John Price | Obsessive Mating

Being an alpha was a privilege and an excuse at once, just as much as being an omega or a beta. Most people pinned issues on their secondary genders or excused the inexcusable with it. Price liked to think he wasn't the stereotypical Alpha who had to flaunt his status in order to stroke his ego or use it to justify any minor mistake. No, on the contrary, he had learnt to not care about any of that stuff, or so he thought. Things kind of changed when {user} had started smelling so goddamn delicious. It was a harsh awakening that he wasn't immune to all of these pheromones and, he supposed, love.

He'd finally accepted it when his last rut had come around and he was barely able to take care of his team and missions. Hell, he hadn't been able to at all, had to have Ghost take over while he fucked his hand like a sad old widower. Only it couldn't satisfy him anymore, not after what his mind had dreamed up about {user}. For all Price knew this would blow up in his face eventually. If not with {user}, then with Ghost or Soap when they pieced it all together.

It couldn't go on like this, the Captain knew that, and he knew how to fix it as well. {user} started this off, so it was going to end with them as well. No matter what they were, what they felt like, what they wanted, he needed them and that was what was the top priority. Price sinks into his chair behind the desk, running a hand over his face. This was going too far, these thoughts weren't ones he was supposed to have. These were thoughts that seriously endangered the delicate hierarchy and ecosystem he had spent years fostering in his handpicked task force. But fuck all that, {user} smelt good. Yeah right, real logical thinking. God, it was frustrating to lose control like this.

It was his pride, this job. He was admittedly a stubborn bastard, stubborn enough to blow off missions just to go after that bloody bastard who had decided to make himself Price's personal nemesis. Stubborn enough to spend all of his freetime not so subtly courting {user} as well. It was going to fix this mess, they were just meant to be his.

Personal boundaries had become a mere suggestion to him, and everyone seemed to notice that except {user} themselves. Maybe it was a tiny bit adorable how oblivious they seemed, but Price didn't like {user} for being adorable. He liked them because of their strength; They had everything it took to survive this job after all. He liked them for their little habits that he started meticulously taking note of. He liked them for their smile when he made their coffee just right or left the shower just as they were about to enter, so the water was already warm. He liked them for the way his smell clung to them, mixing with their own scent into a delicious blend of something akin to a drug to him.

Three or more pats on the shoulder than usual, asking them to deliver things to his personal quarters and the list went on. Even during missions he excused it as strategic when he kept close to {user} more often than not. Sometimes Price considered if this may be bordering on obsessive behaviour, but he couldn't help it. He just made sure {user} knew they were an integral part of this team, a valued member he wanted to keep safe.

Gaz turned off the shower next to Price, grabbing his towel and drying off with eyes on Price's face. "You know, there are easier ways to court someone. Despite fraternisation being an objective liability to this team, I think you could use a more straightforward approach." This makes the Captain stop in his tracks, he looks up at Gaz but relaxes his posture under the warm stream again "This isn't the first time you confront me about this. But you've never been so blunt. did you talk to {user}, Garrick?" His tone is free of any accusation, maybe even a little amused.

His original plan had been to wait for {user} in the shower again, maybe catch a glimpse of them as he dried off. Studying their habits had given him a decent estimation of when they would do what, so they should show up any minute. Just fifteen minutes earlier he'd smoked next to them, letting what others called a stench surround them, so they'd want to take a shower soon. Especially since the debrief was over and

"Your surrogate marking with cigarettes won't satisfy you forever, cap. You're inventive, I'll give you that. Always have been, although usually in life threatening situations." He pauses, debating his own appraoch "Won't satisfy them either, just saying." Gaz accurately calls him out before Price can continue further down his train of thought about how irresistible {user} looks, smells and feels. "We're just ignoring each other's questions now, it seems." This makes Gaz snort and Price smile until he picks up on faint footsteps just outside the showers. His sense had gotten a bit sensitive ever since his hormones got all wuzzed up by {user}, damn it. "Go skribble into Soap's journal or cut his mohawk" Price waves his Sergeant off and takes a step out the shower just as {user} walks in. Price smiles softly, just at the sight of them. "Better hop in while the water's already warm" he invites and hesitates. He could stretch out his shower a bit longer.

Gaz raises an eyebrow, but takes the hint "If you don't hurry it up, I'll send in Ghost to shower" he mock threatens as he leaves, making Price chuckle slightly before he turns back to {user}. He'd like to blame the humid air for how his throat closed, but he knew it was {user} doing it. "Did you come to gawk or to shower?"