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Eren was slightly aware of a squeaking sound as he walked down the hall in the dark, and as he turned the corner, a single candle illuminated a figure washing windows, a cloth tied over its head and a bucket of dingy water at its feet. Eren frowned. Who was cleaning the windows at this hour? As he got closer, he started to be able to identify some of the person’s characteristics. They had dark hair, sharp features… Was it Mikasa? No, there were no womanly curves to this person; whoever was washing the windows was a man. But what man was so short? He was standing on his tippy toes just to reach the top of the window! There could only be one person.
“Captain Levi?” Eren asked, and the captain turned his head. “What do you want?” He asked bitingly. “What are you doing? Washing the windows at this hour? They’re not even dirty.”
Levi frowned defensively. “I clean when I’m stressed, alright? Go to bed, that’s an order.”
Eren was a little taken aback. Captain Levi actually had feelings? Wow. “Yes sir.” He said awkwardly and marched off to his bunk.
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A couple hours later, Eren jerked awake in a sweat. Another nightmare. They happened often and didn’t really faze him, but it was still annoying when they woke him up. Usually he just got up and walked around a little bit and went back to sleep.
He slid out of bed quietly so as not to wake his fellow soldiers and headed down the hall. That light was still there? It was much dimmer, the candle almost entirely burnt down, but why hadn’t Captain Levi gone to bed yet? He wasn’t washing the windows anymore… But his bucket of dirty water and a pile of rags and other cleaning supplies still stayed in the hallway, and if Levi loved cleaning so much then there was no way he wouldn’t pick up after himself, right? Eren frowned and got closer.
It wasn’t a pile of rags and cleaning supplies, it was Captain Levi. He was propped up against the wall, chin on his chest, fast asleep. He looked extra pale in the moonlight, and his hair had fallen over his closed eyes. His face looked so soft and smooth, the captain himself just looked… small. Eren knew Levi wasn’t very tall but he commanded a large presence. Even if he wasn’t physically very big, he took up a lot of space with his attitude, actions, and the respect he commanded. Eren never saw him as little… until now. Curled up, surrounded by rags and soap, bathed in pale moonlight, thick eyelashes brushing over the top of his cheeks… he almost looked… innocent. Young. Soft. Sweet.
Cute. Captain Levi looked cute.
Despite having the nickname “suicidal maniac” Eren did not have the balls to wake his captain up. But he also knew he couldn’t just leave him there. Someone could trip! Get hurt! And even if they didn’t, the captain would be sore tomorrow and likely wouldn’t be happy about waking up to his soldiers boots stamping around his head. Eren had to do something!
He got Hange. They were never asleep, always in the lab, and Eren rushed down there to get them. “Hange, I - I don’t know what… Captain Levi is asleep and I’m afraid to wake him up.” Eren sputtered out as they got there. Hange looked up from their lab notes. “I’m not seeing the problem, Eren.” They said.
“He’s not in bed, he’s in the hall! He fell asleep cleaning! I can’t just leave him there, what do I do?”
That was when Hange let out a shriek. “OHHHH LEVI’S ASLEEP IN THE HALL?!” They screamed, ear piercing. “OH THAT IS SO CUTE YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME TO HIM!”
“Shhh!” Hissed Eren. “I don’t think he wants to be woken up by you screaming about how cute he is!”
“Right! Sorry! Just… take me to him.”
Eren uncomfortably lead Hange to the part of the hallway where Levi was sleeping, and they brought their hands up to their face in a barely contained squeal of delight when they saw him. “Ohhh, he looks so little!” They squeaked, and Eren didn’t know what to do. He had wanted Hange to just gently wake him up and then they could all go to bed, but now they were throwing a fit.
“Oh, I’ve never seen him like this before! He’s so precious! Oh this is so amazing, I have to get Moblit!” They cried.
“What?! No, just wake him up and send him to bed!” Eren tied to protest, but Hange had already disappeared into the men’s barracks and reappeared a few moments later with their sidekick. “Look at him sleep, Moblit! I’ve never seen him look so peaceful!”
“Wow, me neither.” Breathed Moblit, staring in awe at the sleeping captain.
That was when Conny came out, rubbing his eyes with sleep, and Eren knew he’d fucked up. “Hange? Eren? Moblit? What are you guys doing out here?” Conny asked tiredly.
“Captain Levi fell asleep washing the windows. He’s so cute, you have to come see!” Moblit beckoned, and Conny peered down at Humanity’s Strongest.
Levi shifted a little, appearing to snuggle in deeper into his clothes and curl up a little tighter, making a quiet little mumbling noise as he did so. The small crowd gathered around him all made barely contained noises of endearment.
Sasha entered. “What are you guys all doing up? It’s like midnight.” She asked. “Look,” pointed Conny, and Sasha caught her breath.
One by one, practically the entire Scout regiment came to admire sleepy Levi. Jean, Armin, Reiner, Bertholt, Mikasa, even Mike came and joined the small crowd that had gathered around Captain Levi. They all watched his small chest rise and fall with his even breath, his face contort slightly in reaction to his dreams, the moonlight bathe his pale skin and give an almost blueish tint to his black hair. They whispered and stared and Hange even dared to give his soft cheek a little poke, and brush his hair out of his closed eyes.
The fun was over when they heard strong, steady, in character footsteps coming from the commander’s quarters.
“What’s going on here? Why are you all out of bed?” Demanded Erwin in a voice that wasn’t mean, but definitely wasn’t friendly. He was dressed in his pajamas, wrapped in a green dressing gown, his hair appeared to have been hastily brushed back with his fingers, and he had stubble on his chin that was yet to be shaved away by morning. His blue eyes were cranky.
Eren tried to speak. “I - Captain Levi, sir. He -“ Erwin pushed past the bodies and laid eyes upon the sleeping body of his captain. “Oh God,” Erwin huffed.
“He got all tuckered out.” Said Hange endearingly.
Erwin sighed. “Yes, I see that.” He knelt down next to Levi. “Mike, get me a blanket; Eren, throw out that dirty water; the rest of you, go back to bed!” Now his voice had some anger behind it. The rest of the scouts were a bit taken aback.
“Why are you so mad about it?” Asked Hange. “We just thought it was cute watching him sleep.”
Erwin turned his cutting blue eyes and frowned — almost glared. “Do you really think it’s cute to watch him pass out from stress? He just lost his entire squad, our most recent mission was a complete failure, and it’s his responsibility to protect Eren from getting executed and dissected by the Military Police! Do you have any idea what it feels like to be under that kind of pressure, especially while dealing with such a heavy loss?! Everyone this man has ever cared about has been taken from him, he’s supposed to be humanity’s strongest but he’s just taken hit after hit and he can’t appear weak, he’s finally fallen apart from the stress of it all and you think that’s cute?! Shame on all of you. Now go do as you’re ordered.”
The scouts were taken aback by Erwin’s outburst. He was known for his passionate speeches but usually they were inspiring, not scolding. They all hung their heads and shamefully trudged back to bed.
Erwin leaned in close to the captain. “Levi,” He said gently and touched his face, but Levi just grumbled and swatted his hand away.
Eren felt guilty, it was his fault everyone had gotten up and ogled Levi’s sleep anyways. He wanted to apologize. “Um, Commander Erwin, sir?” He started, and Erwin glared up at him in a cold flash of blue. “Shut up and do as you’re told, Jeager. This is all your fault anyways.” He grumbled and turned his attention back to Levi.
Eren wanted to gasp. Commander Erwin was never so sharp! Or cynical. Usually he would at least hear Eren out and consider what he had to say, even if he was annoyed. He must be really upset…
“I’m sorry, sir.” He said, hanging his head and picking up the bucket, rags, soap, and other cleaning supplies that Levi had gotten out.
Eren was on the second floor. Normally, he would just open a window and toss out the dirty water into the yard, but Erwin was in a bad mood, so he decided he better not be lazy. He picked up the bucket, careful not to let it slosh, and carried it down to a place where he could dispose of it properly.
When he got back, he took the rags to the laundry and brought the soap to the supply closet, but stopped when he turned the corner.
Commander Erwin was still kneeling over Levi’s body, and Mike was handing him a blanket. Erwin took it, but waited for Mike to walk away before he moved.
Tenderly, he pulled Levi forward and wrapped the blanket around his still sleeping shoulders. Then, to Eren’s astonishment, Erwin wrapped his arms around the captain and stood, lifting him up like he was nothing. Levi stayed still in his arms, evidently not woken up by the movement, though he did mumble a little and curl up into Erwin’s warm chest.
Eren couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His tough, hardened captain was being carried bridal style by the commander! And cuddling up into him!
Erwin bent down with his neck and placed his face very close to Levi’s. Eren couldn’t be sure in the dark, but he thought he saw Erwin give him a tender kiss on the forehead.
He started to walk away and Eren jolted. He had a job to do! He shoved the soap back in the supply closet, but he was simply mesmerized by the sight of Erwin and Levi. He felt guilty doing so, but he tiptoed behind them and followed as Erwin carried Levi to his quarters.
He could hear Commander Erwin speaking in a low soft voice, mumbling comforts and kindnesses that resonated in his big chest, but Eren couldn’t make out any words. He wondered if Captain Levi could even hear his voice, but he supposed the vibrations had a calming effect.
Erwin made it to Levi’s door and opened it gingerly, awkwardly trying to maneuver so he could get his hand on the doorknob without dropping Levi. He eventually got it, but the movement seemed to jostle Levi out of his deep sleep. Erwin stepped in and closed the door and Eren put his ear to it.
He heard a mattress compress like Erwin had set Levi down, and then a gentle rustling of clothes. Levi groaned and mumbled, and eventually spoke, evidently woken up by the commanders ministrations.
“Hrmph… Erwin? What are you doing?” He mumbled. “I’m undressing you.” Answered Erwin in his oaky voice. “That’s creepy.” Huffed Levi, and Erwin chuckled. “Oh come on, I’m not stripping you naked or anything, I’m just putting on your pajamas.”
More rustles of fabric and Levi grumbled again. “I can do it myself. How did I get here?” He moped, still sleepy. “You fell asleep in the hall. Jeager found you passed out after washing the windows.”
“Ugh, that’s embarrassing. Did you carry me?”
Erwin sounded slightly bashful. “I didn’t want to wake you up.” He admonished.
“Well you did a piss poor job of it. I’m not a child, don’t carry me around like one — it’s emasculating.”
“I’m sorry, you just… I know you’re going through a lot right now… you looked like you needed someone to take care of you.”
Levi paused, let out a pained breath. “I do.” He said after a moment. “No one saw you, right?”
“Right.” Erwin affirmed. Eren felt his stomach twist.
“Then thank you.” Said Levi, and there was the sound of gentle movement. Eren wondered if Levi had moved to touch or lean on the commander.
“Of course. You’re my best soldier. And my best friend. I’m not going to let you suffer like that. And… I’m sorry about your squad. I know how much they meant to you. I know that last time you lost people close to you, you didn’t handle it well.”
Levi let out a sad breath. “Yeah, it’s hard. This is different, though. They were family.” He paused, sad. “It just… how am I supposed to get myself to care about anyone when everyone I’ve ever cared about is gone?”
Erwin rumbled. “I guess it’s about having them, not keeping them.”
“I just wish I got to keep them, too. It makes me so insecure in the relationships I do have. What if I lose you?”
Eren gasped slightly. He had never heard his captain show any sort of vulnerability or be anything but a pillar of strength and security. He couldn’t believe he was hearing him openly admit to such anxieties! He supposed that they really were all human…
“I don’t know what to tell you. You might lose me. I guess you just need to cherish the time we have together now.” Erwin said.
“Then come here.” Levi suddenly said, and there was a rustle of movement that Eren could only interpret as some sort of embrace. He was shocked.
“I want to keep you. I want to have you forever. I know I can’t but… just tonight. Be here?”
Eren couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Captain Levi? Acting clingy? Vulnerable? He never thought he would ever see humanity’s strongest’s humanity shine through.
“Of course.” Rumbled Erwin. There passed a beat of silence and then, “I love you, Levi.”
Another beat as Levi processed the admission. “I love you too, Erwin. Thank you for being here. Thank you for looking out for me.”
There was another rustle of movement as the two men snuggled in to each other, and then there was silence. Eren suddenly felt invasive (as if he hadn’t already been) and decided that his eavesdropping was over. It seemed like. Erwin and Levi were done talking and going to sleep, so Eren should do the same.
He couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d heard. Captain Levi vulnerable? Insecure? Human? It made sense, everyone was human, but Captain Levi? Eren decided not to think about it in favor of going to bed. He was glad the captain had someone taking care of him.
He was glad that Levi had Erwin.