Little space. Levi X Erwin. Levi is in little space. This is SFW where Erwin takes on a parental or guardian role while Levi is in little space.
Reposted from AO3
It happened again. Why does this have to happen? The relentless cycle of loss, pain, and risk continued to haunt Levi's every waking moment. Every day brought new challenges and heartbreaking losses. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of despair.
Levi sat huddled in the corner of his room, surrounded by blankets and pillows that formed a makeshift fort. His arms were wrapped tightly around his knees, his face sheltered beneath them as he momentarily shut out the chaos and found a sliver of peace.
The familiar, rhythmic sounds of footsteps resonated through the quiet house. Levi peaked his head out of the fort entrance. Only one man would have access to him at a time like this.
His eyes lit up when he saw Erwin approaching, drawn to the man's calm demeanor and gentle voice. "Erwin!" Levi exclaimed, abandoning his fort in favor of running up to and hugging Erwin's waist, blushing softly as he sought comfort in his embrace. He looked up at Erwin expectantly, hoping for a surprise treat.
"Did you bring me something?" He asked with a grin as he noticed something hidden behind Erwin's back. He couldn't contain his excitement as he reached for it eagerly but Erwin playfully kept it just out of reach. Levi giggled and reached up with grabby hands. "Gimme, gimme, gimme!" He demanded, bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation. "I want."
It was a rare and unexpected sight, for a man as cold and callous as Levi to show such vulnerability. He was known for his hardened exterior and stern demeanor, a man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Yet, here he was with Erwin, relaxed and at ease, playful even.
Erwin smiled. "Of course I brought you something, little one." He teased, dangling the item in front of Levi only to pull it away and prolong the anticipation when Levi reached for it. A playful glint danced in Erwin's eyes as he rattled the box back and forth. "Can you guess what it is before I reveal it?"
"Heeey!" Levi whined, shooting Erwin a soft scowl and stomping his foot in exaggerated frustration when Erwin continued to withhold the gift. His lips curved into a pout.
"Miiiiinnnnneeee!" He exclaimed, making another attempt to grab the box again before finally giving up. Levi huffed, shooting Erwin an angry glare. "You big meanie!"
Erwin smirked at Levi's little tantrum. "Tsk tsk, it wouldn't be as exciting if I just handed it over. Come on, guess… I'll give you a hint: it's your favorite and it's really delicious~"
Levi crossed his arms over his chest, a scowl etched onto his face as he narrowed his eyes. He had no patience for these games and wanted his gift immediately. "Hmph!" He scoffed, but the small box in front of him was too intriguing to ignore. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine, it beckoned to him.
"My favorite... Hmmm..." Levi pondered aloud. Everything Erwin brought him was his favorite, simply because everything Erwin brought was always so delicious. Each time, Levi would declare the new treat as his favorite.
"Is it sweets?" He asked confidently, sure that he would finally have his gift this time.
Erwin shook his head, holding the box just out of Levi's reach. "Close but not exact. Think back and think hard… What's the one thing you can never get enough of?" Erwin teased, dangling the box tantalizingly close once more.
Levi made a grab for the box as soon as Erwin brought it closer, but it was pulled away again. It seemed he wouldn't get his gift until he guessed correctly.
Levi stuck his tongue out, blowing a raspberry Erwin's way. "Boooo!" He retorted, fixated on the box as he ran through all the possible treats he could love. There were only a few choices but still, Levi liked them all. Levi tapped his chin in thought.
His eyes widened at the sudden realization. The box was long and thin. It could only be one thing. "It's a sweets bar, isn't it?" He inquired. Levi adored those little squares of dried fruit.
With a nod, Erwin confirmed Levi's guess. "Correct. I thought I would bring one this time since you seem to love them so much." He lowered the box so that Levi could finally claim his reward. "Go ahead and unwrap it."
Levi's face lit up with delight as he tore through the wrapping paper. He bit into the bar as a sensational flavor of honey burst in his mouth. He gasped, his eyes widening. This must be a new flavor, it was unlike any he had before.
"Hmph. I'm not even gonna share with you!" He exclaimed with a honey smeared pout, still annoyed at Erwin's teasing.
"I don't want any of your sweets, as long as you get to enjoy them, that's all that matters." Erwin reached out and stroked Levi's hair gently as he watched him devour the sweets bar with such delight. "What do you think of it? Is it good?" He asked.
"Mmm… Mmhm… It's delicious!" Levi replied, making happy little noises as he took bite after bite until the bar was gone. "It's so gwood…" He affirmed, his mouth full, his face messier than before.
Erwin reached into his coat and pulled out a cloth, using it to wipe the honey off of Levi's face. "Now now, let's not make too much of a mess."
Levi's expression softened at the kind gesture, and he grabbed hold of Erwin's hand, tugging him towards the makeshift fort. "Come on, hurry!" He urged excitedly.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming." Erwin chuckled as he followed Levi towards the little tent. The gesture was sweet, the fort was a safe space and a refuge for the two of them.
Levi ducked down and crawled into the fort with ease, while Erwin had to carefully navigate his larger frame to avoid tearing it down. He leaned against the wall, his legs sticking out of the entryway.
"Hmm… Is this where all the trash ends up?" Erwin asked, looking around and noticing the various wrappers strewn about.
"N… Noooo…" Levi lied and blushed as he quickly tried to hide the old wrappers behind the pillows and blankets he had inside. This fort, a symbol of his vulnerable headspace, was often neglected when he was not in it. He still struggled with these parts of himself and the sense of shame that came with it.
Levi reached for his stuffed cat, handmade with love from cotton and wool, holding it close to himself. It was brown, with button eyes and yarn sewn in for the facial structure. "Can I tell you something?" He asked hesitantly, stroking between the small ears of the cat. His vulnerable eyes peeked over its head at Erwin.
Erwin shifted and made himself comfortable against the wall, giving Levi his full attention. "Of course, you can tell me anything. What is it?" he replied gently.
Furrowing his brows, Levi hugged the cat closer to his chest, his toes curling and fidgeting around one another. "It was sooooo scary the other day… Outside…" Levi muttered, quietly now. Ewrin would understand that Levi was talking about the titans and the constant danger that came with being a scout.
Erwin listened carefully as Levi recounted the details in his very own way. Sympathy shone in Erwin's eyes as he understood the fear and trauma that Levi has experienced, so deep rooted and ingrained that it was there, even now.
"You must've been very frightened." Erwin said softly.
Levi averted his gaze, the anxiety and sadness was written all over his face. He couldn't shake the constant nagging of dread. "I was… very scared," he admitted in a hushed whisper while he clutched the little cat, nuzzling into it.
At that moment, Levi looked to Erwin for comfort. Feeling overwhelmed, he sought solace in the strong arms of his commander, longing for that sense of security and peace that only Erwin could provide in a world of instability.
Erwin sighed as he realized just how much Levi was struggling. He opens his arms, beckoning Levi to come claim the physical assurance he desperately needed. He enveloped Levi in a protected embrace and stroked his back in a soothing manner as his free hand caressed Levi's head tenderly.
"It's okay, little one. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. You're safe and I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," Erwin assured him. So long as he was around, neither man nor beast could touch him.
Curling up in Erwin's lap, Levi rested his head on Erwin's chest and found comfort in the steady beat of his heart. "I don't like it outside...I like it here...Wanna stay here..." he mumbled as Erwin's arms held him tight.
Erwin nodded silently, his understanding and compassion reflecting in the gentle strokes of his fingers through Levi's hair. The touch was soothing, a comforting presence that promised safety and protection. "We can stay here as long as you want, I won't let anything hurt you."
A small smile tugged at Levi's lips as he basked in the warmth of Erwin's reassurance. "Because you're so big and strong, right?" he asked with adoration shining in his eyes.
For Erwin, this moment was just as therapeutic as it was for Levi. It gave him a chance to escape the constant thoughts of death and war, to be human and vulnerable alongside Levi.
"Yes, I'm big and strong." Erwin replied simply, averting his gaze from Levi. He was strong but he wasn't exempt from the horrors of their world. He pushed those thoughts away, knowing that now was not the time for such things. His job was to comfort and care for Levi.
Assured by Erwin's response, Levi continued to gush about Erwin's many talents. "Yeah… and you're so smart! You always know what to bring me and, and, and…" He looked away, pouting once again. "You always win when we play games, especially chess…" He grumbled.
Erwin just smiled at the little grumble and Levi's entitlement to winning. "Well, I've been playing chess for a long time. Maybe some day when you're older, you'll get better and you'll finally beat me."
"I don't wanna wait until I'm older… I wanna win now." Levi demanded, scowling at the little cat in his hands. He was very impatient, his concept of time warped and "older" seemed so far away right now.
They were silent for a moment after, until Levi suddenly looked up at Erwin with mischievous intent. He shoved the stuffed toy cat into Erwin's face, giggling as the makeshift whiskers tickled him and made his nose twitch.
"Kitty likes you… He wants to be strong like you someday."
Erwin raised an eyebrow at Levi's endearing antics. "Really…? Kitty, huh?" He asked with a smirk, aware that Levi was embodying the personality of the toy as he spoke on its behalf. Levi's admiration for him in these moments were heartwarming.
Erwin leaned in close. "Wanna hear a secret?"
"A secret?" Levi inquired, his eyes lighting up. He loved secrets. "Tell me, tell me, tell me!" He exclaimed excitedly. "I won't tell anyone else, I promise."
"I think kitty is already strong," Erwin whispered with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Perhaps, even stronger than me."
Levi's eyes widened, his mouth opening in a quiet "O" as Erwin's words set in. He reached up, taking Erwin's face into his hands. "I am pretty strong, aren't I?" He asked, his facade crumbling under Erwin's simple compliment. "I always win when we spar, I guess I am stronger than the strongest grown up I know!" He exclaimed with another soft giggle.
Erwin chuckled at Levi's sudden burst of confidence, ruffling his hair affectionately. "You certainly are the strongest little one I know," he said with a smile. "What will you do, when you're older and even stronger than you are now?"
"Hmm… Me? Oh! I know! I'll change the world… Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do." He declared. "Then… We won't have to worry about the monsters."
Erwin's heart swelled with affection for the young boy in his arms, marveling at his innocence and determination. "That's quite lofty and ambitious…" Erwin muttered. "And impossible it seems…" But he couldn't bring himself to voice those doubts out loud to Levi. Instead, he gave him a playful nudge and smiled warmly.
"You can do it."
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