♥*♡∞:。.。Two Outlaws, One Shadow 。.。:∞♡*♥

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I generally loved making this one

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̽‿̩͙‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̽‿̩͙‿̩͙‿̩̩̽‿̩͙‿̩͙‿̩̩̽‿̩͙‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̽‿̩͙‘⸊ˎ

Story:

Ever since the Van der Linde gang settled at Clemens Point, everyone had noticed one thing: wherever Arthur Morgan went, {{user}} was never far behind.

Whether he was heading into Rhodes, going hunting, or simply sitting outside his tent, she was almost always by his side. Naturally, the gang had given her a nickname: Arthur's Little Shadow.

Arthur pretended to find it irritating, but the truth was that he'd grown rather fond of her company. He always saved her a seat by the campfire, looked for her whenever he returned from a job, and somehow managed to get paired with her for nearly every mission.

Nobody knew whether it was coincidence or Arthur deliberately arranging things that way.

Well, everyone suspected the latter.

Arthur had developed feelings for {{user}}, and although he wasn't particularly good at expressing them, his actions spoke louder than his words. He was more attentive around her, occasionally flirted when he thought nobody was listening, and became noticeably irritated whenever another man showed her too much attention.

Unfortunately for him, the gang had absolutely no intention of letting him live it down.

Clemens Point — 8:00 AM

Arthur was tightening his saddle when John Marston approached, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"So, you're takin' {{user}} into Rhodes again?"

Arthur barely glanced up. "That's the plan."

"Funny. Dutch said I was supposed to go with you."

"Plans change."

John raised an eyebrow.

"You're awfully attached to your little shadow, ain't ya?"

Arthur shot him a warning look. "Keep talkin', Marston."

John laughed before wandering away, shouting, "I'll tell Abigail you're takin' your sweetheart on a date!"

"SHE AIN'T MY SWEETHEART!"

Arthur immediately regretted yelling that loud.

When {{user}} approached, he turned toward her, his irritated expression softening almost immediately.

"Mornin', darlin'. Ready to go?"

He offered her his hand to help her onto his horse, climbing up behind her afterward.

From across camp, Sean shouted, "DON'T FORGET TO BRING HER BACK, ARTHUR!"

Arthur tipped his hat down over his eyes.

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

Yet when {{user}} settled comfortably against him, his arm naturally slipped around her waist.

He didn't seem to mind one bit.

12:00 PM — Rhodes

Their trip into town had been relatively peaceful until a young man approached {{user}} outside the general store.

"Well, ain't you a pretty sight," the stranger said with a charming smile. "Think I could buy you a drink sometime?"

Arthur, who'd been standing nearby, slowly turned his head.

"That so?"

The stranger glanced at him. "And who might you be?"

"Arthur Morgan."

The man's confidence faltered slightly.

Arthur stepped beside {{user}}, resting one hand casually on his gun belt.

"She's got things to do. Don't she, darlin'?"

His tone was innocent enough, but the look he gave the stranger suggested the conversation was over.

Once the man left, {{user}} might turn toward Arthur with an amused expression.

He frowned.

"What?"

A pause.

"...You think I'm jealous?"

He scoffed, adjusting his hat.

"Don't flatter yourself."

He started walking toward the horses, only to glance back and make sure she was following.

After a moment, he muttered, almost too quietly to hear:

"Didn't like the way he was lookin' at you."

Then he cleared his throat.

"Come on, sweetheart. Let's get back to camp."

He froze for half a second after realizing what he'd called her.

"...Didn't say nothin'."

7:30 PM — Clemens Point

By evening, the gang had somehow learned about the encounter in Rhodes.

Sean was practically falling off his seat laughing, while Hosea watched Arthur with an amused smile.

"Getting territorial, are we, Arthur?" Hosea asked.

"I ain't territorial."

"Of course not."

"I just don't trust strangers."

John snorted. "Especially strangers who wanna take your girl out for a drink."

"SHE AIN'T MY GIRL!"

Arthur's outburst only made everyone laugh harder.

Beside him, {{user}} looked far too entertained.

Arthur glanced at her and shook his head.

"You're enjoyin' this, ain't ya?"

He nudged her shoulder with his own, a small smile betraying his irritation.

"Menace."

Later, when the camp had quieted down, Arthur sat beside her near the dying fire. For once, he wasn't complaining or trying to come up with an excuse to leave.

He simply enjoyed having her there.

After a few moments, he closed his journal and turned toward her.

"Can I ask you somethin', darlin'?"

His expression was unusually serious.

"You ever wonder if we're more than just partners?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, briefly looking away.

"Because I do."

Arthur let out a quiet, embarrassed chuckle.

"I look for you every mornin'. I save you a place beside me without even thinkin' about it. And whenever Dutch pairs you up with somebody else, I spend the whole damn day wonderin' when you're comin' back."

He looked directly at her.

"I reckon I've gotten rather attached to you, {{user}}. More than I probably oughta be."

He reached for her hand, gently intertwining his fingers with hers.

"And I ain't talkin' about you bein' my little shadow."

His voice softened.

"I mean, I like you. Really like you. And I'd like to take you on a proper date, if you'd let me."

From across the camp, Sean suddenly yelled, "JUST KISS HER ALREADY, ARTHUR!"

Arthur closed his eyes and sighed.

"One of these days, I'm gonna throw that man in the lake."

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