John Marston x Female Reader
Summary: John takes you into Saint Denis for an art show he was invited too but doesn't like how the artist is talking to you.
Word Count: 2100
You were sitting in the camp, at the fire with a drink, when John approached you. The two of you had been close friends for a while now, so when you saw him you couldn't help but greet him with a smile. "Hey John, how was your trip into Saint Denis?" you asked, honestly expect him to complain about something that had happened.
"More eventful that I thought it would be" John told you as he sat down beside you.
"Really?" you raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sure, met an artist" John nodded.
"How romantic" you teased, smirking slightly to yourself.
"Shut up" John rolled his eyes at you. "Stopped him from getting killed by some the husband of some woman he slept with" he explained.
"Oh he sounds like a real catch" you chuckled, shaking your head.
"Gave me some of his work as well" John reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper before holding it out to you.
You took the piece of paper and unfolded it, looking at the drawing. "Huh...I'm going to pretend you didn't just give me a doodle of a naked woman" you joked with an amused huff.
"Oh c'mon, you ain't offended by that kinda stuff, are you?" John scoffed, knowing that you couldn't be bothered by that considering you were running with a gang of outlaws.
"'course not" you shook your head. "Why'd he give it to you anyway?" you asked.
"Dunno. Said it was worthless but would be worth something one day" John shrugged, not sounding too convinced.
"Let's hope, huh? Better keep hold of that" you hummed as you handed it back, he took the folded piece of paper and pocketed it again.
"He also invited me to his exhibit at the gallery. Was wonderin' if you'd wanted to join me" John looked at you expectantly.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were asking me on a date" you teased. It wouldn't be the first time that the two of you joked about something like that.
"I don't think it's going to be that romantic but it could be fun" John rubbed the back of his neck, still waiting for your answer.
"Well, I'll still go with you" you never planned on turning down the offer. "What's the artist's name anyway?" you asked.
"Charles Châtenay" John told you.
"French?" you asked and he nodded.
"Apparently he left Paris because they told him he couldn't paint" John chuckled slightly, not wanting you to get your hopes up for some incredible art show. Though, he was sure that neither of you would know what was going on if it was.
"Oh now we definitely have to go see his exhibit!" your face lit up, clearly more excited now, making John laugh fondly.
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So you and John rode into Saint Denis and walked up into the gallery that the artist had told him to meet him. The two of you looked around, walking into one room where there was a couple admiring a sculpture.
"I think that it's Greek" the man hummed, "or...could be Roman."
"What do you think John? Greek or Roman?" you asked, tilting your head to the side as if you were examining the sculpture.
"Has to be Roman" John played along, pretending to know what he was talking about.
"Are you kidding? It's Greek! Just look at it!" you exclaimed, earning a dirty look from the couple. "Come on, let's go find that artist friend of yours" you laughed, tugging on John's arm.
He smiled at you before you both walked into a room where framed paintings were being displayed. "He has a...style, doesn't he?" you hummed, looking at all the paintings.
"Sure. If other men's wives are a style" John nodded, making you laugh. "C'mon, here he is" he placed a hand between your shoulder blades and guided you towards the man on the other side of the room.
"Ah, Monsieur Marston, you came! And you brought a friend, wonderful" the artist smiled, holding his arms out slightly as he greeted you both.
"Y/n L/n" you introduced yourself as you held your hand out for him to shake.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman" he complimented as he took your hand in his. "Charles Châtenay" he introduced himself before bringing your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles.
John didn't even realise it at first but he was glaring a hole into the side of the artist's head, luckily neither of you seemed to notice. You just smiled politely at the man before taking your hand back.
"I ain't much of an art critic but I don't think your paintings are as bad as some seem to be saying. I'd even say they are rather good" you told him kindly, even if you didn't know much about art at all.
"That's very kind of you to say, mon cher. But the best art is what provokes emotion, gets a reaction...so I suppose my pieces to get that, even if it be negative" Charles sighed.
"Isn't that a strong emotion? I'd say you're doing just fine" you assured him.
"Monsieur Marston, you're friend is an absolute delight, you should have introduced us sooner" Charles turned to John with a smile.
"I wonder what I was thinking" John mumbled sarcastically.
"Now, forgive me for being so forward but I must ask you something" Charles turned back to you and placed his hands on your arms, getting your attention. "Have you ever considered modelling? I'd love to study you, you'd be a wonderful subject to paint" he asked you, definitely taking you by surprise.
"She ain't interested" John answered quickly and sternly. If his other paintings were anything to go by, John knew exactly what type of modelling the artist wanted you to do.
"Let the lady speak for herself" Charles chastised. "Some men, they just have no manners" he shook his head, looking back at you. "So what do you say? Would you ever consider modelling for me?" he asked with a smile that you were sure some would consider charming.
"That's very kind but I'm no model" you shook your head and gently pushed his hands away.
"Please tell me you'll think on it?" Charles pleaded.
"I'll think about it but I'm confident my answer will stay the same" you nodded, not really planning on reconsidering the offer.
"Very well" Charles sighed, thankfully giving up.
"Excuse me, Mr Châtenay..." a woman interrupted, walking over to the artist. The three of you turning to her. "...couldn't you have painted some drawers on her?" she asked, pointing at one of the painting on the other side of the room.
"Madame, I paint her in her natural state..." the artist claimed as he crossed the room with the woman, towards the portrait she had been talking about, "...as she was and will be in paradise."
"There's nothing natural about that" the woman scoffed in disgust.
"Clothes are civilisation...repression...death. To be naked is to be free...innocent...alive. Like Buddha said, you know...we are all just here to fuck" Charles expressed. The woman gasped at his words and you couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well, that explains the decadence of those hottentots" the woman shook her head at the idea.
"Hey, you got a picture of my wife here...in her...dedicates!" a man exclaimed, pointing to another portrait.
"Henry...is that your behind? Why would you be showing it to that man" another woman asked her husband, gesturing to another piece.
"Amazing" you whispered to yourself, making John look down to see your amused expression.
"That's my momma! As nude as the say she was born" yet another man shouted.
"Stop looking at my husband's buttocks!"
"Stop looking at my momma!"
"Well maybe she shouldn't expose herself like that!"
"This is disgusting!"
"The nerve on you!"
You couldn't help it, you couldn't hold it back anymore, when one of the men punched another you burst out in laughter. And John couldn't help but smile at you when he saw you doubled over in laughter, he loved hearing you laugh or seeing you smile. Maybe bringing you here really had been a good idea.
"You filthy little man!" the first woman scolded before hitting Charles with her purse. "Come on, Horace, we're leaving" she announced before storming out, followed by a man.
"I'm sorry" you apologised through your laughter, covering your mouth with your hand to stop yourself, but John just chuckled along with you.
That was when Charles thought it would be a good time to get out of there, hurrying out of the gallery followed by you and John. "Let's get out of here" Charles sighed as you all headed down the stairs, stepping out onto the street. "Mademoiselle, do you happen to know of a place that I could disappear to for a few days" Charles asked, his tone a little suggestive. You raised an eyebrow at him while John tensed, glaring down at the man.
"Unfortunately not, Mr Châtenay" you shook your head.
"Truly a shame but very well...come on, I know of a place I can go" Charles brushed off your rejection and the three of you started walking down the street. "Well, the exhibition, what can you say? It was not boring!" he laughed.
"It certainly wasn't" you laughed along. "Best date ever, John. Thanks for inviting me" you joked, placing a hand on John's arm.
"Date? My apologies, I didn't the realise that the two of you were an, uh...item, as you would call it" Charles looked back at you both, looking a little surprised.
"Oh, we're-" you were about to protest and explain it was just a joke until John cut you off.
"That we are, Mr Châtenay" John nodded, making you look up at him with slightly widened eyes.
"Well...my offer to paint you still stands" Charles told you, still smiling. John bit down on the inside of his cheek, was he fucking kidding right now?
"As does my answer" you smiled politely but slipped your hand into John's, instantly feeling him lace his fingers through yours.
The two of you took Charles to the home of a woman he knew, watching him disappear into the house before turning and leaving.
"What an interesting man" you commented, not pulling your hand away from John's as you start heading back to your horses.
"He sure is something" John nodded, not pulling his hand away either.
"So...we're an 'item', huh?" you asked, smirking up at him.
"...just thought I'd help ya turn him down" John shrugged as he thought up an excuse, realising he should probably release your hand and went to do so.
"Well I appreciate it but I'm sure I had the situation handled" you kept your hand in his, not letting him pull it away. "I saw your face when we were in the gallery, when Charles starting asking me to model and all that...I think you might be jealous" you told him, smiling when he looked away from you but you still managed to see how he blushed.
"Don't be ridiculous" he mumbled.
"Y'know, John...if I wanted an artist, I'd get one, but I'm more into cowboys. And if you really wanted this to be a real date, all you had to do was ask" you shrugged, making him look at you as you removed your hand from his. "You can't be jealous if you don't make a move" you smirked before walking ahead of him, going to unhitch your horse.
John watched you with slightly widened eyes. You both knew that you had been dancing around each other for a while now, always getting close but never quite colliding. But maybe John could make that change today. Like you said, he just had to make a move.
"Y/n" John saying your name made you turn back to him.
Before you could even get a good look at him, he was cupping your face in his hands and pressing his lips to yours. You instantly kissed him back, your hands shooting up to rest on his waist. The two of you relaxed, melting completely into the kiss as you slipped your arms around his neck, letting John wrap one of his around your waist. And to think the two of you could have been doing this for months.
"I was right...best date ever" you said playfully as he pulled away from the kiss.
"Reckon we could beat it?" John asked, making you smile more.
"We can try" you nodded. "C'mon, let's head back" you lent up to give him quick kiss before pulling away from him completely.
John just smiled and nodded, the two of you sharing a glance as you mounted your horses. You couldn't wait to further explore this new relationship with John, and neither could he.
Requests are Closed!