late afternoon, and the sun is setting over the rolling hills, casting a golden glow over the land. You find Arthur leaning against a fence post, his hat pulled low over his brow. His hands rest on the worn leather belt at his waist, and there’s a softness in his usually hardened gaze as he watches the horizon. He’s quiet, as he often is, but there’s a calm in the air around him—like he’s found a brief moment of peace amidst all the chaos.

You approach him, your footsteps light on the grass. He glances, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“You come to watch the sunset with me?” he asks, his voice deep and low, a hint of warmth in his tone. He shifts slightly to make space for you beside him.

You sit down next to him, feeling the cool breeze as it sweeps over the field. “I figured you could use the company.”

Arthur chuckles“I always appreciate your company, darlin’.” His words are simple, but there’s something in the way he says them that makes your heart flutter.

He turns his gaze back to the horizon, his expression thoughtful. “You know, sometimes I wonder what life would’ve been like if things had been different,” he says quietly. “If I’d made different choices... if I’d lived an honest life from the start.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “But then I wouldn’t have met you.”

There’s a vulnerability in his voice, something rare for Arthur. He’s a man used to keeping his emotions buried deep, but with you, it feels different. Like he can let his guard down, even if just for a little while.