Arthur Morgan X Reader (CHAP. 1)
Let's be entirely honest, Life turned to shit once covid hit. Well, even worse shit, since lockdown and being stuck in a 1 bedroom apartment with my boyfriend. He didn't even seem like a boyfriend, more like a negative reality check. I stay with him because it beats being with my family. So, it seems like quite a steal to deal with the bullying and a few things being thrown at me every other week. He let me stay rent free, supplied all the food. I never had to work. If i rubbed his feet he'd throw me some cash for some personal items. It wasn't always 'bad', at first it was sweet and he mad me feel like I was the only 1 he could really love. I was happy. I guess you could say that was the "Honeymoon" stage. He talked me into moving in, which really didn't require much convincing considering they were 10 times worse than he is now. He supported me. He was my friend? He made me want to be around him everyday, almost as if I were addicted to him. I spent most of my time bedroom wallowing away into nothing but boredom and misery, once he left for work. I'd perform simple cleaning tasks.ย 1 thing that never failed to pull me out of boredom was my video games. That stupid cowboy game. That game never failed to pull me into my imaginative side and just ride along with the Van Der Linde gang. They had a better relationship from being strangers at 1 point to family than I had with my own lover...my own blood. The more I played the game the more I wished I could live in that reality. I may not know much about riding or shooting and even though that life seems rough, it seems like it would easier sort out who's on your side. It filled me with a sense of joy.ย Couldn't I?
'Maaann, I'm getting sleepy.'ย
Y/N: "I'm gonna shut this off and head to bed." I say as I get off my bed and shut off my T.V.
Y/N: "Nothin good on anyways."
I've been channel surfing and the only entertaining thing on was South Park and it was getting old. I scuff my feet across the hardwood floor and extend my index finger and press the power button. A yawn escapes me as I shuffle over to my closet and throw on some p.j's.
The T.V? It turned back on?ย I stopped in my tracts, a few inches from my closet space.
.....Did the remote fall?ย I turn around and glance around my bed and nightstand before turning my head to my dresser where my t.v. sits.
No? I have to get up to turn it off I lost the remote?
I slowly take a few steps towards my t.v, pausing to take a look behind me.
'Voices?'
??: "Spare you?"
??: "Can ........ spare you?"
Y/N: What the hell?" I step closer to the t.v. The static noise got louder the closer I got to it. I stop before I extend my arm to press the power button.
Y/N: I like horror movies but please for the love of fuck don't let this be somethin freaky." I take a deep breath, slowly reaching forward, the static seemingly eerily louder than feeling my own heartbeat. My finger makes contact with the power button, but when I press it, the t.v. doesn't shut off. I start to jam my index finger into the power button and still nothing.
Y/N: "What the actual fuck?" I grow more anxious, my heart thumping hard into my chest, sweat beginning to pool on my forehead as I feel my stomach do summer-salts with every thrust of my finger the louder the noises grew.
Until my finger went for another push and-
It goes threw it? A bright white light engulfing where my hand is blinds me a bit.
Y/N: "What the fuck?" I whisper to myself. I pull my hand out, the static noise continues, but I can hear more noise
??:"I know a girl in valentine!" My eyes widen at the realization
"How is tha-!" I feel a strong force pull me towards the static, almost like my whole body was a magnet to my t.v.ย I didn't have time to even think and nothing to grab onto. I get dragged by an unknown cold force right into the static. I shut my eyes from the white blinding light. Cold air rushing all around me and gravity seeming to pull me down. With little time for me to process anything and no way to calm my bodily reaction to being scared shitless and sucked through a white orb, I feel my stomach churn. 1 hand clenches my stomach and the other covers my mouth. I shut my eyes as wind begins to rush through my hair. The feel of the air seemed to change temperature. Cold to a muggy warmth that seemed welcoming. I try to take a peak, but immediately shut it once I notice I'm getting closer to the ground.
Falling...
...I'M FALLING!!!
Y/N: "AUGHHHH!" The ground seemingly to get closer and closer the louder I screamed.
Thud! A weak wheeze leaves my throat. The ground meeting my back
Y/N: "There has to be a better landing than that." I groan out rolling onto all 4's as I vomit all the contents of my stomach. I cough and wheeze a bit, teary eyed. I attempt to take a deep breath which contained wheezes and some groans. I look up to take in my surroundings.
Noise of creaky carriages being pulled and people talking amongst each other fills my ears as I begin to notice the scent of moist murky air and animal shit begin to fill my nostrils. My eyes dart around looking at everything.
Y/N: "Valentine?" I question as I begin to sit up a bit more. I notice the fence in front of me.
'I must be behind the sheriff's office.' I squat behind the fence to hide my appearance.
'I'm not in the proper attire to blend in with this time period.' I lift myself up a bit taking a small peak to look for anyone who may be looking in my direction. I stand up from my spot once I think the coast is clear. I make a B-line inside the sheriff's office. I slam the door shut behind me, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm down. My eye's meet the back of the head of a man with a tan coat and brown pants in front of a cell a few feet in front of me.
'That must be the sheriff.' The man turns around.
"Can I help you miss?" The sheriff asks in a questioning tone and a raised eyebrow. My eye's widen
"I'm really here." I mutter to myself in disbelief.
Sheriff: "What was that?" I smirk to myself as I begun to remember the type of man he is. I push myself off the door and take a few steps towards him.
Y/N: "Oh nothing, Sheriff. I do believe I am a bit lost though." I place my hands behind my back and begin to ball them. A smirk still present on my face. The Sheriff begins to take a few steps towards me.
The Sheriff: "I can help you if you're looking for a specific pla-" I throw my fist with every bit of force into his face, his face jerks to the side; hat falling off his head. I wrap my fingers into his thin hair, raising my knee; slamming his head into it. His body thuds to the ground. I pant from the adrenaline and begin to look around his office. I notice a chest in the back corner between 2 cells. I race to the chest and waste no time opening it
"Please let it be fitting clothes." I say to myself. Inside there is a underbust corset, white button down shirt, a bandolier, pants, boots and some belts.
The boots were about a half a size to big, so i just tied the laces a bit tighter. Luckily everything else fit. I strap in my hunting knife to the right of my hip and take the cattleman revolver off the Sheriff and holster it. I walk back over to the Sheriff and grab his feet and begin dragging him into 1 of the cells, slamming it shut. I start to hear him groan. I begin a fast pace out the door and shut it.ย I get a few shifty glances from a few people across the way, so I give a small nod and start walking down towards the saloon, trying to avoid eye contact and conversation. My eyes begin to dart around.
'If I can be anywhere near right, this should be the first time Arthur comes to Valentine with Uncle and the ladies.' My eyes are drawn to the bank and in front of it I see an African American lady in a yellow dress being dragged to the side of the building and then pushed to the side of the wall by a taller man. I quicken my pace.
'That's Tilly and that bastard Anthony.' My fists begin to ball and my teeth grit as I step up on the platform to the bank.
Y/N: "Get your hands off'a her."
Anthony: "Why don't you mind your business lady." He says threateningly. I scowl as I grab Tilly's wrist, pulling her behind me. I unsheathe my knife and point it at him.
Y/N: "Back off or I come for your balls." I state with a harsh tone. I begin to hear heavy footsteps approach behind us.
Arthur: "I'd do what the lady says, my friend." He states in a gruff tone.
Foreman: "This ain't over Tilly Jackson." He states firmly before taking his leave, not before taking a last glance to Arthur and I. I sheath my hunting knife and turn towards the 2. I release my grip from Tilly's wrist.
Y/N: "Sorry if my grip was too tight, my intention was not to harm you."
Tilly: "No, your fine. I appreciate you comin to my rescue. You too Arthur." She says sweetly. The look on her face was from explained distress. I give a small nod and smile as Arthur directs her to go wait with the others and asks where Karen is. Once she makes her way to the general store, my eyes slowly wander up Arthur.
'He's much bigger in person.' I think to myself as heat begins to rise up to my cheeks. My eyes land on his
'Such a pretty blue.' A small smile appears unnoticingly.
Arthur: "Thank you, Miss ?"
Y/N: "Y/n...My name's Y/n."
Arthur: "Miss Y/n. Thank you for helpin out, but I outta g-get back to it. Names Arthur." He mutters.
Y/N: "I'll come with. Supposin you have 1 more friend that needs assistance." I say with a light chuckle and begin to make my way to the hotel, Arthur close behind.
'Did-Did he stutter? '
Arthur: "I'm pretty sure I can handle this on my own Miss?"
Y/N: "Just call me Y/n, I'm sure you do but I'm kinda in my own bind right now." I say with a small huff, twisting the knob to the hotel door.
Hotel Owner: "Can I help you two?" I prop my elbows to the side of the counter before giving Arthur my best innocent look and a small smirk. He gives me a small puff and speaks up
Arthur: "I'm looking for a blonde lady, mid 20's, wouldn't forget her."
Hotel owner: "Friend of his?"
Arthur: "Friend of hers." The Hotel Owners eyes widen.
Hotel Owner: " 2B. No trouble now please." A loud thud and crash emit from upstairs, I push myself off the desk and follow Arthur up the stairs who wastes no time getting up there. We make our way down the hall and hear Karen.
Karen: "Get off of me." She screams. Arthur goes to twist the handle and gives it a little push, but the door doesn't budge. He takes a glance at me and taking a step back before raising his leg and kicking the door down. He rushes in with me behind him, I go to Karen who's on the ground. I hold my hand out to her as Arthur and the drunk man begin to throw fists. Karen hesitates to take it, but she does and I slowly help her up. With a final blow by the time she's fully up, I waste no time brushing off her dress and grabbing a handkerchief that was on an end table and begin to clean up some of the blood from her busted lip. She hisses.
Y/n: "I'm so sorry." She takes the cloth from my hand, before giving me a small nod.
Karen: "Thank you."
Arthur: "The hell are you doin here?"
Karen: "Tryin to play him, not very well." She says in a sad tone, before giving me a questioning glance.
Karen: "Who are you?" She questions me.
Y/N: "Y/N, I wanted to he-"
Arthur: "She's gonna be comin back with us back to camp." He states, I give a small nod.
Y/n: "I'm no stranger with getting into trouble, I'm only here to help for a while." I state.
Y/n: "I knocked out the sheriff looking for some clothes." They both give me a dead panning look.
Y/n: "If you don't believe me, you should hear some screaming once we make it outside... I locked him in a cell." Karen chuckles.
Karen: "My my, you sure are your own dynamite. Anyways, stupid bastard was boasting about the bank." She begins to make her way out of the room.
Arthur: "The bank?" He takes a small glance towards me and follows behind her. Me on his path.
Karen: "Sure. I know small town banks are usually a waste of time but this is a livestock town, there's lots of cash sometimes." She takes a few huffs as she dabs the cloth on her lip. We make our way down the stairs.
Hotel owner: "I hope everything's okay up there."
Karen: "After you. Thank you, Arthur. I don't much like being saved but when I have to be." Arthur pushes the door open, Karen and I following him out.
Arthur: "I understand." He looks both waysย before crossing the muddy road to regroup with Uncle, Mary-Beth and Tilly. They all exchange glances and worrying questions over Karen before looking to me.
Arthur: "She's gonna be coming with us back to camp, until she figures out what she wants to do." We hear a man stumble out of the Sheriff's office, head in hand hollerin out for a woman in my physical appearance.
'It's a good thing I changed clothes.' I think to myself, I start to make my way more into the little group that formed to try and hide myself. I hear Karen chuckle.
Karen: "You really weren't kiddin." I feel the heat rise to my face.
Y/n: "of course I wasn't." I say in a rushed hushed tone, Arthur even cracks a smile.
Mary-Beth: "Hey, who's that guy over there looking at us?" Mary gives a small nod in a man's direction. We all turn to look at him.
'It's honestly kinda cool to be experiencing this first hand.' I look over between Arthur and Karen and notice a horse hitched to a post. I squeeze between Tilly and Karen and make my way over to start untying the horse.
Jimmy Brooks: " Weren't you in Blackwater a few weeks back?" He questions menacingly from his horse pointing to Arthur. Arthur glances around us before responding.
Arthur: "Me? No, sir. Ain't from there."
Jimmy B: " Oh, you were. Well, I definitely saw you with a bunch of fellers."
Arthur: "Me? No, impossible. Listen, buddy. Come here for a minute."
Jimmy: "I saw you." He begins to turn his horse, I begin to lead the horse to Arthur.
Arthur: "Come here." He states in a gruff voice.ย
Jimmy B: "Come on, get." He takes off on his horse.
Uncle: "I don't like this."
Arthur: " Me neither. Go get the girls home. I'm going to go have a word with our friend."
Tilly: "Be careful, Arthur." Arthur climbs up on the horse.
Arthur: "Just a word." Arthur gives the horse a soft nudge of his heel urging the horse to go forward,, taking off behind Jimmy Brooks. the others begin to walk towards the carriage.
'I don't wanna leave just yet.' I think to myself, a small frown forming. Uncle with the reigns, Tilly and Mary-Beth in the back, Karen pauses for a moment before joining them.
Karen: "You comin' doll?" Head turned towards me with a questioning expression. I haven't moved, I was just waiting.
Y/n: "Not quite. I'mma wait here for Arthur." Karen shrugs and gives me a small scoff
Karen: "Suit yourself; might be better for him to bring you and introduce you to the rest of us. Stay clear of that Sheriff's office." She tells me with a smile and a wink. I give a small wave in response as they begin to pull away.
'This isn't so bad.' I begin to take a few steps towards the saloon, when my ears catch a disturbance a ways behind me.
??: "Hey! You!" I stop in my tracks and swing my head around. I notice 2O'driscolls standing in front of the stables, laughing amongst each other. I turn my attention away from them and continue walking.
O'driscoll: "Don't walk away from me like you didn't hear me you bitch." I stop in my tracks in disbelief.
'He didn't.' I instantly make a u-turn and dart straight for them.
Y/n: "The fuck did you call me?" I say with a sarcastic look as if I didn't hear.
O'driscoll: "She's got a feisty tongue." 1 says as and they begin to laugh. I don't think he was paying attention, because I walked right up to him adrenaline fueling my actions as my hand curls into a fist.
Y/N: "Yeah, and your not gonna have any teeth." I grunt as I uppercut the 1 that called me a 'bitch' causing him to hold his mouth hunched over, grab the lapels of the 1 next to him laughing and i throw my head into his as hard I can, causing him to fall back and me to stumble a bit holding my head. Suddenly, I feel big arms wrap around my throat putting me in a choke hold.
'For fucks sakes!' I begin to elbow him a couple times; the O'driscoll I uppercut begins to stumble back over, fists up.
O'driscoll: "That ain't no way to talk to someone." He goes to throw a punch, I push up on my feet as hard as I can, gripping my hands on the O'driscoll holding me in a choke hold, I lift my foot up as quick and hard as I can, kicking him the nuts. He falls over clutching his balls, I waste no time continuing to elbow the man holding me a few more times. He lets go and I turn and throw 1 more punch before he as well keels over.
I hear heavy foot-steps race behind me. I spin around and ready my fists, my chest heaving up and down. I settle once I see it's Arthur. I drop my arms and throw my head back.
Y/n: "Oh, thank god it's just you." I wipe the sweat that pooled at my forehead and catch my breath. I place my hands on my hips rolling my head forward and looking at the ground. My h/l, h/c hair falling in front of my eyes.
Arthur: "At least you can fight." I feel his eyes wander to the limp O'driscolls before they land on me. They seemed to travel up and down me. 1 begins to groan and push himself up. I turn around and give him a swift kick to the ribs.
Arthur: "Alright, I think they had enough." He says with a chuckle.
Arthur: "C'mon, I'll buy you a drink." I look at him and give a big smile and nod. I begin to walk off next to him. We walk onto the platform where the General store is.
Arthur: "I'm supposed to be meeting a few fellers over there anyways."
'His steps are heavier than mine...It's soothing.' I take a few side glances towards him as we walk.
'I hope you know how good you really are.' A small giggle escapes from me.
Arthur: "What'chu laughin at?" He turns his head lookin at me. He pushes open the saloon door, holding it open. I stop before entering the saloon doors and take a few steps closer to Arthur.
'He smells like campfire.' My e/c orbs don't break his. His hand releases the door and he takes a few steps back. His eyes wavering between mine, I hear him take a big gulp.
'He looks nervous.' I give a smile.
Y/n: "You're very handsome." I back away and walk through the saloon doors. Arthur on my tail. I stop and turn my head to take a small glance at him. His face is dusted a light pink as he grumbles walking over to where the other men trying to score with the working ladies.
Javier: "Oh, Arthur! Arthur, Come here!" He beckons extending his arm to his shoulder. Javier and Charles do a double take at me as I follow behind Arthur.
Javier: "Who's this?" He chuckles, grabbing my wrist and pulling me in front.
Javier: "It's about time I've seen you with a woman." They all laugh except Arthur. I give a nervous laugh, with pink starting to dust my face.
'That's what I get.'
Arthur: "She ain't mine. I'll explain later."
Working lady 1: Well ain't you the toughest teatin' mountain man." She procures seductively.
Working lady 2: "Oh you be quiet Anastasia, anyone can tell this one is a pussy cat." She drawls out.
Javier: "Yes, a pussy....cat."
Arthur: "Yeah, whatever you say. How much you cost anyway?" He remarks taking a few steps back eying them both.
Working lady 1: "Well, ain't that a nice way to talk to a lady." Giving her shoulders a small shimmy.
"Oh, I didn't know I was talking to a lady."ย I go to the other side of Charles and flag down the bartender and order a whiskey. I take the shot and force it down. The sting brings a warm soothing sensation and tickles my stomach. I notice the woman walk away and Arthur comes beside me and orders another shot.
Arthur: "I said I'd buy you one."
Y/n: "Then pay for this 1." A smug smirk shows on my face. Javier sighs watching the women walk off. Javier joins us leaning against the bar.
Javier: "You got a fine way with the women, amigo."
Arthur: "Yeah, a regular dandy and a charmer." We all take a shot in sync.
Arthur: "Where's Bill?"
Javier: "Oh man, I dread to think about it." I turn my head and nudge Arthur's arm towards the man walking in.
Bill: "Hey, hey, hey, watch where you're going." He stumbles up to the man he bumped into grabbing his jacket before throwing a fist dragging them to the table.
Y/n: "Here we go."
