Being an insomniac, Levi was used to many sleepless nights. The only difference this time was the itty-bitty-very-screechy commander running around his room. Even if Levi had enough sense to track time without a watch, he knew any chance of sleep was forfeit, and was tired enough not to care. Erwin's circadian rhythm was matched by naps, crying or tons of annoying little kid things he thought were hilarious.
Like now.
Levi sat slouched on the edge of his bed, occasionally warning Erwin to "Not touch that." "Why?" "It's sharp." "Why?" and so on until Levi stopped answering all together. When he had first carried Erwin into his room for the night, Levi had never perceived his space to be full of perils. It was only when Erwin started sprinting laps, and bouncing off the bed pretending he was a hero, did Levi quickly see every sharp edge. He had put all his knives, even the dull ones, into a box high in his closet. He'd closed those doors and locked them with a belt. Next, he had draped shirts over the sharpest corners of furniture; his bed, desk, chair, window sills included. Erwin had struggled to reach the desktop, but if it weren't for Levi's quick actions the toddler would've gotten a big surprise: A massive inkwell, loosely capped would've blinded the commander.
"Don't touch!" Levi barely kept the annoyance from his tone. He screwed the little lid on tight, and place it up on the shelf beside his box of knives and pens. Erwin brushed off Levi's warning with another crazy lap. Hanji had fashioned a sack-dress thing to clothe Erwin for the time being because his previous commander clothes were far too large. Levi had seen the dangers in the extra fabric, and done his best to trim the bottom but it was still too long. Levi went back to sitting on his bed, waiting for the inevitable.
Instantly, Erwin took a corner too sharp and tripped on his dress. He face planted.
Hard.
Immediately Levi was up before his mind had processed, and was cradling the wailing child to his chest, already trying to force a solution from his exhausted mind. Erwinn glanced up, blue eyes wide and glistening with tears. Even as a baby, Erwin's eyes brows were impressive. Levi tiredly wondered if Erwin ever plucked them, or got bullied because of them. They were comically large on a face so round and small. Levi with immense skill flicked the tip of his knife up Erwin's dress. He bundled the cloth over the toddler's nose until it stopped bleeding.
He even wiped it.
Look at me... being soooo nice.
Gosh he must be brain dead.
"It's a miracle you've made it this far," Levi joked. "Even as a child, you're always going full speed ahead. Guess some things never change."
"Levi?" Erwin whispered like most toddlers did. Not a whisper at all, more a raspy shout. "I have to pee."
"Never mind," Levi scoffed as he guided the little monster towards the bathroom. After a quick pee break Levi led Erwin back to bed. Erwin was tired by now, and Levi hoped this bout of exhaustion would last the whole night instead of ten minutes. They lay down in bed, Levi on top of the covers to Erwin could comfortably snuffle under. Levi had even washed Erwin's face for him, claiming he was a "Shitty devil child, with the hygiene of Hanji." That little insult that made Erwin laugh.
"She does stink!" he crowed.
Levi smirked, "Not so loud."
"Sowwy,"
Too cute.
Then Erwin pulled a face, little huffing sounds before a big smile broke out.
Levi's face paled. "No... no no nonono you did not just shit in my bed."
Erwin grinned. "No! Pwomise, I was just thinking."
Levi lay down, his head turned to face Erwin. "About what?" He murmured sleepily.
"My papa." Erwin did the same scrunchy, huffy face and Levi's blood ran cold. "I haven't seen him for a while."