#Chestnut Saloon Upright Piano | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

porkchop-ao3 · 5 years

Text

A Thrill I’ve Never Known (Chapter 4)

Blackwater

The first night reader and Arthur met :) Contains suggestive conversation, violence and heavy drinking.

(All chapters tagged with #ATINK and also posted on Ao3, username PorkChop)

I could barely keep my eyes open but I could still hear. The piano had stopped playing and people were shouting, my brother being one of those voices. Who knew what they were saying? I didn't particularly care. I'd come here to let go, to drink and to forget everything for the rest of the evening, and that's exactly what I was doing. The barman had kept sliding shots across the bar and I had kept knocking them back, my hands still managing to find the coins for more despite being completely wasted.

Someone on my right was speaking to me, I’d told them to leave me alone but they persisted.

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

“Leave me be,” I grumbled back to him, holding my head up with both hands, elbows on the bar as I stared down into my shot glass.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but-”

“What’chu want? You see a drunk woman at the bar and think she’ll be an easy lay?” I snorted, shaking my head before necking my shot.

“No, it ain’t like that. I’m trying to-” he cut himself off, and I heard his tone change. “You better back off, boy, or you’ll lose some more of those goddamn teeth, you hear?”

I slumped over to one side and tilted my head, catching a glimpse at the back of the guy’s head. There was most definitely a fight breaking out, but I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to enjoy my evening.

“Ma'am, you might want to move. Those men are getting a little rowdy and you're too close for my liking,” the man returned to me and warned, touching my elbow.

I pressed my hand against the bar and pushed myself up so I could look at him properly; I felt like I had the weight of the ocean keeping my head down, either that or the world was tilting and I was fighting against gravity to keep myself upright. I blinked until my eyes focused, and a handsome gentleman with pretty blue eyes and hair the colour of chestnuts came into view. Lots of movement behind him, my brother throwing a fist at someone he didn't like. Again.

“He'll tire himself out,” I told him with lazy lips. “'s my brother.”

There was a clatter and a series of smashes as someone got pushed into a table and I groaned in annoyance, wondering how much the barkeep would want for repairs.

“That's your brother? What's he doin’ getting into fights, shouldn't he be lookin’ after you?” The handsome man said irritably, looking over his shoulder and edging closer to me, arm outstretched as if to shield me as a glass came flying past us.

“He don't look after me, I look after me,” I told him.

The yelling got louder, messier, there were more people getting involved. The barkeep was the closest person to me who was yelling and the only raised voice I could understand. He was telling everyone to stop, take it outside, you'll pay for every broken glass or else.

“I paid for another drink five minutes ago, where is it?” I asked him, being completely ignored. “Hey! Gimme my goddamn drink!” Now I was raising my voice.

“Miss, I think we should leave now,” the man beside me urged, the hand on my elbow tightening into a grasp as the gang of men beating the crap out of each other grew.

“I ain't leaving here with you, I don't even know your name,” I slurred, I was getting annoyed, that bastard behind the bar had stolen my money!

“It's Arthur. I'm sorry, ma'am but I have t-” his body collided with mine roughly and I went tumbling over. I landed on my ass, falling backwards into someone else's legs and sending them flying too, we were like dominoes.

“You pushed me!” I whined up at Arthur, not even registering the cacophony of swear words being thrown at me from behind.

“My apologies, I was pushed,” he held his hand out to me and in the moment I didn't know what he wanted me to do with it. His lovely eyes flashed up over my head and he growled; “don't you start with her, I'm tryin'a get her out of here!”

He made an irritable sound and then I was being pulled up by my arms and pressed up against his side.

“Hey!” I called out, trying to organise my feet in such a way so that they weren't dragging on the floor. Somehow, I ended up outside; I could see my breath. The cool air sobered me up just enough that when Arthur let go of me, I stayed on my feet.

“You alright?” He asked.

“What'chu think you're doing?” I stumbled backwards, straightening out my skirt and blouse.

“Saving your hide, woman!” He snapped.

“I was having a drink!”

“I can damn well see that!” He gestured at me with both hands then shook his head and took a breath. “Never mind, I'm sorry. It was getting ugly in there and I can see you ain't in the best of conditions.”

“‘s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean you've clearly had a skinful, you weren't getting out of that place goin’ in a straight line,” he said and I cracked up. He shook his head in bewilderment as I laughed. “You want me to go get your brother?”

“Nah, he pulls this crap all the damn time, he'll be fine,” I waved my hand back and forth and leaned backwards. Luckily there was a post of some description behind me.

“What am I gonna do with you? I ain't just leaving you here. How far's your home?”

“Uhh, what town are we in again?” I slurred and he looked at me, slack jawed and vacant eyed.

“I’m just gonna put you in the hotel,” he decided.

“I ain't got the money for that!”

“My treat,” he tutted at me, wrapping his arm around my waist and walking me away from the saloon. His body was hot and solid against mine, I could tell he was strong. I giggled and wrapped a hand around one of his arms.

“Look at this big, strong man, takin’ care of me,” I commented, looking up at his face to see his cheeks redden. “Mama would approve.”

“Oh, I don't think she would,” he replied, shaking his head.

“Why's that? Don't be hard on yourself, sir, you're a handsome one,” I told him, patting his cheek. His jaw was a little coarse with stubble.

“And you're drunk,” he laughed, looking down at me.

“I can still use my eyes!” I exclaimed, tripping over my feet but staying upright thanks to the arm around me.

“Careful, now,” he warned.

He led me into the hotel and deposited me onto a chair, holding onto me for a moment to make sure I wasn't going to fall off of it. I was too far gone to be embarrassed about my behaviour and simply grinned up at him. He turned to the man at the desk and requested a room.

“A room for two?” The man questioned, eyeing me up and looking between us. I giggled.

“Yeah!”

“No,” both Arthur and I spoke at the same time.

“I'm jus’ kidding, he ain't getting into these britches that easy,” I laughed, noting the way Arthur looked back at me and cocked a brow in amusement.

“Just a single room for the lady,” he continued, turning back. “Thank you.”

Arthur made his way back to me and helped me up again, which required a lot of effort on his part. I rather liked being lifted around by such a nice man, I might've played up how off balance I was just to feel his arms tighten. I hummed in appreciation as his large hands settled firmly on my waist, feeling something stirring in me.

“I've never been held like this before, you know,” I told him. He frowned and seemed upset by this.

“I'm sorry, ma'am, I fear if I let go you'll hurt yourself,” he explained, taking my hand and putting it on the handrail of the stairs so he could better lead me up them.

“I weren't saying you should let go,” I said, and Arthur looked at me. His face was so close, he was so handsome, I beamed at him. He cleared his throat and looked down at my feet as he continued to help me up the stairs.

“Can you send some water up to the room, please?” He called back to the clerk.

“Of course, sir.”

“Come on, stand up straight, let's just get you into bed,” he muttered, hastening me.

“At least buy me dinner first,” I snickered. Arthur sighed and shook his head.

When we made it to the room he sat me down on the bed, prying my hand from where I'd wrapped it around him for support.

“Now, I'm gonna leave and you're gonna go to sleep and sober up, ya’ hear?”

“Ooh, so demanding,” I purred and snickered, laying back onto the mattress and peering up at him. Arthur flushed again and shook his head. A lady knocked on the door before she came into the room carrying a tray with some glasses and a container of water. She apologised for the intrusion and left it on the dresser before leaving again.

Arthur turned and filled a glass. “Sit up, get some fluids in ya’ that ain't booze.”

“I know what kinda fluids you could put in me.”

“Please. I'm tryin'a be nice,” he complained, holding the glass out to me. I simpered and did as he asked, drinking down the whole glass; he sighed with ease. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” I responded, surprising him. “This is all very gentlemanly of you.”

“Yeah well, if I'd have left you there you'd've been on my conscience and I already got enough on that,” he told me, taking a seat on the chair by the door. He sat for a moment, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wall.

“Looks like you need this bed more than I do,” I laughed.

“No, I'm fine. I best be gettin’ on. You take care of yourself, alright? Get some sleep, and don't try going back for your brother tonight.”

“Don't worry, I weren't planning to. He is one heck of an idiot,” I rolled my eyes and laid down on my side, sighing pleasantly at the cushion of a comfy bed.

“You tell him to start lookin’ out for you. Family comes in many forms but it's important, you gotta stick together.”

“I will,” I assured him. He rose to his feet and made for the door. Before he left, I called out to him, telling him my name. “In case I see you around again.”

Arthur chuckled. “That's a lovely name, but, I don't think you will,” he tipped his hat at me before letting himself out. I sighed when the door clicked shut behind him and I rolled onto my back.

The booze in my system pulled me into slumber real quick, that and the comfortable bed and the lack of my brother's snoring through the wall. Arthur made his way into my dreams; the handsome cowboy filling my head with images and sounds that mama would definitely not approve of, and that would turn my face pink with shame once I was sober enough.

#rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan #arthur morgan x reader #fanfiction #ATINK #rdr2 fanfic #arthur morgan fanfic #arthur morgan x female reader

57 notes · View notes