Dinner and quiet time ~
The hours passed and as evening approached, the sun had long since set. They spent the afternoon playing games, sticking close to each other as Levi was comforted in numerous ways.
Levi tugged on Erwin's pants like a small child, looking up at him with anticipation in his bright eyes.
"I'm hungry," he announced, his stomach growling loudly. After spending the day having fun with Levi's imaginative ideas and keeping his childlike mindset entertained, Erwin had successfully kept any stressful or traumatic thoughts at bay.
Erwin smiled and knelt down to his level, giving him an affectionate head rub. "Of course, little one," he said. "What would you like?"
"Umm… Umm…" After hesitating for a moment, Levi finally answered, "Congee." It was one of his favorite comfort foods, especially when he was feeling vulnerable like this. He loved how it warmed him up from the inside out, like a comforting hug or a warm blanket on a cold night.
But more than that, it was Erwin who would be making it and it was Erwin who made the best congee in Levi's opinion.
"Congee, huh?" Erwin asked curiously. Levi's choice always intrigued him due to its simple nature. "I can make that for you. Would you like any additions or just plain this time?" he asked as he leaned against the counter, waiting for Levi to decide.
"Yes!" Levi exclaimed happily, his tummy rumbling even louder at the thought of Erwin's delicious congee. "Extra veggies!" he replied enthusiastically. He loved his porridge packed with carrots, potatoes and other hearty ingredients.
"I can't wait, I'm soooo hungry!" Levi groaned, urging Erwin to start preparing their meal immediately.
Erwin chuckled and shook his head at Levi's impatience. "I'll get dinner ready, little one," he promised. "Let me just make sure we have everything we need first," he said, and began gathering the necessary ingredients.
"Mmm… Hurry! I'm starving!" Levi pleaded with impatience, watching as Erwin rummaged through his pantry for ingredients.
Levi observed closely as Erwin returned with the necessary items and set them on the counter. Curiously, he stepped over to Erwin's side and watched as he washed and prepared the vegetables.
"You really can't wait for the congee, huh?" Erwin jokes, taking the comment lightly. "I'll make it as fast as I can, okay? It won't take long, I promise." He was used to taking care of Levi in these tender moments and had learned to handle his demands and impatience.
"Why don't you sit at the table while you wait?" Erwin suggested as he began to chop the veggies into bite-sized pieces.
"No I can't," Levi answered seriously when asked about his starvation. He pouted and puffed out his cheeks when Erwin reassured him that it wouldn't be long. He didn't want to wait. "Okay, but please hurry," Levi repeated as he moved to take a seat at the table.
Erwin smiled compassionately at how stubborn Levi could be, especially when it came to food. "I said I would hurry," he reminded him. Levi was lucky to have someone who fulfilled his every demand with kindness, and care. Erwin never judged.
Levi groaned and glanced over at Erwin impatiently. He rested his head on the table and made little noises as his stomach growled again. Erwin's words did little to soothe him; all he wanted was to eat right now.
But finally, the rice and vegetables were combined in a pot with water and broth stock.
Erwin placed a lid over the pot and waited for it to come to a boil. "Just a little more patience," he reminded Levi, who kept glancing over at the pot as his stomach continued to growl. Erwin stirred the congee every now and then as he monitored the time carefully.
Eventually, the savory aroma of vegetables and another mysterious, yet familiar ingredient filled the room.
Levi waited and waited and waited some more. It felt like an eternity for the congee to finish boiling. But when he saw Erwin take out bowls and utensils, he perked up.
"Yay, it's ready!" He exclaimed as Erwin filled both bowls and brought them over to the table. Levi grabbed the spoon he was given but just before digging in, he noticed chunks of brown in the dish. His eyes widened.
"Is that...meat? Did you put meat in it?" He asked incredulously, aware that meat was scarce even now. "I thought meat was rationed out..."
"I decided to make it special, just for you today," Erwin explained. It wasn't much, just some leftover meat that he had saved and even that, Levi had gotten the majority of it. "Don't worry about it, just eat."
Levi nodded and eagerly dug into his bowl of congee, ensuring each spoonful had a bit of veggies and meat. He blew on it to cool it down before taking a big bite. The warmth and flavor was like an explosion. "Mmmm!" he couldn't help but make a sound of contentment.. "It's sooooo yummy."
Erwin smiled, happy to see that Levi enjoyed the meal. He nodded and focused on his own bowl.
They ate in silence, the only sounds being Levi's satisfied "mmmm's" as he devoured every last bite of congee. Now and then, he would exclaim how delicious it was. The creamy texture and warmth filled him up.
"All done!" Levi announced after finishing his portion at lightning speed. He looked messy with food smudged around his mouth from such enthusiastic eating.
Erwin watched in awe as Levi finished his meal quickly and messily. "Good job," he praised with a chuckle. "Now, can you clean your face? You made quite a mess, yet again."
"Hmmm?" Levi reached for a napkin but struggled to clean himself properly.
"Here, let me," Erwin said kindly, motioning for Levi to come closer. He used the napkin to gently wipe away the stray bits of food from the corners of Levi's mouth and chin. "There… All clean now."
"But..." Levi was about to protest, but then he remembered how carefully Erwin had cleaned his face. He made a frustrated noise, blushing in embarrassment. "I could have done it myself..." he grumbled as Erwin set the napkin aside.
Levi yawned, now feeling both full and tired after his day of playing and eating. He was ready for his bath and bed.
"You could have, but you didn't," Erwin retorted with a smirk. It was amusing how Levi couldn't even clean his own face properly yet had the audacity to argue. "It's easier for me to do it for you. I don't mind."
As Levi started showing signs of tiredness, Erwin knew it was time to get him ready for bed. "You're tired, little one. Let's go start your bath."
Levi crossed his arms and pouted, feeling a bit cranky due to his exhaustion. "But I was going to do it," he grumbled, glaring at Erwin.
"Hmph, no." Levi protested with a grumble, despite the fatigue clearly written all over his face. His eyes were drooping and dark circles had formed under them. "I'm not tired," he insisted, but his yawn was more exaggerated than the last.
"Oh, you're not tired?" Erwin replied wryly, knowing better. He stood up and collected the bowls, taking them to the sink to be washed later.
Turning back to Levi, he knew it was time for him to clean up and go to bed. "How about I tell you a story after you're cleaned up? Do we have a deal?" he offered.
Levi's sleep-deprived eyes followed Erwin as he gathered the dishes and put them away. "Nooo..." he denied, rubbing his eyes. He looked like he could fall asleep any minute now, but the mention of a story seemed to give him renewed strength. He grabbed onto Erwin's hand and tried to pull him towards the bathroom. "Come on, let's go! Hurry!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Erwin reassured as he followed Levi at a slow pace so as not to trip him up.
Once they reached the bathroom, Erwin began preparing a warm bath for Levi while retrieving a washcloth and towel for him as Levi watched.
When the bath was ready, Erwin turned off the water, looking over his shoulder at Levi. "Do you need help getting undressed?" he asked Levi.
"Nope. I'm a big boy, I can do it myself!" Levi declared proudly as he slowly peeled off his shirt and pants, both of which were untucked and loose-fitting. He had been barefoot all day.
"That's right, you are a big boy and can do lots of things by yourself," Erwin praised with a hint of pride. He didn't want to take away Levi's independence, especially in these vulnerable moments. "I'll be right outside the door, yell for me if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay," Levi answered as Erwin stepped out of the bathroom. Levi discarded his clothes in a messy pile and climbed into the bath with the washcloth.
With Erwin occupied with something else, Levi took his time playing in the bath. He washed his hair and body until the water started to get cold. His bath was over long before Erwin would come back but he did eventually come back to check on Levi.
Erwin stood in the doorway, shifting from concern to amusement at the sight of Levi blowing bubbles and making shapes with the leftover foam. "Levi... I think you've been in here long enough," he said warmly.
Levi looked up at him when he entered the bathroom, foam covering various parts of his body and hair. He frowned. "I don't want to get out yet," he protested, enjoying his playtime too much.
But Erwin knew better.
Levi narrowed his eyes and let out a soft whine as he sunk down, trying to make himself smaller as Erwin approached with a towel.
Erwin let out a resigned sigh, knowing that Levi's stubbornness was not easy to break. He could tell by the temperature of the bathwater and the way Levi's fingers had wrinkled that it was time to get out. Carefully, he lifted Levi out of the tub as he tried to squirm and escape Erwin's grasp.
"No more playing in the bath, it's time for bed," Erwin said firmly.
"Noooo!" Levi exclaimed, pouting with crossed arms. As Erwin dried his hair and wiped away the excess water from his face, neck, and chest, Levi continued to frown. "I wanted to play more!"
Even as Levi pouted and resisted, Erwin held onto him firmly. With one arm safely tucked under his legs and the other wrapped around his upper body, there was no way for Levi to escape. He let out a small sigh as he rested his head on Erwin's chest, being carried towards his room.
Levi was placed on the bed with care but his fussiness did not subside. Levi remained rigid, refusing to budge as Erwin dried him off gently and began dressing him in the clothes he had prepared earlier.
"Please be good, little one, it's too late to be so stubborn right now." Erwin softly urged him, hoping he would be more cooperative at such an hour.
Despite Levi's protests, he was dressed and ready for bed with a child-like bitterness that quickly dissipated. As Erwin tucked him in and made sure he was warm and snug, Levi surrendered to the circumstances. It was hard to stay angry when he was so comfortable and cozy.
Erwin sat on the edge of the bed, next to Levi as he began his story. A torch was already lit, casting a soft glow in the room.
As Erwin spoke, his voice was soothing and captivating, drawing Levi in. Some parts of the tale were exaggerated for effect, while others hit too close to home for both of them.
"And then what happened?" Levi would occasionally interrupt. "No way, you're definitely exaggerating!" He would exclaim during the intense and dramatic parts. Erwin carefully left out any explicit or sensitive details that might be too harsh for a child's ears.
As the night went on, Levi's eyelids became heavy and he struggled to stay awake, jolting awake each time he was about to drift off.
Erwin paused the story whenever Levi began to nod off, waiting for him to refocus before continuing. "Are you falling asleep on me, little one?" He asked with a soft chuckle.
"Mmnngh... Hmmm...?" Levi's sleep-slurred words showed his grogginess as he forced his eyes open again and looked up at Erwin through halfway-closed lids. "No... I'm still awake... Keep going..." He mumbled, fighting against the overwhelming urge to sleep.
"Well you can't be awake and nodding off at the same time." Erwin teased lightly as he reached over to brush a stray hair away from Levi's face. "Your eyes are barely open as it is… You've had such a long day, you should rest now."
Levi struggled to keep his eyes open, barely registering when Erwin brushed the hair away. "Will we play again tomorrow?" He asked, unable to meet Erwin's gaze as his eyes drooped shut.
Erwin knew that tomorrow might not come for them as these episodes were few and far between but he played along, for Levi's sake.
"Of course we will, little one. We will play together again tomorrow in the afternoon, just like today, all day." Erwin lied, knowing the next day would bring new responsibilities and challenges.
"I promise… Now relax and go to sleep." Erwin encouraged gently.
Levi trusted Erwin completely and nodded at his reassurance. But as soon as Erwin stood up and the mattress shifted beneath him, Levi reached out for his hand as he went to put out the torch.
"Can you sleep here tonight…?" He asked. "I don't want to be alone, I'm scared of the dark…"
Erwin paused. His heart was in his throat. It broke his heart to see him like this, vulnerable and afraid. The world was an unkind place and it promised nothing.
Erwin sighed, reminded once again of the cruel reality they would have to return to outside of this safe haven, outside of this house where they found comfort in each other's company.
He cleared his throat and looked over at Levi, nodding in agreement. "Tonight, I'll sleep with you," he promised. It was the least he could do as he composed his emotions and defused the torch.
As they settled into the bed, darkness surrounded them. Erwin's arm wrapped loosely around Levi's waist, leaving enough space between them to maintain a sense of innocence while allowing Levi to feel secure in his arms.
Calm, content and wrapped up in a shield of protection, Levi relaxed beside him as Erwin had to bear the burden of them both.
"You didn't check for monsters," Levi whispered, his voice barely audible.
Erwin chuckled softly as he understood what Levi meant. "No, I didn't," he admitted. "Don't worry, you're safe… I'm here."