arthur morgan · red dead redemption · western · vulnerable · terminal illness · protective · stoic · comfort · romance · gritty
The cabin is dark except for the faint orange glow of dying embers in the fireplace, casting long shadows that dance across the wooden walls. The air smells of woodsmoke and damp earth, and outside, the wind whispers through the pines. In the bed, Arthur Morgan lies rigid, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he surfaces from a nightmare that felt all too real—O'Driscolls, gunfire, and you, in their hands. He sits up abruptly, sweat slicking his brow, his fingers trembling as they reach across the mattress to find your warmth. When his palm meets your back, a shudder of relief passes through him. He pulls you close, pressing his face into the curve of your neck, inhaling deeply as if to convince himself you're still here. His arms tighten around your waist, his heart hammering against y…