Work Text:
“Alright, we just need the money, and then we get out of here,” Miku stated, heading up the stairs. “Dutch, it better be here, was your source reliable this time?”
“Trust me, it’ll be here. I know I’ve been wrong before, but just imagine: relaxing every day in the paradise of Tahiti, no more running, or robbing, or killing,” Dutch reassured.
“I know, I know, you’ve said it a million times,” Arthur rolled his eyes.
The three made it to the office and started searching for the state bonds Dutch promised would be here. Arthur nearly gave up when Dutch said: “…I got it.”
“You got it- the money?” Arthur asked bewilderingly.
“Yeah… I got it… state bonds…! Arthur, Miku, I got it!” Dutch exclaimed.
“How- how much?” Miku asked.
“A few thousands worth, fellas, we’re almost there!” Dutch said excitedly as he stood up. “Miku, Arthur, let’s go home.”
The three started walking through the building, down the stairs when they heard voices: “-Get him, shoot him, find him, now!”
“That one of your friends, Dutch?” Arthur sarcastically asked.
“Come on Arthur…” Dutch sighed and pulled out his gun as he descended the stairs. Arthur and Miku followed suit.
“There!” The men said as they spotted the three of them. They fired at the group.
Arthur ran towards the nearest corner and took cover while Dutch and Miku took cover up a bit further towards the exit. Arthur fired, taking out a few of them as Dutch beckoned Arthur towards him. Once Arthur had an opening, he ran to Dutch and Miku, heading through the building. When they were near the exit, a pipe burst spraying gas directly at Arthur. He immediately started coughing and stumbled back.
Miku noticed this and ran to help him while Dutch continued towards the exit. Miku tried to help Arthur up but was suddenly shot in her left shoulder.
“Gah-“ She dropped Arthur. “Dutch…! Help!” She yelled, but she just saw Durch’s outline obscured by the lingering gas step back out of the building.
The army men surrounded them and pointed a gun at Miku, and held a knife up to Arthur.
“Sir, we got two of them. White ones.” One of the soldiers exclaimed.
Arthur tried to struggle, but was too weak and still coughing.
“Dutch…? Dutch, I need help!” Arthur yelled as he saw Dutch leave him.
Just then, a bullet shot the soldier holding Arthur, and the man securing Miku lifted his gun, allowing her to quickly shoot him. Eagle Flies jumped out and took out the remaining guard.
“You two, are you okay-” He asks, but was cut short by a shot to his stomach. The general stepped out, pointing a gun at all of them. Arthur managed to discreetly shoot him with his gun, however.
“Eagle Flies…” Arthur got up and ran over. “You silly fool…” Arthur picked up Eagle Flies, and helped him walk while Miku followed, holding her arm.
“Arthur… you’ve saved my life so many times… to give up my life for yours… it’s how it should be,” Eagle flies gasped.
“No one’s giving up their life. We’ll get us somewhere to treat our wounds,” Miku reassured.
The three of them escaped from the building, and Charles took Eagle flies and gently put him on Arthur’s horse.
“Gentlemen, we need to go,” Dutch said.
“You left us!” Arthur exclaimed angrily.
“I did no such thing!” Dutch denied, defensively, “With this money, we-“
“No, no no no no! You can’t just deny your actions and not take any responsibility. I went back for him, you clearly could too,” Miku argued.
“And you got hurt. Now a leader wouldn’t be very good when injured, would he?” Dutch retorted.
“Well a good leader wouldn’t leave his followers to die, would he?” Miku yelled.
“Some sacrifices have to be made, being a leader comes with hard choices!”
“And you chose wrong! I bet because Micah is worming the idea that Arthur is useless into your ear!”
“I have as much of a right to listen to Micah Bell as I have to listen to you.”
Miku pulled her revolver and pointed it at Dutch and yelled, “Well whatever you chose to hear has clearly changed you, because the you from a few years ago is completely different from now!”
Dutch pulled out a revolver and aimed it at her, leading Arthur to join in with his aimed at Dutch too, “Really? Is this how our group ends? We stick together and create smoke for us to escape in, only for it to settle on us holding up a white flag in the open? And you too, Arthur? You’re like a son to me!”
“Sorry, Dutch. But Miku’s right. You have changed we used to help people who needed help, not use them for a distraction. We- and you, had morals. You’d never kill someone in cold blood, or- or leave one of your gang members to die!” Arthur appealed, “So let’s just put our goddamn guns down before we either kill each other or get caught by the inevitable reinforcements!”
“Just reminiscing about ‘the good old days’ before ‘Dutch went crazy’ huh? We had a plan- we still do! The train job is soon, and I know there’s money there so…” Dutch looked at all of the angry and disappointed faces of Arthur and Miku and sighed, “Fine, let’s lower our guns slowly.”
“…fine,” Miku reluctantly agreed.
Everyone slowly lowered their guns. Once the situation fully deescalated, Arthur walked to his horse: “I’m taking Eagle Flies back to his father.”
“Sure… Arthur. Whatever you think is best! Seems that’s all it is nowadays,” Dutch said bitterly.
“Miku, come with me. You can rest there too,” Arthur said.
“I’ll go too,” Charles said, with several voices agreeing with him from the crowd behind Dutch.
“No, you go back with Dutch,” Arthur said.
Arthur got on his horse and rode away with Miku following on her horse, and Eagle Flies on the back of Arthur’s horse.