Erwin surges his horse forward towards the fog, not stopping to explain his actions to any onlookers. Frankly, he doesn't even know what he's doing either. All he knows is that the person in the distance could be Levi, and there's nothing that could stop him from finding out whether it is.
As he nears, Erwin notices that blood covers the person's body. It's bright red, thick and unchanging, which can only mean that it's human blood, not titan blood
"Levi?!" He shouts as he nears the figure. They're the same height, same hair, same build – but Erwin doesn't get his hopes up. It could still be someone else. He's still not close enough to properly see…
And then he speaks.
"Yeah, what?"
As Levi's voice rings through his ears, Erwin can feel his world slowly piece itself back together. He breathes a heavy sigh, relaxing for a couple of seconds while taking in the sight of Levi's body.
Levi's alive body.
His Omega is alive.
A sudden release of adrenaline kicks his mind back into thinking. "Are you injured?" Erwin asks.
Levi nods, clutching at his arm.
"Can you get on my horse?"
Levi nods again, half-jumping and half-pulling himself up with his good arm onto the horse. He wraps his arms around Erwin's torso and rests his head on his back.
Erwin revels in the feeling of Levi's body against his – but he doesn't have time to question it – he has to keep his head clear and focused. He has to get Levi back to base and into the hands of a medic. And he still has an expedition to command.
"I know this might be hard, but I need you to tell me what happened," Erwin says while they travel back to base. "How many titans remain?"
"None from that particular swarm," Levi mutters. "But there might be more from beyond the fog."
Erwin nods, "And your squad?"
"Gone," Levi chokes, the words being forced from his mouth, "All of them."
Erwin feels outrage boil in the pit of his stomach. He's lost some of the most talented individuals the Survey Corps has to offer, but his former Omega has also been hurt in more ways than one. He's angry at the titans, but he's also angry at himself. It was his orders and his plan. Not only has humanity lost progress, but Levi has lost something as well.
Only more guilt to add to the ever growing pile of self-hate at the back of his mind.
When they reach base, Erwin gets off his horse first before helping Levi down. The medic is already waiting, instantly pouncing on the Omega to survey his arm.
Levi silently lets the woman do her job, with much less fuss than he's procured in the past. Erwin can tell Levi's mental state is falling apart, but doesn't say anything, leaving Levi with a fleeting touch to the shoulder. He has work to do, and Levi wouldn't want him there anyway.
He reluctantly leaves Levi with the medic to go relay more orders to Mike.
In the end, the expedition turns out to be one of the most successful in the history of the Survey Corps. Despite the loss of Levi's squad, the death count of the 39th Expedition is still less than average. A track to Walden and a base were both successfully created, something that can be utilised for every single forthcoming expedition.
The Survey Corps saved themselves for at least another year. It's a massive victory.
But it doesn't feel like that to Erwin.
Levi's body runs on autopilot until he reaches his decided destination. He lifts his hand to knock on the door, but hesitates briefly, dropping his hand entirely.
Does he really want to do this?
Does he really want to go running back to Erwin? Especially when he's this vulnerable?
He stopped their relationship for a reason – a legitimate reason – so why is he doing this to himself?
His mind is screaming for him to run, but his heart his telling him to stay. He craves his Alpha's touch, his Alpha's scent, his Alpha's dominance, his Alpha's protection; he craves Erwin so fucking much.
But is it enough for his heart to win out over his mind?
It doesn't matter anyway, because the door is already opening. Of course, he should have predicted that Erwin would smell him from a mile away.
"Levi?" Erwin asks. Levi can't bear to look him in the eye, so he casts his eyes to Erwin's desk in the background. "Are you alright?"
"I know this is a lot to ask, but I… I don't want to shower in the communal bathrooms…"
He's going to get rejected, he knows he is, and God, it was such a stupid idea-
"Of course," Erwin replies softly.
Levi looks up, startled at Erwin's reply. He didn't expect Erwin to want to help him - not after splitting up with him so spectacularly - and now he doesn't quite know what to do.
"Come on," Erwin says, picking up Levi's hand and gently tugging him into the room. "Your towel is still in the bathroom and you can take as much time as you want."
Levi guides himself to the bathroom, but stops just outside.
They're gone.
His entire squad is gone.
His limbs are tense and his mouth is frozen. He can't move or speak. He can't do anything, but stand in shock, eyes pinned to the bathroom door.
"Levi?" Erwin asks, walking around to meet Levi's eyes. "Levi? What is it? What's wrong?"
Levi can smell Erwin's scent as it radiates off his body in calm waves.
Alpha. He's Alpha. He'll protect you, Levi. Let go.
He starts to tremble and his legs give out, body falling to the floor ungracefully.
"Levi," Erwin says as he follows Levi down to the floor, still making sure to maintain distance. "I'm here, okay?"
Levi can feel tears form at the back of his eyes, but desperately represses them. He pushes his good arm onto the floor, crouching over in order to hide himself.
"What do you need, Levi?" Erwin asks gently.
His thoughts instantly turn to the caked blood which covered most of his skin. Most of it had been washed off by the medic, but Levi can still feel it anyway - like a stain – reminding him of how he fucked up so brutally.
"I need-," Levi chokes, "I need this blood off of me."
"We can do that," Erwin says reassuringly. "I'll run a bath for you, okay?"
Levi nods – or maybe he doesn't, he honestly has no idea at this point – and whimpers as Erwin moves away, his scent going with him.
The tears continue to blind his eyes, but he refuses to let them fall.
Oh God, what have I done? I've let them all die…
"Levi, you have to get up in order to get to the bath," Erwin says, hand touching his shoulder, breaking him from his trance. Levi shivers at the Alpha's touch and leans into it instinctively. So nice, so warm, so perfect-
"Levi, I'm going to try and lift you, is that okay?" Erwin asks. This time, Levi can actually feel himself nod, as he leans into Erwin's arms, body fully pliant and willing.
His head rolls into Erwin's shoulder as he breathes in his scent, sniffing it like a highly addictive drug. If he had the strength, his fingers would latch onto Erwin's skin and he would never let go, but he has no strength at all.
Levi hisses as Erwin lifts his body away from his own, struggling slightly while he places him into the bath.
"Shhh, Levi, it's okay." Erwin soothes, placing a hand in Levi's hair. "Shhh."
He slowly removes Levi's wet clothes – most of it was ruined anyway, not that Levi would ever want to wear a reminder of this day – and starts to lather a cloth with soap.
"Do you want to do it?" Erwin asks, holding out the cloth.
Levi takes the cloth and methodically wipes himself down, making sure that every inch of his body is clean from the vile red substance that has covered him, even if it's not visibly present on his skin. He feels so tired and numb, like his limbs are dead weight. But the cleaning calms him, just like it always has, and it's enough to stop him from giving up entirely and falling asleep.
When he starts to wipe his back, he turns to Erwin who has been silently standing in the corner this entire time.
"I can't reach," he mutters, "Can you do it for me?"
Erwin nods and gently starts to wipe down Levi's back, stopping periodically to wash the dirty soap away.
"My neck, too," Levi whispers, tipping his head to side and bearing his scent gland to Erwin, too tired to realise the implications of his actions.
"Levi," Erwin says, voice weak with emotion.
"Please, Erwin," Levi clasps onto Erwin's arm, "It's dirty."
"Okay," Erwin agrees, finally relenting and leaning forward to start wiping his neck.
The tension in the room grows, but Levi doesn't have the strength to care. There's always going to be sexual tension between the two of them, that's never going to change.
It's only until Erwin touches Levi's scent gland that he realises what he's done. Levi jerks forward, gasping for air as his nervous system throttles back into motion.
Mate. Mate.
"Shit, I'm sorry Levi," Erwin says immediately, "I didn't mean to, I tried to be gentle…"
"It's fine," Levi mutters. How could he be so stupid to bare his neck like that? "My fault. I think I'm clean enough anyway."
Levi drains the bath water first and then dries himself in the bathtub. He weighs up the option of trying to exit the bathroom himself, but resigns himself to the fact that he'll need Erwin's help anyway. He might as well just not bother.
"Carry me?" He asks simply.
Erwin nods, moving to pick Levi up again.
Levi, losing himself to the touch of an Alpha once more, lets a soft purr escape from his lips. He lets out another as Erwin sets him down on his soft bed. His eyes droop instantly, the tiredness taking over his body as his Alpha takes care of him.
"You didn't bring any clothes, did you?"
Levi shakes his head.
"You can borrow mine?"
"I don't care… Just wanna sleep…" Levi slurs.
"Okay," Erwin mutters, rearranging his sheets so that Levi can fit snuggly underneath. "I'll sleep on the floor."
"Whatever," Levi latches onto Erwin's hand briefly, "Just… Don't leave…"
"Of course,"
Levi's eyes finally close and his muscles relax. "Don't leave me in the fog…"
"The fog can't harm you anymore."
"Thanks… Erwin…" Levi mumbles, finally letting his mind drift off.
Erwin leans forward, placing a delicate kiss to Levi's forehead. "I'm so sorry, Levi."