Chapter Text
Tonight...marked three months of Levi joining the scout regiment...and one month of...Farlan and Isabel meeting their demise.
So yeah, Levi already wasn’t in a good mood when he was told to report to Erwins office.
Erwin Smith. The one who led the expedition outside the walls where Isabel and Farlan had died. But Levi was coping, as well as he could at least. Somehow after a week or two of keeping to himself, he buckled to a peculiar brunette. They broke through the walls he had built around himself like it was nothing. Maybe it was their laugh, or how they always seemed fascinated with everything that went on. He was even starting to warm up to a few of the other scout members as well...
Eventually he made it to Erwins office, or at least to the door of his office. Hesitating to knock, since he hadn’t completely forgiven Erwin for that mission- even though he knew it wasn’t Erwins fault for his friends- his family’s deaths... But finally, he knocked. He heard Erwins tired voice call him in from the other side of the door, so he went in. Closing the door lightly behind him while walking over to the desk Erwin was sitting behind. Levi internally cringed at the papers, books, various writing utensils, and... plates of uneaten food strung across the desk. He knew Erwin was constantly busy though, between training new members, planning, and keeping the higher ups happy. Erwin lived up to the sound of his voice, looking exhausted as he scribbled away at the paper in front of him. Only looking up to Levi when he finished.
“Sorry for calling you in so late, I would’ve waited for the morning but this- couldn’t wait.” Erwin said while running his fingers back through his unkempt hair. ‘What the hell couldn’t wait until the morning?’ Levi thought to himself as he shifted his weight back and forth on his feet, wishing Erwin would get on with his so he could turn in for the night- putting an end to this shitty day.
“You haven’t been turning in your reports Levi...” Erwin finally said, and that- caught Levi off guard.
“My reports?” Levi questioned. He didn’t know what the man was talking about...
“Yes? You’re supposed to write up a report and turn them into me after every expedition, I’ve yet to receive any from you though.” Erwin stated, “And we’ve gone outside the walls three times since you’ve joined the scouts.” He added on, resting his chin into his palm while looking up to Levi.
“Write...up?” Levi mumbled, thinking out loud of what Erwin had just said.
“Mm, like this one...” Erwin hummed, picking up the paper he had been scribbling away on when Levi came in and passed it up to him.
Levi took it and glanced over the writing on it, Erwin had nice handwriting, neat and tidy. Although- Levi couldn’t make out a word of it...staring at it for a few moments while trying to see if he could- understand anything...
“Levi?” Erwin inquired, observing Levis face to try to figure out what Levi was thinking. He had a weird look on his face is all Erwin was thinking.
It took second for Levi to register that Erwin had called his name. “Y-yeah?”
Erwin stood, walking around his desk to stand beside Levi, looking over the top of the paper to the contents of it before looking back to Levis face. There wasn’t anything of particular interest on the paper, so why was he staring at it like there was. Then it hit him like a brick wall-
“Levi...can you read?” Erwin asked, trying not to sound condescending so he wouldn’t piss the man off.
Levis eyes widened at the question, quickly looking away from the blonde and to the floor. Of course, he didn’t want to answer- that would- at least in his mind make him sound weak. Shifting his weight between his feet again. “Of course I can read!” Levi barked out in response. Shoving the paper against Erwins chest for him to take as he turned on his heel to take his leave- as fast as he could.
“Wait Levi- I didn’t mean anything by it! I just- I could teach you” Erwin said promptly before Levi could yank the door open and leave.
Levi stopped in his tracks, hand on the door handle and all. “...you what?” he asked, turning back to look at Erwin. He had a slightly confused look flash over his face- but it quickly went back to his usual emotionless face.
“I could teach you, to read...if you want that is...” Erwin voiced. Standing back straight and holding the paper now.
Levi straightened up too, keeping his eyes keenly on Erwin as his fingers slid off the handle.
Good, Erwin thought. Letting out a breath of relief at Levis relaxing manner.
Levi looked over the mans face, did he really want to teach him to read? Or just- make fun of and patronize him? Growing up in the underground would do that to you...
Erwin could see the gears turning in Levis eyes at this point, lifting his hands up and shaking his head. “I won’t tell anyone, promise.” He said, sounding genuine.
“Why would you do that?...teach me how to read I mean...” Levi mumbled out. He never truly- trusted anyone. Until he met Farlan and Isabel that is...but they weren’t here anymore. Only they knew about him not being able to read or write- but it’s not like they could either.
“Well, it really is a skill everyone needs to know... but also it would benefit me as well. With reports and such...” Erwin said with a forced laugh, trying his best to keep the conversation lighthearted to keep the man in front of him happy.
Levi sucked in a breath through his nose before huffing it back out. “Fine...but you have to clean your desk- Don’t think I’ll take a seat at that nasty thing.” He said firmly, reaching for the door after Erwin nodded. Taking the chance of leaving when he could.
“Come tomorrow after training! I’ll have it cleaned for you.” Erwin said with a light smile before the door shut and Levis footsteps could be heard going down the hall. He let out a long breath. That felt like walking on eggshells, not knowing what could offend, or set Levi off. He brushed it off though, the idea of a new, possibly difficult task set before him was more exciting than the nervousness.
• • •
The next day after training and a good shower, Levi aimed back for Erwins office. He didn’t know how this was going to go, and he was feeling rather anxious about the whole situation. But he wasn’t going to let any of that get in his way.
When he got to the door, he didn’t hesitate this time. Knocking and waiting on an answer that didn’t come.
So naturally, he went in without an invitation. Only because Erwin said to come back yesterday, otherwise he would’ve probably waited around for a while before getting irritated and ultimately leaving.
Levi walked in, immediately checking to see if Erwin lived up to his promise of cleaning the desk off. To his surprise, he really had. In fact, it looked like Erwin cleaned the whole room as well.
He took a good look around for once, taking everything in while he was by himself. Sliding his fingers over the bookshelf lining one wall and all the things stacked onto it. Farlan popped into his mind for a moment, that time not so long ago when they were searching for a document they had been assigned to find and take.
Not that any of that mattered in the end.
Levi breathed out slowly, letting his fingers slide off the shelf as he went to take a seat to wait.
• • •
15 or so minutes had passed by the time Erwin came into his office, jumping and nearly dropping his armful of books and papers when he saw Levi already inside.
“You’re late.” Levi stated without even turning around to look at the man. His arms crossed over his chest, visually displaying his irritation.
“I know, I got caught up in a conversation with Hange. You know how they are...” he said while walking to his desk. Not like it was a conversation though- more like Hange going off on a tangent about something and Erwin listening.
He set the books down on one side of the desk and papers onto the other. Erwin had searched the entire scout base for books that would be easy to start off with. He found 3 in his sweep, planning to work through those and then gradually move up when Levi got the hang of them.
Levi watched him sort through things, scooting his chair closer to the desk when it looked like Erwin was satisfied with the way things were set up.
“I thought we could start with going through and writing the basic alphabet today. Do you know which is your dominant hand?” Erwin asked as he sat down and picked out a few pencils for them to use.
“Isn’t that the one you do mostly everything with?” Levi mumbled, lifting his right hand as a response. It was the hand he always led with, in combat, cleaning, with his swords, and even just drinking cups of tea.
“Good.” Erwin nodded while passing over a pencil to Levi. “Here’s how you hold a pencil...” he said, showing where to rest it against your fingers and such so Levi would have an idea when learning to write.
Erwin moved around to the other side of the desk now though, sitting beside Levi so he wouldn’t be writing upside down or anything while teaching him. Showing Levi how to write the first handful of letters in the alphabet while also telling him what sounds they made.
Levi struggled with holding the pencil a few times while trying to copy the way Erwin wrote the letters. Staying silent but still listening to him every time they started on a new letter.
Once they got through the entire alphabet, including writing them in upper and lowercase, Erwin wrote down a few short 2-4 letter words. Things such as ‘cat’, ‘the’, ‘duck’, ‘it’, and showed Levi how to sound things out.
Levi bit the inside of his lip before starting. “D-duh...k-kuh..kuh....duh-kuh...” he mumbled, almost under his breath. “Duck?” Levi said finally and Erwin nodded in conformation.
“That was a great first time, see? You’re already getting it.” Erwin praised. Honestly surprised that Levi was catching on this fast. Although Levi was number one within his rank in a few short weeks.
Levi held back the smile that wanted to show when Erwin praised him, he remembered feeling like this before- most likely when he took out his first faux titan in training...
They moved on through other short words until the sun started to go down. The bells throughout the scout base chiming to call everyone for dinner. Levi being pulled out of his concentration by his stomach growling.
Erwin took that as a sign to stop for the night. Setting his pencil down and stretching in his chair from being hunched over for so long. “This is a great start, Levi. You’ll probably be putting short sentences together by the end of the week!” Erwin said with a bright smile. Standing up and brushing his wrinkled pants down. “Shall we go to dinner?” He asked.
Levi nodded and set his stuff down as a response. They’d almost filled a page with the short words and letter sounds they went over today. Stretching as he got up and started for the door. Pausing when he touched the handle and looking up to Erwin who wasn’t far behind him. “...T-thank you...by the way...” he mumbled before quickly opening the door and making a beeline for the mess hall.
• • •