Chapter Text
The blue light of her phone was the only thing illuminating Louise’s room, casting long, ghostly shadows against her medical textbooks. It was exactly 1:14 AM. She should have been asleep three hours ago, but the neuroanatomy diagrams were starting to look like abstract art, and her brain was fried.
When the phone buzzed, she didn't even check the ID. There was only one person who called this late with a specific type of quiet desperation.
"Erwin," she whispered, her voice raspy. "Please tell me the Student Council office hasn't burned down."
There was a long pause on the other end, followed by a heavy, weary sigh that seemed to vibrate through the speaker. "Not yet, Louise. But I’m currently staring at a proposal for the Gala that suggests we serve 'Titan-sized' meat skewers and have the attendees dress in beige capes. Reiner is… enthusiastic, to say the least."
Louise couldn't help it; a tired giggle escaped her. She flopped back onto her pillows, the tension in her neck finally easing. "Beige capes? Erwin, that’s a fashion crime. Even Levi would have a stroke, and he literally studies Hospitality Management. He’d probably try to bleach them all before the first course was served."
"That’s exactly the problem," Erwin’s voice was low, intimate in the way only late-night phone calls can be. "I’ve spent the last four hours trying to explain to the committee that 'immersion' shouldn't involve making our donors look like they’re joining a cult. My head is throbbing, and I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten what real food tastes like. All I’ve had since lunch is black coffee and a very questionable granola bar I found in my bag."
"Erwin Smith, you are a disaster," Louise teased, her heart softening. She could practically see him—blonde hair slightly mussed, those thick eyebrows furrowed as he glared at a spreadsheet. "Listen to me. Put the laptop away. Go to the kitchen, find something that isn't caffeine, and drink a glass of water. The Gala won't fail because you took twenty minutes to be a human being."
"I can't just leave it, Louise. The budget needs to be finalized by 8 AM."
"Yes, you can. Because if you pass out from exhaustion, I’m the one who has to come over and use my medical training to revive you, and I’m currently off the clock." She heard him chuckle, a soft, rumbling sound that made her stomach do a weird little flip—which she promptly ignored, chalking it up to sleep deprivation. "What’s the actual hurdle? Is it the catering or the venue?"
"The catering," he admitted, his tone shifting into that focused, strategic mode she admired so much. "They want 'authentic' and 'rustic,' but our budget is screaming 'budget-friendly' and 'mass-produced.' I’m trying to find a middle ground that doesn't involve serving lukewarm potatoes."
"Okay, so pivot," Louise said, her eyes tracing the ceiling fan. "Don't call it 'budget-friendly.' Call it 'The Garrison’s Selection.' Make it a theme. Simple, hearty, reliable. Use the local potato farm—the one Zeke’s dad used to invest in. It’s cheap, it’s local, and you can spin it as supporting the community. People love that stuff."
There was a silence on the other end, the sound of a pen scratching against paper. "The Garrison’s Selection... that actually works. It fits the 'Paradis Heritage' vibe we’re going for."
"See? You're a genius. Now go to bed."
"I will. Soon. Thank you, Louise. Truly. I don't know why you always pick up."
Louise smiled into the darkness. "Because you're my best friend, Erwin. And because I know you'd do the same for me if I was crying over a cadaver at 3 AM."
"I would," he said, his voice dropping an octave, sounding suddenly very awake. "I always would. Goodnight, Louise."
"Night, Erwin."
She hung up, a small, contented smile lingering on her face. Erwin was so dedicated, so hardworking. She felt lucky to have someone like him in her corner. She fell asleep minutes later, completely unaware that on the other side of campus, Erwin Smith was staring at his phone, his heart racing, wondering how someone so brilliant could be so incredibly blind.
"If I find one more of your Muay Thai wraps in the kitchen, I am throwing them into the incinerator. Do I make myself clear?"
Louise groaned, shielding her eyes from the aggressive morning sunlight as she stumbled into the kitchen. Her brother, Levi, was already there, looking impossibly sharp in a crisp white button-down. He was currently using a ruler to ensure the salt and pepper shakers were exactly two inches apart.
"Good morning to you too, Hospitality King," Louise mumbled, reaching for the coffee pot.
Levi’s eyes narrowed as he watched her pour a cup. "You were on the phone again. Late. I could hear your whispering through the walls. It was Erwin, wasn't it?"
Louise froze, mid-sip. "He was stressed about the Gala, Levi. He just needed to vent."
"He needs to get a grip," Levi snapped, though his tone held more exasperation than genuine anger. "And you need to stop being his 24-hour emotional support animal. He’s my best friend, but the man is pathetic when it comes to you. It’s embarrassing to watch."
Louise rolled her eyes, moving to the fridge. "He's not pathetic. He's just... hardworking. And we're friends. That's what friends do."
"Friends don't call each other at 1 AM to talk about potato budgets, Louise. Use your brain. You’re a medical student; surely you can diagnose a clear case of—"
"Of what? Stress? Exhaustion?" Louise cut him off, pulling out a carton of eggs. "Anyway, I have a research meeting with Hange this morning, so I don't have time for your 'big brother' lectures."
Levi made a sound of pure disgust. "Hange. Great. So you’re going from one disaster to another. Tell that four-eyed freak that if she brings any more 'specimens' into this apartment, I’m calling the health inspector. I don't care if it's for 'science.'"
"I'll tell her," Louise laughed, cracking an egg. "But you know she won't listen."
"Nobody in this family listens," Levi muttered, though he moved to help her, expertly flipping the eggs with a precision that only a Hospitality major could achieve. "And stay away from the neighbor. I saw Zeke lurking by the mailboxes this morning. He looked like he was waiting for someone."
"He lives here, Levi. Of course he's by the mailboxes."
"He was waiting for you," Levi corrected, his voice dropping into that protective growl. "He’s a playboy, Louise. He spends his weekends at the bars and his weekdays pretending to be a 'sensitive intellectual.' He’s a Jaeger. It’s in his blood to be a nuisance."
"He's my friend, Levi. We grew up together. Grisha and our dad were—"
"I don't care who our dads were," Levi said, finally looking her in the eye. His expression softened, just a fraction. "Just... don't be a fool. Not everyone who smiles at you has good intentions. Especially not that blonde idiot next door."
Louise sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder for a brief second. "I know, Levi. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Could have fooled me," he grumbled, but he didn't pull away.
The campus was buzzing with the usual mid-morning energy. Louise was halfway to the life sciences building when a shadow fell over her.
"If it isn't my favorite future doctor," a smooth, cheerful voice rang out.
She didn't even have to look up to know it was Zeke. He fell into step beside her, looking effortlessly stylish in a light sweater and glasses that made him look far more studious than he actually was. He smelled like expensive cologne and old books.
"Morning, Zeke," Louise said, shifting her heavy bag. "Heading to a debate?"
"Actually, I was heading to the café to grab a latte and saw a vision of beauty walking across the quad," he teased, his eyes crinkling behind his lenses. "You look exhausted, Lou. Another late night with the textbooks?"
"Something like that," she said, thinking of Erwin’s 1 AM call.
Zeke’s smile faltered for a micro-second, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "Or was it another late night with the 'Commander'? Honestly, I don't know how you put up with Smith. He’s so... rigid. He probably schedules his bathroom breaks in a spreadsheet."
Louise laughed, despite herself. "He's just organized, Zeke. And he's under a lot of pressure with the Gala."
"We're all under pressure," Zeke said, his voice dropping into a more serious, intimate tone. He reached out, his hand grazing her arm as he steered her around a group of freshmen. "But some of us know how to handle it with a bit more grace. You know, I’m hosting a small get-together this Friday. Just some people from the Political Science department. You should come. You need to relax."
"I have a shift at the gym on Friday, Zeke. And a lab report due."
"Always the busy bee," he sighed, but his gaze was lingering on her face, warm and far more possessive than a 'childhood friend' should be. "At least let me walk you to your building. I wouldn't want any of these 'barbarians' to bother you."
"I think I can handle myself, Zeke. I do teach Muay Thai, remember?"
"Oh, I remember," he chuckled, his eyes dark with something she couldn't quite read. "I remember very well. But even a warrior needs an escort sometimes."
As they reached the steps of the building, Louise spotted a familiar figure standing by the entrance. Erwin. He was holding a stack of papers, talking to Hange, who was gesturing wildly with a beaker.
When Erwin saw them approaching—Louise laughing at something Zeke said, Zeke’s hand still resting casually on her elbow—his entire posture stiffened. The air between the two men suddenly felt charged, like a storm about to break.
"Louise," Erwin said, his voice clipped, professional.
"Erwin! Hange!" Louise waved, completely oblivious to the way Zeke’s grip on her arm tightened. "Did you get the budget sorted?"
"I did," Erwin said, his eyes fixed on Zeke. "Thanks to your advice."
"She’s always got the best advice, doesn't she?" Zeke chimed in, his smile widening, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Too bad she’s so busy. I was just trying to convince her to take a break this weekend."
Hange, who had been watching the exchange with the glee of a scientist discovering a new species, let out a loud, bark-like laugh. "Oh, she’ll be busy, alright! We have the enzyme reaction tests all weekend! Right, Louise?"
"Right," Louise nodded, grateful for the distraction. "I should get inside. See you guys later?"
She practically skipped up the stairs, leaving the three of them behind. Hange continued to cackle, while Erwin and Zeke stood in a silence so heavy it could have crushed a lesser man.
"Smith," Zeke nodded, his tone dripping with mock-politeness.
"Jaeger," Erwin replied, his voice cold.
In the background, Levi, who had been watching the whole thing from near the entrance, let out a long, suffering sigh. "Idiots," he muttered, walking towards his major building. "Every single one of them is an idiot."