Work Text:
Documents. So many documents. Too many to count.
Levi sighed heavily, causing dust to fly up into the air around his head. Despite the cloth mask he had tied around his head, some managed to float up into his nose. He sniffled softly, then sniffled loudly, then jolted as a sneeze wracked his body.
“Bless you,” came a voice from behind Levi. He turned over his shoulder with a glare.
“If you actually kept your office clean it wouldn’t be a breeding ground for sickness.” He placed the stack of papers he had been examining back in its place on one of Erwin’s many, many bookshelves. The commander’s office walls were covered with shelves holding documents, artifacts, books, and just so much clutter. Floor to ceiling, dust covered papers adorned the office. Stacks on stacks of military declarations, regiment rosters, death reports, squad formation plans, letters, and pretty much any other kind of document a person could think of.
“Dust won’t get you sick.” Erwin hummed, obviously in a much less sour mood than Levi. His brow was free of creases, the captain’s was furrowed. The commander’s lips were relaxed, Levi’s were pulled tight in a frown. Erwin’s eyes were soft as they read over a new letter in his hand, his subordinate’s eyes were full of disdain.
“Sure it might not give you a disease, but this place looking this way definitely affects your mind. It’s depressing as shit in here.” Levi huffed.
The edges of Erwin’s lips quirked upwards into a small amused smile. But, he waved a hand dismissively.
“You should really watch your mouth around your superiors, Levi.” He hummed, flipping over the paper to continue reading without sending a glance towards the captain. He was sat at his desk, leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, mug of tea in one hand and paper in the other. He wore only his white button down, brown slacks, boots, and his bolo tie. The survey corps had a week off from training and missions outside the walls to recollect themselves and prepare for the next one, so he wasn’t wearing his ODM gear or his uniform.
Levi scoffed. He adjusted the sleeves of his gray top and brushed dust off of his black slacks from where it had fallen.
“Whatever.” He stood up from where he had been kneeling on the floor to examine Erwin’s old records and untied his cloth mask. In the heat of Summer, on their days off, Levi had convinced Erwin to let him clear out his musty dusty old office. Documents from months and years past sat forgotten on the shelves, taking up space in both the bookshelves and the commander’s consciousness. Levi strongly felt that disposing of all the useless old things in there would improve Erwin’s overall mood (which right now seemed to only ever be improved by Levi’s presence).
Levi grabbed the tied stack of papers he had been examining before the dust decided to attack him. He walked over the Erwin, leaned a hand on his desk, and dropped the papers in front of him. “I can’t read these.” He stated simply.
Levi had long abandoned shame when around Erwin, whether it be sorrow over lost loved ones, memories of his meager upbringing, or his inability to read at a high level. Erwin and Hange had actually been the ones to teach him the basics of reading and writing, an unnecessary skill in the Underground. But with Levi’s biggest purpose being killing titans, literacy training was often left behind for ODM practice. Admitting to Erwin that he had trouble reading official documents with long-worded jibber jabber wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as it would be to tell anyone else.
Erwin finally looked at Levi. His big blue eyes were soft, his small smile widening to an encouraging one. He placed down his tea and paper and uncrossed his legs before swiveling his chair to face Levi fully.
A mild gust of warm Summer wind made the curtains float up in the large open window behind the pair. Levi’s hair swayed in the humid breeze as he looked down at Erwin. The top few buttons of Erwin’s shirt were left undone, so the white linen flapped softly against his chest.
“Let me see.” Erwin hummed quietly, pulling the stack over to himself. “Do you want me to help you read it, or do it myself?” He made sure to ask Levi’s intention thoughtfully. Levi liked that about Erwin: he always asked what Levi wanted. This way he didn’t overstep and become condescending. Their relationship held a specific balance of mentor and mentee, superior and subordinate, and acting as each others’ purposes.
“Help me read it so I can keep sorting them. That way I’ll know for next time.” Levi sighed and motioned towards the stacks he had been creating. Next to the spot where he had been sitting, there were two massive piles of items: one to be trashed or burned, and one to be kept. After that, he’d separate what was being kept into smaller piles based on document type. Then, he’d wipe all the dust from the shelves, sweep the room, mop the floors, and finally put everything back where it belonged. Of course, he’d employ Erwin’s help (especially on the top shelves), but the commander was still stuck working with the ever-arriving letters and papers to sign, so Levi had been left to organize alone for a bit.
“Alright.” Erwin lifted up the papers and glanced over them quickly. He was a fast reader, something Levi used to find absolutely grating, but he had grown to care less over time, even admiring it about his charge.
Levi watched Erwin’s blue eyes pass over the words expertly. While the other was reading, he couldn’t help but let his own travel to Erwin’s blonde hair. The way the sunlight streaming through the open window reflected off of it, making it look like woven gold threads, made a bit of warmth flood his cheeks. He then looked at Erwin's jaw and cheekbones, defined and freshly shaven that morning. Maybe, just maybe, Levi had complained adamantly when his cheeks were attacked with scratchy scruff during Erwin’s early morning nuzzles, so the commander relented and shaved for him. But no matter how much Levi complained about Erwin (his stupid eyebrows, his messy office, his scratchy beard, and so much more), he couldn’t help but be so attached to him.
Levi was pulled away from his analysis of Erwin’s features when the other nodded and looked up at him. Their eyes met and Levi quickly scoffed defensively, turning his head away to hopefully hide his blush. He didn’t want to give Erwin the satisfaction of knowing he was staring.
Erwin smirked knowingly. But, he didn’t tease his subordinate. That could be saved for later when they weren’t working.
“Come here and I’ll show you what it says.” Erwin rolled his chair to the side a bit and tapped a spot on his desk. He took the moment of Levi’s sulking to admire the captain. The sunlight on his pale skin made it take on an almost glittering effect. Erwin always loved to see the contrast in their skin tones: he grew up playing outside in the sunshine, tanned with a warm glow. Levi grew up underground, surrounded by shimmering ores and precious metals hidden away from the harsh rays. Their tones, sun and moon, contrasted beautifully.
Next, Erwin’s eyes caught on Levi’s sharp nose and pursed lips. Though to other’s his face seemed to be stuck in a permanent scowl, Erwin always managed to soften his frowns with gentle kisses. He loved to see the way Levi’s brows gradually unfurrowed and his gray eyes eventually softened in relaxation when Erwin showed him affection.
Levi glanced to where Erwin was motioning. He rolled his eyes at where Erwin wanted him to sit, but he moved anyway.
Erwin smiled up at Levi when he perched himself on the edge of his desk. He didn’t comment on the way his feet weren’t even close to reaching the floor, or on the way they swang in the air subconsciously, but Erwin found it most endearing. Calling Levi “cute” was off the table save for very rare occasions, but that couldn’t stop Erwin from thinking it.
The commander rolled his chair closer to the desk again, Levi’s legs hanging between his knees. Erwin propped the elbow of the hand holding the papers on the desktop and held them up so both of the soldiers could see the text clearly.
“So, you see this line here?” Erwin used his other hand, which had to cross over Levi, to point to the words he was referring to. Levi crossed his arms comfortably and nodded when he followed Erwin’s finger. “Can you read that for me?” His tone wasn’t condescending, not at all. It was encouraging, gentle even.
Levi slowly ran his eyes over the words for a few minutes while Erwin waited patiently. He had a bit of trouble, seeing as these were long-winded official military terms, but he still tried without shame. For Erwin, he had none.
“Mmm… Declaration… Authorization for the- the pre… veesnal?” Levi asked Erwin in an unsure tone. Erwin nodded reassuringly and looked up at Levi.
“Close. It’s ‘provisional’. It’s pronounced pro-vizh-o-nal.”
“Provisional.” Levi repeated after him.
“Perfect. Keep going?”
Levi nodded, having never looked away from the paper.
“Declaration: Authorization for the Provisional Supply of… armaments?”
“Mhm, good.” Erwin nodded in confirmation.
“Armaments for Humanity’s Defense… Re… Re…”
“This one is really tricky. It’s ‘recipient’. Re-ci-pi-ent.”
Levi repeated after Erwin slowly a few times, then they repeated the word to each other quicker.
“That’s perfect. Almost done, can you finish for me?” Erwin looked up at Levi with pride glowing in his eyes.
“Mm. Recipient: Survey Corps.” Levi knew that one by heart. “Provider: His Royal…” Levi paused and squinted at the letters.
“Highness.” Erwin supplemented.
“His Royal Highness, King Fritz.” Levi finished the line, sighing heavily.
“Great. Now, read through it again slowly.”
“Mmm… Declaration: Authorization for the… Provisional?” Erwin hummed in approval. “... for the Provisional Armaments for Humanity's Defense. Re… Recipient: Survey Corps. Provider: His Royal Highness King Fritz.”
“That was perfect, Levi.” Erwin smiled up at his captain proudly. Levi looked away from the papers to glance down at Erwin. He couldn’t help but let his lips twitch into a small smile at the way Erwin positively shone beams of confidence up at him.
“... thanks.” He mumbled in response. He rarely said the words ‘thank you’ to people, so it felt a bit strange on his tongue. But, he felt his cheeks heat up a little bit at the way Erwin’s gaze made him feel: loved. Levi tightened his arms across his chest and turned his head to the side, trying to ignore the floaty feeling in his stomach. “So which pile should they go in? Keep or discard?”
“We can get rid of these. They’re basically just official lists of supplies that get sent for Survey Corps use. You see down here? That’s just a list of supplies.” Erwin pointed to a long bulleted list of food, clothing, blades, carts, and more. But Levi wasn’t looking, so he just put the papers down on the desk. “Why don’t we take a break?”
“I’ve barely started. I’m only halfway through the first bookshelf. This place will never get clean if we take breaks.” Levi focused his attention on picking at imaginary dirt hiding under his fingernails.
“You’ve been working for three hours already. Don’t you want some tea?” Erwin offered, leaning back in his chair.
“No.” Levi answered stubbornly, crossing his ankles before swinging them once or twice.
“Levi.” Erwin deadpanned, evening his expression to be stern.
“Erwin.” Levi returned, turning his head to glare at his superior.
“You should take a rest.” The commander spoke authoritatively.
“Is that an order?” Levi huffed while narrowing his eyes.
“Affirmative, soldier.” There he went using formal military language.
Levi scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“Heard, Commander.” He muttered mockingly.
Erwin, usually completely collected and free of sarcasm, smirked cheekily. “At ease, soldier.” He was obviously pleased with himself having used his superiority to his advantage.
Levi narrowed his eyes and uncrossed his arms, gripping the edge of the desk tightly. Erwin tutted.
“That’s not very at ease.”
“If you want to keep your tongue you’ll shut the fuck up.”
Erwin just threw his head back in laughter. Levi’s threats meant nothing to him; they were jokes, even.
The commander reached up and placed his hands over Levi’s, rubbing the tense fingers soothingly.
“Come on. It’s a nice day and we don’t actually have any work to do. Let’s enjoy it.”
As if on cue, a warm breeze gusted through the window again. The curtains flew up behind Erwin, looking like a pair of glowing white wings. They resembled the Wings of Freedom that the pair often wore on their cloaks instead.
Levi’s breath caught in his throat at the image. The familiar blue eyes, blonde hair, thick eyebrows, and affectionate smile left him breathless. Erwin was always so beautiful, strong, and passionate, but it was the times like these Levi loved the most: the moments they were hidden away, making tender memories no one else would ever know about.
Erwin’s smile widened and he reached up to brush some hair out of Levi’s eyes. “I just want to spend the days like these with you.”
Levi’s stubborn glare softened completely. He pursed his lips, but this time it wasn’t angrily. He just looked down to Erwin with a building affection in his slim gray eyes.
Levi wiggled one hand from underneath Erwin’s and used it to cup his charge’s cheek gently.
“Me too. It’s… nice to be with you.” Levi said quietly, running his thumb along Erwin’s cheekbone. He was often hesitant to use words of affection; insulting banter was more his style. But, being with Erwin had gotten him much more comfortable in expressing his feelings. So now Levi could - although somewhat awkwardly - tell his commander how he felt.
Erwin beamed up at Levi when he heard his adoration. Without a moment’s hesitation, Erwin laid his head down against Levi’s thighs.
Levi tilted his head down, watching as Erwin closed his eyes in comfort. The commander’s hands traveled up to Levi’s hips, crawled underneath the hem of his top, and pressed against his waist softly. Levi felt Erwin’s fingers brush along his skin lovingly, innocently, appreciatively.
Levi let out a small breath and brought his own hands up to rest on Erwin's head. The blonde hadn’t applied any pomade on his day off, so his hair was soft to the touch. Levi took the opportunity to weave his fingers into the golden locks, running them through his hands gently again and again.
Erwin hummed in complete satisfaction. With the warm rays of the sun shining on his back, Levi’s firm thighs pressed against his cheek, and a small waist in his palms, Erwin felt content. Happy.
Levi, looking down at the smiling commander, couldn’t help but smile as well. He brushed Erwin’s hair with his fingers and blinked languidly. The sunshine, heat, and comfort of Erwin’s presence made him feel just a bit sleepy. He could relax when he was with Erwin. He could feel safe.
Gentle wind filled the office with the fresh scent of blooming greenery, the heat of summer, and a sense of absolute adoration.
And so all of Erwin's documents lay forgotten on the floor. The stacks of books and papers could wait until later: after the commander and his captain could enjoy a rare moment of peace, comfort, warmth, and safe love.