I'm back! And totally obsessed with Eruri right now, because goddamn, are they an amazing couple. As the mentioned in the summary, this here is set in canonverse. You'll see soon enough when and where exactly. :) There will be three chapters, so more updates coming up soon!

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: Not me, not mine.

Chapter I

"Some change sir? Spare some change for a starving soul, sir."

"Tch." He'd been aware, of course, of the pile of rags on the street corner. What he hadn't expected was the vise-like grip of the person in the rags.

Wordlessly, he yanked his cloak away, ignoring the throaty "Please!" and almost turned away. Almost.

A flash of bright red peeked through the rags -a red that couldn't be naturally possible, but Levi knew it was. Just a small glimpse of a fringe of lank red hair, and it was almost enough to undo him.

Almost.

He wasn't religious in the slightest, but he had to think that if there was some omnipotent being that directed the events of his world, the person had to have a fucked-up sense of humour.

Levi didn't mind. Had he not been the butt of this particular joke, he probably would have laughed, too.

Feeling strangely ashamed, hoping no one saw him do it, Levi thrust his hand into the folds of his coat, and brought out whatever spare change he had outside his coin purse (it wasn't much); he thrust the coins at the rags and strode away without risking a second glance.

He entered the Headquarters without being accosted, so he figured no one had observed him. Good. He stopped for a moment in the courtyard, wondering whether or not to go antagonise the new recruits. His mood would be improved, of course, but then Erwin would insist on lecturing him. Ugh.

Before he could decide, the man himself walked into his line of sight.

As always, seeing Erwin Smith gave Levi an involuntary urge to break, stab or punch something. He wasn't sure why he got these violent urges, now that his feelings toward Erwin had changed since he had first met him. It had been hate at first, which slowly turned to antagonism, which in turn changed to annoyance. Levi could say with much certainty now that he did not hate Erwin Smith. And yet, his insides churned with a need for beating the shit out of Erwin's symmetrical face.

"Levi," the man said in his usual perfunctory manner. "We need to talk."

Without another word he turned away and walked toward his office, clearly expecting Levi to follow. And that was exactly what Levi did, damn his blue fucking eyes to hell.

"Sit."

Levi closed the door behind him slowly. Since being made Commander, Erwin had turned more cold, more distant. The man sitting behind the big desk now was as pale and as still as a marble statue.

Levi sat on his usual chair near the window and crossed his arms and legs. He didn't say anything, but waited for his boss to speak.

"I'll be heading to Mitras tomorrow. I'd like it if you could join me."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because I need you to."

"I fucking hate parties, Erwin."

"We're not going to a party."

"Something worse, then? You look like you just ate shit."

A small cringe between his bushy eyebrows showed Erwin's opinion of Levi's humour. Levi cheered himself inwardly for getting the man to fucking emote for once.

"Yes, you could say that," Erwin mused and shuffled some papers on his desk. "We have an audience with the King."

Levi narrowed his eyes. "We?"

"I'm allowed to bring one other member of the Corps with me."

"You don't want Mike?"

"Mike has things to do here."

"And I don't?" Levi stood up abruptly, facing the window. "Why the fuck do you want me, Erwin?"

"Is there a problem?" Levi turned to see a curious gleam in Erwin's blue eyes. "You don't want to go to Mitras?"

"I hate that place," Levi spat. "I swore I wouldn't go back."

"Back -ah. I see."

Erwin shot him one of those understanding glances, the ones that made Levi want to throttle him. Of course he understood. Because he was Erwin fucking Smith and he understood everything.

"I'm sorry," Erwin said, surprising Levi. "I know you don't want to go back there, but," Erwin looked at the papers, "I need you, Levi."

This time, Levi understood that look. He had been in the Survey Corps for a little over two years and he knew this look of Erwin's very well. One of his more constipated looks, this was reserved for Hange's drunken rambles and one other common occurrence.

"They talking shit about the Survey Corps again, huh?"

"How did you know?"

"You look like you've been constipated for three whole days."

The corners of Erwin's mouth twitched. "Three days is very specific."

Levi shrugged and flopped onto his chair again. "Single day constipation is your default look. Two days is when someone treats women or animals like shit. Three days is when someone treats your beloved Corps like shit. Four is when someone insults your friends. I've never seen five, but that's probably what you'll look like when you actually are constipated."

"That's… pretty thorough." Erwin looked moderately impressed.

Levi shrugged. "I can get bored sometimes."

"You surprise me."

Levi shot a glance at Erwin. Was that fucking sarcasm?

To his supreme annoyance, Erwin was indeed smirking. "Well, then. What is your response, Levi? Will you join me?"

"You're asking me?"

"Yes."

Levi had to fight to keep his expression steady. Something was up. Erwin never asked him to do things. He commanded; Levi obeyed. It was very simple, their relationship.

"And if I say no?"

Erwin rolled his shoulders in a slow shrug, his eyes never leaving Levi's.

Levi let out a huff of breath and made himself look away. "Fine. I'll come."

Erwin's posture visibly relaxed. "Thank you."

"Whatever." Levi stood up. "How long do I have to be there?"

"No more than a day or two." Before Levi could ask, he continued, "I can't stay any longer than that, either."

Levi grunted. "Right. I'll pack."

Erwin only nodded and turned to his desk. Levi hadn't expected anything else and strode out of the office.

"Hey, Levi!"

Levi sighed internally, but kept walking.

"Oi! Levi!" The shout was loud enough to be heard across the courtyard, damn the woman's loud voice.

Unable to ignore her anymore, he stopped and waited for her to catch up to him.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Is a minute enough?" He asked her.

"Well, depends on how much you can tell me," she said, answering his question seriously.

He bit back a sigh. "What is it?"

"I hear you're going to the Capital with Erwin?"

He didn't reply, simply waited for her to continue.

"Do you know what it's about?"

"What makes you think I'd tell you, Four-eyes?"

Hange crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing. "This is serious, Levi."

"Yeah? I thought it was a circus act all along."

"Fuck you," Hange said, her voice deceptively calm. At her strong words, Levi was forced to look at her, and was troubled by what he saw.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked her. If Hange was this serious, there had to be something wrong.

Hange glared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment, before sighing. "There are rumours. Of promotions. And of some teams being reshuffled."

"And that's bad because…"

Hange clenched her jaw. "No one's died."

Levi stared at her and she scoffed, "Oh don't play dumb, Levi. You know what I mean. Promotions in the Survey Corps don't happen unless there are vacancies. And there only vacancies if someone dies." She paused, her mouth set in a grim line. "It's been a while since our last expedition. There are no vacancies."

Levi understood. Something was definitely wrong, but he tried to play down his concern. "People could be resigning, for all you know. Look at Erwin's promotion."

Hange sighed. "I hope to all the non-existent gods that that's the case."

"You think that's what our trip to the Capital is about?"

"You don't really know," Hange observed. "Well, we'll find out. We definitely need information. Official answers. The rumours aren't helping."

"Why aren't you asking Erwin?"

"What makes you think I haven't asked him?" She muttered shortly. "Unfortunately, that new bolo tie of his seems to have come with an added stick up his ass."

Levi snorted. Hange smiled reluctantly. "Ah, forget it." She sighed. "I know he's trying, bless his stone-cold heart."

They walked in silence for some moments.

"You'll tell me what happens when you return?"

Levi avoided her intent gaze. "If that's even what this trip is about," he muttered.

To his surprise and extreme annoyance, Hange grinned suddenly. "True. For all I know this is just a private trip. Just the two of you."

"What the fuck, Hange?" He growled.

All seriousness had left her face just as abruptly as it had appeared. "Aww, don't pretend, Levi. I've seen you two make eyes at each other-"

"Say another word and I will disembowel you," he snapped. "Here and now. Without hesitation."

"My lips are sealed," she said archly. "What you do with yours-" With a whoop of laughter she evaded his angry fist and scampered away.

Fucking Shitty-glasses and her shitty fucking mouth.

A/N: It is my firm headcanon that it's an open secret in the Corps that the Commander and the irascible little Captain have a thing going on. No one talks about that though, except Hange, because she is badass that way.

Levi is deeply affected by the sight of bright red hair. I wonder why. *laughs hysterically*

"Mitras" is the name of the Walled Country's capital city (located right in the centre of Wall Sina), as confirmed in the manga.

As always, please let me know what you think of the chapter! Thanks for reading!