Arthur Maxson: Dating Head canons
I saw somewhere that Arthur would have attachment issues, and I agree with that, but I think he'd hide them behind control and careful words so he didn't jinx anything. Like he'd hide and shelter them from the mess that is the wasteland, but that'll change with rank.
When it comes to you being a Sentinel or a Paladin or any other field rank that has to go out to the wastes to deal with the filth that roams the land, he's wary but he trusts in your skills to not get yourself killed. Arthur has faith in you, just not the Commonwealth or the Capital, they chew and spit people up out like cheap gum... And he knows it.
Doesn't want to share a bed unless he has too or until he's got an engagement ring on your finger, he has a reputation to uphold after all. As the Last Maxson, he is a pinnacle of the Brotherhood as well as it's servant, his reputation is important.
When you got together, he asked you. It was from a speech, that's how he broached the topic with you. It was some long and drawn out formal speech about how the Brotherhood needs him to be in a relationship (it didn't, he was just 19 and in need of some company that wasn't another soldier or suck up).
This man, how do I put it, he is awkward but his voice never gives it away. What do I mean when I say that? I mean he is brand new to relationships and only has vague memories about what they're supposed to be like based on other Brotherhood officials and the foggy memories of his parents. Other than that, he's no clue, but he sounds and looks confident to hide it.
A bit controlling. Now that he's got you in his grasp, he's not too keen to let you go, but it's not in a bad way as one might believe. He doesn't want to be alone but he also wants to know that this is something you'd really want, to be his partner and to be a Maxson's Spouse.
If you're sharing a bed because there's no other option, he'll be okay with it. His arm will go over your waist and he'll pull your head to rest on his arm as you sleep. He doesn't sleep until he knows your out because he himself has difficulty sleeping.
He has some truly awful dreams when he sleeps, he never shows it since he's supposed to be the Elder and be something that people look up to, but he often dreams about being too late. You'll end up dead like Sarah or Owen or his parents and there's nothing he could've done about it.
Speaking of sleep, doesn't really fall asleep around you unless he knows you're not going to slit his throat in his sleep. During his days as a simple soldier, before he became the Elder, it was drilled into him relentlessly by Owen Lyons to not sleep around someone unless you trust them so they won't kill you (which was both a paranoid and a good lesson for him even though he was 10-12 years old).
He does want a family, he wants one. Not because he's being pressured to have one (that too though, don't get me wrong), but because he wants a lasting piece of both of you to make their marks on the Brotherhood or not as they choose.
His love language is acts of service, words are skin deep as he's come to realize. They can power people, but they can also just be lies for them. So he shows his love through actions. He'll have the crew make your favorite meals, save a Nuka cola for you in the Mess hall, make sure your power armor is in the best condition, and can (and has) patched you up after a rough assignment.
He's a careful lover, but he's not cold. He loves you from a distance at first and then loves you like you've always been by his side. But that takes time, he'll kill for you to keep you safe and happy until the end of his life.
