"I think he's courting you," said Mike. A week had passed since Levi and Erwin had their conversation in the kitchen. Mike, Erwin, and Hange sat together eating dinner in the mess hall. The alphas formed a wall, sitting on either side of their leader. Around them, the rest of the Survey Corps also ate.
"Is that what that was?" Hange asked in disbelief, watching the little alpha walk over to his squad. Left in his wake, an unsuspecting piece of yellow cake with strawberry icing sat next to Erwin's plate. "How many is that?"
"Third one this week," said Mike. The mustached alpha brought his fork over ready to cut into the desert. Erwin brought his hand up to block the utensil as he looked to where the little alpha sat with his squad. Petra and Olou were noticeably missing. Erwin wasn't surprised to see Levi's intense gray eyes focused on his commander. The blonde omega picked up his fork and cut into the cake, letting the fork take it's time leaving his lips. He could feel the man's gaze on him as he ate. When he finished the treat, he looked back at Levi. Erwin was sure he saw a smile tug at that bored face.
After dinner, during evening training, Erwin and Mike watched Levi take the new recruits through their evening drills. Levi was in charge of night drills because the little man could see in the dark. Erwin believed it was because the alpha spent most of his life underground. The tall omega smiled with pride at his soldiers. Most would see all of this training with no set goal as foolish, but Erwin saw the bigger picture. Yes, they still needed funding for this last expedition of the year but he had faith that he could raise the money in time.
"Erwin," his oldest friend turned to him serious. "What are your plans with Levi?"
"Hmm?" Erwin kept his focus on Levi. There were two types of alpha in this world. Prime alphas, who couldn't stand to be anything other than the leader of their own pack, and pack alphas. Pack alphas worked better in a group, they protected the weaker members of the pack, and didn't mind submitting to someone stronger as long as it was for the well-being of the pack. That pack alpha trait was one of the many reasons why Erwin chose Levi.
"I just don't want him to get out of hand." The low growl that radiated in Mike's voice might have passed unheard by anyone else ears.
"I think you worry too much," Erwin said lightly. He kept his gaze on the rookies. Most were barely older than pups looking for glory outside the walls. They were like a flock of baby birds still learning how to fly in the twilight. How many will make it back after the next expedition? One of the rookies missed their mark, losing the stability between trees. Levi instantly, corrected his movements to dislodge the grapple and keep the soldier from smacking into the tree. Even at a distance, Erwin could see the pack alpha scolding the rookie while checking him for injuries. I wonder, would you give your own pups such tough love, Levi?
"Erwin…" Mike continued taking him from his thoughts. The tall omega released a sigh before finally turning his attention to the taller man. Mike had smelled beyond Erwin's fake scent within the first few weeks of Erwin joining the Survey Corps. Erwin had heard of the world's strongest man and his particular habit so he tried his best to keep the man at a distance. He learned that the best way to keep his secret was to stay clear of noisy alphas. He could only run away for a few weeks until Mike got a sniff.
It was bound to happen at some point. The Survey Corp was a small branch after all. So, when the tall, lanky, older alpha started sniffing Erwin's scent gland he knew he had to think fast. But before he could come up with an artful story, the alpha told him he could care less about his dynamic as long as Erwin could fight. Erwin found out later that, Mike grew up in the country where dynamic was second to the steel of one's resolve. Mike's omega mother raised three alpha pups on her own and was one of the best horse trainers in three villages. As far as Mike was concerned, the idea of the pampered omega was something that people in Sina worried about. What drew Mike to Erwin's scent was that same 'omegan grit' that reminded him of home.
The fact that Mike didn't care that Erwin was an omega and kept his secret intrigued him. Even Erwin's progressive father educated him just enough so he would be able to keep up with his future mate. Mike didn't see an omega. He just saw…Erwin.
It wasn't long until they were on leave visiting Mike's mother during Erwin's heats. The older omega liked to hint about how she wasn't growing any younger and would love to see grandchildren. Unfortunately, pups were not a part of Erwin's plan. He couldn't stomach raising pups in a world where they would never be free. Still, he smiled and listened to the older omega's tips on how to raise strong pups.
Mike never told him, never had to, but Erwin knew that Mike also wanted to have pups of his own one day. Erwin couldn't blame him. All pack alphas longed for the company of others and being alphas they needed a little pack of their own; a family. Another pack alpha trait was that most were hopeless romantics. They were the alphas who searched the world for their destined mate at a young age. Mike was no different. Erwin learned that before Mike joined the military he lost his intended mate to sickness. Mike never talked about it and Erwin didn't press. The omega could read the hopeful sadness that made a home in those eyes when soldiers returned to their mates.
It pained the blonde omega's heart to see his friend that way. Erwin decided to fill the role of 'who' Mike needed in exchange for their stolen moments. The faux relationship was a peaceful one, scratching a necessary instinctual itch on both ends. Everything changed when Nanaba joined the Survey Corp. Mike still made it a habit of sniffing all new recruits at least once when they set foot on base. The young solider was no exception.
Nanaba's class was the first to have omegas allowed into the Survey Corps. Before then, the king only allowed omegas to hold administrative positions within the Garrison. No one believed that the Survey Corp would get any recruits that year, let alone omegas. What parent would allow their omega pup to join the suicide branch? Even a rogue, who decided to join the military knew it was better to serve in the safety of the Garrison. It was a surprise to all that Survey Corps managed to get all five omegas in the graduating class. It seemed that the omegas were tired of being pencil pushers.
Erwin still had hell to pay when he heard the news. People protested the breeders' inclusion, saying that the Survey Corp just found another way of killing off Humanity. Even his subordinates argued against the new additions. There were too many alphas in the Survey Corp. What about when the omegas went in heat? Commander Erwin was setting the delicate omegas to be mauled before they got outside the wall. These were simple things that Erwin knew first hand. He worked with commander Pixus to have heat rooms built in the infirmary and came up with dorm assignments that left a buffer of mated beta soldiers between them and any alpha. His plan became a rainbow of dynamics with the single omegas and single alphas on opposite ends of the dormitory. His final plan was to have the world's strongest man keep an eye out on the new recruits. Mike was an unmated alpha but Erwin knew first hand that he wouldn't get lost in his base instincts. It would take Mike finding his mate for the man to leave his post.
Erwin should have known that only an omega with grit would join the Survey Corp.
The exhausted commander was walking back to the dormitory when he spotted them. Alpha and omega stood on the training grounds long after afternoon drills ended. Who knew how long they would have stayed that way if Erwin hadn't stepped into separate the two. At the time, Erwin thought he was protecting the younger omega from his friend's overbearing attention and he had every intention of scolding Mike about it that night, but Mike never came to his room. Or the next night. Or the night after that. Curiosity finally got the best of Erwin so he searched out his closest friend.
Erwin found him, them, back on the training grounds. Many soldiers used the space for moments of passion. What Erwin found that night surprised him. Mike was putting Nanaba through 3D drills. Mike always helped recruits when they asked for help. What felt different was the way Mike taught this particular soldier. Mike was gentle but firm with the new recruit. If he was honest, it reminded Erwin of how kind he had been when Erwin was a rookie. That night, Erwin walked away from them.
He was sure that any other omega in his place would have broken up that meeting. He should have been been jealous that the man who devoted himself to Erwin chose another omega. But Erwin didn't feel any of those things. He actually felt happy that perhaps Mike would get the real thing instead of someone filling a role.
Erwin knew that their affair officially ended when Mike missed his last heat. It was one of the hardest heats Erwin ever been through. He planned for his first lonely heat in years by renting an empty cabin in a nearby forest from an old beta woman and stored as many blankets and supplies as he could without getting noticed. The blonde omega even held out as long as he could for his playmate that he knew wouldn't come before leaving in the middle of the night. Hange and Levi about his little secret and would cover for him. Since he wouldn't be with Mike, he left them a little note with his location.
The cabin was nicer than Erwin remembered when he rented it. For a rarely used, out of the way cabin, it was surprisingly clean. Even the bedding he brought for his nest had been aired out. Erwin's body had reached its limit so he only made a note that he would have to use this cabin again. He spent the next few days in a whirlwind of emotion and hormones, only leaving his nest to eat the warm food he found in the kitchen. In his haze, he remembered the cabin being calm and inviting. Even the fire in the fireplace remained lit through the week.
He heard someone in the main part of the cabin toward the end of his haze. The blonde omega ran his fingers through his messy hair in an attempt to clean himself up before thanking his benefactor. When he opened the door, he was surprised to find not an elderly beta woman but Levi. The short alpha wore black slacks and a white button down shirt.
"Levi…" Erwin whispered. "What are you doing here?" The alpha didn't speak to him, instead he set a plate of food and a glass of water on the table.
"Sit. Eat," Levi tall omega took a seat at the table. Levi placed a fork and knife wrapped in a napkin on the table. Erwin downed the water first; it felt so good going down his throat. The alpha quickly refilled the cup while the omega ate his food. "Hurry up and get over this," Levi continued. "Hange is doing weird shit again." Erwin chuckled.
"One doesn't 'get over' a heat, Levi. That aside, why are you here?"
Levi shrugged. "Mike's not here. It would be a lot of trouble if some shithead showed up and claimed you, right?"
"Have you… been here this entire time?"
Levi shrugged again as he set the pitcher of water on the table. "Off and on." The alpha walked toward the door. "I'll be outside."
"Levi wait," Erwin rose to his feet. The curl in his belly begged for an alpha. If he could get this alpha to stay with him everything would be alright. "You don't have to go."
Levi tsked.
"Of course, I do," he said. "I'm still an alpha. And... you're just saying that because you aren't thinking straight." Erwin opened his mouth to speak.
"Don't worry," Levi said softly. He looked away from the taller man. "I'm not leaving until you are ready to leave this place." Erwin released a relieved sigh.