This is a little thing I wrote up because I've been watching AOT season 3 and I needed a break from my Criminal Minds story. It's a slash story - if that's not your cup of tea, find something you'll enjoy more. There's a TON of AOT fic out there. It's going to be kind of a weird one as slash stories go. I almost never do PWP. I have to at least attempt to keep people in character. So, things may unfold slowly. If I do it right, it will be very psychological and angsty.

SPOILERS: AOT S3. I'm not all the way through it yet, but I mention at least one major thing that's not known in season 2, so if you don't want spoilers, stay away.

Setting: Basically post-apocalyptic. The Titans have been routed, humanity is beginning to repopulate the earth. A lot of the main characters are still in the military, but Erwin and Levi have retired. Levi has just opened a tea shop; Erwin has turned historian, documenting all the enormous changes he has witnessed in recent years.

An Understanding Chapter 1

The venomous tone rang in Erwin's ears more than the words, or even their harsh meaning. I screwed up, he thought, watching Levi reach for his shirt.

"I need some air," Levi said flatly. Then he was gone.

Royally.

They say that you shouldn't eavesdrop because you might not like or understand what you hear. Still, when a few acquaintances of Erwin Smith's entered the tavern to escape the rain, he did not turn around right away. He heard their voices saying familiar names, calling out for service, laughing and talking in their way. He recognized Armin's voice first, then Jean's.

It was unusual for Armin to be in these parts; especially without… but there, he said Eren's name, and the latter answered. Then Mikasa spoke. Erwin was tempted to turn around to see if it were just the four of them, but he did not wish to be recognized yet. They were carefree now, and seeing him would make them think of the war. His empty sleeve would remind them of that, if nothing else.

Erwin drank his ale quietly, letting himself picture the soldiers a few years younger, full of determination… vehemence on Eren's part. Old times. Maybe not "the good old days," but nostalgic nonetheless.

Then the door opened again, momentarily letting in the sound of rain from outside. There was a scraping of wood on wood as two chairs were pushed back from the table.

Eren's voice: "Captain Levi."

Echoed by Mikasa's "Captain."

Then two more chairs scraping away from the table and the quiet thud of fists on chests in salute.

It wasn't unusual for Erwin to see Levi here. Other than his shop, it was the place they most often got together to talk over old times… or merely to escape the ennui of the company of those who did not understand what they had been through. God knew Levi didn't show up for the alcohol. Tea was ever his drink of choice, and no one brewed it better than he did.

"At ease," came Levi's dry tone. "Didn't know you three were in town."

"We're on furlough, sir," Eren explained.

"We decided to come visit Jean and some of the others," said Armin. "It's nice that we ran into you. Will you join us?"

After a moment, "All right."

It would be more awkward to announce his presence now that Levi had joined them. Erwin allowed the barmaid to refill his tankard and stayed where he was, still listening.

It was fascinating, the way Levi responded to the younger soldiers. One on one with Erwin, it was a quiet understanding, low-key banter and a sort of restrained venting that was both challenging and therapeutic. However, with the youngsters, he seemed almost to stoop to their level. He sniped more. Teased now and then. Offered more advice, but seemed to argue both sides. All this, yet he said half as much as anyone else. Levi was not known as a conversationalist, yet his conversation was an art form.

As the table collectively got tipsy, Levi and possibly Mikasa excepted, the conversation got sillier. Levi continued to inject his golden quips as if they were all still fully sober, and the drunker ones got a bit confused at times.

Eventually, Eren's voice rose above the others. "No, but if you could marry anyone in civilization… or be with them for the rest of your life, who would it be? You first."

Erwin was dying to know at whom he was pointing, but he refused to turn around. He didn't have long to wait.

"I'd rather die alone, thank you," Levi said dryly. "And it's 'whom would it be.'"

Erwin smirked into his cup.

"Aw, come on, cap'n," Jean drawled.

"I'll make it easier… they don't have to still be alive," Eren offered generously. Erwin could imagine his earnest, wide-eyed expression.

"Tch. How the hell does that make it easier? Think I want to marry a corpse?"

Erwin had to press his lips together to keep from laughing out loud.

"No, I mean…" Now he could picture Eren frowning in deep concentration. "I mean, if they hadn't died. Who would you wanna be with?"

"As I said, I prefer to be alone," was the reply. "However, if I can't have my peace and quiet, then I suppose Commander Erwin is the only one whose presence I can tolerate for any length of time."

Someone snorted.

Thinking it over, Erwin decided that this response was not much of a surprise. If Levi had harbored affection for anyone, living or dead, he would hardly admit it to anyone, let alone to drunk subordinates. Their platonic regard for each other was something quite deep, but safe to admit.

"You would marry the commander?" Armin asked.

"If I had no choice but to marry someone… and if he got down on his knees and proposed."

Erwin's eyebrows shot up.

Jean's laughter drowned out all else for a moment.

Mikasa's voice barely carried when she said coolly, "The commander would never stoop, let alone kneel, to you."

A pause, then from Levi: "In that case, I'll get my wish and die alone."

"That's so sad," said Armin, probably the alcohol talking.

"All right, you next," said Jean.

"There's no point in Eren or you talking about whom you'd marry… you'd say the same thing."

A knowing smile crossed Erwin's face, and he imagined it reflected in a smirk from Levi.

"What?" from Jean in an indignant tone.

"Both married to our work, huh?" from a clueless Eren.

"I'm sure that's it exactly." Very dry tone from Mikasa. They missed it only because they were drunk.

"What about you?" asked Eren.

"Me?" asked Armin. "Gosh, I don't know… Historia?"

Laughter from the boys.

"Wait… wait! Would that make you the king?" Jean exclaimed.

Eren joined in, "Long live King Armin!"

"At least he'd have two things the last king didn't," came Levi's bored-sounding voice. "Youth and intelligence." The comment was wasted on the others, who weren't paying attention.

"He wouldn't be king, just a regent or something," Mikasa said, sounding like she couldn't quite think of the term she wanted. Maybe she was starting to be affected by the alcohol as well. "But, their child could be king."

"Whoa… no one said anything about children," said Jean. "Making babies with Christa… that's just… can you imagine it? Their hair would be made of actual gold, their eyes of sapphires… They'd be kidnapped and sold on the black market for sure."

While Jean and Eren mildly argued over what Armin's and Historia's children would look like and what might become of them, Levi said, "What about you? Anyone you could stand to live under one roof with for the rest of your life?"

After a few seconds, Mikasa said evasively, "I don't think I'm destined to live under a roof for much of my life. Tents and the open sky for me."

Tents and the open sky… the life of a soldier in a pioneer escort. The Titans were all but gone, and the greatest adventures to be had now were in exploration. If a Titan did show up to trouble the settlers, Erwin had no doubt that Mikasa and the others would be a match for it.

"...and they'll have a dozen kids at least," Eren was saying.

"Oh, yeah," Jean agreed. "Gotta make sure there's an heir. And a backup heir. And a backup to the backup heir…"

"Yeah, and a backup to the backup," Eren said, not realizing that it was exactly what Jean had just said.

"I should be going." This abrupt remark from Levi.

A few protests, then more chair scraping, more salutes, a lot of "It was good to see you, sir."

"And all of you. Enjoy your evening. Maybe I'll see you again soon." This last comment seemed clearer, almost as if Levi were looking in Erwin's direction when he said it. Had he been spotted?

After waiting for the voices at the other table to resume their chatter, Erwin rose and went to the back of the tavern. As a regular and a respected part of the community, no one minded his using the back entrance as he pleased.

It hadn't been raining when he entered the tavern, and he hadn't brought a coat. The moment he stepped outside, his hair and shoulders were soaked. He walked briskly down the alley to get to the street where he could take refuge under an awning until the rain let up a little…

A figure was in the alley ahead of him. Cloaked as it was, and dark in the pouring rain, Erwin still recognized it. Levi was waiting for him.

Levi said nothing as Erwin approached, but deftly unbuttoned his cloak and flipped it over the pair of them, pivoting to match stride with his superior so they gained the street together.

"How did you know I'd come out this way… and now?" Erwin asked. He had hardly known that he would do it, himself.

"I took a gamble," Levi replied. "Guess I didn't get wet for nothing."

They stepped under the awning of a bakery, and Levi pulled his cloak back down around his shoulders. They stood silently watching the rain and the people dashing through it.

Erwin felt like he should give some sort of explanation for not announcing his presence… he had been waiting for the right time, but then Levi came in, and he felt like he would be intruding… he glanced at Levi and realized that the captain looked anything but curious. He needed and wanted no explanation.

"Wonder what it's coming down in such a hurry for," Levi muttered. He had a way of doing that… mildly complaining to no one in particular. He was generally more talkative to himself than with others. Then he looked up at Erwin. "Could I interest you in a cup of tea?"

Erwin smiled. "Certainly."

So, there's that. Not exactly a budding romance yet, but you can tell from the little opener that I intend angst for the future. Should I continue this?