Chapter Text
The door is cracked open like an invitation. In the silence of the night, the slit of warm light peers through the cracked wooden door, cutting the hallway's darkness like a sharp blade. Behind the doors, the muffled voices whisper, spilling the secrets under scratchy bedsheets. Erwin stands in the hallway. He’s perfectly still, back pressed to the cold stone wall, drawn to the candle flame like a moth. He shouldn’t be here, and yet he can’t help but carefully listen to the husky voice belonging to the man who wants to stick a dagger in his throat.
“We will wait until he’s out, and then I will look for the papers,” Erwin hears the hushed voice of the fair-haired man from the Underground slums. He can hardly remember his name.
“And what if he carries them on him?” Levi’s voice cuts like a guillotine. Sharp and precise. “We need to kill him, Farlan.”
Ah, yes…Farlan.
Erwin holds his breath, listening to the conversation of his assassins. Erwin isn’t surprised Levi is planning his murder; to be expected for the humiliation he was put through during the chase. Erwin imagines the knife against his throat, cold and honest. Levi would slit it in one meticulous swing.
“What’s up with you?” Farlan hisses, getting agitated. “You’re so bloodthirsty! I swear you became insufferable since we got to the surface!!”
“We have to! That asshole can’t treat us like trash and get away with it.” Levi snipes back.
“We don’t have to,” Farlan raises his voice, “You want to kill him, Levi. Isn’t that right?”
“Fuck off, Far,” Levi grumbles, “M’ not in the mood for this.”
For a moment the conversation halts, and the pause hangs heavy in the air, amplifying every noise in the dead of night. Erwin holds his breath, lurking in the shadows like a specter. He dares not to move, caught between an obligation to keep walking and press his ear firmer to the doorframe.
Then, the bedsheets shuffle, and bare feet tap in the darkness, descending the bunk ladder. Even behind closed doors, Erwin knows immediately what happens next. He’s heard it between two young cadets countless times; the sound of the covers shifting and two bodies pressing next to each other, finding solace in the heat of an embrace.
Erwin wondered about the relationship between Levi and his subordinate. He figured they were close, just didn’t know exactly how close. Turns out they are close enough to share a bed.
“Are you mad at me again?” Farlan whispers, his voice so soft Erwin can barely hear it. “Come on, Lee, don’t be like this. We finally made it out of the slums. Finally! Why aren’t you happy?”
Lee… Oh, such a sweet little pet name. So unbecoming for a man like Levi; a fierce enigma wrapped in delicate bone-white skin, A thief, a menace, a swindler — a killer. No, a name like Lee doesn’t suit a man who looked at Erwin in the mud with burning hatred in his eyes— It’s too ordinary, too ... simple. And Levi is anything but simple. He’s a puzzle. A jigsaw of mismatched pieces. ‘Levi’ suits him; melodious but deadly, a name that sounds like whiskey, sharp and intoxicating.
Le - vi.
The mattress shifts, and the fabric rustles again. In the darkness, the wet lips lap on bare skin, accompanied by affectionate apologies whispered in a tight embrace. Oh, Erwin should leave before he witnesses something more incriminating than a lovers' quarrel. This is inappropriate behavior unbecoming of a man of his station.
But Erwin stays. Stubbornly and without better judgment. He eavesdrops, pressed against the wall, like a thief in the night.
“Not tonight. Someone might hear,” Levi protests. But Erwin hears the timbre of his voice modulate from gruff to breathy. “Far, be serious….”
“Come on, Lee,” Farlan whines, and Erwin thinks that at that moment, his pitchy voice sounds like a dog sniffing a bitch in heat. Desperate. “You’re always so quiet, anyway.”
And then there are more noises; the opening of the drawers, the oil poured and warmed on the eager palms, the sticky sounds of a hungry tongue. Erwin imagines them, two young men, barely older than boys, rutting against each other in the narrow military bunk. His fantasy slips through the cracks like a spider, standing over them like a looming shadow. He can only think of Levi; his skin paler than the moon, eyes burning with unshed blood, and body marked by violence. Levi is a knife cutting through the night, slicing away the remnants of Erwin's self-control. He is a man who kills in cold blood; not one who warms someone's bed.
Erwin dares to step closer and press his ear against the door. Now he can hear them better; the slapping of the hips and huffing noises Farlan makes as he pushes into Levi’s body. “Ready, Lee?” He asks him with sincere care. “Does it feel good? Doesn't hurt, right?”
Strange. Erwin wouldn't have pegged Levi as a man who prefers to receive, but the revelation thrills him more than he wants to admit. If Levi, the prideful, stubborn Levi, can open himself for a young ashen boy, he would fall apart under Erwin’s steady fingers.
Farlan doesn’t fuck Levi; he makes love to him, whispering soft murmurs of praise and adoration. Erwin can imagine it from the sounds they are making, the languid, slow rocking of the hips, the comfort of kissing a friend. It’s almost like they are sweethearts. Almost. There’s a quiet familiarity in the way their bodies join together, almost brotherly. It makes Erwin’s stomach twist, bile rising in his throat.
When Erwin saw Levi flying underground like a trapped falcon, he knew immediately Levi was nobody’s sweetheart. He’s an untamed harbinger of death – a breath of fresh air in their stale, corrupt world. Erwin imagines how it must feel to be buried deep into that tiny feral body. How Levi would squirm and claw at his chest, scratch his back until it’s adorned with crimson ribbons of raw flesh. He would kick and scream, doing everything in his power to resist Erwin's attempts to tame him. Until, at last, he would succumb to the realization that Farlan could never satisfy the primal urge that coursed through his veins. A desire to be tamed by a greater power. To belong – to obey.
“Oh, Lee,” Farlan grunts. “You feel so – so good.”
Erwin presses his palm against his groin, his cock tight in his uniform.
“Is that a new soap? You smell nice. So soft, here —“
“Far, shh, shh,” Levi shushes him gently. “Be quiet, okay?”
Erwin steps toward the cracked door, looking through it, stepping over the forbidden line. In the small bed, he sees Levi lying on the side, his dark hair dangling off the bed as he bites his lips. The other man fucks him with erratic hip thrusts, spooning him from behind. It’s too quick and shallow to be satisfying.
Levi’s still wearing his uniform, although the top two buttons are undone, revealing his sharp collarbones and a slip of a pink nipple. He’s making small huffs, biting the edge of the pillow to keep his voice muffled.
And all Erwin can do is watch as if transfixed, glued to the sight before him. He’s intoxicated by it, the slapping of the skin and the smell of oil, sweat, and mint. For a moment, he wants nothing more than to open the door, push the scrawny young boy away and shove his own cock in Levi’s tight hole. Fuck him properly. Show him what it feels to have a man thrusting in you with the force of a charging army. Let the other boy watch as Levi melted in Erwin’s hands with tears in his eyes and dread in his heart. Oh, Erwin would ruin Levi for everyone else. Make it so nobody else can satisfy him the way Erwin does.
When Farlan comes, he falls on Levi with a satisfied moan, pulling the smaller man into his embrace. Levi remains still, as silent as the birds before dawn, not even moving a muscle. “Oh, Lee, we did it! We’re here, Above! Isn’t it just amazing?”
Erwin walks away from the door, drunk on possibilities.
Arriving at the showers in the dead of night, Erwin relishes the privacy afforded by the empty communal facilities. He dislikes the idea of being watched as he scrubs away the day's hardships, and looks forward to the day when, as a commander, he will have his own private lavatory. For now, however, the communal showers will suffice.
As he discards his uniform, folding it with precision, Erwin turns on the lukewarm water. The water serves to revive him, washing away the daze he had been in since overhearing two young men in the barracks. Though not one for spying, Erwin has always honored the privacy of his fellow Scouts. In their line of work, where each day could be their last, it's not uncommon for brothers in arms to seek comfort in each other's bodies.
But not Erwin. Sex is messy, and eventually, somebody forms attachments and gets hurt. He engages in it discreetly, away from the barracks, with someone who understands his unique circumstances. He has accepted that he will never marry, form a committed relationship, or father children. He knows that not many people are willing to form a connection with someone who can offer nothing more than physical pleasure. Someone who will die outside of the walls, chasing an impossible dream. It’s easier to keep to himself.
Still, as the water runs down his back and glides down his body, he can’t help but return to Levi, twisting like a crescent moon under the weight of another man’s body. Levi, tiny and dangerous, beautiful and deadly, emerges in his mind like a promise of uncovered mysteries. He sees him in the bed in the dark room, illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight, fist in his mouth and dark strands covering his boyish face. He rocks, swaying back and forth on the narrow mattress, reserved and docile, so much different than the feral, scrappy thief he caught in the mud.
Erwin takes himself in his fist, huffing and panting as he strokes himself, Levi kneeling in the Underground, staring at him with those eyes as hot as burning steel. He erases everyone else from his memory until it’s just the two of them there. How would Levi’s lips feel? Hot and wet like warm butter or a trap of snapping teeth. Would Levi bite him? Scraping his teeth against his cock until it’s raw and tender. Then he imagines Farlan standing there, struggling in handcuffs. He forces him to watch as Levi sucks his cock, choking on its girth.
“Stop, Lee! Please – don’t do this!” Farlan would cry. But Erwin would fuck him even harder, whispering into his ear. “Keep going, Levi. Show everyone what a good whore you are to me. My own little cockslut.”
He would show him how good it could feel to serve and obey. Oh, Erwin will show them all who Levi belongs to. Who discovered him and recognized his brilliance. Who brought him to the surface and put a sword in his hand. Gave him purpose. Farlan, young, innocent Farlan, doesn’t deserve a man like Levi. Nobody does. Nobody but Erwin.
Erwin catches his seed in his fist, grunting as the release washes over him. He dips his head and feels the water run down his face like rain. He only allows himself these twisted fantasies when he’s alone; The dawn brings duty and a reminder of Levi’s true purpose to the Survey Corps. He’s a tool – a titan-killing machine. Erwin’s gamble. His flaming sword in pursuit of the truth. Levi can only possess Erwin’s fantasies in these dark hours when the dreams and reality blur in a sweeping vertigo.
From a distance, he hears the lightest footsteps echoing in the tiled space. He wraps the towel around his hips and waits, hoping his hunch is correct. A lonely gaslamp flickers in the darkness. Erwin peeks over the barrier of his shower stall and smiles at the sight before him.
Levi strips down with deliberate care as if performing a sacred ritual. Each unfastening belt and button reveal a hidden treasure; a shoulder blade, a shadowy line between his abdominals, protruding hip bones, and a tapestry of raised scars. Some silvery and old, some blood-red with fresh hurt. Erwin follows each Levi’s movement with reverence, drinking him in like the best liquor.
Levi turns around, showing round buttocks and curvaceous hips. He turns the water on and scrubs his body with lemon soap. There’s such grace in his movements as if Levi’s rehearsed each gesture to perfection, performing his daily washing for an invisible surveyor. Levi arches when he reaches to wash between his thighs, oozing with seduction. Erwin has only seen such an unfiltered display of seduction performed in a brothel and, for a moment, considers Levi’s history. And then he considers another possibility, a darker one. Levi knows someone’s watching.
Erwin coughs, making deliberate noise to announce his presence. Levi stills and looks over his shoulder. He wraps a towel around his hips and narrows his eyes. Erwin steps out of his stall, walking toward him, accompanied by the wet tapping of his bare feet.
“Levi,” Erwin addresses him. “Didn’t expect to find you here at this hour.”
Levi averts Erwin’s pointed gaze and frowns. His wet hair is slicked back, revealing his heart-shaped face.
“No?” Levi asks, raising his eyebrow. “You weren't looking for me?”
Erwin takes a step forward, closing the gap between them. Levi doesn’t budge, holding his ground like Erwin’s encroaching on his turf. Levi crosses his arms and takes a fighting stance. It’s a sign for Erwin to back off. But Erwin has never been a quitting man.
“I usually shower this late,” Erwin says with an amiable disposition, making it so that his body language is not threatening. “It’s nice to have some privacy. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Levi stares at him, his eyes filled with venom. Oh, if he had a knife or any sharp weapon, Erwin would already be dead. But Levi’s naked, wet, and on foreign territory, so Erwin takes a gamble, following the instinct that tempts him to charge onward.
“Don’t you dare,” Levi warns him. “I’m serious, Captain.”
He takes another step, standing so close he can smell the lemon and mint on Levi’s skin. His sparse black hairs are raised with goosebumps, and this observation thrills him. Each little detail fleshes out Levi as a living-breathing man, not just a fugitive apparition. Levi’s right there in front of him, wet and clean and staring him right in the eyes, daring him to take one more step. If Erwin crosses that last undefined boundary separating their bodies, he doesn’t know if he will meet his own end or rebirth.
“Or what?” Erwin murmurs, low and inquisitive. “What will you do if I come closer?”
“I’ll kill you!” Levi spits.
“You don’t have a knife.”
One step closer. Erwin can feel Levi’s breath and count each lash of his sharp eyes. One more step and their bodies would press against each other.
“I’ll strangle you,” Levi’s anger rises. “I’ll choke you with my hands, with my thighs – I’ll – ”
Erwin touches him, steadying his hand under Levi’s chin, delighted with the delicate skin of his neck. Levi’s eyes widen, and he inhales through his nose, a gesture of surprise. He stiffens as if the warmth of Erwin’s hands is the first touch he’s ever felt – as if he’s been touched for the very first time.
“Go on,” Erwin says. “Kill me then.”
He’s not afraid. In this high-stakes game, he can earn more than what he has to lose.
“I will,” Levi snarls, baring his white teeth like a dog. “Just you wait.”
“Alright,” Erwin agrees, licking his lip. He traces the edge of Levi’s jaw, touching him like a gear wound too tight. Erwin agrees, sealing the unspoken vow between them, signing away his body and soul to his executioner.
But he dares to explore further, ghosting his fingers over the curve of Levi’s tightly pressed lips, plump and purple from cold. Levi’s face is frozen with a mixture of repulsion and intrigue, his eyes glaring with venom. Erwin prises Levi’s lips open apart, pushing his thumb below his lip where the wet pink flesh meets his gritted teeth. Levi snaps his teeth, catching Erwin’s thumb, digging into the flesh with such wild ferocity he pierces his skin.
“Now, now, Levi,” Erwi says without flinching. “We’re not animals here.”
Levi unclenches his jaw, letting Erwin’s thumb rest on his flat tongue.
“That’s better,” Erwin says slowly, annunciating every word. “You can behave after all.”
Levi’s eyes challenge him to push further. I dare you. Every muscle of his body, every protruding vein screams at Erwin; do it, fucker, i said do it--
Erwin pops out his thumb from Levi’s slack mouth and trails it down Levi’s wet body, clean and scrubbed pink. He trails the raised scars like an uncharted map, touching the embodiment of his darkest fantasies. And Levi stands frozen, unmoving like a statue, barely breathing as Erwin’s curious fingers touch lower, feeling the old knife wounds and the new gear marks. Each bruise and scar tell a story, marking Levi with a history of violence he had to endure to survive.
Slowly, the towel wrapped snugly around Levi’s hips shifts and shows a growing bulge. Erwin smirks and palms at Levi’s visible arousal, searching for a reaction in Levi’s boyish face. The perpetual expression of boredom shifts just slightly, his pupils widening and swallowing the pale grey irises as the tips of his ears flush pink. Ah, so he can feel more than just bloodlust, Erwin thinks, delighted with his discovery.
Erwin roughly pulls off Levi’s towel, unwrapping him like his birthday present. He fixes his gaze on Levi’s nude body, investigating every curve and dent, every muscle and scar of his body, with the same earnestness and dedication he puts into military strategy. His eyes linger on the sparse dark hair below his navel, perfectly trimmed, leading to a slender cock. Erwin runs the flat pad of his thumb against Levi’s shaft, drawing an involuntary shiver and twitch out of Levi’s body. His thumb leaves a bloody trail where Levi bit the flesh moments ago, leaving a pale trail of blood on his cock. Erwin squeezes the flushed tip, first gently, then adding more pressure. He wants it to hurt.
“Ah,” Erwin murmurs with his melodious baritone. “Aren’t you pretty? Too bad you’re so feral.”
Levi’s eyes snap up as he growls at Erwin, his bared teeth sneering like a cornered pup. Poor boy, what he needs is a steady hand. Somebody to direct all that talent and rage into something beneficial for humanity.
“Bastard,” Levi snaps at him. “Fuckin’ cocksucker degenerate.”
“Degenerate?” Erwin asks slowly. “Funny, I didn’t think you would be so narrow-minded, Levi. So easy to pass judgment. Not with the company you keep.”
Levi doesn’t respond. Still, Erwin notices his hips are rocking in shallow, barely perceptible thrusts into his fist. Oh, he wants it too. Of course, he does. Physical love is unthinkable without violence, and Levi is filled with so much rage, so thirsty for revenge. Maybe it’s the blood he yearns for, maybe something darker, twisting like a snake in his gut, torturing his dreams. Perhaps, Levi just needs to be fucked good and hard. Erwin will give him a sword, and put wings on his back, unleash his power on the battlefield just to keep him docile and begging for cock at night.
Levi’s shaking now, desperately trying to stop himself from chasing his pleasure in Erwin’s grip. He’s making those soft huffs and needy grunts, yet his face shows absolute repulsion. It’s cruel, really, to keep him so worked up, but Erwin isn’t a kind man. He’s ruthless, all of his childhood softness hardened by war, shaped by death.
Erwin moves his hand and circles his thumb across Levi’s swollen head, scooping the wetness from the tip.
“It’s late. I’ll see you at training tomorrow,” he says and lets go of him, leaving him flustered and hanging from the edge.
The game has begun and Erwin wants to rile him, bring him to the breaking point. He’ll push and tease until Levi barges into his office begging for more, He’ll get Levi addicted to his touch, And when his little Underground boyfriend fucks him again, Levi will only be able to think of Erwin’s hands, strong and steady, stroking him to completion.
Erwin looks at him again, and for the first time, Levi’s demeanor matches his stature. He’s a cornered animal, bewildered and gasping for air.
“Have a good night, Levi,” Erwin bids him farewell and walks away, feeling Levi’s eyes shooting daggers at the target on his back.
The morning brings the scorching summer heat that sticks to the body like melted wax, damp and sticky. Even during the heat wave, the recruits aren’t spared from training in their full uniforms, flying through the air and fighting the sun’s bright rays. Erwin’s training with his squad, running the drills between the trees, keeping their skills sharp for the next expedition. The new recruits, including Levi’s gang, are in Flagon’s group, running titan killing simulation with the wooden targets.
“It’s so hot my balls are melting,” Mike grunts, landing on the branch next to Erwin. His shaggy hair is drenched with sweat.
“Maybe it’s the proximity of titans causing the temperature to rise?” Hange rambles, swinging their legs in the air. “They run hot, so maybe it’s them! If we could only capture one, we could actually solve all of these mysteries.”
“It’s hot 'cause the sun’s shining, not ‘cause of the titans, Hange,” Mike exhales and taps Erwin’s shoulder. “What’cha doing here, Erwin? It’s not every day we see you training with us mortals.”
“I thought I should spin around a little. Have to keep my body in fighting shape.”
Mike gives him a pointed look but doesn’t offer a rebuttal.
“Oh, here they are!” Hange exclaims, pointing to the three figures buzzing through the trees. “The little rascals!”
The tree Underground recruits zoom through the forest, Levi at the helm. He avoids all the moving titan-targets with lightning speed without breaking a sweat, moving with the mastery of a Survey Corps veteran. No. That’s a gross underestimate of Levi’s talent. Never has there been a person who moved quite like Levi, like a bird more than a man, as if his body was made to fly.
“Incredible,” Hange whispers with a slack jaw, staring at him with awe. “How’s that even physically possible?”
The moving target ambushes Levi, attacking him from the side. It’s a common trap that surprises even the veteran Scouts that have been training for years. But apparently not Levi. He moves before even seeing it, like he has eyes on the back of his head. He spins in the circle, holding his swords in a backhanded grip, and swooshes through the air, slashing the wooden nape of the titan with surgical accuracy. The wooden target splits in half like a tree struck by lightning. Levi looks at Erwin, glaring at him with that look of bored superiority, and adjusts his cravat mid-flights.
“Goddamnit,” Mike grunts, clearly annoyed. “Now he’s just showing off.”
“You’re just jealous because he’s better than you,” Hange scoffs. “Erwin, have you seen that? Isn’t he amazing? Isn’t he just – just spectacular?”
Erwin stops his lips from curling into a smile. Yes, of course, Levi is spectacular; that’s why Erwin fought tooth and nail to recruit him. But showing favoritism wouldn’t be a good look, People gossip. Erwin’s already heard rumors circling around Levi’s unorthodox recruitment. Nobody before got preferential training and skipped the training corps, nobody but Levi and, by extension, his less talented friends.
“He’s too confident. Too much pride,” Erwin surmises. “His skills are not tested on the field. We’ll see if he gets back alive.”
“Oh, come on!” Hange exclaims. “How could he not? If he doesn’t survive, none of us stand a chance!”
But Erwin shoots his anchors to the tree and propels himself forward, trailing Levi’s flight path. When he makes it out of the forest, Flagon is already chewing Levi off for not following protocol, holding swords improperly, and turning the training into a spectacle.
“This is not a goddamn theater performance!” Flagon shouts, and Levi rolls his eyes. “Just wait until you see a real titan and shit your pants!”
Levi barely bothers to look at him, inspecting his nailbeds for any splinters and dirt. Such insubordination. If Commander Shadis saw Levi pay so little respect to the military command, he would have questioned Erwin’s judgment again. But Shadis is a man who doesn’t see the forest from the trees; he is small-minded and stuck in a rut. He doesn’t see the vision of what the Scouts could achieve with the right strategy under the proper leadership.
“I did as instructed,” Levi protests calmly. “I slashed the nape of those wooden dummies. Who gives a shit how I did it as long as it gets done?”
“What he wants to say,” Farlan interrupts, putting his arms in front of Levi like a shield. How quaint. “We might not have proper training, but we’re doing our best.”
Farlan salutes using the wrong side of his fist. He really is a sincere boy; sincere, but boring. Levi rolls his eyes, disinterested until he catches a glimpse of Erwin watching the scene from a distance. When Levi notices him, he changes his stance, shifting his weight on one leg, so his spine and shoulders elongate and curve. He’s standing like a man being watched, relishing the attention.
“Squad leader Flagon,” Erwin calls the tall Scout. “Thank you for your service. I will handle this matter.”
Flagon looks at Erwin with silent disapproval. He’s been a vocal opposition to Levi’s band joining the Scouts ever since he heard about Erwin’s Underground operation.
“Captain Smith,” he says, polite but distant. “Your pet project has been causing trouble the whole morning.”
He notices Farlan visibly flinch when he hearing the words pet project.
“I see,” Erwin says, meeting Levi’s eyes. “Thank you for telling me.”
Flagon salutes and reluctantly shoots his ODM to the trees, flying away from the scene.
Erwin looks at Levi again, noticing how his uniform is spotlessly clean despite the unbearable humidity in the air. Only his hair is slightly damp, beads of sweat shining on his forehead. He steps closer, noticing Levi’s eyes twinkle with curiosity for the first time.
“Why are you disobeying your superior?” Erwin asks calmly.
“Tch,” Levi scoffs but doesn’t respond, crossing his arms like a shield.
“He isn’t, Sir,” Farlan interjects. “It’s just how he’s used to holding his blades. It’s easier for you, ain’t–” he stops in his tracks and corrects himself– “isn’t that right, Levi?”
Levi shrugs, still staring at Erwin. “You saw me split that dummy titan in half,” he responds. “Do you have any comments on my performance? Anything I should improve, Captain?”
Oh, so the added flourish and spins were because Levi wanted to throw a performance for his audience. Erwin keeps his face still, not showing any emotions. He doesn’t want to stroke his ego.
“You performed well,” Erwin says plainly. “But you used too much gas. We don’t kill to show off, Levi. We kill to survive. Remember that outside of the Walls. It would be a shame to lose you because of your own recklessness.”
Levi looks away, taking a step closer to Farlan. The other boy looks at Erwin definitely.
“Thank you for your concern about us, Sir,” Farlan says plainly, standing a bit taller and puffing his chest.
“I wasn’t concerned,” Erwin responds, looking Levi in the eyes. “I don’t like to waste my time on bad bets.”
“And which one am I? A bad bet or a good one?” Levi hisses so low his voice is almost a growl.
“That depends entirely on you,” Erwin responds, touching Levi’s shoulder and squeezing it. He sees Farlan’s eyes widen, but instead of letting Levi go, he leans and whispers into his ear. “Don’t get yourself killed because of your pride. I need you alive, Levi.”
Erwin walks away, leaving Levi and Farlan behind. He joins Hange and Miche, who have made it out of the forest and have been observing him from afar.
“What was that about?” Hange asks, their voice laced with curiosity.
“We were going over military protocol,” Erwin says nonchalantly. “They’ll learn soon enough.”
They walk toward the headquarters. Erwin has a headache thumping in his temples from the heat. The stone walls of the headquarters provide some respite, making breathing easier. Hange scurries back to the basement, where they have their makeshift lab. Erwin heads to his office with Mike in step. They are silent while they walk. Mike isn’t a man of many words, but the silence between them is different than usual – tense, filled with things unspoken.
“Is the little guy behaving?” Mike breaks the ice.
“He’s adjusting. It will take a while,” Erwin answers, keeping his voice even.
He sniffs as if trying to smell out what Erwin’s hiding.
“You’re scheming something,” Mike hisses, taking Erwin by the shoulder. “I can smell it all over you.”
Erwin’s expression darkens into a stern mask. “I don’t know what you mean,” he brushes him off, feigning ignorance.
“You reek of trouble,” he clarifies. “Keep a cool head, don’t let –” Mike bites his tongue and shakes his head with a groan.
“He won’t kill me if that’s what you’re worried about,” Erwin sweeps aside Mike’s remark.
“That’s not what I am worried about,” Mike utters after a long pause. “It’s you, the look in your eyes. Be careful, Erwin.”
Erwin doesn’t appreciate Mike’s tone but knows some of it comes from his dislike of Levi and the entire rationale of his recruitment. Despite his disgruntled attitude, Mike rarely goes against Erwin’s strategy or questions his actions. On the field, he trusts him with his life. But this feels different. personal. He and his strange talent can probably sniff out all the tension brewing between Erwin and the mysterious recruit from the Underground.
Erwin locks himself in his office, brushing the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. He opens the drawer to retrieve his formation plans, but something catches his eye. The heavy book he uses as a paperweight has shifted, just slightly, but enough for Erwin's keen eyes to notice. Someone has been in his office and rifled through his belongings while he was on the training ground. If it were Levi, Erwin would hope he would have been neater in covering his tracks. Perhaps it was Farlan or their young companion, the redhead girl, who fits in with the recruits.
Erwin taps his breast pocket, where he keeps the fabricated documents that Levi and his subordinates are after. He shrugs and opens his plans, composing a formation strategy that Shadis refuses to use. Erwin knows it's a clever idea. What's the point of charging forward without a plan other than death? With his long-distance formation, the Scouts could avoid the Titans and chart all undiscovered territories, and Erwin could come closer to the truth he's been seeking.
As the morning turns into afternoon and rushes towards evening, Erwin lights a candle to see his writings. Neverending days spent hunched over his desk just so more children can die because of Shadis’ stubbornness. With a heavy sigh, he stands up and stretches, rolling out the kinks in his back. At thirty, his bones already pop like he's an old man. The rumble in his stomach reminds him that he missed dinner and it’s already close to midnight. Reluctantly, Erwin leaves his desk and steps out of the office towards the mess hall.
However, as he steps into the hallway, he sees a shadowy figure leaning against the wall with his back pressed firmly against the cold stone. Even while he's hiding in the dark corridor, Erwin knows the man waiting for him is Levi. Nobody is as elusive or blends into the shadows like Levi, almost as if he doesn’t have a corporeal form but floats in the darkness like a thundering cloud.
Levi's lurking in the hallway like he's in a hideaway, waiting for him.
“Levi,” Erwin addresses him as he passes, acknowledging him with nothing but a curt nod. He doesn’t plan on stopping to strike up a conversation with him and keeps a steady step. The frown between Levi’s brows deepens but he doesn’t show any other indication Erwin’s disregard irks him.
"Oi, Blondie," Levi calls out, his voice tinged with annoyance. "What's your deal?"
Erwin turns and looks Levi up and down, taking in the sight of him propped against the wall, slouching and illuminated by dim candlelight.
"I beg your pardon?" Erwin responds coolly.
"Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you," Levi snaps.
Erwin approaches, casting a long shadow in the narrow corridor. He towers over Levi, who gazes back at him with those pale-gray eyes that seem to come alive only when Erwin is near. Levi is like a finely honed blade, beautiful to behold and painful when wielded against you. So much of Levi's potential remains untapped, for no one has dared to unlock all that hidden power for a glorious purpose.
Erwin presses his knee between Levi's legs, forcing them apart, and rests his hand on the stone wall beside Levi's head, pushing him to straighten his spine and press against the flat surface.
"You're being a brat," Erwin observes, his voice steady like a strict teacher.
"Is this some kind of sick game to you?" Levi retorts, getting in Erwin's face.
Fury courses through Levi's compact frame, every muscle and nerve tingling with rage.
"I don't have time for games," Erwin counters. "I think you've got the wrong impression of what this is."
Levi scoffs, dismissing Erwin’s deflection. And then, in a sudden and violent motion, he grabs Erwin's collar and throws him around, manhandling him with the strength of a dozen men. Levi twists Erwin around and slams him into the wall, causing Erwin's head to strike the stone, a dull ache throbbing at the back of his skull. It seems impossible for someone so small and delicate to possess such brute strength.
“And what the hell is this, huh?” Levi hisses, pressing Erwin against the wall. “What do you want from me?”
Erwin doesn’t let Levi’s outburst intimidate him. Instead, he rests his hand on Levi’s white-knuckled fist and gently brushes his thumb against them. “I want your strength. I want you to fight for us – for humanity. I thought I made that clear.”
“And die in titan’s mouth?”
“No.” Erwin licks his lips and moves his other hand on Levi’s waist, right above his buttock curve. “I told you already. I need you alive.”
"Why?" Levi grips Erwin's collar tightly, his eyes blown wide with rage, the black pupils swallowing the pale greys. He's seething, his breaths shallow and rapid. "Why me?"
Erwin meets Levi's gaze calmly, running his fingers down Levi's spine in a soothing motion as if trying to tame a wild animal. "Well, aren't you the strongest in the Underground?" he asks, his tone nonchalant
"And that's it? Is that really all you want?" Levi sneers, fury lacing his words.
Erwin remains silent, knowing fully what answer Levi wants to hear but refusing to give it. The truth is too terrifying to admit, even to himself. You're my dark obsession - my greatest hope. My ruin - my salvation. He cannot bring himself to say these words to a stranger he's just met, to this enigma that holds his dreams hostage.
"You're a soldier now," Erwin says, his voice unwavering. "Dedicate your skill to humanity. Nothing else matters. Without you, there’s no way forward."
Levi scoffs, and for the first time, Erwin can imagine how his laugh would sound - dry and low, like the breaking of bones.
"Spare me this bullshit!" Levi's voice is a seething snarl as he rises on his tiptoes, slamming Erwin against the wall with a force that belies his small frame. Pressing himself against Erwin’s body, Levi's chin rests on his chest, the tip of his pointed nose grazing the soft skin of Erwin's neck. Every muscle in Levi's body is tense, taut like a wire strung too tightly. If Erwin so much as moves a muscle, Levi might snap. "I know you wanna fuck me," he growls, eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and desire. "Stop pretending and just admit it, you pervert."
Erwin's smile is slow and knowing as he cups Levi's chin with one hand, the other slipping between Levi's legs to palm his bulging erection. "Is that so?" he murmurs, rubbing his thumb over the stretched fabric. "It looks to me like you're the one begging to be fucked."
Levi's face contorts in a mix of shame and disgust, but he's unable to pull away as Erwin wraps his arms around him, keeping him steady. All that unimaginable power, trembling in Erwin’s arms. Levi’s frozen, waiting, expecting Erwin to move, staring at him with those prideful eyes. Erwin rubs his palm against the stretched fabric, feeling the outline of Levi's cock. "Shh, shh," he soothes. "It's alright."
Levi’s panting now, every fiber of his being ready to attack. But somehow, Erwin knows he’s got the upper hand, that all he needs to do is reach and take what he wants, and Levi will do nothing to stop him.
With a practiced ease, Erwin unbuttons Levi’s trousers and pushes his hand inside, cupping his heavy balls. Upon contact, Levi groans, his throat producing a deprived sound of unfiltered want. “Mmm, look how much you want it. Didn’t know you were such a slut.”
“Fuck you.” Levi hisses, but his voice is frail. He’s not resisting any longer.
“One more word, and I’ll stop,” Erwin says slowly, rubbing his cock, small and slender in his hand. The difference in their bodies thrills me. “One word, Levi.”
Levi presses his mouth in a tight line, not saying a word. Oh, how fascinating! To have Levi like this, pressed and aching in his arms, his arousal palpable and throbbing in Erwin’s steady hands. Erwin should stop, but he grows braver in the darkness. Reckless., he takes advantage of this rare moment of weakness. It’s obscene really, touching Levi like this, having his body suddenly release tension like the unwinding of the clock, growing slack in his arms. He’s drunk on this mysterious power.
Erwin takes his hand away from Levi’s cock for a moment and spits in it lewdly, making his palm slick. He grabs Levi again, moving his hand up and down, restricted by the tight fabric of his uniform pants. It can’t be satisfying, too shallow, not enough friction, too rough, and yet Levi presses his forehead against Erwin’s chest, brushing his nose against the linen that smells musky after the long day of labor. Levi breathes him in, thrusting his hips into Erwin’s palm to accelerate the pace. He’s eager, racing toward the climax.
Erwin grunts and moves his other hand on the slope of Levi’s ass, pressing his fingers against the fabric, spreading his cheeks, and feeling the outline of his tight bud. He’s hard also, holding himself back from fucking into Levi’s tight body, making him moan and cry his name, so the whole Survey Corps can see who got to tame the toughest criminal Underground. Levi’s swallowing his moans, biting into the flesh of his fist to muffle his cries. He’s close; his eyes are shut as if he’s in pain, and his body reacts instinctively, more like an animal than a human. Erwin presses his fingers deeper, massaging Levi’s entrance through the fabric, groping and rubbing his pert ass.
“Mgh,” Levi lets out a pathetic moan, arching his hips into Erwin’s hands. His body can’t hide his growing desperation, the deep urge to be fucked.
“Do you think I recruited you for this?” Erwin whispers in his ear, circling his thumb against Levi’s glistening slit. “To use you for my pleasure? Bend you over my desk, fuck you until you’re all wrung out and empty. Is that what you want, hmm, Levi?”
Levi gasps, his eyes rolling in his sockets. He’s drooling now, rocking up into Erwin’s fist.
“Are you gonna come?” Erwin mocks, leaning to lick the pale strip of Levi’s neck. He wants to suck on it, make him red and purple. “God, who would have thought the notorious criminal, the nightmare of the MPs is nothing but a common whore.”
Levi comes like a drowning man gasping for air, a prisoner tasting freedom after decades of imprisonment, a man seeing the sun for the first time. A mixture of ecstasy, relief, panic, and something else – a revelation. Erwin’s fist is hot, cum dripping down his palm. And as Levi’s cock softens, Ewin lets him go and wipes his hand on Levi’s clean shirt. Levi’s eyes darken with horror and disgust, his nostrils flaring up as he smells the semen on his clothes.
“What the fuck?” he utters, still catching his breath, leaping away from Erwin as if scalded. Fumbling with his trousers, he tucks himself into his underwear. “That’s filthy!”
Levi just stares at him, filled with revulsion and ire. Desperate to take all that anger on Erwin’s body.
“Was it better than when he fucks you?” Erwin inquires, his eyes piercing. Levi's mouth opens and closes, left speechless like a recruit encountering a Titan for the first time. “That's what I thought." Erwin says, stepping towards Levi once more. He buttons up his opened shirt, readjusting his cravat as if Levi were about to present himself before the king.
“I’ll see you again, Levi.”
And with that, Erwin walks away.
Once more, in the deep of night, Erwin treads through the barracks, his steps leading him towards the showers. He espies a sliver of light shining through Levi's open door as he approaches. The murmurs of voices, accompanied by slaps and the needy moans that filter through the door crack, catch his ear. Like a vigilant sentinel on a lookout, Erwin lingers in the shadows, his breath held in suspense as he watches the scene before him with keen eyes.
Levi’s svelte, muscular legs wrap around Farlan’s waist, holding him in a lock as the fair-haired boy fucks him. Farlan’s face is buried in Levi’s neck, kissing him and grunting, lost in pleasure. Levi’s louder than before, making needy, high-pitched moans, eager like a well-trained whore. “There, oh there! You feel so good – keep going – ahh! Ahh, there!” He cries, encouraging Farlan to fuck him harder. “Lee, Lee, what got into you?” Farlan asks, delighted with Levi’s performance. It’s fake. Erwin can tell right away. It’s just for show.
But instead of giving an answer, Levi turns his head toward the door, staring at the crack, his eyes two burning candles ready to set the whole room ablaze. Levi stares directly at the door, his eyes hypnotized by the narrow opening.
“Fuck me – fuck me – oh – fuck me –” he chants, staring ahead directly at Erwin’s peeping eye. He looks defiantly, staring at the invisible enemy directly, daring him to keep looking.
“Do it – do it. Fuck me.”
Erwin steps back, the weight of realization striking him like thunder. Levi left that door cracked open on purpose. He wanted to be seen – wanted Erwin to witness this. All of this farce is for Erwin’s eyes only.
“Don’t you worry, Levi,” Erwin thinks with a smirk. “I’ll fuck you soon enough.”