John Marston X Female Reader
Summary: Deaths in Saint Denis, stranded on a Island somewhere near Cuba, being locked up in Sisika Penitentiary, it gave everyone some time to think. Once John is free, he decides that he can't keep wasting time, he has to be honest with you. It just doesn't turn out exactly how he imagined.
Word Count: 5600
If Dutch could read your mind, you would be his number one enemy. You knew that this bank job in Saint Denis wouldn't go well, you felt it in your gut. Dutch would blame a lack of faith and you would have said god damn right it's a lack of faith.
Hosea and Abigail caused an explosion, acting as the distraction for you all to hit the bank. The lot of you had just got the money and were heading for the exit. For a second, just for one glorious second, you thought that you might actually pull this off. You couldn't have been more wrong. It was definitely the biggest mess the gang had gotten in that you could remember.
"Dutch! Get out here!" the all too familiar voice called from outside the bank. You and John shared a concerned glance before taking over near the windows on the right, seeing Dutch and Arthur taking cover on the left. "Get out here now!" the voice shouted again.
"I knew this was a bad idea" you muttered leaning out from behind the wall just to get a glimpse out of the window, seeing Pinkerton agents lining the street. And you were certain there were more.
"We're gonna get outta this" John assured you but when you looked at each other, he didn't even look convinced of his words.
"Mr Milton...let my friends go" Dutch called out to him. You and John peered out the window and tensed when you saw Agent Milton pulling Hosea in front of him, pointing a gun to his head. Then another agent caught your attention, he was holding a gun to Abigail's head. "...or folks...they are gonna get shot unnecessarily" he threatened.
"They wouldn't shoot Abigail...right?" you asked quietly but John didn't respond. All he could think about was Jack back at the camp but surely they wouldn't stoop so low...right?
"You're friends? Ha, why would I do that?" Agent Milton asked and you could hear the smirk in his voice. He was clearly enjoying having the lot of you pinned down in the back.
"Come on, Milton..." was all Dutch shot back with, making you glance over at him. You hadn't been his biggest fan for a while now but you could see the genuine concern on his face. Hosea was his oldest friend after all.
"It's over. No more bargains. No more deals" Milton drawled out, making sure you all knew that there was no more options. There was nothing you could do...
"Mr Milton...this is America. You can always cut a deal" Dutch insisted.
"I've given you enough chances..." Agent Milton sighed before pushing Hosea forward, waiting for the older man to turn back towards him before shooting him in the chest.
"Hosea!" you gasped, feeling John wrap his hand around your arm to stop you from moving out of cover, pulling you back against his chest.
"Shit..." John cursed, releasing your arm when he felt you relax slightly.
"No!" Dutch caught your attention again, he was just staring at the scene in disbelief.
"Goddamn it!" Arthur seethed and you noticed how he had to physically hold himself back from reacting.
"Is that enough of a deal for you, Dutch?" Agent Milton asked but Dutch didn't respond, still in shock. "No? You need more? Very well..." he shrugged before lifting the gun and turning it on Abigail. Before anyone could react, the detective pulled the trigger and it was done.
"Abigail!" John stepped forward, about to do something stupid.
"Fuck" you placed a hand on John's chest, the silent reminder of what would happen if he went out there holding him back. Even though you wanted to run out there and shoot the detective as well.
"There's your deal" Agent Milton smirked, gesturing to the two lifeless bodies in front of him.
"Hosea..." Dutch whispered to himself as Arthur smashed the window, being the first to shoot.
Following Arthur's lead, you and John upholstered your guns and shot at the agents. A shoot out breaking out between the two groups.
"There's too many of them" John grunted as he fell back behind some cover, reloading his gun.
"Arthur's working on it" you told him, glancing over your shoulder to see him setting up explosives on one of the walls.
Arthur blew a hole in the wall and Dutch sent him to the rooftops. You and John stuck together, you had always worked well together and didn't plan on leaving each other behind. But the Pinkertons just kept coming, eventually getting into the bank before you could all escape through the fallen wall.
"John!" you shouted as one of the Pinkertons forced him into a pair of handcuffs, trying to alert the others of what was happening.
"Everyone out" Dutch ordered. But you didn't listen, you rushed to to help John instead. Well, you would have if Dutch hadn't grabbed your arm and held you back.
"Dutch? Wha-!" you fought against him as Dutch hauled you out of the bank, John was already being walked out of the front door and away from you all. Even if you got back there, it was too late.
Arthur turned when he saw the rest of the gang climbing the ladder onto the rooftop, frowning when he saw your distress.
"Get your hands off of me, you bastard!" you snapped as you pulled your arm out of Dutch's grasp.
"Watch your mouth" Micah warned you.
"Bite me" you snarled as the blonde passed you.
"What happened?" Arthur's brow furrowed in confusion. You wouldn't just act like that for no reason.
"We lost John" Dutch told him.
"Killed?" Arthur asked, his face falling.
"Arrested...I couldn't help" Dutch sighed.
"Wouldn't help" you corrected him, earning a tired glare. A gentle hand landed on your shoulder, making you look up to see Charles, as he ushered you away before you really did kill Dutch.
"Well we better go or we'll be next" you heard Arthur sigh as you walked away.
"What happened?" Charles asked lowly, leaning down to your ear, knowing that neither of you wanted Dutch to overhear.
"John got arrested...we could've done something but Dutch just...he grabbed me and told the others to go. We could've-" you shook your head, trying to keep your voice low before somebody accused you of conspiring.
"He'll be fine...we'll get him back...somehow..." Charles assured you, giving your shoulder a reassuring pat.
"We can not let that kid lose both his parents. Not on the same day" you looked up at him, your mind running with every bad thing that could possibly happen.
"We won't" Charles promised you and you nodded.
Somehow, it only got worse from there. Lenny got killed, everyone just ran past him, you and Charles had to talk Arthur into leaving once the three of you said your quick goodbyes. The young man deserved so much better than that. If you weren't already angry, you were now.
What remained of the group held up in some run down room, planning and arguing. Everyone took it as a chance to sit for at least a minute.
"This whole town is filled with cops" Dutch huffed as Bill secured the door shut.
"Well, how long we gonna stay here? A few hours?" Arthur asked, not sounding too optimistic about how this is going to go.
"We go back to camp...they're gonna get every last one of us. I know they're gonna be watching the roads" Dutch pointed out. Ruling out that option. With a small huff, you sat down beside Charles. "I got it...a boat" his face lit up slightly as a new plan began to figure itself out.
"A fucking boat" you muttered in disbelief. Thankfully, the only person that heard you was Charles and he just nudged your arm with his.
"Somebody has to get back to camp. The Pinkertons will do a wide search after this...they'll fine them" Charles whispered to you. He knew Dutch was right about not being able to lead the agents right back to the camp but they were going to find them sooner or later anyway, somebody had to go back to warn them.
You glanced up at Dutch, seeing that he hadn't noticed the two of you talking. Hopefully, it would stay that way.
"...it's dangerous. Could get everyone killed" you warned him, keeping your voice low as Dutch continued to talk to the others.
"Just one or two of us. Get them moved while the others escape and get on that boat Dutch is talking about" Charles suggested and you knew that he was right.
"You go. You'll be quiet, you can do it" you decided, knowing that it was your best chance.
"Come with me. I'll need your help" Charles asked quietly.
"I...get Sadie, she'll help you. I have to see this through...everyone else here is losing their minds. I gotta help Arthur" you shook your head.
"I understand. Be careful" Charles nodded, hoping that you knew what you were doing.
"You too" you looked at him, giving him a small smile that he returned.
"Are you two listening?" Dutch snapped, making the two of you look up at him again.
"'course we are. Get on a boat, lie low, come back in a few weeks. It's never failed us before" you repeated his plan with a small roll of the eyes.
"I don't like your attitude" Dutch warned you with a familiar glare.
You opened your mouth to speak but Charles nudged your side, advising you to bite your tongue. You pressed your lips into a thin line, just nodding back at your leader.
So, that's what you did. Charles offered to cause a distraction so you could all get to the boat. You knew he would be fine and you were glad that somebody was going back to the gang to look out for them. Then the six of you that remained, sailed off on some boat heading for Cuba. But, because you all had the worst luck known to man, a storm came by and wrecked the ship. You all ended up washed up on a place call Guarma.
-----
Getting back from Guarma, all of you went your separate ways to avoid getting caught by any lawmen who were watching out for you. Slowly but surely, all of you started showing up at the gang's new hideout. A little place in Lakay.
"Well, shit, look at you" Sadie smiled as she hurried over to you, placing her hands on your arms and holding you in front of her.
"Anyone else show up yet?" you asked, worried about how the other's were getting on. The gang had already lost so many people.
"Arthur, Javier, and Bill. Micah, unfortunately. Still ain't no sign of Dutch" Sadie informed you. "What the hell happened to you lot anyway?" she asked. The others had talked about some details of what happened but nobody had given a straight answer yet.
"It's a real long story. Get me something to eat, drink, and some clean clothes to wear and I'll tell you. Just know, I am never getting on a boat again" you knew that you wouldn't have long to rest but, god, you were ready to collapse on a cot for a while.
"Sure thing. Come on" Sadie chuckled before taking you back to the little cabin.
You got changed into some clean clothes before sitting down with some food and drink, Sadie sitting with you with her own food.
"Charles told us what about what happened in Saint Denis...it couldn't have gone more wrong" Sadie commented.
"I'm just glad he got back to all of you. Though I'm sure you could have took care of the gang by yourself" you confessed. At least everyone who was back at camp got away alright, that's the only thing that went right.
"I ain't that good" Sadie chuckled, shaking her head at you.
"Maybe not, but you have the guts to do it" you assured her, making her smile. There was a short silence as you both ate, but eventually you had to speak up again. "...how's Jack?" you asked quietly.
"...Miss Grimshaw talked to him. He didn't have his parents here, still doesn't. Didn't even have Hosea. She was the only one who had the stomach to talk to the poor boy and explain things to him. I'm not sure what she said exactly but...he cried for a bit...a while. The other women have been babying him, I hope he's alright" Sadie told you sadly, looking down her at food.
"So do I" you sighed. Normally that would have killed your appetite but you still hadn't ate properly since you got back. "So...what about John?" you asked.
"I checked. He's being held in Sisika. Alive...maybe not so well, but alive" Sadie told you.
"You really stepped up and took control of things, didn't ya? You ever want to stage a coup and take command, you just let me know. I'd follow ya" you joked halfheartedly.
"Don't think we're quite there yet" Sadie shrugged, making you laugh a little. "You, me, and Arthur. We're gonna get John out" she promised you.
"Yes we are" you nodded in agreement. Confident in the three of you.
It wasn't long before Dutch came through the front door, everyone getting up to meet him. Like you guessed, you couldn't stay in Lakay for long, and you all ended up moving to a place called Beaver Hollow.
That was when you, Arthur and Sadie started your plot to get John out of prison, a plan that somehow managed to include a ride on a hot air balloon. Something else that you never plan on doing again. But God bless Sadie Adler for her crazy schemes. It was actually a pretty good plan, as insane as it sounds.
-----
Finally it was time to put the plan into action. Today was the day that you were bringing John Marston home. It wasn't a perfect plan. Turned out, John wasn't working the fields that day and the three of you ended up taking a hostage and just...walking up to the front gates. You must have all been crazy but, hey, it worked.
"They got Milliken!" one of the guards called as the three of you approached the gate with the hostage that Arthur was restraining.
"Got him and going to kill him...unless you bring me John Marston!" Arthur warned them.
It was around when Milliken started crying and pleading for his life that they sent John out, chain still around his feet.
"Hello, you three" John greeted you all as he came walking out of the gate.
"Thank God, John" you sighed in relief as you walked up to him.
"Am I glad to see you" John smiled, feeling ten times better just for seeing you alive and well. Behind those bars, when he wasn't being harassed by guard, all John could do was think. Stare at the concrete ceiling and think because there was nothing else to do.
And all he ever thought about was you and Jack. He wondered how Jack was doing, had somebody explained what happened to Abigail, had they told him where his father was, did he feel all alone in that camp or was Arthur there for him, were you there for him?
That's the other thing he thought about. You. He thought about you a lot, wondering if you were alright, if you were even alive or if your life had been lost in Saint Denis as well, wondering what you were doing...if you were thinking about him too.
You gave him a small smile before kicking his feet apart, shooting through the chain that connected his ankles.
"Escape now. Talk later" you advised and he just nodded, a small smile still on his face.
Arthur pushed the hostage forward and the four of you started running for the little boat you came in. You had handed John one of your guns so he could defend himself as you made your escape.
It didn't all start to calm down until you were docking the boat at Copperhead Landing, having got away from the prison and guards.
"You know, I think I liked you better when you was all...trussed up like a prized chicken" Arthur joked as he helped John out of the boat.
"Me too" you chuckled as you took John's arm, helping him steady himself on his feet.
"No doubt" John nodded in agreement.
"Oh, hurry up" Sadie turned back to the three of you. "They're gonna be on our tail soon enough if you lot keep wasting time" she warned you all.
"That's us told then" Arthur huffed in slight amusement.
"Oh leave it. I like her" you laughed.
"'course ya do. Come on" John patted your shoulder.
All of you mounted your horses, John deciding to ride on the back of yours.
"Hey...thanks for coming to get me" John thanked you quietly, resting his forehead against your shoulder. You could hear the relief in his voice and you wonder if he had been beginning to lose hope behind those bars.
"Anytime. Couldn't just leave you to rot in prison now, could I?" you patted his knee reassuringly.
John lifted his head as you all rode off, back towards the camp.
"So what the hell happened in Saint Denis?" John asked, wondering what had happened after he got arrested and why you had all taken so long to get him out.
"After...after Hosea and Abigail..." you voice drifted off, you haven't spoken about it since the day it happened. And one quiet night on Guarma with Arthur.
"That still don't seem real, somehow" John muttered and you nodded slightly in agreement.
"...we lost young Lenny too" Arthur informed him.
"No...what a goddamn mess" John shook his head in disbelief. "And did we...what about...the-the money?" he felt gross for asking it but...something good had to come out of all this, right?
"Lost somewhere at the bottom of the ocean" Arthur sighed.
"What? How the hell did that happen?" John looked at him in utter confusion.
"It's a real long story. I'll explain it all to you when we get back" you promised him.
"Things ain't been good, John" was all Arthur told him. And that pretty much summed it all up.
"And Jack?...how's Jack?" John asked, having been dreading the subject.
"He's...fine...as good as he can be, I suppose. Keeps asking about you so at least we'll have some good news for him today" you told him.
"Poor kid..." John sighed to himself.
The rest of the ride was made up of the three of you filling John in one everything that he had missed. John claimed that Dutch had pretty much just abandoned him back in the bank and you agreed wholeheartedly, that's exactly what you said on the day it happened.
It wasn't long before the three horses rode back into the camp. You, Sadie and Arthur dismounted before you helped John down from your horse.
John turned to you and looked down at you softly. He opened his mouth to say something but got interrupted. "John!" Dutch's voice made you both look over at him, seeing him and Micah walking over. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"It's good to see you too, partner" John responded sarcastically, walking over to meet Dutch in the middle of the camp, you walking by his side.
"I meant I hadn't sent for you yet" Dutch claimed.
"Where you ever going to send for him?" you asked, not believing him for a second. Dutch went to respond but was interrupted by Arthur.
"We went" Arthur told him simply.
"But I said that-" Dutch got cut off again.
"Yeah, I know what you said. I felt different" Arthur shrugged.
"So did I" you agreed.
"Is that so?" Dutch asked, looking between you both.
"Yes" Arthur nodded.
"And when springing John brings the law down on all of us...what then, Arthur?" Dutch asked, turning his attention to him.
"Well I guess we'll have another fight on our hands" Arthur guessed.
"Loyalty, Arthur, it ain't...I had a goddamn plan" Dutch insisted.
"No you didn't" you folded your arms over your chest.
"I-John...John...you are my brother, you are my son...I was coming for you" Dutch promised the younger man.
"They was talking of hanging me, Dutch" John informed him but he was sure that he already knew that.
"They was talking...they was talking. And now they may come and hang us all" Dutch shook his head.
"So what? We were just meant to wait and call their bluff? Are you that comfortable with gambling away his life? You didn't help him back at the bank and you didn't plan on helping him in that prison. You don't believe in loyalty, you just think we should all be obedient to you" you arguing, finding it harder and harder to listen to this man as the days went by. John couldn't help but smile a little at you, he liked when you got protective over him like this. When you defended him and stood by him, where he felt you should always be.
"Perhaps you should be more obedient, Missy" Micah sneered at you. John quickly held his arm out and caught you around the waist before you could lunge at the despicable man.
"I understand that emotions are high, Miss L/n. So I'm going to do you a favour and let that comment slide" Dutch glared down at you before he and Micah walked away.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up" you huffed, placing your hand on John's arm and guiding him back to his tent. John nodded and followed without argument.
Stepping into the tent, John sat down on his cot while you moved to stand between his legs. You pulled a handkerchief out of your pocket and frowned as you pressed it to the small cut on his cheek. You couldn't even recall how he got it or if he already had it when he came out of the prison. It didn't matter now.
"I nearly killed Dutch for leaving you back there..." you confessed, sure that he would have felt the same if the roles had been reversed. "I couldn't believe he was going to leave you. Charles had to actually pull me away" you told him with a small but unamused laugh. "So, just a heads up...I might be the next pawn that Dutch sacrifices" you huffed.
"I saw you fighting Dutch as he pulled you out of the bank. I knew you'd come to get me out. Didn't doubt it for a second, just wondered why it took so long" John admitted. Something in his gut told him that you could come get him out, that you would never just leave him there. He was right.
"We ended up taking the worst vacation known to man but I'll tell you about that later. Was always coming to get you, though. Started taking to Sadie about it as soon as I got back" you assured him as you pulled the handkerchief away from his face.
John looked up at you in awe for a moment, feeling strangely glad that you cared so much for him. He was barely conscious of the action and couldn't stop himself, he just cupped your face in his hands and pulled you into a kiss. Your lips were soft, just like he thought they would be, just like he had imagined for days on end since he first met you. To him, your lips fit against his perfectly, like they were meant to be together. He couldn't even remember how long he had been waiting for this.
Your body tensed as John's lips pressed against yours, the piece of cloth falling from your hand in shock.
"John!" you gasped, placing your hands on his shoulders and pushing him away. You just looked down at him with wide eyes as you processed what just happened. John had just kissed you but...why?
"I'm sorry" John apologised as he pulled his hands away from you, dropping them to his lap. He never meant to startle you. "I just...I've had a lot of time to think, I thought I was going to die in that place and I guess that made me realise that I have to tell you how I feel. I can't keep wasting time because I'm afraid" he explained himself.
"John...I...what are you saying?" you asked as you dropped your hands from his shoulders.
"I really like you, Y/n. I think I may even love you" John confessed.
"You just lost Abigail" your shook your head. Maybe this was just how he was trying to cope.
"What?" John frowned a little, not understanding how those two things were related.
"You just lost the woman you were with and now you're making some sort of move on me? I think you just need some time to mourn, alright?" you smiled slightly, wanting him to know that you weren't mad if that was what was going on.
"Y/n...of course I wouldn't have wished this on Abigail, I can't believe she's dead and I will miss her. It kills me to think about that poor boy who just lost his mother but we were never together" John informed you.
"What do you mean?" you frowned in confusion.
"Abigail and I have never dated. We messed around a bit when we were younger but that was it, when she got pregnant I didn't even believe that the kid was mine. When I couldn't deny it any longer, I accepted that Jack was my son and tried to do what I could for him but Abigail and I both agreed that we would never be together like that. We didn't have those feelings for each other" John explained.. "Then you joined the gang and...well, I fell in love with you" he confessed.
"John...I...look" you sighed softly as you sat down on the cot beside him. "I always thought you had feelings for Abigail, always thought you were together but things were just...difficult, I never...I've only ever thought of you a friend. One of my closest friends but...only a friend. I honestly had no idea you felt that way and I would never want to hurt you, I'm so sorry, John" you apologised but you couldn't lie to him. The last thing you wanted was to hurt him, though.
John opened his mouth to say something but the words died in his throat. He really had thought that you felt the same, that you returned his feelings. Instead of talking, he just hung his head and looked away from you, feeling stupid and hurt.
"I'm sorry, I...you should eat something. Pearson's food hasn't gotten any better since you last had it but it's gotta be better than whatever they were giving you in there. I'll be back soon, okay?" you asked, trying to change the subject. You didn't want him to feel embarrassed but you feared it was too late for that.
John just nodded and, with that, you stood from the cot and left the tent. As you stepped outside, you released a breath you didn't even realise you were holding. Shaking your head, you collected yourself and headed off towards Pearson's wagon.
You put together a simple bowl of stew before carrying it back towards John's tent, only to see that he had tied the canvas closed. Shutting you out. You sighed, it was probably best to just give him some space...
Turning around again, your gaze landed on Jack sitting alone at the campfire. He must have escaped the coddling the other women had been giving him.
"Hey Jack" you spoke softly as you walked up to him, making him look up at you. "You should eat something" you told him as you held the bowl of stew out for him.
"Thanks, Auntie Y/n..." Jack accepted the bowl and you ruffled his hair affectionately. "...is Pa okay?" he asked before you could leave. You looked down at him for a moment before sighed and sitting beside him on the log.
"He's just fine, Jack. Don't you worry about him. I'm sure he'll be out here to see you soon" you assured him.
"It is true that my momma is in a better place now? That's what everyone keeps telling me" Jack asked, looking up at you with those big innocent eyes.
"Yeah, yeah it's true. She's somewhere real nice now" you nodded. You didn't want to avoid the conversation or make Jack feel like he couldn't talk about it, but you had been avoiding the topic with him. You couldn't deny that. Everyone was avoiding talking to him about it.
"Why couldn't she take me? Or all of us?" Jack asked sadly.
"...she just couldn't. I'm sure she wanted too but she wasn't allowed. I'm sure she's going to miss you a lot" you answered as best you could.
"I miss her too..." Jack confessed.
"I know it's hard that she isn't here but do you want to know something?" you asked, placing your hand on his shoulder.
"What?" Jack looked up at you curiously.
"She loves you so much and she's never really gone. She's always watching over you, making sure you're alright" you told him.
"Really?" Jack asked hopefully.
"Really" you nodded. "I should probably check on your dad" you sighed, glancing over to John's tent, a little worried about him.
"Could you stay...just while I eat?" Jack asked, looking back down at his bowl.
"Sure. No problem, sweetie" you looked back at him and smiled softly.
After some wallowing in his own self pity, John got changed out of his prisoner attire and into his usual clothes. Then he stepped out of his tent and instantly saw you sitting with Jack at the campfire, talking to him.
You had always been so good with Jack, encouraging John to spend more time with his son. And Jack always seemed to like you. John had always liked that, it only made him love you more. Right now, John could barely look at the poor boy, he couldn't imagine how he was taking this whole thing, he had lost his mother...
"John, how are you doing?" Arthur asked as he walked over to the younger man. He didn't seem to beaten up from the prison but you could never be too sure.
"Not in the mood" John mumbled, finally tearing his gaze away from you and his son, looking down at the ground.
"What happened to you? Thought you'd be in a better mood than when we rescued your ass" Arthur frowned a little. He thought that John would be in a better mood but he seemed to be in a worse mood than he was when they first got to him.
"...it's complicated" John sighed, really not in the mood to talk about what had happened with you.
"Whatever it is, take a step back...go talk to your son, he's been having a hard time not knowing what was happening to his parents" Arthur advised and John nodded, that was his priority right now.
"What do I even say? His mother...I feel awful for him. I don't think there is anything I can do to make it better" John confessed with a another sigh.
"I guess there isn't. You just have to be there for him. Be his father" Arthur told him and he nodded, knowing he was right. Arthur gave him a brotherly pat on the shoulder before letting him walk away.
John walked over to where you and Jack were sitting at the campfire. "Hey, Jack" he spoke, getting the attention of both of you.
"Pa" Jack smiled as he placed his bowl on the floor and jumped to his feet. You couldn't help but smile as Jack jumped into John's arms for a hug, John kneeling down and catching his son in a tight embrace.
"I'll see you both later" you figured that you should give them their space, they probably needed to talk.
John looked up at you, meeting your gaze for a moment and seeing your soft smile. He forced a small smile and nodded. You nodded back before just walking away, hoping that you and John would be able to get past this awkwardness at some point.
"Y/n...are you alright?" Charles' voice caught your attention, making you stop and turn to see him walking over to you.
"It's been a rough day" you sighed, running your hand through your hair.
"I saw what happened with Dutch when you brought John back. He was really going to leave John" Charles shook his head disapprovingly.
"He never used to be like that...or he was just better at hiding it. What a mess, Charles" you mumbled.
"We'll get through it" Charles assured you, placing a hand on your back and comfortingly rubbing up and down.
"Thanks, Charles" you smiled slightly up at him.
"Did something happen between you and John?... something seemed...off just then at the fire" Charles asked. Of course he noticed, you thought, he was always so observant.
"I...it's fine, I promise" you assured him.
What happened would stay between you and John. You still cared a lot for him, he was your friend, a good friend, and you weren't going to spread this around like some cheap gossip. You would feel awful if somebody found out and started bothering him about it.
"Alright" Charles nodded, squeezing your shoulder gently before walking away.
You had no idea what was in store for you all now but you knew it couldn't be much good. All you could do was hope that somebody would come out of this whole thing alive and well, you hoped that person would be Jack.