Red Dead Redemption II [ one shots ]

"Jackie & Wilson" - A.M

A/N: I know it's a lame attempt at writing, but it's all I've got in me these days. Hoping to get better content up this week ... Be well, people.

P.S Inspiration obvs from the Hozier song, I'm such a HOE for that man. xo

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"So tired trying to see from behind the red in my eyes.
No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight."

Arthur slammed his empty glass down on the worn wood bar, his eyes blinking tiredly as the liquor kicked in, heightening his exhaustion and dulling his senses. He turned, resting his elbows behind him as his blue eyes flicked lazily about the busy saloon.

Another night in Valentine, he thought with a grimace, eyeing the usual crew of poker players and prostitutes that thronged the room.
His lips pursed, debating joining the card game or just calling it a night when fate intervened.

The doors swung open, and the stillness that suddenly gripped the bar startled Arthur out of his stupor, all eyes on the figure standing illuminated in the threshold.
Arthur could hardly do more than stare as the young woman strode in, her boots ringing on the wooden floor, her voice purring for a whiskey.

Arthur blinked, struggling to understand just what he was seeing, and feeling. He hadn't been this affected by the mere sight of a young lady since Mary. His eyes raked her form, taking in the tight pinstriped pants, the dark shirt, the fine suspenders. The corner of his mouth curled up in a grin.

Never seen a woman look so fine in men's clothes.

The lady in question must have felt his eyes on her as she slowly tilted her head, eyes dancing with mischief as she took in the sight of the slightly stupefied cowboy standing nearest her. Her lips tugged up into a shameless smile, one she quickly hid with the rim of her glass.

"Alright there, pretty boy?" She hummed, causing a furious blush to rise on Arthur's cheeks.

Goddamn.

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"She blows out of nowhere, roman candle of the wild.
Laughing away through my feeble disguise"

I licked the excess liquor off my lips, unable to hide my delight as the handsome man's mouth open and closed like a fish, the flush on his cheeks darkening further. I widened my eyes, raising my brows, prompting him to speak.

"Y/N  Y/L/N." I said boldly, deciding to help him out.
I stepped forward, holding my hand out for him to shake, which he gratefully accepted. I had to suppress a shiver as his calloused hand gripped mine, and that little action seemed to give him some of his confidence back– his blue eyes shadowed by the brim of his hat, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"Arthur Morgan." The man replied, and I quelled a wayward wave of lust at the soft rasp of his voice.

"Good to meet you." I smiled, bringing my glass to my lips for another burning swallow of liquor. Arthur's gaze was hot on my lips and throat as I swallowed, my tongue sliding along the curve of my bottom lip. His blue eyes were turning dark with lust, proof of our mutual attraction.

Arthur hummed in reply, and I turned back to face the busy saloon, basking in the exciting tension that seemed to be saturating the air around us.

---

"She's gonna save me, call me baby, run her hands through my hair."

The night continued on, our good conversation crawling by with the help of more liquor.
We enjoyed each other's company more than I expected, and I was enjoying seeing the different aspects of Arthur's personality.

He'd been gruffly courteous when buying me a drink, incredibly possessive when another man had acted interested, and downright respectful when he'd been propositioned by a prostitute.
I was more and more relaxed in his company, and our bodies steadily moved closer as the evening wore on.

The stars were beginning to fade when Arthur and I finally made our way down the steps of the saloon, both reluctant to call it a night.
We stood still, facing each other in the muddy street, neither of us wanting to be the first to end the conversation and say goodbye.

I looked up at him, just taking in his handsome face when he rubbed the back of his neck in an adorably awkward gesture.

"Well Miss Y/N–" Arthur began, and at the sound of his gruff voice, something snapped within me and I decided to act.

I pushed up onto my tip toes and grabbed his shoulders for balance, crushing his mouth to mine in a brief first kiss. Almost immediately, his big hands gripped my waist, settling me firmly against his chest as he eagerly kissed back, deepening the kiss.

I shivered in his arms, feeling the teasing brush of his tongue against mine before I pulled back, satisfied with the somewhat dazed expression on Arthur's face.

"Same time next week?" I asked, a teasing note to my voice as I walked backwards towards the hitching post, lifting my hand in casual farewell.

"Tease." Arthur made a grab for me again, a low growl in his chest as I moved further out of his reach.

I quickly mounted up as Arthur watched, arms folded, his eyes hot as they tracked my movements.

"Don't miss me too much, Mr. Morgan." I called over my shoulder, laughing at his sullen expression as I walked my horse steadily away.

Arthur seemed to get his voice back just in time, yelling a reply just before I was out of earshot that had my heart squeezing in my chest

"I'll be counting down the days!"

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