There soon came a time, as always, Jo was fast learning, when Danse was to leave the Prydwen for field labor.
He hadn't even needed an excuse from Elder Maxson, all Nora had done was bat those beautiful long lashes at him and it took him no time at all to agree to traverse the deadly area to the south known as the Glowing Sea. He had power armor, of course, and would be somewhat protected from the elements, but Johanna was concerned with the talk of wildlife activity in the area. It was rumored that Deathclaws and radscorpions were extremely populated to the south where they thrived in the inhabitable environment. The more she thought of it, Jo very much thought that Nora was asking Danse to run off to his death. In the name of the Brotherhood, he was only too happy to do just that.
Johanna didn't even receive a goodbye, but she got a short wave as she watched the vertibird leave with both Danse and Nora onboard.
Nora, sans power armor, blew her a kiss from the window, which startled Johanna for a few moments. She had probably only seen the gesture once or twice, it indicated strong affection and Jo was troubled by the thought that Nora didn't know her near well enough to be so forward.
She simply waved back, more out of reflex than anything. She wasn't sure how she felt about the other vault dweller, especially now that she had taken Danse away from her again so soon.
Jo felt a heaviness in the pit of her stomach that felt almost like radiation, but not quite. Was it jealousy? She was unfamiliar with the sensation, and couldn't place it.
It wasn't until she could no longer see the vertibird that Johanna came back to, startling slightly as she realized she was still on the outer decks, receiving windburn on her cheeks and a sharp pain behind her eyes from the sun. It was time to return to the blasted ship.
Someone stopped her near the door to the foredeck, a pale hand gripping her arm below the elbow.
"Polowski, we meet again."
She groaned internally, berating herself for not watching her step.
"Murdoch. I'm sorry, I'll try to be more careful in the future to prevent more of these meetings." She tried to walk past him, but he pulled her back with a firm yank on her elbow.
"I was looking for you. Elder Maxson recruited me to assist with your training while Paladin Danse is away."
"You're joking," Jo laughed, perhaps not realizing that she spoke aloud. She had several very good reasons to be skeptical. It came as a shock that Arthur had found a replacement, and so timely, but Alan Murdoch?
"No, I'm not joking with you." He gave her elbow another jerk, gritting his teeth as he spoke. Johanna didn't know what she had ever done to deserve the hatred looming behind those eyes.
"What are your qualifications?" Jo asked, refusing to give up so easily. Surely there were others better suited to training.
"Qualifications? Look, take up your problems with Elder Maxson, I'm doing what I was told to do. And so should you."
"Fine, I will!" She finally gave a pull with enough strength behind it to free herself from his grip, though a small part of her believed he had finally just let go.
Jo was steaming at the idea of him putting his hands on her. She felt as if he expected her to submit based on physical strength alone, and he was sorely mistaken. She would not soon forget all his hateful comments and petulant jokes about vault dwellers any time soon.
Located so very conveniently to the foredeck, Jo found Maxson in his viewing deck, looking out at the wasteland as he so often did when he was alone. She did not bother to speak up or introduce herself, her angry footsteps rang loud and clear in the empty room.
"Is this your idea of a joke, Arthur?" She demanded, stopping barely a foot from him. At this distance, she stepped back a bit, eyeing the width of the man. He sure didn't have to put up with her temper if he didn't want to.
"Scribe Polowski, you forget yourself." His tone was sharper than usual and Jo acknowledged the boundary of approaching as such in his professional domain.
"I've just met with one of your knights who seems to think he would make a suitable trainer in Danse's place."
"And you disagree?" He spoke quietly, tone more relaxed, open to suggestion than before. Yet she already heard the resignation in his voice, she tried to make him understand.
"I do. He... I..." She paused there, wondering what she could tell Maxson that wouldn't sound like childish tattling. Yes, he was rude to her, but what else could she say? "We don't get along," Jo finished lamely, her cheeks burning.
"And don't think I'm unaware. I assigned Knight Murdoch to be your guide with good reason. You need to know how to work with others, not only Danse. And Knight Murdoch has proven to be exceptional in all areas of training we offer. He fit the bill perfectly."
"So this is a punishment? You chose him because he hates me?" Johanna snapped more sharply than intended.
Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach as her eyes found his to be dark and furious.
"Sir. Forgive me," she gasped, in disbelief of her own gall.
He waved his hand, motioning for her to come forward, closer than she was strictly comfortable with. Johanna did not back down, she took that step forward and found herself under Arthur's steady gaze.
"I admire your obstinacy, most of the time. But I am not wrong about this." He held her with gentle hands behind her elbows, so different than how Murdoch had grabbed her. She thought of admitting that she was afraid of the man, but she doubted the comment would serve any purpose in the Elder's decision. More likely, it would simply leave her embarassed and vulnerable.
"I'll respect your decision," Johanna said, subserviently bowing her head. He was so close now and his touch felt like a million bolts of lightning were shooting up her arms and into her chest. She almost gasped, but managed just to catch her breath for a moment. She stared into Arthur's deep blue eyes as he regarded her.
What were only seconds felt like hours as she stood still, letting his eyes roam across her face for some answer she didn't know the question to.
"I'm not addled or anything," Johanna chuckled uncomfortably, tensing under his firming touch. "I see your points and I'll adhere to your decision."
It must have been the right (or very wrong) thing to say, for the intense moment was shattered when Arthur cracked a smile. Jo smiled back, simultaneously pleased that she had made him smile and disappointed he had taken his hands off of her.
"I'm glad you see it my way. Scribe."
"Of course," she stepped back into her physical comfort zone, allowing more space between the two of them. "The sooner I complete training, the sooner I'll be leaving the ship. It's as good as any to make friends, isn't it?"
Arthur's smile became fixed, though the change was practically undetectable. Had he been hoping she would refuse?
"I should think so," he nodded slightly, disappearing back into the calm shroud he wore as Elder.
"I look forward to meeting with my new mentor," she spoke for his benefit, observing the formalities before she attempted to make a quick escape.
"I'll look forward to reading your reports."
When she turned to leave, Arthur's arm twitched as though he was going to touch her again. She paused, but only for a moment, because it was clear the movement has been interrupted by her quick departure and the moment was over before it could begin.
With her cheeks reddening, Jo hurried away, cursing the way she constantly misread social cues.
Though she had her ideas, Jo was nearly at a loss as to why Arthur's touch excited her body in such a way. She had felt physical attraction before and it was not much like what Arthur made her feel when he touched her. Some of the sensations were there, but with him so close, the feel of his hands on the back of her arms was on a completely different level that Jo had never experienced.
It had been exciting and terrifying at the same, and wasn't it just like her to mess it up and then run away?
Johanna thought she might be sick for a moment and put her hand on her stomach as she headed back to her common room. That lightheadedness followed her well after she laid on her bed, at rest to slow her racing heart.