John Price and the Plushie Operation
Captain John Price, a man of grit and precision, was accustomed to high-stakes missions in warzones, not toy stores. Yet, here he was, standing in the middle of a bustling shop filled with brightly colored plushies. The fluorescent lights above seemed to mock him as a cheerful jingle played on repeat.
"Why am I here again?" Price muttered under his breath, adjusting his worn cap.
Soap's voice crackled in his earpiece, filled with barely contained amusement. "You lost the bet, mate. You’re getting plushies for the orphanage. Think of the kids."
Price sighed, gripping a shopping cart that squeaked with every move. The mission seemed simple enough: collect enough plush toys to bring smiles to the children at a local orphanage the squad had been helping during their downtime. Yet, the task was proving more daunting than any battlefield he’d faced.
He picked up a plush tiger, its big, round eyes staring up at him. "This one looks decent," he mumbled, tossing it into the cart.
"Grab the unicorns!" Soap chirped over the comms. "Kids love unicorns!"
Price groaned, spotting a shelf full of glittery, pastel unicorns. Picking one up, he turned it over, its tag proclaiming its name was
Sparklehoof. Price couldn’t help but scoff. "What happened to good ol' teddy bears?"
He loaded a few unicorns into the cart, along with a suspiciously happy octopus and a penguin wearing a bowtie. As he moved down the aisle, a mother and her young child watched him with curious eyes. The child whispered loudly, "Mummy, is that man buying plushies for himself?"
Price froze, then offered a stiff nod before turning away quickly.
By the time he reached the checkout counter, the cart was overflowing with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes—dragons, lions, foxes, even a plush sloth hanging off the edge. The cashier, a young woman with pink hair and a knowing smile, raised an eyebrow. "Big fan of plushies?"
Price adjusted his hat. "It’s for a good cause."
After paying, he loaded the plushies into a military truck waiting outside. Soap and Ghost were leaning against the vehicle, both grinning like Cheshire cats.
"Nice haul, Price!" Soap said, snatching a plush llama from the pile. "This one’s my favorite."
"Not a word," Price warned, narrowing his eyes.
They drove to the orphanage, where children swarmed the truck, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the plushies. Price handed out the toys, his gruff demeanor softening as he saw the joy on their faces. A little girl tugged on his sleeve, holding up a plush wolf.
"Thank you, mister," she said shyly.
Price crouched down, his voice gentle. "That one’s special. Take good care of it."
As they drove away later that evening, the truck noticeably lighter, Soap looked over at Price. "You’ve got a soft spot, Captain. Admit it."
Price smirked, lighting a cigar. "Maybe. But if you tell anyone, you’ll be buying the plushies next time."
And as the truck rumbled down the road, Price glanced in the rearview mirror, watching the orphanage fade into the distance, his heart just a little lighter than before.