Hang Em' High [RDR2 X FEM!Reader]

Birthday Boy

You jolted awake confused as to where you were. After a few seconds of your brain waking up you realised who you were and what you were doing. Your brain wasn't used to being up this early you thought to yourself as you rubbed your tired eyes. You flung your legs out of bed and shoved on your shoes. Sneaking out of the tent, you were anxious to not crash into anything as it was still dark outside. You visualised the camp in your mind and worked your way to where the cooking area should be. You grabbed a lantern from the kitchen table top and searched for eggs. You were going to make Arthur the best breakfast ever, you were determined. You found the eggs and you also grabbed the peppers, onions and some game meat. You fried the eggs and scrambled them, mixing them up with your vegetables while you had the meat simmering away slowly.

The crispy sizzle spat while the egg bubbled, you grabbed a bowl and poured in the food, the scent of eggs and meat sneaked through your nostrils and you knew Arthur would love his surprise breakfast. You sliced your meat, dancing your fingers along the hot flesh insuring you didn't burn yourself then added your slices on top of your egg and vegetables. You followed your lantern to the fireplace and placed the steel kettle next to the flame. It didn't take long for the water to heat up. You made Arthur and yourself a cup of warm, sugary tea and set off for Arthurs tent. You snuck in and quietly sang "Happy birthday to you.... Happy birthday to you."
He stirred in his bed
"Happy birthday dear Arthur.." he rubbed his eyes
"Happy birthday to you.." you smiled at him with the cheesiest, most excited smile your cheeks could form. He looked up at you with happiness and a hint of confusion
"How did you know?" He questioned, sitting up right in bed
"Oh well you know me, I have my ways." You answered him, handing him his breakfast. He thanked you. Then opened his blanket for you to join him. You crawled in next to him and wrapped his thick blanket over your legs. The warmth caressed your body, sending tingles down your spine.
"Happy birthday love" you whispered and pecked him on the lips
"Thank you love" he pecked you again
"Well, eat up! We have a big day ahead!" You instructed
"Oh no you didn't make a fuss did you?"
"The biggest one I could conjure" you smiled cheekily, you knew deep down he was ecstatic about it. He pierced his egg with his rusty fork and shivered when the meat met his tastebuds. You grinned even more, knowing you did a job well done. "You like it then?"
"Love it. Here, try." He said whilst holding out some food on his fork. You angled you neck in an abnormal manner and your teeth clacked against the mettle. You both giggled. Arthur finished up his breakfast and the two of you got ready, prepared for your exciting day ahead, you saddled up your horse and headed into Rhodes.

"So what er- what are we doing."
"Somewhere around Rhodes are ten presents just for you. They are hidden in nooks and cracks and you have to find them. We will play hot or cold." You give him a cheesy grin
"Hot or cold? Sorry, ten gifts!?" He yelled
"Ten gifts. Hot or cold is a game I used to play on the farm you will start walking and when you get closer to a gift I will say hot, if you go farther away I will say cold." You explain
"I don't like the idea of you waisting money on me, love."
"Shame, because I do." You laughed.
"Well thank you." He smiled and you explained just how welcome he was. He set off walking past the train station, wacked his arms on his sides and stared at you
"Hot."
He kept walking, but then turned left towards the seats in the centre.
"Cold." You smiled, like watching a child take his first steps, he laughed and turned back towards the train station
"Hot"
He walked right up to the steps
"Very hot."
"I'm very close, am I?" He laughed
"Oh yes, very close."
He peered around the steps until a shimmering golden speck glimmered against the yellow sunlight, he giggled and grabbed the unknown object. He wiped away the dirt to reveal a new golden flask.
"A flask!" He cheered
"I knew you'd been needing one," you answered. The two of you played this game until the sun was now directly above you. You were on your last present, he was searching in the forest, just outside Rhodes. It was taking him ages
"Hot." "I just said hot why are you walking that way?" "Still cold now" "ok hot again" "nope, now you're cold. Oh my days you're useless at this!" "Hot," "no, now you're cold." "Still cold" "freezing now, Arthur."
"Freezing?" He questioned with a hint of insanity, walking in the opposite direction he just had been
"Just bloody look with your eyes!"
"I'm trying!" He replied, but as he did his foot hit something hard, he crouched down
"Hot"
He looked at you with a look that said "surely not?" And you shrugged sarcastically, he scooped one hand of dirt from the earth
"Hot."
He laughed to himself as he dug the layers of land away from before him. It didn't take long until he revealed a small, gold, metal box, with designs of swirls and flowers and on the front was a horse and carriage. Never taking his eyes away from the gift, he lifted up the lid slowly, being ever so careful not to damage it in any way, when his eyes saw what was inside he almost started to cry.
"You kept it all," he whispered
"Every single thing." You answered consolingly, while walking over and crouching down beside him. Inside the box was every single thing you and Arthur had ever found or received together. Every store receipt, every flower that you came across, the empty shotgun shells from when he taught you how to shoot, the beer bottle lids from the night you danced together, the note Arthur left you when he admitted his feelings and much more. You looked up from Arthurs shaking hands to see there was a tear rolling down his rough cheeks.
"Oh Arthur love," you spoke while wiping away his tears "you've gone all soft!" You tried to joke about the situation
"You know, I've never felt like I could cry in front of anyone before until now," he replied
"Well I am so glad you feel safe enough around me love, you make me so happy,"
"I love you y/n"
"I love you back Arthur"
The two of you sat there for a while going through everything in the box and discussing each memory attached to each object, laughing and giggling away, just enjoying each other's company.
"Right!" You spoke, standing up "one last present!"
"You said that was the last one!" Replied Arthur getting to his feet
"Oh you'll find this one easily,"
"I wouldn't be so su-"
"Hot!"
He grumbled looking around aimlessly, he walked away from you, scanning the trees
"Cold"
He walked closer in your direction
"Hot"
He came closer
"Hot"
Even closer
"Hot"
He was standing right in front of you, inches away from your face, looking very confused
"You're very hot." You stated with a cheeky smirk on your face. Then it clicked for him.
"Oh, I'm very hot am I?" He replied, placing his hands on your waist and pulling you closer
"Oh, very." You giggled, he moved his head pointing down so his face was right in front of yours.
"Boiling."
And he kissed you. You felt the fireworks inside you burst, this was your first "proper" kiss. You felt as if you were floating, being so close to him, being held by him and being kissed by him, you truly were the luckiest girl in the world. And he, the luckiest man. It was only when you both opened your eyes you realised you weren't flying in the sky. You both panted as the adrenaline had made you forget to breathe. You smiled at each other, before giggling again. The world had never known laughter until the world met you two. After a few seconds of just smiling at each other you decided it would be a good idea to head back into Rhodes and maybe grab something to eat at the Saloon. The ride back into Rhodes was short but sweet, you always loved riding with Arthur. Your mind was hovering over seeing Arthur cry, you'd never seen him, or anyone really, cry before. You blushed to yourself knowing that Arthur felt safe enough around you to show himself in such a vulnerable state. You knew you were never going to hurt him, you were always going to treasure him and you were always going to be there for him. You'd only known him a matter of months, but you could already only imagine a future with him in it.
Walking into the Saloon, your boots clacked against the hard floor and the smell of alcohol and cigar smoke infiltrated through your nose. You walked up to a table, Arthur pulled out a chair for you, you sat down and he tucked your chair in behind you.
"Oh thank you kind sir, such a gentleman." You forced a thick posh accent
"You're most welcome m'lady! What can I do to quench thy thirst?" He questioned in a matching accent
"I shall receive one glass of fresh Moonshine if it's all the same to you sir."
"Of course Madame." He answered before heading to the bar. Watching him walk away a smile snook it's way onto your face, illuminating the whites of your eyes. Arthur placed the drinks before you, they were wet with cold condensation and steamed with ice.
"To Arthur, and living this long! Well done!" You laughed holding your glass in the air as Arthur sat down opposite you, he clinked his glass against yours.
"An art of which I am a master of. Surviving, I guess." He laughed back before you both banged your glasses on the table and took a swig of the potent Moonshine. Your faces cringed as the alcohol chocked your body.

Four hours, two crates of moonshine and four broken glasses later. The clear, blue sky was beginning the bleed into dark purples and blacks as the full moon hovered over the town of Rhodes. Wolves and coyotes came out to play as deers and rabbits went home for bed. The grass silently hummed as the wind pushed the dry strands against each other. The town was quiet. Quiet and empty. You and Arthur fell through the Saloon front doors with a bang, replacing the once silent town with yells of laughter and high volume music. The two of you tripped over your feet and stumbled along the Sandy path, fighting to keep you both on your feet. Slurring and excitedly screaming with each other along the town, you stopped suddenly in your tracks. Causing Arthur to nearly topple to the floor in front of you.
"Whatisit?" Arthur mumbled. The man from yesterday, the drunk one by the lamppost was there. He had his trousers by his ankles and was peeing into a bush
"That man. He was very rude to me yesterday." You explained, still seeing double. You and Arthur swayed side to side, keeping your balance, staring at him. Arthur pulled out his gun and shot the air, frightening the man. He screamed like a little girl and you and Arthur fell into a fit of laughter, until the man turned around and spied you both, not that it was hard to see you. You and Arthur gasped and your eyes nearly popped our your head as the man raised a shaking gun at you both, it was clear he was drunk too. Arm in arm, you both bolted away. Sprinting, leaping, tripping and of course laughing and screaming away. You heard gun shots and angry yells echoing from behind you. You and Arthur been-lined for the forest. Stumbling over your own feet you didn't stop sprinting. One foot in front of the other, the world spinning around you. You were running for everything you had, with everything you could force. You only came to a holt just outside camp. You threw your hands onto your knees and panted. After catching your breathe for a few minutes, the two of you stumbled into camp. The camp was empty and faint snores could be heard from the tents. Your chest raised high and low rapidly as your heart began to slow down. Arthur grabbed your back and started to say thank you for the day. He seemed so genuine and great full. He then said goodnight, he kissed your forehead and began to walk to bed, but you grabbed his arm and for the first time ever, you offered.
"Do you want to sleep in my bed tonight?"
You felt him blush, not that you could see it as it was too dark.
"I'd love that."
You both headed to your bed. Arthur got in first and you climbed in after him. He wrapped his large arms around you and the blanket absorbed the cool air from the nighttime lake and warmed the two of you up. Arthurs body heat radiated through you and you buried yourself into him. You felt the safest you ever had. The smile that sketched onto your face was true and innocent. You inhaled Arthurs signature scent and shivered in contempt.
"Goodnight y/n" Arthur mumbled
"Na night Arthur." You yawned before your eyes fell heavy and you fell asleep in the warm arms of your first true love.