Chapter 3: A Secret Shared

Armin

The next morning, Armin was exhausted after a sleepless night. But he had a decided on a plan.

If Erwin approached him and asked about last night, Armin would admit he'd dropped the application form off. He'd make no mention of seeing or hearing anything suspicious. The whole situation was highly embarrassing - he doubted the Commander would press him too hard about it. Just the thought of Erwin politely asking, 'By the way, did you happen to see or overhear me spanking Captain Levi last night?' almost made Armin laugh.

He seriously considered feigning sickness and skipping training drill today. Despite his plan, the thoughts of bumping into Erwin, or (heavens forbid) Captain Levi, sent a bolt of anxiety shooting through him.

But he also couldn't face lying on his bunk all day, trying to distract himself with a book, while forbidden thoughts kept cropping up in his head. No, it was safer to just go about his day like normal, behaving as if nothing was amiss.

After all, it almost feels like last night was just some strange dream… Maybe I should pretend it was?

In any case, a rigorous training session was just what he needed to take his mind off his unruly thoughts...

"Just give me ten more minutes," Eren grumbled, turning away and closing his eyes.

His best friend was the worst person for getting out of bed in the morning. Armin had already been awake for hours and was starving. So he left the dormitory, and headed to the mess hall for breakfast alone.

He was one of the first of the younger soldiers here, as he expected. Luckily, he'd brought a book in his satchel to read while he waited for Eren, Mikasa, or any of his other friends to turn up.

Just as he was about to sit down at his favourite corner table, a deep voice from behind startled him.

"Armin? Could I have a quick word with you?"

He snapped his head around.

Commander Erwin stood there – his blond hair neatly combed back, and his uniform pristine with no sign of creases. He looking just as calm and put together as always. Nothing at all like a man who'd been caught doing something scandalous last night.

Armin's whole body tensed. "Y-yes. Of course, Commander," he stammered past the tightness of his throat.

"Thank you. If you could follow me please." Armin did as he was told, and Erwin led him out through the corridor, and into a small meeting room.

Erwin told him to sit down, and he did, trying to steady his shaking hands.

Armin wracked his brain for some other reason Erwin wanted to talk to him. But only one sprang to mind…

The larger man sat down on the other side of the table, directly opposite Armin.

"I'm pleased to see you applied for the library assistant position. I think you're an ideal candidate for the role." Erwin smiled kindly, throwing his handsome features into sharper prominence.

Armin's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. Erwin had already found the application form on his desk. So he knew he'd been in his office last night.

Shame seeped into his bones - as if he'd been the one caught doing something dirty instead of his two superiors… Then again, he had lingered in the office when he should have left immediately. What if Erwin figured that out?

The Commander's smile slipped slightly as he asked, "When did you drop off the application form?"

It felt like someone was squeezing his chest. Armin opened his mouth. No words escaped.

Here it was - the conversation he'd been dreading since last night.

"Armin?" Erwin prompted, more firmly.

Oh no. Is he angry at me?

"L-last night, sir," Armin stammered. Erwin usually told him not to bother calling him 'sir' in private, but now felt like an appropriate time for the title.

Erwin's powerful gaze bore into Armin's. It felt like the older man was reading his guilty thoughts.

He seemed to consider his next words. "What happened when you got there?"

Armin took a deep breath. Remember the plan – pretend you didn't notice anything.

"I – um – found the door unlocked… so I dropped the application on your desk. I'm sorry if I shouldn't have done that," he added quickly. "I'd knocked, but you didn't respond, and I didn't think you'd mind..."

Armin's face was on fire; recalling what Erwin had been doing that had made him too busy to hear his knocking.

"And then…?" Erwin prompted.

"I just dropped it off sir, then I left."

"Armin." Erwin used his Commander's voice, sending tremors of fear rippling through the younger man. "Is that the truth?"

It reminded Armin of the domineering tone he'd used while he was with Levi last night. He quickly tried to push that particular thought away.

As afraid as he was of the consequences, Armin couldn't lie any longer under Erwin's overwhelming presence.

But how could he verbalise what he'd heard and seen into words, in the least embarrassing way?

He swiftly decided to omit the fact he'd seen anything. Both Erwin and Levi had their backs to him, and later Levi's eyes had been closed – so they had no way of verifying that he'd been watching them. And besides, the sitting room door had been almost closed.

Pushing past light-headedness, and a thumping in his ears, Armin said, "I – I heard you… speaking with someone."

Erwin nodded. He shut his eyes tightly for a moment, brow furrowed. When he opened them, his expression was grim. "Alright. Do you know who I was with?"

Armin really, really didn't want to say it. Forcing the words out was like pulling out a deep splinter.

"Captain Levi," he murmured.

Again, Erwin nodded solemnly.

"Do you know what we were doing?"

Shame flooded Armin. The image of what he saw through the door rose unbidden in his mind.

Fear clenching his heart, Armin wondered how much trouble he was in. Suddenly, he imagined Erwin 'punishing' him like he did with Levi – right here in this room, bending him over the table…

"Armin? Are you alright?"

Erwin stared at him, concern in his deep blue eyes.

Armin rubbed his hands over his own eyes. They were wet. Whether from fear, arousal, or a confusing mix of both emotions, he wasn't sure.

Dropping his imposing manner, the Commander came around the table to sit in the chair beside the younger man. Side by side, the differences in their stature were re-enforced. Armin's eyes flickered from Erwin's strong chest and arms, to his muscular legs in his tight trousers.

The man's large presence both excited and intimidated him. Thoughts of that powerful body on top of him sent heat spiking to his groin. But Armin also felt vulnerable - acutely aware of how small and weak he was in comparison to the other man.

"Armin, you're not in trouble," Erwin assured him, voice warm again. "I'm sorry for the interrogation; it wasn't my intention to scare you. But I need to know the truth. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Armin croaked the word out of his tight throat.

Erwin reached out to squeeze his shoulder. It was a gesture Eren and Mikasa had given him countless times. But it felt completely different coming from the handsome, powerful Commander.

"We forgot to lock the office door," Erwin sighed, pulling his hand back and running it through his hair. "Are you upset about what you heard?"

Feeling more at ease now that the Commander was back to his approachable self, Armin allowed more of the truth slip out. It was almost a relief to be able to discuss it freely. "Not upset. I was confused at first… I thought you were… hurting Levi – I mean, Captain Levi. That's why I didn't leave immediately."

"Were you there for long?" Erwin asked, glancing away, the smallest hint of embarrassment tinging his words.

Armin's cheeks flamed again. "Oh um… not too long. Once I realised what you were doing - I mean, that you weren't hurting him – I left."

The lie slipped out easily. The truth was impossible to admit - Actually, I decided to stay and watch, because it was the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life. Also, I sort of imagined I was Levi.

"I admit, I'm absolutely mortified you walked in on us… well… playing like that." Erwin winced. "And of course Levi feels the same. I hope you understand I wasn't really punishing him. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about us. I love him very much, and wouldn't do anything he didn't want me to."

Erwin rubbed the back of his neck. His personal admission made him seem much less intimidating to Armin. Less like the imposing Commander, and more like a close friend. "Do you have any questions?" he added.

This open discussion was unexpected. Yes, Armin did have questions, but he wasn't willing to voice any of them. He dropped his gaze, fighting back a smile at the increasingly inappropriate things he wanted to ask.

So you're in love with Levi? For how long? Does anyone else know? What else do you do in bed? Can you give me explicit details, and maybe some private demonstrations?

When Armin shook his head, Erwin continued, "I appreciate your concern over Levi being in such a… vulnerable position. But what we were doing was completely consensual. And if it's still troubling you, feel free to ask him yourself."

Armin pictured Captain Levi's reaction if he asked him just that. He bit his lip to restrain his laughter at the image. Besides, he had no doubt what he saw was consensual. The noises the Captain had made were the sounds of a man fully enjoying himself.

"No, it's alright, I understand," Armin said quickly.

Erwin leaned in closer, confidentially. It sent a thrill through Armin.

"Could I ask you not to share this with anyone else?" he asked, a beseeching expression on his face. "Levi and I would prefer to keep our relationship private."

"Of course, I won't tell anyone," Armin assured him.

"And you haven't spoken to any of your friends about this already...?"

"No," he replied honestly.

A look of pure relief swept over Erwin's handsome features. "Good. Thank you, Armin. If you do have any questions about any of this, please feel free to talk to me." He gave Armin's shoulder another squeeze, sending a jolt right to the younger man's heart.

"It means a lot to me that you'll keep this to yourself. And to Levi, too – he's a very proud man and wouldn't want anyone gossiping about his private life." Erwin smiled. "Maybe we're lucky it was you who walked in, and not anyone else. I know I can trust you to keep our secret."

Later, as he sat with Eren and Mikasa eating breakfast, Armin was still in a daze about his discussion with the Commander.

And he couldn't stop thinking about what Erwin had said - that he was glad Armin had been the one to walk in on them...

Although the whole thing had been the result of a complete accident, Armin was also strangely glad of what he'd walked in on. It was probably pathetic, but he felt an intimate connection to Erwin because of it. He'd witnessed a whole different side of the man – one that few had probably seen.

Knowing he was a passionate and caring lover to Levi was almost too much for him to handle. How was Armin supposed to carry on with his day, with the knowledge that Erwin and Levi were in a committed relationship, and (presumably) having wild sex like this all the time?

"Armin, are you alright? You've been staring at the wall for about five minutes. You haven't even laughed at my hilarious jokes about Jean's new hairstyle." Eren looked at his friend in concern, while Mikasa burst out laughing.

"Seriously Eren, you're obsessed with Jean. Maybe you should be dating him, not me." Her smile faltered a little as her sharp eyes appraised Armin. "Are you ok, Armin?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Just tired," he smiled reassuringly.

"You should get to bed early tonight," Mikasa said.

"Did you say Eren wants to date Jean? I knew it!" Sasha exclaimed, plonking herself down next to Armin. Connie sat down on his other side.

"Shut up!" Eren slapped a hand to his head. "Why can't I hate Jean without everyone thinking I secretly fancy him?!"

"You were totally jealous when Armin dated him," Mikasa smirked, taking a bite of toast.

"I was not jealous!" Eren yelled.

Half the room turned their heads to see who was making such a racket. Nobody looked surprised it was Eren. Most seemed amused, except for Floch, who scowled in their direction. Armin glanced away to avoid his eye.

Soon Armin's thoughts about Erwin and Levi drifted to the back of his mind, as he joined in his friends' good-natured teasing. And Mikasa was right. He should go to bed early tonight, he really was exhausted.

A thrill raced through him, as he considered what else he could do if he went to bed early, and got some privacy…

There would be plenty of time to think about his Captain and Commander later.

Notes: It'll take a few chapters to set up the threesome, because I want to ensure it only happens when Armin is comfortable, and in a position where he feels like an equal to the other two men. It's important to me to address a few potential issues of this threesome too – especially for Armin – before he fully decides he wants it!

And it's tricky to show sexual/romantic tension between Armin and Erwin at this stage, because it feels like a betrayal to Levi if Erwin is too friendly with Armin. I'd love to know your thoughts on this! It becomes less of an issue later on when the threesome is established. This story isn't super serious – but I want it to be somewhat believable, but also entertaining and easy to read. While I don't go into super deep character dives, the emotions are still what I want to focus on.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this story so far XD

Next time: Levi confronts Armin about what he saw the previous night, and makes a surprising proposition… ️