Starboy || Arthur Morgan x John Marston

Careless - III

The entire camp was slowly waking up. It was slightly cooler today, a chill settling on everyone's skin. Karen and Sean went into town together, while Dutch and Hosea were off fishing. Everyone else was just laying around, not much to do.

"Goodmornin', Marston!", Arthur approached the younger boy, "Got anythin' interestin' to do today?"

"No, Arthur... we could go to the saloon later though? At night"

"Sure! Been a while since me and little greasy John have had a fun night out", Arthur exclaimed. John rolled his eyes at the nickname. He wishes Arthur wouldn't hate him so much.

"Yeah.. I'll see you later", John mumbled, before going to chat with Mary-Beth. They talked about all kind of things, just having a laugh until she asked John a personal question.

"I... what do you think about the gays?"

John was shocked. He did not expect that. However, he decided to test his waters, see where Mary-Beth was on the topic. "I-it's not r-really a prob-blem, right? I mean, I-i don't care....", John anxiously stuttered, waiting for a slap on the face or a yell.

"Yes! It really isn't! Everyone is annoying me with this anti gay stuff! Humans just like humans... but I couldn't ever say this allowed, i'd get shot", Mary-Beth exclaimed happily, yet quietly. John was surprised and smiled. Maybe if he was, he knew who he could turn too.

"Yeah... you're a smart girl, Mary-Beth", they both smiled to each other, "I'll see you around".

And with that, their conversation ended, and John found solace within Mary-Beth without her even knowing. Maybe it was going to be okay.

—

It was the evening, and John rode into Valentine with nerves bubbling in his stomach. He truly couldn't handle being around Arthur, why did he even offer to do this? He sighed, and hitched his horse outside the busy saloon.

He opened the door, and there he was. At the bar, having a quiet drink. John stopped being a pervert and walked up to him.

"Ah! Greasy little Marston! I was wonderin' when you was gonna turn up...", Arthur eyed him playfully.

"Will you just shut up and order me a drink?", Arthur rolled his eyes to this, and ordered two whiskeys.

A few drinks later, and the men were quite drunk.

"And that is how I ruined that mans cock!", Arthur slurred, finishing up a story. John cackled at this, parting his friend on the back.

"You suuuure arrrre a terrible man, Morgan"

"Atleast I loooked sexy doiin it", Arthur laughed, flexing his muscles. John drooled, staring but he caught himself before he made it to obvious.

They had a few more drinks, annoying the locals and pissing themselves laughing at each others stories, before Arthur bumped into a man. But this was a very angry man, and he was NOT happy.

"Calm down! I only moved into ya!", Arthur slurred.

"You don't get to push into me and get away with it", the mans tone was aggravating, and Arthur looked scared for a second. That didn't last long, as the man threw a punch. John didn't know what to do, he froze in his place.

There was a fight. No one else but the man and Arthur were involved. They were in the middle of the saloon, punching away at each other and Arthur was getting the worse end. John wanted to cry, watching him get so hurt. He couldn't interfere. He just couldn't.

But, things turned around. Arthur kicked the man in the balls, and got on top of him, punching away. When he finally knocked him out, John dragged him away.

"What the fuck, Arthur? You would've gotten seriously hurt!", John had sobered up, watching that fight.

"I-"

"Don't say a thing. Get on your horse, we're going to find a camp and i'm going to clear you up. You can hardly see you're that swollen and bruised, for gods sake!"

They rode in an uncomfortable silence. Arthur had never seen John so angry or riled up before, and it kind of scared him.

Finally, they found somewhere on the plains and John set up a camp, while Arthur sat, bleeding on a rock. John motioned for him to come sit by the campfire.

The younger placed a rag in some water, and started cleaning up the blood, being gentle as to not reopen any wounds. He held Arthur's face in his hands, making him heat up, but he ignored it. Arthur was hurt.

"You need to stop being so careless with your life", John started.

"I didn't know I was gonna push into him?"

"You could've easily avoided that fight and you know it. God, I can't go anywhere with you without you causin' some goddamn trouble!"

"Why do you care so much what the hell I do with my life? If I die, I die, who cares!"

"I care!", John yelled, finally breaking. Arthur looked shocked. He didn't say another word, he just let the younger tend to his wounds. "You need to stop hurtin' yourself and other people, Arthur".

Arthur was kind of ashamed. He was right. He kept on getting himself into mess after mess, and he hated it. He sighed and nodded, taking in the warmth of the glowing fire.

"Get some rest", was all John said before getting into his bedroll. Arthur stayed up for a while longer, doodling in his journal.

Arthur's Journal
July 19th 1890

I got hurt. Real bad. I can hardly see im so swollen. I knocked out the guy, but i'm still struggling to breathe because my neck is so swollen. I'll live, though.

John got real angry. Saying I should stop being so careless, that I keep on hurting myself and other people. He's right. I feel like i'm slowly losing myself more and more everyday. I just miss my family. I miss Isaac. His little smile and cute laugh. I was teaching him how to read before he passed. He was a good kid, maybe I'll tell John about him.

I hate John. He's so confusing. One minute I love him, one minute I hate him. Right now? I feel like I could tell him everything. He took care of me, I'll thank him for that in the morning. But the way he got so angry... That was scary. Why does he care so much? I guess i'll never know.

Arthur finished up his entry, before getting into his bedroll and trying to sleep. Johns behaviour was confusing him, he's never cared this much before. He slowly dozed off, into a million dreams.

—

Arthur woke up the next morning, and groaned. His head was on fire, and his throat was in pain. John was already up, cooking some food.

"Can you eat?", the younger asked.

"I'll pass... Just hurry up so we can get back to camp, I need my bed", Arthur smiled, "and John? Thank you for helping me. Means a lot"

Johns heart fluttered, even if Arthur's voice was ragged and broken, he still seemed to fall more. The nauseous feeling came again, and he started wondering what the hell was wrong with him, but he wolfed down his deer meat anyways.

The two rode back to camp. All the women worried about Arthur, but he just told them John already cleaned him up, before going to his bed to rest. John sighed, elated, and went out into the wilderness once more.