Arthur Morgan x Reader

Thirty-Seven

Trembling, you fell to your knees and pulled Ginny into a hug.

Immediately, his arms wrapped around you. With his nails clawed into your shoulders, he buried his face in the crotch of your neck and started sobbing.

You noticed the smell of gunpowder on him.

He was sticky all over and reeked of alcohol as well.

Gently, you pulled back to examine his face.

His eyes were swollen and filled with tears.

"It's fine...", you whispered. "It's fine, you can cry."

Tears started to fall.

With your face disfigured by worry, you wiped his cheeks dry to have a better look of the injuries.

His forehead was covered with blood stains, some his and some not.

He had a black eye and some scratches as well as bursted skin.

He didn't look like he was injured worse than that, but the look in his eyes and the violent shaking made clear that his mind had taken some damage.

He wasn't as innocent anymore as he had been before.

"They beat me!", he gasped, trying to fight back the tears. "They poured alcohol over me. I- I think... I think they wanted to set me aflame!"

He broke down crying.

Tears blurred your vision as well.

But they weren't born from fear.

They were tears of anger.

With your teeth clenched and your arms wrapped around your brother, you couldn't help but let the anger take over.

The urge to hurt someone the way they hurt Ginny awoke inside of you.

It was raging and burning like a fire.

For a moment, Arthur left you two to sob on your own.

With his revolver in one hand and the other reached out to push the doors open, he checked all the rooms.

"Javier?", he called out.

Nobody answered.

"He left.", Ginny said, whimpering and eyes red. "Another man came to take him back to camp."

Confused, Arthur frowned.

"Another man? How'd he look like?"

Ginny wiped some tears on your sleeve.

"He wasn't as tall as you.", his eyes moved to the window as if he needed to recall the face of the stranger. "He was messy and... kind of rude."

For a moment, Arthur seemed to think.

Slowly, he approached you and Ginny and kneeled down to appear less harmful.

He tapped his black hat, exchanged a glance with you and only acted as you gave him a nod of approval.

"Listen boy, I need you to answer me this.", he cleared his throat, his gaze suddenly so grim and unsettled. "Did the man have a moustache?"

Ginny nodded, hesitantly.

"He sounded so different from you, Arthur.", he confirmed. "So impatient."

Humming, Arthur nodded his head.

"He was wearing a white cowboy hat.", it wasn't a question but a statement.

Surprised, the boys eyes widened.

"How do you know?"

Shaking his head, he avoided to answer, got up and did a gesture.

"Can we have a word?", he asked you, his eyes as serious as they've never been before. "Just the two of us."

Quickly, you looked at Ginny.

He was still shaking a little.

It would take time for him to return to his old self. If he'd ever make it back.

"I'll be right back.", you let a hand run through his hair for comfort and slowly got up to follow Arthur to the other end of the room.

With his arms crossed in front of his chest, he threw a glance out the window.

He seemed less calm all of a sudden, pressured.

Maybe even nervous.

"You know the guy he's talking about.", you noted without a single doubt in your voice.

Humming, he nodded and pulled a face.

"Fear so.", he admitted, a grim expression on his face.
"He's one of yours."

"Unfortunately."

Annoyed, you rolled your eyes and crossed your arms in front of your chest as well.

"I assume he isn't good news."

A sigh escaped him.

"His name's Micah. A rat like no other, but Dutch likes him for some reason.", his blue eyes found your (E/C) ones. "I swear, I told no one about what I had planned. Javier was the only one."

Anger lit up inside your eyes. With your teeth bared, you leaned forward to meet him so close that he had to realise how bad your mood was in that moment.

"Then why did that Micah guy come here?", you asked. "And why the fuck did Javier leave the boys alone?"

All of a sudden, a cold shiver chased through your body.

Your eyes jumped through the room.

"He's gone.", Arthur said drily.

Your head snapped back to him.

"What do you mean he's gone?!", you hissed. "Where's Karl?!"

"They took him.", Ginny said.

One of Arthur's eyebrows rose.

"Micah and Javier?", he asked confused.

With his sleeve, Ginny wiped some blood off his nose.

"The townspeople. They came at night. Your two guys were long gone already."

Your face fell.

"They took Karl?", you asked and grabbed your brother by the shoulders. "Ginny, do you know where they took him?"

Unsure, he frowned.

"To church.", he mumbled. "The priest said he needed to be freed off his sins. Because he was with the devil."

Arthur huffed.

"I've seen people worse than the devil.", he said. "You two ain't close to that at all."

A sigh escaped you.

"Tell that to the people.", you growled. "Arthur, I need you to do me a favour."

His gaze darkened.

"I assume you need a gun.", he noted and glanced at Ginny. "If you do that, I'd advice you to get him somewhere safe first."

A huff made your shoulders tremble.

"You really think im that brainless?", you faced him, more cold than you had ever been. "I need you talk to Dutch. I need my share. All of it. And I need it now."

His eyebrows rose in surprise.

A soft breath escaped his slightly parted lips.

"I don't know if Dutch would be willing to...", he mumbled.

"I don't care if he's willing! It's his part of the deal and I want him to fulfil it. I need the money now, Arthur. And I need you to tell me why your people are acting all messed up even though they promised to be on my side."