As we are getting to the point there the Anime so far ends, I just want to assure people I am not spoiling anything from the Manga. Although there may be some nods that readers will recognize, the story is no longer based on the manga.
Have a seat - it's another really long chapter!
I don't use any social media to promote my writing besides reddit, so sharing this story on social media or with your fellow fans that might enjoy it means a lot! 3


Erwin had barely slept when he got up from the cart, carefully taking his arm away from around Levi, having held and sheltered him all night. He didn't care what the others thought, just wanting to be with Levi's side as much as possible.

His body was stiff and ached, but after walking a few steps it seemed less sore.

The sun was just rising but after thinking all night, he was finally sure of what he was going to do. Looking at the orange rays falling through the trees, he looked back at Levi.

He didn't want to disappoint his comrades, but knew that the only thing he could do was to chose Levi. As disappointed as he felt in himself, he knew there was no way he could be a good leader and the commander, even if he picked the Alliance over Levi.

Leaning over the cart, he caressed Levi's head for a second. Throughout the night, as he had laid with Erwin, Erwin could hear him softly moan and whimper, the man in much more pain than he was still letting on.

Levi stirred for a second, but remained asleep.

Looking over the campsite, he hoped the two people he needed to speak to had already woken up.

Erwin saw Onyankopon sitting up near the fire, poking it with a stick and without much of a hesitation he sat down beside him.

'Hey, need to talk to you,' Erwin said softly, not wanting to wake the others around him, Onyankopon nodding.

'How's Levi,' the man asked, keeping his voice down as well as not to wake the others.

'Not good,' Erwin admitted.

'Shit-'

'That's what I wanted to talk about – medical care is good in Liberio right? Can we get him help there?', Erin said. Thanks to Onyankopon and some of the other Marleyans, their medical care had made strides these last four years and Erwin could only hope it was even better in Marley itself.

Onyankopon stared into the smoldering ashes, trying to think of something. As much as he wanted to object, not wanting to go into Liberio in an active war, he had been working with Levi for years now and he didn't want the man to just die. He knew how many sacrifices he had made.

'You are still Eldians, not sure if they will help you,'

'Eldians are coming to save Liberio – Liberio owes us too,' Erwin stated, Onyankopon finally nodding slightly.

Erwin knew he was bluffing, after how they had fought Marley for years, even unbeknownst for a while, they didn't owe Levi shit, especially knowing how many he had killed or attempted to. But it was one of the few chances he had.

'I know some people there in a hospital – we can try,'

'Thanks, I will talk to you later on the boat,' Erwin nodded.

Meanwhile, Levi had woken up in the cart. He started into the sky, not being able to move, his body hurting and weak. He could feel the same pain in his stomach as he had felt yesterday, still not sure what was going on.

Instead he laid there for a second, looked as the stars disappeared because of the sunrise.

Finally moving his arm just slightly, he tried to feel if Erwin was around, but there was nobody beside him.

Turning on his side now, clutching his stomach again as pain shot through his body. Coughing, he couldn't stop himself, turning on his side as he tried to catch his breath. He couldn't, throwing up as he managed to sit up just the slightest bit – pushing himself up on his arm. His eyes widened as he looked at the blood coming from his mouth, making a small puddle beside his hand.

Erwin felt back about waking Hange up, but knew he didn't have much of a choice as they had to talk. Hange shot up, almost immediately awake as Erwin woke them. Erwin figured that they hadn't slept well either.

'Hange!'

'Please tell me you and Levi are getting out of here,' Hange said as they slid their glasses on.

'No – we are coming with you,' Erwin shook his head, surprised by how torn up Hange looked, looking a little puzzled now.

'There is nothing to go back to for me and Levi, there is nowhere I can take him to take care of him,' Erwin explained, 'going to Liberio is our best shot. I am sorry letting you and the Corps down,'

'No, but – I know he is only one man, but he is also the only one left from our veteran crew,' Hange said, clearly just as torn up about it as he was.

'Yeah,' Erwin just said with a small nod. He couldn't lose Levi, not as his closest comrade, his best friend and his lover – the most important person inn his life.

'I really miss Moblit – and I don't want you to miss Levi too,' Hange said with a sad smile, Erwin laying his hand on their shoulder for a second, feeling to sorry for Hange. Even after all this years, they still missed Moblit.

'I am going to stay with him no matter what, I need you to take over from me,' Erwin explained, Hange looking surprised.

'Hange, I want you to to take the lead on this. I wish I could be a good commander, but I am too distracted,' Erwin told Hange.

'Erwin-'

'You got to be the commander, please Hange,' Erwin wanted them to accept before they would talk him out of it. It was something he had mulled over all night, but with everything going on and wanting to help Levi, there was no way he could focus on the mission.

He felt guilty as it was the only thing he felt he needed to do as a commander, but Levi somehow was the only thing on his mind.

'I talked to Onyankopon, there is a chance we can get Levi to a hospital in Liberio,' Erwin finally admitted.

'So you are not coming with us to fight Eren?'

'No,' Erwin admitted.

'I understand, it's a good idea to bring Levi into medical care,' Hange nodded.

'They may not help him, but it is the one chance we have. You have seen him Hange, he is not okay – and he is getting worse. I know he is only one man, but I can't let go of him,' Erwin admitted, his voice breaking.

Hange still looked unsure and before they could argue about becoming commander again, he slipped off the bolo tie and slipped it around Hange's neck.

'Looks good on you, better than on me I would argue,' He smiled.

'I am not sure if I am ready for this,' Hange admitted, unsure as their hand wrapped around the bolo tie.

'Hange, you have been ready for this since you came into the force. You are one of the smartest people in the Corps, if not the smartest. You know what to do and I will be here to help you, commander,' Erwin smiled, encouraging them.

'Thank you,' They finally smiled, happy with Erwin's encouragement.

'When the rest wakes up we tell them, okay?'

Hange nodded finally, looking at the bolo tie.

'Alright, I better get back to Levi, thanks Hange,'

'Erwin!' Hange stopped him as he wanted to walk away.

'He is going to be okay, alright? You have to believe that,'

Erwin nodded finally, trying to force a smile as he wasn't so sure if he believed it.

Getting back to the cart, he was surprised to see Levi sitting up, wiping his face with a cloth.

'What are you doing?' Erwin wondered.

'Felt disgusting,' Levi answered, throwing the cloth aside between the crates, 'don't just feel like it, I am disgusting,'

'Not to me,' Erwin told him, not a care in the world about how Levi looked, or how he perceived himself to be dirty. He planted a kiss on his forehead.

Looking as Erwin sat down beside him, looking relieved, almost happy and for sure a little hopeful, Levi couldn't tell him about the blood that he had just thrown up.


The banquet hall was full of everybody celebrating the summer festival, one of the few festivities they had in the corps. It was the one big morale booster they had, besides some birthdays they celebrated in smaller crews on their own. It also meant the new recruits had just joined them.

Levi sat beside Erwin, having talked with him most of the dinner. Even though their conversations here were nothing like the conversations they had behind closed doors the past few weeks, Levi felt at ease for the first time during a big banquet like this with Erwin beside him. The past years he hadn't even shown up.

The past few weeks, he had spent a lot of evenings in Erwin's office, chatting, drinking tea together and not being able to hold his hands of Erwin, constantly kissing, cuddling. He wanted nothing more than get out of his banquet hall and spend the time with Erwin instead.

Quickly, but without Erwin noticing, he slipped the key out of the pocket in his own. This way he knew he could catch Erwin alone before he would go into his bedroom.

He wanted another kiss – he needed it. Especially after being out here all night.

Erwin made him feel safe, had made his life brighter these last weeks.

His small hand moving in Erwin's pocket without him even noticing, he wasn't even sure how often he had pickpocketed in the Underground, but it had to be at least a five hundred times.

He was just in time as Erwin suddenly got up.

'I am going to call it a night, you make sure these kids don't get to rowdy,' Erwin announced, looking Levi, Moblit, Hange and the other commanders at the table.

'We are still getting dessert!' Hange warned Erwin.

'Just tired, still recovering,' Erwin said as he got up. It had only been four weeks since had lost his arm. But even though he was still recovering, it wasn't the problem now. He just wanted to get out of here, with Levi.

Levi knew he could easily leave too. It was the first time he attended anyway, usually he wouldn't have shown up anyway.

'Come with me, to my room?' Erwin whispered in his ear as he stood up. His hand lingered on Levi's back for just a second.

'I'll follow you up in a few minutes,' Levi whispered, still too worried that people would find out. Erwin soon left to go to his room.

'Means I can finally tell you about what Moblit and I have been working on – Erwin has been taking up all of your time, ' Hange said as they moved closer to Levi, the candlelight eerily reflecting in their glasses.

'No,' Levi just said as he started to chug his glass of wine.

'Awwe, nobody wants to hear it,' Hange complained.

'Tell Moblit!' Levi told them as he put his glass down again.

'I just told us we have been doing this together, why would I tell him, you never listen anymore!' Hange complained.

'Never did to begin with, Hange,' Levi stated.

Sitting at the table just a few minutes longer, he finally left as well.

Walking by the kitchen on his way up, he saw the large platters of little tarts that had been made for dessert. The corps members that had been cooking were looking away and he knew it was his time to use his old talents.

he grabbed a large platter of the desserts and a bottle of wine as he snuck in when nobody was looking, making it out just before the new recruits who had to bring it all out to the hall had made it in.

Making sure nobody was around, he quickly walked into Erwin's office, he smiled as he saw the door to the bedroom closed. Erwin was sitting at his desk though, his shirt open as he was so full from dinner.

'You sly sly man,' Erwin chuckled as looked at Levi walking in with the dessert and the wine. He put it down on the desk and turned around to lock the door to the office behind him.

'You forget I was professional thief for a few years,' Levi smiled.

'I didn't forget, I am just impressed,' Erwin smiled.

'Not gonna berate me for stealing?' Levi joked as he took of the vest and opened the top few buttons of his shirt, so full from the dinner already.

'Gonna let it slide – for a kiss,' Erwin joked as he looked at all the tarts.

'What happened to not wanting to use your superior position?' Levi teased back, but sitting down on the edge of the desk then, wrapping his arms around Erwin's neck and kissing him, gently but long, softly biting his lip before letting go.

'Let me grab some glasses from my bedroom,' Erwin said as he pointed at the bottle of wine. Levi's eyes followed him as he walked to the bedroom.

'Shit, where is the key,' Erwin complained as he went through the packets of his pants.

'What key?', Levi acted oblivious.

'Key to my bedroom,' Erwin explained as if that wasn't obvious, a little annoyed at the idea he would have to go downstairs to look for it there.

'You mean this key?' Levi said as he slipped the key he had removed from Erwin's pocket as they had sat beside each other in the banquet hall from the pocket of his own pants.

'How did you…..'

'Tarts weren't the only thing I stole tonight,' Levi joked, quickly jerking his arm back as Erwin tried to take it from him.

'Gonna sell it to you for a kiss,' Levi smiled. Erwin laughed, biting his lip then.

'Fine,'

His hand behind Levi's neck, pressing his lips on Levi, he grabbed the key from his hand. Levi looked as he walked to his bedroom.

'Can I – can I come with you?' Levi finally asked.


Running in front of the cart Titan, he looked back, making sure the people on top were okay as the bullets, thunder spears and titans were creating the biggest chaos around them Erwin had seen in a long time.

Piecke ran the last part to the ship, Erwin turning around to see if Falco really had transformed and had joined the fight.

They made it to where they could get onto the boat, the Azumabitos already having made it into the boat as they had been able to climb of the titan themselves, followed by Onyankopon. Only Gabi remained with Levi, the girl having kept Levi save and making sure he couldn't fall off.

'Gabi, help me out!', Erwin told the young girl that was on Piecke's back beside Levi, clearly still upset because her friend had just jumped off to transform into a Titan for the first time.

'What about Falco?'

'I will go and get him – just help me get Levi on board, okay?'

Gabi finally nodded as she carefully helped lower him from Piecke's back.

'Hurry up, I got to go help the others,' Piecke said. Catching Levi in his arm, Erwin hurried on board as Piecke joined the fighting, Gabi running after him.

Concerned as Levi had passed out again, he carried him inside, carefully setting him down, sheltered away from the fighting outside.

'Gabi, stay with Levi, okay!' Erwin said, not waiting for the answer as he started to run towards Falco over the pier. Mikasa, Jean and Connie clearly had their hands full with getting Reiner and Annie back on the ship. Looking as Falco ran over the roofs, he ducked over cover behind some of the crates on the pier, looking for a clear window to start running.

He had his ODM gear on, but knew that since he had lost his arm and especially since Shiganshina, he nowhere had to skills he used to nor the skills to avoid the fit, young and trained yeagerist.

Seeing Falco tear one of them up, he also knew better than to use up all the gas he had now.

A bullet rang out right over his head, landing in one of the Yeagerists on the roof, just in time for Falco to collapse next to him.

Looking back at the ship, he noticed the shot had come from the edge of the deck, Levi aiming the gun Gabi was holding for him, shooting it again, landing in the leg of one of the Yaegerists on the roof, the space around Falco pretty much clear now

'Damnit!' Erwin hissed under his breath, looking as Levi had butted into the fighting.

Finally activating his ODM gear, he made his way onto the roof, continuing his way towards Falco then.

Grabbing a new sword from his gear, he carefully cut into the nape of the feathered Titan, still looking around, making sure nobody was around them.

Pulling Falco out, no longer having his sword in hand and being even more careful now with the people around him, not being able to defend them. Looking up for just a second, he saw Levi still on the edge of the deck of the ship, holding the gun together with Gabby, ready to cover him.

As much as it worried him and it made his blood boil that Levi didn't listen to him, he was one of the best shooters in the force and having Levi cover him was a big advantage.

Throwing Falco over his shoulder, he heard Hange behind him.

'Go Erwin, I will cover you!' They yelled, heading the ODM gear swoosh near him. He didn't get far though till they could no longer make up to that promise as the Yaegerists swarmed them again.

Running back to the ship, Falco on his shoulder, he heard one of the Yaegerists behind him. With Falco on his shoulder, he knew he didn't have much of a chance of fighting as he kept on running.

A bullet shot right by his head, almost feeling the air of it as it passed his hair, landing in the chest of the Yeagerist behind him. The scout had gotten so close that he easily would have caught up with Erwin, had he gotten another few seconds.

Looking up at the boat, he knew it was Levi that had shot that bullet, especially as he saw Gabi high five Levi.

Ducking behind one of the crates, still holding Falco and covering him from the bullets flying around them.

Levi panted as he dropped the gun, he collapsed against Gabi. The gun was out of bullets and he felt like he was out of the last bit of energy he had managed to wring out of himself.

'We can get more bullets,' Gabby told him.

'You are a good shot, but I think we did about all we can,' Levi said as he could see two Yaegerists point at them in the distance.

'Come on, get back inside, kid,' Levi told her.

'You coming with me?' Gabi asked, looking back as she had made a few steps but Levi wasn't moving.

'Right behind you,' Levi told her, waving for her to leave. Grabbing his side again, he tried to roll over, hoping to find any power in his left leg to push himself up and stumble back inside. His right hip was throbbing and he knew he had no chance of getting up from there.

At least he had given Erwin a fighting chance.

Feeling Gabby grab his upper arm, she tried to pull him up.

'Get inside kid!' he told her again, trying to push her away as he could hear the fighting getting closer and it couldn't be long before they would be spotted and the Yaegerists would start targeting them and the last thing he wanted was for the little kid to get caught in the crossfire.

Before he could argue again, she grabbed the belt from his ODM gear, her hand around his arm he started to pull him towards the safety of the inside of the ship.

Surprised by how strong the little girl was, he felt he couldn't even move as she dragged him forward.

'Come on old man!' She told him as she grabbed him around his waist, dragging him inside.

A few bullets ricochet off the ship just as they made it inside, Levi pulling her down, wrapping his arm around her, not wanting her to get hit.

Slipping from under his arm, she peeked around the corner to see if Erwin and Falco were nearly here now, taking shelter behind one of the crates.

Laying on the ground, face down, Levi found it harder to breath, pain shooting through his body as he moved his uninjured hand under his chest, pushing himself up finally as he sat up against the wall, his leg twisted under his body as he set up, his hip throbbing even worse now.

Spots dancing in front of his eyes, he tried to take a deep breath, trying to see if Erwin had finally made it onto the ship.

'You're bleeding,' Gabi said worried as she was knelt across from him, 'from your mouth,'

It didn't even alarm him, the same having happened this morning. He had been able to wipe it away just in time before Erwin could see it.

'Wipe it away, before Erwin gets here – please – don't tell him either,' he whispered softly as she looked doubtful, but finally did what he asked.

'Only because you told me I am a good shot,' Gaby told him, carefully doing so.


Erwin sat on the edge of the bed. His mind kept telling him he was crossing another line with his subordinate, but Levi had been the one to ask him, tell him he wanted this.

Levi let his shirt drop, Erwin kissing him, his hand caressing over his back as he sat on the bed beside him, Erwin pushing him over, gently.

His body small but defined by the years of using the ODM gear was perfect in every way to Erwin. His lips traced down his chest, down to the waistline of his pants

'You really sure about this?' Erwin asked once again, not wanting to do anything wrong by Levi.

'Yeah,' Levi smiled with a rare genuine smile. Kissing again, Erwin carefully started to unbutton his pants, sliding them down as Levi was unbuttoning his shirt, so caught up in the moment that he threw it to the side without much of a thought.

'Damn Commander,' Levi smiled as he saw Erwin's chest and abs, Erwin moving down, kissing him in his neck again. Pulling his pants down as well, Levi's hand moved down over his ass, groaning softly as he felt the firm, muscled cheeks.

'Your hands are so small and delicate,' Erwin moaned softly, kissing Levi again.

'Delicate hmm?'

Before he even realized what happened, Levi's hands grabbed around his sides, pulling him towards the bed, climbing on top of him and roughly pressing his lips on Erwin's. Erwin was so surprised by the sheer power that seemed to explode out of Levi's body, his body being so small yet so strong.

Levi's hand pressed down Erwin's on the bed, hanging over him and still kissing him.

Erwin felt his other hand carefully making his way down his chest, his abs and very carefully into his underwear. Pulling his lips of Erwin's, Levi sat up, leaning back slightly, his fingers dancing around Erwin's member, gently grabbing it then.

Tugging, Levi was rolled over by Erwin, the commander's hand making it's way into his underpants as well. Laying together, touching each other, they kissed as they explored each other.

'You can be rough with me - you know,' Levi said softly.

'You want it rough?' Erwin moaned. Without much of a second though, he wrapped his arm around Levi's stomach, putting him on all fours on the bed. His massive upper body sprawled over Levi, he didn't hesitate entering him. His hand on his lower back now.

Holding the headboard as Erwin pounded into him, Levi moaned, the big man not holding back – and he didn't want him too. It was everything he had hoped for – and more.

Falling against Erwin's chest a few minutes later, his arm around him now as they panted, he felt Erwin's lips on his forehead, his stomach fluttering as nobody had ever been that gentle, or loving to him – as much as he had tried to be rough.


Making it onto the boat just in time before they would have to leave, he carried Falco onto the boat. Carefully laying the boy down, Gabi hurrying his way.

'He is okay – just passed out, always happens first transformation,' he told the girl, not wanting her to worry, but she needed, clearly aware after having been around the Warrior unit for years.

'Thank you for helping him,' she thanked him.

'No need to thank me, he is one of ours – you are too,' Erwin smiled, knew the kids had been treated less than respectful by some of the others and as much as he despised them for what they had done, he knew it was only because they were born on opposite sides.

'Where is Levi?' he immediately asked Gabi then.

She pointed behind him, Levi sitting up against the wall, clearly about to pass out again. Erwin looked worried as his chest was quickly rising and sinking, his face pale.

Just before he could reach him, wrap his arm around him, Hange grabbed his shoulder.

'There is rooms below deck to put Levi and Falco in,' Hange said as they started to assess the situation and the wounded. Luckily, most of them seemed to have gotten out without any severe injuries. Nodding, Hange walked past him, clearly freaking out as well about their new found responsibilities.

Worried, he knelt down by Levi, the man panting, even the shooting seemingly having taken a ton out of him. His eyes were bloodshot – his face pale and sweaty and although Erwin had seen him right after his injury, he was sure he looked worse now.

'You okay?', He asked concerned as he laid his hand against the side of his face.

'Still a good shot,' Levi panted with a small smile, not wanting to talk about his own state.

Erwin wanted to get angry, upset that he had done this even though it clearly only made him feel worse. Seeing Levi gripping his stomach again, he felt his stomach sink, knew he couldn't get angry with him now.

'Come on, there is a bed for you,' Erwin said as he carefully started to lift up Levi.

Walking down the stairs, he tried not to be angry with Levi, knew there was no chance in the world he wouldn't help him. But it still made him so angry that he was jeopardizing himself while he was in such a vulnerable state.

'How did you even manage to shoot?' Erwin wondered. Even though he had trained using a gun before their infiltration in Marley, Levi had never been keen on it, always resorting to his swords if he had the chance.

'Used my other hand, Gabi helped,' Levi said as if it had been the easiest thing in the world.

'Could have shot me in the head!' Erwin told him as he walked into the room, Levi in his arm.

'I didn't,' Levi dryly stated, panting as Erwin finally put him down on the bed, 'You maybe have been toast otherwise,'

'You were in no shape to fight,' Erwin said upset then, the thing that had bothered him the most about Levi shooting. As much as he didn't want to get angry with him, he did feel angry.

'I did it, I helped you and I am not in pain, why are you so upset I helped?' Levi said a little frustrated, nearly shouting as he was getting upset with Erwin. Gripping his stomach then, pain shooting through his body, Erwin couldn't even be angry with him anymore.

'Not in pain huh?' Erwin said concerned. He wanted to move Levi's shirt up to check out if the bruising had gotten worse, but Levi his hand away.

'Wasn't the shooting, going back inside -' Levi admitted.

'Still shouldn't have been shooting, I brought you inside to be safe,'

'I am safe now,' Levi answered, Erwin sighing frustrated.

'Sorry – I am tired too – worried about you. You know I am just worried, right?' Erwin admitted, trying his best not to take his frustration out on his wounded lover.

'Would have never taken the shot if I had any doubt of hitting you, you know that right?' Levi asked Erwin concerned as well, not used to see him so wound up and frustrated.

'It's not me I am concerned about,' Erwin told him, caressing over his hair.

'I just – I need you to be okay too,' Levi said softly, 'they easily could have gotten you too,'

'I know - you did well. I just don't want you to get involved,' Erwin said gently as he pulled the blanket over Levi, the man shivering.

'Gabi dragged me inside, couldn't walk. My hip hurt too much, my legs wouldn't move,' Levi admitted.

'You will be okay again,' Erwin assured him.

'Erwin, a thunderspear blew up in my face, my whole body is damaged – who knows if I am going to be okay again,' Levi admitted, 'I sure don't feel okay,'

He still didn't tell Erwin.

He couldn't tell Erwin.

He couldn't tell him about the blood.

He couldn't tell him how he felt life slowly slipping.

'Need you to be okay though,' Erwin said, hating how Levi felt so bad. Without much of a second thought, he lifted up Levi against his chest, snaking under him and laying the man against him, his head on his chest now,

'I need you to be okay, at least for another day,' Erwin mumbled softly.

'What are you plotting?'

'Trust me?'

'Stupid question,' Levi mumbled softly as he always trusted Erwin.

'Promise me you are going to hang on until tomorrow?'

'Yeah,' Levi mumbled. Erwin sounded so hopeful and he couldn't tell him it wasn't even a promise he had just made him, feeling worse by the hour.


Levi laid in Erwin's arm, both of them digging into the tarts, washing it down with swigs of wine. Rolling over, Erwin wiped some of the crumbs away from Levi's lips,

'Eww, now they are all in your bed,' Levi scrunched up his nose.

'Don't care,' Erwin told him, kissing him again now that the crumbs were gone. Pressing his face against the side of Levi's face, he never wanted him to leave this bed again. For weeks, they had been so careful meeting up, slowly meeting up to this.

And it had been everything that he had hoped for. Passionate, gently, tender. Rough when he asked, but Erwin still so gentle.

'I should go to my own room soon,' Levi mumbled.

He didn't want to leave though, it was so comfortable laying here with Erwin. His large warm body heating up Levi's body, that often got cold at night.

'You can stay if you want,' Erwin smiled, 'I know you don't sleep much but lying here together might be nicer than alone in your own bed?'

'I will just be keeping you awake,' Levi said as he knew he wouldn't sleep. Not just because he barely did, but also in a strange bed, beside Erwin.

'I don't mind,' Erin told him, holding him close. It felt so comfortable lying here with Levi in his arm.

'Fine, but don't complain if you don't get your beauty sleep,' Levi told him, curling up even more against his body.

'Do I need it?' Erwin teased Levi.

'No,' Levi bit his lip.

'Gosh, your body is so cold,' Erwin complained as he quickly ran his hand up and down Levi's back, surprised how cold the little body was, trying to warm him up.

'Always is, never had much body fat to warm myself'

'Well stay here then, tonight, nice and warm,' Erwin smiled.

Before Levi could object, Erwin pulled him against him again, kissing him on his forehead and pulling the blanket over them.

'Sleep well, if you can,' Erwin said softly, holding him close.

As much as he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, there was no way he was going to leave Erwin's arm and this cozy bed.

'I can feel the crumbs – told you it was gross' Levi whispered softly, Erwin chuckling softly as he held him even tighter.


Erwin tried to listen to Hange, trying to listen to the plans they had for tomorrow, for their final assault on Eren and his titans.

But as much as he tried, he couldn't concentrate on a word they said. His mind kept wandering to the man in the bed downstairs. All he could think about Levi and how he seemed to get worse.

He felt his leg shaking, not being able to keep it still, not being able to settle down and be calm for the slightest moment.

Even with the conversation he had had with Onyankopon this morning, he wasn't able to put his mind at ease, be hopeful. He knew there was a large chance they would never make it to the hospital in Liberio.

He knew he wouldn't be part of the fighting once they made land tomorrow, knew that he would either stay with Levi to the last moment or get him into Liberio with Onyankopon. But it didn't make him feel any less guilty about not paying attention to Hange. They had taken over his position and had been tryin so hard so clearly.

After about half an hour later, he rushed to get out of the room they had had the meeting, wanting to get back to Levi as soon as he could.

Gabi was still sitting by the door, clearly upset she hadn't been let in, looking up at him.

'Eavesdropping huh,' Erwin teased her.

'Couldn't hear anything,' she sulked.

'Falco awake yet?' Erwin asked her, not wanting to get into the meeting to much – especially since he wasn't even sure how much he could relay of it.

'Not yet,'

'Come, walk with me, I am sure Falco is excited to see you when he wakes up,' Erwin said, a lot of the others ignoring the young girl that sat by the door.

'Talk about what was discussed there?' She said hopeful.

'There is another final briefing later tonight – but you and Falco are just kids – you probably should stay out of it while you can,'

'I fought in the Middle East and I was on top of my class!' Gabi argued as she jogged beside Erwin.

Erwin wanted to argue with her, but knew better than to argue. They were just kids, but he knew that most of the recruits hadn't been much older when they got dragged into the training corps.

'Levi told me he was the top of his class too,' Gabi said as she tried to keep up with Erwin, Erwin stopping for a second, chuckling.

'That prick was never in a class,' Erwin chuckled.

'He told me!'

'I picked him up from the street – he never attended any training until he was part of the Corps,' Erwin smiled, Gabi looking in disbelief.

'Wait, but he is Captain right?'

'He is, but he came in to the corps without being a recruit, so he never was in a class,'

'Your military is weird,' Gabi just stated and Erwin chuckled for a second.

'Thanks for being so nice to me,' Gabi finally said as they made it below deck, most of the people here being nowhere as nice to her, ignoring her. She couldn't blame them after all that had happened.

Looking as she walked into the room to be with Falco, he smiled. He was well aware of most people's feelings towards them. Although he could never forgive them for shooting Sascha, they were just kids. He knew that some of the young recruits he had personally trained were no different.

Softly opening the door, not wanting to disturb Levi if he was asleep, Levi was awake, looking weary, tired. Even more so than lately and he felt his stomach sink as he walked into the room. Not asking him again how he felt as he could see it, he just kissed Levi on his forehead.

'What are you smiling at?' Levi asked softly.

'You lying to young girls about being at the top of your class huh?' Erwin teased him.

'She wouldn't let me shoot otherwise,' Levi groaned as Erwin helped him sit up a little.

'Levi, humanities strongest soldier, Ackerman, being told what to do by a twelve year old, my my', Erwin chuckled and teased him as he sat down by the bed.

'Go away if you are just gonna be an ass,' Levi told him.

'Not gonna be an ass, just made me laugh,' Erwin smiled. Taking Levi's hand, he gently kissed it. He looked concerned as Levi's eye fell shut again, the man clearly wiped out by the journey, the shooting and the pain.


Opening his eyes, Levi's face was close to his, the eyes immediately peering into his.

'Hey,' Levi greeted him, clearly having been awake for a while. Yawning, but smiling then, Erwin smiled back at him.

'Goodmorning,'

Not as much as a morning person as Levi, he just pulled him against him again, holding him close as he took a little longer to wake up.

Levi settled against his chest again. Even after the whole night spend here, most of it awake he still could hardly believe what had happened last night between them.

'You sleep at all?' Erwin finally said as he yawned again, holding Levi close to him.

'No – just laid here – you holding me was nice. Eventually I got a book and read a little,' Levi said softly as they laid together. Although it was the first time they had spent the night together, it had seemed to come so natural that he was here with Erwin. Although it wasn't his own bedroom, it all seemed to come a little more natural now.

'Watched you sleep for a while too,' Levi mumbled softly.

'That's a little creepy – please don't say that,' Erwin chuckled even though Levi had surely meant to be sweet.

'Sorry – I am not really good at this – this whole romantic thing-'

'Don't feel like you need to for me, I think you are perfect in the way you are, awkward or not,' Erwin told him, turning and pulling Levi on his chest so they faced each other now.

'I ehm – this is all pretty new for me too,' Erwin said as he laid his hand on Levi's hair, caressing through the dark hair.

'What – being romantic or -' Levi pried.

'Love, Intimacy in general,' Erwin admitted, 'I mean, I have shared my bed with people but not often.'

'Your lovers not into your scouting strategies?', Levi joked, Erwin smiling.

'Never allowed myself to really, just knowing that my life would most likely be very short. Didn't want to leave somebody, or a family behind,' Erwin explained as he kept caressing through Levi's hair.

'What about you – you don't need to tell me if you don't want to,' Erwin asked Levi, the man's eyes away from Erwin.

'My upbringing really messed up my perception of love I think, never really had any relationships, or been intimate much,' Levi said, but not wanting to get into it any further.

'Your parents?' Erwin wondered. He knew there was a lot he didn't know about the small man, just like Levi didn't know a lot of things about him yet. He was curious, although he figured that there was a lot still to learn about each other.

'My mother, I don't know who my dad is,' Levi mumbled softly. He sat up then, looking at the pile of clothes beside the bed.

'Guess I should get out of here before anyone wonders where we are,' Levi mumbled then.

'Sure – tell me about your mother,' Erwin said then as it was the first time Levi was this open talking about his past.

Levi let out a deep sigh. He didn't want to talk about it, never having talked about his lack of a dad, or his mother. But with Erwin – Erwin was the only person he would ever feel comfortable talking about her.

'She was a whore, my dad was one of her clients. Everybody told her to get rid of me and when I was born they told her to leave me out on the street. She didn't, she did everything for us to survive,' Levi said as he sat up on the edge of the bed, Erwin searching for his hand on the bed, finally taking it.

'She sounds like a brave woman,'

'Guess I just never saw love for what it is – knowing what it brought her,' Levi explained, only taking his hand out of Erwin's to start grabbing his clothes together.

'Now I understand why you punched Miche when he called you a whoreson,' Erwin thought back of the incident that had occurred a few months ago.

'He was not wrong – unbeknownst to him - but prick had it coming anyway,' Levi shrugged. Opening up about his past, his mother and having been so bare to Erwin last night, he wasn't sure how to give himself shape anymore.

'Guess I should leave you be, thanks for tonight,'

'No, thank you – and for being so open with me. I love being around you,' Erwin told him, Levi suddenly seeming so unsure about himself.

'Come back tonight,' Erwin followed up, taking Levi's hand then.

'Not sick of me after one night?'

'Quite the contrary – please come back tonight,' Erwin told him, sitting up, kissing him on his forehead. In disbelief that anyone could ever care about this much, Levi finally let all these feelings flood in, kissing Erwin once more.


Erwin kept caressing Levi's hand. Even though he was awake, Levi seemed too tired to talk. Hange had brought over some food for them, but Levi hadn't managed past one tiny bite, nearly throwing up then. Levi had just been glad no blood had come up, feeling even worse for wear now, even though he wasn't sure he could feel any worse at this point.

He didn't regret pushing himself to cover Erwin with the gun today though. He knew he had at least saved the person he cared so much about, even if it had cost him the last bit of energy he had left.

'Wow,' Erwin suddenly smiled.

'Hmm?' Levi wondered as an orange light shone through the window of the small cabin.

'Sunset has started,' Erwin smiled as the cabin was suddenly lit in an orange hue.

'Take me to the deck for a bit?' Levi finally asked, wanting to see the sunset over the ocean. Erwin finally nodded, Levi swinging his arm around his neck again, his head against Erwin's neck as Erwin carefully lifted him up, his hand under his knees.

Erwin held him close as he walked up the stairs, careful as he couldn't grab the railing and the last thing he wanted was to fall with Levi.

He wasn't sure if it was a great idea to bring him here instead of letting him rest, but with the fact the end of the world was almost happening and with uncertainty what would happen tomorrow, it might be their last sunset together.

Levi reached out to open the door, the wind hitting them as they made it out onto the deck.

Carefully, Erwin sat down on the part of the deck, facing west. Levi in his lap as he sat, leaning against him and Erwin's arm around him, they look at the array of pink, orange and some almost purple clouds as the sun made its way down towards the distant waves.

They had watched so many sunsets together on the wall, but tonight the sunset seemed especially beautiful and special. As if even the sun knew what was on their road ahead.

Levi started to feel more and more that this could be the end of the road for them. Especially for himself and he couldn't even bring himself to tell Erwin. He felt horrible not having told Erwin about his worsening condition, but he didn't even want to face it himself.

As much as they were on their way to save Marley – and the world by extension, it felt like this boat also bringing them to their own doom.

The bangs of his hair were hitting him in the face due to the wind, but he didn't even care. All he felt was Erwin's arm around him and he heard his heart beat in his chest as he laid against it. Closing his eye for a second, he was so grateful to still have Erwin by his side, even in what felt like their darkest moments.

'There it goes,' Erwin said softly, the sun having almost disappeared behind the ocean.

They looked as the sun finally sunk into the ocean.

'I love you,' Levi said softly as he grabbed Erwin's hand.

'I love you too,' Erwin told him, laying his head on top of Levi's as they looked in the distance still.

'Forever - however long we - however long that may be,' Levi followed.

'Forever,' Erwin confirmed, kissing him on top of his head as he looked at the last sunbeams over the ocean.


Thank you so much for making it to the end of the chapter, I hoped that you enjoy this chapter and you are still excited about what is to come and want to read more. Please do leave a review and till next week!