No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 45- Genius At Work

             Claudia staggers into the camp, her feet almost betraying her as the whiskey's warmth courses through her veins, mingling with a giddy elation. The shadows of the campfire flicker against the backdrop of the deepening night, and she squinted against the light, her head spinning slightly.
Much to her dismay, her entrance does not go unnoticed. Arthur glances up from a nearby log, his face creasing into a worried frown as he takes in her dishevelling appearance, "Claudia! Where have you been?" he calls, concern evident in his voice.
"I just went out for a drink. Couldn't sleep," she replies, her words slurring as she leans against a nearby tree for support.
Arthur steps closer, the lines of worry deepening on his brow, "you have had more than a drink."
Claudia wobbles slightly before pushing herself off the tree, "And you are damp, why are you wet," she points out, her tipsy logic finding humor in the sharing state of their attire.
He chuckles softly but quickly turns serious again, "I was helping Eagle Flies, the chief's son. You know, we went to get his horses back from the army. They were stolen, and we had to swim them back." She giggles, her laughter echoing around them, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all, "So you're telling me you risked your life for a bunch of horses? You really must love those things!"
Arthur just shakes his head in amusement while Claudia continues, her words tumbling out like the horses he had rescued, "Next thing we know, we'll be in a herd with them."
He hands her a cup of water, his expression softening as she takes it with a grateful grin, "You should probably drink this and sober up a bit," he advises, watching as she gulps it down greedily,
"Ugh, fine daaaaddd, but it's not the same flavor as whiskey," she pouts, the remnants of her tipsiness fading with each swig of water.
As the water works its magic, silence settles between them, comfortable yet charging with an unspoken understanding. Arthur takes a seat on a log, reaching for his journal. He opens it, his pen poising as he begins to scribble, his brow furrow in concentration.
Claudia rests her head on his legs as she lies across the log, watching him for a moment, curiosity brewing, "What are you writing?" she asks, her tone teasing, "Poems? Love letters? My epitaph?"
He glances away from his journal looking down at her, a flicker of mischief in his eyes, "You'll find out soon enough. Just a little something for myself."
"Come on, Arthur! You can't just tease me like that!" She whines like a toddler, feigning annoyance but unable to hide her grin, "You know I'm terrible at waiting when it comes to surprises."
Arthur chuckles, the warmth of his laugh wrapping around her like a comforting blanket, "This isn't something you can rush, Claudia. It'll be worth it when the time comes."
Claudia's expression softens as she watches him. She admires the dedication that Arthur pours into everything he does, whether it was rescuing lost horses or documenting his thoughts in that tattered journal of his, she wishes that Dutch could see that. "Alright, Mr. Secretive," she responds, attempting to sound nonchalant but failing miserably, "Just know, I'm going to guess every idea in that beautiful mind of yours."
"Feel free, but there's a good chance you won't get it right," Arthur replies, half-smirking.
The two sit quietly for a while, Claudia sipping her water and Arthur occasionally glancing at her his notes. The fire crackling lazily, sending wisps of smoke into the air while camp members walk past to get their morning coffee.
"Why do you do this?" she finally asks, her tone more serious.
"Do what?"
"Write all this stuff down. It's not like we're in a schoolhouse or anything." She gestures broadly at the camp and the wild expanse beyond.
Arthur pauses, the pen resting against his chin, "It helps me make sense of everything," he explains, sounding thoughtful. "It's my way of processing all the wild, both the good and the bad. You know how chaotic it gets sometimes. It's hard to keep track of who we are in the middle of it all."
"Wise words, Arthur," Claudia muses, genuinely impressed, "You should throw some wisdom into the journal as well, it's worth a lot."
He shrugs, a modest smile crossing his lips, "Maybe I will,  if you stop interrupting and let me finish!"
She chuckles, covering her mouth in playful innocence, "I'd never dream of interrupting a genius at work."