「 ✦ ENIGMA ✦ 」ARTHUR MORGAN X READER

004.

arthur shook his head, laughing a real and genuine laugh. he looked at you with raised eyebrows. "—a chicken? christ almighty, woman. didn't take you for the wimpy type."

"it was a little shit! sometimes they peck hard." you try to stifle a laugh, smiling tight. "what, you never been scared of nothing?"

he thought for a long moment, and the silence had you on the edge of your non existent seat. you leaned in an inch closer, an eyebrow raised. he shrugged, shaking his head.

"nope, never." the smirk on his face was big, eyes glimmering with something rare. "guess i ain't cut for the scaredy cat life."

you huffed, looking at him with something that resembled a glare. "better than bein' a grumpy old man."

"old?" his eyes widened in mock offense. "now that's just cruel."

"you said it, not me." you giggled, leaning back on your hands. you swayed as you moved, the whiskey running hot through your veins. "bet you was born frownin'."

he tipped his head back, chuckling. his smile was raw and genuine and it made your stomach flip more than the whiskey ever could. "you're drunk."

the bottle was all gone when you tried to stand, humming an old tune. the thought of being an embarrassment to your sober self was pushed to the back of your mind, all drunken courage and determination now. you leaned against the wall as you stood, nails clawing into the old wood to keep yourself sturdy.

"i think the room is spinnin'." a couple tipsy giggles came out as you leaned against the wall, starting up a stir of hiccups.

arthur, sitting besides you with his long legs stretched out, smirked. "think that's just you, sweetheart."

you raised an eyebrow, half-daring half-drunken stupidity, "you callin' me crooked?"

his smirk was big. he repeated your phrase from earlier. "you said it, not me." after a pause he added, "what i'm sayin' is, you can't handle your liquor worth a damn."

your gasp was over dramatic, and when you nudged his shoulder it was weaker than you had planned. the two of you shared more laughs than you did whiskey, something sweeter in the air rather than the usual thick tension. for a long time — it was just that, laughter and playful banter.

you gathered yourself as you attempted to stand, all wobbles like a freshly born colt. arthur's laughter filled the cabin. how fast he leaned forward to steady you was criminal, reflexes as fast as ever. he stood up, towering over you as he steadied you with his hands firmly on your shoulders.

"lord above," he drawled, shaking his head in faux disappointment. "you're drunker than a skunk 'n the summer."

you weakly swatted at his chest, grinning despite the sarcastic irritation in your eyes. "you're not much better."

he looked down at you flatly, lips curling upwards. "i can walk." he steered you towards the old rickety cot, halfway dragging you there. "ain't lettin' you sleep on the floor. my luck you'll drool or puke on my boots."

you snorted, shaking your head. "ain't a drooler or puker. that i know of."

"there, safe and sound." he threw the old blanket over you, it landed on your face and you yanked it down with a chuckle. he hid his face with the brim of his hat. "you owe me."

"owe you?" you asked in shock, overdramatic as ever. "owe you what?"

"new bottle of whiskey." he grumbled, turning on his heel to go sit against the wall. he slid down it with a thud, pulling his hat over his eyes. "considerin' you drank damn near the whole bottle."