Most of the soldiers were having a good time, and the party lasted until late hours. Eventually, the high-ranking officers and squad leaders left the hall, leaving the cleaning duty to the other soldiers. Those who were very drunk and sleepy were given an unofficial pass for tonight from both their comrades and superiors.
Levi got ready to start cleaning in no time and scolded those who were slacking off. He then threw a rug to Erwin, who caught it easily and looked with confusion from the object in his hand to Levi. It had been a long time since he had done the cleaning duty.
"Don't stand there and waste time. What? You don't know how to use it?" spoke Levi, already at work.
"I do. It's just that it has been a while," Erwin admitted.
"No high rank makes you better than cleaning. It's a basic human thing," responded Levi sharply.
"Yeah, I didn't mean it like that. It's just with high ranks come other responsibilities." With that, Erwin started helping without further argument. He heard that Levi likes to clean. Initially, he thought it was so nobody would criticize him for the place he came from, but he started to understand that is just Levi's personality.
He added, "I don't deny that there are privileges too. You will understand with time."
"I'd rather do it myself. The cleaning standards here are low anyway," criticized Levi.
"Really? Well, one day you will be promoted. Maybe you can improve them," Erwin received fearful looks from some young soldiers who heard him saying that.
"Where do you think you are going, shitty glasses?" Levi grabbed Hange by her collar.
"Let go of me, Levi! I'm done," She protested trying to fix her glasses that almost fell.
"You call that cleaning? Clean those tables again and pick up the garbage you dropped," He ordered her around. Hange had no other options than obeying so she went whining and murmuring about how much of a big "clean freak" Levi is. To which he replied with a threat to wash her greasy hair.
"That's not fair. No one stopped Moblit from leaving early," she complained while she was cleaning.
"Let the poor man have some rest, Hange. He has to deal with you every day," said Mike helping her.
It didn't take them long to finish. Levi was taking it more seriously than the others and was doing most of the work himself. He complained that they weren't doing it correctly, although they were trying to please him.
Eventually, everyone left the hall. Levi stayed behind to make sure that everything is perfectly clean. Erwin waited for him at the door, thinking that Hange was right when she called Levi's love for cleaning "obsessive", although she can use some of his advice.
"Have you finished?"
"Yes," said Levi putting the tools back in their place.
They both went out together. Levi noticed that Erwin was waiting for him but chose not to comment or say anything about it. They walked silently in that dark night lighted only by lanterns.
"It wasn't a bad evening at the end, was it? I'm glad you stayed", started Erwin.
"Yeah, not bad", replied Levi curtly.
"How are you now? How are you finding it here in the Survey Corps?" Erwin asked Levi as they were getting close to the barracks.
"Fine. You asked me this before."
"True, but you didn't decide to stay by your choice then," Erwin paused for a moment before adding, "And you hadn't lost your friend yet." He knew the dangers of asking that question but he asked anyway.
"I still think it's full of weirdos, but I understand them better now. I've seen death before; it was around us everywhere underground. Still, it doesn't make Isabel and Furlan's death any less important to me. Their souls will give me strength, and I won't let their death be in vain."
This was probably the longest Erwin had heard Levi talking about himself. Levi had the habit of being talkative when something is bothering him, although compared to other people it isn't that much.
"You are right. We owe it to our fallen comrades to fight for the glory of humanity", agreed Erwin, the memory of many faces passing his mind. Levi didn't say anything else, but he had deep respect for Erwin, more than he would ever show. He had never seen someone care that much for a noble cause.
"Make sure to sleep tonight. I don't mean to intrude, but I've heard you don't get enough sleep. You shouldn't exhaust yourself", said Erwin suddenly.
"Don't worry. It won't affect my performance," assured Levi. He had insomnia since his days in the underground. It did get worse lately, but it is not like he would tell anyone about it.
"I know. I only give this advice as a friend. You will find there are many good friends here that you can count on, as they count on you. You are not alone", said Erwin in an attempt to reach out to his loner friend.
"Even the strongest men can be worn out by their thoughts. I know that I look distant and seem to be only thinking about expeditions, but I want you to know that we can always talk as friends even if we are busy", he continued.
Levi appreciated the concern but didn't know how to respond, so he only said, "Don't worry about that" nonchalantly before walking a few steps ahead and adding with his head half-turned, "Don't get sentimental suddenly like that, Erwin. It is creepy."
Erwin had noticed that his words on that fateful day had affected Levi and made him realize the responsibility of his power. Erwin wanted him to know that he doesn't need to be the strong one all the time, but he didn't push further. Something in Levi's response made him believe that he understood him.
They reached the Barracks, where their ways separated, for squad leaders got private rooms.
"Good night, Levi. Go to bed," said Erwin before heading to his room. He wished that Levi would listen to his advice; he heard that the new soldier only sleeps for 3 hours on a chair!
"Good night," and with that Levi went on his way.
That night, after reading a little, Levi sat thinking about the evening. His thoughts were less disturbing than every night. Then he decided to try to sleep. He changed into something more comfortable and let himself relax in bed. He thought about Erwin's words, about them being friends and his offer to talk. The idea never crossed his mind before; something in him saw Erwin as someone to aspire to, and he hated to look bad in his eyes. Maybe he could be more than just a leader but a friend and a brother. He wondered if Erwin suffers from insomnia too and whether Hange slept on her bed tonight or over her desk and papers in the lab as she sometimes did. He was thinking that Mike surely checked on that friend of his again, about the laughing young recruits who probably slept easier tonight, and as he was thinking, his eyelids got heavier and heavier till he surrendered to sleep. He had peaceful dreamless sleep that night and felt more relaxed than he ever did in a long time.
The End
Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think.
