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Winters were always more of a leisure time for the survey corps. The barracks half empty, soldiers chose the warmth of their families and loved ones over the cold damp quarters. Only those who were left behind by family and loved ones, those who had no homes to go back to, stayed behind. They found warmth and company in each other during the cold season.
Levi found that he quite liked the snow, the white landscape made everything look clean and nice. Although his fingertips almost froze, he still enjoyed the warmth after feeling cold.
Levi had made a habit of sitting by the fireplace in Erwin’s office. They had moved two armchairs near the fireplace to keep warm during long cold nights. It was decidedly his most favorable part of this winter. The hot tea cup in his hand, soft chatter while the wind blew outside the windows. Sometimes Hange would join them, it turns into wild cackles and silly banter on those nights.
Levi makes his way to Hange’s lab before going to Erwin’s. He hadn’t seen them since the morning, he’s a little concerned they had poisoned themselves or something.
“Four eyes you in here?” Levi treads carefully through containers filled with mysterious objects. He catches some of them moving and feels a whole body shiver. Disgusting.
“Levi my knight in shining armor, I’m here,” Hange screams from the end of the lab. Their voice seem a bit muffled.
Levi finds Hange face down on the ground pinned by a huge web. Of course they can’t be unsupervised for a few hours without almost killing themselves.
“How did this even happen!” Levi asks in amusement.
“Well, I was tinkering with my new web for capturing titans, then thought - what would a titan feel like if he was captured under this - and I got so excited I thought I would try it myself and put myself in their perspective you know?” Hange explains while trying to lift their head from the ground. “The only problem is I forgot that I actually need someone to get me out of it haha, I forgot my sweet Moblit has gone home.” They finish sadly.
“So you’ve been down there since morning!” Levi asks while looking around trying to find a way to get them out.
“More or less, I’ve tried screaming for about an hour then decided I should save energy and took a nap.”
“Should I cut it or..?” Levi ignores the babbling and focuses on getting them out.
“No no! my dear friend, I will cut your fingers. Please don’t. There should be a big claw hammer here somewhere.”
“You will cut the fingers of your knight, that's poor judgement if you ask me.” Levi says mildly while scanning the garbage dump Hange calls a lab.
Levi locates the hammer as Hange babbles about how a few fingers wouldn’t hurt a fearless knight such as himself, and how they will have his fingers experimented on. Levi imagines his fingers swimming in one of their jars and feels nauseous.
“Shut up For eyes, or I’ll leave you till your sweet Mobey comes and gets you out in a week or something.” Levi says in a warning as he approaches one big nail beside Hange’s head and starts working on it.
Hange out of their web, goes for a hug, but Levi dodges easily.
“You should stop experimenting on yourself dumbass, and wait until your partner comes back.” Levi scolds them.
Hange’s smile is big and menace,”But where’s the fun in that? Besides, I have interesting data to log from this experience. Do you want to hear it?” Hange asks, tilting their head, eyes shining.
Levi turns his head away fast, already on his way out, ”Not interested. Bye.”
Levi makes himself comfortable on Erwin’s armchair and sips his tea, appreciating the warmth coming from the fireplace. Erwin, despite the holiday, still finds a way to work, papers to sign and mail to be delivered. But most nights when the aroma of the chamamoil fills the office and the warmth of the fire lures him enough to ignore his work, Erwin joins Levi and sits on his own armchair by the fire.
“I can’t believe they’ve been stuck there for hours face pressed to the fucking floor, god knows what toxins they may have spilled on it also I’m pretty sure there is a rat or two that would feast on them if they stayed there long enough.” Levi had been telling Erwin of the state he found Hange in before coming here. And he could argue it’s not gossip if he’s stating the truth, but honestly he’s not above gossiping. “ And instead of finding ways to get themselves out, you know what they did? they took a fucking nap!”
Erwin has been holding his laugh for a while now and he just throws his head back and laughs with his whole chest as Levi finishes his story.
“They say there is a thin line between genius and insanity.” Erwin says with amusement, his cheeks still a little flushed from laughter.
Levi stares at the man before him, captivated by the unarmed image of the blonde, as warmth ignites in his chest, before replaying,“They’re toeing that line and leaning more towards insanity.” Levi says, “I always wondered, with how smart Hange is, why are they here and not in some lab in Mitras building a flying machine or some shit.”
“Hange is a brilliant person with a lot of challenging ideas. They were simply threatened by Hange’s ideas, by their smarts, so they cast Hange away. Hence why they are here now.” Erwin explains with a sad smile.
“The outcast branch, huh” Levi adds unhelpfully. He inspects Erwin for a moment. Smart, handsome, was the top of his class he wonders aloud, “How did you wind up here anyway?”
Erwin smirks a little, turning his head to Levi, “I am an outcast myself.”
Bullshit Levi thinks, “Was your blonde hair too shiny for them or your eyes a little too blue, huh golden boy?” Levi asks sarcastically, “You could’ve been sitting on your fat ass as a military police commander by now”
Erwin smiles sadly, “I wanted to see the outside world with my own eyes,” He turns his head to the fireplace. The flames reflect in his eyes, “To make sure.” He almost whispers.
Levi’s mesmerized by this man who’d throw a peaceful life for his curiosity, maybe he’s a little insane and that’s why he fits here perfectly. Levi watches the blonde as he watches the flames and he’s reminded of another pair of eyes with the same look, the same fire. “You have the same look as that crazy brat.”
“Crazy brat? You mean Eren” Erwin asks in confusion.
“His eyes burn with dissatisfaction at everything and anything he can’t control.” Levi answers.
“You’re saying I’m the same!” Erwin seems amused.
“Sometimes.” Levi huffs.
“So you’re saying I have the eyes of a newly minted soldier in my tinder years?” Erwin turns his face to Levi, his tone playful, “I must look younger than I thought.”
Levi rolls his eyes, “I’m not praising you.”
Erwin laughs a little “I know.”
“I bet you we’re insufferable in your cadet days, telling everyone how they were wrong in detail with a straight face. ”Levi can see the image vividly, teanager Erwin explaining how the text book is not reliable enough while his upper officers would just sight and ask him to please shut up.
“I was indeed insufferable, but that is only one reason of many.” He chuckles. “My fellow cadets would gather and drink and play games after training. On some occasions they would ask me to join them, or Nile and Mike would drag me out forcefully.” He smiles to himself, reminiscing, “They hated when I joined the games though. I almost always won and they really did not enjoy losing to me.”
Levi is curious now, “What kind of games? Did you mug all their money or something?”
“Poker, gambling and some other games I can’t recall,” Erwin answers, “No, I did not need the money back then, so I gambled for favors instead.” He finishes innocently.
Levi should’ve guessed, of course. He fights the amused smile off his lips, “How come we never played you and I,” Levi is very sure of his capabilities, he grew up in the underground after all.
“I haven't had the time for leisure since becoming a squad leader.” Erwin says regretfully.
“Well, are you busy now!” Levi wants to pry the glimpse of the teenager out of this rigged man, he wants to see the more childish, immature versions of him so badly.
“I don’t have any cards in here, I used to have a chess board, but I lost it with the old office. “ Erwin looks around thoughtfully, “Ah, yes there was this silly game they used to play when we were young but it’s not as fun as the others.”
“Well, we could play my games then, but all involve physical strength and maybe some knives. “ Levi knows he could beat Erwin’s ass easily in those.
“I feel I’m at a disadvantage, it’s your field after all.” Erwin counters, “How about we play one game of your choice, and one of mine. “ Ever the negotiator.
“Okay, I’ll choose arm wrestling then.” Levi picks a game he knows he has mastered.
Erwin just smiles before standing up and coming back with a whiskey bottle and two glasses. He pours half of the glasses for each.
“Are you trying to make me drunk, because that’s not gonna help you win this game.”
“Games and alcohol always come together. Instead of favors or money, the loser has to take a shot. How about that?” Erwin tilts his head in question.
“If you say so.” Levi has a feeling Erwin just wanted a reason to drink, but he doesn’t mind, it could ease a little of the cold. Besides Erwin will probably have to drink more which will tip the scales to Levi’s favour.
They lean into the table in front of them clasping hands, Levi’s hand almost disappears in Erwin’s. They both stare at their hands for a moment, the difference in size almost seems ridiculous, Levi’s hand pale, lean callous and cold. Erwin’s is more meaty, big, ghosted with blonde and warm.
Levi ends up winning two rounds out of three, he will admit later that he got distracted by blonde lashes resting softly on flushed cheekbones after two glasses of whiskey as the man before him closed his eyes in concentration. But it seems as a consolation for Erwin that he bested him at least in one round.
Levi, one glass in, finds he is more fired up to win against Erwin, to fill him up with alcohol until he’s a mumbling mess. Oh how he would love to see that.
“So, what’s your game blondie?” Levi asks.
“Well, there’s this game that requires no cards nor boards, only your fingers. It’s called ‘never have I ever’.”
“I’ve never heard of it. How do you play?”
“I would say for example never have I ever had black hair, then you would have to lower one finger down. The first to close all his fingers loses. We could add the drinking rule every three fingers.” Erwin explains.
“Why not every finger?” Levi raises an eyebrow.
“Well, mainly to save me some face.” Erwin smiles, bashful. It seems he’s already a little tipsy.
“Okay, you start then.”
“Never have I ever been wanted by the police.” Erwin supplies immediately.
Levi stares, unamused. He lowers a finger down while thinking how to pay him back, “Never have I ever been a long ass tree.”
“That will lose you one round you know. You have to be specific.” Erwin warns, mildly.
Levi rolls his eyes, “Fine. Never have I ever had bushy eyebrows.”
Erwin rises one of the said eyebrows, “I wouldn’t call them-“
“Do you comp them in the morning or not?” Levi interrupts him.
Erwin’s left eye twitches a little, and he refuses to answer.
“Just lower your damn finger. Smith” Levi’s starting to get the chilslish side he was hoping to see.
Erwin does lower his finger eventually albeit with a bout. He still doesn’t seem convinced, but Levi could just drag anyone from the barracks right now and they would confirm. Maybe not to their commander's face, but Levi could scare it out of them.
Erwin turns to Levi with a new fire in his eyes, it seems he’s starting to get serious. Levi already knew he was a competitive bastard.
“Never have I ever stabbed someone.” Erwin says with a straight face.
Levi simply lowers his second finger. Not wanting to argue on that. Erwin seems intrigued but he doesn’t press it for both of their sakes.
“Never have I ever gone behind my superior officer’s back.”
“Alright, And you haven’t?”
“I don’t need to. I’ll just do it to your face.”
“Fair enough.”
They go back and forth for a while. Erwin chugs his fourth glass, and Levi his third.
Levi is still completely sober by the third glass, while Erwin is struggling to take his fourth. Levi snatches the glass from him, swallowing in one gulp. The blonde stares, dumbfounded.
“My knight in shining armor.” Erwin says, smiling sweetly.
“Yeah, yeah I’m everyone’s knight today apparently. Besides, you've been chugging all the good liquor by yourself.” Levi waves him off.
“I thought you were only my knight, are you going behind your superior officer Levi.” Erwin squints his eyes at him, his tone playful.
Levi snickers, “The alcohol has gone straight to your head, huh.”
“I feel completely fine, good even,” Erwin hums pleasantly. He rests his head on his hand leaning forward, minimizing the space between them.
Staring straight to Levi’s eyes, the side of his face is draped in warm gold from the fire. Intense blue meeting metal grey. Levi feels the blow before the hit.
“Never have I ever slept with someone in my own bed.”
Levi tries to hide the shock, but fails terribly. Eyes wide, mouth a little open. When did the atmosphere in this room change to something electric, charged.
Erwin is still starting, Levi thought he was on his way to pass out drunk, but apparently he is still sharp, analytical even.
Levi schools his face, “Well, that was self inflicted.”
“I said my own bed, not any bed.”
“Ah, I’m also off the hooks then.”
Erwin squints his eyes a little. Levi leans forward and mimics Erwin’s stance shortening the already small distance.
If Erwin wants to go there, Levi will follow then. He studies the man before him. Of course Erwin wasn’t a virgin, he was tall, handsome, and smart, but not bringing someone to your bed that could tell you something. Levi almost can’t bring himself to imagine Erwin sleeping with some stranger. The thought strangely makes him nauseous. Still he will gamble this one, just to make sure.
“Never have I ever hired a prostitute.” Levi says, holding his breath.
Erwin’s face doesn’t falter. He just keeps his fingers still, pointedly.
Relief washes over Levi like a warm blanket. Erwin is still staring with those calculating eyes so Levi shakes these feelings away before they inspire questions he has no answer to.
“What! you did it behind the stables like these dirty brats.” Levi can’t help but voice his confusion aloud.
Erwin chuckles softly, “I simply rented an inn or we took it to their place.”
That seems about right, anyone would take Erwin to their bed, he gives the energy of a responsible man. Also helps with discretion. Levi also catches that Erwin didn’t specify a gender. Curious, he saves it for the next round.
Erwin bonders for a second, then says, “Never have I ever had a lover.”
“Liar liar pants on fire, I’ll light them up myself.” Levi can’t believe this man didn’t have a lover, this is outrageous.
Erwin laughs, “It’s true, I just find serious relationships inconvenient.” He spares a look to Levi’s hand, “You also seem to agree.”
“We considered it more of a weakness. Claiming someone as your own in the underground is like walking the streets with your ribs wide open, your heart exposed to the stingy air for anyone to poke at. Anyway in my case it just didn’t appeal to me.”
“That’s terrifyingly romantic.” Erwin says with a creepy fascinated smile planted on his face.
Levi shakes his head disapproving. He turns back to his curiosity from the last round. Levi ponders if it’s worth exposing himself, but decides it would be better to just put it out there if it’s not already out anyway.
Levi locks his eyes with Erwin’s, “Never have I ever slept with a man.” He says lowering his finger. It’s a gamble, he only has three left, but it’s worth it.
Erwin raises his eyebrows the moment he sees Levi’s finger while also lowering his. The whole moment seems silly, two adults measuring each other’s sexuality and sex life through a game. They could just have a conversation like normal people, but Levi can’t deny the acceleration it brings, the pondering and guessing.
Erwin chuckles softly, his eyes shining in the dim lighting of the office. “I see,”
Levi feels something akin to a fire thrumming in his veins. Erwin was always magnetizing in a way Levi cannot comprehend. He would pull these strange feelings that Levi had never felt with any of his past flings. It was agonizing in a way, but also comforting. Levi used to think it was friendship, comradery but there was an underlying longing that can’t be said about a friend nor a comrade. A desire to be known, to be seen and accepted by the other person. It was all new and terrifying, so Levi buried it down and never dwelled on it. But here in Erwin’s office, his face inches away from Levi’s, the logs cracking in the fireplace and the wind blowing outside the window, Levi finds it all resurface and wash over him like heavy summer rain, sudden in its arrival, intense but warm.
Levi pours himself a glass ignoring the game rules and chugges down in one go to Erwin’s amusement. It burns its way through his throat, but it's a much needed burn. “Your turn.” Levi says.
“Okay, never have I ever been attracted to someone who works with me.” Erwin says, his eyes searching Levi’s face. And they are so close goddammit.
Levi lowers his finger unconsciously, as Erwin does the same. It’s as if they were stuck in a haze, staring into each other’s eyes. Magnetized.
Levi pulls himself together, he still wants to win this game, prove that- whatever he was trying to prove. So he settles for, “Never have I ever kissed someone.”
Levi has never been a kisser, some of his flings tried to, he denied all of them of course, he found the idea disgusting so it was a rule for him. No kissing. He’s pretty sure Erwin had kissed painted lips and sucked on heavy breasts before. It just fits with his whole golden boy persona, despite the attachment thing he has going on anyway.
Erwin seems appalled by the revelation, conflicted even. Levi smirks waiting for Erwin to lower his finger, but is met by Erwin leaning forward suddenly.
Levi opens his eyes wide feeling the ghost of a kiss, blum lips feather light on his own before disappearing as fast as they come.
Levi sucks in a shuddering breath.
Ah,
Levi’s screwed,
He can’t bring a single thought to the front of his head. He’s really screwed, he should be breaking Erwin’s nose by now instead of zoning out. But weirdly he finds that he doesn’t want to harm the man before him. Instead he wants to cradle his face gently and- and-
Levi looks at Erwin’s face for an explanation, but he’s met with mild features as always the bastard can hide behind his unreadable mask. “Did you just kiss me so I would lose this round?”
“Was it overboard?” Erwin asks, his eyes roaming Levi’s face, lingering on his lips before meeting Levi’s eyes again.
Fine, if Erwin wants to play dirty Levi can play too. He gets up and stands in front of Erwin, looks down at him before settling on his lap, straddling his thighs.
Erwin takes a deep breath, his broad chest expanding under his sweater and looks up to Levi, the flush on his cheekbones very apparent this close, his blue eyes contrasting with the pink. He is beautiful, Levi will never not admit that.
“Never haveI ever had my captain sitting on my lap.” Levi says, smirking down at the blonde before leaning back, taking the whiskey bottle and lining it with Erwin’s lips, “Chugg chugg big boy.”
The man opens his mouth and drinks, keeping his eyes glued to Levi’s own the whole time.
A few drops escape, sliding down his chin. Levi follows them with his eyes, mesmerized. Before wiping it softly with his hand.
Erwin is still staring up at Levi, his eyes a little bit glassy. This game is getting dangerous, but Erwin is almost right where Levi wanted him to be. It’s not what Levi expected to be honest. The blonde man is not a messy drunk, he’s still the same calculating bastard if not a little bit honest and daring.
“Have you really never been kissed before?” Erwin asks, slurring a bit.
“Well now I have thanks to you.” Levi says sarcastically.
“If I offended you in any-
Levi interrupts him, “Relax blondie, you just caught me off guard.” If Levi wanted he would have had the man face down planted to the floor before he even got the chance to touch him. But Levi lays all his walls down when he’s next to this man.
Only this gorgeous man. With his bushy brows, big ambitions and suicidal plans.
“D- did you hate it?” Erwin asks, timid. It doesn’t suit him.
“Oh, you would certainly know if I hated it, you and everyone else who will see your face tomorrow.” Levi tells him, patting his cheeks sweetly.
Erwin chuckles softly.
“Can I kiss you again?” He asks seriously.
“Are you drunk?”
“Maybe.”
“Will you regret it tomorrow?”
“Never.”
“Okay.”
Erwin places both his hands to Levi’s waist, pulling him closer. Levi studies Erwin’s face as he closes the distance, he places his hands to warm cheeks before closing his eyes, meeting him in the middle.
This was inevitable. He thinks.
Erwin kisses gently like he’s afraid Levi might break. He kisses his upper lip, then the lower lip. His lips softer than Levi could ever imagine. This feels good, Levi decides. Cradled in Erwin’s arms, it feels right.
Levi leans more into the kiss, wanting more, but Erwin breaks it and sighs softly against his lips. His eyes closed, Erwin leans his forehead against Levi’s own.
Breathing softly, the warmth of it all wraps around Levi like a blanket.
Levi might not be an expert, but he’s a quick learner. He leans forward and takes Erwin’s bottom lip between his, sucking on it with a new found fascination.
Erwin gasps, but takes no time to kiss back. It starts uncoordinated, but quickly turns into a rhythmic dance of their lips.
Levi feels Erwin’s tongue on his lower lip. He leans back and stares down at the man below him. Erwin’s eyes flutter open. If Levi thought the flush was pronounced then, he thought wrong. It’s spreading to the tip of his nose now, a lovely shade of pink matching his lips.
Levi can’t help it, he caresses the side of his face, affectionately. “Do you kiss all your one night flings or whatever this timidly?” He teases.
“But you're not a one night fling.”
“Then what am I?”
Erwin seems to consider for a moment before saying, “You’re my knight in shining armor.” Smiling up at Levi, sweetly.
Levi squints his eyes at him feeling a tinge of jealousy, “Kiss me like we just met at a bar or something then.”
They say curiosity killed the cat, well it’s better to die knowing.
Erwin places his thumb under Levi’s bottom lip and pulls down, diving tongue first into Levi’s mouth, licking into his mouth, Levi groans. He’s never felt like this before. It’s like his whole body is on fire, simmering. He’s flabbergasted at his own dick giving a shudder of interest at spit exchange, when usually the idea only could get him soft in seconds.
Levi squeezes his eyes shut and clings onto blonde strands, it’s all he can do.
Erwin licks, sucks and nipples, humming in content between kisses, the timid sweet pecks from before seems like child's play compared to this.
Levi was never a passive partner, despite the missing experience, he yanks at blonde hair, breaking the kiss.
Erwin releases a breath, his lips swollen, shining from his endeavor. His eyes half lidded with lust.
Levi leans in and licks at his lips, Erwin shudders. It’s time for Levi to demonstrate what he learned. He bites softly at Erwin’s bottom lip before pecking it sweetly.
Licking into someone’s mouth is a weird thing, sloppy, hot, and accelerating. After what feels like an eternity of intense making out Levi finds himself arching his back, Erwin’s hands roaming his body from his chest back to his thighs. Levi’s blood seems to follow the path of those fingers.
“Erwin,” Levi pants, “We- we should stop.”
Erwin leans his head on Levi’s shoulder, “Yeah, okay.” He says, but stays there holding Levi to his chest.
“Are you sleeping on me old man?”
Erwin exhales softly into his shoulder, “Can I?”
“No, we’re getting you to bed, or your old bones will suffer tomorrow.” Levi says, patting him on the back.
“Will you join me then?”
“I thought I was not a one night fling.” Levi pulls Erwin’s face from his shoulder to look at him closely.
“You’re not. I meant actually sleeping.” He leans his head to the side, bashful.
Levi thinks of his shapely bed, the cold mattress and the long hours watching the ceiling waiting for sleep to visit him. He decides watching sleeping Erwin is much more entertaining than watching the ceiling.
“Okay, you go get ready for bed. I’ll meet you in your room after cleaning here.”
Erwin’s smile is so sweet Levi has to avert his eyes. He thinks of all the endearing sides he got to see tonight. Despite forgetting about the game and getting distracted by Erwin’s lips Levi decides he won after all.
“Hey,”
“Hmm?”
“I thought you said you always won those games.”
“I had another goal.”
“What’s that?” Levi asks as they get up from the armchair.
“You.” Erwin says placing a soft kiss on Levi's temple.