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

Chapter 29 - Calm Waters

Once we have returned the kid, Corina back to her father, we make our way back to the other scouts. My shoulders feel heavier than ever before, but my mood is a million times better. Navigating our way through the abandoned alleyways, I try to rub off some of the blood stained on my forehead with my sleeve.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Jacob ponders popping up next to me, I roll my eyes looking up at him.

"Just trying to make sure the blood is all over my face," I exaggerate sarcastically, "What do you think Jacob?" I mutter rubbing my forehead again but nothing comes off. Jacob grabs my arm holding me back, "What are you doing!" I exclaim trying to shrug him off.

"Just wait a minute would you!" He scolds me, getting something from his pocket. I watched him confused before looking back to the others as they continue to walk back towards the court, Rosette and Jean walk in front followed by Gen and Armin who look deep in conversation.

I hear something drop to the floor making me swiftly turn back around to Jacob, one hand holds a small piece of cloth stained with time and in the other is a small bottle. I watch the cap of the bottle roll away from us before settling in one spot. I look back to him as he pours the substance from the bottle onto the cloth.

"What is that?" I ask, but he simply ignores me holding the cloth up to my head. I quickly move back before it touches me, "Jacob tell me what that is! I'm not going to let you rub some random juice on my face." I scold him, pushing his arm away from me.

"Oh relax, it's just alcohol." He murmurs, putting his hand back up to my head. "It's an antiseptic, perfect for cleaning blood." He finishes gently pressing the material to my forehead making it sting.

"I know what it does, I just didn't know you did." I respond looking away.

"Geez Zar, don't sound so surprised, I'm not that dumb." He laughs, taking the cloth off my head and pouring more alcohol on it.

"I didn't mean that you're dumb it's just-" I mumble trying to explain myself.

"I know what you meant." he laughs again holding the material back up to my head. Loud laughter echoes behind me, making me quickly turn my head to see Gen howling in laughter grabbing onto Armin making him jolt. Typical Gen, I laugh to myself turning around to face Jacob again, however his eyes continue to watch Gen intensely with a wide smile across his face.

"So, when are you going to talk to her about that?" I ask him but he continues to gaze at Gen unphased.

"Talk to her about what?" His replies looking back down at me.

"Oh come on Jacob how long has it been now? What, 3 years?" I laugh as he reapplies the cold moist cloth to my head. Jacob just laughs looking down at his shoes "I don't know what you are talking about." he mutters before looking at me again. I smile at him before scoffing, "Right, sure you don't." He looks at me for a moment longer before returning his gaze back up to my bloody forehead.

"That should about do it." He finishes wiping the cloth against my head one last time, I brush my fingers gently across my forehead no longer feeling the uncomfortable sensation of dried blood.

"Thanks!" I exclaim looking up at him again with my fingers still to my face. He smiles back at me before folding up his cloth and returning it to his pocket.

"No problem." He sighs before picking up the small cap to the bottle, slipping it into his other pocket. He stands next to me with his arm out.

"Shall we?" he asks, gesturing down the alleyway towards the courtyard.

"We shall!" I laugh sliping my arm through his before we walk back to the others.

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As we return to the square Gen pops up next to me, "Where the hell did you two go!" She exclaims, annoyance filled in her voice.

"I was just helping Zariya clean up her face, relax. Why? Did you miss me?" Jacob teases back, nudging her with his elbow.

"No, I just-" Gen stutters before hitting Jacob in the arm. "You two ditched me and left me alone with Armin!" She wines.

"What's wrong with Armin?" I shoot back, not sure why I'm so defensive.

"Nothing! It's just that-" Gen tries to explain before she is interrupted.

"You three." Adam approaches us with big strides, "You are all required at the Scouts Headquarters for a debrief and recovery." He finishes looking at us all individually.

I feel my lungs fill with air, it's over. I smile to myself, grateful that we are approaching calm waters again after the storm we just faced, I'm grateful that we are all ok. I put my good arm over Gen's shoulder, linking my wounded arm back with Jacobs.

"Yet another successful mission if I do say so myself," I begin pulling them forward, "except for the whole almost dying part." I laugh looking over to Armin. He stands with Mikasa, who watches Eren get taken away in a stretch. His unconscious body lies there weightlessly moving with the movement of the stretch.

"Zariya?" Jacob calls to me.

"Hm?" I respond still focused on Eren, I look over to Jacob and Gen who are both analysing my face.

"Are you ok?" Gen ponders tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah," I mutter a bit absent minded, looking at Erem all I can think is about how much shit we endured today and how I got a bit too close to death than I would have liked. "Yeah I will be." I smile again looking back at her. She smiles back at me and begins guiding us to headquarters.

"You hear Adam, we better get going, we have a lot of debriefing and recovering to do." She laughs, eyeing me down. I scoff, shaking my head in response knowing how right she is.

"You don't have to tell me twice." I scoff, matching her steps.