[ his birthday has been a non-event for almost his entire life.
his mother tried to make it special, of course, even though they had nothing. after she was gone, though, that was it. what's the point of celebrating your birthday by yourself—and in such a filthy, joyless place no less? eventually he had a couple of friends who managed to find out when it was, and then they were gone, too.
after that, there was Erwin, who probably managed to suss out when it was before Levi mellowed out enough to admit it himself. maybe it annoyed him a little at first, when Erwin would acknowledge his birthday or even give him a small gift; he softened to it every year, though, and to Erwin. and when Erwin was gone, he was far too broken to give a shit about his own birthday.
he'd celebrate Erwin's birthday—for some definition of 'celebrate'—alone, every October. his own would come and go two months later. it didn't matter.
having Erwin inexplicably back means being able to celebrate things like birthdays again, though it almost seems silly when every day already feels like a gift. he doesn't understand what the tree is for, but he knows Erwin has learned all kinds of things since they've been here.
who cares, honestly? it's beautiful. he loves it, just like he loves everything else Erwin does.
when Erwin pulls a plant out of his shirt pocket out of nowhere and holds it above both their heads, he doesn't understand that, either. he doesn't have much of a chance to ask, though, because suddenly Erwin is kissing him; it catches him by surprise, but this kind of thing is always a good surprise. he slips his arms around Erwin's waist while he gladly returns the kiss, and once Erwin begins to explain himself he smiles, glancing briefly back up at the mystery plant. ]
I see. You know you can do that whenever you want, though, right? You don't even need a stick.
no subject
his mother tried to make it special, of course, even though they had nothing. after she was gone, though, that was it. what's the point of celebrating your birthday by yourself—and in such a filthy, joyless place no less? eventually he had a couple of friends who managed to find out when it was, and then they were gone, too.
after that, there was Erwin, who probably managed to suss out when it was before Levi mellowed out enough to admit it himself. maybe it annoyed him a little at first, when Erwin would acknowledge his birthday or even give him a small gift; he softened to it every year, though, and to Erwin. and when Erwin was gone, he was far too broken to give a shit about his own birthday.
he'd celebrate Erwin's birthday—for some definition of 'celebrate'—alone, every October. his own would come and go two months later. it didn't matter.
having Erwin inexplicably back means being able to celebrate things like birthdays again, though it almost seems silly when every day already feels like a gift. he doesn't understand what the tree is for, but he knows Erwin has learned all kinds of things since they've been here.
who cares, honestly? it's beautiful. he loves it, just like he loves everything else Erwin does.
when Erwin pulls a plant out of his shirt pocket out of nowhere and holds it above both their heads, he doesn't understand that, either. he doesn't have much of a chance to ask, though, because suddenly Erwin is kissing him; it catches him by surprise, but this kind of thing is always a good surprise. he slips his arms around Erwin's waist while he gladly returns the kiss, and once Erwin begins to explain himself he smiles, glancing briefly back up at the mystery plant. ]
I see. You know you can do that whenever you want, though, right? You don't even need a stick.