Red Dead Redemption 2 Oneshots & Headcanons

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 - 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐱 𝐅!𝐎'𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

request: reader is caught instead of Kieran. Arthur can't get answers out of her but she eventually gives in. Dutch lets her stay and help around camp.

rating: fluff
word count: 1.3k

"Let me go, I had nothing to do with any of them, with any of this." You squirmed as Arthur stood over you, tying your wrists and ankles before throwing you over his shoulder. "Then why run? You make the whole situation seem awful suspicious," he smirked, placing you awkwardly on the back of his horse and mounting up. "Listen here, cowboy. I can't give you one good reason to have stuck with them any longer. Gang life was what I wanted to lead but O'Driscolls? Sorry excuse for outlaws." You huffed, Arthur clearly not really listening to a word you had to say.

"See all this just sounds like you're trying to save your own skin," Arthur turned slightly towards you as his horse walked through the deep snow. "Once an O'Driscoll, always an O'Driscoll. No matter what you say or do from here on out, you'll always be seen as one." You were lost for words for a short while, he'd caught you off guard with that one. "All I did was care for the horses, mister. I'm useless to you." Arthur urged his mount into a gentle canter. "I'd save your breath if I were you, maybe if you scream loud enough when the time comes, Colm may come to your rescue." He chuckled deeply to himself.

You decided to do just that. Boy did you have so much to say to him, or at him, more like. But it was no use, he'd shoot you as soon as look at you if you said something that crossed the very fine line, and you were rather fond of living, despite the situation you had been in for the past few weeks. You focused more on breathing, your chest being pressed up against a horse wasn't making it the easiest thing on earth, especially as the animal was finding it particularly difficult to get through the snow and the ride was less than comfortable.

"Here we are," Arthur's voice brought you back to reality. "Don't go getting too comfortable, we ain't staying here much longer." He jumped off his horse and cut your ankles free, helping you down and pushing you towards the main building in the abandoned mining town the rest of the gang was holed up at. "Well done, Arthur!" You saw an older man smile as he pushed through the door to meet the two of you, you deducted he was the infamous leader.

     You were left tied up for the short time the gang stayed at Colter, no food or water given to you but lucky enough for them to let you sit inside. They wanted you to talk, to know where Colm was, but that was the last thing you'd do. Besides, what did you actually have to say about the vile bunch? Not much. Colm never spoke to you, you only looked after the horses after all and you preferred to keep to yourself.

     You'd overheard some of the gang members talking about moving to the Heartlands, and in all honestly you were relieved to be getting out of the snow - albeit while being held hostage. The gang soon packed everything of early morning once thaw was upon them, and took a day to reach the new camp: Horseshoe Overlook. You had the leisure of sitting in a wagon, hands still tied. At least you weren't thrown over the back of a horse, you weren't sure you'd be able to take much more of that.

     You were tied to a tree upon arrival. Before even having set up the tents, Dutch picked one out and that's where you stayed for a good few hours before anyone else even glanced in your direction. Hours, until Bill and Arthur came your way, two rather intimidating looking men, aiming to get information out of you. "Let's cut the crap," Arthur started, placing a hand against the tree trunk and looking you dead in the eyes. "Where the hell is Colm O'Driscoll?"

     Nothing. You held your tongue as the only thing you wanted to say were insults towards the two cowboys. You had no idea where Colm was, you'd been held hostage for days. He could've been anywhere by now. "That's it," Bill snorted and turned to the fire where a pot of stew was slowly cooking. He grabbed the poker, the end red and burning hot and pointed it towards you. "You talk, or we're gonna brand you like cattle." You gulped as the end moved dangerously close to your stomach.

     Arthur took the opportunity to lift your shirt up a little, exposing soft skin that would definitely not withstand the pain of the poker. "Talk, O'Driscoll." He growled, watching as Bill moved the poker closer and closer to your delicate skin. You shook your head and furrowed your brows. "I got nothing to say to you," you spat, gasping as you felt the heat radiating off the poker, now ever so close to your skin. "God, okay! Okay," you panted, not sure how satisfied they'd be with your answers.

     Bill held the poker to his side, seemingly annoyed that he didn't get to brand you. Would've been fun to torture an O'Driscoll. "How's it going, boys?" Dutch shouted over as he'd watched the whole scene play out from his tent. "Oh, she's gonna talk," Arthur smirked. Bill left Arthur to work his magic, he'd always been the one with words and could always get what he wanted out of his targets. He cut the rope from your wrists and you were finally free for the first time in about a week, and god did it feel good. He made sure to hold onto you though, to make sure you didn't run for it once you saw an opening.

     Arthur walked you down to the river, away from the prying eyes of the others. Something about the way you'd kept quiet made him feel some type of way, and he wanted you to himself again. Loyalty was something that Arthur heavily believed in, and you'd shown just that by keeping your mouth shut. "So, tell me your name?" He asked, changing from the tough outlaw to an absolute softie. "(L/N). Miss (Y/N) (L/N)," you made sure to clarify. "Well then, Miss (Y/N) (L/N). Why don't you tell me all you know of Colm."

     You're not sure how, why or what came over you, but you'd somehow let your guard down and Arthur was ever so gently pressing his lips against your neck. You'd been threatened with branding not 15 minutes ago, and now he was branding you a whole other way. "Is this how you treat all your hostages?" You smirked, a slight moan escaping you as he hit your sweet spot. "No," he pulled back, "there's just something so alluring about you that I can't put my finger on."

     You hummed as he kissed your collarbones, making his way up and towards your lips. "Wonder what that could be," you smiled, your hands beginning to roam his body, from his chest, and slowly down to his gunbelt. As his lips almost reached yours, you fiddled around gently and found his knife, unsheathing the weapon quietly. You brought the hunting knife up to his cheek and pulled away, a proud grin on your face. "You're eager, Morgan. I'll give you that. But it'll take more than just cutting me free," you smirked.

     Arthur smirked back, realizing he'd fallen right into your trap and gave you the perfect time to have attempted to end him and escape there and then. "Why don't you go ahead?" He looked at the knife and back into your eyes. "Maybe I want to see what else you have to offer," you raised an eyebrow and took the knife from his cheek, spinning it around in your fingers playfully. "Is that so, O'Driscoll?" Arthur stepped back, all while keeping an eye on the knife, he still didn't know if he could fully trust you. "Why don't you come find out, cowboy?" And with that, you headed back towards camp, leaving Arthur with slight red cheeks. Your personality was starting to shine through, and he was glad he'd caught you, real glad.