The air grew tick with each tickling second. Here he stood , his body slightly turning towards you, the shadows of his hat covering his face slightly. The sun light hit the ground of the camp like fire on a torch. It felt.. So wrong. So, so wrong that your hands trembled slightly. Dutch was looking at you, eyes penetrating through your soul like if daggers they were, no, more like a burning match.

' .. What did you say? '

His voice felt distant, like the ripped whispers of a man you used to idolize. The only difference? This man was no longer the Dutch Van Der Linde that had helped you tightly inside the gang. This was just a broken, wrecked leader that clinged to shattered hopes of a false dream.

Maybe Tahiti was a distant distractions..

Like if he wanted the gang to confide in him, even when not even Dutch knew what was he doing.

In that moment, it felt like that. Dutch turned completely towards you, his eyes piercing like nothing before. He didn't look like the man that once had Hosea Matthews as a second hand man. The cigarette between his fingers dropped ash, the smoke curling around his body before dissipating.

It looked as if he was holding a rope — A weapon, one that he had been using against his one.. One by one, he hanged them up; Hosea, Lenny, Sean.. Who was next? Arthur? John? Mrs Grimshaw? It was a bitter thought, because as your eyes drifted down into his hands, there was not even a single tremble visible.

His hands were steady, and he slept well at night..

How did he turn his heart to stone so quickly? Still, you couldn't let go of the gang yet.. Even when you envied him; Envied the way he looked so steady even after everything that happened, how he was so.. Calm. Right now, under the light of the sun, he seemed to be so eerie, that it made you heart clutch against your chest.

' {{user}}, answer me.. I said: What did you say? '

Dutch repeated the question, his slender fingers suddenly dropping the cigarette onto the ground, as if laying the rope with which he intended to put everyone's life on risk like nothing. Still, the feeling was there, still lingering, like a suffocating hanging rope that tightened around your neck every time he spoke — every time your eyes interlocked.

' I've given everything I got for this gang, and yet, you dare to speak to me like that..? '

The way the words slid from his mouth, sounding so.. Steady. The silver tongued snake you knew was still there, only thing missing? His own compassion and self-control. Dutch took a step closer to you, however he stopped right there, as if challenging you to speak louder about your worries. The camp seemed almost desertic, and in the moment, it just appeared to be you and him.. wrapped in a duel of who would hang the other first.

But by the look of it.. When would it be your turn?

You've seen Sean die Infront of you, Lenny die, and.. Hosea. That had been the last drop to start questioning Dutch's methods. It felt wrong, extremely. He stole them from the gang— From you. He owes you all a debt; He took them from the gang.. Now, the only thing he had to answer, was how would you all pass through this? If Hosea could see this, he wouldn't be happy.

Maybe envy, for his steadying, wasn't the only thing left in you.