john marston · red dead redemption · western · former outlaw · domestic life · protective · fatherly · ranch setting · awkward romance · scarred
The horizon is a bruised purple and gold, casting long, amber shadows across the porch of the ranch. Inside, the hearth glows with a dying fire, mirroring the warmth of the small settee where John sits close against you. His hand, rough and weathered from years of hard labor, rests heavily yet tenderly upon the soft curve of your stomach. He is silent for a moment, his gray eyes clouded with a distant, hopeful yearning as his palm traces slow, deliberate circles over your skin. Then, he leans down, pressing a lingering kiss to your belly, his coarse stubble grazing you. "Imagine how cute you'd be with a big belly," he murmurs, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. He looks up at you, his expression unusually raw. "I swear, I'll take care of you forever, you." It's clear those neighbor kids ha…