No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 29- Change

                Arthur Morgan leans against the weathering wooden railing of the Shady Belle porch, a faint breeze rustling through the leaves of nearby trees. He stares out at the camp, his mind heavy with the memory of violence and betrayal.
He scans the area for her, noting the way she moves among their friends, laughter mingling with the sounds of chores. Arthur knew they need to talk, to confront some ugly truths lurking beneath the surface—a wound that was only beginning to fester. He spots her near the outskirts, brushing a horse while talking softly to it. Something about the way she moves was soothing, he feels a flicker of warmth at the sight but the sinking feeling in his stomach pushes him onward. He walks down to her, his boots kicking up dust along the path.
"Hey, Claudia," he begins, forcing a casual tone into his voice. "Got a minute?"
She looks up, her expression brightening. "Of course, Arthur. What's on your mind?"
He glances around to ensure they have got a moment of privacy before leaning in slightly, the weight of what he wants to discuss making him feel vulnerable. "I've been thinking about... Dutch."
Her smile wavers just a bit, concern flashing through her eyes. "Dutch? What about him?"
Arthur hesitates, his mind racing through the memories of the chaos that had unfolded recently—the robbery of the trolley station, the way Dutch had killed Angelo Bronte in cold blood. "I feel like he's changed, like he's become... something else," Arthur admits, searching for the right words.
Claudia's brow furrow, her gaze sliding away for a moment as she catches the rhythm of the horse she was grooming. "You mean since the whole thing with Bronte?"
"Exactly." Arthur leans against the hitching post, his arms crossing tightly. "The way he went after Bronte... It felt calculated. Cold. Like he didn't even hesitate." His thoughts turn heavier. "It wasn't just self-defense; it was revenge, and brutal at that. It scares me, Claudia."
She takes a deep breath, clearly torn. "I know but Angelo Bronte deserved it and what he did to my Jesse. I just didn't expect Dutch to do, what he did." She pauses, visibly wrestling with her thoughts. "But you know Dutch... he's always had his reasons, right?"
"Always had his reasons?" Arthur's frustration bubbles just under the surface. "What reason could possibly justify that? Bronte wasn't innocent, but he didn't deserve to go out like that—like he was nothing. We're not savages, Claudia." He takes a step closer, his voice lowering. "Are you really telling me you think that was okay?"
Claudia's cheeks flush slightly. "I'm not saying that at all! Just..." Her hands tremble slightly as she continues brushing the horse, a distraction from the mounting tension. "You don't understand. He's my father, Arthur. He always has these plans of his. I—I don't want to judge him just when I got him back."
Arthur feels a pang in his chest, an understanding of the conflict she feels, and it hurts him to see her stuck between her feelings for her father and the realities of what he had done. "I get that, Claudia. I do. But look where his plans have led us. We're running out of time, out of allies. Every move he makes is getting riskier... more dangerous. And you—" He took a breath, voice softening. "You deserve better than to keep pretending everything's fine."
Claudia steps back from the horse, wiping her hands on her trousers and glancing up at him, her eyes bright but glassy. "It's not that simple, Arthur! Do you really think I want to see him like this? I know he wasn't there for me but finally it feels like I have got a family. I can't ignore that he's changed, and maybe not for the better. It feels like I'm losing him."
Arthur feels the weight of her heartache, the struggle within him balancing the grim reality of their situation with his desire to comfort her. "I don't want you to lose him either," he says quietly. "But if we keep following him blindly, we might just lose ourselves along the way."
Claudia looks down for a moment, contemplating. "And what do you suggest? We confront him? Call him out?" She laugh bitterly, the sound hollow. "You know how he can be, especially if he feels threatened."
"Then what? We stand back and watch him drag us all to hell?" Arthur shoots back, frustration spiking in his voice, but he reins himself in. "Claudia, I care about you. I care about all of us. But the clouds are gathering, and if we don't say something, do something, we're going to lose everything."
She sighs, a deep, tired sound that resonates in the silence around them. "You don't think I see that? I can't turn a blind eye. But confronting him about it—it's risky. He's unpredictable, and it could put everyone in danger."
"But at what cost?" Arthur presses, leaning forward, his hands resting on the posts now. "We could sit down, just the three of us—Dutch, you, and me. Tell him how you feel. Maybe he'll listen. Maybe he'll see reason."
"Arthur," she says, her voice firm now. "What you're asking is dangerous, not just for us but for the others as well. If he lashes out..." Claudia's voice trails off, and the silence that follows is thick with unsaid fears.
Arthur rubs the back of his neck, frustration giving way to helplessness. "I don't want anyone to get hurt, I just—," he falters, searching for clarity in his jumbling thoughts. "I just think he needs a wake-up call. If he's too far gone, then we need to consider what we'll do to protect ourselves."
"Protect ourselves," she echoes softly, shaking her head. "Arthur, it kills me, but you're right. I guess somewhere inside, I can see that. But if we confront him, and he doesn't see it our way... what then?"
She looks at him, vulnerability etching into her features,  Arthur can feel the weight of her torn loyalties.
"Maybe it's not about losing him," Arthur says gently, taking a small step toward her. "Maybe it's about finding a way to love him despite the mistakes he's making." He pauses, gauging her response. "But we can't do that if we're too scared to speak up."
Claudia's gaze softens, and tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "What if I say something and it pushes him away? I don't want to lose him, but I also don't know how to handle this."
"Then maybe we try together," he says, meeting her gaze, his expression earnest. "I'm not saying it'll be easy, but we owe it to ourselves to try, right? To have a real conversation."
Claudia nods slowly, taking a deep breath as she intertwined her fingers anxiously. "You're right, Arthur. I just wish it didn't feel like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure if I should leap."
He reaches out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Then let's jump together. Whatever happens next, we face it as a team."
The weight of their conversation hangs in the air for a moment before Claudia lays her hand atop his, steadying herself with his support. "Okay," she finally whispers. "For what it's worth, I really appreciate you being here, Arthur. It means a lot."
"You're not alone in this, Claudia. You never have to be. I will speak to Hosea about it first."