Work Text:
It was one of the coldest days Erwin had ever come to witness. Some were saying it was going to snow, some were saying it was too cold to snow, either way, it was really, really cold. He clenched his fists, hoping to keep his fingers from turning completely blue as he made his way to his office over the icy cobblestone path. He walked in, finding Levi sitting in an armchair, deep in thought.
Very rarely was Levi not in Erwin's office in the afternoons or evenings, regardless whether he was in a good mood or not. Good days, he would be there, reading in silence or helping Erwin with plans - he was excellent at pointing out flaws in Erwin's plans. Bad days, he would obsessively clean from corner to corner in silence or throw himself on the couch and complain about whatever was bothering him. Either way though, Erwin enjoyed his company.
"Good evening, Levi." Erwin smiled, shrugging off his cloak.
Levi visibly started, his eyes coming out of their daze and falling on to Erwin. "You're back late."
Erwin looked over him, seeing his tense shoulders and fidgeting fingers. Something was bothering him.
"The meeting ran over." He explained. "A certain officer began rambling."
Levi nodded but didn't acknowledge the tactful jab at Hange, which was strange. Erwin sat at his desk, shuffling through the papers on top to find one that might interest his Captain. He glanced up, seeing Levi staring at the wall in silence again. He raised an eyebrow.
"Something on your mind, Levi?"
Levi started again, his head snapping towards Erwin.
"No." Levi replied before standing. "I'm going to bed."
Now both of Erwin's eyebrows were raised. This was odd behaviour by far. "This early?"
Levi shrugged and began to leave. Perhaps he wasn't in the mood for company this evening.
"Well then, goodnight." Erwin gave him a quick smile.
"Goodnight." Levi threw over his shoulder.
In the history of spending time in each other's company, this had never happened. Levi had never gone to bed - never on his own accord. Erwin had to force him every single time and it would never be this early in the evening.
Working would be a different kind of silent now, and the more he went through his papers, the more he began to fixate on the same sentence over and over again, unable to concentrate on anything other than the lack of a certain presence. He sighed and put the paper in his hands down onto his desk, leaned back in his chair and looked to the ceiling. When had he become so… obsessed with this man?
Erwin let out somewhat of a curse under his breath before standing, the creak of his chair ringing out in the silent room. It was evident he wasn't going to get any more work done until he could completely clear his head, so perhaps a walk would ease him.
It was fucking cold.
It was cold and there was a cat looking sad and Levi couldn't find it in his heart to leave it tucked under a wagon, shivering and desperately trying to find warmth. He sighed loudly, his breath fogging in the air and he removed his cloak, immediately regretting the decision when the chill struck his bones. The cat, undisturbed by his obvious dismay at his own feelings, looked at him but didn't move when he began to approach, cloak folded in his hands.
He knelt beside the wagon, tucking his folded cloak underneath and patting the fabric. The cat stared at him, it's amber eyes glowing under the last few streaks of sunset. Close up, Levi could see it was a skinny little thing, all bone and short, ragged fur. He clicked his tongue and looked up to the sky, seriously considering why he was this compassionate.
"Come on you fucking runt." He muttered and patted the fabric again. The cat continued to stare, blinking slowly but unmoved by the insult. Levi sighed again, pushed his cloak further underneath the wagon and stood, his bones beginning to ache from the cold.
As he walked away, he saw the cat sniffing his cloak before curling up on top of it, seemingly satisfied with the warm fabric provided. He tried not to smile but his lips twitched regardless.
He took the long route back, making sure to not be seen without his cloak because he knew questions would be asked and he was a terrible liar. He was 'humanity's strongest', he couldn't tell people he'd run the risk of hypothermia just for a stray cat. The life of animals seemed to matter so little to others but so much to him.
He found himself warming up in Erwin's office without the other man there. The place comforted him more than anywhere else - it just had an Erwin- esc feel to it whether the other man was there or not. He debated grabbing one of Erwin's jackets from the coat stand and wrapping himself in that, but decided against it. What kind of excuse would he be able to use if Erwin caught him? It would be beyond embarrassing. They may be close but they're not… that close. Much to his hidden dismay.
"Good evening, Levi."
Shit . Levi tried not to seem as surprised as he was, wondering when the fuck Erwin had walked through the door.
"You're back late." He managed to say. It was the first thing that came to mind, shortly followed by a picture of those little eyes staring back at him from under the wagon.
Erwin spoke again but Levi, no matter how hard he tried, could not get that damn cat out of his mind. All he could feel as his body began to retain its natural heat was guilt. Guilt for leaving a vulnerable creature behind.
"Something on your mind, Levi?"
Erwin was looking at him, an eyebrow raised in question.
"No." Levi replied before standing. He wanted to tell Erwin but doubted the other man would reciprocate his worry. "I'm going to bed."
Now both of Erwin's eyebrows were raised. "This early?"
Levi could only shrug in response. He had no answer, because he wasn't being entirely truthful. He was leaving, just not to bed. In fact, he was going to find that cat and make sure it was still alive, then potentially bring it back, then go to bed.
"Well then, goodnight." Erwin gave him a quick smile.
"Goodnight."
Levi left the office, hurriedly walking to the large wooden doors that lead to the outside world. Even from the halls, he could feel the familiar cold and that made him even more worried for the poor animal.
It didn't take a lot of debating with himself before he decided to trek back through the town to check in on the damn cat in the late hours of the night.
The sun had set hours ago and snow had begun to fall, leaving a fresh sheet of untouched ivory on the streets. Without a cloak, Levi was practically bare of any protection against the elements, and like fuck was he going to grab a used one. He turned the collar of his jacket up against the light gusts of snow and quickly made his way to the wagon.
At first, he assumed the cat had gone because all he could see was his cloak tucked far underneath the wagon. His heart sank a little, but then he saw a black tail poking out from inside his cloak. Quietly, he knelt down and observed, seeing the rise and fall of a creature wrapped in his cloak. It was far too cold to leave the poor thing outside, especially with the sudden snowfall.
As much as animals are forbidden in the barracks, he couldn't find himself giving much of a shit when he gently patted the bundle of fabric and heard a mewl from the feline. It didn't move, didn't jump and scurry away so he carefully pulled the cloak closer and wrapped his hands around the ball of ragged fluff inside. Another mewl and Levi held the fabric to his chest, using his free hand to reveal the scarred face of the moggy.
"Let's get you somewhere warm." He murmured, looking into those tired and trusting amber eyes.
Of course the cat couldn't reply and he felt like an idiot speaking to an animal, but it felt right. The poor thing was shivering still, even wrapped in his cloak and pulled to his chest. It couldn't put up much of a fight in this weather, which worked out in its favor because now Levi could sneak it in the barracks without a second glance - not that anyone apart from him would be awake at such a time.
Or so, he thought.
Erwin stood outside the barracks, hands behind his back and staring up at the sky. He hadn't seemed to notice Levi until he got closer and then his entire stance changed, eyes widening as they scanned over Levi.
"Levi, what are you doing? You'll catch your death." Erwin asked, his voice laced with concern.
Levi had completely forgotten he was holding his cloak instead of wearing it and was wet from the snowfall. His cheeks and hands were frozen stiff.
"I'm fine." He lied, holding the bundle of fabric and feline closer to his chest.
Erwin could never find out about this damn cat. He always followed the rules and would no doubt make Levi take it back to where he found it. That was possibly the only thing Levi didn't like about Erwin. There wasn't much else to not like.
"Where have you been? I thought you were going to bed?" Erwin stepped closer, making Levi take a step back.
"Why does it matter to you?" Levi snapped. That seemed to strike a nerve in Erwin because he didn't take another step. He paused and for some reason, his eyes fell to the floor. He always had such a hard, unmoving stare that pierced anything and anyone but right now, Levi had somehow reduced that to nothing.
All for a fucking cat.
"I apologise, I…" Erwin trailed off and put his hands behind his back again, straightening his posture. "I was just worried, that's all. I'll let you go. Goodnight."
Levi watched him go, disappearing into the halls without so much as a second glance. Now Levi felt like a complete asshole. What else was he to do? Humanity's Strongest having a soft spot for a feline? He'd never live it down. He sighed in the night air, shivering. A quiet mewl came from the cloak in his arms and he remembered that there was a creature potentially freezing to death while he stood and fretted over Erwin. He turned and walked to the barracks, holding the cat a little tighter.
They hadn't spoken much since then. A few days had passed since Erwin had discovered Levi alone, frozen in the snow with no explanation and a scowl. Erwin would always find his office alone and without a trace of the Captain. It was strange and he began to wonder if he'd done something to cause such a reaction, so much so that he often found himself staring at nothing in particular and reminiscing in the conversations he and Levi had had recently. Nothing struck him as odd, so he was left dumbfounded.
The worry began to gnaw away at him when other people started to notice how withdrawn and antisocial Levi had become over the course of a few days. He was far from talkative so what little comments he did make had an impact. They were surely missed by the officers and other squad leaders.
According to a few squad leaders, he would attend training as usual but didn't take the time to fully engage. He would rush, move quicker than normal and leave without saying a word. Normally, he'd be involved in all of the constructive criticism surrounding the others.
Hange especially had concern laced on their features when they approached Erwin and saw that Levi wasn't sitting in the armchair in his office.
"Absent again?" They commented.
Erwin glanced up from his paperwork. "Despite your theories, we aren't joined at the hip."
Hange chuckled. "You can hardly blame me for being surprised. You two are always-"
"Did you need something, Hange?" Erwin politely interjected.
"Yes, sorry." Hange cleared their throat. "It's about Levi, actually."
Erwin waved his hand as an indication to continue, sitting up straight in his chair with his attention now fully on Hange.
"He's not leaving his room much, and when he does, he's snappy."
"He's always snappy." Erwin commented.
"Snapp ier than usual. I've also noticed… scratches." They continued. "I'm worried."
This caught Erwin's attention right away. "Scratches?"
"On his arms. I only caught a glimpse."
Erwin exhaled heavily and glanced down at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. Without Levi, he hasn't been able to concentrate or get things done as quickly. Levi, however cynical, did have quite a positive impact on his workload, it seemed.
That worry was back, eating away at him. Scratches. What has he been subjecting himself to?
"I'll speak to him." Erwin said. He didn't want to, not after last time. Levi obviously didn't want to talk but he couldn't send Hange into that battlefield. It would be murder.
Now, though, it wasn't about what Levi wanted anymore.
"Thank you, Erwin. I know how well you two get along." They smiled. "And it must be lonely without him, you know, on your hip."
Erwin looked down at that and chuckled. "Goodnight, Hange."
Hange saluted and left him in the familiar silence he'd begun to despise. He finished a few urgent documents before deciding to face the fury of Levi head on. He knew how much the other liked his privacy so he braced himself, feeling his nerves flare the closer he got to the bedroom door.
Erwin knocked once and waited a few moments, only to be met with silence. He knocked again, this time louder. Still, nothing. He frowned and tried the handle, finding the door unlocked but the room entirely empty. It was as clean as usual, not a single thing out of place, however one thing did catch his eye.
A small bowl on the floor underneath the window ledge.
As soon as he arrived in the warmth of his room, he gently placed the cloak on the bed and lit a candle, not lighting the room by much, but enough to look over the frozen feline for any injuries.
The cat didn't bother to move when he unwrapped it from his cloak, giving it a light pet on the head and stroking his hand over its black fur, down its body and to the end of its tail. He was satisfied there weren't any surface wounds and began to lift each of its paws, watching intently for any reaction. The cat only stared, blinking up at him with a relaxed expression.
Then, it lifted its back leg and began licking its own asshole on his cloak. He grimaced, noting that this cat was male. He didn't really want to find out this way but there it was. It cleaned itself for a few moments before sitting up, looking a bit more awake and alert now it had warmed up a little.
"If you're going to stay, you need to be quiet." Levi said firmly but quietly, pointing a finger in the feline's face.
The cat brushed against his finger in response and let out a raspy mewl. He sighed and scratched behind its ear, feeling a scab below his fingers.
"You're also going to need a bath." He murmured and moved his fingers underneath its chin, stroking gently. "And a name. You're going to need a lot from me, it seems." He spoke absentmindedly.
"I'll call you Runt, how's that?" He asked. Another raspy mewl and Levi felt a smile tugging at his lips.
That night, he'd locked Runt in his room and quietly made his way to the kitchen and rummaged around for any food that would be suitable for a cat, at least until he could buy some actual cat food. He found some minced meat - he wasn't sure what kind but he assumed a cat wouldn't care - and mixed it in a bowl with some rice he found hidden in a pantry. It looked disgusting, Runt didn't care and wolfed it down quite happily, making some satisfied mewls in between bites.
The next step was bathing him. Although Runt seemed to trust him, Levi knew it would be an issue and by the Gods, the noises that came out of the poor cat's mouth when Levi attempted to place him in a wash basin. He shrieked, he clawed and narrowly missed Levi's eye with one particular scratch. Once inside the basin, however, Runt really had no issues with being washed. He sat quite content with the pampering while Levi's arms bled from all the claw marks.
He bathed Runt three times until the water was clear and sacrificed one of his combs to brush through all the matted fur, or what was left of it. He also sacrificed one of his expensive, luxury soaps.
Afterwards, wrapped in a fluffy, warm towel that Levi had left by the fire in one of the lounges, Runt looked completely different. He was no longer a runt - he was a pampered feline, purring and rubbing up against Levi as he attempted to dry him. By the time Runt was fully dry, Levi's slacks were soaked from the calf down.
"Your name doesn't really suit you anymore." He murmured and patted the space beside him on his bed. Runt leapt up and curled into his lap. "I've come to like it, though."
He smiled down at the content cat on his lap, curled up and satisfied with what little Levi could give. It warmed him, reminded him of himself. As memories came flooding back to him, his eyes closed and his head fell back against the headboard, sleep overpowering him.
Days passed and it was becoming a struggle to keep Runt a secret. He was fine - in fact, the most well behaved cat he'd ever known of - it was other people that were making it an issue.
Hange, mostly.
They were constantly there, beside him, every time he left his room to feed Runt. He would have to hide the bowl, pretend he was doing something extremely important and get rid of them somehow. He'd usually just tell them to fuck off or something, that always worked. However, after a few days of the constant badgering, Hange was becoming unhinged it seemed. She grabbed him, lifting his sleeve and revealing the scratches from Runt. They weren't terrible, but they were dark against his pale skin and Hange had just stopped in their tracks, also bringing Levi to a halt, and stared down.
"It's not…" Levi began before sighing irritably and snatching his wrist away. "Don't get any shitty ideas, it's not like that. I have to go."
He didn't know how long he could keep this up; the sneaking around was beginning to take its toll on him. He felt as if he were becoming estranged. It seemed worth it; the silent, warm company of Runt on his lap as he read was something that he'd deemed irreplaceable. It reminded him of when he'd sit and read in Erwin's office, so peaceful and relaxed. The most at peace he'd ever felt. He imagined Erwin sitting at his desk, working as usual, but Runt was laying on his lap, purring leisurely.
Runt scratched at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. That was the indication that he needed to go. It hadn't taken him long to learn that trick and Levi was secretly very proud of him for it.
Levi wrapped Runt in his cloak and snuck into the courtyard, letting him down to do his business. The snow had eased recently but it was still below freezing outside and he shivered, seeing his breath ghost in front of him.
When Runt was done, Levi scooped him back up and walked him back to his room with the confidence that nobody was out in this weather - everyone would rather be wrapped up in blankets, doing stupid things or reading. Levi was sneaking his secret cat back into the barracks. Not the most normal thing.
He froze just as he turned the corner to his room.
Erwin stood in the entrance to his bedroom, staring in. Heat rose to his face and he asked himself why he hadn't locked his door. He cursed to himself repeatedly as he approached his room, stopping a few meters away from Erwin. He cleared his throat, catching Erwin's attention immediately. He looked worried.
"What are you doing?" Levi asked, trying to seem unbothered. Erwin looked over him, eyes focusing on the cloak in his arms. He opened his mouth to speak before the sound of a mewl filled the hallways.
Levi froze, feeling the material under his touch move slightly as if to adjust, then it stilled again.
Erwin's eyes flickered between Levi's and his cloak before he pursed his lips. "Levi." He asked quietly. "What's that?"
"Nothing."
"Do you have a cat in your cloak?" Erwin's lips turned up into a small smile.
"No." Levi lied again.
"Levi." Erwin said his name again, quiet and smooth. His warm voice washed over him. Levi sighed and stepped forward, nudging Erwin out of the way with his elbow as he walked into his room.
"Shut the door behind you." He muttered.
The cogs in his brain began to put all the pieces together as Erwin looked over the cloak in Levi's arms. The bowl, the withdrawn behaviour, the scratches and now the very loud, obvious mewl… Levi was hiding a cat. Erwin should've been angry - it was against the rules - but he couldn't stop the smile that pulled at his lips.
"Do you have a cat in your cloak?"
Levi visibly tensed. "No."
Erwin wanted to see this creature. He wanted so badly to see what had distracted Levi from him, what had made him so much more affectionate but quiet.
"Levi." He said his name again. He hoped it would be enough to win him over like it usually did. Levi always broke at the sound of his name.
And it did. Levi placed the cloak on the bed and demanded Erwin close the door, which he did. Then, a small, black feline crawled out from his cloak and shook. It gave Levi a loud mewl and he began stroking its head, his eyes softening immediately at the creature. Erwin smiled, enjoying the peace in those eyes.
Levi looked at him now, eyes hard and passive as they usually were. "What are you going to do?" He asked.
Erwin blinked, looking between the cat and Levi before catching on. "Oh." He said. "Well, I can see it makes you very happy."
"Cut the shit, what are you going to do?" Levi snapped.
Erwin raised his hands. "I'm not going to make you get rid of it."
"Him." Levi muttered, eyes falling back onto the cat.
"Sorry?" Erwin asked, an obvious smile on his lips.
"Him. His name is Runt."
"Suitable name for a stray." Erwin commented and reached out, letting Runt sniff his knuckle. He seemed unsure at first, deciding to rub himself against Levi's hand instead. Levi huffed a laugh, glancing up at Erwin.
"At least he doesn't want to kill you like I did."
Erwin chuckled quietly at that. "Hopefully he'll come around. Like you did."
Levi paused his stroking at that, looking up at Erwin. "You're serious? About keeping him?"
Erwin let his hand come to rest on Levi's wrist, stroking a thumb over the inside of it. It was a bold move and he wasn't entirely sure what urged him to do it, but Levi was there, in front of him with eyes full of something Erwin had never seen before.
Levi looked down at Erwin's hand over his wrist, then back up. Their eyes met again and Levi slid his hand into Erwin's, linking their fingers. Erwin's heart jumped.
"I hear the kitchen has a rather serious rat problem." He murmured.
Levi smirked, a beautiful sight that Erwin was satisfied with witnessing. He leaned down, their lips barely touching and the room was suddenly very warm. They were so close-
Runt mewled, pawing at Levi's hand in Erwin's. He broke away, a quiet laugh escaping his lips. "Sorry."
Erwin raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps he is out to kill me, just not traditionally."
Levi's hand left his and he began to pet the needy feline but he stayed close. "Thank you." He murmured.
"Promise me one thing." Erwin replied, bringing a hand to cup Levi's cheek. He leaned into the touch but narrowed his eyes in question.
"Spend at least some evenings with me."
A smirk. Then, lips met his finally and everything felt right. Before another mewl filled the room.