Multifandom X Reader Stories

Less flirting, more working (John Shelby) PART 1

The Garrison was unusually lively tonight. You wiped down glasses behind the bar, occasionally glancing up at the rowdy crowd, ready to step in if things got too wild. Tommy had asked you to help out tonight, and you'd never been one to say no to a Shelby, especially when it was a chance to keep an eye on John. A few pints and laughs later, things were running smoothly—until you felt an unwelcome hand slide over your hip.

Before the man's drunken grin had a chance to settle on his face, you grabbed his wrist, twisted it backward with a sharp flick, and slammed his head against the table. The room stilled. The men around you were frozen in their seats, and as you rubbed your hands together with a scoff, you cast a steely gaze around the bar.

"Well, then," you said, voice calm but commanding, "anyone else fancy their luck tonight?" You watched with a smirk as the other men quickly shook their heads, murmuring, "No, ma'am." Satisfied, you turned back toward the bar—and found the entire Shelby clan watching you from across the room.

"What?" you asked, raising an eyebrow at them.

"Nothing," they replied in unison, except for John, who muttered under his breath, "I'm in love." But you didn't catch his words as you got back to your work, brushing off the incident like it was nothing. John, though, couldn't stop looking at you, a grin tugging at his lips.

The next few days, he seemed to linger around the bar more than usual. He'd settle on a stool, flashing you that mischievous smile, and chat with you as you worked. Every now and then, his hand would brush against yours as you handed him a glass, and he'd lean in a bit closer than necessary, his low voice making you blush despite yourself. Slowly, you started to feel the pull, noticing how his laugh lingered in your thoughts even after he'd left for the night.

But things changed when Sarah, the new barmaid, started working. Young, flirty, and always making excuses to wander over to John, she'd flick her hair and bat her lashes at him in a way that was impossible to miss. He didn't seem to mind, either, offering her winks and charming smiles that made your stomach twist uncomfortably. The two of them would laugh at the bar, John's arm occasionally drifting around her shoulders, and you tried your best to ignore it—though it felt like a punch every time you saw her brush her hand over his arm.

One evening, you finally had enough. The place was packed, and Sarah was slacking off yet again, lingering around John as you scrambled to keep up with orders. When you caught her laughing as John poured his own drink, you slammed a glass down on the bar, catching her attention.

"Oi, Sarah," you called, voice hard. "Less flirting, more working. Or have you forgotten whose bar this is?"

The entire room quieted. Sarah's face flushed a shade of red as she stammered an apology before bustling back to her duties, suddenly very interested in her job.

John had been watching the whole exchange, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a grin. When you turned back to the bar, he caught your gaze, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Bit harsh, don't you think?" he teased, leaning closer.

You shot him a look, though you couldn't quite hide the blush spreading over your cheeks. "If someone's gotta keep this place in line, I'll be the one to do it."

His gaze softened, and he leaned even closer, so close you could feel his breath on your skin. "Maybe you've got some of that Shelby bite in you after all."

For a moment, you held his gaze, heart hammering, but then you cleared your throat and turned away, hiding the growing smile on your face. As you poured another drink, you couldn't ignore the warmth blooming in your chest, knowing that John Shelby's attention was firmly back where it belonged.