Kindling | Red Dead Redemption 2

Chapter One: High Definition

Y/N stood by the modern bookshelf in her room, clutching her phone to her ear as she talked to Kadence, her geeky childhood best friend, "You don't understand! He died. Right there. I know it's been a week," She playfully sniffled, the hint of a smile curling at her lip, absentmindedly running her finger over the gaming titles on her shelf. "But sometimes the wounds take months to properly heal, you know? Maybe even years. You never know, I could be scarred for life."

"You do realize this is a fictional character we're talking about, right?"

"Yeah, but my heart thinks he's real, Kay." Y/N joked, turning back to her bed and sitting on the edge. "Aren't you the one who believes in simulation theory or whatever? What if he's based on someone outside the simulation we're in, hm?"

A short silence followed before Kadence released an exasperated sigh. "You're impossible. Oh! Speaking of impossible, I got my hands on something you might like."

"Is it a food item?" Y/N questioned, her interest piqued.

"No, come on. I'll give you a hint," Kadence said, pausing for dramatic effect. "It's a cure for Sean's headache."

"Are you serious?" Y/N groaned, unamused. "That's not funny. You know I'm still sore. I'm hanging up, you cruel, cruel woman -"

Kadence laughed, quickly interjecting before the inevitable click, "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. But I am serious. It'll only affect your download, but at least you can change his fate. Although his dialogue won't be the most inspiring since he's not supposed to live past Rhodes."

Y/N slowly rose from her bed, catching a glimpse of her surprised, yet hopeful expression in her floor-length mirror, her breath hitched. "Kadee... you're kidding."

"Nope. I tried it out last night, and it seems to work just fine. Takes a bit to get everything ready, though."

☆--------☆

Y/N's eyes opened a crack, and she lifted one hand, shielding her face with a groan. "When the hell did I install the sun, Kadee? Are you still there?" She kept her eyes tightly shut, struggling to her feet, her fingers sinking knuckle-deep into the sand beneath her, blindly reaching for her phone. "Where did all this dirt come from? And what the fuck is that noise-"

Another horrible screech sounded above her and she raised her squinted eyes to the sky, which promptly contracted from the direct assault from the sun, spotting a hawk circling above. "Hey! I'm not dead yet, don't get your fucking hopes up, you dumb bird!"

Y/N gave a dismissive wave, covering her face with both hands as her eyes watered, "Fuck, I should get out more. Where the hell am I?"

Suddenly aware of the approaching, distinctive sound of hoofbeats, she paused and before she knew it, something solid bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling a few steps.

"Hey!" She quickly gathered herself and turned, only to come face to face with big, icy blue eyes and a long face.

The horse appeared unimpressed at first, stomping the ground and throwing its head back when she made eye contact with him, almost as if he thought of himself as superior to her. At least, that's how it felt.

"Hey, watch yourself there. He's been known to play rough."

Y/N's attention was brought to the rider, her ears perking up at the familiar Irish accent and voice, muttering under her breath. "What the hell?"

Sean raised the brim of his hat gently with his index finger, staring down at her in amusement while giving her a once-over, one hand curled around the reins.

The corner of her lip raised as she watched him scrutinize her, unable to hold her tongue. "What are you staring at, potato farmer?"

Sean let out a hearty laugh, flashing his stained teeth. One of the front ones was missing. "There's been worse said to me, Lass, you'll have to try harder than that. But you? Swattin' your hands about, left and right, side to side. You know, talkin' to birds, blockin' traffic, hardly dressed. Normal things."

"Yeah, well, I assure you, I don't make a habit out of it," Y/N replied sarcastically, biting back an insult he wasn't quite old enough to understand yet as she brushed herself off, not bothering to maintain eye contact as she bent down to retrieve her bag.

"Oh, so shoutin' at the sky, in the middle of the road on a Tuesday isn't a weekly thing for you?" Sean asked with mock curiosity, slowly leaning to one side his gaze shamelessly lingering on her backside.

Y/N straightened, throwing her bag over one shoulder before facing him again, deciding to brush off his comment. "It's heat exhaustion, that's all. Look, are you gonna give me a ride or not?"

"I could give you a ride. I could also pull up a chair. There's an option. Lucky for you, though. I'm lookin' for my friends. Ain't got much time to lose, so hop on." He agreed, extending a hand to her.

Y/N gripped it firmly and put one foot in the stirrup, relying mostly on Sean as he pulled her up, allowing her to settle uncomfortably in the saddle behind him. She gripped his waist with both hands, refraining from getting too close to him as they set off at a canter.

Being on a horse felt unnatural to Y/N. Well, it was not so much unnatural as it was frightening. She could feel her heartbeat against her ribcage, her fingers unconsciously curling around the fabric of Sean's coat, sitting stiffly in the saddle.

"Ease up, Lass. Haven't you ever been on a horse before?"

Y/N forced herself to loosen up, her posture relaxing. "...No."

Sean chuckled lowly, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Really?"

Y/N rolled her eyes in mild annoyance, her head turned to take in the sights, watching the sun starting to dip below the horizon. "Is it that hard to believe?"

"I mean, yeah, but how else are you going to get around? Walkin'? Heatstroke, now that'd be a way to go. Not a showdown or a shootout, just a good old heatstroke. Wouldn't be the worst way to go out, but certainly fuckin' borin'."

"I take it you're the blaze of glory type?"

"Now where'd you go and get that idea from? No ma'am, I guarantee you I'll be smarter than the last man." Sean said, steering his horse into town.

"Blackwater..." Y/N muttered, her ears drawn to the sound of the clip-clop of Ennis' hooves as they transitioned from dirt to cobblestone.

"Thought you said you didn't know this area?" Sean questioned, glancing back at her.

"I never said that, you assumed because I dress and act differently. I'm from around here, though." She said, watching Sean pull his horse to a stop.

"And where is that, exactly?"

"Why would I tell you that? You're a stranger."

"My name is Sean. There, now you know my name."

"And I'm Y/N. What's your point?" She asked, the amusement evident in her voice as she flung her leg over, quickly and quite clumsily dismounting his horse.

Sean's bright blue eyes watched her every movement, his eyebrows furrowing in both confusion and intrigue. "Well, aren't you a tough nut to crack?"

Y/N nodded half-heartedly, "That's what they tell me. Thanks for the ride."

"No problem..." Sean mumbled, watching her confidently walk down the path, headed in the direction of the general store.