I love you

The words came out in just one breath and it took him a few seconds to realize what he had said. He was usually quiet, but since his partner was strongly turned on by his voice, he was rather talkative when they were in bed - it was mostly moans and some gibberish to compliment his performance or ask him to go harder, nothing meaningful.

Except for that. That meant - and changed - everything. Reason enough, then, he worried when there was no response. Nothing. Not a word or a glance. Maybe, he thought, he didn't hear it, which would be quite unlikely, because paying attention to his surroundings was something he could not help.

"Levi," his Commander's lips rubbed his earlobe, making him shiver "you're so quiet..."

He tried to focus, but was too self-absorbed to pay attention to the other one's needs and let out a complaint when a slap hit him on his cheek, stronger than usual. He looked up and saw drops sweat drip off from his lover's neck right to his chest. He frowned.

Erwin stopped moving and stared right into his eyes.

"I don't think you're in the mood. Maybe we should call it a night."

He gently kissed the Captain's forehead and lied on his side, his head on one of his hands while the other one caressed his lover's dark hair.

"Hm..." Levi sat down. "Better go to my room, then. I could really use some rest - both of us could."

Erwin's strong arms pulled him closer as if he weighed nothing and held him in a tight embrace. Being so close to his body was all it ever took Levi to surrender to his partner's intoxicating scent, but not that night. It was starting to get on his nerves that something like that would just go unnoticed.

"Stay", the blonde's husky voice pleaded. "If you don't feel like doing anything else, we can just cuddle. Or talk."

"Just like a long-married couple."

Erwin half smiled. "We kinda are a long-married couple."

"Fuck you, Erwin".

"Is that how you speak to your Commander?", he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry. Fuck you, sir."

He laughed and Levi rolled his eyes, but shut them almost immediately when he was kissed deeply.

It didn't matter how he felt, even pissed as he was his body would always respond to his Commander's, and before he knew it he could feel his own hand eagerly finding its way to the other man's hardness.

But stopped halfway.

"Stop teasing." He was pinned down to bed by strong hands. "Wanna feel how bad I want you?"

With a quick move, Levi threw his man onto the bed. He wasn't one to use his strength when it was just the two of them, and so Erwin was pleasantly surprised.

"Oh, no. You better be a good boy tonight."

"Or...?"

"Or the titans won't be the only thing trying to eat you alive." Levi had a malicious grin on his face.

Everything was back on track. Being in charge, for a change, got the brunette all fired up; his lover was helpless in his arms, biting down his own lips to muffle his moans.

Just before the end, Erwin grabbed a pillow and screamed into it, trying not to awake everyone else and had them run into his bedroom, worried for his safety. But they would have no reason to worry: he had never felt better before. His body was completely relaxed and Levi lied on top of him, a victorious smile on his face.

"Shit, Levi." He slapped his bum, which fit perfectly in his hand. "We should do it more often. I just love this side of yours."

There it was. That word again. As it all rushed back into his mind, the short, angry man tried to jump out of bed, but was constricted by his Commander's arms, who held him too strong and close.

"You said it, didn't you? Before?"

Levi's cheeks burned with anger and embarrassment.

Fucking Erwin.

"Say it again."

"I'm not saying anything." He tried to escape from the embrace, but couldn't find a way out. "Lemme go."

He felt his grip loosen up and thought it had been too easy. Looking up, he saw his man had a dangerously serious face and stared dead into his pit-black eyes.

"I'm not gonna force you to stay, if you don't want to."

But he did. And so he stayed.

Levi rolled over, arranging* his body beside his lover's.

"I'm not saying anything", he repeated in a growl.

"You can't take it back, you know?"

For fuck's sake. How hard could it be for a grown man who killed other people for a living to simply say something? But then again, why did Erwin bring that up at that moment? Why not before - before he got angry and anxious and over thought it?

As if he could read his Captain's mind, he answered the questions he knew wouldn't be asked:

"I was caught off guard." Levi didn't know if the expression he saw on his face was sad or if he was talking to himself. "I honestly always thought I'd say it first and you wouldn't know what to do, until one day you surprised me because you were to afraid of losing me."

"I'm not gonna lose you, stupid. I'm the best soldier there is and I got your back."

Erwin gently kissed his lips.

"And for what it's worth..." Levi looked down. "I do love you."