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It's been 3 days since they fled Rhodes, packing up and leaving without another word.
Three days since little Jack was kidnapped by the Brontes.
Three days since the bullet went straight through Sean Maguire's head.
Arthur, for the first time in days, slowed down and hung around camp, burying himself in chores. Chopping wood for the fireplace... bringing bales to the horses... anything he could do to busy himself.
This wasn't unusual in normal circumstances, Arthur worked himself to the bone almost daily.
When he wasn't out on a job, he was doing chores. When he had no chores to do himself, he was urging others to do theirs.
But today seemed different.
Quiet.
No 'hello's, no 'how are you's.
Hell, he hadn't even uttered a snarky comment.
Just silence.
No one really noticed his isolation, except for Hosea.
He knew him all too well.
He approached quietly, walking alongside Arthur before gently reaching for Arthur's arm "Y' holdin' up, son?" Hosea asked quietly, his eyes kind and filled with concern.
"I'm alright... just..." Arthur sighed, holding tongue.
"Tired. Didn't sleep well."
"Y' don't seem tired to me..."
Arthur pulled his arm back. "Hosea, just... lemme be, alright...? Im fine."
A pause. Then Hosea, quieter than before: "...If you say so."
With that, he left Arthur to his own devices.
***
Evening came. dinner was ready.
Chunks of unknown game meat and slightly spoiled carrot swam in a watery dark broth. A stew – same as every evening. (save for times when there was nothing to eat at all.) Just another part of their dull, monotonous camp routine.
Arthur found a place to sit on his own, away from the others. Hunched over the tin bowl, he stared at its contents. He had very little interest in eating right now.
How could he have interest in eating when only three days ago, he seen a bullet go straight through Sean Maguire's head?
The initial anger had worn off, and now Arthur felt utterly dismal.
Arthur looked down at his jacket, only now noticing slight flecks of crimson scattered along waxed canvas near his shoulder. They were subtle, which is probably why no one had pointed them out to him. It was clear they travelled from a large spurt of-
Oh, Sean... What a mess we've made of things...
He shakily touched the stain on his jacket, feeling tears suddenly well in his eyes. He abruptly stood up, ignoring the half-curious looks from the others and made his way into the woods with his head hung.
"The hell's gotten into him...?" Bill, who was sitting a few feet away, asked incredulously.
Hosea set his spoon down, grimacing slightly. "I'll see..." He replied, getting up to follow him.
***
Arthur leaned against a tree, his palm flat against the bark as he tried to pull himself together... He bit his knuckle, teeth leaving marks. A couple stray tears rolled down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away.
Hosea grimaced at the scene, watching silently for a moment before intervening.
"Arthur?"
Arthur didn't speak or turn around, but slowly straightened up.
Hosea's hand reached for Arthur, but fell to his side. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do... hell, he hadn't seen Arthur cry since he was practically a kid...
Arthur finally responded... though still faced away from him. "...yeah?"
"Turn around for me, will you?"
Arthur hesitated, but obliged. His eyes and lashes were wet... tear streaks glistened on his face. He was trying to make a neutral expression, but Hosea wasn't a fool.
Arthur's lip quivered, and without thinking, Hosea pulled him in close, making Arthur freeze.
"This isn't your fault, Arthur. We were all fools..." Hosea whispered quietly, hiding the wobble in his voice.
Arthur came undone, clutching him like a man drowning. He buried his head in Hosea's shoulder, choking on violent sobs.
"Please don't cry, Arthur... there's nothing you could've done... they played us..."
"But–"
"Shhh..." Hosea gently patted his back.
"I just wish... I could've been nicer to him, Hosea... He was a good kid..." he said between sobs that violently shook him. "I liked him... a lot more than I ever let on..."
"I know you did, Arthur... and I'm sure Sean knew too. He really admired you, y'know..."
"I ain't much to admire..." He laughed once, bitterly, before stepping back and wiping his face. "I'm gettin' real sick of this life, Hosea..."
"Then go make something else of yourself as soon as you can... You're still young yet, Arthur. There's still time."
"Do you really think so?"
"I know so."