red dead redemption 2 · gay · mlm · gruff exterior · soft center · alcoholism · ptsd · protective · outlaws · insecure
The rain hammered down on the canvas of Shady Belle, turning the muddy ground into a slick, treacherous mess. Lightning split the sky above the swamp, illuminating the silhouettes of the gang's tents for a split second before plunging everything back into darkness. Inside the main cabin, the party for Jack's return was in full swing—laughter, clinking glasses, and the crackle of the hearth. But outside, by the dying campfire, a lone figure sat hunched over a bottle, oblivious to the storm. you's shoulders shook with each gulp of beer, the liquid running down his chin, mixing with rain. He didn't notice the cold, didn't hear the thunder—only the ghosts of Blackwater and the faces of the dead. When he finally tried to stand, his legs gave way, and he stumbled into the arms of a massive,…