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Levi never fully acclimates to being an indoor cat.
At first, Erwin doesn’t mind. He leaves the window above the kitchen sink open so Levi can come and go as he pleases. Levi’s a neat cat, baths himself meticulously, and doesn’t track in any dirt. It’s not uncommon for Erwin to find him curled up in the basin of the sink either — which Erwin finds irrefutably adorable.
There’s an entire folder of pictures of Levi in his phone now. Nearly half of them are of Levi curled up in the sink. His coworkers found the pictures cute for the first few days, but now they just hum and nod whenever Erwin tries to shove a picture of the black cat beneath their noses.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
“You need to find yourself a fellow cat-lover, Smith,” Hange jokes over lunch one day.
“Excuse me?” Erwin asks, setting his phone down to pick up his sandwich.
“You,” Hange enunciates each of their words. ”Need to find yourself a fellow cat-lover.”
“I don’t see why I need to find anyone,” Erwin replies, growing defensive.
Hange just rolls their eyes. “You’re going to turn into one of those crazy-cat ladies if you don’t start putting yourself out there, ya know.”
Erwin doesn’t push the issue. It’s not the first time that Hange (or someone else) has suggested he find a partner: but he’s found it easier to just laugh off their comments than try to explain how he never feels a pull towards others in such a way. He’s fine on his own, truly, with his small duplex, odd neighbor and little Levi.
He sees no reason to disrupt the status quo of his life.
That is until Erwin spots a small black mass on the side of the road, he panics. Fear drops into his stomach like a ball of ice and lead. He nearly wrecks his car as he swerves off the road, and he leaves it running with the door open as he rushes to the creature's side.
“No! No, no, no…” He falls to his knees, pulling the cat into his lap. There’s dried blood on the ground and the poor feline's limbs have started to grow stiff with rigor mortis.
But it’s not Levi.
Still, he lays the body of the unknown cat to rest. Treats it with care as he settles it in a patch of grass with shaky hands. He’s off the rest of the day at work, unable to shake the image of Levi meeting such a fate from his mind.
On the way home, he stops at the local pet store and buys Levi new toys and treats. He buys the largest cat tree they have and a slew of stuffed bird toys that he hopes will appeal to the feisty creature he’s come to love.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
When he gets home, he finds Levi curled up on the back of his sofa and scoops the small cat into his arms. Levi growls at the sudden disturbance, but keeps his claws to himself. His ears perk back up once he realizes it’s just Erwin, and settles into the crook of Erwin’s arms to resume his mid-afternoon nap.
Levi is content in Erwin’s home for the night, spending as much time climbing his new cat tree as he does running in circles around the empty box it came in. In the morning, however, Erwin is woken to the sound of Levi desperately pawing at the closed window above the kitchen sink.
“Oh Levi, come here sweetie…” Erwin slides a wide palm underneath Levi’s middle to pick him up. Levi squirms and looks to Erwin with pleading eyes.
“I know. I know, but it’s for your own good.” Erwin promises the small cat, and Levi responds with a withering look. If he could speak, Erwin knows that he’d be nagging his ear off about how he was perfectly fine on his own outside. Still, the thought of losing Levi wins out, and Erwin keeps the window firmly shut. Levi still paws at it relentlessly, meowing loud enough to wake Erwin up before his alarm for the next three days.
Saturday morning, Erwin’s one day to sleep in, Levi wakes him wailing at the window.
There’s a red robin flitting around the small porch, and Levi’s tail swishes violently as he tries to hunt it through the glass.
“Oh…” Erwin sighs, realizing that he is depriving Levi through his over protectiveness. But the fear of Levi perishing still haunts the back of Erwin’s mind. He gives Levi a few extra treats and an extra long brushing as an apology before changing to head out on his morning jog. He takes his normal route, one that leads him down the riverbank and along the outskirts of the busier part of town.
While on his jog, Erwin nearly runs into a parked car as he sees another jogger across the street. They’re running with their dog, who has on a bright pink harness and a matching collar. He stares at them, head turning to watch how the dog runs alongside their owner.
That’s it!
Turning on his heel, Erwin changes route and goes back to the pet store. The woman behind the register laughs at him as he checks out. She calls him a doting cat-dad.
Levi, thankfully, doesn’t put up much of a fuss over being stuffed into a harness. He flops over once Erwin buckles him in it, and then rolls around on his back for a minute. The whole time, Erwin coos over Levi, he calls him cute and adorable between peace offerings in the form of treats.
Erwin doesn’t rush it, and soon takes the harness off of Levi. They repeat the process for a few days. Patience is key, and Erwin has an endless supply of it as a teacher.
It only takes two weeks before Erwin feels comfortable enough taking Levi out of his home. Pixis laughs at him from their shared porch while lighting up a thick cigar.
“And that’s exactly why I never indulged myself in adopting a pet.”
“Oh?” Erwin asks, eyes darting between Pixis and Levi who is climbing across his shoulder.
Pixis laughs. “They have a knack for worming their way into your heart, and then they take over your home.”
“Well, I can’t argue with you on that,” Erwin laughs in reply.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
Levi adapts quickly to Erwin’s weekend runs. He alternates between running beside Erwin and demanding to be held until something (normally a bird) catches his attention. Erwin doesn’t mind the breaks in his runs to let Levi climb a tree while on the hunt. It earns him a few curious looks, and the occasional request to pet Levi.
As fellow runners pass by with their own pets, Levi ignores them. It’s normally dogs, who Levi has no interest in, and when one tries to sniff Levi, the small cat is quick to scamper up Erwin’s side or into a nearby tree.
That is until they run into another cat.
It’s larger than Levi, makes him look like a kitten compared to the large mass of long white fur that barrels into Levi’s sleek frame. Levi hisses, and for a split second Erwin fears he’s about to have to break up a fight, but the other cat doesn’t scratch or bite at Levi.
Falling to his knees, Erwin can’t help but chuckle as he realizes that this stray cat that’s pinned his little Levi is licking him.
“I promise you, he’s well groomed,” Erwin jokes to himself and the felines as he carefully extracts his cat from beneath the white stray.
The newcomer jumps up, trying to reach Levi with a desperate sounding chirp of a meow and large blue eyes. Erwin notices tanned patches speckled across the cat's back and face — it almost looks like the large cat has eyebrows of all things. He laughs at the comedic sight as the cat places its paws on his legs and continues to chirp and meow at Levi. Meanwhile, Levi hisses down at the large white cat. His fur is poofed up in clear agitation, and Erwin does his best to soothe him while trying to walk away from the other cat.
The cat doesn’t give up easily, however, and follows after them.
“Seems like he wants to be your friend, Levi,” Erwin comments as he walks along the path with Levi in his arms and the other cat following at his heels.
Levi lets out a growl.
“Commander!!” A soft voice cries from behind Erwin. “Get back here!!”
Turning on his heel, Erwin spots a young girl in a long pink cardigan and a red scarf running along the path towards him. Her hair is falling out of a loose ponytail and there’s a green harness dangling from her hand.
At the sound of her voice, the white cat stops pawing at Erwin’s legs and turns towards her.
“There you are,” the girl heaves as she catches up to them.
“I’m sorry, I think my cat here piqued your’s interest,” Erwin apologizes as he watches the girl clip Commander back into his harness.
The girl tightens the buckles to keep Commander secure. “He’s not mine, but my uncle trusted me to take him for a walk today.”
Erwin hums and sets Levi back on the ground now that the other cat appears to be secure. Commander immediately pounces back on top of Levi, licking at the fur behind his ears. He has to be at least twice as big as Levi.
“Leave them alone, Commander,” the girl chastises and tugs on the leash attached to her uncle's cat.
“It’s alright,” Erwin reassures her with ease. She seems to be of a similar age to that of the students Erwin teaches — definitely in her early teens.
She only mumbles a quiet apology in reply to Erwin, instead focusing on pulling Commander away from Levi and back in the other direction.
Thankfully, the incident with Commander is a one off, and no other animals bother Levi when he accompanies Erwin on his runs. As the weather grows colder, Levi grows to enjoy being indoors more. He still pitches the occasional fit, yowling and pawing at the closed windows, but they’re rare and only last a few days. As the birds migrate for the winter, they leave Levi with nothing to chase through the yard. He comes to enjoy laying in front of the small space heater while Erwin writes lesson plans and grades papers.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
A week before the winter break, Erwin is asked to participate in a school event — after hours. It’s a fundraiser with small local shops setting up in the school parking lot to sell homemade goods for the holidays, and a couple of teachers are roped in to act as chaperones and to sell hot cocoa. He lets the student government council decorate the open trunk of his car — stringing twinkling lights and tinsel across the open hatchback, and filling the trunk with tufts of artificial snow.
And, being a man of his word, Erwin brings Levi along. He promised the class that they could meet his cat at the event, but only if they all passed their midterm exam.
Erwin truly hadn’t expected Connie to pass. He wasn’t convinced that he hadn’t cheated if he was being honest, but he had no proof. So he’d let Connie pick out a holiday sweater for Levi to wear as an extra reward.
Levi doesn’t mind the event. He’s grown used to being out and about with Erwin thanks to their runs, so he alternates between draping himself across Erwin’s shoulders and curling up in the back of the trunk whenever he becomes overwhelmed.
“Awe! Can I pet him, Mr. Smith?” Historia asks with pleading eyes.
“You can try, but he may run back into the trunk,” Erwin answers while kneeling down to a lower height for his student. Unlike some of the others, she’s patient and lets Levi sniff her offered hand before attempting to pet the soft black fur between his ears. Levi only tolerates it for a moment before shaking her hand off and readjusting on Erwin’s shoulders. She’s not put off by the cat's behavior, and smiles at him, thanking Mr. Smith for letting her pet him, and running back off into the crowd.
“Oh! Is that Mr. Smith?” Erwin hears another familiar voice of one of his students over the general murmurings of the crowd.
A moment later, Sasha breaks through the crowd, hauling a slightly shorter young girl behind her and an even shorter man on their heels.
The girl, Erwin realizes with a start, is familiar.
“Mr. Smith!!” Sasha exclaims as she reaches him, “I wanted to introduce you to my best friend, Mikasa. She has Mr. Shadis this semester.”
Erwin smiles at the girls, he likes Sasha for the most part. She’s a bit loud, and has a habit of eating in his class, but she does her work and cleans up after herself. Not to mention she’s able to reign in both Connie and Jean when they decide they want to be a pair of class clowns.
“Hello,” Erwin smiles and offers them a curt wave.
Like the rest of his students, Sasha’s attention is quickly diverted to that of Levi. “Is this your cat?”
“Yes,” Erwin answers and gives Levi a gentle scratch beneath his chin.
The other girl’s eyes widen as realization dawns on her face. “Wait? Aren’t you the man I ran into on the trail last month?”
“Ah, I thought you looked familiar. How’s your cat doing?” Erwin scratches his own chin as he tries to remember the white feline's name. “You said it wasn’t yours though, right?”
“You two know each other?” Sasha asks, incredulous.
Mikasa shrugs, “I just bumped into him on a trail, but I had Levi’s cat with me.”
“Levi?”
“Yeah? That’s my name,” the shortest of the trio finally speaks. “You know my niece?”
“Wait?” Erwin swivels his head around between the man and his cat. He moves too fast, disturbing the Levi on his shoulder. The cat leaps from Erwin down into the trunk to curl up amongst the soft white polyester. “Your name is Levi?”
The man sneers at Erwin. “Got a problem with my name?”
“No, no. It’s just that’s the name of my cat, is all.”
At that, Levi snorts and crosses his arms. “Shitty name for a cat if you ask me.”
And that’s when Erwin notices that Levi is also holding a leash. His eyes follow the green cord down to the ground to spy the same cat as before, only this time the white cat is bundled up in a puffer jacket that matches his leash and harness.
Mouth now hanging open, Erwin asks. “Is that your cat?”
Levi makes a face, his brow furrowing as he now glares up at Erwin. “What’s it to you?”
Realizing how confusing and rude he likely sounds, Erwin backtracks and offers his hand out to Levi. “My apologies, I bumped into your niece while out on a run a few weeks ago. She had your cat with her, and he seemed rather interested in Levi, my cat Levi, here.”
“Well isn’t that a convenient explanation to make yourself sound less creepy,” despite his sharp words, Levi’s face softens under Erwin’s explanation. Mikasa nods, confirming Erwin’s story and Levi finally takes the offered hand. As soon as his grip loosens on the green leash, however, the cat leaps into Erwin’s trunk.
“Shit!” Levi exclaims as he chases after his cat. “Get out of there Commander!!”
Erwin turns too, worried about Levi being distressed over the sudden appearance of another cat. But as Erwin and Levi hover over the open trunk to separate their respective cats, they’re met with a surprising sight. Instead of fighting, they’re both grooming the other.
“Huh,” Erwin stares, dumbfounded. He’s never known Levi to be affectionate towards another animal before. Neither one of them move, instead watching their respective pets curl up against one another.
And then Commander climbs on top of Levi in a manner that is not appropriate for a school function.
“Fuck,” Levi curses under his breath, a flush of embarrassment painting his cheeks, as he grabs Commander by his harness. “Knock that shit off ya’ weirdo.”
Levi, the cat, surprises Erwin further by chasing after Commander. It forces Erwin to intercept the two Levi’s. “Hey! What’s gotten into you?” The sleek black cat doesn’t answer, but wiggles and pushes against Erwin’s chest with a dissatisfied whine.
The white cat in Levi’s arms fusses, tail swishing rapidly and sharp claws digging into the black knit sweater he’s wearing. Levi has to wrap both arms firmly around Commander to hold him with just how big of a cat he is. “Shit Commander, at least take her out for dinner first.”
At that, Erwin laughs. It’s a warm full-bellied laughter that further annoys the prickly cat in his arms.
“I don’t know that Levi here would make for that good of a date if I’m being honest.”
Levi raises an eyebrow in question. “You know they say that animals take after their owners, right?”
It’s Erwin’s turn to blush at Levi’s choice of words. Normally, he’s never all that flustered — he can’t be while working with unpredictable teenagers everyday. But Levi has managed to worm his way beneath Erwin’s skin in a matter of minutes.
“Perhaps that explains the dry spell I’ve had.”
“Wait?” Levi’s tone drops as he adjusts Commander in his arms. “I was just joking, are you serious?”
The words had slipped out but there is no going back now. So Erwin shrugs and plays it casual. “Not much time for dates when you’re chaperoning school events.”
Discussing the sorry state of his non-existent love life, reminds Erwin that one of his students is standing right there.
Or at least she was standing right there. He turns his head towards where the two girls were standing a moment ago and the now empty spot. Sasha’s voice is faint in the distance as she shouts after someone. Likely chasing after one of her classmates.
“Shit,” Levi drags his attention back with that muttered word. “Can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Huh?”
“You wanna show me just how bad of a date you are?”
Erwin tilts his head, confused. “I’m sorry?”
“Damnit, Blondie. I’m asking you out on a date.”
“Oh…”
“Right…” Levi starts to turn away and Erwin realizes he hasn’t given a proper answer.
“Wait! Yes! Sorry!” Erwin tries to laugh off his awkwardness. “Sorry, I’m a bit rusty at this.”
“Yeah,” Levi agrees, there’s a soft smile on his face. “That’s more than obvious.”
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
Their first date is an utter disaster in Erwin’s opinion. He suggests they go on a night-walk through the local botanical gardens — they have a beautiful light display for the holidays that he’s been meaning to see for himself – and it sounds romantic enough in his head.
Except he fails to look online to see that you’re supposed to buy tickets in advance. Or to see that parking is different than it normally is during the summer hours. Or that the weather is shit for an outdoor date.
In the end, he and Levi end up waiting in his car for nearly forty-five minutes before walking a mile in freezing rain. It makes it nearly impossible to enjoy the stunning light displays. The only saving grace is the whole thing gives Erwin an excuse to offer Levi his scarf and buy him a hot toddy to drink.
Levi grumbles under his breath throughout the whole date.
And yet, Erwin wakes up the next day to a text from Levi:
You really are bad at dating. Want me to show you how it should be done?
Erwin can’t quite decipher whether he should be insulted, or if this is just Levi’s strange way of flirting.
Sure?
What did you have in mind?
Let me finish thawing out from last night and I’ll get back to you.
The message is followed by a selfie of Levi with Commander. The white cat is curled up in Levi’s lap, and Levi is bundled beneath a blue blanket with white snowflakes. It makes Erwin smile, something warm and comforting sparking in his chest. He flicks his own camera on and angles it above his head, making sure to get his own little Levi in the selfie who is sleeping against the crook of his neck and shoulder.
Shit. Has anyone told you how good you look in the morning?
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
Their second date goes smoother. It’s indoors, at a little hole-in-the-wall joint that Levi swears has the best pho he’s ever had.
Erwin’s inclined to agree with him after his first taste.
Conversation is easier with food. It gives them both time to think of questions to get to know each other. Erwin tells Levi about how he became a teacher, how his father was one, how he tends to set shit work-life boundaries and doesn’t get out much as a result. He’s shocked with himself, with how easily he tells Levi about himself when he’s normally a reserved individual. When he openly points this out, Levi chuckles and confesses the same sentiment.
On their third date, Erwin learns that Levi has just started a new job as a nurse in the local hospital: that he’s a CCRN and works with those in hospice. Levi tries to shy away from his career, acknowledging that there is a morbidity to it, but that being there for his patients is fulfilling. Erwin doesn’t let the conversation end though. He finds Levi’s career choice interesting, and his drive one of passion and inspiration.
They lose track of the time while talking and end up missing the movie they planned to see. Neither of them mind. They take their evening to a quiet wine bar to continue conversing.
At the end of the night, Erwin walks Levi to the gate of his apartment building like a gentleman. Levi calls him out on the cliche and Erwin blames the cold wind for the redness of his cheeks. He doesn’t mind Levi teasing him, especially when Levi’s next retort draws him closer, bending down to Levi’s height.
When Erwin notices that Levi is on the tips of his toes, he starts to make a witty remark, asking who’s the cliche—
Levi doesn’t let him finish and drags him the rest of the way down for a kiss. Both of their lips are chapped and their noses are frigid when they bump together, but the shared breath between them is warm. The kiss is sweet, like melted chocolate and fine wine.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
Erwin doesn’t go home at the end of their sixth date. He wakes up in a rumpled mess of sheets with Levi snoring softly on his side and a large white cat laying between them.
Commander.
The cat eyes him up and down with wide blue eyes for a while. Erwin, remembering how skittish Levi was at the beginning of things, keeps his hands to himself. He waits, eyes alternating between watching the cat and watching the slow rise and fall of Levi’s side. Eventually, Commander grows curious and gets up from his spot. He presses a pink paw to Erwin’s cheek and sniffs him over before sitting back down, now pressed into Erwin’s side.
Only when he hears Commander start to purr does Erwin deem it acceptable to pet the cat. He quickly learns that where Levi likes to have his chin scratched, Commander likes long strokes over the arch of his back.
An hour later, when Erwin is now the one asleep, Levi wakes up and gawks at the sight that greets him in his bed. He snaps a quick picture on his phone and sends it to his life-long friend, Furlan, with a single word attached.
Shit .
Furlan replies almost immediately.
Oh FUCK. You’re in trouble man. That’s a keeper right there.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
At the end of the school year, Levi’s younger foster-sister graduates from college and comes to the city. She moves into Levi’s apartment, and Levi makes the bold choice to move into Erwin’s duplex. On a single condition.
“You want me to rename my cat?”
Levi rolls his eyes. “We are not having two Levi’s under the same roof.”
“It was Levi’s roof first,” Erwin replies without any malice. The Levi in question walks across both of their laps. The small feline accepted the changes with ease, getting along with both newcomers in his home. If anything, Commander has been a positive influence on Levi — what with being a strictly indoor cat. Levi hasn’t thrown one of his temper tantrums to be let out since Commander's arrival in the duplex.
“And it won’t ever become my roof if you don’t change his name.”
Erwin sighs and Levi grins, they both know that Erwin is wrapped around Levi’s finger like a puppet on a string. “Just give me some time to think of a new name, yeah?”
“Of course,” Levi promises, content with being promised what he wants, and nudges the other Levi off of Erwin’s lap. The cat turns his nose up at them and wanders off to find Commander lounging in a warm beam of sunshine.
They act like a pair of newlyweds once Levi is fully moved into the duplex. Pixis congratulates Erwin over a game of chess and Erwin tries to blame the heat on the redness of his cheeks. When Erwin relays what Pixis said to Levi later that night, Levi insists that they rearrange the bedroom furniture. Pixis whistles at the sound of the bed being moved, and Levi kicks the wall with a shout of mind your business ya filthy old man!!
Unfortunately, both Erwin and Levi end up a little too preoccupied with each other and fail to notice just how well their cats are getting along at the same time.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
“Does he look rounder to you?” Erwin asks over breakfast a month later, his head tilted at a near uncomfortable angle to peer at his normally sleek black cat under the table.
“Hm?” Levi hums and takes another sip of his morning tea while scrolling his phone.
“Levi, does he look rounder to you?”
“Excuse me?” Levi bites back, eyes sharp as daggers from across the narrow table.
“Not you,” Erwin motions to his cat, “him.”
Sighing, Levi turns his head to look at the cat himself. “This is why I told you to rename him… Huh… Yeah, I guess he does.”
“You think he’s alright?”
“I don’t fuckin’ speak cat, Erwin.”
“I think I'm going to take him to a vet.”
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
Three hours later, Erwin is back with a disgruntled Levi in tow.
“So is this little shit going to live?” Levi asks over his shoulder from where he’s sweeping the floor.
“I think you should sit down.”
“Huh?” Levi turns around to fully look at Erwin. He notices the bouncing of his foot and fidgeting thumb against Levi’s fur immediately. “Erwin? Is Levi okay?”
“Ye—Yeah, he’s…Uhm…” Erwin’s stuttering only worries Levi more. He leans the broom against the wall to rush to Erwin’s side.
“Win?”
“We might need a bigger apartment.”
“Huh?”
“We definitely need another litter box,” Erwin starts rambling while looking down at the black cat in his arms. “And more dishes, and, shit, we should get a cat tower, and—”
Levi grabs Erwin by the jaw and forces the blond to look at him. “Erwin! Slow down, the fuck are you going on about?”
“I never took Levi to the vet before,” Erwin blurts out, confusing Levi even more.
“For fucks sake, you’re not making any sense.”
“Levi’s pregnant.”
“What?!” Levi’s grey eyes drop to the cat in Erwin’s arms. “No he’s not. That's not…Erwin that’s not possible.” He picks up the small cat from Erwin’s arms, cradling him like a baby. “How…?” He doesn’t hold Levi often, the two get along well enough but respect each other's spaces. Normally, Levi prefers to lay in Erwin’s lap or on his shoulder, and if Levi is the only one home he just curls up against Levi’s feet. But right now, the cat doesn’t put up a fuss at being held. It gives Levi a better view of his stomach, of the taut skin and roundness that wasn’t there before.
“But…Shit. I know I'm not a veterinarian, but even I know that male cats can’t get pregnant.”
Erwin drops his eyes to the floor and mutters under his breath.
“Erwin.”
The tone in Levi’s voice leaves no room for squabbling, it drags a sigh out of Erwin. “Levi’s a girl, apparently.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“I’m not.”
“Did you ever think to, oh, I don’t know, fucking check?!”
Erwin shrinks back under Levi’s wrath at his own fallacies. “I'm sorry, darling.”
“Oh, don’t you darling me, you blond idiot.”
“But I am sorry, I know we didn’t plan for this…” Erwin continues to apologize, shuffling his feet anxiously.
Levi sets the cat down gently, and watches with hands on his hips as the small cat immediately scampers over to Commander’s side on the couch. Commander perks up, waking up from his afternoon nap, and shifts to wrap himself around the smaller cat. The whole sight makes Levi laugh. “We’re both idiots.”
Erwin watches the scene besides Levi, biting his lip to keep from smiling at the sweet sight until he hears Levi chuckling beside him. The sound of Levi’s laughter unspools the tension in Erwin’s gut, letting him finally breathe easier.
“God, there’s going to be so much litter everywhere,” Levi complains between fits of laughter as Commander tucks his tail around the pregnant Levi.
Erwin wraps his own arms around Levi’s shoulders. “I’ll buy you one of those robot vacuums.”
Levi snorts, laughing harder. “Forget the damn vacuum, Win. I need you to rename this poor cat.”
At the reminder that Erwin still hasn’t renamed Levi, Erwin falls into a fit of his own laughter. He nearly doubles over from the way his chest rattles with glee and he rests his forehead atop the crown of Levi’s head.
Once they both calm down, Erwin takes a deep breath and crouches next to the couch to give his cat a scratch beneath her chin.
“Alright, we did this once…” he pauses to think, looking between the two cats. “Hm..How about…Since you and Commander are clearly a thing, we try out the name Captain?”
“Captain?” Levi repeats from behind him. “Are we raising an army of cats now?”
Erwin shrugs. “Doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.”
“Oh no. No. No. No. Don’t you even start taking that idea seriously. We’re getting them both fixed as soon as possible,” Levi insists as he goes to resume his earlier chore of sweeping.
“Whatever you say, darling,” Erwin agrees.
•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•
A month later, in early August, Erwin and Levi struggle to hold back tears as their cats wake them up with a litter of kittens.
Despite Levi’s insistence that they are not raising an army of cats (he made sure of that by having Commander neutered weeks ago), he can’t bring himself to say no to any of Erwin’s proposed names for the kittens.
Scout.
Cadet.
Trooper.
Sergeant.
Chief.
