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When Levi woke up, a heavy warmth encircled him and Erwin’s breath tickled the back of his neck. He didn’t dare move in case this was all just one big, wonderful dream. He closed his eyes again and sighed. In all his sleepless nights, He’d never awakened to this. The corners of his mouth upturned. This was all too wonderful and bizarre for words. He was in love and was loved in return by a kind, wonderful, smart man. It didn’t seem real. Yet the arm slung over him and the gentle rise and fall of Erwin’s chest against Levi’s back were unmistakably real. He traced his finger over the arm embracing him. The hairs on it were fine and the skin was that of a man who spent most his time outdoors, yet still soft somehow-not unlike Erwin himself. It was small details like this that brought an even bigger smile to Levi’s face.
All around them was silence. No creaking of the building or whisper of the wind. Nothing but Erwin’s breathing and the beat of Levi’s own heart. Levi closed his eyes and let memories of the evening before wash over him. It hadn’t been a dream. No dream had ever been so vivid or so perfect. He couldn’t have dreamed up the sounds Erwin made or the gentle yet firm touch. Nor could he have dreamed up the way his mouth felt against Levi’s skin or Erwin’s kind understanding when Levi needed to take a break. That embrace, like this one, meant everything. No, this was all too real in the best way possible.
No one would know about this. This was too special to share with anyone-too intimate. No one would understand this. Hell, Levi didn’ fully understand it either. But he would protect it with every fibre of his being. He’d protect Erwin with every fibre of his being. He turned his head just enough to catch a glimpse of Erwin sound asleep. That damn smile crept back on his face. Erwin was so peaceful and relaxed in this state. Levi would make sure he’d always sleep this soundly.
Levi, I love you
The words were etched into his mind for all time now. They weren’t just words. They were a promise of forever. They were his future. Every broken heart, every lonely night, every hushed and shameful encounter-it was all but a distant memory of an old nightmare. Now he was Erwin’s and Erwin was his. Warmth bubbled up in him at that thought. To belong to someone was a dream he never knew he wanted to come true. Levi nuzzled his head into his pillow, pushing his body even closer to Erwin’s. The warmth of the other man against him was like a home long forgotten. Was this what joy felt like? It was so entirely new but Levi knew he couldn’t let it go now that he had it.
That was just how his life had been since leaving the Underground. Each day brought new joys and horrors but it was all beautiful in its own way. The Underground had been one monotonous night as he’d waited for his inevitable demise. Even being a menace to the MPs had lost its thrill. Then he’d seen the spark in Erwin’s eyes that day and everything changed. Erwin had done nothing but surprise him since then. How he’d knelt in the sewage that day, how he’d gazed up at him when Levi had a sword to his throat. Another smile played on Levi’s lips remembering Erwin’s confession the night before. Who fell in love with someone who was trying to kill them? Erwin, apparently. And it was so wonderfully bizarre to know that. But then how long had Levi been falling for Erwin? Maybe since the beginning, who knew? Levi certainly knew nothing now.
He gently twisted in Erwin’s arms, holding his breath when Erwin sighed but didn’t move. The dim light from the windows outlined the sharp jawline and harsh eyebrows of Erwin’s face. His eyelids covered his brilliant blue eyes now but the rest of his face was so relaxed and peaceful. Just as it should be. Levi reached his hand to Erwin’s face and gave it a light stroke.his cheeks were rough and scruff from the growth of his facial hair overnight. His normally neat hair was tousled now too. Cute. The impeccable Squad Leader was now just Erwin-Levi’s Erwin-messy and imperfect.
“I love you,” Levi barely whispered into the darkness.
Levi nestled into Erwin’s chest, resting his ear over Erwin’s heart. The steady vibrations of its steady beat thrummed in his ear. They looked death in the eye almost daily but here they were, both alive and safe. Levi didn’t know what brought the bigger swell to his joy: the fact that he was safe with Erwin or That Erwin was safe and alive. Either way, this new life was a gift and Levi intended to appreciate that fact. He breathed in the comforting scent of Erwin as Erwin’s chest rose and fell against Levi’s face. This was what forever felt like.
The light from the windows seemed brighter than it should for the early hours of morning. Surely the sun hadn’t begun to rise yet? Carefully, Levi untangled himself from Erwin and sat up in bed. No, it wasn’t the sun that lit the room-not yet. For all the nights he’d watched pass, Levi was rather an expert on the shifting light of the night. No, this light was different. His feet hit the cold floor with a soft thud as he rose out of bed and walked towards the windows. He snagged Erwin’s shirt from the floor and wrapped the thin garment over his shoulders. Not that it sheltered him from the cold. But the smell of Erwin on it warmed him nonetheless.
Nothing but white. Beautiful, clean, white. Levi had never seen anything more satisfying. He was aware of snow, but had never witnessed it. People talked about it in the Underground. It was more of a legend than a fact. The biting cold forgotten, Levi leaned against the windowsill, mesmerized by the falling snow. There was nothing-no legend or story or myth-that could have prepared him for such beauty. If only Isabel could see this. She’d be out in it in a heartbeat, throwing snow at Furlan and him. Levi chuckled to himself at the image. He could almost hear the squeals of delight. Fuck, he still miss those two so much.
“What are you doing?”came Erwin’s groggy voice.
“It’s snowing.” Levi replied, his eyes falling on a sleepy and ruffled Erwin as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“That so?” A wide smile crossed Erwin’s face as he got out of bed, donned a dressing gown and slippers, and grabbed the bedspread off the bed.
“Aren’t you cold, sweetheart?” He asked Levi, who only now realized he was shivering. Erwin wrapped the bedspread around Levi’s shoulders and kissed the top of his head. “That’s better.”
“Thanks,” Levi replied with a smile, snuggling into Erwin’s arms as they watched the snow fall. Erwin rested his head on Levi’s shoulder and Levi leaned into the contact, Erwin's stubble scratching the side of his face.
“What, no snide remark about the pet name?” Erwin teased.
“Did you want me to?” Levi replied, cocking his eyebrow.
“No, not really.” Erwin smiled again and buried his face in Levi’s neck. “So, I can call you that, sweetheart?”
“Fine, whatever.” Levi shook his head and suppressed a pleased smile. “Don’t expect me to return the favor, though.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart,” . Erwin planted a kiss on the small of Levi’s neck before turning his attention back to the sea of white outside.
“Looks like it’s a snow day for us.”
“A what?” Levi said.
“A snow day. It’s a sort of unofficial tradition around here. The first day that it snows, we get the day off to enjoy it,” Erwin explained.
“So, you sit around all day because of some snow?” Levi replied, shaking his head.
“Who said anything about sitting around?” Erwin squeezed Levi a little tighter. “No, we get out and have a snowball fighting tournament. It’s a large-scale battle where our only ammunition is packed snow. It’s actually quite intense. Last one standing wins.”
“Now that’s more like it,” Levi grinned.
“What are you scheming?”
“How I’m going to kick all of your asses.”
“That so?” Erwin raised his eyebrows with an amused smile on his face. “You happen to be talking to the reigning champion.”
Levi turned to face him, a wicked gleam in his eye. “Scared?”
“Shaking in my boots.” Erwin bent down to kiss him. “Utterly terrified.” He added as he kissed his way down Levi’s neck.
“You can’t make me go easy on you doing that, you know,” Levi stifled a groan.
“That so...” Erwin kneaded his hands into Levi’s ass and continued his way down until he was on his knees in front of Levi. “What about if I do this? ”
Levi couldn’t hold down the gasp that escaped his lips as the cold air hit his stiffening cock. Nor could he hold back the guttural moan when Erwin’s warm mouth encompassed it. Thrills ran up and down his body as Erwin lavished him with attention.
After a few minutes of this, Levi, with all the willpower he could gather, pulled Erwin’s face away from his groin, bent down and whispered into his ear, “I want you inside me now.”