.

"Whipped," Ghost muttered and Soap let out a hearty laugh, a genuine smile gracing his face. Gaz came over absolutely off his face and smiling, his arm wrapping around John.

"Where's your bird...she said she'd buy the next round?" Gaz slurred with a giggle as he slumped against John, clearly feeling the effects of the ridiculous amount of pints he had.

John sighed, like an exhausted old man babysitting his kids. He nodded towards the bathroom door as she came wandering out, towards the group sat at the table. "There's my lass...there she is....my bird" He mumbled as he watched her wander over to him with a tipsy smile.

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That night, they had all headed home but she had left her cardigan with him. He hadn't noticed that he had carried it out of the pub with him, it slipped his mind to pass it to her when Soap helped her into him car as they lived in the same building.

He hadn't realised that he had carried the soft pink garment into his small, comfortable home. He had barely noticed that he had curled up in bed clutching the cardigan close to him.

He didn't notice until he woke up the following morning, his alarm plucking him from his sleep.

Then he realised.

As he lay across his rather large bed for a single man, completely sprawled out, he was subconsciously nuzzling his nose against a piece of fabric. One he did not recognise, one that smelled like something he knew.

The soft knit slid across his fingertips as the realisation hit him. It was her cardigan, and he had bloody taken it home like a fool. And he was cuddling up to it all night as if it was her beside him. 'A new low, even for you, Price...' he thought to himself.

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The next morning, he had gotten over his hang over and dragged himself into work, mainly just to see her at this point. He had stopped by the florist, the bouquet he settled on was beautiful and intricate with the softest colours. A small way to make her smile and to show her that he cared, even if no one else did. Also a small gift to make her feel better about her inevitable hangover she would have.

Upon arriving at the base, he swapped her new flowers onto her desk, tucked her cardigan on the back of her desk chair and made her a mug of tea, knowing that she was probably still feeling rough and would feel sheepish and poorly.

He waited rather impatiently for her, his fingers drumming against the surface of his desk as he tried to read the notes on the upcoming mission. One more day. He had one day until he would be gone for a matter of months. Months to be spent without her.

"Good morning, John..." She mumbled, her usual sunny disposition was hidden in a shroud of illness. She was pale and looked run down, seemed like her hangover hadn't shifted in the slightest.

"Christ, Pet..." He replied affectionately as he gave her a sympathetic gaze. She waved him off and shuffled to her desk, slipped into her seat and pulled the cardigan around her tightly.

"Found that in my car," Lie, "Must have picked it up for you," another lie, he mumbled and sighed as he sipped his tea and watched her lovingly. He always looked at her like she was the only woman that mattered to him, the only girl he needed.

"Thanks..." She mumbled before carrying on with her work, looking completely worse for wear. After sitting and rubbing her temples for a moment, she pulled the cardigan around her and shut her eyes. It smelled of his cologne, the one she gave him on her first day all those months ago.

He watched her protectively for a moment before murmuring, "Got to go to a meeting with Nik, lovie...if you feel too poorly, get yourself home and to bed okay?"

She nodded and sipped her tea, a yawn slipping from her lips as she leant on her head in her hands. Sighing softly, he pushed off his chair and grabbed his stuff to leave but stopped next to her and crouched down.

His lips found her forehead as he murmured, "Look after yourself...I'll be back soon, pet..." as his fingers ran over her hair and she leant close to him and smiled sleepily.

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The meeting ran over, through lunch and towards the evening. He had almost missed the entirety of his last day with her before he left for the mission. He checked his watch desperately, it was well over her finishing hour and the panic was running through him.

As soon at the meeting finished, he rushed back to the office to see her. He wanted to keep close to her now until he had to leave her. But, upon arriving the at the office he saw her at the desk, completely asleep yet waiting for him.

"Love..." John whispered softly as he knelt down beside her and gently stroked her hair. Her head was resting on a mountain of paperwork and her soft snores filled the office. His callous fingers ran over her tresses as he waited for her to wake up.

After a moment she shifted slightly and looked at him with bleary eyes, blinking a few times before sitting up. She yawned quietly and something switched in his head, he wrapped his strong and muscular arms around her and pull her close to his chest without a second thought or any form of hesitation.

"Shhh...'s okay, Love..." He cooed softly as he held her in his lap and settled her head on his shoulder, "I've got you...'s just me...get some rest, lovie..."

She mumbled incoherently for a mere few moments before surrendering to her sleep as he held her close enough to feel his heartbeat. Her nose nestled against his neck and her arms wrapped around him, her fingers curling around the cool metal of his dog tags as she snored into his neck.

He sighed contentedly and pressed kisses to her forehand whispered, "My love..." as he nudged her hair with his nose. A desperate attempt to keep her as close as humanly possible but he would be ripped away from her for months on end.

"John..." She mumbled sleepily against his jaw as her nose brushed against his beard and her lips pressed soft, angelic kisses to his beard, her hand still clutching his dog tags tightly.

"Yes, pet..." He replied quietly whilst his hands splayed on her back drew her closer to him, his eyes closed in pure comfort of being with her.

"Just checking you're still here..." She mumbled before letting herself curl into him and fall into sleep again, feeling safe enough to let him protect and care for her.

He nodded and pressed a kiss to her nose and whispered, "Not going anywhere, Lovie...just get some sleep and I'll be here when you wake up..." His tone wavered slightly as he clutched her tightly. He finally had her where he wanted her, where he needed her to be, he finally had her.

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