Like a Cat {Arthur Morgan x OC}

4. Midnight Swim

Took Rex to our camp today. I felt guilty after hearing about her current situation, even after she stole my money.
Dutch was not too happy about the idea but agreed. Now I finally know who Rex really is. Her name is Irene. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.
She didn't let me help build up her tent which I found questionable.
One question still bothers me. She asked me why I decided to help her. I'm still not completely sure why but I will find out soon.

Arthur finishes the short chapter of his diary and puts it aside.
His eyes look outside of his tent and onto the campsite. He's bored and definitely not tired.

Suddenly he hears someone or something outside.
Arthur decides to take a look and grabs his pistol just in case.
Before following the noise he takes a peek inside Irene's tent.
She's gone.

A bit worried Arthur follows the sound all the way down to the lake.
What could it be? Robbers, animals?

As he reaches the end of the high grass he sees a silhouette in the dark.
It takes him a while to make it out but in the end... he sees Irene. Taking her clothes off?
Is she going swimming?

Arthur's assumption is confirmed as the woman steps into the cold water.

He shouldn't be watching but he's too captivated by her curves. Dammit.
Arthur decides to go back to his tent, he's already seen too much.

As he wants to go back up the hill a twig cracks under his boot. His eyes shift over at Irene who rushed out of the water to grab a pistol laying next to her clothes. "Who's there", She yells as she points the gun in Arthur's direction.
Arthur covers his eyes.
"It's me, Irene!"
He comes out of the bushes and drops his pistol.

Irene slowly lowers her gun. "Why are you up?"
"I could ask you the same."
A short silence falls over them.
"Couldn't sleep", Irene quickly says.
"Same here."

Irene quickly puts on her close. "You can look now." Arthur removes his hand from his eyes to look at Irene.
"I was worried you left."
Irene smiles a little. "I may not be a person to stay in one place for long... but I like it here."
Arthur smiles at Irene's words.
For some reason her presence made him feel at ease. It feels like he could talk to her all day about everything.
At the same time he knows where this feeling is going and he doesn't like it.

"I... should go back", Irene says breaking the silence between them. "Oh, yea, me too."

He hated it. He wanted to talk about everything but also nothing.

"You comin'?"
Arthur quickly jogs to Irene's side.
His thoughts are all over the place, the thing he hated the most.
Arthur likes being collected and in charge of things but this time... this woman didn't allow it.

They walk back to their tents in silence.
"Goodnight, Arthur."
Before the man leaves for his tent he dares to ask one last question. "Irene?"
She looks up at him.
"Do you have a family... somewhere out there?"
Irene chuckles at the question.
"I'm not sure how to answer this."
Arthur feels bad for asking.
"If you're uncomfortable you don't have to answer-"
Irene lifts her hand as a signal for him to stop talking.
Then she pats the empty space next to her on her mattress.

Arthur sits down next to her unsure of what will follow.
"I... grew up in a small town far from here. I'm the youngest of 5." Arthur clears his throat. "Looks like ya parents had too much fun", He laughs and Irene joins in.

This is the first time he hears her laugh clearly. Not just a chuckle. A laugh.
It's bright and clear, like a melody.

"When I was 15 my parents wanted me to marry this guy. I refused. I didn't want to end up making babies for the rest of my life like they did. I want to live my life before settling down."

Arthur continues to listen to Irene's story.
It was interesting to him. Irene seems to be kind of like Sadie... in a way.
Irene wants to live her life even if it means killing people for a living.

"After I refused and my parents threatened to throw me out I left. Haven't been back since."
Arthur tilts his head.
"Do you ever think of going back?" She shrugs. "The first years I did. After that I didn't care anymore."
Arthur nods.
"I get it. It's the worst feeling when your parents don't approve of you", He says as he thinks of his father. Irene looks up at Arthur who just stares into nothingness as he is deeply in thought.

"Do you think that we'll stay outlaws forever", She suddenly asks. Arthur looks down at her. "I'm not sure... but if I ever get the chance I want to start over like you."
They both smile at each other. "I'd want to have a family with a kid... maybe a farm to stay busy."

Irene smiles as Arthur talks about his plans.
"What about you", He then asks.
Irene leans back onto the mattress to think. "I don't know. Maybe I'll get married and maybe I'll be ready to have a kid by then."
Arthur looks down at her. "Are you scared", He asks and Irene's eyes widen.
"What gave you that idea?" She sits back up.
"Ran away because of children and you're not sure if you ever want one."

Irene brushes her black hair out of her face as she thinks. "I really don't know what to say or think. I want to be happy."

Arthur looks at Irene's unsure face.

"But I don't know if I could ever be attached to someone like that."