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"Do you really have to go?" Levi frowned as he looked at Hange who was dressing up. She was about to leave on a planned night out with some of the girls from the scouts.
"Well, I already said I'd go... Plus, it's nice to relax every one in a while. We don't get that many days off after all." She responded as she was putting on her shoes.
Levi looked more like a puppy being abandoned by the side of the road by it's owner rather than his usual stoic self. "Maybe I should come too? Just to be safe-"
"No can do." Hange cut him off as she stood up. "It's a girls night, Levi. And last time I checked you weren't a girl."
"But what if something happens to you-"
"Levi. I'll be alright." Hange got closer to him placing a kiss on his cheek but when she backed off to look at him she could see that wasn't easing up his worry and added teasingly "I promise I won't do anything you won't approve of."
"Fine." Levi reluctantly agreed.
"I'll be back before you know it, my little jelly bean." She gave him a quick squeeze before heading to grab her jacket.
===
Most of the lights in the Scouts headquarters were off. The place was eerie quiet and rather deserted as for the first time in a while, the scouts were given a few days off. Some had gone home to spend the days with their families, while others stayed behind and were now either in bed or out in town enjoying themselves. Unlike the rest of the headquarters however, Erwin's office was light up and the noise of a cheerful conversation could be heard.
Erwin leaned back in his chair, setting his half empty glass of whiskey back on the table. Mike was seated beside him, casually drinking his own drink while the two were engaged in a lighthearted conversation. Levi however was still standing in the corner, arms crossed and a sour expression plastered on his face, occasionally giving one of his signature glares towards the two men. Erwin couldn't help but chuckle at the the sight of Levi standing there as if he was some sort of bodyguard on duty.
"Come on, Levi." He turned to him. "At least come sit next to us. Don't stand there by yourself."
"You know, when you asked me to come to your office, I actually thought you had something serious to discuss." Levi rolled his eyes as he complained.
"Well, we kind of do have something serious to discuss." Erwin smirked. "You never join us for drinks. We've been together for so long and I've never seen you drink even once."
"I don't drink." Levi cut him off.
"I know, but tonight is different. You can relax." Erwin used his best persuasive voice. "I'm sure one drink won't hurt."
Levi didn't humour him with a response and only kept glaring at him.
"Come on." Mike joined in. "Just one small drink. You deserve it. Probably more than anyone even."
Levi sighted as he hesitantly walked towards the table. Him and alcohol did not mix well. He knew that much. But Erwin and Mike were way too persistent tonight, so he figured he could at least take one sip and hopefully that will shut them up.
"Fine. Just one though!" Levi muttered as he sat down.
"Here you go, captain." Erwin smiled in triumph as he poured a glass of whiskey and handed it over to Levi.
Still hesitant, Levi took the glass and inspecting the liquid as if making sure it wasn't poisoned. He eventually took a small sip, grimacing slightly as the alcohol burned his throat. It wasn't something he was used to, nor could he see the appeal that much, but it wasn't exactly unpleasant.
"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Mike chuckled and raised his own glass.
***
An hour passed and that one tiny sip had turned into another. The "just one drink" he was going to have had turned into two, then three and on the way to becoming four.
Both Erwin and Mike seemed more relaxed, laughing at some stupid joke only the two of them could understand, meanwhile Levi had lay down his head on the table, cheeks flushed in red and no longer even listening to the conversation. Erwin and Mike exchanged a glance, noticing Levi’s state. They had expected him to be a little tipsy, but the captain was clearly well beyond that point now.
"Levi? Are you okay?" Erwin asked, a bit concerned.
At first Levi didn't respond but a moment later he raised his head, the usual sharpness of his eyes had been replaced with something rather soft and out of character.
"I miss Hange." Levi mumbled quietly.
"Ah, so that’s what this is about." Mike raised an eyebrow, an amused smile on his face. "You’ve had a little too much to drink and now you’re getting all sentimental."
"You don't get it." Levi cut him off though his voice was nothing like his usual tone and sounded somewhat whiny. "Hange is so nice... and soft... And I miss her stupid face and her stupid voice..." He let out a silent sniff. "I just want to hug her."
"Are you... crying?" Erwin's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden vulnerability. He had never seen Levi in such a state.
Levi whipped the tears off his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm not crying... I just want Hange." His words slurred slightly.
"Hange is not here right now, unfortunately, but she will be back tomorrow." Erwin sighted as he put a hand on Levi's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "Here, let me give you a hug instead." He spread his arms as an invite.
His offer however was responded to with Levi pulling back. "No... You still don't get it." He exclaimed. "You're not Hange. Your chest is not soft, you don't have boobs."
Mike instantly burst out laughing as he heard that. At first, Erwin was a bit stunned by the complaint but soon he joined Mike.
"Well, that’s true." Erwin tried to compose himself. "But I can still give a pretty decent hug."
"I don't want your hugs. I want Hange's." Levi continued to mumble, clearly not amused. He dropped his face back down on the table as he sobbed silently.
Erwin and Mike exchanged a glance, both trying to contain their laughter. It was unbelievable that the person sitting beside them is actually Levi - the stoic captain and humanity's strongest soldier. It was as if he was a totally different person. Now, they sort of began to understand why he was so reluctant to drink in the first place.
"I think... That has been enough for you for one night. " Erwin said as he got up and put his hands on Levi's shoulders. "Let's get you to bed."
He expected some resistance, but to his surprise Levi cooperated to the best of his ability, though he found it quite hard to stand and Erwin found that carrying him might be the easier option. Luckily, Levi was pretty small and not too heavy, and Erwin was able to pick him up bridal style pretty easily.
***
As they reached Levi's room, Erwin gently placed him down on the bed helping him settle in bed. Levi let out a silent whine, curling himself into a ball under the blanket, still mumbling incoherent words about how he misses Hange. Erwin stood there for a moment, staring down at him, feeling a mix of sympathy and confusion. Despite the humour of the situation, he couldn't help but feel a little concerned. He couldn’t bring himself to leave Levi like this.
For a brief moment he stood there wondering what to do, but then he suddenly remembered a very random thing that Hange had once shared with him. She had mentioned something about a "Levi calming tool" she’d left for emergencies. He had no idea what that was, though he remembered she said it was stored in the top drawer of his bedside table.
Erwin opened the drawer and there it was. A small, unassuming object that seemed kind of out of place, tucked at away at the back - a pacifier? Erwin stared at it for a few moments, blinking in confusion, but with no other options he thought he should give this a try. He hesitantly but gently placed the pacifier near Levi’s lips and to his surprise he quickly took it in. The change was almost immediate, as Levi's body relaxed, his face softening into a peaceful expression as he sucked on the pacifier.
"Well, I'll be damned." Erwin muttered, a small smile forming on his face. He adjusted the blanket around Levi, tucking him in more comfortably. "Good night, Levi. Don't worry, we will let Hange know you were looking for her."
The pacifier seemed to have done it's job, way better than Erwin could have hoped for, as Levi seemed to have dozed off in a peaceful sleep. Quietly, Erwin made his way out of the room, closing the door behind him. It sure turned out to be an odd night tonight.
***
The next morning, Levi awoke with a headache. The sunlight pouring through his bedroom window only seemed to worsen it as he struggled to open his eyes. The events of the previous night were fuzzy and almost like a dream. But as his vision finally adjusted, he was surprised to see Hange sitting beside him on the bed, reading some book.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." She turn to him as she felt him stir. "Had quite an eventful evening, didn't you?"
Hange had been asked by Erwin to come check on him when she arrived this morning. Him and Mike had filled her in on the details of last night and she made her way to his room where she waited for him to wake up.
"Don't remind me." Levi groaned as he sat up, the memory of last night still hazy but enough to make him wish he could just disappear.
"I bet you were very adorable last night. I wish I could have seen you." Hange smiled. "I had no idea you missed me this much."
"Shut up. That's not true. I was drunk." Levi tried to deny it as his face lit up in a faint blush.
"Aww, Levi~ it's okay. You can miss me." Hange leaned in closer wrapping her arms around him and pulling him in a tight hug. "Anyway, I'm glad you're okay."
Levi stiffened at first, but then he relaxed into the hug. "Whatever... but you better not go out telling that to anyone else."
"Don't worry. I will only use this information for teasing purposes in private and won't tell a soul." Hange smiled and placed a gentle kiss on top of his head.
That was good enough for now.