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[ he huffs a soft laugh, then draws away. it's only to take his hand and lead him over to where he can sit, though. he did, when he arrived, set a couple of small wrapped packages on the table, and he sits in one of the other chairs as soon as levi is settled. ]
We're both stubborn, but I'll never back down about this.
We're both stubborn, but I'll never back down about this.
[ he sits as instructed, shooting Erwin a mostly-facetious scowl of disapproval as he notes not one but two gifts. who does this guy think he is, getting him two gifts?
for that matter, how the fuck did he wrap them with one hand? ridiculous. what a ridiculous man.
well, whatever. he sighs, picking up one of his gifts and beginning to unwrap it. ]
for that matter, how the fuck did he wrap them with one hand? ridiculous. what a ridiculous man.
well, whatever. he sighs, picking up one of his gifts and beginning to unwrap it. ]
[ he winces a little in sympathy. he's never done anything like this—the admitting of feelings between him and Erwin was less a confession than both of them just breaking—but to a certain extent he can imagine how it must feel. ]
Sorry. No one else should have been able to see something that personal.
[ himself included. he pauses. ]
But I think telling him in person might be a better idea anyway.
Sorry. No one else should have been able to see something that personal.
[ himself included. he pauses. ]
But I think telling him in person might be a better idea anyway.
[ the answers, in order, are: levi's blood husband, and very carefully.
in any case, when levi unwraps them one will be a pair of fitted gloves similar to the one that levi gave him for his birthday, just as perfectly sized. practical, of course.
the other is a tea blend, unmarked save a list of ingredients. it's not anything levi would have seen if he was out buying tea, but the ingredients are, somehow, only things levi likes. ]
in any case, when levi unwraps them one will be a pair of fitted gloves similar to the one that levi gave him for his birthday, just as perfectly sized. practical, of course.
the other is a tea blend, unmarked save a list of ingredients. it's not anything levi would have seen if he was out buying tea, but the ingredients are, somehow, only things levi likes. ]
[ duly noted.
the gloves make him smile: they look just like the one he got Erwin for his birthday, and he can tell they're the perfect size (read: fucking small) without even having to put them on.
he does put them on, though. why not? now they can be one of those obnoxious matching couples. truly heartwarming.
the second gift leaves him much more puzzled. it's tea, so he's basically guaranteed to love it, but the lack of any identification is bizarre—until he actually reads through what's in the blend.
he squints over at Erwin, still processing what he's looking at. ]
How did you—
[ but he trails off, looking back down at the tea instead. after another brief moment, he sets the tea back down on the table decisively and stands up.
he walks over to where Erwin sits, purposeful but expressionless. standing in front of him, he reaches out with two gloved fingers to tip Erwin's chin upward, and then he leans in until they're virtually nose-to-nose, staring him dead in the eye. ]
Have you been stalking me?
the gloves make him smile: they look just like the one he got Erwin for his birthday, and he can tell they're the perfect size (read: fucking small) without even having to put them on.
he does put them on, though. why not? now they can be one of those obnoxious matching couples. truly heartwarming.
the second gift leaves him much more puzzled. it's tea, so he's basically guaranteed to love it, but the lack of any identification is bizarre—until he actually reads through what's in the blend.
he squints over at Erwin, still processing what he's looking at. ]
How did you—
[ but he trails off, looking back down at the tea instead. after another brief moment, he sets the tea back down on the table decisively and stands up.
he walks over to where Erwin sits, purposeful but expressionless. standing in front of him, he reaches out with two gloved fingers to tip Erwin's chin upward, and then he leans in until they're virtually nose-to-nose, staring him dead in the eye. ]
Have you been stalking me?
[ erwin is very pleased with himself, actually, as levi opens his gifts. as he puts the gloves on. being men in uniform they'd usually matched before, but this is different, and personal, and he likes it.
he likes it a lot.
the tea he's a little more nervous about, and he startles a little at the initial reaction, though by the time levi is so close he tips his head up easily, pliantly, waiting for him to speak, and then.
he huffs out a laugh. ]
Every day. Every moment, you're on my mind.
he likes it a lot.
the tea he's a little more nervous about, and he startles a little at the initial reaction, though by the time levi is so close he tips his head up easily, pliantly, waiting for him to speak, and then.
he huffs out a laugh. ]
Every day. Every moment, you're on my mind.
[ well, shit. his Tough Cool Guy facade falls away immediately—how could he possibly keep it up if Erwin's going to say things like that?
he smiles at him instead, leaning down (down?!) to close what little space remains between them and kiss him softly. ]
Thank you.
he smiles at him instead, leaning down (down?!) to close what little space remains between them and kiss him softly. ]
Thank you.
[ the hell of it is he doesn't need to focus any of it on Levi. Erwin could be well into the negatives on the smoothness scale and it wouldn't change a thing.
incidentally Levi is the one with negative smoothness. most of the time he doesn't even try. he's lucky Erwin doesn't seem to care. ]
Well, I haven't tried it yet, have I?
[ he takes Erwin's hand and straightens, encouraging him to stand with him. ]
Let's find out.
incidentally Levi is the one with negative smoothness. most of the time he doesn't even try. he's lucky Erwin doesn't seem to care. ]
Well, I haven't tried it yet, have I?
[ he takes Erwin's hand and straightens, encouraging him to stand with him. ]
Let's find out.
—A-and I’ll do that, right now, or soon—
[ he shouldn’t get all antsy and forget the most important thing, like, his actual things, and letting the adults know about his whereabouts. with all that already halfway said and done, falco bows his head with gratitude and a flash of green across his face. ]
—And thank you, for understanding and, [ a swallow, and before it got awkward: ] thank you.
[ he shouldn’t get all antsy and forget the most important thing, like, his actual things, and letting the adults know about his whereabouts. with all that already halfway said and done, falco bows his head with gratitude and a flash of green across his face. ]
—And thank you, for understanding and, [ a swallow, and before it got awkward: ] thank you.
[ the other hell of it is that levi is fucking smooth as hell. with erwin. in his opinion.
and that's what matters, isn't it? erwin's opinion.
he huffs a sound at the response, then stands slowly, cracking at the waist with a satisfied grimace, then heads over to the like, tea tools cabinet? you know the one. he's still holding onto levi's hand though, so levi is going to have to get the tea strainer or whatever shit they need with his other hand.
then: ]
I don't know, I'm pretty confident.
[ ok but is he, or is he faking it until he makes it? we'll find out. ]
and that's what matters, isn't it? erwin's opinion.
he huffs a sound at the response, then stands slowly, cracking at the waist with a satisfied grimace, then heads over to the like, tea tools cabinet? you know the one. he's still holding onto levi's hand though, so levi is going to have to get the tea strainer or whatever shit they need with his other hand.
then: ]
I don't know, I'm pretty confident.
[ ok but is he, or is he faking it until he makes it? we'll find out. ]
Oh yeah?
[ it sounds like a challenge, but as usual he's full of shit. in reality, there's no doubt in his mind that this is gonna be the best tea he's ever tasted. then again, it's pretty likely he'd think that even if he didn't just see a list of the ingredients. being from Erwin is enough.
there's an almost robotic way that he prepares the tea because he's done it so many fucking times, and he still catches himself trying to make just one cup pretty often. not this time, though. this time, he's even happier than usual to be handing Erwin a cup of tea.
he's probably never been happier on his birthday than this. ]
Time to see if all the stalking paid off.
[ it sounds like a challenge, but as usual he's full of shit. in reality, there's no doubt in his mind that this is gonna be the best tea he's ever tasted. then again, it's pretty likely he'd think that even if he didn't just see a list of the ingredients. being from Erwin is enough.
there's an almost robotic way that he prepares the tea because he's done it so many fucking times, and he still catches himself trying to make just one cup pretty often. not this time, though. this time, he's even happier than usual to be handing Erwin a cup of tea.
he's probably never been happier on his birthday than this. ]
Time to see if all the stalking paid off.
[ the thing about being here now, about having time together, about having this thing that's just for them, is erwin can just sit and watch levi do things. so he does. he doesn't plan anything, doesn't think about anything else, just watches levi make tea with a warm feeling in his chest.
levi remembering to make two cups of tea without course correcting in the middle is nice too, and he tilts his head while he watches him do this part, perfectly goddamn content. he can feel levi's emotional state too and that just works as a sort of feedback loop.
he takes his tea with a grateful hum even though he needs to let go of his hand to do it, but this is for his honor. it's important. ]
My exhaustive knowledge of you always pays off.
levi remembering to make two cups of tea without course correcting in the middle is nice too, and he tilts his head while he watches him do this part, perfectly goddamn content. he can feel levi's emotional state too and that just works as a sort of feedback loop.
he takes his tea with a grateful hum even though he needs to let go of his hand to do it, but this is for his honor. it's important. ]
My exhaustive knowledge of you always pays off.
See, now you just sound like a crazy person.
[ spoken like someone who doesn't compulsively deep-clean their cabin like every other day, or perhaps someone who has some exhaustive knowledge of his own. whatever.
anyway, once Erwin takes his cup he picks up his own, but for a second he just looks at it. after that, he sniffs it, and takes another second to appreciate the aroma. he likes the smell of tea anyway, but a tea custom-made for him? by Erwin? it's definitely a new candidate for Favorite Smell.
he finally takes a sip, and for a moment, nothing happens. he doesn't react to it in any way. it doesn't last too long, though—he doesn't want to make Erwin nervous that he doesn't like it.
quite the opposite, in fact. even though he doesn't say as much, the verdict should be fairly unambiguous when he instead sets the cup back down and walks right back up to Erwin, reaches up to draw his face down, and kisses him full on the mouth.
it's probably not how Erwin expected to have his first taste of the tea he created, but that's just too fucking bad. ]
[ spoken like someone who doesn't compulsively deep-clean their cabin like every other day, or perhaps someone who has some exhaustive knowledge of his own. whatever.
anyway, once Erwin takes his cup he picks up his own, but for a second he just looks at it. after that, he sniffs it, and takes another second to appreciate the aroma. he likes the smell of tea anyway, but a tea custom-made for him? by Erwin? it's definitely a new candidate for Favorite Smell.
he finally takes a sip, and for a moment, nothing happens. he doesn't react to it in any way. it doesn't last too long, though—he doesn't want to make Erwin nervous that he doesn't like it.
quite the opposite, in fact. even though he doesn't say as much, the verdict should be fairly unambiguous when he instead sets the cup back down and walks right back up to Erwin, reaches up to draw his face down, and kisses him full on the mouth.
it's probably not how Erwin expected to have his first taste of the tea he created, but that's just too fucking bad. ]
Crazy about you.
[ mildly. where did he learn that vernacular? whatever, it sounds cute coming from him.
he does watch levi closely though as he does his various tea-testing actions, from looking to smelling to tasting, and he's juuuust about to get nervous when levi sets the cup down. he's briefly unsure what kind of sign that is but then levi is kissing him and he returns it fervently, setting his own cup down to put his hand at the side of his neck.
he can pick the cup back up later, because he can definitely taste the tea on levi's lips.
when the kiss ends it's actually pretty cute because he's flushed slightly pink from some kind of pleasure-embarrassment, looks like he was a little more nervous than he'd let on. ]
Is that the final verdict?
[ he even sounds pleased. ]
[ mildly. where did he learn that vernacular? whatever, it sounds cute coming from him.
he does watch levi closely though as he does his various tea-testing actions, from looking to smelling to tasting, and he's juuuust about to get nervous when levi sets the cup down. he's briefly unsure what kind of sign that is but then levi is kissing him and he returns it fervently, setting his own cup down to put his hand at the side of his neck.
he can pick the cup back up later, because he can definitely taste the tea on levi's lips.
when the kiss ends it's actually pretty cute because he's flushed slightly pink from some kind of pleasure-embarrassment, looks like he was a little more nervous than he'd let on. ]
Is that the final verdict?
[ he even sounds pleased. ]
[ he can't help but smile a little at Erwin's flush—the fact that he can evoke such a reaction is still weird to him, but in a way it also makes him feel powerful.
humanity's strongest nothing, who cares about that? this is the real shit. ]
It's perfect.
[ he leans up to kiss him one more time, and then hands him his cup again. ]
I'll have to thank you properly later.
[ give his brain a second to catch up with what his mouth just said. when it does, suddenly he looks mortified—he can't just talk like that.
...right? ]
humanity's strongest nothing, who cares about that? this is the real shit. ]
It's perfect.
[ he leans up to kiss him one more time, and then hands him his cup again. ]
I'll have to thank you properly later.
[ give his brain a second to catch up with what his mouth just said. when it does, suddenly he looks mortified—he can't just talk like that.
...right? ]
[ yeah, he's flushed. move on, dude. he hums into the second kiss, then noses against his temple as he takes the cup, then straightens to take his first actual sip.
audibly chokes when levi speaks again.
has to cough a couple times before he regains his composure but he's way more flushed now, genuinely so, just absolutely obliterated by the tiniest flirt because for as well as he knows levi, he was not expecting that in the least. ]
I. [ oh my god is he at a loss for words. ] I'd certainly welcome it, you know that.
[ does he? well, now erwin's said it. ]
audibly chokes when levi speaks again.
has to cough a couple times before he regains his composure but he's way more flushed now, genuinely so, just absolutely obliterated by the tiniest flirt because for as well as he knows levi, he was not expecting that in the least. ]
I. [ oh my god is he at a loss for words. ] I'd certainly welcome it, you know that.
[ does he? well, now erwin's said it. ]
[ oh god. oh god why did he just say that? he's trying to hide his face by going back to drinking his (perfect) tea, but he's probably even redder than Erwin is.
fuck. ]
I—
[ fuuuck. should he apologize? it's not like he didn't mean it. he just didn't mean to blurt it out like that.
...on the other hand, getting that reaction out of Erwin feels kind of awesome. maybe not the nearly-choking part, but his response?
hmm. ]
—I think that can be arranged.
[ he meant to say it this time. ]
fuck. ]
I—
[ fuuuck. should he apologize? it's not like he didn't mean it. he just didn't mean to blurt it out like that.
...on the other hand, getting that reaction out of Erwin feels kind of awesome. maybe not the nearly-choking part, but his response?
hmm. ]
—I think that can be arranged.
[ he meant to say it this time. ]
[ it's been a weird little while: dry skin is one thing, but the extent of this is honestly pretty ridiculous. of course he does his best to keep up with it, especially after he steps out of the shower one night and a sheet of skin had peeled right off his hip.
okay, okay, lotion it is.
it steadily keeps getting worse no matter what he does to the point where he honestly feels guilty for sleeping in the same bed as levi simply because they keep having to change the sheets as his skin sloughs off. so yeah, not the greatest month anyone's ever had.
that said, he wakes up one morning and his skin feels normal? fresher, even, there's no dryness, no peeling, no nothing, and he instinctively sits up on his elbows to look around the room when—
—wait, elbows? plural?
he knows shit gets weird here, he knows magic abounds and so do transformations, but nothing like this. nothing like giving him his arm back. so he can't even say anything for a moment, just stares down at both hands with his brow furrowed. he looks over at the floor by the bed and he can't even be disturbed by the near-perfect replica of him in dried up skin form laying there, because he's too flabbergasted to really feel that kind of distress right now.
eventually, he croaks out: ]
Levi. Levi, wake up.
okay, okay, lotion it is.
it steadily keeps getting worse no matter what he does to the point where he honestly feels guilty for sleeping in the same bed as levi simply because they keep having to change the sheets as his skin sloughs off. so yeah, not the greatest month anyone's ever had.
that said, he wakes up one morning and his skin feels normal? fresher, even, there's no dryness, no peeling, no nothing, and he instinctively sits up on his elbows to look around the room when—
—wait, elbows? plural?
he knows shit gets weird here, he knows magic abounds and so do transformations, but nothing like this. nothing like giving him his arm back. so he can't even say anything for a moment, just stares down at both hands with his brow furrowed. he looks over at the floor by the bed and he can't even be disturbed by the near-perfect replica of him in dried up skin form laying there, because he's too flabbergasted to really feel that kind of distress right now.
eventually, he croaks out: ]
Levi. Levi, wake up.
[ please understand that if this was anyone else in the entire universe shedding skin all over his shit, he would be intensely grossed out. but it's not anyone else—it's Erwin, which means not only is he not grossed out at all, he's also quite distressed. they've been spared from any weird afflictions so far in this place, but it seems like that luck might have finally dried up. pun not intended. at all.
he doesn't mind changing the sheets; he'd much rather change the sheets constantly than not have Erwin next to him. plus he probably already changes the sheets a ridiculous amount because he's fucking weird. it's fine.
that said, while he has been sleeping a million times better next to Erwin, he hasn't slept well since this particular ailment cropped up. he's just worried.
he's always kind of worried one morning he'll wake up and Erwin will be dead again.
he does eventually sleep, but he's a light sleeper when he does sleep, so it's not difficult to wake him up, especially if you're Erwin. almost immediately his eyes are open and he's propped himself up to see what's going on. ]
Wh—
[ it takes him a moment to really wake up and figure it out, but it's clear enough from the way Erwin is staring at his hands.
hands. plural.
he just stares at them too, eyes wide with disbelief, at a loss for words. ]
—What the fuck?
[ okay, almost at a loss for words. ]
he doesn't mind changing the sheets; he'd much rather change the sheets constantly than not have Erwin next to him. plus he probably already changes the sheets a ridiculous amount because he's fucking weird. it's fine.
that said, while he has been sleeping a million times better next to Erwin, he hasn't slept well since this particular ailment cropped up. he's just worried.
he's always kind of worried one morning he'll wake up and Erwin will be dead again.
he does eventually sleep, but he's a light sleeper when he does sleep, so it's not difficult to wake him up, especially if you're Erwin. almost immediately his eyes are open and he's propped himself up to see what's going on. ]
Wh—
[ it takes him a moment to really wake up and figure it out, but it's clear enough from the way Erwin is staring at his hands.
hands. plural.
he just stares at them too, eyes wide with disbelief, at a loss for words. ]
—What the fuck?
[ okay, almost at a loss for words. ]
[ even though levi doesn't seem to mind, erwin still feels bad, okay? he knows how levi feels about Things Like That so it's kind of given him a temporary complex.
it's completely forgotten in light of what's going on right now though. the way levi echoes his own sentiments even if erwin isn't swearing even in his own brain.
speaking of his brain, it's kind of screaming now that it's catching up and levi can probably feel it. it's not panic, but it's something he doesn't quite understand, and his breath sounds strange a moment before he can make himself say anything. ]
I don't know.
[ erwin very rarely doesn't know things, but it's been happening more and more often lately. he stares at his hands a moment longer, then stretches out his right arm. wiggles the fingers. turns in bed. uses that hand to touch levi's face.
then, on a breath, reverent: ]
I can feel it.
it's completely forgotten in light of what's going on right now though. the way levi echoes his own sentiments even if erwin isn't swearing even in his own brain.
speaking of his brain, it's kind of screaming now that it's catching up and levi can probably feel it. it's not panic, but it's something he doesn't quite understand, and his breath sounds strange a moment before he can make himself say anything. ]
I don't know.
[ erwin very rarely doesn't know things, but it's been happening more and more often lately. he stares at his hands a moment longer, then stretches out his right arm. wiggles the fingers. turns in bed. uses that hand to touch levi's face.
then, on a breath, reverent: ]
I can feel it.
[ that flush is not going away. it looks really cute on him actually, makes him look a little younger, a little less worn. not that levi cares that he looks a little worn.
he looks at levi a moment after he speaks again, still visibly flustered but not upset in literally any way.
he reaches out to gently take levi's teacup and set it down, then plants his hand on the counter to hem him in a little and lean in for another kiss. it's not demanding, but it is lingering, and he huffs a breath against his mouth. ]
You've finally won, I'm at a loss for words.
[ he sounds fond, pleased. ]
he looks at levi a moment after he speaks again, still visibly flustered but not upset in literally any way.
he reaches out to gently take levi's teacup and set it down, then plants his hand on the counter to hem him in a little and lean in for another kiss. it's not demanding, but it is lingering, and he huffs a breath against his mouth. ]
You've finally won, I'm at a loss for words.
[ he sounds fond, pleased. ]
[ if Erwin doesn't know, probably nobody else knows either. that's pretty much how he used to live his life. once Erwin was gone, then...
well. no one would ever replace him, no matter what he might have insisted in life. it doesn't matter.
so Levi is not even trying to work it out in his head—partially for that reason, and also because then Erwin touches his face, with his right hand, and it feels like a fucking hand. it's warm and clean and attached to the rest of him.
holy shit.
he reaches up to cover Erwin's new hand with his own, and it feels like a hand from there, too. he's incredibly confused but it doesn't matter: he smiles, and presses Erwin's hand closer against his own face. ]
Huh. No pain or anything?
[ he'd feel it if there was, but he asks anyway. just to be sure. it just seems too good to be true. ]
well. no one would ever replace him, no matter what he might have insisted in life. it doesn't matter.
so Levi is not even trying to work it out in his head—partially for that reason, and also because then Erwin touches his face, with his right hand, and it feels like a fucking hand. it's warm and clean and attached to the rest of him.
holy shit.
he reaches up to cover Erwin's new hand with his own, and it feels like a hand from there, too. he's incredibly confused but it doesn't matter: he smiles, and presses Erwin's hand closer against his own face. ]
Huh. No pain or anything?
[ he'd feel it if there was, but he asks anyway. just to be sure. it just seems too good to be true. ]
[ it does look cute on him. Levi doesn't get to see it very often, but other people never get to see it at all, so he counts himself lucky.
in many, many ways.
but Erwin's not the only one looking flushed—he can't hide it as easily with his teacup taken away, and then Erwin kisses him so that just makes it worse. ("worse", like he isn't already having the best birthday he's ever had.)
of course, he's still more than happy to return the kiss, and when Erwin admits defeat he smiles, a little smug even though he didn't actually do it on purpose, lifting a hand to touch Erwin's (cute, flushed) face. ]
So all I have to do is say something vaguely suggestive and you're done for? Good to know.
[ again, said like any of this was intentional. he'll never be that cool. ]
in many, many ways.
but Erwin's not the only one looking flushed—he can't hide it as easily with his teacup taken away, and then Erwin kisses him so that just makes it worse. ("worse", like he isn't already having the best birthday he's ever had.)
of course, he's still more than happy to return the kiss, and when Erwin admits defeat he smiles, a little smug even though he didn't actually do it on purpose, lifting a hand to touch Erwin's (cute, flushed) face. ]
So all I have to do is say something vaguely suggestive and you're done for? Good to know.
[ again, said like any of this was intentional. he'll never be that cool. ]
[ and that is what it is. just a hand. but it's so strange and astounding and erwin is honestly really overwhelmed by it: he's only ever regretted not being able to hold levi properly and now he can. a whole new world of being to wrap both arms around him is here, and he takes another slightly rough breath before he answers levi's question. ]
No. No pain at all.
[ then they're a goddamn tangle on the bed because erwin wraps both arms around levi and drops them back onto the mattress, not even doing anything like kissing him frantically or anything because he's too busy burrowing in against him and gripping the back of his shirt with two entire fully working hands. ]
No. No pain at all.
[ then they're a goddamn tangle on the bed because erwin wraps both arms around levi and drops them back onto the mattress, not even doing anything like kissing him frantically or anything because he's too busy burrowing in against him and gripping the back of his shirt with two entire fully working hands. ]
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