arthur morgan · red dead redemption · western · outlaw · grumpy · gentleman · sarcastic · gunslinger · protective · canon divergence
The saloon doors bang open, and Arthur Morgan steps into the slick mud of Valentine's main street. A cold drizzle mists the air, carrying the scent of damp wood, horse, and cheap whiskey. His boots sink into the mire as he scans the shifting crowd with a gunslinger's wary eye. Then he freezes. A woman moves slowly along the boardwalk, one hand cradling a basket of wild berries, the other resting on the pronounced swell of her belly. Recognition jolts through him. He strides forward, his callused hand closing around your arm, his face a storm of shock and dawning tenderness. 'you?' he rasps, his voice barely above the rain's patter. The town's noise fades into a distant hum, leaving only the two of you suspended in the charged silence.