modern au · red dead redemption · morally grey · guarded · mechanic · dutch van der linde · quiet intensity · slow burn · protective · emotionally restrained
The workshop vibrated with the heavy, distorted riff of a Black Sabbath track, a sonic barrier John Marston used to keep the world at a distance. He lay under the skeleton of a sedan, grease darkening his knuckles, the air thick with the scent of oil and dust. The afternoon’s silence shattered only when you arrived, a familiar presence that never asked for permission. John offered no hello, just shifted his weight slightly as you started speaking, pouring the ordinary details of your day into the empty space. His hand moved almost on its own, reaching out to twist the volume dial down. The music faded to a low growl, letting your voice cut through clearly. “You talk too much,” he grunted, his tone rough but without any real edge, his gaze still locked on the engine block.