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A man was sitting at the bar table downing gulps of alcohol.
Levi was an empty man of quite the status, and he sat alone in the bar, his hazy eyes squinting at the bottom of his glass. He rustled his dark hair lightly in fatigue. He tried to deny the stirrings in his heart, resting his cheek against one hand as he hummed the commander's name to himself. Levi was wearing a gray slightly unbuttoned shirt and a pair of black slacks. His hair was kept trimmed short around his head, as usual. He sat in agony after an extended mission of many casualties.
It must have been fate, that day when he was apprehended by Erwin and the rest of the Survey Corps. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on him that he wanted Erwin Smith to live on. From then on, Levi was strong, but then suddenly cold and distant. Erwin sought his best to hide the burden of all his soldiers, but some days it was clear to see how much it affected him. That was how it was as a commander.
A creek emerged from the underground bar's wood door and there stands a tall man with blond hair. He looked upset and was presumably here for a similar reason Levi was. The pain of this mission was major and today hit harder than usual.
"Levi, I didn't expect to see you down here," Erwin said soberly with a faint smile on his face although you could tell he was putting up an act. The man went to sit next to the shorter one and placed his arms on the table. His gentle blue eyes complimented his golden-like hair, curving gently around his head. He was out of uniform and dressed in his usual sweater vest. Levi, as intoxicated as he was, drew nearer to the commander. His eyes had never looked so tender and dull. Drinking was the only time the small captain ever let his guard down.
"Erwin. I feared you might not have come from your office," Levi whispered.
"Naturally I came," he said sweetly.
Levi toss back his head. "*hic* Everyone else abandoned me..."
"I won't leave you," Erwin said firmly. Erwin held his hand out to him, and hesitantly Levi took it. With that, Erwin pulled him off the barstool.
Levi's mind was flooded by his drunkenness, and he had a hard time standing up straight. He clung tightly to Erwin's firm hand as if it could act as a crutch for his lack of stability. Levi was thinking about the time he spent underground with his mother, Kenny, Furlan, and Isabel. He had lost so many people and Erwin, strong as he was, wouldn't possibly bear his burdens. "What is it, Levi?" Erwin suddenly asked.
"Nothing." Levi softened his tone.
"Happen it is a fit time to get you to your room. We can't have Humanity's strongest soldier be weakened." Levi let his head droop and followed the commander to his room. He was inevitably causing Erwin more trouble. "You know, Levi it is satisfactory for scouts to let out what is bothering them, if you require someone to listen you can tell me."
"No... Erwin, I couldn't..."
Erwin looked at Levi long and hard but with care. Erwin was struggling too, the Survey Corps was having a hard time and things have been worsening over the years.
Erwin and Levi reach the room and it creeks open. As captain, you obtain a decent-sized room. Narrow table with a candle burning and teacups lined up. An uncomfortable vacant chair laid in the corner along with a stiff bed.
"This hangover is going to be a pain in the ass tomorrow," Groaned Levi almost nauseous.
Erwin chuckles and places the small man on the bed.
The commander scratched his head not knowing what to do and looked out the window. "Hm, how about I lessen your workload tomorrow and you can take a rest."
Levi gave the faintest of nods. But of course, he could not imagine ever getting a break around here. As long as there were titans there was work. Not to mention the Reiss family is constantly demanding something from the soldiers. In truth, Levi barely believed he even deserved his position as captain.
He felt unworthy in the presence of Erwin. The very thought of that brought tears to his eyes, and he looked away from the commander to suppress them. He felt useless as an Ackerman. Wasn't he supposed to become stronger? Levi's drunken state made him more susceptible to emotions and it got harder to hide.
"Levi-," The black-haired man was sniffling with his face buried in his palms. "Levi, it is okay to feel weak sometimes. I understand how you feel..."
"You wouldn't understand, Erwin."
The blond-man set an assuring arm around Levi's shoulders and shifted him to his chest. "It's all right... We're going to be okay."
After a few moments, they found themselves being too close. Although instead of one or the other pushing away they simply embraced each other. While in strength Erwin was incomparably ahead though he still felt the need to protect the commander. Levi regarded anyone who disagreed with Erwin as a threat to his dream. Levi as an Ackerman has taken so much of his will and dedicated his heart to Erwin.
With concern, Erwin shifted his childlike eyes toward the drunken man. "Levi? What's wrong?"
"Erwin... it's..."
And at that moment everything came together, all of the hurt that had been building that day, as he fastened his eyes with his and whispered, "You can tell me."
It was like a floodgate burst, or some barrier of fear had been struck down. Levi shook his head, and everything came out at once. "It's... it's my background. Sometimes I can't believe it all started that way. My mother, she's dead, but when it happened, it... changed so much. Every so often I wonder about what it'd be like if it all went back... I don't even grasp how I would feel about that. Where would we be?"
Erwin listened silently and solemnly. At last, when all the words had left Levi and he was at a loss for words, Erwin reached out to him and took a deep breath to whisper back, "Levi... I know it's not the same, but my father... he died too. I think I can imagine how your mother's death... I can imagine how...-" Erwin laid his hands upon Levi's shoulders. "How... hollow... things feel." Levi's eyes began burning, and he abruptly pulled Erwin into a fierce embrace. Erwin's eyes widened, but then he too gripped the minuter man.
"Erwin Smith," Levi whispered, his breath hot on Erwin's ear. "As long as you're here, I can continue fighting for your dream." They clung to each other tightly, gripping at one another's back.
They basked in each other's quietness for a few moments.
"I think you deserve to rest."
Levi tilted his head at Erwin's words with his face warm, still drunk. "Mm.."
After a moment of silence, Erwin asked, "Why do you fight, Levi?"
"I do it for you," Levi murmured in response.
For a time neither of them spoke. Levi wondered if Erwin was thinking the same thing as him: that it was unlikely that the cruel world would let them be.
At last, Erwin spoke. "Levi... it's not going to be easy."
And Levi knew -- Erwin had the same fears as he did. "Erwin..."
"My dream is far away, and it might not come till many years. However, you have always stayed loyal when many of my soldiers left. If you swear to me that you won't leave then I have no reason to stop you from pursuing my... no, our dream."
Hearing it put so carefully nearly brought Levi to tears. Erwin spoke the truth, and Levi knew. That was why it was so tough. It felt impossible -- they'd heard it so many times. He loved Erwin with all his heart, and yet... "Erwin... still, I... I care about so much... I don't care what they remark, I... I don't want anything more in this world than I want you. I fight for you and only you." Erwin only sighed softly. All the more desperate, Levi pleaded, "I don't care how many soldiers give up and die on the battlefield. I will never forsake you."
Erwin stared into his eyes and Levi stared into his. He gripped his hand tightly for a moment, and then slowly, slowly, started to let go.
How could it come to this? Why? Why did it have to be like this...?
Maybe in another life, Levi Ackerman and Erwin Smith won't have to burden humanity's future on their backs.
But now... he knew this was only the beginning of the lifelong dream they both shared.