Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“On your knees.”

The knife was too far. There was no way that Levi could get to it in time with the pistol pointed directly at his skull. Before him towered Captain Erwin Smith in his bedclothes and with the gun in his hand. Slowly, scowling, Levi got to his knees. 

“There you go, hands behind your head now, boy,” Erwin warned. The moonlight glinted dangerously off his eyes.

“Fuck you,” Levi spat, but did so anyways. 

Erwin chuckled, much to Levi’s resentment. “You really think I haven't been keeping an eye on you? You’re dumber than you look.”

.     .     .     .     .

It all had started several weeks back. Levi’s life was just as shit as usual in the town of Underston. He’d been working for little pay at the local tavern, The Crimson Bow, just barely scraping by. You’d think he’d be off on his own now at the age of 23, maybe apprenticing under a smith or a butcher. His mother was dying, though. They didn’t have enough to pay for the medicine, his father was god knows where, and he was trying his best. 

It wasn’t enough. Her cold, motionless body greeted him as he got home from making a handful of gold pieces. He’d hoped that more folk would be out that night, trying to catch a glimpse of the captain and his crew that were visiting for the day. His hopes had proved futile, and now all he had was a smattering of gold and the corpse of his mother. 

He couldn’t stand the sight of the walls, the air cold and stale, not even the sound of his mother’s rattled breaths to ground him anymore. He stepped outside, to the back of their abode. There was a tree there, just one. When his mother had felt up to it, he’d bring her out and they’d sit under that tree together. It’d been lovely during the summer, the sun shining down and the air warm and fragrant. She’d smiled when he’d brought her fruit from his earnings of the day. 

Now, the tree was a silhouette against the darkened dusk. The few remaining leaves on the branches scraped against each other as a chilly breeze blew past. The ground would be cold, but not frozen yet. Good. 

He didn’t know how long he spent digging the grave. He was barely strong enough to lower her frail, bony body into the earth. His fingers were numb and he was shaking, now, as he smoothed the dirt over her corpse. It was done. 

He grabbed what little coin he had left, his bag, and stuffed his knife into his sock. He shoved an extra shirt and pair of trousers in the bag, tossed in some rations, and then he left. 

Where was he going? He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t sleep in that house though. He couldn’t. Wrapping his jacket tighter around himself, he wandered through the town, wandered until his legs refused to move any longer. He could see the docks in the distance. Come morning, maybe he’d get one of the fishermen to take him somewhere. Somewhere that wasn’t here. 

He ducked into an alley and sat down, his eyes blurry, watery, his vision shaky and his heavy lids blinking. He’d just rest, just a moment…

Levi woke up to the sound of bells ringing. He startled awake, jolting up from where he’d been slumped against the wall. 

“Oh, thought you were dead,” a voice commented.

Levi’s head whipped in the direction of the voice, then he winced. Everything was sore from sleeping on naught but stone. A gentleman, dressed in strange garb, was just tucking himself back into his trousers. Levi wrinkled his nose, glaring at the man as the smell of piss reached his nostrils. 

“Look like a livin’ corpse, ya do,” the man commented. 

“Dok,” a sharp voice from outside the alley commented. “Talking to the rats, again?”

“That was one time, captain,” the man, Dok, retorted. “Just takin’ a leak. Boy sleeping here that looks of skin ‘n bones.” 

“Hmm,” the voice hummed, and footsteps sounded themselves closer. “What have we here?”

The voice in question belonged to a tall, lightly tanned man. He had rather neatly parted blonde hair and striking blue eyes that crinkled upwards in the hint of a smile. Levi guessed he was around 30. 

“On your feet,” the man stated to Levi. 

Levi stood, slowly, his muscles protesting. 

“What’s a young lad like you doing sleeping out here?” Questioned the man. 

Levi’s brows furrowed and he didn’t respond. 

“Oh, my apologies. My name is Captain Erwin Smith. This is my first mate Nile Dok. We’d docked here earlier yesterday to do some business, you see. We’re to be setting sail in not but an hour or so. What’s your name, boy?”

Oh, so this was the man who was the talk of the town recently, the captain and his crew. 

“Levi,” he responded, his throat slightly scratchy. 

“What’s this about sleeping out here?” Erwin had a way of speaking that was gentle, too gentle for a captain. It was almost patronizing, and it made Levi bristle with aggravation all over again. “Have you nowhere else to go?”

Levi looked away, frowning. “Something like that.” 

“We’ve always a use for extra hands on the ship,” Erwin commented. He made it sound like a side note, something unimportant. “Surely that would make for a better arrangement than what you have here.”

Levi was thinking. He needed gold. He couldn’t carry on the way he had been. He wanted to leave here. Thoughts swirled in his mind and he was scheming something already. He had ideas. This could work, this could go somewhere, he could use this to his advantage…

“Fine, you want me to come with you? Pick up the dirty, poor boy off the streets?” He tilted his head, crossing his shoulders. 

“We’d welcome you. Many of our own have had similar stories. Isn’t that how a crew is formed to begin with, hmm?” Erwin grinned and elbowed Nile, who nodded and scratched his head. 

“Captain picked me up from the Isle of Paradis. Had not a gold piece to my name, no family left either,” Nile mused, smiling fondly. 

“Fine,” Levi repeated, shifting his eyes between the both of them. 

“Welcome aboard,” Erwin smiled. 

.     .     .     .     .

Before they’d boarded Captain Erwin’s ship (which Levi had found out was named The Commander), they’d had a bite to eat and Levi had gotten to meet a few more of Erwin’s crew. They seemed friendly enough, though Levi had the feeling that they were whispering about him behind his back and out of earshot. He kept his face on the offensive side, scowling at anyone who looked at him for too long, ignoring questions from the townsfolk who knew him, who asked how his mother was feeling today, who asked why he was hanging with this lot. He waved a hand in the direction of all who dared approach him, all except for the barkeep. 

They’d stopped by to eat at The Crimson Bow. When the barkeep, an older gentleman named Pyxis, asked him about this sudden kinship with the crew that had just stopped into town the other day, he found himself responding. 

“I’ve nothing left here any longer,” he stated, nodding his head as the other man slid him a tankard of water. 

“... Hmm,” Pyxis hummed to himself. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother.” 

Levi’s head jerked up in surprise. “How do you know?” He inquired.

“If you’ve naught left for you here, it’s rather clear.” 

“Thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Levi said after a pause. “I… can’t imagine I’ll be returning.”

Pyxis inclined his head respectfully. “That’s your decision to make. I only wish I’d have helped more. You’ve quite a few many decades ahead of you, Levi. I hope you find happiness.” 

Levi blinked. “And you?”

“Old man such as myself? I’ve not much longer left, I suppose. I’m happy enough running The Crimson Bow here. Of course, Rico will make a fine owner when I’m gone,” Pyxis chuckled to himself, glancing across the tavern at where Rico was carrying trays of filled tankards to townsfolk. 

“I wish you the best,” Levi offered a nostalgic smile to the man. 

“You as well, Levi. Safe travels. Don’t let those damn sea-men get you killed.” 

Levi exhaled a laugh, and Pyxis walked away to tend to the next table. He ate his fill. 

“The Commander is boarding!” A shout came. Nile was waving down the crew scattered throughout the tavern. 

As Levi stood and joined the rowdy sailors, he looked around for Pyxis for one last smile. Finding him at the barkeep, he caught his eye and gave him a nod. Pyxis gave a weathered grin back and a salute, as if to say ‘safe travels.’ Then he was caught up by the moving bodies, a crate being thrust into his arms as the crew loaded up the ship.

.     .     .     .     .

Levi had been aboard ships before. He knew that, luckily, he didn’t struggle with sea-sickness at all. He was irritated when he found his stomach twisting with anxiety as the anchor was raised and the sails let down. Off the dock, in the near distance, was his hometown. This was where he’d grown up, where he’d been his whole life. Now, he was leaving. He really did have nothing left. 

“Make yourself useful, boy, and get these crates underdeck,” barked a voice, jerking him out of his daze. 

“Oh fuck off, let him adjust a bit, aye? Don’t gotta be such a tow rag.” A new person with spectacles elbowed the tall, blonde man who’d just spoken to him. “Name’s Hange. Heard you’re the new guy, huh? Levi, is it? That’s word on the ship.” They extended a hand to him.

“Yeah,” Levi responded, eyeing the hand before shaking it. He immediately winced at their energetic grasp. “Hange. You…” He trailed off, shutting his mouth abruptly. He didn’t want to be rude, but there were only men on the ship and he really couldn’t tell whether or not Hange was included amongst the men. 

“Hange here is a bit of an exception to our normal crew,” the taller blonde stated, eyes narrowed and arms crossed. “They mostly work with the cannons and weaponry, they’re good at dealing with injuries as well.”

Levi nodded slowly. He believed that he was picking up what the man was laying down. He made a note to not refer to Hange with any gendered terms for now. 

“You’ll have to excuse Mike,” Hange continued. “He gets to be a bit of an arse when we first set sail. Not to mention, you’re a whole new scent to wrap his nose around.” Levi must have looked visibly uncomfortable, because they kept talking. “Nothin’ weird, really, he’s just got this super cool sense of smell. Really, it’s quite fascinating. If only he’d let me take a look up there, I’d probably be able to figure it all out-” 

“You two, stop the chatter. Find something to do, yeah? Cargo that needs moving. Get on it.” Nile snapped his fingers, coming up from behind Levi. Levi stiffened, turning to look at Nile. “You, on the other hand, have been summoned by Captain. Best head to his cabin, he’s not necessarily patient.” Nile clapped Levi on the shoulder, causing the other to wince.

Levi knocked on the doors to Erwin’s quarters, entering at the ‘come in’ that followed.

“Ah, Levi,” Erwin said, straightening. He stood to the left of the cabin’s entrance, previously leaning over a large table with a map sprawled out over it. In the back of the room was a large window peering out the back of the ship, letting sunlight stream in. In front of the window was a small table with a goblet and an empty plate on it, presumably where Erwin dined. Over to the right was a humbly sized poster bed by a desk. “Come, sit.”

Behind Erwin was a chair that he pulled forward. In front of the table were two more chairs. Levi sat across from Erwin, hands planted firmly on his knees. He couldn’t help but take in more of the room within his peripheral vision as he did so.

“What do you want from this, Levi?”

Levi’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“What do you want your place to be on The Commander? We’ve had many come and go throughout the years. What do you want? To stay? To go?” Erwin clasped his hands together in front of him as he spoke, staring down Levi. 

“I…” Levi paused, swallowing. He did his best to meet the other man’s gaze, trying to keep his eyes from darting around his surroundings. The room wasn’t richly decorated by any means, but it certainly was quite the sight to see in comparison to his previously stark abode. “I don’t… I don’t know. I needed to leave. Needed to go, go somewhere. I can help out, if you need. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay.”

Erwin nodded. “We welcome your assistance for however long you offer it. Need to get yourself comfortable before committing to anything, I suppose.” There was a glint in his eyes. What was it, exactly? Distrust? Levi couldn’t tell. “What skills do you have?”

“I’m not bad with maps and navigation,” Levi responded. “I can sharpen a sword, clean a pistol, carry a bit of weight, clean up.” 

“Ah, well, we’ll likely have you on maintenance to start. Too many of my men complain about cannon maintenance. Hange can show you the ropes with the cannons.”

Levi nodded, nervously. He noticed several chests in the room. One was at the foot of Erwin’s bed, likely clothing. Another was against the window in the back, next to the smaller dining table, and he could see one more behind Erwin against the left wall. 

“I’ll have Dok show you the crew’s quarters,” Erwin continued. 

It was silent, before Levi realized Erwin was expecting him to say something. “Thank you,” he said hastily. 

Erwin smiled in response, so he guessed that was what he’d been waiting for. “Go on, now,” he dismissed. 

Levi left, his head racing with new information. 

Nile did show him the crew’s quarters shortly after Levi’s conversation with Erwin. Under the deck, there were sets of hammocks where everyone slept. Nile gave him a spot, asked him if he had any questions, and then sent Levi to chat with Hange. He spent the rest of the day learning how to clean cannons. 

As he lay that first night in his hammock, he listened to the creaking of wood and the splash of the waves outside. He wondered who was on the wheel right now, he wondered if Erwin was asleep or if he was poring over his maps again, he wondered why Hange seemed so enamored with Levi despite his spiky demeanor. He wondered how much gold Erwin had in those chests, and if it’d be enough to get him on his feet at the next town they ported at.

Chapter Text

Turns out, the captain didn’t interact with many of the crew beside Nile. Levi saw glimpses of him during the days, saw him whisper things to Nile behind his hand, saw him at the helm with a steely gaze and with Nile at the compass. Levi had met Moblit, a practical man around his age. He’d helped him learn how to clean around the ship. 

Over the next week he found himself more and more accustomed to ship life. They’d stopped by an island and he’d stayed on the ship as a group of the crew, led by the captain, ventured out. They’d returned with meats, pelts, and fruits. Erwin boarded his ship afterwards, specks of blood on his hands and his usually neatly parted hair slightly messy. It sounded as though it was a fruitful hunting expedition, as he’d heard from Mike who’d been part of the group.

Mike had warmed up to Levi as well, and it seemed as though he was gaining the trust of key members of the crew as time went on. He learned more skills as well, such as how to stretch and tan the pelts. 

Another week went by. Erwin called for Levi to join him in his cabin again. This time when Levi entered, Erwin was sitting at the small dining table. There was an empty chair across from him and an extra plate of meat and grapes. When instructed to sit with him, Levi did so. 

“Do this with all the newbies?” Levi couldn’t help but bite out. 

“I see you’ve settled in nicely,” Erwin commented lightly after a chuckle. “Most of the crew seems to speak highly of you, and yet you’ve quite the attitude. Is it just me who you’re like this to?”

“Hardly,” Levi scoffed. “I have no clue why Hange seems so infatuated by me, for one.”

“Mm, well, you’re quite the interesting character. I’m sure they’d love to study you.” Levi looked up from his untouched plate as Erwin cut into his steak. “Go on, eat your fill.”

Levi, slowly, began to pluck the grapes off the stem. “Your crew seems to think of you highly, as well,” he commented. He may as well try to earn the trust of the captain while he was here. It’d make his plans easier. 

They were planning a journey to the Isle of Trost, where they would trade pelts and goods for more cannonballs and ammo. Trost seemed like a good enough place to settle down, though it was a bit more high up in terms of wealth than he was used to. This was why, after gaining the trust of the crew, he would rob the captain in the night and make an escape. He’d do this as soon as they were close enough to civilization again. It wasn’t necessarily the kindest thing to do, he supposed, but it appeared to be his most viable option. He didn’t think he was quite cut out for sailing the rest of his days with this crew, filled with people who knew nothing about him and who he didn’t really want to know about him. He’d been doing just fine on his own all his life. There was no need to go and get attached to the odd folks upon this ship.

It was regrettable, honestly. Erwin seemed a nice enough guy, smart, though he looked a little dumb with his big blue eyes and stupid blonde hair. Levi found himself wondering if in another life he could become closer to the captain. Maybe things would be different.

But, it was this life that he had and so he’d just deal with that. It was better that way, to stay on his own and find his own path with nobody else. 

“Yes,” Erwin began in response to Levi’s comment, disrupting the musings within the black-haired man’s head, “I’ve done a great deal of work to secure the level of loyalty and trust that they have with me. Many of them were once like you. A sort of a group of misfits, as it were.”

“And you? King misfit of them all, I suppose?” Levi was half-joking, a smile playing at his lips as he lifted a grape to his mouth.

“That’s Captain misfit to you,” Erwin raised his big eyebrows and took a swig of his drink. What was that, brandy? Rum? Levi couldn’t tell. “Care for a drink?”

He must have noticed Levi staring. “No, thank you.” He cursed internally, knowing his face had gone a light pink as he broke eye contact. 

“How old are you, anyway?” He prompted.

“23,” Levi said shortly.

“Ah, you’re rather short for your age. I thought you to be perhaps 20 at the oldest.” He chuckled at Levi’s glower. “I’m 28, myself.” Huh, he was a bit younger than Levi thought. They’d both had each other’s ages off. Erwin smiled. “I take it you thought I was older, from your expression. Anyways, have you ever been to Trost? I trust you’ve heard that we’re planning to trade there soon.”

Levi shook his head.

“It’s a lovely island, really-” Erwin continued on about the local flora and fauna on Trost and how a few of his crew were from there, all while Levi picked at his food and fidgeted. Why had Erwin called him here? Surely it wasn’t simply to talk.

After a total of around half an hour spent in the cabin, Levi was dismissed. It really had been just to talk. 

What an odd man Erwin was, indeed. Levi realized that the taller man had never answered his initial prompt– did he do this for all the new crew? If not, why him? And if so… he disdained the spike of jealousy that he felt at the thought. Now, that was stupid. It wasn’t as though he was special to the captain, wasn’t like he was special at all. He certainly didn’t view himself as the ‘interesting character’ that people kept likening him to. 

He lay awake, listening to the snores of the crew for hours that night, asking himself questions and unable to quiet his mind. What followed was a light, irritable sleep. 

.     .     .     .     .

Levi began to change his attitude. Started offering some more smiles here and there, scowled a little less. He was still quiet, for sure. Hange was unstoppable in their erratic banter and rambling rants now that Levi’s smiles spurred them on. 

He was getting more comfortable. This wasn’t his reasoning behind the friendlier shell, however. It was part of his plot to slowly blend more into the crew. Soon enough Erwin wouldn’t look twice at him anymore. No one would. Except Hange, maybe (just what was with that person?)

It wasn’t for another month that they made the journey to Trost. Land was sighted in the distance at twilight, when most of the crew was already asleep. They weighed the anchor and the watch was posted. 

Who would be the watch tonight? Hopefully not someone he knew very well. Ideally he’d be able to get to the cabin undetected and sneak in without being seen. 

When the snores settled into a steady pace, Levi took a deep breath. Anxiety was spiking in his stomach, his chest. Tonight was his chance, though, and he’d made his mind up. 

He thanked the gods that he was in a hammock close to the ground. Planting his feet onto the wood, he shivered as he quietly retrieved his few belongings. Making sure his knife was secure in his sock, he crept above deck. 

The sounds of the gentle water were easier to hear, from up here. He felt a breeze, cool and nipping at his cheeks as he peeked his head up to scout out his surroundings. 

At the bow of the ship was a dimly lit figure, the lantern-light flickering and making the shadow dance. Ah, good. They didn’t appear to be paying attention, and he heard the sharp rasp of a knife against wood– whoever it was was whittling away. Probably Shadis. He tended to pick up new, odd hobbies every week, it seemed. 

He snuck fully above deck, keeping his body low and his movements quiet as he approached the captain’s cabin. Reaching up, slowly, he tried the handle. Locked, of course, not that he was surprised. 

Reaching into his other sock, Levi retrieved the lockpicking tools that he’d snagged, and broke in. He steadily eased the door open, then swiftly moved himself inside. The door creaked ever so slightly as he closed it, but it wasn’t noticeable. 

Right. He was in. He paused for a moment and used his senses. There was the sound of quiet, rhythmic breathing from the right side of the room. Faint moonlight illuminated the room subtly, casting smooth shadows out from the furniture. His first goal was to obtain the goods in the chest located to his left, then the one against the window. He wasn’t going to risk the chest at the foot of the captain’s bed.

He was glad he’d skipped the shoes for this excursion. The socks kept his footfalls quiet and muffled as he made his way across the room. Carefully he picked the lock on the chest. Within he found several scrolls (they looked important, so he stowed them into his bag) and a few small bags of coin. He also found a ring, which he slipped into his pocket. He also found supplies for cartography, which didn’t interest him, so he moved on to the next chest. 

As he worked quietly at the lock, he heard Erwin shift off to the side. He froze, going still. Nothing happened, and Erwin’s breathing remained constant. Levi waited several long, agonizing moments before he continued breaking into the chest. 

He frowned as he opened this one. He found a stash of tobacco, tea leaves, and an assortment of dried fruits and meats packed neatly. He grabbed a couple pieces of dried jerky as he inaudibly hunted through the rest of the chest, poking around at the bottom to discern whether there was another hidden segment. How disappointing. 

He had a ring, some paper, and some small bags of coin. And a snack for the road. He scowled. Surely Erwin had more than this? He looked so put together and glamorous. Though, he supposed his safest belongings wouldn’t be in such an obvious location as a chest. 

There’s the one at the foot of his bed, still , he thought. Surely, that’s just clothing, his logic dictated as he softly closed the chest. Oh yes, but you don’t know that for certain. Perhaps that’s what the good captain desires you to think . 

Well, it wouldn’t hurt him to open one more. He grabbed his knife and held it close, just to be safe.

As he made his way across the room, to the foot of Erwin’s bed, he passed by the closed curtains of the poster bed. What happened next seemed to blur all together. He went to take another step, and sudden movement caught him abruptly off guard. He swung his knife wildly in the direction of the source, only to have the movement halted by a vice grip on his wrist. There was a clatter as his knife was sent onto the floor; he wrenched his hand free. Remaining low, he whipped his head around to the source and that’s when he saw the pistol to his forehead. 

Chapter Text

“On your knees.”

Ah, there it was. All of his plans went out like a trap door beneath his feet, drawing the bated breath from his body in one big exhale. The knife was too far. There was no way that Levi could get to it in time with the pistol pointed directly at his skull. Before him towered Captain Erwin Smith in his bedclothes and with the gun in his hand. Slowly, scowling, Levi got to his knees. 

“There you go, hands behind your head now, boy,” Erwin warned. The moonlight glinted dangerously off his eyes.

“Fuck you,” Levi spat, but did so anyways. 

Erwin chuckled, much to Levi’s resentment. “You really think I haven't been keeping an eye on you? You’re dumber than you look.” Levi bit his tongue as Erwin circled him, the gun remaining at his head. “What did you want to accomplish with this?”

“...” Levi stayed silent, his breathing quick and sharp with disdain, tears pricking at his eyes in frustration. He should never have gone for that third chest.

“Really, you should have simply stayed with the first two. You got greedy, didn’t you? It would have been much harder for me to subdue you were you to leave after the second chest. I must say, however, you did make it significantly easier for me than I thought it’d be.” 

Levi growled, turning his head to spit at Erwin’s feet. Of course the bastard had known the whole time, of course he had been awake, of course-

Erwin’s big hand fisted in Levi’s hair, and Levi scrabbled for purchase as the hold immediately became painful. 

“That’s not very respectful to your captain,” Erwin commented with a frown. 

“Just fucking kill me,” Levi rasped.

“Oh? Coward’s way out, I see,” Erwin looked sad, almost. It filled Levi with even more disdain. “Unfortunately, I’m not that merciful. I’ll ask you again, Levi. What did you want to accomplish with this?”

Levi fixed his gaze on the ceiling as his head was tilted back forcibly, his scalp burning from the tight hold. Avoiding eye contact, he closed his eyes and focused on breathing, breathing. Nothing mattered anymore. 

“You know, I could do so many things with you,” Erwin continued after a long, resounding silence. “Some would say that I should do many of them. You’ve robbed me, taken advantage of my good graces, tried to attack me, disrespected me. Other captains would torture you, kill you if you were lucky. Have you ever heard of Captain Zeke?”

Levi had, only from the stories that the crew told- Hange and Moblit exchanging a laugh over this one time they’d gotten into a scrap over some supposedly important map, one of the crew had even used to work under Zeke. 

“If you’d pulled this trick with him, I’m sure he’d have dragged you out to the deck by now, tied your hands to the mast and flogged you senseless.” Erwin let go of Levi’s hair. He circled back to Levi’s front and pressed the pistol against Levi’s temple, grabbing ahold of his jaw. Levi kept his eyes closed, his eyebrows furrowed. “Oh, but imagine the temptation I must feel. To take justice into my own hands. I have a whip, you know. It’d be easy for me to tear the flesh from your back, make you bleed for me. I think I’d quite like it.”

“Sadistic freak,” Levi gritted out, inhaling sharply through his teeth as Erwin patted him on the cheek. He’d expected a slap. What was this guy’s deal? Everything about him seemed to be at odds with one another. He talked of cleaving flesh from bone, but treated him gently. He held his hair in a vice grip, but talked of sparing his life. 

“Yes, I have been called that before,” Erwin hummed. He trailed his hand down to Levi’s neck, holding it easily in his large fingers and feeling the pulse of the younger man beneath him. “I could leave you for dead. I’m sure that’s what the good Captain Zeke would do next, have you walk the plank. Imagine that, the salty sea water against your open wounds as you scrambled to swim to the abandoned scrap of land. No one to care for your wounds, likely infected. You’d die of starvation if you didn’t manage to kill yourself first.”

Would he stop monologuing anytime soon? Levi was beginning to think not. His knees were getting achey, his fingers stiffer by the moment from the chill in the cabin. Erwin’s grip tightened around his throat and his breath caught as air was restricted. 

“I want you to look at me, Levi.” 

Levi opened his eyes, looking exhausted.

“There you are,” Erwin smiled, loosening his grip again.

“Please just kill me,” Levi said again, slowly.

“Oh, now he’s even using his nice words. Why ?” Erwin questioned.

“I don’t want to deal with this anymore,” Levi forced out.

“You are a coward. As I thought,” Erwin raised his fucking dumb eyebrows. 

Levi closed his eyes again, wanting to escape Erwin’s annoyingly persistent gaze. He was shocked when he did receive a slap across the face this time. His eyes startled back open at the hit, head turning from the force of it.

“I said to look at me, boy,” Erwin said, voice low. “Stay.” He stepped back from Levi, walking over to his desk and retrieving something. 

Levi’s mind was too tired to calculate if he could get to the knife in time, be able to attack either Erwin or take himself out in time, and Erwin walked back over before he could do anything, gun no longer in his hands.

“Stand up,” the blonde stated. Levi did so, flinching as Erwin took both of Levi’s hands and tied them firmly behind his back. “I don’t trust you with yourself. Never really trusted you to begin with, of course.” 

“Why?” It was Levi’s turn to ask. Erwin stared at him.

“If I trusted simply everyone I came across I would never have-”

“No, idiot.” Levi’s voice was scathing as he cut the other man off. “Why not kill me? Why not torture me, leave me for dead?”

Erwin blinked. “You have something. I’m not sure what it is, yet, but it intrigues me. So,” he finished the knot, letting go of Levi’s hands. “As much as I admit I’d like to have you bleeding beneath me-”

“Take me out to dinner first, asshole-”

“-I’m going to keep you here, on my ship and under supervision until I can figure out what it is. I know you can be of use, you’ve made yourself plenty useful over the past weeks.”

“You’re a bitch,” Levi shot back at him. 

Erwin shrugged. “C’mon now, boy.” He gripped Levi’s shoulder and steered him outside, approaching the figure at the other side of the ship. “Shadis?”

“Ah- Captain? What’s got you up and out at this hour?” came the familiar voice, the whittling stopping suddenly. Shadis stood and as they got closer his features were easier to make out in the darkness. 

“This one,” Erwin pushed Levi forward, and he stumbled before catching himself, glaring back at Erwin. “Attempted to rob me in the night and upon being caught, made an attempt to attack me. He’s not trustworthy to be unbound right now, not to any of us and not to himself. See that he has no more weapons on him and keep him sat here, if you would. When the watch switches, give them an explanation and see that they do the same.”

“Sneaky little fella, if he got past me…” Shadis looked perturbed. “My apologies, Captain. I’ll do as you say, of course.” 

Erwin inclined his head in thanks. “If he starts giving you trouble, don’t hesitate to knock upon my doors.”

“Aye, Captain.” 

Erwin turned, pressing his head into his hand, and made his way back to his cabin. Levi realized that his bag with all of his belongings was also there, in Erwin’s cabin, and he sighed. What a big mess this had turned into. 

Feeling the gaze of someone, he looked up.

“What?” he asked, glaring at Shadis. 

“What do you mean, ‘what’? You get caught trying to attack our captain and that’s all you have to say for yourself?”

“Rob, not attack. I’d never have attacked if I hadn’t been caught,” Levi explained, rolling his eyes at Shadis’s apparent stupidity. 

“Sure, sure. Stay standing right there.” Shadis stood, then began to pat Levi down. He snagged the lockpicking tools first, starting with Levi’s socks and working his way up. He found nothing more than the ring that Levi had stuffed into his pocket. “Assuming this ain’t yours,” Shadis commented.

“Yeah, yeah. Done?”

“Yeah. No backup weapon? Pretty clumsy attempt.”

“Like I said , I hadn’t been fixing to attack anyone. Why would I need another weapon?”

“I suppose,” Shadis responded. “Go and sit down there, yeah? Right next to me, up against the crate if you want to. Gotta keep my eye on you.”

Levi did so, uncomfortably shifting his arms behind him as he leaned on the crate. Shadis sat back down, on the crate, and sighed. Grumbled something under his breath before he began whittling again. 

Levi was surprised that sleep came to him at all, given the circumstances. He’d only realized he nodded off when he woke up. He startled awake, his arms sore. Jerking his head up, he saw that Mike was now sitting on the crate. 

“Well good day, sunshine,” Mike commented wryly, staring at him. “Heard about your little scuffle in the night with the captain.”

“Of course you did, everyone will. I take it that mutinous activities don’t happen often? Seems to be the talk of the fucking ship,” Levi snapped.

“Life is good here. Many of us are grateful to be gone from our past situations. Apparently, you’re not,” Mike sniffed. Levi scoffed, attempting to shift upwards and stopping as Mike’s hand gripped his shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Gotta take a leak,” Levi explained. “Let me free a moment?”

Mike’s eyes narrowed. He thought about it for a moment, but ultimately ended up freeing Levi’s hands. He followed Levi over to the ship’s edge, though, and kept an eye on him. 

“Gonna stare at me the whole time?” Levi asked sarcastically. 

Mike made an exasperated face but turned away. Once he was done, his hands were tied behind his back again, and he sat by Mike’s side once more. 

“So,” Mike began. 

“Shut up, nosy.”

“Fine, then, not in the mood to chat?” Mike laughed.

And they fell silent. The sun began to rise, and Erwin emerged from his cabin in his usual decorum. He had circles under his eyes; he looked like he hadn’t gotten that much sleep either. 

“Mike,” Erwin acknowledged, bowing his head in greeting. “If you would, I’ll take Levi now. I trust he hasn’t been giving you trouble.”

“No, sir. He’s all yours,” Mike grinned. 

Erwin nodded again, taking hold of Levi’s arm and pulling him to his feet. Pins and needles shot through his arm and he hissed with discomfort as Erwin brought him back to his cabin. 

Levi was sat down across from Erwin. How oddly reminiscent of times past, Levi thought, as he looked around. There was no trace of his knife or of his bag.

“Care for a chat?” Erwin asked, pouring himself a cup of something hot from a kettle. He put a bag of leaves into it. Tea, it must be. 

“Don’t suppose I get an option, sir .” 

“Hah, careful with your tongue, boy,” Erwin laughed. “And no, you don’t. I want you to tell me why you did what you did.” 

“You call me boy as if I’m not but 5 years younger than you,” Levi scowled. 

“What would you prefer? Wee lad? Little fella, as Shadis put it?”

Levi groaned. “Fine, fine. I get it. Look, I wanted to settle down in Trost, yeah? Obviously I’m piss poor so I reckoned I’d just lighten you of some of your goods, make my way to Trost, and no harm done.”

“If you needed coin you had only to ask, Levi.”

Levi’s face twisted into a grimace. “Oh, please.” 

“I’m serious. You know, I can tell you’ve had issues in the past, with other people. Clearly the only person you trust is yourself, is that right?”

Levi sighed, annoyed. “Sure.” 

“You didn’t want to bring anyone else into it, is that what it was?”

“Something along those lines.”

“You know, you make it really difficult to get along with you.”

That made Levi pause. “Well, that’s just fine. We can’t all be as friendly and perfect as you, captain .”

“I’m not sure I’d call myself perfect,” Erwin raised an eyebrow. “Is that how you view me? Perfect?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, eyebrows.” 

“Eyebrows.” Erwin’s voice was incredulous, and amused. “You’re amusing when you’re not trying to rob me or glaring daggers into my eyes.”

“So, never.”
“Hardly,” but Erwin let up. “So you robbed me because you wanted to settle down in Trost. You didn’t think we’d look for you? Hunt you down?”

“I just took a few things.” 

“You don’t know how important those few things were, do you? The ring? The scrolls?”

Levi shrugged. “It didn’t matter.”
“Do you not want to stay here, Levi? Here on the ship with me and the others?”

The shorter man paused, looking up at Erwin. The blonde looked… annoyingly genuine. 

“I don’t need you. You don’t need me. Why stay?”

“Many of us are family to each other, you know. There’s no need to go on being alone.”

“I have no family left,” Levi laughed dryly. 

“Family isn’t just flesh and blood, you know.” Erwin was staring at him again.

Levi thought about it. Logically, of course, he knew it was true. He’d had Kenny, who had popped into Levi’s life for but a moment. He’d taught the boy how to fight, how to lockpick, how to take care of his mother… he stopped by every so often, checking in on Levi. Then, he had vanished. He hadn’t said where he was going, but Levi never saw him again. Kenny was the closest thing to family that he had had, other than his mother. 

He thought about it, some more. Could he have a future aboard the ship? What did he want, truly?

“I just… want to be happy,” Levi ended up saying, unable to meet Erwin’s eyes. 

Erwin nodded, slowly. “Care for a sip? Lovely morning tea, got it from Stohess.”

Levi stared back at Erwin pointedly. 

“Oh,” Erwin said. “Right.” He stood, pulling out a dagger of his from the sheath at his side, and cut Levi’s binds. 

Levi slowly moved his hands to a normal resting position, rolling his shoulders slightly. 

“Try it,” Erwin gestured, pushing his cup towards Levi. Levi took it, delicately, and sipped. “You wouldn’t be any use to the ship bound like that all the time, despite how pretty you’d look.”

Levi coughed as he swallowed, almost spitting out the tea. “Mm,” he said eloquently. “Yes, lovely flavor-” 

“Isn’t it?” And Erwin carried on with the conversation as if he’d said nothing remotely provocative at all. 

Levi was beginning to get the idea that Erwin was far more fascinating than he had first let on. 

Chapter Text

The crew had to be informed, of course, of Levi’s transgression. Hange pestered him about it relentlessly, their eyes round behind their spectacles as they questioned him on why, and how, and if the captain snores, despite the fact that Levi kept insisting Erwin had most certainly been awake the whole time. Nile avoided eye contact more, frowned when he saw Levi. Everyone seemed to be colder towards him. A few members who he knew less would shoot more obvious unfriendly looks in his direction, despite Erwin’s insistence that Levi would remain on the ship. Anyone that had a problem with that would have to take it up with him. It was made known, however, that Levi would have someone keeping an eye on him at all times, for both the safety of himself and the crew. 

Levi was annoyed, mostly. He was annoyed that Erwin couldn’t have simply chosen violence and with how diplomatic the blonde man seemed to be (for the most part). He’d seen something new and different in his eyes when he’d been caught, though. When Erwin had pulled his hair and slapped him, when he’d spoken of how lovely it would be to make him bleed. It was, perhaps, masochistic and morbid for Levi to take an interest in this seemingly darker side of the captain, and yet Levi found himself curious. Getting caught hadn’t been pleasant, by any means. No, he’d truly wanted death at that moment. It would have all been so much easier were Erwin to simply put a bullet in his skull. Erwin had mentioned something that Levi had that intrigued him, and had used that as an excuse to not end Levi’s life. What was it, Levi wondered?

“I wonder why he didn’t make a more visual example of you,” Hange mused as they cleaned the cannon next to the one Levi was working at. 

“How so?” Levi asked flatly.

“Well, there have been attempts on Captain’s life before,” Hange stated. “There was this one time that Erwin got so mad that he rang the bell, woke everyone up and made them watch as he personally whipped the guy. Beat the shit out of him, too. Dropped him at the next town we made port at and left him on his way. Wonder why he didn’t do that with you.” 

Hange was staring at him, which was pissing Levi off. 

“Would have been a whole lot easier if he’d just fucking killed me like I asked,” Levi said in response, his mind reeling with images of Erwin flogging the senses out of some random mutineer. … Fascinating. Why hadn’t he acted like that with Levi? 

“Maybe he thought that to keep living would be punishment enough for you,” Hange contemplated. 

“Well that’s stupid.”

“Think, though! You asked him to kill you, of course he’s not going to give you what you want!”

“But why ?” Levi said, frustrated. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and immediately regretted it. Hange giggled as he got soot and black powder on his face.

“Guess that’s something you’ll have to ask him,” Hange shrugged, tossing him a rag. Levi took it and wiped his face off. He guessed that they weren’t so bad, despite how trying they tended to be.  

.     .     .     .     .

It had been a few more months. After the first month, Erwin had made it clear that Levi no longer needed to be supervised like he had been. Levi himself had been watching the captain more closely, subtly. He noted that whenever Erwin seemed to be perturbed that his jaw would tense, and his eyes would seem to darken. He noticed that Erwin had consistent circles under his eyes when they planned bigger trips like the one to Trost. Erwin hadn’t seemed keen to chat with Levi recently, though. Levi supposed he had bigger things to worry about than keep the company of a lowly deck-swabber. He had questions , however. He thought it was high time that he be the one questioning Erwin. 

And there was another thing- it was mostly at night, that it bothered him. He was plagued with these thoughts of the captain. At first he’d thought it was simply curiosity, but now he was worried he was becoming attached, or something of the sort. He’d even had a dream, of the captain flogging him. What was more confusing was that he’d woken up with a tent in his trousers. He chalked it up to morning wood and nothing else. 

Still, it was concerning him. He supposed that the captain was handsome, sure… but he’d never really gotten close to anyone in that manner. He’d had a bit of a fling with this woman named Petra back in Underston several years back but it hadn’t gotten very far before he found himself breaking it off. Even merely entertaining the thought of him with the captain was terribly unrealistic and, to be frank, mildly terrifying. Not only would such a thing be highly unprofessional, but he’d never been with a man before… did he even like men? 

The whole situation had caused a bit of a crisis for Levi, and it came with a resurgence of his (what he thought was dead) sex drive. How impractical. All over a stupid blonde man who decided to spare his stupid meaningless life. 

How did others deal with it? He guessed maybe some of the crew fucked others, he knew when they made port that some of them stopped by brothels to engage in their needs… Something that he’d never seen Erwin partake in. He wondered if that was because he felt he had a reputation. Levi wondered if Erwin had a lover. The ring he had found, had attempted to steal… what was that? Did that mean anything?

He shook his head at the thought. 

“Something bothering you?” Mike asked. 

Levi had been scrubbing at the same spot on the floor for awhile now. Levi blinked, looking up at Mike. Blonde. Big nose. His eyes were a bit more green than Erwin’s, but rather similar. Interesting. 

“No,” Levi lied through his teeth, standing. 

Mike shrugged, walking away. Interesting indeed. 

.     .     .     .     .

More time passed, and Levi found himself getting exceedingly more frustrated in every sense of the word. There was a new contract that they had snagged, and that was interesting. There was a wealthy slave-driver’s plantation located at a rather expansive island off the coast of where Trost was. Erwin was going to lead a group of his men to kill the driver and hopefully set the slaves free. It was Nile who had approached him, when he’d heard about it. 

“Captain says you may be useful in regards to the upcoming contract,” he said, pulling Levi aside one day. 

“...?” Levi said nothing, but must have appeared surprised. He’d always stayed back when Erwin or other crew members went on excursions. 

“Trust you’ve heard what it entails?” Nile tilted his head. Levi nodded. “You’re good with locks. We could use that. Captain’s going to be leading, going to be as stealthy as we can make it.; Get in, disarm the alarms, and kill the piece of shit. The folks he’s got slaving for him, they can decide where they want to go next. There will be guards- we’re hoping to deal with them only after the bells have been cut.”

Levi nodded again, slowly. “If I can help, I’m there. Whole crew knows I’m good with locks and decent with sneaking around.” 

Nile flashed him a grin, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re not so bad, boy.”

Then he left, likely to relay the news to Erwin. Levi found himself smiling. Was this  some semblance of purpose? He was finding he liked life on the ship more and more. People were starting to warm up to him again, too, which was both pleasant but also uncomfortable. 

.     .     .     .     .

They docked on the other side of the island. Erwin gathered his men- he was bringing Mike, Moblit, Levi, and some dozen more. Nile, Hange, Shadis, and the rest of the men were to stay behind and keep sharp. They would stay on the defense. 

Hange flicked Levi’s forehead before they lowered the rowboat. “Be safe, stupid,” they said, and Levi found himself replying. 

“You too, idiot.”

They grinned.

The contract went smoothly and, for the most part, as planned. They were able to cut the clappers from the bells so that if they were attempted to be rung, no sound would come of it. Levi was able to break into the driver’s abode, and Erwin, him, and two others snuck on ahead while the rest of the men stationed outside the house. 

Levi found it vexing how little Erwin would talk to him when they were on the ship, but then how he communicated with such ease to him on the job. Part of Levi wondered if Erwin was avoiding him. It was of no matter, though, as they tracked down the driver. 

The man was of average height, his thinning brunette hair plastered to his head with sweat as he put his hands above his head. 

He begged for mercy, and Erwin gave none. Using his dagger, he slit the throat of the man and watched, eyes empty, as the man clutched at his neck and gurgled on his own blood, his eyes rolling back into his skull before he ultimately fell motionless. 

Erwin flicked his hands, blood spattering onto the floor. He wiped his dagger on the sleeve of his white shirt before sheathing it again. 

“Our work is done here,” he said. 

They killed the rest of the guards that had deigned to get in the way, and gave the former slaves maps and explained the opportunities that lay ahead, the choices that they could make. 

At the end of the night, Levi found himself once more dwelling on the way the captain had so easily cut the flesh of the other man. He remembered the sparkle in Erwin’s eyes as the door had eased open, Levi having successfully picked the lock. He remembered the way that Erwin’s shirt had tightened as he’d tensed, the way his muscles moved as he rolled his sleeves up and looted the driver. Groaning internally, he resisted the urge to either bash his skull in or jerk off, and forced himself to go to sleep. 

Chapter Text

“Oye, Mike,” Levi had started. It had been weeks since the contract.

Mike glanced up from where he was sharpening a blade. “Levi,” he greeted.

Levi jerked his head, signifying for the taller man to follow him. Mike did so, though he furrowed his brows. Levi brought him to a more secluded area, under an overhang near the quarter deck, and exhaled.

“Something the matter?” Mike prompted, ducking to join Levi and sitting on a barrel.

“... I have a question for you,” Levi began. He was uncharacteristically fidgety, and he knew that it was making Mike nervous, but he couldn’t help it. 

“What is it?” Mike asked, his tone slightly anxious. 

“I… I suppose it’d be more of a declaration, really. I’ve been frustrated, lately, more than usual.”

Mike watched him, blinked slowly as if to gesture to carry on. 

“I want you to fuck me,” Levi said bluntly, crossing his arms. 

Mike’s eyes widened more than Levi thought they could, and his eyebrows just about shot off his skull. Looking Levi up and down for a split second, he licked his lips. 

“P-Pardon me?” he attempted to say eloquently.

“You heard me,” Levi said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. 

“Why… why me?”

Levi stared pointedly at his crotch. He knew that Mike had a big dick, he’d seen it casually in passing, he wanted to know how it felt and wanted some fucking relief from these thoughts. Obviously there was no way that he was going to approach Erwin to give it a go, so he figured he’d see if Mike was game. He’d seen the blonde staring for too long and caught him looking at his ass at least once, so he figured he at least wouldn’t be disgusted by the proposition. The thought of Mike pulling him aside, pinning him up against the wall and fucking into him… he’d put a big hand around his neck and make him squirm for air…

“Alright, okay, but why me ? Plenty of other guys on the ship who are… well endowed enough to… meet your needs,” Mike said, hands gripping the tops of his thighs. Was there a tent forming in his trousers? Levi couldn’t tell and didn’t want to stare long enough to confirm or deny.

“You won’t go around telling, yeah? Listen, I-” Levi rolled his eyes and sighed. “I kind of trust you, okay? More than some of the others, at least.”

“Levi…” Mike started. “I’m… I’m sorry. I can’t help you out.” 

Levi blinked, exhaling the air in his lungs with a rush. “Okay. Alright, yeah. No worries, yeah?” 

Mike stood, careful not to bang his head, and nodded. “Sorry, again. Think we’re making berth again soon, maybe you can take care of the need then?” He left the question open ended and nodded to Levi, leaving.

Yeah, that had most definitely been a bit of a tent in his trousers. So why, then, had he declined to fuck Levi? Mike had flushed at the proposition, he had clearly checked Levi out, he’d even gotten a little stiff… so why?

Levi shrugged it off. It wasn’t really his business. He went along with his day, reckoning that it wouldn’t be brought up again between them. That was alright. Fucking Mike likely would have brought the whole issue of attachment and possible feelings and that would have been such a mess to work through, anyway. It was a good thing, maybe, that he hadn’t lowered Levi to his knees and made him open his mouth, made him suck on him… A good thing that Mike’s hands weren’t tangled in his hair and pulling … forcing Levi to come back up and to kiss him, their tongues colliding messily, Mike leaning down to leave marks on Levi’s pale neck…

Damn. Biting back a groan, he pulled himself out of his trousers and gave in. 

.     .     .     .     .

It was a few days later, and Levi was minding his own business and doing gun maintenance on the main deck, humming lightly to himself. He was allowed to sharpen the blades and clean the guns, now that he was deemed less of a threat to himself and others. It’d been irksome, really, having everyone think the moment he got his hands on a blade he would off himself. 

He turned the pistol over, going to polish the other side, when he felt a looming presence in front of him. 

“Mm?” He questioned, looking up. 

Captain Erwin Smith stood in front of him. “Hello, Levi.” 

“Oh,” Levi said. “Been awhile, Erwin.” 

“You’re one of the only people who calls me that so casually, you know that?” Erwin raised an eyebrow with amusement. 

Levi’s stomach was taut with anxiety, and he willed his nerves to calm down. Why was he so nervous? Sure, he’d been having questionable thoughts and dreams about him, about other tall blonde, big nosed and blue-ish eyed men; sure, Erwin had been avoiding Levi for what felt like months, but this was the same guy who pointed a pistol to his skull back when they’d first met. Alright, several months into their first meeting, and it had been well deserved, but still. 

This was the man who had slapped him, who had pulled his hair, who had gripped his jaw with those big hands and stared him down with those steely blue eyes… oh no. 

“Come with me, Levi,” Erwin said, his eyebrows knitting slightly at Levi’s silence. He gestured for Levi to follow him. 

They ended up in the captain’s cabin, sitting in their usual spots. It had been such a long time since he was within the quarters, and he allowed himself a look around. The curtains were pulled back on the bed, showing dark gray bed sheets and two pillows. The window was also exposed, and the midday sun shone through and reflected off a glass that Erwin had on his dining table. The map table was messier than he was used to seeing it, with various papers left on top of it and a compass to the side. Little rocks sat on top of the documents, holding them down and in place. 

“I’m concerned about you, Levi,” Erwin started.

“Oh, please. I’m not going to kill myself, I thought we knew that by now.”

“Mike said you asked him something rather… lewd.” 

Levi’s stomach dropped, and his face began flushing at a pace that he couldn’t control. “That fucking bastard, I thought he wouldn’t- I thought-” He stood aggressively, gripping the edges of the table. 

“Don’t be angry at him,” Erwin spoke gently. “Sit down, now.”

Levi slowly sank back in his seat, holding his head in his hands. 

“He merely mentioned to me that he was worried about you. He didn’t want to say anything more than that. It actually took quite a bit of effort for him to share what you’d asked of him. You’ll find I can be quite persuasive when it comes to getting what I want, however.” 

Levi remained quiet, his face burning behind his hands and his stomach going queasy. He felt ill. 

“There’s no shame in desire, Levi. There’s no shame in seeking the company of other men, contrary to some folk’s beliefs. I’m assuming that’s partially why you haven’t enjoyed the company of those on land like the others have, yes?” 

Oh, the gods hated him. Levi was sure of it, as he listened to Erwin, staying as hidden as he could. His ears were red too, he could feel it. He could retain his pride, he would . He was a grown man and he could have sexual urges. This was fine. 

“Something like that,” he croaked. 

“Hence, you sought Mike’s assistance. I was quite surprised to hear that he turned you down, actually. Do you have any idea why?”

“I’ve been wondering about that, myself,” Levi said, slowly. “Seemed like he was going to. He seemed interested. I just-” He stopped talking, staring at the ground. After a moment of silence, he looked up. Erwin looked conflicted. He looked concerned, but he was worrying at the skin of a lip between his teeth, he looked tense. “... Perhaps, he thought there would be consequences for his actions, were someone to discover the nature of that… arrangement.”

“Do you know why I’ve been avoiding you, Levi?”

Levi’s eyes bore into Erwin’s, his interest piqued. “So, you admit it.”

“I do.” Erwin let out a long exhale, leaning back in his chair. “I have been concerned with the nature of our relationship. I fear that I may make you uncomfortable. Yet I find that the longer I avoid you, the more antsy you seem to be. I must admit that I find you… fascinating, though you already know this.” 

Levi stared the captain down, watching as Erwin was the one who broke eye contact. The nervous energy, the stomach that had dropped, it was coiling into something new. He felt anxious, but in a more positive light. He had a semblance of hope. 

“I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable, Levi,” Erwin said again, looking seriously at the black-haired man’s expression. “Just because I am your captain, you are never obligated to do anything for me that causes you discomfort or distress.”

“I know that, idiot. You don’t… you don’t make me uncomfortable.”

“I feared that I scared you off back when you… well, when you robbed me.”

Erwin’s eyes were searching for answers, Levi could see it reflected into his own as plain as day. He looked surprisingly vulnerable, and it did start to make the shorter man a bit uncomfortable. 

“I found it difficult to contain the emotions I felt that night,” Erwin continued. 

“Why did you contain them? I was talking to Hange. They said that there was another time that someone attacked you, and you flogged them in front of the whole crew, you did it yourself, you made them watch . Why didn’t you do that with me?” The words tumbled out of Levi’s mouth as he finally asked what had been nagging at him for months. 

“That man didn’t matter. You…” Erwin paused. “You do.” Levi’s face twisted in confusion, and Erwin rubbed his temples. “You want me to have flogged you?”

“No! Well-” Levi hesitated, then went flaming red all over again. “No, why-”

Erwin’s face broke into a grin and he began laughing. 

“See, this is why. You’re special,” he finally said after a good chuckle. 

Levi smiled, but looked confused. “You… certainly are an interesting man, Erwin,” he admitted.

“I could say the same about you, Levi.” Erwin folded his hands into each other, his smile dying down, slowly. 

“I never thought myself interested in the company of men,” Levi broke the silence, speaking carefully. “I wasn’t aware that my body wanted, needed interaction of this sort with anyone until recently.”

“Until Mike,” Erwin filled in. 

“Until you,” Levi corrected automatically.

Chapter Text

A stiff silence filled the room as Erwin blinked. 

“I can’t… I can’t stop thinking about you,” Levi confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn’t bear to look at Erwin now, so he kept talking, filling the silence. “Your stupid eyebrows, your dumb, beautiful eyes, your big nose, the way your muscles move when you murder someone, the way you had me on my knees that night…” he trailed off, his voice giving out. 

“Levi,” Erwin said, his voice filled with some sort of emotion. 

Levi looked up at him, unable to mask the terror in his eyes. 

“I was avoiding you because I didn’t want you to think that you were obligated to like me, at least in any way more than as a friend or as a captain. I didn’t want you to force yourself to want me, to like me. I thought I had scared you with my… well, with the way I can be.” 

Levi shook his head. “No. No, it… it made me want you more,” he clarified. “I never felt this way before, I don’t know what to do and I thought maybe Mike fucking me would at least help but even he turned me down and I don’t understand why, because he looked like he had a damn hard-on for me and fuck if I didn’t have something of one for him, too-”

“I think he thought that you were off limits,” Erwin said. “Because of me.” 

“Because of you?”

“I don’t believe I have been exactly subtle in my fondness of you. Mike likely thought he should keep his hands off. Not that I’m adverse to sharing, per se, but…” Erwin left off, smiling sheepishly. 

“So,” Levi said. “You’re saying that you have a thing for me, is that it?”

“And you’re saying you’ve become obsessed with me, hmm?”

The two of them sat for a moment. 

“I can’t stop thinking about you pulling my hair,” Levi breathed. 

“Oh, and you’re the one who called me the freak, remember?” Erwin raised one eyebrow with a smile. 

“A sadistic freak, yes, and I believe this would make me the masochistic counterpart,” Levi said. “I think, perhaps, you should fuck me.”

Erwin blinked in surprise, looking amused. “Levi, you have admitted to me that you’ve never even thought of sharing the company of other men, nonetheless felt the urge to be intimate with anyone .”

“I know what I want, asshole,” Levi scowled. “It’s been months. Months of this, and I’m sure of what I want, and I’m sure that you’re involved somewhere in my future. Don’t get all righteous with me.” 

Erwin sat straighter, eyes hardening slightly. “I’ll be righteous if I want, Levi. Not only for you, but for me as well. I want you to be happy, yes, but I must also protect myself, you see? I can’t find it in me to imagine this as simply a fling, as a one time endeavor that’s carelessly thrown away. Something with no strings attached, as I suspect Mike would have been.” 

“Yes, ideally, because you weren’t obtainable.” At Erwin’s perplexed look, Levi continued. “You’re the captain of this ship and I’m… well, I’m just me, and it wouldn’t do well upon your reputation to get involved with someone like me. I tried to rob you, remember?”

“Fondly,” Erwin grinned.

“This isn’t funny,” Levi groaned.

“You must admit there’s some level of humor to it all,” Erwin pointed out. “I was worried that you’d force yourself on me simply because of my wishes, and you were worried that I was out of reach as your captain.”

Levi sighed. “Some sort of convoluted joke that must be.” 

Erwin gazed at Levi a moment longer, then scooted back in his chair. “Come here, if it pleases you.” Levi’s face flushed, his hands shaking, and he stood and approached Erwin. “Would you like to sit?”Levi nodded. “I can’t hear you,” Erwin murmured.

“Y-Yes.” 

Erwin’s face broke into a grin. “I don’t want to take things too fast with you,” he spoke softly. “You make it so difficult.”

“Why take things slow? I’ve… I…”

“You’re such a special creature,” Erwin interrupted. “Entertain an old man’s wishes, would you?”

Levi scoffed. “You’re hardly old,” he retorted. 

Erwin guided Levi onto his lap, having Levi straddle his wide thighs. 

“Oh,” Levi said as he settled down comfortably, the heat in his groin lining up nicely to a hardness beneath him. 

“Hmm?” Erwin hummed. “Sweet boy, you don’t know half of what I want to do to you.” 

Levi had an idea of at least some of it, and the thoughts left him both terrified and painfully excited. He was almost trembling as Erwin wrapped an arm around him. 

“I’m going to ask you some questions,” Erwin said, placing his other hand on Levi’s hip. “I ask that you be as honest as you can.” 

Levi’s stomach fluttered nervously but he nodded up at Erwin, who was looking at him so gently, as though he was a fragile thing. He… didn’t hate it as much as he thought he would. 

“Do you have a word, or a gesture that you would like to use, if it becomes too much? Anything that we do, at any time?”

“Raven,” Levi responded after a moment’s pause. This was okay, he could do questions like this. These were exciting questions. 

“How do you feel about… me telling you to do things, in a certain setting?”

“Things…?” Levi started, raising an eyebrow.

“ Things ,” Erwin clarified with a hard stare. 

“I… I have my word.”

“Hmm,” Erwin responded. “You’re not opposed?”

Levi shook his head, suddenly feeling rather vulnerable. 

“What if I were to tell you to call me ‘Sir?’” Erwin looked amused, faintly anxious. 

“Oh, fuck off,” Levi’s voice was muffled as he hid in Erwin’s shoulder. 

“Is that a no?”

“Listen,” Levi raised his head again. “I- I’ll use the word if I want to stop, okay? I’ll tell you, I promise, I- I just, I can’t… I can’t say it out loud half the time, I can’t… it’s hard for me-” he babbled nervously. 

“Okay, okay, hush now.” Erwin rubbed soothing circles on Levi’s hip as the shorter man fell quiet. “You’ve always been rather spiky, haven’t you? It’s alright, I like a little bit of fight in my men,” he chuckled. “To open up, that’s something big, especially like this, to a tall, scary, sadistic captain. I’ll trust you to use your word. You hear that? I trust you. You have to use it when you need to, okay? No matter how often, no matter what.”

Levi nodded shyly. 

“Good boy,” Erwin soothed, and Levi melted into his arms. “Oh, there we go. Good boy, yes. Such a sweet thing, you are.”

“Tried to stab you,” came Levi’s voice. 

“Yes, you weren’t being very good back then, I suppose. That’s all right, darling. You’ve had your punishment, haven’t you? Now, here on top of me, being such a sweet boy.”

Levi whined, and he rolled his hips over Erwin’s lightly, feeling constrained and warm. His brain was starting to feel fuzzy… it wasn’t a bad thing, though. He felt aware of his surroundings, aware of Erwin beneath him, just aware enough to feel safe, but just blurry enough to feel more relaxed than usual. 

“Erwin…” he mumbled. 

“What’s that?” Erwin said. Levi could hear the smile in Erwin’s voice, and it made him equal parts mad and amused.

“You’re not going to fuck me, are you?” 

Erwin laughed lightly. “No, darling. Not today. You’ve had quite the day, haven’t you?”

Levi groaned, rolling his hips forward again and pressing against Erwin’s substantial hard-on. He’d never seen the captain’s dick, he realized. He looked down, and the way that his drawers were filling out looked similar to how Mike’s had when he’d asked him to fuck him… He almost drooled at the thought. 

“Want it,” Levi murmured. “Want you,” he clarified. 

“I know, darling. You know, I want you too. Can you feel it? How much I want you?”

Levi brought his hand down in between them, pressed against Erwin’s rigid length still confined by his trousers. “Yeah,” he breathed. 

“Can you use your manners? How about a ‘yes, Sir?’” Erwin asked, trailing a hand down Levi’s back. 

“Y-Y…” Levi stuttered, squeezing his eyes shut. “Yes, S-Sir.”

“Very good,” Erwin cooed in response. 

Levi whimpered and ground his hips into Erwin’s, more aggressively this time. “Please,” he breathed softly, half aware of his words. 

“Fuck,” Erwin whispered. His hands gripped tight onto Levi’s hips, and Levi’s eyes shot open in panic. “You’re okay, darling. Pause a moment for me,” he reached a hand down, toying with the waistband of Levi’s pants. “Is this all right?”

“Yes, yes…” Levi gasped.

Erwin exposed his hard-on, then pulled himself out of his trousers. Levi’s eyes shot straight to it (he was a simple man) and he ogled. It certainly was at least Mike’s size.  “Going to rub us together, yeah?”

“Mm,” came Levi’s agreement. He keened, mouth falling open as Erwin used his large hand to grasp both his and Levi’s lengths in his grip. 

“Ah, there we go,” Erwin adjusted his hand slightly, pausing to spit onto it and then proceeded to stroke them in tandem. 

Levi’s legs trembled and he let out annoying little sounds, shoving his burning face into Erwin’s shoulder once again as Erwin pulled at both of them. 

“Good boy, let go for me, relax. You’re safe,” Erwin spoke, his other hand stable on Levi’s lower back now as Levi rocked into his grip. “Good boy,” he repeated. 

“A-Ah, fuck… Erwin, I can’t,” Levi dug his fingernails into Erwin’s shoulders, feeling a small amount of wetness leak from him. 

“Can’t what, darling? You’re alright, you’re okay. Feel good?”

“Y-Yeah-” Levi stammered, grateful that Erwin didn’t make him use formalities this time. Not that it was bad, it was just a lot for him to…

His thoughts trailed off as Erwin pulled him closer, breathed hot and heavy into his ear. 

“Ugh,” he choked up, fire blooming throughout his cock and lower belly. “Mmm- Erwin, please-”

Erwin hummed in response, stroking harder, faster. Levi couldn’t take it, and he spilled all over Erwin’s hand with a yelp, tears pricking at his eyes. It’d been so long since another had even thought to touch him, the sensation of his cock against Erwin’s was so new and stimulating-

“There we go, good boy,” Erwin said, his voice shaking. He eased up, letting go of Levi’s length and using the wetness of Levi’s cum to lubricate his own release. His jaw tensed, the muscles in his arm flexed as he pulled at himself. He let out a low moan as he came and he stroked himself through it, ribbons of white pooling on the stomach of his shirt. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily

“Ah,” Levi frowned. “Erwin, your shirt-” 

“Not of any consequence,” Erwin grinned, his face and neck flushed, his spent cock settling against his thigh. 

“... Thank you,” Levi spoke after a moment. 

“Thank you ,” Erwin grinned. “Thank you, for trusting me with this part of you.” 

“Are you always this sappy?”

Erwin barked a laugh. “You know that’s not the case, my dear.” 

“Yes, I suppose not,” Levi smirked as he remembered the harshness of Erwin’s grip on his hair, the way his eyes had a gleam when he’d talked of making him bleed. Not always the case, yes.

Chapter Text

Mike’s nose gave Levi away later that day, and he’d raised an eyebrow. 

“I suppose I should thank you,” Levi said when he caught Mike alone. 

“Thought you’d wring my neck. Didn’t want to tell him, I swear,” Mike held his hands up, grinning. “Looks like it worked out for you alright.” 

“Don’t spread it around, yeah? It’s… all so new.” 

“I think the captain is the only one who can get me to spill like that, don’t worry.” His nose wrinkled as Levi flushed. “Not like that, gods. How am I the only one to know about this? You’re so obvious.” He chuckled. 

“I…” Levi attempted to formulate a sentence then gave up. “Fuck off,” he settled for, and promptly walked away, listening to Mike snort behind him. 

Mike was a good guy, Levi thought. He wondered if Erwin had been serious, that he wasn’t opposed to sharing… Oh, but he was in over his head, wasn’t he? 

.     .     .     .     .

Levi hadn’t known that he could even feel this good. Erwin had him over his lap again, straddling him, this time he was fully naked. Erwin himself was shirtless, and Levi found that his chest turned a pretty pink when flustered, as well. Sparse hairs littered his chest as well as an amount of faded scars. Levi felt exposed; everything was on display for Erwin to see. It didn’t feel… bad. Rather, it felt good.

“You want my finger, pretty boy?” Erwin asked, tilting his head as he smoothed his hand over Levi’s ass cheek, gripping it hard enough to hurt for a moment before letting go. 

“Yes, please?” Levi responded. He’d cleaned himself, he was ready… Every time he saw Erwin he thought of what the taller man could do to him and what he would do to him in the future. 

“Mmm, so polite. Good boy,” Erwin praised, circling Levi’s hole with a finger gently. 

Levi stayed quiet, steadying his breathing as Erwin pushed in. His fingers weren’t small, by any means. His hands were, in Levi’s opinion, almost freakishly large in nature. He supposed it was like his height, though…. He couldn’t help how short in height he was, and Erwin couldn’t help how big he was. His hands dwarfed Levi’s own, which fascinated Levi to no end. Erwin could easily hold Levi’s neck in one hand, as they’d discovered that fateful night of the mutiny. Any time he thought of his pulse thrumming against Erwin’s fingers, Levi’s mind began racing. 

“Have you done this before? Played with yourself like this?” Erwin asked. He took his time with the one finger, pushing it in and out with care.

“Yes,” Levi admitted, pushing his hips back to meet Erwin’s hands. “Your fingers are fucking big, though,” 

Erwin chuckled. “All the better to stretch my boy with,” he murmured, leaning in close to Levi’s ear as he added another finger slowly alongside the first one, dripping oil down his thighs. “There we go. How’s it feeling?”

“Ahh… good,” Levi breathed as Erwin curled his fingers and stroked a spot that sent electric arousal up his spine. “Want you to fuck me, want you to feel good…”

“Oh darling, opening you with my fingers like this feels plenty good,” Erwin reminded. “Seeing you shuddering beneath me, holding yourself up to roll back against my fingers? I want to destroy you, sweet thing…” Erwin trailed off, giving one of Levi’s ass cheeks a harsh slap with the hand he wasn’t fucking into Levi with. 

“You don’t want to fuck me?” Levi looked up at Erwin, his dull gray eyes shining from the exertion, pleading. 

“Slow, remember? Don’t want to hurt you, precious thing.” 

“ Want you to hurt me, dammit,” Levi groaned, frustrated. 

Erwin snarled, slapping Levi’s ass again. Levi whined in response, shaking as Erwin dragged nails harshly down Levi’s bare expanse of back.

“You don’t know what you do to me,” Erwin spoke, panting. 

“Please,” Levi tried again, wiggling his ass. 

“Are you sure?” Erwin pulled his fingers out. 

“Y-Yes,” Levi stammered at the loss. He yelped as Erwin lifted him from his lap and carried him to the bed. “I could’ve walked, you know,” he bristled. 

“You won’t be able to by the time I’m done with you,” Erwin grinned. “Stay right there, all right? Lay on your back for me. That’s it.” Erwin lowered his pants, stepping out of them. He licked a stripe up his hand and began jerking his cock- once, twice, three times. He approached Levi, abandoning his dick in favor of spreading Levi’s legs apart. “I just know you make the prettiest noises, don’t you?” 

Erwin swallowed down Levi’s dick like it was nothing. The head hit the back of Erwin’s throat, causing the captain’s thick eyebrows to furrow, but he hollowed his cheeks and began bobbing his head regardless. 

Levi’s breathing stuttered, and he grabbed at Erwin’s hair. “Fuck,” he moaned. “Fuck.” 

Erwin grinned and licked up the length of Levi. “Yeah? Feel nice?”

“ Yeah ,” Levi exhaled. 

“Wanna use your manners, darling?”
“Y–Yes, Sir… felt nice…”

“Mmm, good boy…” Erwin suckled at the head of Levi’s cock, tongue dipping into the slit. Erwin’s hand tugged at his balls, making way for his other hand. The fingers were pushed into Levi again, and he whined. 

“Sir…” Levi threw his head back; Erwin swallowed him down again. “ Fuck. ”

“So crass.” Erwin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shifted so that he was towering over Levi’s smaller body after he pulled his fingers out once more. “Gonna give you what you want,” he promised, taking hold of his dick and guiding it to press against Levi’s hole. “Good?”

But he had barely asked, barely pressed the tip against Levi’s hole before Levi was responding- “Yes, please, ugh… ”

Erwin laughed softly. “Okay, okay. Remember your word, okay?”

Levi nodded, looking annoyed, then his mouth fell open. Erwin pushed into him, and two fingers had only prepared him so much. It was so much. Too little and too much at the same time, he whined, tears pricking at his eyes. 

“Oh, Levi…” Erwin breathed reverently. 

“Use me,” Levi pleaded.

“Stupid boy,” Erwin grinned, pushing forward more. He was almost in all the way, and his face twisted in pleasure as Levi clenched around him. “You really don’t know what you’re asking for.” 

“Fuck you,” Levi hissed as Erwin seated within him fully. “Scratch that- Fuck me .”

Erwin planted his hands on either side of Levi’s body, pulling out before sliding back in. “You impatient little thing. Perhaps you’re right,” he contemplated, starting an agonizingly slow drag in and out. “I should fuck you senseless, huh? No one else will know why you’re walking slightly differently, why you’ve got those relaxed eyes. Well, not except Mike, I suppose. I wonder if he’ll be jealous at all, hmm?”

Levi whimpered. “Only y-you,” he tried to say.

“Oh, but it’s quite all right to imagine, darling. Can you imagine? Do you want to?”

Levi did, his brain going wild with visuals. Mike held him down as Erwin spanked him, Levi on his knees before the both of them, at their disposal. He’d be so good for them. He’d want to have Erwin show him off to Mike, display how well behaved the smaller man was.

“Mmm, I thought so. You’ve got a bit of a type, don’t you?” Erwin pointed out, smirking. “Hands above your head.”

Levi raised his hands, resting them above his head with a relaxed expression, closing his eyes at a sharp thrust. Erwin leaned his body forward and wrapped one hand around Levi’s small wrists, casting a shadow over the black-haired man’s form. 

“So small ,” he marveled. Levi scowled, which amused Erwin. “So perfectly tiny, you fit in my hands so well… it’s a wonder you take cock so well. It’s like you were made for this, for me.” 

“A-Ah,” gasped Levi. “ Harder , Sir…”

Erwin obliged. He snapped his hips into Levi, creating a significantly faster pace and watching as Levi’s cock jumped. Levi sighed in relief, arching his back, pushing his body into Erwin’s thrusts. No, that wouldn’t do. Levi needed to be so far gone that all he could do was take . The blonde leaned down to nip at Levi’s neck, feeling the strain of Levi’s arms pull against his grip. 

“Ow-” Levi complained, squirming as Erwin sucked a deep bruise above his collarbone. “P-People will see…” 

“See that you’re mine ,” Erwin countered, leaving a gentle kiss atop the mark and going to bite into new, unmarked flesh. “ Mine .” 

Levi gasped, his body going loose as Erwin put his full weight atop Levi’s pinned wrists, dragged his teeth across his neck, fucked into him messily and faster. 

“There you go, boy. Relax, let me fill you up…”

Erwin pulled back to gaze at Levi’s face, watching the black-haired man’s eyes squeeze shut. He was panting, his tongue practically hanging out. He couldn’t help but grin as he let Levi’s arms free, observing as they stayed right where he’d left them. They clenched into the sheets above his head. The taller man moaned, trailing his hands down to Levi’s nipples and toying with them between his thumb and forefinger. Levi jerked, then, his hands flying down to protest. 

“Sensitive there, hmm?”

“... S-Sir…” Levi breathed, his tone almost desperate. 

Erwin slowed his pace to a steady fucking, ignoring Levi’s aggravated vocalizations. “Now this is interesting,” he hummed, twisting the little buds. 

Sadistic pleasure bloomed within him, his cock flexing as Levi flailed, trying to no avail to grab at Erwin’s big, strong arms and give him relief from the feeling. His face was twisted with pain, his cock drooling onto his stomach. 

“Sadistic f-fucker…” Levi wheezed.

Erwin stayed his thrusts and remained sheathed within Levi’s tight searing warmth. “So mouthy,” he chastised. Levi’s body slumped as he let go of the smaller man’s nipples, instead gripping his hips to halt the movements Levi was trying to make. “How cute. One day I’ll just stay here and let you try to fuck yourself on me.”

“Hah…” Levi gasped, his hole clenching. “Why’d y-you stop?” he whined, softly.

“I’m enjoying myself,” Erwin cooed, lips curling upwards as Levi shot a scathing look up at him. He truly couldn’t take the other seriously with the way he was squirming and how flushed and pink he was. 

Levi reached for his cock, desperate for pleasure in some form. Erwin grinned, letting the other man touch himself.

“I can feel you, you know. I can feel how hungry your hole is for me. You making yourself feel good?”

“Sh… shut up and fuck me,” Levi snarled, making eye contact and biting the back of his free hand. 

Despite asking for it, Levi seemed breathless when Erwin began a relentless pace once again. “So rude ,” Erwin’s fingers bruised into hips, pulling Levi’s small body towards him with each thrust. “You want me to finish inside? Get you all wet?”

“Only if…” Levi paused to gasp a breath, stifling a moan, “You help me clean…” 

“Mmm, good enough deal for me. Come inside you and finger it back out of you?”

“Ahh…” Levi let out a harsh breath. “Please…” His nimble fingers pulled at his own cock still, chasing his release. 

“You can come any time, you know.”

“B-Bitch,” Levi groaned, his eyes wet with pleasure. 

“Next time I won’t let you be so snippy ,” Erwin shot back, teeth flashing. “Gonna fill you up.”

Levi’s toes curled as he jerked himself off, the drag of Erwin’s cock in and out and in and out causing such a nice stretch. It was almost too much, the pressure over that sweet spot within him. Fuck, if Erwin knew how much of a hold he had on Levi… the thought was only mildly terrifying. That didn’t matter now, as pleasure peaked, a red hot burning through his loins as his balls tightened. He bit down on his free hand, closing his eyes again and unable to stop his moans and whimpers. He tried to muffle them, tried to quiet down, but Erwin was pulling at his hand that he was using to bite down on, he was leaning down and encouraging Levi, telling him to relax and just to let go… He let out a guttural groan, trembling as he shot streaks of white across his stomach. 

“That’s a good boy,” Erwin said, grunting. He went silent as his thrusts continued, growing messier. He shuddered, his own eyes squeezing shut as wave after wave of pleasure and warmth painted Levi’s walls. 

The two lay together, joined, for a few minutes, simply breathing. 

“Damn,” Levi said, finally, smiling up at Erwin. “That…” He didn’t finish his thought, simply sighing in contentment. “You’re sticky.”

“I’ll move,” Erwin responded, going to pull out, slowly, grimacing in apology as Levi winced with discomfort. 

“Agh, fuck, that- I don’t like that part,” Levi murmured. 

“You’re good, darling. You’re alright,” Erwin murmured. “I’m going to grab some cloth, okay?”

“Erwin,” Levi grumbled as Erwin returned with the cloth. “Remind me that this is all so terribly messy next time. I want a full damn bath.” They couldn’t really fully bathe while at sea, as the freshwater they had was typically reserved for cooking. 

“Next time we port we can have some more fun, hmm?” Erwin pushed a finger into Levi, drawing soothing circles into his hip. 

“Sensitive…” Levi warned, his voice beginning to whine. 

“I know darling, I said I’d clean you up though, didn’t I?”

“Ugh,” Levi responded.

“Need you to push a little for me.” 

Levi’s face was flaming red and he was pointedly avoiding looking at Erwin, but he obeyed, and soon enough they were all cleaned up. They spent the next hour or so chatting and enjoying tea together.

Chapter Text

People were starting to notice how much more frequently Levi was joining the captain for chats, for dinner. Hange was worried when Levi had refused to take off the bandana around his neck, not knowing it was the only protection from the crew seeing the bruises Erwin had left. Levi knew he had to bring it up to Erwin. 

So he did. 

Erwin was inside him, currently, moving either not at all or very little. They’d been like this for the past 5 minutes, enjoying the sensations. 

“Erwin,” Levi said. 

“Hmm?” came the response. 

“People are starting to notice, you know. What if they start asking?”

“I think people are… starting to suspect. Would you like there to be an announcement of sorts?”

“No,” Levi said quickly. “Well…” Then he paused. “I suppose that if word were to start making its way around that we’re together that I wouldn’t be opposed. It’s probably better if they know.” 

“I do rather dislike keeping secrets, I must admit. Especially from Nile, though I have a feeling he knows.”

Levi’s stomach jumped with anxiety- or was that lust? Erwin had just shifted slightly. “Okay.”

“Okay? I’ll tell Nile, and he can sort of pass it around, yeah?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell Mike, he’ll be fine with it.”

And that was that. They dropped it after that in favor of Erwin sucking Levi off, swallowing down his release and then jerking off onto Levi’s chest.

.     .     .     .     .

“I cannot believe you didn’t tell me!” Hange’s eyes were large behind their spectacles; they looked almost angry.

“W-What?” Levi stammered, almost dropping the cloth he was using to polish Moblit’s pistol. 

“YOU! And the captain! Though, I suppose I can forgive you. This all must be very new to you. You don’t seem the lover type, to be honest. I knew something was up! Mike started acting weird… or, weirder, so I suppose he knew. Did you tell him? Wait- don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.”

Levi winced from Hange’s loud tone more than from their bluntness. “Hange.” He made a gesture to keep it down. 

“Oh, sorry, is it not common knowledge yet?”

“It’s making its way around. It’s fine, really.”

“You have to tell me all about it! How long ago did this happen? Is that why you were going to rob him? You were secretly in love with him and couldn’t bear it? Did you want to be caught?!”

Levi opened his mouth, only to be cut off before he even began speaking. 

“How did Mike know? Wait- I forgot, I didn’t want to know the answer to that one. Ugh, I have to know- did you tell him and not me?”

Levi tapped his nose. 

“OH! Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I suppose you and the captain have been up to some downright scandalous activities, Mike would be able to notice that right away, yeah. I just wish he’d let me look up in there. Ah, I suppose that explains why he didn’t beat the shit out of you when he caught you- in public, I mean,” they added when Levi raised an eyebrow. 

Hange was sort of fun to chat with. A lot of the time Levi didn’t even have to say anything, he’d just make a gesture of sorts and Hange would read it, then carry on. They kept badgering him, oftentimes  answering their own questions, as they sat down and joined him to clean the other weapons. 

.     .     .     .     .

Levi was laying in his hammock and beginning to nod off when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Freezing, his eyes opened abruptly and he subconsciously reached for his knife-

“Woah, woah. Easy, boy. Just me.” 

It was Mike. 

“What?” Levi relaxed some at the sight of the tall man, stubble decorating his jaw. 

“C’mon, Captain wants to see you.” 

“ Now? ” Levi knit his eyebrows together in concern. 

“Nothin’ bad,” Mike clarified. He held his arm out and Levi took it, being pulled up from the hammock into a standing position. 

When they went above deck, Erwin was nowhere to be seen. 

“Cabin,” Mike jerked his head in the direction, then went to sit and continue the watch. 

Levi nodded, murmuring a ‘thanks’ under his breath before knocking on the door and entering. 

“Levi,” Erwin’s face lit up when he saw Levi. He had a lantern lit, he was laying on his bed and reading something. “Come in, lock the door behind you. I was afraid you weren’t going to be awake.”

“Was about to sleep,” Levi yawned. 

“I wanted to see you,” Erwin spoke, putting down the piece of parchment. “Care to sleep here tonight?”

Levi’s brows shot up, and he tried to mask the spike of adoration he felt for the man in front of him. 

“I… is that okay?” He asked. 

“Of course,” Erwin said, opening his arms. “I would cherish holding you for the night.”

Levi flushed, hoping it didn’t translate as redness in the dimly lit room, and he moved forward to join Erwin. 

“Terribly sappy,” Levi murmured as he crawled alongside Erwin. There was just enough room on Erwin’s bed for the two of them to fit comfortably. It helped that Levi was so much smaller in comparison. 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Let me go back to threatening you with a public flogging,” Erwin responded. Levi wiggled his eyebrows, and Erwin almost choked. “Oh?”

“Don’t worry about it, blondie.” 

“Well, now I have ideas. Hmm, maybe you should try to rob me again and this time I can really show you how I like to deal with such crimes.” Erwin wrapped an arm around Levi, grinning down at him as the black hairs splayed across his chest. 

“Mm,” Levi hummed, voicing interest. “That’s so much work. Why don’t you just beat the shit out of me for fun?”

Erwin considered it. “Maybe one of the next times we port, we can find a nice forest, far away from everyone, and I can tie you to a tree and flog you,” he teased. 

“... I hope you’re only half joking,” Levi said, quietly. 

“Consider it a date, my darling.” 

Levi yawned again, and Erwin kissed the crown of his head before leaning back and extinguishing the lantern. 

“But for now, we sleep.” There was silence for a moment. “Thank you, by the way.”

“Mm?” Levi felt confused. What for?

“For spending the night with me. I hope you have sweet dreams.” Erwin found himself growing drowsy as well, his lids closing in the newfound darkness. 

“Y’ too,” Levi slurred sleepily, cozying up on Erwin’s chest. “G’night.” 

It felt too good to be true, when Levi woke within Erwin’s arms later in the night. When he came back in from taking a midnight leak, he crawled back to Erwin’s strong embrace and found that sleep effortlessly consumed him once more. 

Erwin’s shifting woke him in the morning, small beams of sun struggling to pierce through the curtains over the window. 

“Sorry, love…” Erwin spoke, his voice lower than usual. “Did I wake you?”

Levi felt a jolt of… something, flash through his stomach. Erwin hadn’t called him that before. They’d established they were something of partners, something of… lovers… but they hadn’t quite exchanged that verbal level of intimacy yet. 

“It’s alright,” Levi assured, turning over to watch as Erwin stood, stretching. He walked to the window and pulled the curtains back, the sunrise flooding fully into the room. “Much to do today?”

“Not a terrible amount, actually,” Erwin commented, pulling on a shirt. Levi didn’t hide his staring, and Erwin sent a wink his way. “Was thinking you could join me for breakfast tea.” 

“I’d enjoy that,” Levi said, fighting back a yawn. 

Erwin got dressed and went to ask someone to fetch him a kettle of boiling water. Levi took the time that Erwin was absent to stretch out on the bed and simply lay there, enjoying the feeling of happiness and being wanted and… was this love ?

He didn’t dwell on it too deeply. By the time Erwin was back he was sitting at the dining table and gazing out at the rising sun. The sky was pink and orange, the darkness of the night receding.

Hange was a bouncing ball of energy when Levi left the cabin after tea and some shared fruits, and Levi groaned. Why couldn’t I have just stayed with Erwin all day? He thought to himself, albeit fondly smiling as Hange began rambling about how Shadis had been talking in his sleep again.

Chapter Text

“I love you,” Erwin breathed reverently, gazing at Levi. He was leading a new contract today, one that involved hunting down a former trafficker. He’d spent weeks aiding Erwin with maps, but he himself wasn’t joining the captain this time. 

“I love you too,” Levi found himself responding, his cheeks flushing pink. “Be safe?”

“I plan on it, darling,” Erwin responded, leaning down for a kiss. 

Levi knew Erwin would be alright, he just knew it- but even so, he felt his gut flutter with worry as they lowered the rowboat. Erwin tipped his hat, and they rowed off into the distance. 

“Right,” Nile said, clapping his hands together. He started delegating tasks, as he was the one in charge of the ship right now. He put Moblit on the crow’s nest, keeping a watch for any sudden advances from around them, Levi and several others were tasked with keeping a watch from the starboard side, Shadis and a few men stationed on the portside. 

Levi was relieved when, not but a couple hours later, the captain and the crew were spotted. They were helped onto the ship, given a hearty welcome. Everyone was safe and accounted for. All was well. Deep down, Levi felt some amount of annoyance… this had been exactly why he hadn’t wanted to get attached to anyone. He hated the worry that came with affection, the anxiety that was joined with love. He despised the fact that one of these days someone could come back injured… or not at all. 

He shook his head to scatter such thoughts, putting a smile on his face and joining the fray as they raised the anchor and set sail once again. 

.     .     .     .     .

Not but a week later they returned to Trost to turn in the contract involving the trafficker. The folks running the inn seemed pleased with the steady flow of coin coming in from the crew, enough so that they were willing to overlook the rowdiness as drinks were downed. 

“Only water for you,” Erwin had said, taking a tankard of water for himself as well. 

Levi looked at him, an unspoken question in his eyes but he did so. If they weren’t to be getting drunk, perhaps Erwin had plans for him…

Erwin murmured something to Nile later, and Nile had nodded. 

“Come now,” Erwin gestured to Levi. “We’re going on a little walk.”

“A walk?” Levi asked, worrying with his hands. 

“Nothing bad, I promise,” Erwin wiggled his eyebrows, and that was all that Levi needed to set him at ease once again. 

They ended up walking out of town, into the trees that dotted the landscape. 

“What’s this about?” Levi cocked his head as Erwin took them off the path and further into the trees. 

“Oh Levi, so forgetful. I suppose I can’t blame you, you were half asleep.” 

Levi wracked his brain, and Erwin pulled out a length of rope from his satchel. Images flashed in his mind- a lightbulb went off. “Y-You…”

“We don’t have to, if you don’t want to,” Erwin clarified. 

Levi’s mouth slowly turned into a grin, his body beginning to race with adrenaline. “You’ll have to catch me,” he teased, before he took off running. 

“Oh, you little-” Erwin followed close behind. 

Levi wound further into the trees, peeking behind him before he ducked behind a big tree, slowing his breathing. 

“Where, oh where did my darling Levi go?” Erwin’s voice was close, sing-songy and amused. Levi held his breath, stifling a giggle. “Should have brought Mike with me, he’d be able to sniff you out no problem… probably would even help me tie you down.”

Levi covered his mouth with his hand, flushing red. “Bastard,” he muttered. 

Erwin rounded the tree, suddenly very directly in front of Levi and very in his face. “There you are, sweet thing… Running from an old man?” He pinned Levi’s wrists to the tree, his eyes glinting. 

“Should have kept running, bet you wouldn’t have been able to keep up,” Levi countered, eyes creasing with a smile. 

“Oh, but you wanted to be caught, didn’t you?” Erwin murmured. “Didn’t you?” 

“... Yes,” Levi spoke.

“You’re forgetting your manners.” 

“Yes, Sir…” Levi corrected, closing his eyes. 

“Gonna be a little rough today, yeah? That okay?”

“Yes, Sir. I…”

“Hmmm?”

“I w-want it.” Levi had only had a taste for Erwin’s darker side. Erwin had never gone too far, never had really let go. Levi knew that Erwin didn’t really want to actually hurt him, but Levi wanted to know what Erwin craved, deep down. 

“Mmm, that pleases me, darling.” Erwin let go of Levi’s wrists, working on removing the black-haired man’s shirt. He pulled it off, Levi raised his arms to help ease the process. “Good boy,” Erwin murmured. “Unfortunately, your captain is going to have to punish you for running away from him. Turn around.” 

Levi shuddered, shivering as a breeze rustled the leaves of the trees. His nipples peaked, and he turned to face the tree. The bark wasn’t too rough- it was scratchy against his skin but he found that he didn’t mind. Erwin raised the other man’s hands above his head and tied his wrists together. He held the longer ends of the rope in his hands and circled to the back of the tree, securing the wrists around the tree. 

“You need to be set free, you need to stop, you need to slow down, take a moment… use your word. Now…” Levi twisted his head as he heard rustling behind him. “I have a whip, and I have a flogger. The whip is harsher. It’s easier to draw blood with. Is that a limit for you?”

Levi trembled. “I… I… You’ll take care of me?”

“Of course, my darling. I’m going to start with the flogger, and if you want more, I can switch to the whip.” 

Levi nodded, relaxing to rest his head against the tree. “Yes, please, Sir… I… t-trust you…”

“Sweet thing. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” Erwin approached Levi, who flinched instinctively as he trailed his hand over his pale back. “Aw, frightened already?”

The smaller man whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut. “Shut up,” he shot back. 

Erwin dug his nails into Levi’s back, dragging angry lines down and eliciting a grunt from the other. “You’re testing me.”

“Do something about it, then,” Levi challenged. 

Erwin exhaled a long breath, and Levi felt the leather tails of the flogger drag over his back gently before doing a couple light test hits in a figure eight on Levi’s back. Levi breathed in and out. It wasn’t enough. 

“Hit me, dammit-” he started, then broke off with a yelp as a harder hit came down. He felt the rain of pain down his back, the individual prickling of the tails blending together in a pleasant tingling sensation. 

“What was that, boy?” Erwin asked. His tone was one of warning. 

 “Going deaf now, old man? I said , hit me- ugh -” Levi clenched his fists as Erwin brought down the flogger again.

“You will address me as Sir ,” Erwin breathed through his teeth, a resounding thwack ringing through the air. 

“You’ll have to hit me harder,” Levi retorted, his voice shakier than before. 

“You know just how to get what you want, don’t you?” Levi heard the grin in the taller man’s voice, the grunt as he brought down the flogger. 

“Ah,” Levi panted out, breathing harshly. “Erwin- fuck - Sir!” 

“There you go,” Erwin growled. He paused, laughing as Levi tensed to brace for another hit. He slumped when he realized the hit wasn’t coming, but arched his back as Erwin gently ran his fingers over the forming welts. “There you go. Let me hear you.”

“Mmm…” Levi was starting to feel a bit fuzzy in the head. The burning on his back was pleasant, but he found himself wanting more. 

“Let’s do fifteen more hits, yes? Fifteen more hits then we’ll see where we are.” Erwin patted Levi on the ass harshly. Levi wiggled his ass at him, straightening up once more. 

“Fifteen,” he repeated. 

“Very good,” Erwin said. He rained down the hits in quick succession, flogging over Levi’s back in a criss-cross formation. “There we go, five down.” He paused. 

“Ah, S-Sir… more…” 

“More?” Erwin asked. He obliged. 

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack. Five more down. Levi groaned and strained against the ropes. He was aware of the heat rising from his back, aware of the heat that had pooled in his trousers, hard and bulging. 

“Five more,” Erwin cooed. “You look so good like this, your back is all red. Can you feel the welts rising?”

“Y-Yeah,” Levi stuttered, keening as Erwin laid into him again. The final five were going to be fun, he could tell. Instead of little hits in quick succession, he did individual strikes. By the end of it, Levi was shaky and his breath came hard. 

Erwin pressed up against him, his body flush against Levi and pushing the smaller man into the tree. “How do you feel?”

“Good, Sir,” Levi mumbled. “I… the, the whip?”

“You want the whip? Want to be broken even more?” Erwin rolled his hips into Levi’s ass. Levi could feel the hardness through his trousers. “I’ll give you five lashes.”

“More,” Levi pouted.

“Now, now. Don’t be so hasty.” Levi heard the thud as the flogger was dropped, Erwin backed away again and was rustling in his satchel. “You don’t know the damage I can do with the whip, do you?” 

“ Want to know,” Levi whined. “Want it, want to bleed…”

“Oh, darling-” Erwin exhaled. “It’ll hurt, you know. You’ll be feeling it for days, healing… I’ll have to be gentle with you for awhile. The alcohol will sting when I pour it on your back.”

“Please, Sir,” Levi persisted. He wanted it. He wanted the pain, he wanted to feel the blood rising from the wounds, he wanted that burn as they disinfected him. He wanted it all. He only wished he could see Erwin right now. He imagined it, putting visuals to the sounds behind him. Erwin was standing tall, holding the whip in his dominant hand. His sleeves were rolled up and the satchel lay on the ground beside him. There was that shining in his eyes, the greed to draw blood, to make the other man hurt , that gleam that excited Levi so much. 

“Count each lash, love. Gods, you’re so gone for this, aren’t you?”

“Mhm,” Levi hummed, steadying his breathing and widening his stance. 

The whip whistled through the air with a loud crack , and Levi jolted as pain flooded his senses. His nostrils flared, though he didn’t feel any blood yet. He forgot what he was supposed to be doing.

“Count,” Erwin reminded. 

“One,” Levi gasped. “Shit.”

He heard the start of Erwin’s laughter, cut off by the singing of the whip as it came down again. 

“ Two ,” Levi coughed, the blood rising to the surface. Was that sweat trickling down his back or blood?

“So good for me,” Erwin moaned lowly, voice husky. “Three more.”

Another lash. Levi felt red wetness down his back, felt angry pain surge throughout him. He held onto the rope, braced against the tree, bent his knees in an attempt to escape the burning. “Three,” he voiced, practically breathless. Tears were building in his eyes, wet and leaking. His cock had flagged from the sheer pain of it all, but he still felt so good. This was it , he thought. This was his purpose . He was being used by Erwin.

Crack . 

“F-Four… Sir…” Levi felt his voice hitch on the edge of a sob, his muscles tensing. A couple fat tears slid from his eyes, trailing down his cheeks, and he flushed in shame, embarrassment, the pain and the delicious degradation of it all. He could take it, he could take one more. 

“So beautiful,” Erwin was murmuring. “Can’t believe you take this so well. So good for me, there you are… take it.”

He lay the final lash into Levi’s skin, blood singing through his veins. Levi cried out in pain, relieved. “Five,” came his small, winded voice.

Chapter Text

“Breathe,” Erwin spoke. 

Levi did so, focusing on his breath as Erwin paused behind him. He heard wetness against leather, realizing that Erwin had run his closed fist over the whip to clean the blood off of it. He heard Erwin unsheathe his dagger, felt the rope go slack and let Erwin grab his wrists and massage them. 

“Come now, boy. Kneel for me.”

Levi did, his body crying out in pain as he moved. He sniffled, more tears escaping against his will. He raised his hands to his eyes, rubbing at them and simultaneously hiding his face. 

“You did very well,” Erwin gently pulled his hands to rest on his thighs, leaving red on Levi’s wrist as he crouched before him, resting his forehead against Levi’s. “So, so good for me. How do you feel?”

Levi couldn’t find words, he just nodded. 

“Was that okay?”

He nodded more enthusiastically, face twisting into a sob. He hated the idea that Erwin thought he wasn’t okay, hated the worrying… he felt so good, so light.

“Okay, shhhh…” Erwin soothed. “Good boy. Sir is so pleased with you, he’s happy you had fun. He had fun too.” 

“Ahh,” Levi whimpered, clutching at Erwin’s shirt. “Fuck,” he concluded. 

“Do you need anything?” Erwin’s gaze was one of adoration, laced with slight concern. 

“Y-You. Stay.” 

Erwin looked offended at the mere implication of leaving. “I’m here, I’m here. Going to clean you up, okay? Remember, it’s going to hurt. Can’t risk you getting an infection.”

Levi nodded, keeping his hands where Erwin had put them and letting the floatiness take over his mind for a moment. Erwin helped him maneuver out of his trousers so the alcohol didn’t ruin his clothes. Levi winced as the alcohol was poured over his back, the lashes protesting. 

“There you go,” Erwin breathed. He pulled out a flask of fresh water and poured that over his back too. The coolness of the water soothed the burning from the alcohol and it trickled diluted redness down onto the ground. “Can’t believe you let me…” His touch was gentle and caring. He poured water onto a cloth, dabbing at the skin and soaking up the water, the blood, the sweat. “Can’t believe I got so lucky.”

Levi was relaxing into his touch, the pain fading to a blissful buzzing in the background. “Sir. Love you. ‘S good. Good.”

“I love you too, Levi. I adore you. I’m so happy,” Erwin smiled. “That I could share something like this with you.”

“Sh’tup,” Levi slurred. “Sir.”

Erwin chuckled. “We’re going to go into town in a bit, alright? Going to set you up with a nice bath, I’ll be there too. We can sleep in the same inn room as well, would you like that?”

“Yes,” Levi was already nodding. He couldn’t bear the idea of leaving Erwin’s side right now. “Yes, yes, Sir.”

“Alright then,” Erwin confirmed. “We’ll do that.” 

“Th’nk you,” Levi responded, closing his eyes. 

“Of course. We’ll rest here a moment, yes? Here, I’ll help you with your clothes.” 

Levi’s eyes flew open after a moment, suddenly panicky. “You… I should, do you-” He stared at Erwin’s crotch, looked back up into the other’s blue eyes. 

“Oh, darling. I don’t need that kind of release right now. You gave me plenty.” Erwin tapped his head, smiling softly. 

“Ah… you?” Levi was confused, he didn’t see any traces of cum, didn’t see any wet spot.

“You misunderstand. I mean that to tie you there, under my watchful gaze as you let me make you bleed…” Erwin trailed off. “Do you need it?”

Levi shook his head. “Feel good,” he said.

“I do too, just like you.”

The black haired man stayed quiet for a moment, considering Erwin’s words. “Okay,” he ended up saying, opening his mouth obediently as Erwin poured water down his throat after taking a swig himself. 

Levi could walk, he insisted to Erwin. Regardless, Erwin carried him to the edge of the forest, only putting him down when they were within sight of the town again. He draped his coat over Levi, ignoring the blushing and the protests that Levi stammered out. 

“It will look worse if they see any traces of blood seeping through your shirt,” Erwin said, kissing Levi sweetly before they began walking back to the inn. Levi had to agree- his shirt was a light gray and while the lashes were thin, they still had drawn blood. 

Erwin had a bath drawn for them, leaving Levi sitting in their shared inn room for the night as he got that situated. Levi had whined as Erwin left, but he found that having a moment to himself to do some breathing wasn’t terrible, in all actuality. The captain was back soon, anyways, and the two headed to a private bathing room. The bath was warm, almost hot but not quite there. Erwin helped to strip Levi of his clothing, folding it how the other liked it before placing it neatly on a stool. He looked concerned when Levi seemed to be out of it and realized that Levi was staring at the mirror to the side of the room. 

“Do you want to see?” Erwin asked. 

“Can I?” Levi seemed so vulnerable, so nervous. 

“Of course,” Erwin responded. He pulled off his own clothes and then led Levi over to the mirror. “See? Now, turn around.”

Levi did so, turning his head over his shoulder and gasping with a little smile. Down his back were three clean diagonal lines cutting across welted, reddened skin. Erwin had done a good job cleaning them. They pulled slightly as Levi gazed at them, moving his neck in an odd way in an attempt to look closer, and he winced. 

“Pretty,” he whispered.

“Isn’t it? They’ll heal up nicely,” Erwin breathed, turning Levi’s head so it wasn’t pulling on the wounds anymore. “Come now, let’s get in.”

He let Levi lean on him as he stepped into the bath. It was a bit of a crowded fit, admittedly, mostly because of Erwin’s stupid long legs. Gently, Erwin soaped up a sponge and began washing Levi. 

“I c-can do it myself,” Levi said indignantly. 

“I know you can. I just want to,” Erwin responded kindly. 

Levi couldn’t find a good response to that, so he let Erwin wash him, marveling at the delicateness with which he traced over the lashes. Erwin’s large hands carded through his raven locks, filling them with water and soap as he massaged Levi’s scalp.

“Ah, you’re good,” Levi admitted. “Your hands are useful, I concede.”

“For more than one thing, you know,” Erwin smirked. 

The smaller man rolled his eyes, lapsing into silence. The blonde tilted Levi’s head back, pouring water down his hair and rinsing out the soap and the dust. It was terribly intimate, and it made Levi’s heart ache for some reason. Levi shifted in the tub once Erwin was finished, demanding that the tall man hand over the sponge. He rinsed it before soaping it up once more and massaging over the blonde’s chest, over his arms and around to his back. He worked his hands through Erwin’s hair and watched as the older man’s body visibly untensed. 

“You work too hard,” Levi muttered.

“Always more to do,” Erwin shrugged.

“You have your crew, you have me… Let us help more. You said it yourself back to me ages ago… you don’t need to be alone.”

Erwin smiled sadly at Levi, pulling him in for a gentle kiss. “I’ll try, darling.”

“You better.” Levi tried to act grumpy, but his eyes were smiling. He gripped the taller man’s chin and yanked him down for a deeper kiss, smiling as the captain yelped with surprise and feeling the spiky stubble that was beginning to show. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Erwin responded, grinning genuinely.

“Now hand me that razor and cream on the ledge by you. Mike can pull the stubble off but I’m not used to it on you and so it has got to go,” Levi made grabby hands, and Erwin laughed. 

.     .     .     .     .

They were sailing again within the next few days. Levi’s back was healing nicely and he wasn’t bothered by it, but Erwin seemed to be a bit more finicky over it. 

“What if Hange looked at you?” Erwin brought up. 

“Pff, are you serious? They wouldn’t be able to shut up about that,” Levi responded, eyes wide. Erwin looked at him, an eyebrow raised. “... Would it make you feel better?” Levi asked, reluctant.

“It would, I admit.”

“ Fiiiiine .” 

So, Levi was shirtless in the captain’s cabin. Erwin was sitting on his bed, watching as Hange pulled Levi’s shirt over his head. 

“Oh wow! He really did a number on you, huh? Suppose it wasn’t nearly as bad as the last guy he got to use his whip on, he must really care about you-”

“Hange,” Erwin was trying not to laugh, warning Hange as Levi shot a glare at him. 

“Right, right. Yeah, these are beautiful! You did a great job, these aren’t too deep and don’t require stitches at all. You disinfected, all the good stuff?” Hange continued.

“Yeah, hurt like a bitch,” Levi recalled. 

“Good, good! Means its working.” Hange reached out to trail a hand over Levi’s back, pulling their hand back abruptly as Levi stiffened. “Sorry! Should have asked. Can I?”

“Y-Yeah,” Levi responded. He’d only been mildly startled by the contact. His back was still rather sensitive, after all. The welts had faded into some light bruising dotted over his back. He was much more relaxed when Hange touched him again, trailed their hand over his back. 

“None of these are infected. Just take it easy for a bit and the scabbing should fall off, it should heal really well so long as they aren’t irritated. Don’t… uh… overexert yourself,” they paused before they found the right words. 

“Thank you, Hange. That’s a relief to hear,” Erwin did sound audibly relieved. 

“Hey, if you’re ever worried, you can always come to me! I can stitch ya right up if he ever cuts you too deep, yeah? No harm in having some fun.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t go yapping about what we get up to, okay stupid?” Levi cut in, waving his hand in their direction as they went to help him redress. 

“I would never ! My lips are sealed!”

Levi raised an eyebrow, pressing his lips together in amusement. Ah, well. Worst came to worst, the crew would simply have to deal with the fact that both Erwin and Levi were a bit unconventional in their intimacy at times. 

Hange saluted. “I’ll be taking my leave now, if that’s all.”

“Aye, go ahead. Thank you again, Hange.” 

They grinned and left Levi and Erwin to their ‘ I told you I was fine ’s and ‘ it doesn’t hurt to check ’s.

Chapter Text

For the next couple weeks Levi did take it easier than usual. He wasn’t assigned to do any particularly strenuous work, mostly polishing and sharpening weapons. He also was allowed to help Erwin with the maps. Erwin would tell Levi where to mark on the map and he would do so for him.

During these couple weeks, there was one occasion where Levi had decided to kneel beside Erwin as he was writing at his desk. Erwin’s face had lit up, immediately becoming distracted in favor of paying attention to his lover.

“Oh? This is new,” Erwin had commented, shifting his chair towards Levi. 

Levi took this opportunity to scoot a little closer, leaning his head up so that he could rest his jaw on Erwin’s lap. 

“Can I…?” he had asked. 

“What do you want?” Erwin had smiled down.

“You don’t even need to stop working, if you want. Just want to taste you for a bit?”

Erwin had obliged in this request,  of course. Levi had pulled him out of his trousers and let him sit in his mouth. He alternated between sucking at him, bobbing his head, and licking stripes up the length of it. 

When he sat back on his feet to take a breath, he’d seen that Erwin was half hard against his thigh now, thickening out for him. That triggered a new wave of excitement and Levi made it his goal to get Erwin fully hard just by licking and sucking at him.

Erwin had stiffened up fully, by the end. His cock was jumping in Levi’s mouth, his hips had begun to roll forward a bit-

“Levi,” came the low rasp. “Please.”

“Hmmm?” Levi hummed around Erwin’s cock, he had cursed in response. 

“Let me- can I?” Erwin’s hand ran through Levi’s locks and Levi nodded, vocalizing a positive response. “Ah- thank you,” Erwin groaned. His grip tightened and he pulled Levi forward so that he choked on it, fighting to breathe as Erwin began fucking into his mouth. 

His cock was sizable, Erwin let Levi pull back when he needed to gasp oxygen into his lungs but he always came back. Drool slid from Levi’s lips as he focused on relaxing his throat and taking it.

“You got me so close already, naughty thing… Down your throat?”

Levi shook his head, whining. 

“Face?”

Levi let out an enthusiastic “Mhm!” and Erwin growled. He let Levi suck at him, thrusting twice more before he pulled out his dick and began fisting at it desperately. 

“Mmm, f-fuck,” Erwin stuttered, moaning as he came across Levi’s face. “H-Hah, hah…” He breathed deeply a few times, pulling at his cock slowly as the last bits of his release dribbled out. “ Thank you ,” he sighed. 

“Better clean me up now, bastard,” Levi grinned, one eye closed due to the cum that had dripped down over that eye. 

“Of course, my darling,” Erwin smiled back; he regained his breath as his cock softened back against his muscular thigh. 

.     .     .     .     .

Levi’s back was fully healed now and he had an idea that he wanted to bring up to Erwin. He thought there would be time today, but as he came back above deck from mopping the underdeck he saw that Erwin, Mike, and Shadis were preparing to go out hunting. In the near distance was a small isle, likely filled with wild pigs and fowl. 

That was alright, he could bring it up later. For now, he settled on marching up to Erwin and pulling at his shirt to give him a searing kiss. When he looked back up, he saw that Erwin was flushed ever so slightly, a smile playing at his lips. Mike was grinning, his own face redder than usual. Moblit let out a whoop, and Hange was blinking aggressively. Levi was hardly ever the one to initiate any show of affection in public and barely even in front of the crew. Levi couldn’t find himself caring as he pulled Erwin close to whisper something in his ear, and then he’d gone to clean the cannons. 

.     .     .     .     .

Now, how was Erwin supposed to function with the promise of a good time waiting for him when he got back from the expedition? As the rowboat was lowered and Shadis began rowing, Erwin was aware of Mike’s keen eyes on him. 

“Yes?” He questioned. 

“You seem happy,” Mike commented. “It’s a good look on you.” 

“Oh,” Erwin smiled. “Thank you. He… he’s very special.”

Mike inclined his head with a respectful nod, and they lapsed into a comfortable silence. They reached the island and prepared to do some hunting. 

.     .     .     .     .

“Ah, now what was it you wanted to ask me?” Erwin prompted later in the cabin after his group had returned and were settled from the hunting expedition.

“Oh, that,” Levi played coy, watching as Erwin grinned.

“Feeling like teasing me tonight, is that it?”

“Nah, was just thinking you could bend me over your desk and have your way with me,” Levi stated rather bluntly, the flush on his ears giving him away.

“Mmm, I do like the sound of that. Let me clear it off.” Erwin stood from his seat and cleared it, placing anything of importance on the map table. Levi removed his shirt in the meantime. “There we go. Come here.”

Levi remained seated, blinking at Erwin through long eyelashes. 

“That’s how it’s going to be? You bring something up then decide you’re going to disobey my orders? Well now, it’s a good thing you’re all healed up-” Erwin strode across the room and gripped Levi by the hair, savoring the yelp and the immediate way that he held power over the other. “Come on now, there you go.” Erwin led Levi over to the desk, ignoring the way Levi was trying to pry Erwin’s grip to no avail. He bent Levi over, keeping a steady grip on Levi’s hair as he did so. He stood behind the other and used the opportunity to squeeze Levi’s ass with his free hand. “I think I quite like you like this,” he commented.

“You would, asshole,” Levi shot back, whimpering as his face was pressed into the wood. 

“That wasn’t an invitation to speak, boy,” Erwin yanked Levi’s trousers down. “Here you are, open up…” Erwin extended his hand to Levi, prodding at his lips. 

Levi opened his mouth and began sucking at Erwin’s fingers with a whine. Erwin retrieved his fingers when he believed them to be wet enough and snuck them between Levi’s cheeks, circling his entrance with his forefinger. 

“Mmm, what’s this? Did you spend some time opening yourself up today? You’re looser than usual,” Erwin hummed as he pushed the finger in. 

“Y-Yeah,” Levi confirmed, gripping at the edges of the desk. 

“So thoughtful, my little slut.” Erwin added a second finger, listening as Levi’s breath hitched. “One of these days I’m going to make you come on my fingers, would you like that?”

“Ahh…” Levi’s cock was pressing against the hardness of the desk. He was trying not to grind back on Erwin’s fingers, but he found his willpower was decreasing by the second.

“I asked you a question,” Erwin warned. He pulled his fingers out to Levi’s dismay, opening a drawer to Levi’s side. 

“Yes, I… I’d like that, Sir ,” Levi tagged on the title with a little bit of bite to it. 

Oh, but that was worth it to feel Erwin’s fingers clench in his hair, a lovely pain crowning over his scalp. The grip was loosened soon after as Erwin went to remove the lid of some oil to lubricate himself; Levi heard the slickness being spread over the other’s cock- when had he pulled that out?- as Erwin exhaled.

“Not today though- No, my boy has asked to be fucked over my desk and so he shall receive.” 

Levi reached his hand back as Erwin started to push in- it was so soon, he’d hardly prepped- well, other than earlier. Erwin took hold of his wrist and pinned his hand to his back, watching as Levi attempted to scoot forward. He couldn’t go anywhere with the desk in front of him, and he let out a pitiful moan as the head made it past his entrance. 

It wasn’t too terrible a stretch, but it was much quicker than Levi was used to. He squeezed his eyes shut, crying out as Erwin slid fully into him. 

“Ah, ah, ah-” Levi let out several small moans, curling his toes. “Y-You…” he trailed off as Erwin pulled out, then pushed back in again. 

“What is it, pet?”

“Ugh,” Levi couldn’t find words as Erwin began fucking into him, pressing him against the deck. “ Sir .”

Erwin chuckled, letting Levi’s arm free. Levi moved it to grip at the desk again, his other hand flung across his mouth in a stifled gasp as Erwin snapped his hips into Levi. 

“Even though you prepared a bit earlier… you’re still so tight ,” Erwin grunted. “Divine.”

“P-Please, harder-” Levi groaned around his hand. 

Erwin responded by upping the pace, fully pressing in with each thrust. “Ah, yes…” Erwin groaned. Time seemed to stand still as he gripped Levi’s smaller hips, pulling the other’s body into his thrusts. 

“May I t-touch myself?” Levi whined. 

“Who are you asking?”

“Sir! Sir, Sir…” Wetness shone in Levi’s eyes as Erwin pushed in and ground even deeper into him. “Sir, please- please may I touch myself?”

“Oh darling, you’ve been on edge all day, haven’t you?”

“Yes, fuck -”

“You may touch yourself,” Erwin grinned. 

Levi’s hand flew to his cock immediately, pulling at himself as burning pleasure threatened to flood rivers of arousal already. “C-Close-”

“Needy thing,” Erwin cooed. “You just now touched yourself.” He sounded almost taunting. 

“ Please ,” Levi whimpered. “I c-can’t-” He was leaking, warm pre-cum dribbling from his slit as he chased his orgasm.

“Go ahead, darling, I know you want it…” Erwin’s voice sounded breathless as he continued fucking into the other man.

“Mmm- shit !” Levi bit into his hand, his voice cracking as he spilled all over his fingers, his body clenching, his legs trembling.

“Very good,” Erwin soothed. His pace slowed ever so slightly but he didn’t let up. “Now it’s my turn, yes? Be a good boy and take it.”

“Sensitive,” Levi protested, his eyes going half lidded with hazy pleasure as aftershocks rocked his body. “Oh, fucking- bitch , that’s good…”

Erwin let himself be overcome by the little noises that Levi continued to make, the way that his body instinctively clenched around the taller man every time he pulled out. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer, not with the way the other was squirming and flexing and vocalizing. He’d been on edge all day too, to be fair. Levi’s promise of a fun time far earlier in the day had immediately sent his body into a state of excitement and anticipation for the later events. It had been so worth it to come back on the ship, wash the blood from his hands and then to be able to fuck his lover like this, rough and quick. 

He pulled out, watching as Levi shuddered with displeasure, his hole clenching on air now, and stroked himself a few times and came across Levi’s lower back with a low groan. “ Yesssss ,” he breathed. 

The two men caught their breath and proceeded to clean up, exchanging kisses. 

“What a clever idea,” Erwin murmured against Levi’s hips. “Where’d that come from?”

“I haven’t been able to get past the idea of being pinned against things, bent over- It seemed most opportune for both of us. Your desk is sturdy and solid, very good for being fucked against in theory… and apparently in actuality.”

“I’ll have to come up with something fun for us to do soon,” Erwin mused.

“Ugh, you don’t have to do shit, eyebrows. I’ve got plenty bouncing around up here for the both of us,” Levi teased.

Chapter Text

They made port at Ragako. The stay was going to be slightly longer than usual, Erwin had decided. He had some business to settle with the leader of the merchant’s guild in the area, and he wanted to have a day for just him and Levi to have some sort of fun, is what he’d told Levi.

Erwin and Mike were out on the merchant’s guild business, and Nile and the rest of the crew were at a local tavern named The Southern Rose. Levi was sipping whiskey, watching with amusement as Moblit begged Hange to sit back down. He decided to tune into the conversation. 

“I’ll do it, I swear to the gods, I’m going to go and confront him,” Hange was saying.

“Hange, please- you don’t even know him, he only looked at you, you’re insane!” Moblit was trying to reason with Hange, gripping their wrist as they attempted to march after whoever had seemingly offended them. “He’s not worth the trouble, Hange-”

“Ugh, why do you have to be so logical ? Of course he’s not worth it, but that’s part of the fun!!”

“Fun?!” Moblit’s eyebrows were raised as he looked at Hange with astonishment. “Hange, come sit down…”

“Fineeeee,” Hange groaned dramatically, throwing themself into a nearby chair. 

“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” Moblit started to say as Hange flagged down someone passing out drinks. 

“Hah! Lightweight,” Hange teased. “Jealous you can’t keep up with me is all, huh?”

Moblit was shaking his head as Hange asked for another tankard of honey mead. “Not all of us are crazy like you,” he said with a grin as Hange slammed their head down on top of their hands, which were resting on the table. “Sit up, come on. I’ll make you a deal- I’ll drink half of that mead if you drink the other half. That’s it though, okay?”

“Heheheh,” Hange started giggling. “You’re on, loser.”

Levi’s eyebrows raised with fond amusement as not but two minutes later Hange tried to stand up and go after a customer of the tavern who had allegedly ‘made eyes at them from across the bar, the pervert’ and Moblit once again talked them down from starting a fist fight. Nile had his head in his hands.

Later that evening Mike and Erwin returned. Erwin and Levi slept in the same inn room that night. As they were getting ready for sleep, Erwin spoke to Levi. 

“I had an interesting chat with Mike,” Erwin started.

“Oh?” Levi responded, looking up from where he had just folded his shirt.

“Yes, I was thinking tomorrow the three of us could take a little walk outside of town.” Erwin’s tone was nonchalant, but the words held suggestive themes. 

“The… the three of us?”

“If you would like, just the two of us can go. However…”

“You… would be alright with doing something like that?”

“I told you before, my darling, I’m not wholly opposed to sharing. Mike is a trustworthy man, and I know you enjoy the thoughts of him pinning you do-”

“Shhhhhhh!” Levi flushed a bright red as he tried to cut Erwin off. “W-What would we be doing?”

“How do you feel about a nice flogging?” Erwin tilted his head.

Levi’s brain just about short circuited as he imagined it- Erwin bringing the flogger down and Mike watching him take it. Would Mike join? How was Mike with a flogger? This was all so new and terrifying- if not wildly arousing. 

“I… y-yes, that’d… that’d be good. The… the whip?”

“I’ll bring it if you want, but I know how much more intense that is. Since this is the first time we’ll be involving Mike, I think we should stick with the flogger and perhaps a bit of a spanking, yeah?”

“Oh-” Levi’s mind reeled with new visuals and he blinked. “That sounds… good,” he managed to say. “With Mike- how…” he trailed off, unable to voice the complex concerns he had.

“Sweet thing,” Erwin murmured as he sat on the bed, patting the empty space beside him. “Mike is going to be there for a bit of fun, nothing more. This is all for you, my darling.”

“I love you,” Levi sat beside Erwin, relaxing as Erwin began massaging his tense shoulders. “I like Mike, I’m just not sure if I would want it to turn into something more… I don’t want to ruin how things are, the crew, the dynamic.”

“I’m pretty sure that if things were to have been ruined that would have already happened when you so bluntly requested Mike fuck you.”

Levi covered his face at the memory. “Oh, gods.”

“Like I said, Mike isn’t expecting anything more to come of this than some fun. He’s a good guy,” Erwin reiterated. 

“I trust you,” Levi said. “I trust both of you, actually.” He shuddered as Erwin kissed his neck. “Bit terrifying, actually,” he added.

“I know, darling. I trust you too. I trust the entirety of my crew. We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to- I thought it would be something that could be fun for us, for you.”

“I want to,” Levi decided. “Mmm.” He hummed as Erwin bit down and began leaving a mark on his shoulder. 

“Then you’d better get your rest, my darling.” 

.     .     .     .     .

The next day, it was difficult for Levi to function. Erwin and Levi had gone into the inn’s tavern to eat breakfast, and upon entering Levi realized that some of the crew was there. This wasn’t normally an issue, except for the fact that Mike managed to catch Levi’s gaze from across the room and shot him a simmering smirk. 

“Dammit,” Levi cursed, shooting a scowl back and watching as Mike stifled a laugh (how dare he.)

“You’re so cute when you’re flustered, dear,” Erwin leaned down to murmur into Levi’s ear.

Levi swatted in Erwin’s general direction, straightening his collared shirt. “Fuck off,” he retorted.

“Oh, you most certainly deserve what you’re getting later,” Erwin shot Levi a wink and walked off to chat with Nile. 

Levi, in the meantime, decided pointedly to ignore Mike and to sit by Hange and Moblit who appeared to be having a very enthusiastic discussion on the different pressure points on the body. Or, at least, Hange was enthusiastic. Moblit was sort of smiling and nodding, an eyebrow raised in amusement. 

“Oh, hey Levi! Moblit, you should tell him about what that one pressure point does, I’m sure it’d be very useful in Levi’s love life-”

“Ah yes,” Moblit began, deciding to indulge in Hange’s little game. “There’s this spot on the lower back, see, and you’ll find that when pressed it-”

“Shut up, idiots,” Levi cut him off, and Hange started giggling. “Don’t tell me you’re drinking already.”

In the end, it wasn’t until afternoon when Erwin met back up with him and grabbed his attention. 

“Care for a walk?” he offered, bowing his head. 

Levi rolled his eyes and nodded. They made their way to the town gate, where Mike was leaning up against the wall. 

“Ah, Mike. Fancy meeting you here. Join us, would you?” Erwin grinned. 

To the outside eye, it all sounded terribly innocent. 

“Always good to get some nice forest air, huh?” Mike responded, standing up and crossing his arms. 

“Indeed. I find it most invigorating,” Erwin commented. 

Levi was already feeling warmer than usual, and the innocent banter that the captain and crewmate were exchanging was mildly infuriating. They exited the inhabited part of the town and made their way to the outcropping of trees past the town’s protective walls. 

“Levi, something on your mind? You seem awfully quiet,” Erwin poked Levi’s shoulder and the smaller man glared up at him. 

“Don’t play coy with me, bastard.”

“I have no idea what you mean! Mike, do you have a clue what he’s on about?” 

Mike shook his head, feigning cluelessness. “Haven’t the faintest,” he added.

They were a decent way into the trees now, and Levi found his breath hitching as Erwin grabbed his wrist sharply.

“Would you believe what this boy did last time I brought him on a little walk such as this one?” Erwin hummed, tilting his head.

“Do tell,” Mike engaged in the conversation, lips turned upwards as he watched Levi turn a lovely shade of pink.

“He ran from me,” Erwin said. “Tried to hide, but I have a feeling that he was caught on purpose… He was so obedient as I stripped him and tied him to the tree. 

“No more running this time, huh?” Mike closed in as well, tilting Levi’s jaw up gently to meet his eyes. Levi shuddered and shut his eyes to avoid the gaze. 

“No,” Erwin confirmed. “No more running. Levi darling?” Levi tried not to whimper. “Look at me.” Levi opened his eyes again, slowly. “Mike knows the word, alright? Raven. You say that at any point and we stop.”

“O-Okay,” Levi mumbled. 

“Okay, who?”

“...” Levi’s face twisted into a scowl and the tips of his ears began to redden. “Okay, Sir,” he corrected quietly. 

“No, that’s still not quite right. See, there’s this lovely gentleman beside me, as well. I think that he deserves a little respect too.”

“Ah,” Levi made a little whimper, eyes going to the ground. “Yes, Sirs.”

“Very good,” Erwin praised, lifting a hand to Levi’s cheek and rubbing his face fondly. 

“Very good, indeed,” Mike murmured, licking his lips. 

“Mike, would you care to remove his shirt?” Erwin let go of Levi’s wrist and stepped back a moment. 

Levi’s adrenaline spiked and his eyes darted for a moment, his body tensing as he toyed with the idea of running further into the trees, make them run, but Mike’s arms closed around him. 

“ Shit ,” Levi hissed as Mike gripped his hips firmly. 

“You certainly are quite the contradiction,” Mike marveled. “So obedient one moment, so feisty the other… I can understand why you and the captain make such a powerful match.”

“He’s always keeping me on my toes,” Erwin chuckled, eyes glittering with mirth as Levi glowered in his direction. “Go on, you can touch.”

Mike’s hands slid under the hem of his shirt, slowly pulling the fabric up as he ran his hands up Levi’s front. Levi’s body jerked as large fingers toyed with his nipples.

“M-Mike-!” Levi gasped, struggling against the shocks of pleasure that zipped straight to his loins.

“Mmm, he’s quite sensitive there,” Erwin grinned. He watched as Mike slid Levi’s shirt off, admiring the bruise he’d left on Levi’s neck the previous night. 

Mike pinned Levi against the tree and Levi let out an embarrassing moan, looking up into the other man’s eyes. Mike was smiling gently, a contrast to the way that he held Levi’s wrists above his head. Levi’s mind was racing- what could Mike do? He could push him to his knees, then he’d finally be able to see that cock… He could bite his neck, he could grind into him, he could-

His mind went blank as Mike leaned down and wrapped his lips around one of Levi’s nipples. Ugh , that was good. 

“Here, let me hold his arms for you.” 

Levi heard Erwin’s voice, felt as he was pressed up against Erwin. Erwin’s back was to the tree, providing stable support as Mike pushed Levi into him. Erwin linked his arms through Levi’s and held him fast against him. The raven haired man felt the solid heat of Erwin’s length through both of their trousers and felt his own cock filling with blood. 

“Are you going to be good?” Erwin cooed into Levi’s ear.

Levi’s hips bucked forward as Mike switched to the other nipple, leaving sloppy bite marks in his path. “I… don’t know yet,” he stammered. He sighed with relief as one of Mike’s hands began to press against his hardening erection. 

“I see. I suppose we’ll have to persuade you,” Mike parted from Levi’s nipple as he said so. “A nice flogging would do.”

“Oh, well would you imagine what I have on me?”

“Shithead,” Levi spat, biting back his laughter at the absurdity. 

“That’s right,” Erwin continued. “A flogger!”

Mike exhaled a laugh and straightened, towering over a foot above Levi at his full height. Up close it was even more terribly obvious how much larger the man was than him. “Well, would you look at that?”

Chapter Text

In a blur, Mike stepped back and Erwin forced Levi to stand towards the tree. “Keep him here for me,” he said to the other blonde as he pulled out rope.

“My pleasure,” Mike responded, pressing flush against Levi, who was trying to remember how to breathe properly. 

“Ah, there you go,” Erwin commented as he tied Levi’s wrists together. “And around the tree we go~”

“You’re a bitc- ah, hah…” Levi whined as Mike’s fingers dug into his thighs. 

“I wonder how many hits I’d have to give you if I were to give you one for every time you’ve called me something disrespectful,” Erwin pondered.

Levi grit his teeth and rested his forehead against the tree as both men backed away from him, apparently to admire him as he trembled with adrenaline and lust. 

“Ready, pet?” there was a rustling and Levi heard the woosh of air as Erwin gave the flogger a few test swings. 

“...” Levi clamped his mouth shut, only to yelp as the first five hits came down. 

“I can’t hear you,” Mike said. “Answer him.”

“Please,” Levi gasped. “Yes.”

“Ugh,” Levi heard Mike groan. “Fuck, is he always such a slut for pain?”

“You should have seen him back on Trost, Mike…” Erwin felt a rush of pleasure at the memory. “He wanted the whip, so I gave him five. He was bleeding by the time I was done with him and yet he still was asking if I needed to come.”

“Shit,” Mike exclaimed with vigor. 

“He took it so well .”

Erwin brought down the flogger again, going in a criss-cross motion across the expanse of Levi’s back. Levi instinctively pulled away from the pain but was unable to go anywhere- he was forced to just take it and accept it. He took several deep, steadying breaths when Erwin next paused. It felt so nice, the heat of the pain licking up his back, the rope around his wrists, the bark that was scratchier than the last tree they’d brought into this. 

“Mike, care for a few swings?” 

“Ah, been awhile,” Mike commented.

Levi twisted his head around, watching as Erwin handed the flogger over to Mike. Mike ran his hands through the leather tails, grinning and catching Levi’s eyes as he did a few test swings. His biceps bulged at the motion, tight in his short sleeved tunic. 

“Oh, shit,” Levi mumbled to himself, turning back to face the tree. He’d caught the look on Erwin’s face too, a smug sort of satisfaction glowed in the captain’s eyes as he watched Levi flush, as he watched Mike.

He hissed as Mike lay the blows into him. Mike’s pattern was different. Erwin tended to go in increments of five, giving Levi a little more room to breathe in between. Mike was less predictable. He’d do one solid hit, leaving the smaller man reeling from the impact before he’d catch him off guard with a varying amount of follow-up blows. 

“Don’t you have something to say to Mike?” Erwin asked as Mike let Levi breathe for a moment, his back heaving as he brought the oxygen into his lungs. 

“Th… thank you, Sir,” Levi said. Was he drooling? Ugh, how shameful- And yet, he couldn’t find it in himself to care much as Mike praised him, rubbed a soothing cool hand down his back before retreating and carrying on his onslaught.

“Lovely,” Erwin whispered, barely audible as Levi trembled before the two tall men. He gestured for the flogger, unbeknownst to Levi, and after a pause hit Levi with a single emphatic strike. 

“Gods!” Levi cried out, his voice on the verge of cracking, or maybe catching on a sob. He couldn’t tell anymore. 

“Not gods,” Erwin reminded. “Sirs.”

He continued assailing Levi’s back with a barrage of blows, grinning maliciously as the younger man flinched away from him. He loved the whip, he adored the release that making the other man bleed brought him. At the same time, there was such an enthralling way that the flogger made him feel. Levi could take much more of the flogger as it was significantly less intensive in nature.

“Sir, Sirs. Sirs-” Levi was chanting; he’d formed a mantra of sorts, he was no longer able to think straight and tensed even as no more hits came.

“Easy, boy,” Mike was saying, closer to Levi than he remembered. Levi let out a whimper as Mike ran his hands through Levi’s black hair. “So good for us.”

Erwin came up on his left side. His hands were empty of the flogger, and he told Levi to open his eyes. “There he is,” Erwin smiled as he met Levi’s gaze. “How are you feeling?”

“Mmm, g-good, Sir,” Levi slurred. 

“So obedient now after a little discipline, aren’t you? Do you want to show Mike how good you can be?”

Levi nodded, leaning back into Mike’s touch, forward into Erwin’s gaze- he felt so surrounded, and in the best way possible. 

“Why don’t you arch your back, darling, and show off a little,” Erwin suggested.

The smaller man did so, pushing his ass out and ignoring the hazy throb of his back. He yelped at a solid smack from Erwin’s hand across his ass but bent back into his position regardless. 

“Five from me and five from Mike,” Erwin murmured. 

“Mmm, yes, Sir,” Levi agreed, humming as the endorphins surged through his body. 

“Fuck,” he heard Mike say. “It’s a wonder how you get any work done, Captain.”

“Oh, I know.” Levi scowled as the two began a little conversation in between Erwin’s solid smacks. Two, three… “One time I was working on drafting an important letter to the leader of the merchant’s guild and he joined me. He kneeled on the ground in front of me, asked if he could taste me for a bit, said I didn’t even need to stop working.”

Four… and five . Erwin’s hand massaged Levi’s cheeks, eliciting a whine of protest from the sensitivity. 

“I bet that was quite the distraction,” Mike observed. There was a rustle as the men traded spots, Mike’s hands on him now, reveling in the warmth of where Levi had been impacted. 

“Quite,” Erwin agreed, crossing his arms in Levi’s periphery. 

One . Fuck, but that was good. Mike was clearly just as experienced as Erwin, and the thought of his big hands on Levi made him harder than he’d like to admit. He wished he was braced against Erwin, that’d at least give him something to rut against… This tree wouldn’t do, not at all. And with the way that he was struggling to keep his ass pushed out and on display, he couldn’t do anything but sit with the arousal that was tenting his trousers. 

“Ended up coming across his face, after he got me good and hard. You should have seen it, Mike… it was such a sight.”

Mike let out a harsh exhale of breath at the thought, the air ghosting across Levi’s red and hot back and triggering a wave of painful goosebumps. Levi shivered. Two, three, four . The next three hits came in quick succession. Levi felt his eyes getting blurry with tears and he tried to blink them away- five . Mike’s hand stayed where he had impacted, rubbing the area. 

“Th…” Levi was panting, he realized as he tried to speak. He took several deep breaths. “Thank y-you, Sirs,” he breathed. 

“You’ve been very good, taking what we’ve given you,” Erwin spoke. Distantly, Levi registered him undoing the ties around his wrists. 

“Such a good boy,” Mike murmured. “Mmm, fuck…” Erwin maneuvered Levi to turn around, face the two taller men. “He’s so hard… we barely touched you,” Mike’s hand flew to his crotch, palming himself.

“Y-You’re one to talk,” Levi stammered, his face flushing. “You barely touched me and you’re hard, too.”

“See, but you were making the sweetest little noises, writhing in pain inflicted by our hands. We’re only men, after all,” Erwin grinned. He held Levi against him, bracing his own back against the tree, and the younger man was keenly aware of the fabric of Erwin’s cotton shirt against his sensitive back. Erwin trailed his large hands down the front of Levi’s body and pressed his own erection into Levi’s reddened ass as he snuck his hand into Levi’s trousers. 

Levi squirmed as Erwin gripped his cock, pulling at it beneath his clothes. “Sh… shit, Erwin…”

“Who?”

“Sir, ah-!” He cried out as Erwin pulled his head back by his hair, his neck bared to Mike. 

Mike closed the distance, trailing fingers down Levi’s neck and placing his other hand on Levi’s hip. “May I mark him, Captain?” he asked. 

Levi whined. “What do you think, pet?”

“It’s alright with m-me, Sir. Whatever pleases you,” Levi gasped out.

Erwin growled. “So very good. Yes, Mike, I’ll allow it.”

“Mmm,” Mike’s nose was against Levi’s neck now, the stubble tickling his delicate skin. “I’m honored.” He bit down above a bruise that Erwin had left the other night, sucking. 

“F-Fuck,” Levi sighed. 

“Ah, this is…” Erwin ground his hips against Levi. “Yeah, that’s good. Want to touch him, too?” Erwin’s hand left Levi’s cock and he whimpered at the loss, his breath hitching as Erwin pulled his trousers down. 

“Yeah, shit…” Mike wrapped his big hand around Levi’s cock now, pulling at it. Levi’s hips stuttered forward against it and his head fell back against Erwin’s body. 

Mike’s tongue dragged across Levi’s neck to another empty patch of pale skin and he bit down again. Levi’s Adam's apple bopped as he let out a plaintive cry. 

“That’s a good boy,” Erwin soothed, letting Levi’s hair go in favor of pulling out his own cock and stroking it. “How about you give Mike a taste?”

Levi nodded eagerly. He’d had dreams of this. Mike backed away from him slightly, letting Levi settle onto his knees and pull at the hem of the other’s trousers. 

“Oh? Eager,” Mike chuckled, sucking in a breath as Levi wrapped a hand around his freed cock. He was a bit shorter in length than Erwin but had slightly more girth. 

“He’s had your cock on his mind for months,” Erwin said with a laugh. “I know I leave him well and satisfied, but I thought that he’d like to get his hands on it finally… He was, after all, so disheartened when you declined his initial request to fuck him.”

Levi turned and glared Erwin down. What a fucking snitch. 

“Didn’t want to go overstepping my boundaries,” Mike murmured. “Glad I didn’t, let things get figured out between the two of you… But by the gods I’m grateful you were inclined to invite me today. Such a delicious boy you have.”

Mike threaded his fingers through Levi’s hair as he opened his mouth and began working his way down Mike’s length. He had to open his jaw a bit wider to accommodate the girth that he wasn’t used to, but it was worth it to feel Mike tense above him. He hollowed his cheeks and began a steady pace, bobbing his head up and down and sucking . He heard Erwin behind him, heard the sound of Erwin jerking himself off as he watched him blow the other blonde. 

“Want Mike to come down your throat?” Erwin asked. 

“Mhm,” Levi vocalized, unable to form words with dick in his mouth and unwilling to part from it because the little moans that Mike was exhaling were so yummy to his ears; they went straight to his own cock. 

“Damn,” Mike grunted. 

“You’ll suck me off after, won’t you darling? Let both of us come and then you can.”

Levi let out a positive sound, jerking off the parts of Mike’s cock that didn’t fit in his mouth quite as comfortably. 

“C-Close,” Mike shuddered. 

“There you go, come down his throat… he’s so eager to please you. Look at him, Mike- he’s desperate for it.”

Levi looked up at Mike through half-lidded eyes just in time to meet Mike’s gaze as he looked down, feeling the other’s cock flex in his mouth. 

“So good ,” Mike grit out, his jaw tense as he pushed his hips ever so slightly forward, met Levi’s movements. “ Fuck !” He came, his cock pulsing as he spilled down Levi’s throat. 

Levi swallowed without thinking too much about it- he wasn’t a huge fan of swallowing but he figured that this was a special occasion and he didn’t mind that much, in the end. He continued sucking on Mike’s cock, delicately now, cleaning it and departing with a thin string of saliva that broke when he got too far away. 

“My turn,” Erwin hummed. 

Levi opened his mouth and Erwin tapped his cock on the smaller man’s tongue before giving him a nod. The younger man took the head into his mouth and then went as far down as he could. This was more comfortable. He was used to the taste of Erwin’s cock, the way that it fit into his mouth, the smell of Erwin’s body. He closed his eyes, almost savoring the experience. He knew that his lover wouldn’t last long, he felt the tremble of Erwin’s thighs as he sucked at him. Erwin had, after all, been jerking himself off. He wondered if he had touched himself while Mike had flogged him, while he had spanked him… 

It took all his willpower not to reach for his own dick. But no, he had Erwin to make come, and then he was promised his own release. He moaned at the thought of it, at the thought of coming in front of Mike. How embarrassing. 

“There we go,” Erwin was groaning. “Ahhh…” He sighed as he came, warm and plentiful as Levi almost choked on it. He felt his gag reflex kick in, but clenched his fist and swallowed, showing Erwin his empty mouth. “What a treat, huh? For me? So sweet of you,” Erwin praised, regaining his breath, tucking his dick back in his trousers and crouching down in front of Levi.

Levi nodded, his fists planted on his thighs now, his cock standing tall between his thighs and leaking precum. 

“Do you need to come?” Erwin asked. Oh, how patronizing. He knew Levi wanted it, only an idiot wouldn’t be able to see how desperate Levi was. 

“Please, Sirs,” Levi begged. “Please. Been so good,” he whined. He was frustrated at how tears began to prick at his eyes. 

“My sweet boy.” Erwin moved to sit against the tree, spreading his legs and patting the ground between them. “Come here, sit. Let’s show Mike how sweet you sound when you come, mmm?” 

Levi sat, his back against Erwin once more. He was keenly aware of Mike’s eyes on him, on how his cock jumped at Erwin’s lightest touch. 

“Please,” he repeated, squeezing his eyes shut. 

“Mike, want a taste?” Erwin asked, his thumb covered in Levi’s precum. 

“Yes,” Mike’s voice was low, and as Levi opened his eyes Mike was there on the ground in front of him, his eyes hungry. He grinned at Levi, eyes flashing before he descended upon Levi’s cock. 

“Ah!” Levi’s eyes rolled back as Mike’s tongue pressed against the underside of his cock. His mouth was so warm, so good… “ Please !”

Erwin’s hands were on his chest, playing with his nipples, and he let out a sob. It was so good. He was so hard, he couldn’t help himself from bucking his hips; he whined as Mike’s hands gripped his thighs. 

“ Please , please please…” 

“Darling, you can come whenever you wish. That’s it, deep breaths- Mike’s got you. Looks like he’s been eager for a taste too, huh? How’s it feel?”

“ Good ,” Levi’s voice was high, breathy. “So good, thank you, thank y-you-!” He came, his body jerking as wave after wave of pleasure crested throughout his body, he felt Mike’s tongue against him and how the tall man swallowed down what he gave. 

“Can’t let that go to waste,” Mike was smiling as he wiped his mouth. Evidently, he appeared to be a fan. 

“I do agree with you,” Erwin smirked. “You there, sweetheart?”

Levi nodded, boneless and with a smile at his lips. 

Mike laughed. “Tired him out, the poor guy. No wonder he sleeps so much better now.”

They sat with Levi, giving him praise and helping him get redressed. Levi felt foggy, but in a good way, as they made their way back into town. This had been good; Levi was exceedingly grateful to Erwin for negotiating such a fun time.

Chapter Text

The next contract that Erwin decided on taking was rather mysterious. The premise was simple enough- track down an assassin and kill him. A vague location was given, there was a warning that the assassin may have backup. The reward was a hefty sum of gold, so it was likely going to be more dangerous than some past missions they had completed. 

Erwin would be leading, as he tended to do. Hange, Moblit, Nile and a few other men would be joining him. Erwin put Shadis in charge of the ship while the group was gone. Levi wished that he would be going along… he thought he was decent in regards to stealth and that would be a helpful skill on this mission. He had the feeling that Erwin was leaving him back due to the higher threat of danger. 

The captain’s apparent fears were proved, unfortunately, to be correct. The crew that had stayed on the ship had kept guard while docked, and they cheered at the sight of Erwin leaving the treeline. The cheers had faltered as the others trailed behind. Nile was carrying a body, and it looked familiar… 

The crew crowded around as Erwin boarded the ship. Levi pushed his way to the front, past Mike, past Shadis… he watched as Erwin gestured for some space. His face was grim. Nile followed, and lay down the body of Moblit on the ship. Hange was by his side, tears were streaming down their face and they were hiccuping. Their breathing was irregular, interrupted by sobs. 

“Moblit…” Levi whispered, feeling his heart sink. He was motionless, clearly gone. There was nothing to be done at this point. Three arrows were stuck in his chest, the tails having been broken off. 

“He died bravely,” Erwin said. His voice sounded almost hollow. “There was a trap. It caught us off guard. Hange was in front, scouting ahead with Moblit close behind. He took the arrows for them, saved their life. He was very valiant until his last breath.”

Hange’s eyes were brimming with more tears and their face twisted in grief. Nile’s solemn face had dried, salty tear tracks. They decided that they’d bury him within the coastal town of Rose, where he had come from, so he would still be near the ocean. Rose wasn’t too far from the island they had killed the assassin at, and so they set sail. 

They arrived at dusk, and they decided to bury Moblit at the sunrise. It was a small event, solemn in nature, and afterwards the group got drinks and discussed their fond memories of Moblit. It was lovely, if not terribly heart wrenching. Hange kept getting caught on words, kept tearing up. It was the first death among the crew that Levi had been there for. He knew that death was a risk when joining a crew, as sailing tended to get violent and contracts often involved bounties of sorts. It still was something of a shock… he’d been with the crew for so long now and he’d been lulled into something of a false sense of comfort. It hurt, and it filled Levi with a whole new sense of anxiety. He was grieving the loss of Moblit- but at the same time, he hadn’t known Moblit that well. What if someone else died, someone who Levi was closer to? Like Hange, or Mike, or… or Erwin?

Levi didn’t want to think about it. 

.     .     .     .     .

The loss of Moblit was affecting Erwin more than the captain initially let on. He’d receded back into his shell, poring over maps alone again, getting less sleep… He had wanted to sleep alone more again. Levi had been getting used to spending most night in Erwin’s arms, so he found himself mildly distressed by the sudden gap that had cracked open between them. He knocked at Erwin’s door one evening while the sun was setting. 

“Come in,” he heard the soft voice say. “Oh, Levi.” He smiled, but it looked sad. 

“Darling,” Levi murmured, closing and locking the door behind him and approaching the blonde. “Come and relax awhile? You’ve been working too hard again.”

“I know,” Erwin grumbled. “I’m sorry. I know, it’s just… I don’t know what to do. We need gold for supplies, but I’m not willing to take out a group so soon after… what happened.”

“Moblit’s death wasn’t your fault,” Levi said firmly. Erwin looked up at him, doubt in his eyes. “It wasn’t. Everyone who goes on expeditions with you knows the risks. You made the risks of this particular mission apparent, did you not?”

“... I did. That’s not the point , Levi. I’m the captain, I should have been more careful. I should have been leading.”

“If the crew lost their captain they’d be in a lot more disarray than they are right now, Erwin.”

Erwin was quiet for a moment. “I know you’re right.” He sighed. “It hurts. I feel like I can’t look at Hange right now and I feel like the entire crew is looking at me and it’s been so long since we’ve dealt with a loss like this that I really don’t know what to do.”

“Come lay on the bed,” Levi said, pointing. 

Erwin raised his eyebrows, looking faintly amused, but did so. “Levi, I’m… I’m sorry. I’m not particularly feeling up to any more vigorous activities-”

“That’s okay,” Levi assured. “I just want to appreciate you for a bit, let you relax for a moment. Tell me to stop if it’s too much, okay?”

He straddled Erwin’s hips, settling nicely on top of him. In usual circumstances this would create a much more enticing atmosphere, but with the somber atmosphere it was more of comfort and just a bit of grounding physical contact. Erwin tensed but began to relax under Levi’s body as Levi reached down and dug his fingers into Erwn’s tense shoulders. 

“I’m so sorry,” Erwin was saying.

“Shhh,” Levi responded. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I love you, Erwin. I love you.” He leaned down and met Erwin’s lips in a gentle kiss, leaning back and picking up one of Erwin’s hands. 

Levi kissed the back of the captain’s hand before picking two fingers to suck upon. He closed his eyes, cherishing the taste of the sweat and skin and enjoying the way that Erwin’s lips parted in a gasp. 

“Levi,” he breathed. “What-”

“Just relax,” Levi said. “I love you.”

Erwin lay back with no complaints, his eyes sliding closed as Levi’s tongue cherished his fingers, his hands, his knuckles. Levi hummed softly, splaying Erwin’s shiny hand upon his thigh and then took the other hand, kissing that one and worshipping each finger. It made Levi sad to see his lover like this, sad, unmotivated, tired. He hoped that a little bit of love and care would offer a moment’s reprieve from the stress that he was going through. 

“It must be hard,” Levi commented. “Being a captain. Shouldering the weight of everything and bearing the consequences all on your own. I want to be here with you and help you. I know it’s hard, but I’m here.”

“Thank you, Levi.” Erwin’s voice sounded thick with emotion. “My darling. I know this will pass, I know I can make it through the grief. I’ve done it before. It’s just…” He opened his eyes, met Levi’s gaze. “I’m so attached, now. To you, to my crew… to all of them. I can’t bear the thought of losing any of them. I can’t even imagine losing you.” 

Tears were glittering in Erwin’s eyes, and Levi’s heart dropped. He had never seen Erwin cry before. He put Erwin’s hand down, acknowledging how vulnerable that the other man was being right now, and leaned down to embrace Erwin. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the toll that all this was taking on the other man. He did his best to be there, to hold Erwin’s shaking body close, to support him.

.     .     .     .     .

Hange had been distant, too. They were much more reclusive and had been hiding under deck more frequently. They were usually so enthusiastic, annoyingly so, and the crew didn’t feel quite right without their bubbly mannerisms keeping them entertained and without Moblit talking Hange down from any needless fights or experiments with gunpowder… 

“Oy, Hange.” Levi watched as Hange tensed, having been walking quietly from the head of the ship back to the under deck. “Help me with the cannons?”

Hange’s face twisted into a nostalgic smile. “Sure,” they replied. 

The quiet was rather deafening as they began cleaning the cannons side by side. Levi had to admit that he wasn’t that used to initiating or carrying on a conversation, especially with Hange. 

“I wanted to check in. I know it’s been rough,” Levi started. 

Hange frowned, scrubbing intensely. “It should have been me,” they said. “If he hadn’t jumped in front of me to save me, he’d still be here. I should have noticed the archer.”

“He knew what he was doing,” Levi countered. “He could have done nothing, if that’s what his heart had told him. But he didn’t. He knew he had to save you, that was his instinct.”

He snuck a glance at Hange and saw their eyes were wet with emotion under their spectacles. “He’s always been like that. I dunno why, but he’s always looked out for me, kept me from doing anything too dumb.”

“You two were pretty close,” Levi acknowledged. “I can’t imagine how you feel right now, Hange.”

Hange stayed silent. “Thanks, Levi. I’ll be alright. It’s just… it’s so hard. I keep replaying that moment over and over again, wondering what I could have done differently, if we could have saved him. It hurts . I don’t know how to fix this sort of hurt as well as I can with the other hurts, and it bothers me.”

Levi pat Hange on the shoulder, albeit awkwardly. “I enjoy your company, you know.” Hange cracked a smile, and Levi scoffed. “Don’t let it go to your head. I just mean that I miss you.”

“I miss everyone, too,” Hange admitted. “And I miss him.”

“I know,” Levi murmured sadly. “I know.”

Chapter Text

It had been almost two months since Moblit’s death. Slowly, the crew healed; things began to gradually return to more of a normal feeling once again- as much as it could be without Moblit’s presence. Hange was slowly starting to smile more and be their bothersome self again. Erwin opened up to Levi once more after isolating for a bit. He seemed to hold Levi tighter in his arms at night. 

“Erwinnnnn,” Levi whined one night, splayed out on Erwin’s bed.

“Yes, my darling?” Erwin looked up from the map. 

“...”

“What’s that? Oh sweet thing, do you want attention, is that it?” Erwin straightened with a grin upon his face. 

“Do you remember when you and… you and Mike…?”

“Of course I do. What about it?”

“What if you spanked me again?” Levi’s words were quiet; he was avoiding eye contact with Erwin. 

Erwin’s grin grew even wider. “Oh? Is that what you want?”

“I miss you. Your stupid hands on me.”

The blonde chuckled. “What if the crew hears?”

“Please, they’ve heard too much as it is. Your cabin isn’t too bad for soundproofing unless you’re right up against it. Plus, it’s during the day, they should all be busy,” Levi pointed out. 

Erwin sat himself on the bed and Levi bounced, squeaking as Erwin’s weight sank down on the bed. “Come here, then. Over my knee.”

“Sir-” Levi let out a sharp exhale and scrambled to obey, crawling over Erwin’s lap. Erwin’s hands were already stroking through his hair, a palm on his ass. 

“Gods, I’ve missed this. You’ve been so sweet and understanding. This is less of a punishment and more of a reward for you, isn’t it? Lucky for you, I enjoy watching you squirm .” Erwin dug his fingers into Levi’s asscheek and he wiggled before inhaling abruptly at the first solid smack. “You enjoyed it so much, didn’t you? Mike and my hands on you back at Ragako. Answer me.”

“Y-Yes, Sir,” Levi responded after another hit. 

“Good boy,” Erwin murmured. “I enjoyed it too. You took it so well, what we gave you. So sweet and docile by the end, too, precious thing.”

Levi didn’t bite back verbally, but he swung his head back to give Erwin a look. Erwin only looked amused. He took the opportunity to tug at Levi’s hair and force his head back further. 

“Mm,” Levi let a quiet moan slip. Erwin was establishing a bit of a pace with the hits; they were coming harder now. 

Smack, smack, smack. Levi’s body shifted forward at the last one, trying to tense and brace for it. Erwin stroked Levi’s hair between his fingers, letting his head fall forward again and tugging Levi’s trousers down to his knees. 

“You’re already a nice shade of pink,” he commented, rubbing his hand over Levi’s ass. “Say thank you.”

“Thank you,” Levi responded. “Sir,” he added on, because he knew Erwin would give him shit about it if he didn’t. It made Levi’s heart sing when he could practically hear the approval in Erwin’s next words. 

“Very good,” the tall man said. All this praise- it made Levi feel fuzzy and warm every time Erwin did it. And Erwin praised him a lot , not to his complete dismay. 

Erwin hummed softly and brought his hand down. The sound was a lot louder without the cotton padding of his pants, and Levi whimpered. 

“Shhh, baby. You’re alright, yeah?”

“Mmmhm,” Levi responded, feeling vulnerable. He knew that he had said he didn’t particularly care if the crew heard, but at the same time this wasn’t just sex. This was more intimate than sex, in a way, for Levi. Levi liked to be in control of his feelings, of the sounds he made, of everything in his day to day life and in front of the crew. 

Smack . Another hit rang out through the room, and Levi keened, jerking forward to avoid as much impact. Erwin exhaled a laugh through his nostrils and followed the hit with five more in quick succession, watching as Levi squirmed to escape. 

Erwin put the hand he wasn’t busy spanking with on Levi’s lower back, pressing down and holding him to be more still. Smack, smack, smack… Levi’s ass was feeling tingly with the impact, almost as fuzzy as his brain was right now. 

“So good for me,” Erwin was whispering down to Levi. “Gonna have to come across your ass after this. How lovely that would look, the streaks of white against the red…”

“Please,” Levi whined. “Please fuck me?”

It had been awhile since they had fucked, and Levi missed it. He was feeling especially empty right now, fire in his loins as he rolled his hips into Erwin’s thigh and felt hardness pressing up into his stomach in return. 

“Mmm, in a bit. I want to see how red you can get. One of these days… I should spank you until you cry. How do you feel about that?” Smack, smack, smack, smack.

“Ah,” Levi shuddered. “Y-Yeah.” 

“You like when I make you take almost too much, don’t you?” Smack, smack, SMACK!

“Fuck,” Levi tensed against the final blow, his face twisting in pain. “Yes, Sir… like how it feels.”

“How does it feel?” Erwin prompted, holding his hand against Levi’s toasty cheeks.

“Good… floaty, fuzzy, relaxing, it hurts . And I like that. I like you, like the look in your eyes when you hurt me. Like the way it feels,” Levi almost babbled.

“Sweet boy. I like you too. You look so good under me. Five more then, yes? Can you count for me?”

Smack .

“One,” Levi responded. 

Smack, smack . 

“Two, threeeee…” Levi pushed his face into the sheets, muffling his whines.

Smack .

“F-Four.”

Smack ! 

“Five-!” Levi gasped at the last one as Erwin grabbed onto the area of impact, squeezing firmly. “Owwww, you bitch,” he grumbled. 

“What was that?” He could hear Erwin’s grin and hissed as big fingers yanked his head up from the sheets. 

“Bitch,” Levi repeated, on the verge of laughter. 

“Silly, silly boy. I love you and your rude mouth.” 

“Fuck me?” Levi asked, wiggling his reddened ass.

“How can I resist?” Erwin prompted Levi to get up off his lap and he did so, shakily. “How about you stay on all fours for me?”

“Mhm,” Levi agreed, pulling his shirt off, letting Erwin help him remove his pants the rest of the way. He pushed his ass up as he got settled, his head into the sheets again. 

He turned his head to watch Erwin get undressed, biting his lip as Erwin pulled out his cock. 

“Why don’t you open yourself up on your fingers for me a bit, hmmm? I’m sure you could use the stretch.”

Levi scowled back at Erwin and blushed a red comparable to his butt’s glow. He turned his face into the sheets again to avoid the gaze of the taller man, shifting his body so that he could push a finger into himself. He curled his toes as he did so, adjusting to the feeling. It really had been awhile, he thought as he pushed another finger alongside the first and thrust them in and out. His fingers weren’t terribly small, by any means, but they were significantly less wide than Erwin’s own. 

When Erwin opened him up, it was deep and it was a stretch. With the awkward angle and his own fingers, he couldn’t quite get them the way that he liked it. This frustrated him, and he groaned into the pillow. 

“Adorable.” 

Levi heard the unscrewing of a lid and felt as Erwin shifted his weight onto the bed, on his knees behind the smaller man. He felt the oil dripped down into his fingers. He took the opportunity to insert a third; the oil made the slide easier. 

“You look like your struggling, darling. Would you like some help?”

Levi nodded, his face burning. Erwin guided Levi’s fingers out and replaced his three with three of his own. It was immediately a much more intense sensation and his hips jerked as Erwin stroked inside him. 

“Damn,” Levi gasped. “Missed you.”

“Missed you too. The sounds you’re making…” Erwin trailed off, marveling, and he shoved his fingers into the spot that always had Levi whimpering. 

“ Fuck me,” Levi demanded.

“Mmm,” Erwin moaned, stroking himself with the oil. He pressed forward and Levi did his best to stay still as Erwin rubbed against the entrance, looking for it to give against him. “Come on now, open up for your captain…”

The black haired man whined as the head made it past the entrance. What followed was a slow stretch as Erwin steadily pushed himself in. He felt the texture of Erwin’s skin meeting his ass, the skin extra sensitive from its earlier adventures. 

“I can’t wait to see Mike’s nostrils flare when he smells the sex on you later,” Erwin admitted. 

“Heheh,” Levi chuckled. “Think he’ll get hard?”

“Oh, perhaps. You did offer quite the show back on Ragako. I’d be surprised if he didn’t pleasure himself to the memories.”

Levi thought about Mike’s face contorted with pleasure as he had his hands on his cock. He reached for his own cock at the vision, pulling at himself as Erwin started thrusting into him.

“Fuck,” Levi breathed. 

“ I certainly did,” Erwin murmured, his breathing becoming harsher with exertion. 

“Y-Yeah?”

“Mhm,” Erwin grunted, fucking into him nice and good now. 

Levi was unable to stop himself from grinning at the waves of pleasure that were setting fire to his blood. Erwin always fucked him so deep and nice. He pushed himself back, rolling into Erwin's thrusts. He muffled his moans into the sheets and his eyes closed. Erwin was getting into it; he was gripping at Levi’s hips and pulling him onto his cock. He savored the moments of Erwin’s hips moving against him like this. The downside to the position, though, was that he couldn’t watch his lover’s face as he fucked him. He couldn’t beg for a kiss. He could, however, appreciate as Erwin gripped his hair from behind and dragged his face up from the sheets.

His voice got breathier from the new angle and he tried to quiet his embarrassingly high-pitched moans. It was enough that the crew knew what was going on, they didn’t need to hear it. Oh, but Mike had heard it already. He’d heard Levi’s pathetic sounds as he’d taken the flogger and as he’d come down Mike’s throat… Pleasure crested at the thought, Erwin fucking into him so nicely, and he came into his hand. 

“Mmmm… ah…” he moaned as his body spasmed, instinctively pulling back against Erwin’s hand and causing a nice pain to bloom at the crown of his scalp. 

“Good boy,” Erwin groaned. “Feel so nice clenching around me like this, shit .” Erwin’s thrusts were smaller, inhibited by how tightly Levi kept gripping him. “I’m going to have to buy you something nice,” he panted, pausing. “To fill you up after I’m done with you. Imagine that: keeping my cum nice and warm inside you for a bit afterwards. Not today though…” he drove his hips into Levi’s body faster now, his own voice breathy. “Want to see it on your ass…”

He ended his thoughts there. He let go of Levi’s hair and gripped his hips again, his cock flexing within Levi. He thrust several more times before he pulled out, pulling at his cock rapidly. Levi felt hot stripes of Erwin’s cum across his cheeks. The sensation was quickly cooling, making him almost want to shiver. 

“Mmmm, how cute,” Erwin breathed in between pants. He moved his hands across Levi’s ass, massaging the cum onto the redness. 

“G-Gross,” Levi collapsed forward onto the bed, turning his head sideways to frown at Erwin playfully. 

“Shush, I’ve heard it’s good for the skin,” Erwin patted his ass. “You know I’ll clean you up.”

Still, Levi would have been tempted to throw one of Erwin’s pillows at him if he wasn’t so damn tired all of a sudden. He grinned, closing his eyes for just a little nap.

Chapter Text

A week later the group stopped by the isle of Dauper. The island was humble and contained several settlements. It was a lovely island to do some hunting on and to trade with the townsfolk. Levi was laying on Erwin and his bed in the inn in the evening, waiting for Erwin to get done with his bath after his hunting trip. 

There was a knock at the door before Erwin entered. 

“Hey, darling,” Erwin began, grinning. “We have company.” Levi looked up from the paper that he had been reading and watched as Mike followed Erwin into the room. He nodded at Levi and offered a friendly smile. Levi nodded back, looking at Erwin with questioning eyes as the captain shut the door and locked it.

“Are you here for the dessert course?” Levi asked wryly. “Those muffins they had at the tavern for dinner were utter shit.”

“They were,” Mike laughed. “No, the Captain mentioned something far more delicious,  if you’re interested.”

“I thought perhaps we could have some tea, have a chat,” Erwin said lightly. 

Levi raised an eyebrow. “Oh really now?”

Erwin smiled. “If by tea and a chat I mean you on top of me getting fucked from behind by Mike, sure.”

The smaller man’s eyes widened and he let out a puff of laughter, his face reddening. 

“If you care for it,” Mike added, head tilted and a smile at his lips. 

“... It’s alright?” Levi asked, more to Erwin. He knew Erwin trusted Mike, that much was obvious from their previous adventure with the tall man. They’d chatted about it ever so slightly and Erwin often teased Levi about it. He wasn’t ever going to make a sexual move towards Mike without Erwin involved, and he found himself surprised by the thought. 

“I think I’d rather enjoy watching my boy be fucked into by another man such as Mike. I know you like to hide your face when I fuck you from behind… This way I can see it all .”

Mike was biting his lip, carefully reading the expressions of the black haired man. “Same scenario as before,” he clarified. “No need for it to be anything big or complex. Mutual enjoyment, yeah?”

“N-Now?” Levi stammered, not unaware of the wave of burning lust that rolled through his body, down into his cock. 

“When would you prefer?” Mike asked. 

“Now is, no, it’s fine, yeah-” Levi was nodding, arousal pooling. 

“I thought so, you insatiable little beast,” Erwin chuckled. Both blondes moved forward, one on either side of the bed and Levi put the paper down completely on one of the bedside tables. 

Erwin was unbuttoning his shirt, and Mike was pulling his own off. Levi almost drooled as both muscular men stripped. 

“Oh,” he breathed. His gaze shifted back and forth as Erwin undid his belt. There was a clink of metal as he pulled it off and tossed it to the side. 

Mike had pulled off his shoes and socks and when Levi looked over at him, he was pulling down his trousers. His eyes met Levi’s as he did so and he smirked. The blonde was partially hardened already. Levi looked back at Erwin and found the other stark naked as well. The bed shifted as Erwin sat down on the bed and made himself comfortable next to Levi. 

“Go on, get in between my legs.” 

Levi moved to obey, rising from his laid back position and scooting in between Erwin’s legs. Mike had gotten onto the bed behind him. His big hands were tentative as he trailed a finger down Levi’s spine, making the small man shiver. 

“You can t-touch, you know,” Levi said.

“I know,” Mike responded, grinning. 

“Why don’t you get started by getting me nice and hard?” Erwin suggested, legs widening. “I’m sure Mike would enjoy that. He certainly did last time.”

“Hah, I’d already come by that point so I couldn’t even enjoy it to the fullest,” Mike said. 

Levi ducked down and opened his mouth to suck on Erwin’s cock, hearing Mike’s sharp inhale from behind him. He wiggled his ass for good measure, arching his back a little more than necessary. 

“Naughty thing,” Erwin pet Levi’s head. “Go on Mike, give the boy some attention… He’s clearly so desperate for it.”

Levi moved his head up and down, drool sliding down Erwin’s cock as he did so. His breath caught as Mike’s hands spread his cheeks and Mike spit in between them. He closed his eyes as Mike’s thumb pressed into him. Erwin’s cock was getting harder to take as it enlarged with blood. Levi liked tasting Erwin like this; he liked to feel Erwin get harder in his mouth. He hummed around Erwin as Mike pulled his thumb out. There was a rustle of sheets behind him and then the flat of Mike’s tongue was pressing against him, his big nose against Levi’s sensitive skin. 

“ Shit, Mike …” Levi pulled off of Erwin’s cock at the sensation, his own cock stiffening to full hardness as he leaned back against the stubble. It wasn’t a completely new sensation, as Erwin had pleasured him in that way before, but it was new with Mike. 

“Keep sucking,” Erwin hummed, pulling Levi’s head forward again. 

Levi took a breath before sinking down onto Erwin’s cock again. He was moaning against Erwin as Mike’s tongue moved no longer against him but into him, past the initial muscles at the entrance. Mike was rather an enthusiast when it came to oral, Levi was realizing. Erwin was letting out harsh breaths and pants, and Levi whined as much as he could when Mike’s hand began tugging at his balls.

It all felt so nice … Levi pulled off Erwin again and lay his head against the other man’s thigh, pressing kisses into his skin. 

“How sweet,” Erwin murmured with a grin. 

Levi kissed up Erwin’s thigh to his hip, biting the skin there between his teeth and feeling Erwin tense up against him. Mike pulled his tongue back, pressing two fingers into him instead and wiping his mouth. Levi sucked a small bruise into Erwin’s hip. 

“Oil?” he requested. Erwin grabbed it from the bedside table and handed it to Mike, who dribbled some over his fingers before he continued scissoring them into Levi. Levi grinned at the new glide. “Another finger?” 

“So needy,” Erwin commented quietly, lovingly. Levi was keenly aware of Erwin’s eyes on him as Mike pushed a third finger into him and he pressed his face into the other’s thigh. “Sh, sh… Look at me,” Erwin tilted Levi’s face back up and offered him two fingers to suck. 

Levi felt heat bloom across his face but he didn’t turn down Erwin’s fingers, sucking on them dutifully and letting out a little noise as Mike pressed into the spot he liked. 

“Th- ugh …” Levi tried to speak but ended up giving up around Erwin’s thick fingers as Mike picked up on it, pressing his fingers into it almost harshly. 

“Mmm? There?” Mike asked. 

“Oh, yes, he loves that spot. I’ve made him come from just fucking him with my fingers. He complains about how big they are, but I think that secretly he likes them. Don’t you, Levi? You like our big hands, don’t you?”

Levi nodded shakily, shuddering in pleasure and humiliation. 

“Good boy,” Mike cooed. “You like the stretch, yeah? My fingers are a little bigger than the captain’s aren’t they?”

Levi nodded again, clenching against them. “Cock,” he muttered against Erwin’s fingers. 

“What’s that? You want his cock, baby boy?” Levi nodded, and he exhaled steadily as Erwin pulled his fingers from his mouth. “Ask politely, use your manners for our guest.”

“Ah,” Levi whimpered. “Please, Sir… Please fuck me.” He was quiet, Erwin’s hand pressing against his heated face. He whined as Mike pulled his fingers out and replaced them with the steady pressure of his cock pressing in. 

“Oh, Levi…” Mike growled. “Fuck. That’s good.” He pressed Levi forward, guiding Levi to prop himself up against Erwin’s chest. 

“Isn’t he?” Erwin’s voice sounded like it was filled with adoration, and Levi was willing to bet he was watching him again. 

Levi opened his eyes and glowered at his lover as he was proven correct. The glare lost all bite as Mike filled him fully. It wasn’t quite as deep as Erwin could get but the extra girth opened him up even more than he was used to. Erwin hooked his thumb into Levi’s mouth, dropping it open and listening to the breathy exhales Levi let out. 

“Fashter,” Levi asked around Erwin’s thumb that had opened his lower jaw. 

“Mmm, what’s that?” Mike responded huskily. 

“Sh-Shir,” Levi corrected, licking his lips as Erwin let him close his mouth again. “Sir. Faster,” he demanded. 

“Now he’s learning,” Erwin breathed. 

“Hard to resist when you ask so nicely,” Mike grunted. He pistoned his hips into Levi harder, faster, his mouth falling open with pleasure. “He feels so good…”

“He’s something else,” Erwin agreed. “Mmm, let’s see how this feels…” He leaned forward and thumbed at one of Levi’s nipples, grinning as Levi squeezed his eyes shut. 

“ Shit ,” Mike said in response. “Got all tight around me, you playing with his chest?”

“You know it,” Erwin chuckled. He pulled at the bud, feeling it pebble under his grasp and then going to stiffen the other one. 

“F… fu…” Levi’s cock jumped at the feelings. Erwin’s hand trailed down further, reaching forward to pull at Levi’s attentive cock. “Sir,” Levi’s head dropped into Erwin’s shoulder. “Please,” came the small request from between them. 

“Harder?” Mike asked.

“Y-Yeah, Sir…” Levi responded. He brought his head back up to bite at Erwin’s shoulder. His hand scratched at Erwin’s side as he tried to find stability as Mike began pounding into him in earnest. “Fu-u-uck,” he wailed, his cock beginning to  pulse with that sensation. 

“There’s a good boy,” Erwin murmured. “Gonna come around Mike’s cock?”

“Y-Yeahhh… ah, ah-!” It only took a few more strokes and Levi came across Erwin’s hand. Mike grinded into him and helped Levi ride out the orgasm. Levi leaned against Erwin, hands braced on his chest. Erwin reached up with his hand, and Levi looked back just in time to see Mike licking the cum off of the captain’s hands. 

“Know you like the taste,” Erwin smirked, watching with satisfaction as Mike groaned. 

“Inside,” Levi begged. “Please.” 

“Oh baby,” Erwin breathed reverently, holding Levi’s chin in his hand. “You’re crying. Does it feel good?”

“Ah, mhm…” Levi whined. “So much. Wide,” he explained, his cock trying desperately to stiffen again but to no avail. 

“ There we go,” came a rush of air from behind. Levi whined as he felt the warm pleasure ooze into him. “Damn.” Mike let out a long sigh, his hips staying and his fingers gripping Levi’s hips harshly. 

Erwin was still fully hard, his cock laying against his lower stomach and leaking precum. As Mike pulled out of Levi he groaned. He reached for one of the complementary handkerchiefs of the inn and wiped any cum that deigned to dribble from Levi’s entrance. 

“Levi…” Mike was looking past Levi at Erwin’s cock. “Can I?” 

“Mmmm, wanna suck him off? Knew you were something of an oral slut,” Levi grinned and shifted so Mike could take his place in between the other blonde’s legs. 

“Sir?” Mike asked with a wink. 

“Go ahead,” Erwin’s eyes were widened with slight surprise, but as Mike slurped him down his head fell back. “Oh, my,” he breathed out. 

Levi lay beside him and as Erwin reached out, he joined hands with the captain. Mike set to work taking Erwin deep down his throat, his eyes closed with focus. 

“You want me to come down your throat, I s-suppose,” Erwin assumed.

“Mhm,” Mike hummed in response. 

“You really are a bit of a cumslut,” Levi smirked. 

Mike hummed, and Levi watched as his cheeks hollowed into a firm suction around the other’s cock. Erwin jerked his hips at the sensation. “Gods,” Erwin exhaled. “That- yeah ,” he let out a low groan and his body jerked as he came. Mike stayed in place, swallowing and sucking hard once more before coming up off his cock, breathless. 

“Thank you,” he said as soon as he had caught his breath. “Always wondered how you taste.”

Erwin looked amused. “Didn’t realize just how far gone you were for that,” he commented. 

Mike shrugged, looking vaguely embarrassed. 

“No sense in going to waste,” he responded. “Now, let’s get you clean, huh?” He turned to Levi, who turned and hid in Erwin’s arm. 

“Come on, legs up,” Erwin shook Levi’s grip. “You know you’ll like Mike’s fingers opening you back up.”

Levi pouted and put his legs back. Mike smiled and moved forward, handkerchief in one hand as his other fingers dipped back into Levi’s hole. 

“Mm…” Levi made a sound of mild overstimulation as Mike scooped his own cum out of the younger man.

“There we go,” Mike murmured.
“So good,” Erwin added, patting Levi’s head.

“You two need to shut up,” Levi shot back, flustered. 

“Nah,” Mike responded. “I think you like it.”

“I know you like it,” Erwin confirmed. “Sweet boy.”

.     .     .     .     .

Mike had left after the group cleaned up and after they had laid with each other for a bit of time, just relaxing. Levi was finding Mike increasingly more comfortable to be around even in a nonsexual manner, which he found fascinating in comparison to his previous neutrality on many of the crew. Erwin had gone down to the tavern beneath the rooms and brought some drinks and pastries back up for him and Levi to enjoy as they cuddled after Mike left. 

“No crumbs on the bed you fucking heathen,” Levi warned, lighting the two lanterns that were in the room before flopping onto the bed. 

“Your mind works in strange ways,” Erwin commented. “You know there’s probably cum on the bed,” he pointed out.

“Nah,” Levi groaned at the sweetness of the apple turnover that Erwin had handed him. “Mike made sure to get it all.”

“Ah, I suppose you’re right this time,” Erwin laughed, taking a swig of mead. “Mmm, try this bread.”

Levi opened his mouth, letting Erwin place a chunk of the cranberry walnut bread in his mouth and then chewing. 

“Mmm,” he agreed. “Give me some of the mead, too?” he asked. 

“Of course, darling.” Erwin placed a kiss upon the smaller man’s nose and handed him the tankard. “You’ll like it, it’s got honey in it. Almost as sweet as you.”

“You absolute softie,” Levi scoffed. He took a sip, feeling the honeyed alcohol tingle his taste buds. “I love you.” 

“Oh Levi my dear, how I adore you,” Erwin’s smile lit up the dim room and he pressed his forehead to Levi’s. “My treasured boy.”