Author's Note: Hey guys! Good lord, it's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I'm still into Death Note (don't worry!), but SNK has become my other big fandom.

Writing this piece for Eruri Week 2014. I've already posted most of it on AO3 (my user name is JosephineFalnor, if you want to follow me there), but wanted to put it up here too, since I've been here much longer.

The hardest part of being on leave was that, without work, Levi rarely knew what to do with himself. He had been in the military for the past ten years, having joined straight out of high school. Sometimes he entertained the idea of retiring and doing some other sort of work, but always changed his mind when he realized there was nothing else he wanted to do. He was an excellent soldier, and the work suited him, especially since he'd been given command over his own squad. They were all gone though, enjoying their time off, visiting their families, most likely giving their Corporal no thought.

In contrast, Levi would be spending his break alone at a small flat on base. He had no family, very few friends, and no real home to return to. His flat was sparsely decorated and immaculately clean, almost to the point of being an art form. It served Levi's needs, certainly, but even he wouldn't lie and say it was a pleasant place to spend all of his time.

Like some of the other soldiers, he had registered for three classes, partly to work toward a degree that would allow him to become an officer and partly to occupy himself while he was on leave. Even with as much time as he put into these, he still found himself with more free time than he felt comfortable with. As a result, his routine had two breaks built in that gave him a good reason to go out every day, one in each the morning and evening.

Levi would wake up each morning at 4 am, take a quick shower, then dress. He then walked down the street to a coffee shop that sold a black tea that held a strong appeal for him. He would sit and drink one cup while flipping through the newspaper; he'd leave with a second cup of tea. Back home, he'd sip his second cup while working on readings for class. After a quick lunch, he worked out (the last thing he ever wanted was to lose muscle mass while on leave), after which he worked on assignments, if he had any. He left the flat again for dinner, this time at a small, clean restaurant. Upon returning home, he'd make himself a cup of tea and take another shower before retiring early, considering that another day checked off until he returned to work.

He was content with his routine and kept it up, day in and day out. Rather than being bored with it, he found it relaxing.

It was finally broken just over two months after he went on leave. It was winter and Levi was bundled up in a heavy coat, scarf, and earmuffs. He was making his way down the sidewalk, gloved fingers wrapped around his tea, when a man walking toward him slipped on the ice. He caught himself and managed to stay upright, but not before bumping into Levi, just enough to send his feet sliding out from under him. The cup flew out of his hands, spilling all over the ground. Levi's coat acted like a sponge when he landed, soaking up the tea. His teeth grit, he looked up, intending to snap at whoever had been careless enough to knock him down. As his eyes met with the stranger's, he found himself losing track of what he'd planned to say.

He was staring up at the same man, but the surroundings had changed entirely. It was dim, almost like it was evening, and something was holding him down. He felt a terrible, rabid sort of rage build up inside him, telling him to attack, to rip the man in front of him limb from limb. That … that didn't make sense though. He'd just tripped, hadn't he? He couldn't be sure of that anymore. He felt himself being pulled up and he kept his eyes pinned to the man, even as everything around him began to fade.

"Oh my. I'm very sorry about that."

Levi blinked hard and glanced around, confused. What had happened to the darkness, to the anger, to everything? Everything slowly came back to him. He'd slipped on ice, fallen, dropped his tea, his coat was ruined, and this stranger was now helping him to his feet as he apologized. That's right, the man had knocked Levi down.

"Tch. You should watch where you're going," he muttered, pulling out of the man's hold as he rebalanced himself. "Lucky you didn't give me a concussion."

The man looked extremely apologetic as he stepped back, giving Levi his space.

"I'm afraid I didn't realize the ice was so slick." His eyes moved down and Levi realized he was looking at his coat. "I'm assuming a coat like that is dry clean only, correct?"

"Yes, not that I see why it's any business of yours," Levi responded, his tone bitter.

"I'd be happy to have it cleaned for you."

Well. That was an interesting turn of events. Levi hadn't expected an offer like that, not from a stranger, not when he'd been less than pleasant about being knocked down.

In any other situation, Levi guessed he'd have told the person to go fuck themselves. Something about this man though… Levi stared at him, meeting his eyes. He'd seen them before. He didn't know where or when, but he had.

"Do I know you?" His eyes narrowed as he asked the question. The man looked confused, but smiled after a moment.

"No, I don't believe so."

Perfect. Now Levi looked like an idiot. He huffed as he started to unbutton his coat, never once taking his eyes off the man.

"You were serious about having it cleaned?"

"Of course. I try not to offer things like that unless I'm serious." God, the man's smile was infuriating. Levi couldn't tell if it was genuine or not. "Do you live on base?"

"Yeah, on Rose street. Flat 25."

The man had his phone out and was obviously writing down the address as Levi spoke.

"I assume I could just have it sent there without your name on it, but…that would seem strange, don't you agree?"

Levi raised an eyebrow. "If you want my name, you could just ask. It's Levi."

"Levi," the man repeated, that strange smile still on his face. "I'm Erwin." He offered a hand and Levi reached out to shake it, squeezing tighter than was necessary.

He took off his coat and handed it over. Erwin took it and draped it over his arm.

"You should hurry home before you get sick. It's too cold to be out without a coat for long."

"Yeah, no shit," Levi replied. Erwin nodded and, without a word, set off down the street.

It was only after Levi returned home that he realized the man hadn't asked for a last name.

"Needed my name to mail my coat, my ass," he muttered under his breath as he went to start the kettle, intending to make himself a new cup of tea before his schedule was thrown off too much.

Over the next three days, Levi found himself staying at home for all his meals and tea. His only coat was gone and, the longer he thought about it, the more he considered that it wasn't coming back. What kind of shit-for-brains trusted a complete stranger to have their coat cleaned? Him, apparently, although he liked to think he was smarter than that.

The longer he stayed at home, the more stir crazy he became until he thought he'd completely lose his mind over it. Four days after giving up his coat, he bundled up in several warm sweaters, gloves, a hat, a scarf, and his warmest pair of boots with the intention of going to get his usual morning tea. As much as he hated being cold, he hated being cooped up at home even more.

As he went to open the door, he heard a heavy, unfamiliar knock on the door. He frowned. It couldn't be the mail; it was too early for that. Who else would be trying to talk to him though? He leaned up on his toes just enough so that he could reach the peep hole and looked through. A familiar man with blond hair was standing outside.

Levi couldn't believe it. There was simply no way Erwin had actually had his coat cleaned.

He opened the door, well aware that he looked ridiculous, and stared up at his guest.

"Hello, Levi." Erwin smiled as he extended his arm, Levi's coat draped over it. "I didn't think you would want to wait for your coat to come in the mail, so I decided to drop by." His smile was odd, more like one would give an old friend than a stranger. This fact did not escape Levi.

Levi knew he had to respond somehow. Perhaps thank the man for returning his coat, invite him inside, something. He was terrible at that sort of thing though, and it took him several seconds to respond; when he finally did, it was hardly a welcome.

"I thought you'd probably just thrown my coat out. Or sold it."

"I'd have to be a terrible person to take your winter coat, offer to clean it, and throw it out as soon as I got home," Erwin replied, that odd smile still on his face. Levi couldn't decide if it made him feel uncomfortable or not. "Of course, you hardly know me. I can't blame you for being suspicious."

Shit. The man had taken Levi's almost-insult in perfect stride. That was unusual. Levi liked it.

"Well, I guess I have to offer to let you come in and have a cup of tea with me," he said, stepping back from the door.

"I would like that very much." Erwin walked inside easily, as though he'd been in Levi's apartment before, as though he felt completely at home doing so. Levi didn't quite know what to make of the man, but he'd already decided he liked him.