I saw that this has some followers and I still need something to occupy me so I don't rush my other story too much, so here's another chapter. I finished watching season 3 (so intense!) and I realized that some things in my story already contradict canon, but I don't really care. Consider it an AU now. Enjoy Levi's perspective this time.

An Understanding Chapter 2

Levi hadn't been expecting to run into his subordinates that night; it made him momentarily forget that he had gone to the tavern to look for Erwin. When they invited him to sit down, he scanned the room, spotted Erwin's familiar form, and noted that the commander seemed to have no intention of making his presence known. Without someone else to visit, he had no reason to refuse the invitation.

"Surprised you're still soldiering and not married and settled down yet," Levi commented after some more tiresome smalltalk, meaning Eren and Mikasa in particular, but including the whole group.

"Why would you say that?" Eren asked before taking a long swig from his stein.

"Uh…" Mikasa uttered, looking down as her cheeks turned pink.

"Marriage!" Jean exclaimed. "Who's got time for that? I gotta train the new recruits and teach the city slickers how to ride horses. I mean, who even has time for any kinda relationship, am I right?"

"I think it would be nice," Armin said, looking shy as usual in spite of all that he had lived through. "But it's true that we're kept very busy. Maybe someday, when we find just the right spot, I'll build a home of my own and think about raising a family. But for now…"

Geez, if I'd known they were going to take it so seriously, I wouldn't have brought it up, Levi thought to himself. He looked over at Erwin. The commander still hadn't turned around. He wondered how much could be overheard from that distance.

Eren and Jean seemed to be trying to outdrink each other, and were consequently getting drunk more quickly than the others. Since Levi was drinking only water and Mikasa seemed to be purposely drinking slowly so she could make sure Eren didn't get into too much trouble, that left Armin pretty squarely in the middle of the pack, drinking at a fairly average rate.

Levi participated in the conversation more at the beginning, while they were all still lucid and discussing matters he cared about to some degree. But as time went on, and to his annoyance, the topic of marriage kept coming back up, though in stranger and stranger contexts.

"Since we're the 'heroes of the walls,' I guess we can pretty much have our pick of who we marry though, right?" said Jean. "If we ever had time for that crap, I mean."

"So many of our generation got wiped out," said Eren. "Who's left to pick from?"

"There are still girls!"

"Okay, but who?"

"I don't know—plenty." Jean sounded annoyed. "I don't have anyone in particular in mind."

"Yeah, it's not like there's a girl actually at this table," Levi said, not intending for anyone to hear him, though he thought Mikasa might have caught it.

"No, but if you could marry anyone in civilization," Eren said, getting unnecessarily loud, "or be with them for the rest of your life, who would it be? You first."

To Levi's surprise, Eren was pointing at him. "I'd rather die alone, thank you," he replied. "And it's 'whom would it be.'"

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

"I'll make it easier… they don't have to still be alive," Eren said, his green eyes wide and earnest.

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

"No, I mean…" The alcohol seemed to be making it difficult for Eren to put a sentence together. "I mean, if they hadn't died. Who would you wanna be with?"

Don't pretend you know me. In spite of his resentful feelings on the subject, Levi made himself think about the question. "As I said, I prefer to be alone. 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." He didn't care if Erwin heard him; it probably wasn't news to his superior. Besides, he was growing tired of the present company's level of maturity, and wished for more intelligent conversation. Perhaps Erwin would take the hint and come over to relieve him.

Jean snorted.

"You would marry the commander?" Armin asked.

Stupid question. Stupid Yeager. "If I had no choice but to marry someone…" Levi again glanced Erwin's way. He kept himself from smirking. "...and if he got down on his knees and proposed."

Jean laughed with abandon.

"The commander would never stoop, let alone kneel, to you." Mikasa was fixing Levi with an icy stare.

You just don't like the idea of anyone showing me respect. "In that case, I'll get my wish and die alone," Levi said indifferently.

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

"All right, you next," said Jean, pointing at Eren.

Before Eren could get his brain to remember his own question, Armin said, "There's no point in Eren or you talking about whom you'd marry… you'd say the same thing."

Now the smirk surfaced. Eren and Mikasa were devoted to each other, but Jean had been sweet on the Oriental girl since he had first laid eyes on her. It was obvious to everyone but the two males in question.

"What?" Jean demanded, overcompensating.

"Both married to our work, huh?" Eren supposed.

Idiot.

"I'm sure that's it exactly." Mikasa said dryly. She must be tired of their slowness.

"What about you?" Eren asked Armin.

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

Eren and Jean seemed to find this choice uproariously funny.

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

"Long live King Armin!" Eren exclaimed, raising his cup in the air and sloshing a bit of ale on the table.

Levi jerked his arm back just in time to evade the droplets that might have landed on his sleeve. "At least he'd have two things the last king didn't," he said to stave off his growing annoyance. "Youth and intelligence." No one seemed to hear him.

"He wouldn't be king, just a regent or something," Mikasa said, unable to pull out the term.

"Prince consort," Levi muttered under his breath.

"But, their child could be king."

"Whoa… no one said anything about children," said Jean.

Levi tuned out Jean's and Eren's discussion of how impossibly fair the royal children would be. He looked at Mikasa, wondering if she really wanted Eren or Jean to finally man up and make a move. "What about you?" he asked. "Anyone you could stand to live under one roof with for the rest of your life?"

She looked at him and then away again. "I don't think I'm destined to live under a roof for much of my life. Tents and the open sky for me."

What a diplomatic answer. She reminds me of me.

Eren and Jean were babbling on about heirs to the throne.

Levi looked over at the blond figure again, but Erwin still showed no sign of moving. "I should be going."

"Do you have to?" Eren asked.

"The night's still young," said Jean.

Levi wouldn't be deterred. He stood and dropped a coin on the table, even though he had taken only water.

"It was good to see you, sir," said Armin, pushing his chair back.

"Yeah, good to see you," Eren echoed. He rose to salute and the others followed.

Levi returned the salute. "And all of you. Enjoy your evening." He lifted his chin, his face toward Erwin. "Maybe I'll see you again soon."

"Hope so," Eren said.

"Good night, Captain," Jean said, already moving to sit again.

Levi went to the entry area and pulled up his hood. The rain hadn't let up. If anything, it was raining harder than when he came in.

He doesn't seem to have brought a coat. He'll catch his death if he leaves now.

Just outside, Levi hesitated under the eaves of the tavern. He could be in there another hour or two. Or he could be ready to leave now. Maybe he caught that I'd rather have been talking to him than wasting good conversation on unrefined ears. "Oh, hell."

He stepped into the deluge and turned down the alley that serviced the back entrance. He went only far enough not to be clearly visible from either the street or the doorway. If he doesn't come out in a few minutes, I'll leave.

The rain pelted him in gusts, the close walls sometimes sheltering him and sometimes creating a tunnel that hastened the drops on, turning them into cold missiles. His durable cloak kept the worst of the damp from reaching him, but it was becoming heavy with moisture when he saw a shaft of light appear ahead of him and then disappear again. A figure came toward him.

Once it was close enough for Levi to confirm that it was Erwin, he unbuttoned his cloak and flipped it up over the taller man and himself as he turned to match stride with him.

"How did you know I'd come out this way… and now?" Erwin asked.

"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. It showed no sign of slowing.

Levi was sure that Erwin had his reasons for not greeting the young soldiers. He rather envied him… it had been a pointless hour or so of conversation. Better to quietly observe at a distance than to have to be directly involved. At least it wasn't late yet.

"Wonder what it's coming down in such a hurry for," Levi muttered. They might have a long wait, but getting home where it was comfortable and there was a good tea supply was foremost in his mind. He looked up at Erwin. "Could I interest you in a cup of tea?"

Erwin smiled. "Certainly." After a few more minutes, he said, "It seems to have slowed a little. Shall we take a chance and leave now?"

Levi thought about mentioning Erwin's penchant for gambling, but it wasn't worth it. He nodded and reached up to grasp the shoulders of his cloak.

Erwin put his hand on Levi's wrist. "Don't bother. It will keep you more thoroughly dry if you don't share it. And you'll pardon my saying so, but you're rather slighter than I am. The rain isn't so heavy now that it will chill me easily."

"Slight, my ass," Levi muttered, wondering how much Erwin's missing arm had weighed, but he pulled up his hood, deferring to the other's judgment. "To my place, then?"

Erwin nodded and stepped forward.

Levi fell in on Erwin's right, flanking him as if he might need infantry support on his vulnerable side. There were no enemies here… not now… not that they knew of. But it's hard to take the military out of the man. Levi still carried a long knife wherever he went; maybe that was more Kenny's influence than the Survey Corps'.

The rain picked up again as they drew near Levi's shop and they hurried their pace. When they were in sight of it, Levi scanned the area quickly before running ahead to unlock the door, not wanting Erwin to have to stand waiting in the downpour.

Once they were inside, Levi pointed out a spare cloak on a hook. He had nothing else that would fit the commander, and it would be unpleasant for him to remain in his drenched clothing. "Take off your wet things while I stoke the fire."

Let your imagination run wild if you want, but this is not about to turn into a PWP, I promise. ^^ Leave a comment, please!