In Twenty Years Time ~ An Armin Arlert FanFic

3 - An Inexplicable Bond

"Commander Arlert, we are a bit-" Dr. Springer threw his hand in a fist on his chest, but was cut off by this young man.
"You're awake," the man called Arlert made his way over to Jo, not losing eye contact with her and completely ignoring Dr. Springer. His presence was stern; strong; but there was something about him Jo could sense. He knew what he was doing. "How are you feeling?" the boy reached his hand up to Jo's forehead to feel if it was hot or not, a natural instinct. Jo closed her eyes, welcoming his warm touch, unconsciously pushing her forehead into his hand. This insane bond or feeling that Jo felt was unlike any other she had had before. His hands were callused, clearly overused for what looked like someone in his early twenties. Dr. Springer swiftly pushed the boy back.
"Armin, will you please give the girl some space? She just woke up," Dr. Springer said to the boy out of caution. Armin Arlert, the boy, snapped back at this thought, clearly pissed at the comment.
"Connie, I don't want to hear it! I'm the one that found this girl two years ago in Marley territory- I think I have a right to see her," Armin completed. He made his way back to the bed as Jo sat up. "Slowly, slowly, please," Armin stated out of concern. Jo's heart had calmed down, and her oxygen levels were fine, so Armin reached up, and took the oxygen mask off of her face, his touch lingering as he pulled it off. "Much better," Armin smiled. Jo took a deep breath, and her throat moistened up again.
"Thank you," Jo spoke, her voice raspy. Both Armin and Dr. Springer were shocked that you could speak yet. Armin broke out into a smile. He whipped his head back to Dr. Springer, almost bouncing off of walls because of the excitement and adrenaline in his veins. Dr. Springer laughed at this. Armin clasped Jo's hand, turning his attention back to her, rubbing his thumb on her knuckles. His hands swallowed Jo's, as anyones did for how small she was. Jo locked eyes with Armin as a tear rolled down his face. Jo made a concerned look, wondering what was wrong. The grasp loosened as he looked like he had the idea of the century.
"Connie, can I hover her outside? She hasn't seen sunlight in forever! And it seems like she does better with fresh air than plain old pure oxygen, anyways!" Armin insisted. Jo looked at the doctor in excitement and hope at the idea, longing to go outside. Wait- did he say hover? Jo thought. Dr. Springer exchanged glances with both of them, very reluctantly giving in.
"Yes, that's fine- but NO FARTHER than the balcony, understand Armin?" Dr. Springer said. Armin nodded frantically, soon rushing out of the room to grab a wheelchair, or so Jo thought. She smiled and felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, thankful that it seemed like no atrophy occurred in her muscles. "Move slow, Josephine. We don't know how well your muscles are yet." Jo moved her toes. She could still feel them, but her knees felt creaky.
"You know, Armin visited you every day. I guess this was just his daily visit. He's a really nice kid, didn't leave your side for an hour each day," Jo looked back at Dr. Springer as he said this. Jo was shocked- she never had someone like that in her life. Her mother was always out drinking or working, and she didn't grow up with a father in the home. Eri always had her boyfriend, so no one really cared about Jo like that. Maybe that's where that insane feeling came from, Jo thought. He continued, "Armin is in the Scouts. So on top of fighting every day, he came here whenever he could to watch over you every day for two years. He's commander, too, so he's not exactly the one with all the time on his hands. We grew up together in the regiment before I became a doctor. I can tell he really cares about you. I wouldn't let him go if I were you." Jo nodded quickly, understanding it all rather fast. Armin burst through the door again with a wheelchair- well... A wheelchair with no wheels. It was hovering. This was 2041 so Jo just shrugged it off.
Both Armin and Dr. Springer helped her off of the bed and onto the chair- hoverchair, wheelchair, whatever they wanted to call it. Once settled, Armin asked if Jo was ready, which she nodded, eager to see the outside world for the first time in 20 years. Armin pushed her out into the hallway, which held a bunch of people in outfits like Armin's, and others that looked like Dr. Springer, and others that were dressed like Jo. Armin pushed Jo down the hallway and it was like he was parting the Red Sea. Every soldier they passed threw their fist over their chest at the sight of Armin, in some sort of salute. He really must be respected if these many soldiers are doing it, Jo thought. She shrugged in embarrassment, not being used to being stared at by so many. The couple made a sharp turn, leading them to glass doors leading outside. Jo's eyes already widened. She sat up straighter, even leaning forward in her seat. Armin chuckled at this sight. The doors disappeared in thin air when they got close; Jo shot back, unsure of what she just saw. Armin laughed again. Jo looked around like she was a new tourist, her head spinning in every direction.
The new outside wasn't much different; it looked like you would be in Pakistan, brown and dusty, but there were fields of flowers out in the distance, contrasting to the dullness of the Scout Regiment's base. Every now and then, you would see a black figure shoot across your vision, followed by the whizzing of a wire; Josephine guessed that these were more Scouts. The sun was setting, forming a beautiful landscape of purple, pinks, oranges, and blue hues, giving the hills such a silhouette, Jo started tearing up.
"Not much different, I know, but it's been twenty years for you. We fixed climate change. We planted enough trees to last us until the Sun blows up! I heard that people of a different political party thought climate change wasn't real. It was real alright and I-.. hey... Are you crying?" Armin's voice softened as he leaned down to look at Jo. Tears trickled down Jo's face as she clasped her hands over her mouth in shock and awe. "Josephine.. hey...," Armin finished, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"It's so beautiful," is all Jo could croak out. Armin smiled. Looking out at the horizon, Jo realized that the world hasn't changed at all. If anything, it had gotten better. The war was far, and Jo was here, sitting with someone who cared about her for the first time in her life, watching the sun set. Nothing could possibly be better.