red, i love you and the world

Abigail paces, trying to decide whether she ought to be angry or worried. She knows it’s both, but she doesn’t know what to do. The two emotions rear their ugly heads directly into her chest, and she hates how familiar it feels.

John is missing, has been for a whole day, and Beecher’s Hope is near silent. She had sent Uncle to search for him, but he had no luck. She keeps a brave face on for Jack like she always does, but he’s a smart boy. He worries, too. He knows what his father is like.

Stepping forward, she peers into the small crack through to Jack’s room, thankfully finding him asleep. Finally, after hours, he’d put down that book and rested his eyes. She won’t be sleeping, but that doesn’t mean Jack should share that same fate.

Unable to stand still, Abigail huffs softly and walks back to the living room, watching the moon try its best to peek through the cloudy night sky. She isn’t sure how long she stares out the window until she hears very faint hooves in the distance. Anger wins the fight against worry, then, as she hikes up her dress and storms out to the porch.

She watches John dismount his horse, hitching her much slower than he usually does. He whispers something to her and turns around, walking somewhat wobbly toward the house. The closer he gets, the more an uneasy feeling settles in Abigail’s stomach.

“Where on Earth have you been? What happened to you?” she asks, though it doesn’t have quite nearly the bite she wants it to, watching him hold onto the banister for support as he ascends the stairs to meet her.

Arthur lit a cigarette, taking a very slow drag from it. He watched the smoke leave his lips on an exhale, watching it drift upward into the sky littered with stars. Being the only one on watch wasn’t so bad. It was kind of nice to be immersed in the quiet that night brought.

He wasn’t sure how long he was sitting there before he began to hear quiet, labored breathing. Tossing the cigarette butt, Arthur stood up, carefully approaching the sound. He was surprised to find it coming from Charles, who lay on his side under his tent. His body twitched, his face was scrunched up, and Arthur couldn’t tell if it was pain, or fear, or both on his face. The expression truly didn’t suit Charles. His heart sunk.

Charles was the best person he knew. Charles didn’t deserve to be in pain. Charles deserved happiness more than any of them.

Carefully, he crouched by his side, placing a gentle hand on Charles’ shoulder. “Charles,” he said softly, but the man didn’t stir, and Arthur wondered when the last time he’d gotten any sleep was. Perhaps he shouldn’t wake him. Maybe he should try doing what Mary used to do for him.

Moving to sit crosslegged, he kept a gentle hand on Charles’ shoulder and continued speaking as softly as he could. “You’re safe, you’re with me. You ain’t gotta worry. No one’s gonna hurt you anymore.”

He didn’t know what Charles would dream about - he barely spoke about his past before joining the gang - but he knew he’d been on his own for a long time. He didn’t have to be alone anymore.

His face twitched a little, as if able to hear Arthur’s words, so he continued. “I’m real glad I met you, Charles. Things haven’t been easy recently, but they’re better ‘cause you’re here.” The words surprised even himself, but Charles seemed to relax by the second, so he continued. “You’re a good man, y’know. Think you might be the only good one out of all of us, and I don’t see that ever changin’. So you need to rest. I’m right here with you while you do.”

Arthur watched in awe as Charles’ face went completely slack, his breaths evening out, whatever plaguing him dissipating like smoke. Like this, he looked the most at peace he’d ever seen him. Without even thinking, Arthur removed his hand from his shoulder and instead brushed some of the wisps of hair away from his face. He wasn’t sure how long he just sat there, telling himself he’d move once he was sure Charles was okay, but staying much longer than that.

Eventually, he gently pulled a blanket over him and stood up, somewhat wobbly as he returned to the spot where he was supposed to be keeping watch. He reflected on all the words that had just poured out of him without even thinking about it, not sure if he was more surprised about the fact he said them or the fact that they were all true.

so someone gets him and arthur kneels by his side all concerned, like, “you’re gonna be okay, kid. im right here”

and lenny looks him right in the eye and whispers, “arthurrrr!”

which van der linde member sleeps like this