Ten chapters! Somewhat of a milestone, right? Only ninety more to go until 100!
In celebration of this small but awesome milestone, I give you guys something a bit more substantial than the usual chapter. You guys have stuck with it for so long, and I know that reading little drabbles don't really add up to much.
So, enjoy! :)
It was quiet in the office, save for the occasional scribble of Erwin's pen and Levi's scrubbing on the window behind the former's desk.
At first, Levi's obsession had been off-putting, but over the years, Erwin had warmed to it, since it often brought up good discussions, or, just nice, quiet moments that were so rare those days. Sometimes, Levi would even pause in his cleaning to advise Erwin on strategies and other things. Erwin had even started subconsciously scheduling himself to be in his office when Levi would be cleaning it.
Some where along the long, bloody, grave-lined road, Erwin had started to think of the Corporal as a little brother, of sorts. Not exactly for height, or even skill level, since it was obvious who had the physical advantage. He didn't really know why he had made that connection, really. It had just happened.
And, as most big brothers do, it was time to advise the younger. To teach him experience.
He had seen the way he looked at the scientist Squad Leader. Just for bare instances, behind his carefully and cleverly made mask, there was a flicker of something he had never seen before.
Erwin remembered a time when he had thought that anyone he loved was safe forever. And he remembered when all those thoughts had been brutally crushed under the heel of Aberrant miles outside of Wall Maria.
So, as Levi was scrubbing furiously at a stain on the glass panes behind him, Erwin was signing dutifully away at paperwork. The slowly building pitter-patter of water on the panes was enough to act as Erwin's cue to warn his Corporal against the inevitable fate that was beginning to set in motion.
He figured he'd just come right out with it.
"Levi, you can't do this to yourself."
The scrubbing didn't falter.
"I don't know why everyone sees purging filth as a horrible pastime." The sound was muffled through Levi's cleaning mask.
Erwin stopped writing for a moment and inwardly sighed.
"No, I mean, you're in the Survey Corps."
"...Did you hit you head on a tree or something?"
Erwin knew his words. They were his domain. His genius was spoken of throughout the Corps and even among other branches. That, and he couldn't even explain the simple subject of human death rate to someone he'd known for over ten years.
He needed to let the Corporal know he was being serious.
"Levi, how are you coping with the loss of your old squad?"
Immediate answer.
"I've moved on Erwin, that's what we all do, isn't it?"
Bullseye.
"Yes, I guess so."
"...Why?"
Erwin scribbled casually, and the rain outside started to pick up. A few crashes of the thunder were already making their way towards the Survey Corps base.
"I was just wondering if that's what you'll do when Hanji goes."
The scrubbing faltered before starting up again. No reply.
"Don't deny it, Levi. Its hard to see it, but its there. And its not healthy. You're going to end up dying before you're dead if this continues. No one is immortal, but you and I both know that you're going to outlive a lot of people, because you have so many people relying on you. But Hanji - at the rate she's going, she's going to get eaten by her own pets. She isn't stupid, but her passion blinds her more often than not."
Lightning flashed outside.
"Do you think I was born yesterday, Erwin?" The blonde could feel Levi's hot glare rebounding off of the dark windows and onto the back of his head. "I'm not a fantasizer. I know what it means to be in this line of work."
"I don't doubt that."
"Then what is the point of you even talking about this? Are you planning on making another 'great sacrifice' involving her, or something?"
The line had been crossed, but Erwin didn't react. It was a line that was so often crossed that it had become smudged.
"I just figured I should give you a reminder before you find yourself 'up shit creek without a paddle', like I did."
"I-"
A loud, resounding slam cracked out suddenly, and Levi almost fell off of his footstool.
"Oi, Erwin, great news on Eren's transfo-!"
Hanji then noticed the Corporal in the room, who was then looking up at her with a scowl, half-hidden by his cleaning mask.
"Levi! What are you doing in here? Did I interrupt some male bonding, or-" Hanji stopped herself. "Ah, cleaning! Right!" The scientist woman proceeded to stride forward with childlike elation. "So, anyways, Er-"
"Hanji." The Corporal put up a hand to secure the mask around his nose. "Could you tell me...why in the hell you're indoors?"
Rain water, mud, and various pieces of grass and leaves were currently making a putrid puddle around Hanji's boots, already starting to diminish from the wet footsteps in her early entrance. Her hair dripped steadily onto the floor behind her, and her hands, which were holding a few papers, were covered in dirt and water. Levi wanted to throw up.
The scientist slowly seemed to notice this before laughing. "Oh, Levi, sorry!"
"Get out."
"Hang on, I just gotta-"
"Get the hell out of my sight."
Hanji sort of nodded and smiled as she turned back to leave. "Alright, well-"
"And get a shower before showing your face here again."
With that, the scientist was temporarily gone, and Levi was left to clean the wreckage that had been left by the passing storm.
Stepping down from his stool, he grabbed a fresh towel and his bleach bucket and sauntered over to the gooey puddles. Erwin sat at his desk, pen poised, not sure whether he should continue the conversation from earlier. The silent scrubbing and scribbling went on for some time before anyone spoke.
Not a pause in the cleaning, and a small sigh. Levi frowned.
"Erwin, I was up shit creek thirteen years ago. Your warning is invalid."
Ahhhh! The feels (for me, at least) XD
I just love awkward Erwin.
I'm going with the headcanon that Erwin recruited Levi when Levi was 21.