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Erwin had long passed his threshold of how much liquor he could handle. His eyelids were heavy but his iris’s bright despite it. A lazy smile spread across his lips. Limbs loose and open. A sight that only Levi ever got to witness in the privacy of Erwin’s room. The room that they shared more often than not, even if it technically it was only assigned to the commander.
Levi sat at the small table by the window, legs crossed and teacup held by its rim with his fingertips. He took a sip as he eyes roamed across the man sitting sprawled across from him. Devoid of the usual composure he showed his soldiers of the regiment.
“Think you’ve had enough, Erwin.” Levi said as Erwin reached for the bottle still sitting on the table. It was empty. Save for maybe a sip. Erwin brought it to his lips anyways.
“You look pretty today.” Erwin mumbled, eyeing the inside of the bottle like more of the maple colored liquid would appear. When it didn’t, he sat it back down. A annoyed sigh escaped from his lips. Levi grumbled at the compliment thrown his way, rolling his eyes. Erwin always got that way when he had too much to drink. The big, strong commander was actually just a softie who held an affinity for his captain.
“You think I look pretty everyday. The new cadets figured out your little nickname for me, you know.” The other man mumbled, thinking to the times Erwin had called him ergelchen in the field lowly. Thinking it was only them who could hear it. But the other soldiers had sharp hearing, especially if they thought they were going to pick up on some fresh gossip to spread around the barracks and mess hall.
Levi couldn’t hide the heat that rushed to his face though, staring down at the dark liquid of his tea. Its comforting herbal scent filling his senses. He took another sip to ignore the flush covering his upper half. Across from him, he could feel Erwin’s smile on him.
“Oh, they did? That’s a shame. You are my ergelchen, you know? My little angel. Always keeping me safe.” Erwin hummed, moving his foot out to nudge it against Levi’s. Both still clad in their boots but ODM gear put away for the evening. Levi started down at Erwin’s foot, nudging it in return as he finally looked up to meet Erwin’s sea blue gaze. There was mirth shining in his eyes, a small smile spread across his lips. Levi could practically see the gears turning in his mind.
Erwin stood from his chair, movements slow and uncertain. He swayed on his feet, taking a breath to try and sober himself up enough to do whatever it was he was planning. Levi sat down his cup, the porcelain clinking against the saucer quietly. He uncrossed his legs, ready to get up at a moments notice if it looked like Erwin was about to fall. Luckily though the other man seemed to center himself as he walked a few paces to the other side of the room.
Levi pursed his lips as he stared at the broad expanse of Erwin’s back. “Tch.” He sucked his teeth, steely gaze sliding over to what Erwin was messing with. “Keep acting like that and I’ll stop. Might even leave the scouts all together.” The threat was hollow. More a tease than anything else. Which Erwin knew judging by the laugh he huffed out.
The man finally turned around, a fresh glass of liquor in his hand. Levi raised a brow as he stood, crossing the room. He plucked the glass from Erwin’s hand wordlessly, reaching behind him to place it back on the table from where it came. In their proximity he could still smell Erwin’s aftershave. Warm and woody. It was mixed with the scent of whisky too. Adding a sort of acrid depth that had Levi silently inhaling a deeper breath. Enjoying it even if he’d never admit it aloud. Then he looked up at Erwin, eyeing the man.
“No more tonight.” Levi told him, trying to keep his tone flat but it was betraying him anyways. It always seemed to when Erwin was involved. He always sounded softer when they were together. The taller man just flashed Levi a smile and a shrug, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair away from Levi’s face. His touch was tender as it tended to be when it was just them. Hidden away from the world and the prying eyes of their regiment.
“Yes, Captain.” Erwin mumbled. His other hand came to rest loosely on Levi’s waist, thumb brushing against the junction of his ODM harness that he still hadn’t removed. Levi sucked in a quiet breath. This wasn’t new to either of them. Though it only tended to happen after Erwin had a few drinks that way the next morning he could proclaim it was a drunken mistake. It wouldn’t happen again. But they both knew better. They were both aware that whatever they had was more than just evenings clouded by Erwin’s drunkenness. Yet they never spoke of it during the day. Never gave a name to their relationship. Levi kind of liked it that way. It was easier at least.
Erwin shifted, the hand he was using to fix Levi’s hair trailing down to take his in his much larger one. He squeezed ever so gently, his gaze fixated on Levi’s.
“Dance with me?” He asked. To which Levi sucked his teeth again and rolled his eyes, but the faint smile on his face betrayed him too easily. In turn, Erwin smiled too. So bright it was blinding.
“There’s no music.” Levi attempted to reason, but it was futile. He already knew Erwin was going to get what he wanted. He always did. Levi was anything but humanity’s strongest solider when in the presence of Erwin Smith.
“You know that doesn’t matter.” Erwin replied, giving Levi’s waist a gentle squeeze in the way he knew that made all of Levi’s rough exterior melt away. Wordlessly the shorter man lifted his free hand to rest on Erwin’s back, just under his shoulder blade. Erwin lifted their joined hands and after a moment, he started moving with Levi following.
It was more of a gentle sway around the room than actual dancing, but it was nice nonetheless. Levi kept his gaze focused on Erwin, studying the features he had come to know like the back of his hand. The sharp curve of his nose, his thick brows. He had a few freckles and spots from the sun dusting his cheekbones. A faint scar along his left temple that could only be seen when looking for it. His eyes were bright but not without a heaviness lingering behind them. A testament to all he had seen while in the scouts. He was beautiful. Annoyingly so. So much so that Levi eventually couldn’t stand looking at him any longer and laid his head on Erwin’s chest. Listening to each breath.
They continued to dance for what felt like ages, basking in the warmth of each other. Levi felt a soft pressure on the crown of his head, knowing it was a kiss from Erwin. He smiled to himself, hiding it in the fabric of Erwin’s shirt.
Eventually Erwin was the one to end their dance. He stopped his movements but didn’t move away, only let go of Levi’s hand to grip his waist with both hands now. In return Levi wrapped his tighter around Erwin’s back. The taller man smiled gently down at Levi, a newfound desire burning in his gaze. Something else that Levi knew all too well. But was never disappointed when he saw it for he also knew what was in store. He returned Erwin’s smile, though not quite as bright as he leaned in closer. Sometimes he thought he couldn’t smile like that even if he tried.
“Gonna kiss me or what, Erwin? I know it’s what you’ve been wanting since you called me pretty earlier tonight.” Levi said with a playful bite to his tone.
“You know me entirely too well.” Erwin mumbled with a shake of his head. But he leaned in anyways, bending down to finally capture Levi’s lips in a passionate kiss. Pouring all the things they never discussed out loud into it. One of his hands slid up to rest at the base of Levi’s skull, fingers ghosting along the soft hair of his undercut. All the while Levi just let himself enjoy it.
Moments like these weren’t often. Due to the overwhelming weight on their shoulders that they both felt. Trying to reclaim Wall Maria, protect Wall Rose and Sina, keep up with a new squad of soldiers still fresh out of their cadet class. Along with all the new information about their world and the titans. So it was rare to have time for themselves. Even rarer to be in the mood for more than just quiet conversation. Levi used to feel guilty for it. Believing that he didn’t deserve a night of pleasure because of everything else going on. But eventually Erwin managed to talk some sense into him. Told him that spending a night thinking of himself rather than everyone else wouldn’t harm anything. He deserved it. And eventually, Levi did listen. Even if it was begrudgingly at first.
The kiss was broken by Levi, pulling away for a breath. One of his hands reaching up to card through Erwin’s hair, letting the blond strands tangle against his fingers. Then he tugged just barely. Enough to signal what he wanted which Erwin gave without complaint.
They moved to the bed, Erwin pushing the two books laying there to the floor before falling down onto it with Levi in tow. They were a tangle of limbs as clothes were tossed in the floor. The only sounds were their heavy breaths and Levi’s snarky comments here and there. All of which Erwin shut up with a kiss.
And as the night faded into morning they went about their business as if nothing had transpired between them. Except the passing glances they gave one another when they thought no one was looking. It’s how their relationship had been and would always be. Levi was content with that. As long as he got to selfishly spend a night every once in awhile dancing with Erwin Smith in the silence of the room they shared.