Arthur Morgan x Reader

Forty

Arthur dug behind church and pulled out his revolver to check the ammo once more.

You reached out to grab the other weapon he had strapped to his leg.

But he slapped your hand away.

At first you thought it was just a reflex of his. But as you tried a second time, he did it again.

"I need a gun.", you said, upset.

"It's fine.", he assured and threw a glance through the window. "Why's no one around?"

You followed his gaze.

The inside of the church was entirely empty.

The benches were covered with white sheets.

The cross on the altar was turned upside down.

You frowned.

Something didn't feel right.

"No one is around...", you mumbled. "But Karl isn't here either."

With his revolver loaded, Arthur got up to crouch along the wall.

You grabbed him by the wrist to hold him back.

"I need a gun.", you insisted again.

For a moment, his eyes lingered on you.

"You're not made for this, sweetheart.", he freed himself with more force than he initially wanted.

As he slipped from your grip, a cold feeling was left in the palm of your hand.

Without another word, he turned his back on you and glanced through another window to have the perfect view inside the building.

A harsh wind chased through the streets and made clouds of dust twirl up.

The entire town seemed to be deserted.

The church building wasn't all too far away from the rest of the city, the other saloons and stores.

No horses were waiting on the streets for their owners, no person was sitting on a porch, sleeping.

No one was around.

Not a single soul.

Not even rats were to he seen.

With an unsettling feeling growing in the pit of your stomach, you followed Arthur.

Your eyes were glued to his back, trying to figure out why he wanted to do what you were thinking he would.

"Why?", you asked. "Why would you do this?"

He froze.

Without turning around, he kept staring at the place in front of him as if he was expecting someone to appear out of thin air.

A deep sound escaped him.

It sounded like something between a sigh and a growl.

Briefly, he glanced over his shoulder to examine you.

"I'm not doin' anythin'.", he said, trying his hardest to sound indifferent.

Even though the small part of his face that was visible to you made him seem cold and distant, you were able to sense something in his voice.

The urge to hold back.

He wasn't telling the entire truth.

It was obvious that he wanted to do something, something that included shooting Karl's father for you.

But his decisions didn't make any sense.

The night before he had been so unsure, so unwilling to leave the life he knew behind.

He had presented himself as a man with morals and standards and now he was throwing all of that out the window.

He was preparing himself to use violence without a proper reason.

It didn't fit what he had told you before.

Something must have happened that changed his mind.

He shifted, attempting to move forward. It seemed like an escape.

Taking a deep breath in, you reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

He froze again.

His shoulders stiffened underneath your touch.

Slowly, you leaned forward to place your chin on his shoulder.

Your lips were so close to his ear that the warmth of your breath stroked his neck and ear.

A shivering breath escaped his lips. He managed to make it sound like a hum instead.

"I don't want you to go against your moral codex.", you said in a low, calming voice. "I'll do it myself."

Your hand slid onto his to grab the revolver.

But he held onto it.

"I know how to shoot a man.", he said and lowered his eyes.

"This isn't you, Arthur."

"How do you want to know? Ya barely know me for a week. I'm far worse than you think. I'll shoot him without flinching."

"You'll get Dutch and the gang into trouble."

His eyes flickered.

A low sound gist stuck in his throat.

"Dutch is gettin' himself into trouble.", he replied with a bitter smile.

Confused, you frowned.

"What?", you leaned over his shoulder to force him to look you into the eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

For a moment, he only stared at you.

His eyes moved over your face, as if he tried to remember every single detail that could be found in those (E/C) eyes of yours.

He swallowed noticeably.

"Dutch is out of his mind.", he said slowly, eyes still locked with yours. "Micah has found a way to him. They want to pull a job that cannot go well."

"And you don't want to go with them?"

He hesitated.

A shadow appeared inside his eyes.

"I know there ain't a lot for me out there...", he mumbled and let his free hand reach up to gently grab your cheek. "But ya offering isn't all that bad. I've got nothin' to loose now. And before you make it out of this place, I can give you a head start with the money. I owe you."

Your heart started beating faster.

Struck by surprise, a soft breath escaped you.

"You can still join me.", you said without thinking. "Please..."

But he just chuckled gently.

It was obvious that he didn't believe in it.

"If things go south, they need someone to put the blame on."

"I won't let you take my burdens."

"You don't get to decide that, sweetheart. I ain't a good man. But I want to be good just this once."

A huff of disbelief escaped you.

Bitterness appeared on your face.

"But why would you do that, Arthur?", you almost had to laugh. "I've taken the blame all my life. I don't need someone to start taking it for me."

His mouth moved.

His eyes moved down to your lips.

"People do stupid things for the ones they hold dear, don't they?", he pulled you into a gentle kiss. "I'm good for nothin'. Allow me to help you. Just this once."