He was scared, and finding himself drawn again towards a familiar room. A safe haven that was far more welcoming than anything he had ever known before. This office was a chrysalis of peace, a pallet of the pleasant smells he'd associated with Erwin; coffee, cologne, cigarettes, books, spilled ink. The warm musk smell of the chair, scared by gear buckles and the arms picked of color by nervous hands.
All of these things flooded his senses as he quietly opened the door, not bothering to knock and unconcerned with stating his presence. The commander almost didn't notice, until the heavy door clicked shut, and Levi was halfway across the room. Erwin did not comment on the angry red that was blossoming on Levi's face, irritation smeared across his nose, eyelids, and cheeks. Nor on the way he shook as he silently climbed up into open arms and curled into them, habitually tracing circles over the blue gem resting on Erwin's chest as he was gripped closer.
"Levi...what's gotten you so upset?" The question came quietly, but all too loud in the silence, it elicited nothing but fresh tears and renewed panic. "It's alright, you can tell me."
"No, no no no...make it go away.." These were things he could not put into words, things he has seen that he could never speak of and the terror that came with seeing them all again in his dreams.
From then on the only words were gentle touches and the creak of the chair. Erwin left faint kisses over his face, running calloused fingers through his soft hair and lightly rocking him in strong arms. Levi felt safe here, more than anywhere else, leaning his head against the officers chest and listening to his heartbeat. It was strong and steady, just like the rest of Erwin. He was the only one that could keep Levi grounded in times like this, one who didn't mind whatever Levi needed to do when he was frightened. After a silent hour, Levi shifted to look down at the desk, and reached out to trace over the various wounds on the surface.
A gouge from his gear scraping across the top, multiple indents from angry outbreaks that ended with rings buried in the birch wood. Scratches from pens and nails alike, stains from spilled ink, tea, wine.
When Erwin returned to simply hugging him, Levi reached to take one of his hands. He carefully held it, and began to trace over the veins and down to his nails. They were chewed to the quick, and Levi frowned quietly, before kissing each scarred knuckle and finally lacing their fingers.