Sign of the Times (Arthur Morgan x Reader)

Chapter Fifteen

*The next morning*

"(F/N)..." Charles mumbled, shaking me gently. My eyes popped open, and I sat up, looking around.

"Wh- Charles...?" I mumbled, realizing I'd fallen asleep next to Arthur last night. I watched as his chest rose and fell in an easier manner than it did last night, and I was thankful.

"C'mon. You need to eat." He said, and I stood as Susan started to walk past.

"Miss Grimshaw, would you mind sitting with Arthur for a bit?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Of course, dear." She agreed, taking my place in the chair. I walked with Charles over to where Pearson stood, cooking up something that smelled fantastic.

"What've you got for me, Pearson?" I asked, and he turned to me with a plate of beans, eggs, ham, and a biscuit.

"An apology..." He said, placing his hand on his hip.

"Apology... for what?" I asked.

"The whole idea with the O'Driscolls... it was my idea." He said.

"You were just thinking about what was best for the gang... you couldn't have known what would happen." I said, accepting the plate from him.

"You... you're too kind... miss (F/N)." He said.

"Here. A plate for Arthur." He said, sliding another plate towards me.

"Thanks, I'll make sure he gets it." I said, walking back towards Arthur's tent. Susan saw me approach and stood from the chair, so I could sit.

"He hasn't stirred... figured he'd rather wake up to your face than mine." She joked, and I smiled at her sweetly.

"Thanks for keepin' an eye on him." I said, and she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"No, dear. Thank you." She said, before walking away. I placed the plates down on the table, and watched Arthur sleeping for a moment. He looked so peaceful, I almost didn't want to wake him.

"Arthur...?" I mumbled, gently stroking his face with the back of my hand. He took a long inhale as his eyes slowly opened, and he smiled when he saw me.

"Mornin' sleeping beauty." I said, and he laughed lightly before coughing a bit.

"How're you feeling?" I asked.

"Oh, you know... feels like my lung's collapsed..." He said, wheezing a bit.

"You were hit in the ribcage quite a bit, that pain you're feelin' when you breathe is just bruising... Colm really did a number on you..." I mumbled, suddenly feeling my heart ache, and tears come to my eyes.

"Hey now... don't do that." He said, grunting as he sat up, moving his legs over the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry... it just... I was so scared I was gonna lose you..." I said, laughing to keep from crying, but a few tears still fell.

"I'm alright, darlin'... can't get rid of me that easily." He said, and I felt myself lunge forward, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. He grunted slightly, but hugged me back, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my neck. He pulled away after a minute, but only slightly

"What the hell...?" He mumbled, moving some hair away from my neck.

"Who did that to you...?" He asked, pulling away.

"Who did what?" I asked.

"See for yourself." He said, nodding towards the mirror he used for shaving. I stepped over to it and could clearly see hand-shaped bruises that wrapped around my neck.