Notes: Thanks to my friend (and amazing Rivarmin writer on AO3) BlueGrammar for helping me figure out the role of the Survey Corps in this canon divergent setting, as well as Erwin's role as Commander. I've put off addressing this topic in the story for too long!
I'm excited to finally show the Rivarmin bath/aftercare scene that I had planned for so long, I hope you enjoy it! Along with all the other drama I squeezed in :)
Previously: In their most recent threesome encounter, Armin and Erwin teamed up to fulfil Levi's fantasy of having two men in charge of him. Afterwards, Levi and Armin have a bath together, while Erwin tries to catch up on his ever-demanding workload.
Chapter 18: The Cost of Freedom
Levi
Baths were an incredible luxury for Levi. When he had lived in the Underground, hot water for washing was a rarity. Nevermind a gigantic tub full of it.
The blissful heat eased the ache in his muscles from the strenuous spanking and sex earlier. He'd used one of his favourite bath mixtures that bubbled up under running water. He always found this lemongrass fragrance refreshing after an intense intimacy session.
Armin sat pliantly in front of him, allowing his hair to be washed. Levi threaded his fingers through Armin's wet locks, rubbing in the shampoo in gentle massaging motions. Despite trying to keep his actions perfunctory, affection rose up to engulf him at how much the other man was enjoying his efforts. He titled his head back, his shoulders and upper torso pressed against the front of Levi's body.
"You're really good at this," Armin sighed, leaning his head back further into his Captain's hands. It was angled so far back, Levi could see his closed eyes and the contented smile curving his mouth.
"I sometimes wash Erwin's hair when we have baths together."
Which isn't that often anymore, he reflected bitterly.
Since Erwin had assumed the position of Commander, his workload was never-ending. He had much less free time for indulgences like baths, and hardly ever found time to read for pleasure like he used to. Levi admired his partner's dedication to leading the Survey Corps. But what were the demands of the job costing the man?
Right now Erwin was in his private study, frantically catching up on the paperwork he hadn't been able to finish earlier. The role of Commander consumed almost his whole life these days. And it didn't need to be that way.
If only he'd swallow his damn pride and ask for help! It would ease so much pressure for him.
But unfortunately Levi understood why Erwin refused to do this. It was for the same reason he himself never wanted to make his relationship with Erwin public – he couldn't stand the thought of people gossiping about him and making assumptions. If Erwin got an assistant to help with his workload, it would be perceived as a sign of weakness, and his competency as a leader might be questioned.
Guilt needled Levi. His partner probably needed this aftercare session far more than he did. While Erwin enjoyed the role-play game, acting dominant for a long session was very draining for him. The man could do with relaxing right now, instead of slaving away under the weight of his workload.
Remember that Armin deserves some attention too; he put in a lot of effort earlier to give me what I wanted…
Levi refocused on the task at hand. He rinsed off the shampoo with a jug of water, rubbing Armin's hair to get all the residue out. He debated for a moment before grabbing a tub of coconut conditioner beside the bath. Taking out a small amount, he combed it through the other man's short blond hair.
"That smells amazing," Armin practically moaned, his expression a mask of ecstasy.
"It would want to smell nice. Each container costs a fucking fortune."
Armin's eyes shot open, his muscles tensing against Levi's chest. "Wait. You – you shouldn't be wasting that on me."
Levi clenched his jaw. Why did the man always put himself down?
"It's not a waste if you enjoy it. And I really appreciate everything you did for me earlier. This is my way of thanking you." Feeling heat rise to his cheeks, he added in a growl, "So you better enjoy it, brat."
Armin huffed out a laugh, and did as he was told.
Levi finished with the conditioner, leaving it to rest in Armin's hair for a few minutes. He eased Armin back to settle his head on his chest. Then he massaged his shoulders with gentle movements. Feeling the man melt underneath his ministrations was extremely satisfying.
"Do you actually like acting in charge?" Levi asked. "Or were you just playing along with the role for my sake?"
"Well…" Armin began, and Levi knew he was doing that thing where his mouth twisted in thought. "I was really self-conscious about it. But I made up some notes after our talk last week, and I think that really helped."
"You made notes?!"
"Yeah, just some ideas for dialogue, and other things you might like. I imagined myself as you, and tried to figure out what would heighten the experience."
This knowledge sent a hot spike of desire to Levi's groin. He recalled Armin's gentle hands on his back and thighs, and those sweet, soothing words. And how Levi's refusal to behave led to more aggressive treatment. The sharp contrast between Armin's soft and harsher styles of dominance had been incredibly arousing.
He's far more dangerous in the bedroom than he realises.
Not for the first time tonight, Levi imagined allowing Armin to fully take charge. To have the man on top of him, pinning him down, inside of him…
Fuck! These types of thoughts felt like a betrayal to Erwin. While they'd recently discussed the prospect of Armin topping him, Erwin still wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea. Besides, who knew if Armin was even interested in it?
Levi continued massaging the man's back, hiding the confusing battle raging inside of him. He cleared his throat. "So… how are you feeling after everything? We didn't push you too far, did we?"
"It was hard getting used to acting… you know… dominant with you. But I could see how much you liked it, and that was exciting." Armin's hands twisted on his drawn-up knees. His skin was pink from the heat of the water. "How about you? Are you still sore anywhere?"
Levi's heart did a strange little flutter at the man's concern. Like a bird was frantically trying to escape his chest. "I'm fine," he shrugged, not wanting to discuss it further. He didn't regret asking Armin to dominate him with Erwin – having both men take charge had been one of the best sexual experiences of his life. But he'd exposed the most vulnerable, needy side of himself to someone new. And he was still processing his emotions on the wisdom of this.
It's like when I first started having sex with Erwin, he realised with a jolt. I don't feel embarrassed letting him top me anymore, or asking him to take control. But for some reason my old feelings of shame have resurfaced again with Armin…
Seizing control of Armin's aftercare had been a calculated move for Levi – enabling him to slip back into the role of cool, confident Captain. Distancing himself from the sobbing, begging mess he'd been earlier.
When Levi finished with the massage, he pulled Armin back against his chest so the man's head rested at his throat, just above the water. Between the peaceful silence and pleasant scents of lemon and coconut, Levi's eyes drifted closed.
Who would have thought I'd ever be this comfortable with anyone except Erwin?
"You were incredible earlier Levi." Armin's words was scarcely above a whisper, like he was confessing a secret. "You looked so hot. And those noises you made…" His voice grew husky before trailing off. He swallowed and continued, "I've imagined taking charge before, but I never thought I was… you know, strong or commanding enough to pull it off. I thought the men who fitted that role were like you, or Erwin, or Jean. Not someone small and weak like me." He released a sharp, self-depreciating chuckle. "Anyway, I appreciate you trusting me like that. And encouraging me to try something new."
Levi's mouth trembled, and he bit his bottom lip hard to control it. Thank the Walls Armin couldn't see his face. He strove to control his heaving chest, brimming with something he couldn't define.
He'd been afraid of the man mocking him, or treating him differently after seeing such a raw, vulnerable side of him. Thinking less of him for his peculiar desires. But instead, Armin was thanking him for this new experience. Not passing any judgments on Levi's submissive behaviour.
The man was a tantalising contrast - with his gentle, bookish nature concealing a hidden chasm of pent-up sexual appetites. Armin had barely scratched the surface of exploring these desires in his experience with Jean. He'd been only too eager to allow Levi and Erwin to demonstrate a whole new realm of decadent possibilities to him. And they were more than happy to be his enthusiastic teachers in the art of pleasure.
Levi shuddered despite the hot water, recalling Armin's fingers deep inside him, stroking that sweet spot, the exquisite pleasure building like a roaring furnace…
Hoping Armin didn't suspect the fervent direction of his thoughts, he replied, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Like I said, you were really good. You need to stop putting yourself down all the time."
We couldn't have asked for a more perfect person to have this sort of arrangement with, Levi thought fiercely. But he couldn't quite force this compliment out of his tight throat. So he settled on clasping the man's hand reassuringly. His heart leapt when Armin squeezed back.
After a minute of comfortable silence, Armin spoke again. "I'm glad you and Erwin want to stay friends with me after the threesome ends."
"Well we never intended making friends with you Arlert. But you're just so goddamn likable you forced us to change our plans."
Armin grasped Levi's hand behind him. "You and Erwin are both really good men. I hope someday I find love like yours."
Levi didn't know how to respond to this increasingly emotional exchange. Except to change the subject.
"Brat, your hair's getting scraggly. Do you want me to cut it for you?"
"Oh no! I'm considering growing it out. Like Jean's, or maybe Eren's."
A bark of laughter burst from Levi's lips. He had an aversion to men with long messy hair. But then he tried picturing Armin with a ponytail. And he had to admit, the man could probably pull it off.
"Do you think it'd be too feminine for me?" Armin asked.
"No, don't worry about that. People will gossip about you no matter what you do." Levi meant his words to be reassuring, but wasn't sure he'd hit the mark. So he added, "When I first joined the Survey Corps, I used to get teased for wearing a cravat. But do you think I give a damn what others say about me?"
Except when it comes to my relationship with Erwin… I don't think I could live with that secret coming out, and everybody talking behind my back about it.
To distract himself from this sombre line of thought, he uncapped the shampoo bottle to wash his own hair.
"Wait, can I do that?" Armin asked. "You deserve some looking after too – that sex was pretty intense. This aftercare thing should work both ways."
Levi bit back his refusal. He loved when Erwin washed his hair, and hadn't experienced it for a few weeks. Was there any harm in allowing Armin to do it? Erwin was the one who had suggested this whole aftercare bath idea, after all.
So he agreed, and switched positions with Armin, so he was now the one sitting in between the younger man's legs. And fuck, his gentle hands felt amazing on Levi's scalp. But why did his savouring of this intimate gesture feel like more of a betrayal than the sex earlier?
His mind drifted back to Erwin, who right now, was working tirelessly on that stupid report he needed for tomorrow. Levi had suggested cancelling tonight's plans altogether, but Erwin insisted on going ahead. He knew how much Levi had anticipated it.
He's always putting the needs of others before his own – mine, Armin's, the whole fucking Survey Corps! When will he start thinking about himself?
The pleasure of Armin's soothing motions on his skin clashed with the guilt clawing inside of Levi; like some beast fighting to tear its way out of him. Why was it so hard to breath all of a sudden? What were these gaspy little noises hissing out of his traitorous mouth?
"It's ok Levi. Come here."
The pleasant sensations on his scalp ceased. Instead, arms wrapped around his shuddering body, and cautious fingers splayed on his chest like they were trying to hold him together.
"Are you still feeling overwhelmed after the sex?" Armin's voice was softer than the brush of a butterfly's wings.
The caged animal inside of him roared and finally broke free of its chains.
"No, I'm worried about Erwin. That goddamn idiot is working himself into an early grave! How long does he think he can keep this up?"
Armin didn't answer his demanding questions. Perhaps it was unfair to expect him to get involved in this matter – it really wasn't his problem. No doubt he didn't want to take sides between the couple either.
"Here, why don't you have some tea?" Armin reached over to the small table beside the bath, and retrieved a cup of cooling herbal tea. Erwin had made up two cups for them earlier, which they'd forgotten about. Another act of kindness when the man was already so busy…
The drink eased the ache in his throat, and his turbulent thoughts grew less muddled.
Pull yourself together, and take action! What can I do to help Erwin?
Offering to assist with his workload never worked. So what else could he do to relieve pressure for the man? Even in the threesome, he insisted on giving Levi or Armin the spotlight, ensuring their pleasure always came first.
He deserves to be the centre of attention for a change. Play out some of his own desires; let us take care of his needs…
Armin focussed his attention back on Levi's hair, rinsing out the shampoo and rubbing a small amount of coconut conditioner through it. Then he pulled the Captain back to rest his head on his chest. The fragrant foamy bubbles reached Levi's chin, and the pounding of Armin's heart offered a soothing rhythm.
It was just like earlier, when Armin held him when he'd cried from overstimulation after sex. The man's chest wasn't as broad or strong as Erwin's, but a sense of tranquillity washed over him all the same. Here was a space where it was safe to be himself, without fear of judgment. Whether he was playing the role of the formidable Captain, or simply a man yearning to surrender control.
Levi's eyes fluttered closed. Luxurious baths like this had always been an escape for him; a chance to forget about expectations and normal life, and allow the hot water to melt away his troubles. In his relaxed state, it wasn't long before a plan of action took shape in his mind. But he would require assistance…
Armin's upper thighs stuck up out of the water where his legs were drawn up either side of Levi's own outstretched ones. Levi rested a hand on the man's left knee and gave it a squeeze.
"Armin, I'd like to organise a surprise for Erwin. Maybe a special night where both of us focus only on him. Would you be interested in that?"
The other man's hand settled over Levi's. "That's a great idea. How can I help?"
Erwin
"Erwin?… Erv?"
The first thing he felt was a throbbing at his temples. The prickling edge of another migraine.
Then Erwin opened his heavy eyelids, confused as to why his head was resting on the hard wood of his desk. Pulling himself upright, he saw Levi standing a few paces away, forehead creased in worry. Armin hovered in the doorway, mouth slightly ajar.
That's right; I'm back in my study, finishing up my work from earlier. How did I manage to fall asleep?
Shame flooded him, heating his cheeks. He strove to appear unflustered as he greeted the men.
"Did you have a nice bath? I can give you both massages now if you like?" He made to stand up, his stiff muscles protesting at the sudden movement.
"Oh no, I just came in to say goodbye. But thank you for the bath, I really appreciate it." Armin's lips twitched in a feeble smile.
"You're welcome," Levi replied tersely. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door."
Levi ushered the man out of the room, leaving behind the pleasant scents of citrus and coconut. The hum of their whispered conversation in the hall drifted back to him. He glanced down at the thick stack of pages on his desk – a detailed proposition of building a railroad system from the docks at the coast to Wall Maria, with future options to extend it out to Walls Rose and Sina.
He pinned a cheerful expression on his face as his partner returned to the room. Levi dropped into a seat in front of Erwin's desk. His hands shuffled on his lap, toying with the drawstring on his pyjama bottoms.
"So, how's this infernal report going? Can I help in any way?" Levi asked. But Erwin could tell it was not the question he wanted to ask.
"I'm almost finished, thank the Walls," Erwin lied smoothly, leaning back to rub at his eyes. "You smell amazing. How was your bath with Armin?"
"It was fine. I washed his hair and gave him a bit of a massage, and he seemed to enjoy it."
For a moment Erwin's forced smile transformed into a genuine one. He wished he could have seen his partner and their temporary lover together. But it was also nice to allow them space to relax in each other's company. After all, they might be spending more time alone together soon…
"Do you want me to give you a massage now? I'll take a break from this."
Levi's gaze met his steadily. "No it's fine. Armin… well, the brat got all bossy and insisted on washing my hair too. And also returned the favour of a massage. All I want to do is go to bed now."
Erwin's cheery façade faltered. I planned on giving them both massages after their bath. Instead, they walked in on the sorry sight of me passed out at my desk. That look Armin gave me… what does he think of his 'mighty' Commander now?
"Well, I'm glad Armin took care of you. I'm just sorry it wasn't me. Honestly, this report could have waited until later-"
"No. Then you would have been up all night finishing it." Levi squeezed his eyes shut. "I wish you didn't have to work this hard. I know you love your job, and want to help steer the country into peace with the rest of the world. But how long can you keep up with this demanding schedule? It's worse than when we were fighting titans."
The Survey Corps had indeed come a long way from the days when their primary concerns were battling monsters – both the giant, mindless ones outside the Walls, and the corrupt ones within their own government. But now the titans were eradicated, and they'd successfully overthrown the old immoral leaders of state. All of Erwin's dreams for Paradis had come true in his lifetime.
Discovering the existence of nations outside of their little island had been a shock to everyone. Keith Shadis resigned as Commander soon after this revelation – unable to comprehend the new world the Survey Corps now found itself in. Erwin, full of aspirations to reform the regiment to match the changing times, eagerly stepped up to take the place of leader.
Rising so high up the military ranks was a deeply personal achievement for Erwin. His father had been unjustly executed for a trumped up 'crime' under the old government's rule, and afterwards his whole family was darkened by a shadow of disgrace.
Erwin vowed to one day restore his family's reputation. He'd joined the military with the bold aim to help Paradis achieve freedom from the titans. And now as the Commander of his regiment in a vastly different era, Erwin had attained a role where he could instigate even more positive change for his fellow soldiers, and the citizens of his country.
Paradis wouldn't relinquish their army of soldiers, of course. A century of being besieged by titans ingrained a primal need to defend themselves against outside threats. And so the Survey Corps was required to continue training elite soldiers in case of an unexpected war. But Erwin was keen to expand the regiment's goals further to suit their new environment. The original purpose was to explore the land beyond the Walls. Now, he wanted them to be a part of reaching out to other nations, establishing connections and mutually beneficial trade agreements. Assisting with the building of modern infrastructure, like the railroad system, to aid Paradis in their commercial pursuits with new allies.
Erwin couldn't deny that navigating this enormous transformation was taking its toll on him. But wouldn't the results all be worth it? How proud would his father be to know his son played an integral role in advancing Paradis towards a peaceful, prosperous future for everyone?
Erwin returned his partner's gaze openly. "You know that holding this role is about more than my own ambitions. Our agreements with other countries are still precarious. Giving over leadership to someone else might prove disastrous at the moment."
"I'm proud of everything you've done for us." Levi leaned over and took Erwin's larger hand in both of his. In a lighter tone, he added, "You took an Underground rat, and turned him into a semi-civilised, titan-killing machine. Trust me, nobody else could have tamed me to fight for the cause of freedom."
Warmth spread through Erwin, despite the chilly room. "You know what? I think having the honour of getting to know you is my greatest achievement."
"Tsk. Even exhausted, you can't stop being an insufferable charmer!" Levi exclaimed. Then his expression sobered. "Please remember to take care of your own needs too. As dedicated as your heart is, you can't change the world fuelled only by a handful of hours of sleep."
"Speaking of my busy schedule, there's actually something I need to discuss with you… I didn't want to ruin the mood by telling you earlier."
Erwin had helped to organise a trade negotiations summit taking place in Mitras next week. However, today he got confirmation that two other nations were also sending diplomatic envoys to Paradis. So instead of a four-day trip at the capital, Erwin would now be attending a series of conferences and events that would span almost two weeks. It was a momentous opportunity for their country; there was no way he would miss it.
"You're going for two weeks?" Levi asked incredulously. "Won't this place fall apart without you?"
"I'll be leaving Hange and Mike to deal with some of my responsibilities."
Levi pulled his hands away from Erwin's, crossing his arms. "Why don't you delegate out some of your workload permanently?"
Erwin rubbed at his throbbing temples. "Because people gossip. It will look as though I can't handle my duties. The traditionalists who don't want us creating bonds with other nations will take any opportunity to slander me. Nile, Pixis, and all the other high-ups pushing for foreign trade agreements face the same issue."
His arguments made sense; he had solid, rational reasons to keep managing his duties as Commander by himself.
But what if Levi's right, and I can't keep this up long-term? At what point will I decide to seek help? How far am I willing to push Levi's tolerance of the situation?
"Armin will be disappointed you're going away. Not just for the sex – he told me earlier that our friendship means a lot to him."
"Well, why don't you keep meeting up with him while I'm gone?"
His partner's thin brows rose in surprise. Erwin quickly clarified, "I mean, you should keep up with our usual weekly tea and chat."
"Not the sex part," Levi smirked.
"No, preferably not the sex part. Try to restrain yourselves until I'm back."
"That's fine with me. But I can't make any promises about Armin. That horny little brat is insatiable."
Erwin laughed along with his partner, easing the knot of tension in his chest. He was a lot happier knowing Levi wouldn't be lonely while he was gone.
Armin's company has come to mean a lot for both of us. I'm glad we agreed to stay friends once the threesome ends.
The playful expression melted from Levi's face. "I'm sorry about making that request earlier for Armin to top me. I know you're still not sure if it's something you're comfortable with."
Strangely enough, Erwin had been on the verge of giving into this desire of Levi's. The thoughts of Armin topping his partner evoked more arousal in him than jealousy these days. But some indefinable force held him back from agreeing just yet.
"Don't worry about it. I know you didn't mean to put me under pressure," Erwin assured him. "We can discuss it again another time, perhaps after my trip. Anyway, you should be getting to bed now."
Levi stood and came around the desk to put his arm around Erwin's shoulders in a quick squeeze. "Try not to stay up too late, Erv."
Erwin's fond smile slipped off his face as soon as his partner left the room. Yes, he needed sleep. But staring down at the unfinished report on his desk, he wasn't sure he'd be getting much of it tonight…
Armin
The Survey Corps was abuzz with speculation about important upcoming events taking place in the capital next week.
Foreign dignitaries would be converging in Mitras to negotiate trade agreements with Paradis. Even the imposing nation of Marley was sending diplomats to the event. Up until recent years, the country was known for instigating wars with other nations in order to gain more territory and power. Thankfully, new leadership had curbed this obsession. And while their interest in Paradis might only be for profit, having an official peace treaty with them would be a huge relief for the small island.
Armin discussed the remarkable news with Levi and Erwin at their next casual encounter. They tended to meet like this once a week now, on top of their sex encounters which occurred either weekly or fortnightly, depending Erwin's schedule.
Much to Armin's delight, Erwin revealed that he himself would be attending the two-week summit.
"You're so lucky to be part of a historical occasion like this! You have to tell me everything when you get back."
He would miss Erwin over the two weeks, sure; but he was also proud of the man's involvement in paving a peaceful future for Paradis.
"Tsk. You're better off staying in Mitras, Erwin. Getting interrogated by Arlert will prove even more demanding than any work you're doing there."
"Speaking of my trip, there's something we wanted to run by you Armin…"
It turned out that Erwin had no issues with Armin and Levi meeting up as friends while he was gone. In fact, he seemed to wholly support the idea. And beneath Levi's usual taciturn manner, Armin suspected he was happy about the prospect too.
Funny enough, Armin found himself more apprehensive about what Erwin told him next. He was gathering detailed updates on all the sections of the Survey Corps before the summit. Which meant he'd be visiting the library tomorrow to speak with the Head Librarian and Armin about the changes they'd implemented.
The next morning, he feigned surprise when an excited Emilia informed him that the Commander would be calling into the library later that day. Inside his stomach was churning. His path rarely crossed with the other man in public. Would he be able to act 'normal' around him, after all the intimacy they'd shared?
The prospect of meeting Erwin in a formal setting made Armin recall his old crush on him - back when he first became Commander and Armin had volunteered to re-organise the file cabinets in his office. He'd been captivated by the man's unquestionable authority and charisma, and harboured furtive dreams of illicit encounters with him. Dreams he'd never truly expected to come true.
But then Armin had accidentally walked in on Erwin's tryst with Levi in his office, changing everything. He pondered how things could have turned out very differently…
If I never let Eren and Mikasa convince me to apply for the librarian position, I wouldn't have visited Erwin's office that evening to drop off my application. I would still be dissatisfied with my life, feeling like a failure as a soldier, and jealous of Eren and Mikasa's relationship.
It was incredible that a single decisive action had lead him along such a positive new path.
Erwin arrived at the library soon before midday. Armin tried to appear professional, despite his heart hammering like he was a cadet meeting the Commander for the first time.
If Erwin felt any sort of nervousness at the situation, he hid it well. The man was his usual charming self - greeting the Head Librarian and Armin warmly, and showing genuine interest during a tour of the library where Emilia informed him of the changes they'd made over the last few months.
"We're getting a large increase in visitors, with almost a fifty percent rise in the number of books being checked out. That's partly due to Armin's idea to put a selection of the new foreign books into circulation. We have to make waiting lists for some of them, I've never seen books so popular in my time here! When the new shelves are built and we can put out the rest of the foreign books, we're planning to hold a launch event to create even more awareness. That was Armin's suggestion too."
"So I take it you're happy with Armin's work here?" Erwin teased. His tone was similar to one he used in private with Armin under very different circumstance. It was hard for Armin to steer his mind away from these dangerous thoughts.
"Yes, I couldn't have asked for a better assistant!" Emilia beamed. "Although with how busy the library is these days, we could really do with another staff member…"
Erwin laughed. "You already know the hoops I had to jump through to get approval for one assistant. But the military environment is changing all the time. If the library continues growing in popularity, perhaps we can make a case for more staff in the future."
"Maybe we could highlight the positive effects the library has on people's mentality? I know it makes a huge difference in some soldiers' lives." Armin thought about Floch, who spent most of his free time in the library reading. Suddenly this gave him another idea. "Perhaps we could even branch out with our services, and provide more ways to support mental welfare in the Survey Corps?"
Emilia sighed dramatically. "You see Commander? He's always coming up with new ways to give us extra work. We need more staff members to keep up!"
After some more easy banter, the Head Librarian and Commander discussed both the merits and potential difficulties of his suggestion. Ultimately, Erwin supported the idea, but wanted Armin and Emilia to come up with a concrete approach and submit it to him in an official proposal. When he got all the update information he needed for his report, he thanked them both earnestly for their commitment in maintaining and enhancing the library's services.
Only when he left did Armin realise he'd fallen under Erwin's spell yet again. This public persona was a far cry from the worn-out man he'd seen asleep at his desk only a week ago.
What does it cost him to maintain this impeccable façade? How long can a person keep something like this up for?
The Commander he used to have a crush on was an idealistic and heroic leader who exuded power and authority. In some ways it was disappointing to be now glimpsing the man behind that perfect mask. But knowing his struggles only strengthened his admiration of Erwin's dedication to his role. What Armin respected most about him was his kindness and intelligence, which were innate traits he showed both in public and private.
Similarly, his perspective of Levi had shifted as he got to know the man better. The seemingly cold Captain restrained a tide of passion that Armin would never have expected. He too built a solid pretence, but instead of Erwin's graceful affability, Levi feigned indifference in order to keep people away. Armin had caught snippets of the man's turbulent past through stories he told, and he couldn't blame him for not easily giving away his trust to others.
Which made Armin all the more honoured that Levi still wanted to meet up with him as a friend, even without Erwin present. They'd already arranged to meet this Saturday night in Levi's quarters.
I hope it won't be awkward with just the two of us… Levi isn't always the most talkative. Then again, he's gotten a lot more comfortable with me over the last few months. And maybe it's a good chance to discuss our ideas for a 'special night' for Erwin in more detail.
Levi was clearly concerned about his partner's intense work-centric lifestyle. After seeing him collapsed at his desk, Armin had no idea how Erwin managed to bring such energy to his daily duties. Or how he made time for their increasingly demanding threesome sessions. It actually seemed irresponsible - if his goal was to continue leading the Survey Corps to the best of his abilities, how could he run himself into the ground like this?
But it wasn't Armin's place to voice this opinion. By the sounds of it, Levi had already argued with Erwin over the matter. It appeared to be the main source of tension between the otherwise content couple.
Up to this point in their arrangement, Armin was glad the men never involved him too deeply in their personal problems. But since they were friends now as well as lovers, he wanted to lend them emotional support if they needed it. Just like he'd tried to comfort Levi when he got upset in the bath last week. The men didn't need to maintain their masks around him anymore; he preferred if they could be fully relaxed around him.
It was hard for Armin to concentrate as he dealt with library customers for the rest of the afternoon. Tantalising thoughts flooded his mind of the special night he and Levi were planning for Erwin. He already had a list of suggestions – including an idea for a role-play that he'd been fantasising about for a while now.
Whatever happens, I just hope we can give our hard-working Commander a night to remember…
Notes: I reached a point in the story where I needed to explain what the actual hell is going on in Paradis. So I hope the 'trade negotiations' fleshes out the setting a little without pulling too much focus. Erwin going away on a trip serves a few purposes plot-wise, so I took the chance to turn it into something interesting!
So what did you think of the Levi/Armin bath scene? Erwin's escalating stress? And Armin's changing dynamics with Levi & Erwin? Have you any predictions about the story?
Thank you for reading!