No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 49- Loyalty

The moon hangs high in the star studding sky, silhouettes of tents and sleeping bodies mingle with the soft sounds of nature, the croak of a frog in the distance, the rustling of leaves in the gentle wind. Claudia has taken up guard duty, her back pressing against the rough bark of an old tree, the coolness of the wood soothing against the warmth of her skin. She is both alert and relaxed, soaking in the tranquility of the moment, the woodland providing a sense of solace she desperately craves.
The night air is crisp, the scent of pine mixed with something earthy, almost refreshing. Claudia's mind drifts as she watches the camp flicker between shadows and starlight, memories of the day's chaos lingering like dust in the air. She thinks of Sadie and Arthur, of their conversation wrapping in layers of uncertainty; Dutch's mental state felt like an invisible weight pressing upon them.
A sharp crack interrupts her reverie, sending a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She tightens her grip on the rifle resting in her lap, instinct kicking in as she scans the treeline for any signs of movement. After a tense moment, she notices a familiar figure emerging through the shadows—Javier Escuella, his silhouette outlining against the moonlight as he approaches her.
"Claudia," he calls softly, but his voice held an unusual sternness that almost made her heart skip a beat, "I'll take up the watch."
Claudia straightens, pushing herself off the tree as she looks at him. The usual warmth in his eyes was replacing with something darker, a rigid mask that makes her instinctively wary, "Hey, Javier," she replies, her voice laced with confusion, "Is everything okay?"
His expression hardens as he nods curtly, "Yeah. Just, doesn't matter. I'll take your spot. You should rest."
"Why? You don't usually act like this. What's wrong?" Claudia probs, feeling the protective instincts unfurl within her. Javier has always been a friend, his charm and easy smile cutting through the tension that often envelope their lives. This wasn't the Javier she knows.
He hesitates, his gaze shifting towards the scattering shadows of the campfire flickering in the distance, "I just...need to know something," he says, his voice low but resolute, "Are you loyal to Dutch?"
The question strikes a cold chord in her chest. The weight of it feels heavy, and Claudia's mind races with the implications, "What do you mean?" she asks warily, narrowing her eyes, "Of course I am... why do you ask?"
He scoffs, the sound sharp and bitter, cutting through the tranquility of the night, "For how long? What if things change?" he presses, his body tense, as if readying for a confrontation, "You've been quiet, sneaking about, talking to Arthur about helping John out of the gang, and I know what's happening. You think he's wrong for the way he's been acting?"
"What I think doesn't matter," Claudia replies, frustration bubbling beneath the surface, "You don't know my reasons. You don't know what we've been through."
Javier takes a step closer, his voice dropping further, "You say that, but there are some of us who owe Dutch everything. He saved me years ago when I was on the run, escaping Mexico. I was ready to die, and he gave me a chance. He helped me survive and showed me a family I never had. He taught me english, how to read, you don't just throw away that kind of loyalty."
Claudia feels a rush of emotions spiral within her, "And I respect that, Javier, really! He did amazing things for all of you. But right now, things aren't how they used to be! Dutch is... is losing control. You have to see that!"
"Losing control?" he echoes incredulously, anger shining in his dark eyes, "Or are you just trying to justify your own doubts? You think you're the only one who sees things clearly? Then you should think twice about the implications of your words."
The tension between them feels like a taut string ready to snap. Claudia fights to keep her own frustration from boiling over, "I assure you, doubts are the last thing on my mind," she says coolly, "What I see is a man getting desperate. He's pushing us into a position where we'll all suffer."
Javier looks away, his expression shifting but not softening, as if he is wrestling with something far deeper than surface emotions. After a moment, he finally turns back, a mix of desperation and anger dancing across his features, "You're not the one who lives with the ghosts of his past. You don't know what it's like to live in fear of being hunted by men who'd sell you for silver. Dutch knows that fear—we all do. He's our shield."
"Sometimes, Javier, a shield can become a weapon aimed at you," she says softly, her heart aching at the thought of the man who had become a leader yet was straying further from clarity, "If you love him, if you believe in him, then help him find his way back before he hurts himself or someone else."
His gaze softens slightly, but his posture remained rigid, "You don't betray family, Claudia," he murmurs, almost imploring her, "You need to think carefully about your actions. Trust isn't given lightly."
A knot tightens in her stomach, her resolve flaring brightly in the wake of his words, "Why do you think I'd ever betray him?" she asks, her voice rising slightly, "Why would any of us? I'm doing what I think is right—I look out for those who need it, including Dutch."
His jaw tightens, and he turns away, his frustration palpable. Claudia feels her own emotions lift dangerously close to rage. This isn't  about loyalty; it is about survival, about paying homage to the battles ahead rather than the memories of the battles past.
"Look, if you care about him, then you've got to help the man," she says, her voice steady but earnest, "But don't expect me to stand blindly by if I think there's danger. Not even for him."
Javier's silence fell heavy like a thick blanket, each heartbeat echoing in the void between them. She could feel the churning undercurrents, his dissatisfaction with her willingness to question Dutch, her sense of loyalty at odds with the growing unease surrounding their leader. It is the same turmoil swirling in her chest, biting at her conscience.
Taking a deep breath, she breaks the tension by stepping away from the tree, "I'm heading back," she says softly, her heart heavy with unsolvable feelings, "I don't want to argue about loyalty all night."
Claudia turns and begins to walk away, the darkness enveloping her slowly, the campfire flickering like the embers of a dying flame. She feels Javier's gaze on her, a stillness in the air thick with unspoken words. She refuses to look back, fear clutching tightly in her chest as she tries to navigate the tangling emotions swirling within her.
The world around her feels rigid and suffocating as she makes her way back to the tent, she doesn't want to go back to Arthur so she doesn't wake him up. The notion of questioning loyalty weighs heavily on her mind, igniting a slow burn of anger towards Javier's assumptions about her faithfulness. Dealing with the shadows of loyalty and the shadows of Dutch's unstable leadership become her burdens.
She pushes aside the worn flap of the tent and slips inside, sinking into the familiar chaos of bedrolls and scattering of belongings. Her breath comes out heavier than she expects; it echoes in the cramped confines of the tent. Why has the night shifted so quickly from camaraderie to contention? She hadn't asked for this. All she has wanted was to feel some sense of belonging, a home in the chaos of their existence with Dutch at the helm.
Claudia takes off her boots and lays back, staring up at the fabric ceiling. The thoughts of Javier's words weighing on her, his voice firm yet lacing with deep-rooted loyalty. She understands the depths of the loyalty all too well; the bond they share, the adventures they had undertaken together, they all have a history written in scars and blood.