Levi comes aware to the feel of the pen being slipped from his fingers, and a warmth suddenly replacing the slight chill of the autumn afternoon.
“Ah, I’ve disturbed you.”
“’S fine.” Levi uncurls himself from Erwin’s dinky bedroom table, then tugs the jacket back over his shoulders when Erwin attempts to take it away. Judging by the light he’d only been out for a few minutes, an acceptable enough lapse. “I wasn’t planning to nap anyway. Filling out this shit’s just so boring my mind rejected it.”
Requisition forms, always more requisition forms. Fucking fussy government pigs. No wonder he fell asleep.
“Or maybe your body needed it, with how hard you’ve pushed yourself lately.”
“I know how to take care of myself, Erwin.”
“Of course,” Erwin says mildly, “but whenever you feel bored again there’s a perfectly serviceable bed just a few feet away. For you to relax in.”
“It’s only perfectly serviceable because I make it for your sloppy ass.”
“And as payment for the service, you are granted rights to use it freely like you already do every other piece of furniture in this room.”
“I hate your bed, Erwin.”
“Is there anything actually wrong with it, Levi?”
“Yes.” Amusement seeps into his tone. “Ideally, beds should be comfortable, so one can sleep in them.”
Erwin’s bed is not just comfortable, it’s big for someone like Levi. And warm, and smells like Erwin. Levi runs his hand along the smooth sheets, sometimes, on the days Erwin is too busy to tidy up and leaves it a half-rumpled mess for Levi to fix. That’s all the indulgence he allows himself, that feels safe. To actually use it, to lie there and breathe in the scent of Erwin… that’s asking for trouble. Levi’s in too much of it to go looking for more.
Levi turns his attention back to the papers. “Anyway, I’m busy. Some of us have work that won’t get done by sleeping in beds.”
“Oh… yes. They’re calling on you now.” Erwin says, looking into the distance and suddenly so solemn Levi wonders if he’s gotten into another clash with the higher ups. “Though I wish I could relieve you of such a great burden.”
Levi snorts. “Begging nicely for supplies sticks in my craw but it’s not a great burden. Neither is whatever stupid party trick they’re going to ask for next.”
Erwin reaches out, and Levi moves to give the papers to him but Erwin’s hand glides past them towards Levi’s face.
“Levi. We’ve run out of time.”
Erwin’s cupping his cheek. Levi’s brain freezes.
“Thank you for connecting us here. For cherishing these memories. I wish we had time for me to express who unutterably proud of you I am, how grateful—”
“Erwin?” This can’t be happening. This isn’t—
“More than anything, I wish I could shelter you like this. But you’re not really here yet.” Erwin’s thumb traces a line across his cheek and it’s everything Levi has ever wanted except for the part where Levi is terrified because Erwin’s having a massive psychotic break.
“What the bloody fucking hell, Erwin, did you hit your fucking head—”
“I wish we could let you sleep a little longer.”
Sunlight streams in from the window, perfect and golden, bathing Erwin in light. It hurts to looks at. Levis eyes are burning— it’s from the glare—
“Levi,” Erwin says. He’s so terribly gentle. “You know what you have to do.”
Levi shuts his eyes. He doesn’t want—
“Captain!” shrieks Connie. Grit has stuck on the dried tear tracks on his face. Over his shoulder Levi can see the huge spires of bone, marching implacably onward. Somewhere in there is a neck with a string of bombs wrapped around it.
“Captain, are you alright!?”
“I’m fine,” he grits out past the blood bubbling up his throat, past the agonizing grind of bones in his leg. And he is fine. Levi knows what he has to do.
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