ᴍᴜʟᴛɪғᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ | ᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴡ ғɪᴄs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ɴᴏᴛᴇs

Hints and Half-Measures (Arthur Morgan x make!reader)

Summary: Sometimes, you need someone to give you advice on how to love someone.

Warning: WIWIWIW..NYOMNYOM, Hosea being supportive dad, advices, short one cuz i'm sleepy sorry!, reader has a crush on Arthur, love, Arthur being cautious with affections, , love in the air, Hosea Hoseaaaaaaaa

based on this request, tq!

As usual, I'm sorry if there are any wrong sentences or typos or grammatical mistakes, please forgive me and again English is not my first language, so I try to improve my language and writing in this way.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Camp had long since gone quiet for the night.

The fire crackled low. Crickets hummed in the swamp grass. You sat with your arms crossed at the edge of camp, chin resting on your fist, watching Arthur across the way as he cleaned his guns like it was a sacred ritual.

He looked annoyingly perfect. Coat half off, sleeves rolled up, his hair falling just a little into his face in that way that made your stomach flip and your brain short-circuit.

You sighed. Loudly.

"Something on your mind, son?"

You startled slightly — turning to find Hosea easing himself down beside you with a small grunt, nursing a cup of coffee he probably didn't need at this hour.

"Besides the fact I'm going to die alone and unloved because your favorite outlaw's denser than a river rock?" you muttered.

Hosea raised an eyebrow. "Arthur?"

You groaned and flopped back into the grass like a corpse. "Yes, Arthur."

Hosea hummed into his cup. "And here I thought I was the subtle one."

You sat up again, running a hand through your hair, frustration bubbling under your ribs.

"I've tried everything, Hosea. Everything. Compliments. Looks. I've touched his damn arm more times than Sadie's shot a man in the back. I made him coffee yesterday and called him sugar. He said, 'thanks, partner,' and walked off."

Hosea chuckled. "Ah. The classic Morgan maneuver. Ignore the obvious and go clean your saddle."

You pointed across the camp. "Look at him. Sitting there. Smug. Unaware. Beautiful."

Hosea nodded solemnly. "A tragedy."

"An absolute tragedy."

He sipped his coffee. "So what's your next plan? Buy him flowers? Serenade him with your shirt off?"

You hesitated. "...I did write a poem."

Hosea nearly choked on his drink.

"Oh lord."

"I didn't give it to him," you grumbled. "I'm not that desperate."

Hosea gave you a side glance. "Son, you tried to braid his hair two days ago."

"That was affectionate pestering. There's a difference."

"Uh-huh."

The two of you sat in silence for a moment, listening to the quiet crackle of the fire. Then, gently, Hosea nudged your shoulder.

"Arthur's... well. He's not stupid, but he's cautious. Spent most of his life being told he couldn't have soft things. Can't fault a man for not recognizing love when he's never believed he deserved it."

That hit you like a slow arrow.

You looked at him, brow furrowed. "You think he doesn't believe he deserves it?"

Hosea shrugged. "I think you look at him like he hung the stars. And he looks at himself like he's only good at breaking things. It might not be that he's blind, son. He might just not believe it could be real."

You let that sit.

The fire popped.

"...So what do I do?"

Hosea gave you a half-smile — that soft, knowing kind he only gave when he actually liked someone.

"You be patient. Be loud if you have to. Or hell — just tell him."

You groaned, dropping your head onto his shoulder. "You make it sound so easy."

"Love rarely is. But it's worth the trouble."

A Few Days Later...

You handed Arthur a cup of coffee and stared him dead in the eye.

"Arthur."

"Yeah?"

"I like you."

Arthur blinked. "...You what now?"

"I like you. I want to hold your hand and maybe kiss you and braid your hair and your horse's mane. That clear enough?"

Arthur opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

Then flushed red as hell.

"Oh," he said, voice slightly hoarse.

You raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"...Can I finish my coffee first?"

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't hide the grin spreading on your face.

Later that night, Hosea passed by you two by the fire — Arthur sitting awkwardly close, your pinky brushing his, neither of you talking much but both of you trying.

Hosea didn't say anything.

Just gave you a wink.

You nodded back, heart stupid and full.