The ground was bare and life was nowhere to be seen or heard for miles. The bio chemical bomb was dropped from the sky and emitted poisonous, toxic fumes. Arthur walked along the dead, grey and smoky earth as he looked for signs of life, his trust M-16 locked and ready to be fired at any given point.
The poisons and bio hazardous materials have caused mutations upon humans and animals alike, drastically changing their appearance and behavior. He was the only exception. Arthur was exposed to many explosions dropped from the skies. He did, in fact, get very sick from the overexposure to it all, but it also miraculously made him immune to it over time.
Even though he was immune, it was always necessary to play it safe. He wore his black over suit that prevented such fumes and toxins from making contact, but his gas mask did have a broken and missing lens that exposed his discolored right eye. As he walked through the smoky fog, he noticed something move in the mist. Moving closer, he noticed that it was a human being and was female. Taking precautions, he raised his weapon.
"State your name and are you infected?" he asked. He waited for her to answer. If she did not verbally answer he was sure to shoot.
The woman looked at him with a terrified expression on her face. "L-Lucy Beilschmidt…" she stuttered, "I-I was just looking for food! Please, sir, don't point that gun at me!"
Arthur lowered his weapon. "Why are you here by yourself? These battle fields are not a safe place to be!" he said as he looked at her.
"Nowhere is safe anymore…" Lucy said as she looked down at the crusty dirt.
He smirked behind his gas mask. "Heh. I must agree with you on that. The last bomb contained a bio chemical gas that killed everything for miles." He then looked at her once more. "That means I must examine you since you have no protective gear on you…"
His attention was then averted as he heard something move nearby. Gripping Lucy's wrist, he broke out into a run. "Come, quickly! You have no idea what may be out here!" he said.
Lucy stumbled slightly as tried to keep up with him. "I didn't know another bomb went off!" She then stumbled again as she desperately tried to stay on her feet. "Do you know how the war started?" she asked.
"Oh, that bomb went off a couple days ago. And the war? It was Alfred's fault. The bastard…" Arthur replied as he took Lucy to a makeshift shelter and took her inside. There, he took off the mask. He then took off the black protective gear to reveal cargo pants, a white tank top and his discolored skin.
"He thought he could make machines that could 'cleanse the world to help us start anew'. But look what he got the rest of us into! Everyone took sides. It's either us rebels or the Perfectionists. That is what Alfred called his side."
Lucy looked around the base. She was a bit nervous, but that is what Arthur half expected from her. There was hardly anyone to trust these days since the war broke out. "I hope Gilbert and Ludwig are doing ok…" she said.
All Arthur could do was shrug as he took out some medical supplies and motioned Lucy to sit on his bed. "Sit here. I need to examine you," he said as he prepared a thermometer that was connected to a circular device.
As she sat on the bed, Arthur placed the thermometer into her mouth. "This will read how much toxins you have within your body. Please sit still," he said as he made sure Lucy didn't move. The device then beeped. Arthur then removed the thermometer from her mouth.
"So, what did it read?" she asked.
"It isn't good, but thank God it isn't in the red. But, you are border lining it…" he replied as he then put the device away.
Lucy then sighed. "But I haven't been outside. I want this war to be over. I want to go home now!"
"I doubt this war would be over any time soon. Feli is already dead…" he then handed her a basin of clean water. "Here. Get yourself cleaned up."
Lucy's eyes widened in horror. "No! You must be lying! Feli can't be dead!"
Arthur sighed. "I know it is hard to believe, but he is dead. He has been for over a month." He then pointed to Feli's urn. Lucy's gaze lowered as she silently paid her respects to a good friend.
"Now, please get cleaned up," Arthur stated as he handed her the basin.
"Where should I do that?" Lucy asked as she looked at him, slightly confused.
Arthur couldn't help but blush at her question. "In here. You can't go outside. You will only get sicker and possibly die."
"So, I should bathe in front of you?"
He turned away slightly. "I will go outside if you want. I am now immune to these chemicals."
Lucy stepped forward. "N-no! I don't want you to leave!"
Arthur smirked. "I do have to protect my own turf. Go ahead and get cleaned up. Notify me when you are done."