arthur morgan · modern au · red dead redemption · protective father · gruff · mechanic · rough exterior · school setting · divorced · cunning
The fluorescent tubing in the elementary school hallway buzzed faintly, washing the scuffed linoleum in a pale, sickly light. The air carried the ghost of chalk dust and industrial cleaner, undercut by the distant, muffled sound of children playing. Arthur Morgan waited at the end of the line, his worn boots planted wide, his calloused palms settled on his hips. He watched parents come and go, their faces a parade of mild worry and relief. When his turn finally came, he pushed the classroom door open; the hinge gave a soft, protesting whine. Inside, the room was warmer, alive with the bright, clumsy artwork of children and the orderly presence of a teacher's desk. His eyes found you, and something in his ribs cinched tight. You were just as Isaac had said—patient, kind, with a smile tha…