Soundtrack: Arcade, Duncan Laurence ft. Fletcher.
A huge thank to DarkOblivion0 who has taken the time and had done a great job editing this chapter!
I. ONTO DEEP WATERS.
The sun hadn't risen yet when the doors opened again in an annoying strident creak.
Levi has been preparing himself to face a new day in hell with the Marleyan for hours. Unable to sleep properly throughout the second half of the night, he had thought a lot, sitting on the edge of the bunk in the darkness of the night, his back arched, his arms resting on his knees.
He also has remembered another reason to keep fighting and move forward. The only one purpose he has had since Shiganshina... The ultimate goal he has settled. He now has the means -even if the situation isn't ideal- to fulfill it. If he survives long enough in Marley territory and is able to reach by chance the monkey-shifter bastard Zeke, perhaps he'll finally get his revenge. He will seize the slightest opportunity to end his life as he has sworn to Erwin. Even if it means it's the last thing that he'll do. Better bring Zeke with him in death than let him live one more day. (Better take Zeke with him to death than let him live one more day.)
The case of the fake Smith however... Levi doesn't know yet how he'll deal with him. The man is a Marleyan warrior titanshifter, and his guts scream to him to be wary because he's dangerous in multiple ways. Hard to kill, hard to read, and the worse thing: a danger to Levi's mental health.
He still has conflicting feelings towards the man, which destabilizes him and stops him from making the right decision regarding him at the moment. He wants... he needs to learn more about the man. Who is he? What does he want from me, exactly? Levi wonders. Like his Erwin, he's not able to guess his thoughts, except for the apparent sick fascination the Marleyan has for him.
Screw him.
He has sworn he'll not bend. He won't before anyone, especially not before him.
Yet it will be more challenging than he thought. As immediate proof, his resolution lightly flickers and his heart skips a beat when he sees the blonde approaching under the glow of the electric lantern he's holding.
The upper two buttons of his shirt are unbuttoned with the collar spread open, giving Levi a full view of the lines of his collarbones. He has rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and blonde strands freed of pomade are falling on his forehead, giving him a casual sexy loo-
Stop-stop-stop.
Levi immediately shuts off his wandering mind. He must not have this sort of stupid displaced thoughts. He would be damned if he'd take this path.
So he keeps a deadpan face as the man reduces the distance between them.
"You look awful." The Marleyan points out as he observes the deep black circles under his prisoner's eyes. "Guess you didn't sleep a lot either with the raging storm, uh? Sea sick, too maybe? It's your first time on the sea, after all, am I right?"
"You should see your shitty face. Not much better than mine." The Ackerman retorts.
The warrior doesn't contradict the Captain, his eyes are weary. He smiles a little.
"True. It was a long night; I could use a nap. Maybe we could share the bed for a few hours? What do you think, darling? You seem to be cold. Want me to cuddle you to warm us up and find some sleep more easily?"
"Very hilarious, asshole." the Paradisian Captain grunts, unamused.
"Too bad. I would have loved to hold this tiny little body of yours between my arms. See how those impressive thin muscles will tense when I touch you."
The dark-haired man's lips form a thin line to keep a straight face and his body keeps still, but he fails miserably to hide his reaction entirely, as his ears are furiously reddening. Some would say out of rage. But it also is definitely out of embarrassment. What does this bastard think, overtly flirting with him like that? Does he only do it to make his prisoner react and crack his impassive face, or is he really suggesting those sort of things?
What a perv, Levi thinks.
"Keep your dirty little fantasy delusions to yourself, kinky bastard."
"Not your type then?"
Levi only greets him with a blank stare and a heavy silence.
His fingers, intertwined together, squeeze hard. He is his type. Fuck yes, totally even. But there's only one Smith who counts. And it's not this impostor who has captured him and torn him away from his homeland and is treating him like... like a trophy. And probably like meat now, his piercing blue eyes looking at his person with undisguised interest.
"Alright, alright, just kidding. Not the first night... right?" The tall blonde says, teasing, before switching for seriousness when his gaze slides on the nightstand where the glass and food plate remain untouched.
"You must be dehydrated. You need to drink to improve your state and soften your headache."
Levi doesn't make a move to reach the glass, even if the man's right. He's thirsty, and his throat is so dry it hurts when he swallows.
The Marleyan seems to have sensed his mistrust because he puts the lantern on the nightstand, grabs the glass of water, and takes a sip to prove to him he hasn't put any poison or drugs in it before handing him the glass.
Levi frowns. There's no way they'd share the same glass. He looks at him like he doesn't want to be contaminated by whatever disease the Marleyan could carry.
"You're a stubborn man, but I am too, if not even more." He informs Levi before swallowing the content in only one go and turning around to grab a carafe and another cup in the drawer at the back of the room. He fills them both with water before returning to his prisoner, offering him the one he hasn't put his lips on.
"Drink, Captain."
This time, Levi accepts it, although reluctantly. His throat cheerfully welcomes the fresh liquid. He feels instantly better and can't help himself taking big gulps until the cup is empty. Then he looks at the key that the man is sliding on the nightstand in his direction.
"Meal will be served in a few hours. It won't be something fancy or tasty; you must know how military rations are. But you'll have something consistent to fill up your stomach, at least. You're not going to let yourself starve to death, are you?"
"Fine." the Survey Corps Captain agrees unwillingly. "On one condition, I want to clean myself first."
He feels so disgustingly dirty. He hasn't changed his clothes since the fight. There are sweat stains, dirt and the fake Smith's dried blood on his shirt. He has craved to get rid of it and bath from the moment he'd woken up tied to the bed -The blonde's bed, mentally noted the small inner voice that intensely annoys Levi. But it wasn't the right time to think about it. Now he has the chance though...
"Of course." The man assents, nodding lightly. "I have clean clothes for you in the adjacent room. You'll find soap and a towel too." He tells him while standing, ready to leave to give him some privacy. "Come join me when you're ready. But don't make me come looking for you. And stay out of trouble."
The door closes when the first lights of the day pour through the portholes.
II. AT LOGGERHEADS.
Levi takes all his time to clean himself. He tries to delay as much as he can the next inevitable exchange with the fake Erwin.
He uses the towel he has moistened to wash his skin, then puts on the white shirt and pants that the warrior has prepared for him that were his size. Yet, when he sees the Marleyan jacket uniform under the pile of clean clothes, he can't bring himself to wear it. Instead, he washes as best as he can his Survey Corps jacket and proudly wear it, the wings of freedom on his back and above his heart. He also puts back his harnesses on, feeling naked and defenseless without them.
The dark-haired man takes a look at his reflection in the mirror, quite satisfied.
He feels strong, provocative.
Ready to give his enemy a hard time.
He goes to try the latch, and the door opens without resistance. The corridor leads to a dead end on one side, and a series of doors all closed except for one door that is wide open on the other side. Obviously, he cannot exit without being seen by the Marleyan. Taking his courage in two hands, he heads to the room where the man must be waiting for him.
As a matter of fact, he finds the tall blonde sitting behind a wooden desk, a cup of amber liquid in hand.
Catching sight of his entrance, the man immediately raises his head towards him.
"Feeling better?" He asks, greeting the Captain with a cheerful smile.
Levi advances until he stands in the middle of the room, not coming any closer in order to maintain a reasonable distance between them. He then crosses his arms over his chest and stares at his opponent defiantly.
"You know what'd be better? Not to see your stupid face anymore."
"You're vexing me."
"Oh, sorry to hurt your sensibility," Levi replies ironically.
"Am I not appealing?"
Levi refrains from rolling his eyes. He's not going to stop, is he? He's a fucking pain in the ass, this one. He has such high esteem for himself he must think he's a god.
"That's not the fuckin' point." He mumbles.
"Maybe it is."
"No, it's not."
Levi sharply puts an end to the conversation, not wanting to pursue on this path any longer. There's a short moment where both of them don't say anything, only stare at each other until the Marleyan breaks the silence.
"Let's talk." He suggests more seriously.
"Let's not." Levi cuts him short once more.
"Come on, Captain." His opponent pouts. "We have some days to kill before we reach port. And I'm extremely bored."
"How many people are on this boat?" Asks the Ackerman suddenly.
"First of all, this is a ship. And to answer your question, barely sixty. Many soldiers have died from their wounds on that night, you know?" He answers honestly.
"You think I care about your men? You've attacked us. This is what you get by declaring war on us. So go cry with them or whatever as long as you spare me your improper advances. I'm not here to entertain you."
Smith's lips stretched into a new smile.
"They're not interesting. You are, Captain. And I want something from you anyway." He continues.
"If it's military secret information you want, you'll have none. I won't tell you anything. So go fuck yourself."
The blonde seems to consider his words carefully while rotating his glass between his fingers distractedly for a long moment.
"Go ahead, torture me; it'll be pointless." The Ackerman adds with a shrug.
"Torture? Oh dear, I won't torture you and bruise your pretty face." The blonde reassures him. "This is not how I treat a prestigious guest in any way."
Prestigious guest? Seriously?
"Yeah? So what do you really want from me then?" Asks the small man, not trusting one word that comes out of the Marleyan's mouth.
Smith abandons his cup on his desk and gets up from his seat before rounding the piece of furniture to come to Levi. He's so tall and imposing and his presence seems to fill the whole room so well that he could be intimidating for anyone. But Levi isn't afraid nor impressed. He stands tall and still, composed. At least as much as he can, before the blonde invades his personal space.
He's so close that Levi can smell his scent. It wakes something deeply burrowed inside him. Erwin smelled like home. Safety. Old books, ink, and a slight Cologne perfume. This man smells more like strong alcohol and cigar. Danger. Burning desire. It tingles Levi's nose but doesn't repel him. Quite the opposite actually. And it horrifies him...
Fuck, he's as hot as ever- The little voice in his head notices.
No! Shut up! Levi curses at himself internally. You're not really believing this. You're only attracted to him because he looks like him, like two peas in a pod. That's it. You're embellishing an impostor. The man's a lie. He's nothing like Erwin.
He puts the blame on the lack of sleep, which alters his judgment and lessens his vision. In addition, he stops breathing in his scent to avoid having more painful nostalgic memories reemerging.
He looks away, uncomfortable and ashamed of his inner thoughts.
Two piercing blue eyes study him from head to toe. Levi hates it. He feels like he's being undressed by a hot burning gaze.
"What I want my dear Captain..." Whispers the Marleyan while raising his eyes to look over Levi's shoulder towards the doorway where a woman in uniform has just appeared.
"...Is to share lunch in your company."
He extends his arm to hold a plate of food the woman is handing him.
"Anything else, Sir?"
"No, you are dismissed."
The blonde takes back his seat on the chair.
"Sit." He gestures, indicating the seat in front of him.
It's not quite an order, more a firm invitation. But it's not like Levi has another choice anyway. And his stomach is begging to be filled.
The Ackerman sits precautiously while the blonde serves them both.
"Alcohol?" The Marleyan offers.
"No."
"Water then. Or anything else you'd like?"
Tea. Tea would be good to fight off exhaustion, at least for a few hours.
"Water." He replies, however.
The warrior pours him a glass before they begin to eat. Levi chews on his food slowly, taking small bites, careful so that he wouldn't have a stomachache. The man wasn't lying. It's not particularly good nor bad. It's just...flavorless. It doesn't matter as long as it gives him enough energy though.
"So, tell me more about you Captain. How did you became the hero of the people inside the three Walls? I'd like to hear this story. You seem so reluctant to obey orders but obedience is primordial to be a good soldier. How did the Survey Corps recruit you?"
"Not your business, Blondie."
If his enemy thinks he is going to share a snippet of his shitty life and offer information for free, he's wrong.
"What about this?" Asks the tall blonde innocently.
He has slipped his hand into his inside pocket to take out an object he then exposes to the dark-haired man's view by letting it hang from his fingertips.
Levi looks up and freezes instantly as if struck down. His eyes widen greatly as he stares with dread at the bolo tie the Marleyan is showing him.
The Survey Corps Commander bolo tie.
Erwin's bolo tie.
By reflex, his hand quickly comes to rest on his chest pocket, above his heart, where he always keeps it. Empty. This bastard has taken advantage of his unconsciousness to steal it from him.
"Give it back." Levi demands flatly.
The bolo tie disappears again in his pocket, out of reach, as the Marleyan puts it back in.
"I'm sorry, darling. But you'll have to answer me fir-"
That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The Ackerman moves fast, so fast, his enemy's eyes are unable to follow his movements. In just a blink of an eye, the dishes, cutlery and food fly away, crashing and breaking violently on the floor as Paradise's Strongest pushes them unceremoniously in order to bend over the desk, one knee resting on it, and grab the blond by his black necktie to pull him forward.
"I said. Give it. Back." He repeats icily, now two inches away from his face.
There's a stormy sky darkening his steely grey eyes. Intense rage boils in his veins. A fierce anger boils in his veins, making him faster, stronger and more dangerous than ever despite the exhaustion. He barely refrains himself from hitting him.
The blonde raises an eyebrow, but it's the only thing he does to show his surprise. He slightly opens his mouth, licks his bottom lip discreetly before speaking.
"Oh. Looks like I've touched a sensitive spot. Is it that precious to you?" He calmly replies.
Levi realizes too late he shouldn't have acted so impulsively. Not because it could anger the man but because it's making him seem weak. And the only thing he's sure about is that he cannot show an ounce of weakness or desire. Otherwise, the man will take advantage and rushes into the breach in no time. He'll use anything Levi would give him to break him.
Unfortunately too late to go back now.
"Shut up! You may have the upper hand; it doesn't permit you to take everything you want!" He defends himself with boldness.
The answer to his assault is immediate. The Marleyan doesn't waste any time making his move in turn, grabbing his prisoner by the neck to pin him on the desk abruptly.
Levi's cheek is pressed against the hard surface of the wood.
"Get off me!" Hisses the small Captain, teeth gritted.
He tries to straighten up but a strong hand is tightly keeping him in place. His opponent knows well where exactly to put pressure physically and mentally. He leans over his prisoner to whisper into his ear, voice cold and threatening.
"There's something you haven't quite understood yet, darling. As long as you're a prisoner, you're mine. So all that's yours is mine too now."
"If you think I'm going to submit to you like a fucking obedient pet, you're damn wrong! I don't belong to anybody."
"You have guts; I'm impressed. It's admirable even. Resistance is nonetheless futile, Captain. I won, you lost. Which means I am the one who makes the decisions. And I won't tolerate such feral behavior. So behave well if you want me to be gentle."
When he sees his prey is still struggling against his grip, he adds: "Really Captain? Don't make me do regrettable things. Because I assure you... it won't be pleasant."
"Tch- I thought you said you won't use torture. You've already changed your mind utterly?"
"You're right, I won't... But I didn't say I won't be rough either if needed."
The man smirks while taking a full handful of Levi's black hair, tugging it upward without delicacy to have him look up at him in the face.
The ferocious Paradisian soldier clings to the blonde's arm with a wince.
"Think about it. All I ask you is to answer a few questions. Then, maybe, I'll give it back to you."
The Captain breathes heavily, fulminated. Eventually, he gradually calms down by taking deep breaths in because it's not leading him anywhere. The warrior slowly frees him from his grasp when he's calm enough. Levi steps back cautiously, without swift movement.
"Do we have a deal?" The man presses him, waiting for a clear answer this time.
Levi lowers his gaze and look at the mess he has made. Broken dishes and food are strewn on the floor. A puddle of whiskey is spreading, soaking the carpet at the foot of the desk. It will leave stains and a strong smell if it isn't cleaned quickly.
"I wouldn't have bet upon that but you have a sensitive soul, Captain. Judging by the fierce way you reacted, this necklace is indeed precious. Consider my first question answered. Now, would you mind explaining to me why?"
His little Captain seems to consider his offer for an instant but changes his mind. He doesn't look at him when he replies.
"It doesn't matter anymore. It has died with its owner."
His heart sinks as the words escape his mouth. He tries to convince himself it's only an item, insignificant and of no great importance, even if he's lying to himself.
"You can keep it." He drops before turning his back and walking away, heart heavy.
The blonde doesn't stop him.
III. BEFORE THE LIGHTS OUT.
Levi goes back to the Marleyan's bedroom. He paces angrily, hurt with arms crossed. When it became apparent that the Marleyan isn't coming anytime soon to make him pay for his boldness, he slows down and regains stillness. His gaze wanders around the room. Bed, nightstand, dresser. Two glasses, a water pitcher still half full. A book he can't read because it's written in Marleyan language. The blonde's bloodied clothes. Nothing more. There's not much to do to make the time pass other than thinking. So Levi lets his mind wanders beyond the sea he's observing through the porthole.
Where are his friends? Are they okay, safe? Do they know he's been taken prisoner by their enemies and crossing the ocean? Or do they think he's dead?
He only hopes they're all well and not worried. He doesn't want them to take any stupid risk and get into trouble in order to save him. He has to cope and get out of this situation on his own.
How much longer until they reach Marley? The infinite sea stretches far beyond the horizon like there's no end. It's uneventful. It's boring.
Levi decides to do a little stretching to relax his muscles and not to think anymore. He doesn't push his body though, still recovering from the hit on his head.
When the day starts to fade, the same woman comes and give him food. He force himself to eat while sitting on the chair and looking at the surface of the water being colored into a beautiful gold fire.
The warship grows quieter as the soldiers close the doors and go take some rest for the night. Only a few patrols cross the corridors regularly. Levi listens to them, taking notes. When he was sure he won't cross their path, he silently sneaks outside. The tall blonde's deskroom's door is closed. The way is clear. He takes advantage of it to make his way to the exit that leads to the bridge.
The wide open night sky welcomes him. He walks to the edge and leans on the railing. The fresh ocean air helps in calming him down. He breathes deeply, filling his lungs with pure air. It feels good. The water gently splashes against the hull, the movements of the waves making the ship gently sway. He no longer feels sick; at best the swaying lulls him. The slight breeze waves his hair. No one comes arresting him. Even the patrol who has seen him and glared at him with distrust and a disgusted wince hasn't dared come any closer. It looks like they've learned their lesson and are obeying their warrior's orders now.
At least the blonde treats him like a normal human being. And shows him some respect, sort of. When he doesn't anger him...
Levi lifts his head to observe the stars, absentmindedly. The world is so much bigger than they thought but seems too tiny at the same time. Two Smith with the same body in this part of the world is already too much. Staring right at this familiar gorgeous face is a torture on its own. Because the more Levi looks at the Marleyan, the more it hurts. Why does he had to fall on his doppelganger? And why is he so interested in him? It rubs the salt in the wound each time the man uses his charm against him. He would have preferred the blonde to torture him physically. It would have been so easier to hate him. Hatred is comfortable; it drowns the pain and keeps his sorrow at bay. It can easily consume the other feelings, only leaving fury. Anger. Revenge. Those are the three pillars he has in order to struggle and carry on. To protect himself. Because a broken heart is all he has left. So he tries hard to despise the man with all his soul.
It's not enough yet. The tall blonde remains composed despite Levi's attempts to push him to his limits. Worst, his technique has backfired on him, the Marleyan managing to get him to lose his temper easily.
But that's what he wants to, right? Play with his nerves. Making him do a mistake and put pressure on it to obtain what he wants from him.
This manipulative bastard.
Usually, Levi is better at hiding his feeling from others.
But he has changed since the death of his Commander. He has gotten weaker.
That's what love does.
And once you had put the pieces back together, even though you may look intact, you would never be quite the same as before the fall...
Meeting Erwin was a tragedy. Loving him... was a losing game. The ex-thug has known it from the beginning. Since the day he has lost his mom. Since Kenny has left him... And each time one of his comrades was devoured by the Titans or killed by a Marleyan. He has raised walls, let his heart turns into stone not to feel anymore.
And yet, he failed anyway at attempting to stop his feelings for this endearing man.
He wasn't looking for love. Love found him. It wasn't planned or agreed upon. Destiny has chosen for him, and it fell on the future great thirteenth Commander of the Survey Corps. Erwin had an interest in him first because of his unique skills. He was looking for talented soldiers to recruit and has found out a fearsome fighter with a dauntless spirit.
That day, in this foul alley underneath Sina, their eyes met for the first time. The tall squad leader smiled at him and as usual, Levi's steely gray eyes shot daggers at him. He didn't know yet that the blonde was going to capsize his heart. He did not imagine for a single second that months later, his heart would beat in unison with his.
There, in the privacy of their room. Erwin's head rested on his thighs and he stared at Levi so intently with his overly blue eyes. His tiny Captain lost himself in his gaze. The Major was talented with words but nothing could have replaced that exchange of looks and smiles, their body language.
There, in the middle of the battlefield, protecting each other's backs as the Titans surrounded them.
There, after suffering heavy losses from a disastrous expedition. Healing their wounds with tender gestures while enduring the pain that enfolded them thinking of their brave comrades who had fallen in battle. They clung to each other for one time one night to forget while listening, relieved, to the vigorous beating of their hearts, this burning spark of life that kept them going. They drank from each other's courage and strength to move forward because their subordinates were counting on them. Because Humanity were counting on them.
There, on that rooftop in Shiganshina, when the blonde's head rested in his lap, and when Levi desperately wanted his friend to open his eyes again... Not saving him was never an option. But keeping him alive and making the rest of his life hell by giving him the serum wasn't saving him. It would have been a strickly selfish act. Making him a monster of a new kind would have been a regrettable choice. So he decided to let him go.
Erwin Smith never gave up on his dream until Levi asked him to. In the name of Humanity's sake, in the name of friendship, in the name of love and the indestructible bound which linked them, he did it.
His Commander was not only a star to Levi but his whole sky.
He was the man who gave the little underground rat a reason to fight, a reason to believe in a better life. And Levi respected him, him and his bright mind, his steely determination, his capacity to see beyond, to take the hardest decisions -sometimes inhuman ones- and the softness of his great hands when he caressed him…
He misses him deeply.
And it only hurts when he's breathing. His heart only breaks when it's beating. His dreams only die when he's awake. So he holds his breath and empties his mind... to forget.
But now, it's impossible not to think about him as the path leads him to a new Marleyan Erwin. A more redoubtable one.
And it's unfair, unfair, so unfair.
Maybe The small Ackerman is cursed. Perhaps it's in his blood. Perhaps he can't avoid it, only can face or undergo what will come.
A hand appears at the corner of his eyes, grabbing the railing on his right side. Piercing blue eyes are observing him when he turns his head. He looks away, jaded.
"So, that's where you were." The blonde begins softly, cautious as if he was hesitant about of what to say.
''...''
"What a sight." He adds, noticing the stars shining bright above their head. "Mind if I join?"
Without waiting for an answer -Levi had no intention to, and he suspected the man would not leave anyway- the blonde leans back against the railing and reaches inside his pocket to take out a cigarette he lits it using a match.
Levi looks at the fog beginning to spread and hide the starry sky in order to ignore the undesired presence next to him. Soon the clouds will encircle the ship and lessen their field of view, making the navigation more tricky. Thankfully the Marleyan doesn't push him any further. Silence falls between them, only disturbed by the sound of the puffs he takes. It's almost pleasant, almost. The blonde tilts his head back to blow the smoke. Levi can't help take a glimpse at his enemy's features while he's unaware.
He's handsome. The thin fabric leaves no doubt about his well drawn musculature. Veins are visible, protruding under the skin of his forearms. His torso raises with every breath. The line of his jaw is perfect. There are small wrinkles at the corner of his eyes; it's adorable. His mouth, closing around the cigarette so tempti-
He turns his attention back to his hands, joined together. The Captain can nonetheless feel the back of his neck burning him as the tall blonde keeps staring at him, like he wants to unravel the secrets the small man keep hidden from him.
A clanging noise catches his attention. The blonde is studying the bolo tie he's holding between his fingers. Levi straightens and holds his breath. He waits expectantly, unsure what the blonde is planning to do or ask him.
"Here."
The Marleyan hands the precious jewel over to Levi. The small Captain stares at it, mistrustful before slowly and cautiously lifting his hand to take it back.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Levi promptly glances up to look at his enemy with disbelief. But the man looks sincere. He can see the slight hint of compassion in his eyes. It disrupts him.
For a moment, he doesn't know what to say or what to do. The tall blonde has the elegance to look away first. Levi squeezes the jewel into his palm. He seriously thinks about throwing it into the sea...
It's just an item. Stop attaching importance to it. It prevents you from moving forward. Let it go. Let him rest. Give him over to the sea he wanted to reach.
It would be the perfect time for a last farewell to his dear Commander...
Yet he can't stand it.
The bolo tie finds its place back in Levi's pocket.
Instead, he focuses on the blonde. He wonders if there's good in this Marleyan. Why is he treating him kindly right now? Has he lost someone dear to him too?
Levi has fears and hopes for what he could discover if he digs deeper. Maybe he's more human than he wants to show...
"You should go inside; it's getting colder."
The Ackerman softens slightly despite himself.
"Since I'm an inestimable guest, where are my quarters, Sir?"
The man smiles.
"Consider yourself lucky having a bed in mine."
Levi snorts while starting to walk away. The man is exasperating. The small Captain could have gotten used to it. If they hadn't been enemies. If he had been his true Erwin.
The blonde makes a gesture to accompany him but seems to change his mind.
"I'll join you later."
"Do not feel obliged to." Mutters the small Captain before disappearing inside as the man chuckles softly, having heard him.
Levi settles on the chair in the far end of the blonde's bedroom, where he can see the door and wait for his return. He dozzes off for a few minutes but refuses to be defenseless in case someone enters or let the blonde see him sleep. It's late at night when the Marleyan silently slips into the room, his eyes falling forthwith on the dark shape of Levi standing out amid the darkness.
He quietly heads to turn on the lantern on the nightstand, which reveals a wide awake Captain. It highlights his drawn features and his steely gray eyes focused on him. The fake Erwin frowns lightly, intrigued to see Levi has chosen the hard chair instead of his bed to rest.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
The Ackerman stands up while the Marleyan loosens his tie, takes it off and throws it on the bed. He guesses all his clothes will follow the same fate and he doesn't want to be here to see him getting naked. He doesn't want to check if the Marleyan's body is exactly the same as his lover, thank you very much.
"Guess."
The eternal little amused smile back on the corner of his lips, the tall blonde approaches, blocking his way to the door.
"It must be uncomfortable to sleep with this stuff on. Why don't you take it off, make yourself at ease?"
The man slides a finger between his harness and his chest, pulling it to unbuckle it. It cuts off Levi's breath, his lips slightly parted. Head tilted to the side, the blonde whispers near his ear.
"What's the use anyway? You can't fly anymore, little birdman. Your wings are cut..."
The small one slaps the invasive hand to chase it away.
"Asshole." Levi grumbles.
"Levi..." He calls him while taking almost delicately his chin between his fingers to lift it. "...Did you really mean it when yo-"
The soft gesture and the concern in his tone take Levi by surprise and his eyes widen before the blonde is abruptly interrupted by a rumbling noise. Within five seconds, a tremor vibrates the whole ship. The lights go out. The furniture shake, a glass too close to the edge falls and breaks when it touches the floor. The two men cling to each other by reflex, The Marleyan grabbing Levi's shoulders and Levi his torso and forearm in order to keep their balance. There's a short blank before the atmosphere changes drastically. An alarm bell rings. There's a commotion on all the bridges. Doors slam and hasty footsteps cross the corridors as the soldiers bestir frantically.
Then, the door opens wide on a panicked soldier who shouts at the warrior.
"Sir, we're under attack!"
Less than ten minutes later, Levi is sinking into deep waters.
To be continued...
