Mismatch [Levi x Reader x Erwin] Part Eight

    Days passed. Erwin had requested you to come over daily and before long, everyone recognized you as the commander's--albeit unofficial--assistant. Well, nearly everyone. Levi was as seething as ever.

    You, on the other hand, actually liked working with Erwin. You found it a pleasant change; it was quieter and more methodical than working with Hanji and less stressful and strenuous than being with Levi. It was actually nice to work sitting down. Moreover, Erwin was far better company than Levi, and you dared admit, Hanji.

    You frowned. It was far better like this, anyway; Levi could spend more quality time with Petra without your intervention...or you seeing them. Erwin respected you far better than Levi, was taller than Levi, was more respectable than Levi--

    A call of your name shook you out of your thoughts, and you glanced up to see the commander’s worried gaze as he sat before his desk. “Are you okay?”

    “Yes, sir; why?”

    “You seemed upset about something.”

    “Ah!” you exclaimed in realization. “It’s nothing, sir! I was just trying to remember something.” You smiled sheepishly.

    He smiled softly as well. “Why don’t we forgo formalities? At least when it’s only the two of us?”

    “O-okay.” Your cheeks flushed. Aside from Hanji and that one time with Levi, Erwin was the only other who asked. “Erwin,” you said slowly, tentatively.

    His smile widened slightly, and, realizing he was staring, he whipped his head to the papers in his hands. You giggled softly to yourself as his cheeks were stained pink, and as you returned to work you felt your cheeks tingle as well. You shook your head; there was no way you were falling for the commander.

    You found yourself looking forward to your working with Erwin, to the point that people started noticing that you were heading into the commander’s office first thing in the morning with a bright smile on your face, which was not only a bit off for someone like you, but if anyone recalled you used to do the same for the lance corporal. At this, they started teasing you about it, but you only shrugged them off. Something you liked doing was something worth doing, and you liked working with Erwin.

    And oh, how Levi noticed. He noticed how you were somehow much happier, much more cheerful. he noticed how much more tolerant you were with the kids and--probably especially--Hanji. He also noticed how often you started avoiding him when you can, only sparing him the usual greeting whenever you crossed paths in the halls. You didn’t bring him his usual pot anymore, you didn’t come up to clean Hanji’s work--or her pranks--anymore, you didn’t pop in and ask if he needed help for something or something you could do for him.

    He didn’t just pay attention to you, though. He started second-guessing erwin as well: during mealtimes, during weekly training and assessments, whenever he was with Erwin, with or without you.

    And soon, it seemed that you were constantly with Erwin, save for assessments, training, mealtimes, and of course during the night and in the showers (heaven forbid, Levi hoped). But that didn’t mean you both didn’t have to interact any chance you could: eye contact, small talk, a pat on the back, a nudge with an elbow. All of a sudden, things were crashing down on Levi, and there was the sole realization.

    Erwin was simply just better than him.

    “Heichou?”

    Levi grunted in acknowledgement as he stared into the papers he brought to dinner.

    “Is anything wrong with you these days? You seem off.”

    He stared at Petra for a moment before turning away. “I’m not,” he mumbled tiredly.

    The blonde frowned. Lately Levi was furrowing his brows more and was more irritable than usual, snapping at cadets and even more so at Hanji. The circles around his eyes were growing darker, and he was starting to doze off on his work. Petra had no idea why he was not himself, but for some reason Hanji was ecstatic about it. Petra thought it meant Hanji could play more pranks on Levi, but that would only make Levi growl instead of having his usual outburst. No, pranks couldn’t be it.

    Hanji, on the other hand, enjoyed watching from the background, but Erwin was getting sidetracked. You weren't supposed to fall in love with Erwin, and Erwin wasn't supposed to fall in love with you. You were supposed to go with Auruo because then Levi would start fighting Auruo and Petra would start fighting you and eventually people will come to terms with their feelings and things would settle and everyone would be happy. But what was Erwin doing, schmoozing up to you when you were Levi's to begin with?

    "Erwin?" she called, knocking on the door of the commander's office. You weren't there at the moment; Erwin had sent you for a relaxing bath after you complained of tired muscles.
   
    "Yes, Hanji," he acknowledged, peering over his glasses towards the door. "What is it?"

    "The brunette squad leader closed the door and sat before Erwin at his desk, her usually inquisitive golden gaze unusually serious. "Erwin," she said again, voice equally grave, "the plan."

    The commander clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair, sighing. He swung and shook his head: he had nothing to say. He'd been caught red-handed.

    "You can't love her, Erwin," she insisted.

    "Can't a man be selfish once in a while, Hanji?" he growled at her, blue eyes blazing.

    The woman was unfazed. "You can't!" she replied. "You'll only get hurt, and so will she."

    Erwin bowed his head. "But I can't stop it, Hanji." He lifted his gaze to hers, and she could see much sadness in his. "I can't stop this, this...feeling." He glanced at the vacant couch, where you usually sat on to work in the morning and after noon, and lounged on during the evening, and saw the focused expression on your face, your relaxed figure, your sweet smile. With that, he allowed a soft smile himself. He turned to Hanji once more.

    "I love her, Hanji," he said with a quiet fierceness, "and nothing or no one is going to stop me."