The Walls We've Built - ◈ ARMIN ARLERT X OC ◈

Chapter 11 - Saviours

We continue running until we find a cluster of trees to hide within, we all stop falling to the ground tired and out of breath. I lie on my back next to Jean, trying to catch my breath. I look up to the clear blue sky, so peaceful in the chaotic landscape of titan territory. We lie in silence breathing frantically, "Shit," Jean whispers. I sit up looking at Armin and Reiner, Reiner is also lying on the ground but Armin is sitting up, zone out staring into the distance. He is still conscious but is in a terrible condition, definitely shaken from the whole encounter with the female titan.

I get up and sit next to him, he looks over at me with a small smile before returning his attention to the open terrian beyond the trees. "How's your head?" I ask gently, "Not as bad as before, but it still hurts." he replies cautiously, touching the side of his head. I reach out to inspect the wound, "Do you mind if I check it out?" I ask concerned, Armin nods his head in response. I move in front of Armin so I am facing him. I gently slide my hand under his hair pushing it back exposing his forehead, there is a large wound that stretches across his hairline.

Armin winces, "Sorry." I reply, loosening my touch, "Th-That's ok." he responds. I continue to examine his wound, it will need proper treatment but for now I just need to stop the bleeding. I look over to Jean and Reiner who are whistling in hope their horses will return since they both ran at the first sight of danger. I was lucky enough that my horse, Atlas, came running back to me like a lost puppy the minute I called him. "Hey Reiner, do you still have that roll of bandage?" I ask, he stops whistling and turns to me, "Yeah I should, unless if fell out of my pocket while we were fighting." he replies reaching for the bandage in his back pocket. He pulls it out and throws it to me before he continues to call for his horse.

I catch it mid air, nodding my head in thanks before turning back to Armin who is sitting in front of me. Armin looks up at me, I lift up the bandage for him to see with a small smile. "I'll wrap this around the wound for now, I'll have to do it fairly tight so the pressure stops the bleeding. You may feel a bit light headed but it won't last long." I explain while unravelling the bandage. "Ok, thank you." he says quietly, keeping his head up looking at me.

I gently push his hair back again and begin wrapping the bandage around his head, tightening it as I go. A few times I hear Armin flinch but he keeps his head in place, I take my attention away from the bandage to Armin's eyes, blue as ever. "Sorry if this is hurting you but I'm almost done." I tell him as I wrap the last part of the bandage around his head once more, he remains silent but nods in response. I go onto my knees so I am able to reach the back of Armin's head to tie the bandage. He lowers his head making it easier for me to tie it. "Thanks" I say, "No problem" he responds quietly.

Once I have tied the bandage I help Armin up and we both walk over to Jean and Reiner, Jean is pacing back and forth "Shit, Shit, Shit!" he turns to Armin and I. "What the hell are we supposed to do now! I don't know about you guys but I really didn't want to get eaten by a titan today!" I stare blankly at the ground, neither do I, but it's not like I'm going to just hop on Atlas and leave them here. I look at Jean who is eyeing down my horse, looks to me as if he is thinking the same thing but actually wants to do it. "3 minutes." Reiner states, we all turn to him confused, "We send off the emergency flare from Zaryia's saddle bag, we wait 3 minutes for someone to come and if not, then we decide who stays and who goes.'' He finished looking at us all individually.

"You're not serious right?" I ask him genuinely, he just shrugs in responses. I scoff "So you're telling me you would be happy to leave 2 of your comrades here to die?" I question him, appalled he is even considering that as an option. "I'll stay." Armin whispers from beside me, my heart drops "Armin? Come on guys, surely there is something else we can do!" I cry, looking at them all but they all avoid eye contact with me. Then it clicks, "Let me guess, you guys want me to stay here to die as well?" I ask staring down Reiner until he dares to make eye contact with me, Armin tries to grab my arm but I shrug him off. "Fine, 3 minutes, and you two can leave on my horse. But hey, at the end of the day it will be your hands stained with our blood." Jean stands behind Reiner looking at the ground. I push past Reiner and look at Jean, he silently mouths 'sorry' to me before following Reiner to Atlas.