Chapter Text
Levi knocked on the double door briefly before he turned the knob and entered.
Erwin was sitting behind his desk, a pile of papers covering the wooden table. A sense of exhaustion and slight sleepiness reflected in his eyes as he raised them up to meet Levi's greys.
"You sent for me." Levi grumped, taking a few steps to the inside. "It's 11 pm. I hope it's something important, blondie, otherwise you'll have to make up for disrupting my sleep."
"I do apologize for that." Erwin replied, eyebrows going up to spot Levi's tired, sleepy eyes, and his messy hair that had a few strands facing a stray direction. "Then again, Levi, the only reason I sent for you now is because I knew you to stay up late and be awake at such an hour."
Levi sighed, pulling the side chair a bit back and taking a comfortable seat there. He returned his gaze to his commander.
"Well, not today." He said. His tone didn't sound blaming towards Erwin at all, but there was slight frustration about his sleep being interrupted. After all, falling asleep was a luxury he barely got to enjoy, and he had no control over when it would come and bless him. "What's so urgent?"
Erwin shifted in his seat, his usual calm demeanor betraying a hint of nervousness. Knowing him so well, Levi was fast to pick up on that. He fixed his glare on his friend, waiting for his response with a new growing curiosity and apprehension.
"You see, Levi, the reason I called for you to come here at this hour, is because the Higher Military, had just sent me this letter. And they somehow thought it to be important enough to be sent at this hour."
Levi's gaze deviated to the envelop that Erwin held up, before finding his blues again.
"What's it about?"
Erwin sighed. "Ahm, I'm not sure where to begin, honestly. It's a bit of a sensitive topic-"
"Erwin, I just woke up from sleep. And I intend to go back. If you say another filler word, I'm leaving."
He'd certainly woke up cranky, thought Erwin. This wouldn't make things any easier. Erwin still opened his mouth, took in a breath, then closed it again like he'd changed his mind about speaking. He returned Levi's intense look for another silent moment, then opened his mouth again.
"The higher Military wants you to have kids."
From anything that Erwin could've said, Levi did not expect this one. He frowned, face twisting with a puzzled, startled expression. "What?"
"You and Mikasa shared the same awakening, same as Kenny. You're all exceptional soldiers. After the coup, many hidden information got to see the light, among them was the power of the Ackermans." Erwin elaborated briefly, summing up some of the letter's content.
"What had them think for even one second that that is any of their damn business?" Levi seethed, any last bit of sleepiness leaving his tired eyes to be replaced by a new overwhelming feeling. If it weren't for his messy hair, Erwin would not have believed him to have been asleep for any of the past few hours.
"Don't be mad, no one is forcing you into anything you don't want."
"For them to even have the audacity to write that to you!" Levi exhaled sharply, head shaking with shock and anger.
Erwin stared steadily at him without an answer. He glanced down to his desk, face as expressionless as everyone knew it to be, then looked back up to Levi's heating face. His voice came out low as he spoke his next words, seeming like he had carefully chosen them.
"I get your anger, Levi. But I also see their point."
Levi looked up from the table, raising an eyebrow. "You see their point." He repeated, crossing his arms.
"You are exceptional. If we get to have more soldiers like you, we would be invincible."
Avoiding Erwin's gaze, Levi muttered something unintelligible, trying to swallow his anger. It felt too uncomfortable having to discuss such a thing in an office. This was his damn personal life, and had he not shared a friendship over a working relationship with Erwin, he would've kicked whatever Military officer they sent to discuss this with a boot across the face. "Until that time comes, we'll all be titan shit if we don't do something now."
"That means that the earlier you do this, the better."
Grey eyes darted back to the side, glaring at Erwin for an additional second. "Is it me or are you agreeing with them?"
Erwin let out a breath. "As I said before, no one can force you into anything. It's completely up to you. But yes, I do think that having more soldiers with your ability would be great."
It still puzzled Levi's mind that the Military would ask for such a thing, it puzzled him even more that Erwin would advocate for it. Granted, his arguments were solid, and yes, having more soldiers like him would help, but that was his personal fucking choice, and he had settled on the decision that he wouldn't bring kids into this sick and dangerous world.
Anger picked at him again and his instinct was to curse at Erwin for even thinking that, but he pulled back into his chair and tamed down the feel, trying to see the reasoning he had presented.
"I'm not even married. And—I don't have—don't want—" Levi struggled to get the words through. For one, what was in him to love? And what kind of crazy woman would love him enough to marry? And two, he didn't want to find her even if she existed, for whenever he got close to someone, it ended in disaster. He's not making that mistake again.
"Ahm, Levi. They are offering a program."
"Are you fucking shitting me?"
As though the words had sent a bolt of lightning through him, Levi lept to his feet at once, his face twisting with disgust, before he turned and left the office.
He strode to the outside, losing any hint of sleep. His hands curled into tight fists. He had tried to excuse Erwin for agreeing with the Military —he thought he wanted him to get married and start a family— he understood his reasoning that some Ackerman kids would be helpful, but to actually agree to a fucking program! Levi was as angry at Erwin as any Military officer now. He didn't even know what the 'program' was, and didn't want to know. All he knew was that he was seething.
Sitting on his armchair, Levi felt too groggy to watch the sun light up the sky. Sleep had evaded him with no intention to come back, and anger spiked inside him every time he remembered the proposition he had gotten last night.
After a few more hours, he headed outside to begin his day. He didn't feel hungry, so he skipped breakfast and went on a ride with his horse instead. It did help calm him...one tiny little bit. At least until he walked out of the stables and caught the eye of Erwin standing at the other side of the yard with some soldier.
Levi glared at him, tightening his fists and turning to stride straight to the inner gate.
"Levi." He heard a yell, but he pretended not to, continuing to walk his path. Or maybe he was running? It was certainly a bit faster than walking. He didn't really know.
"Levi." The voice called again, this time definitely closer. Levi could not chalk it up to not having heard anymore; this was deliberate ignoring.
"Le-vi." A third call came, this time too close to his ear and Levi found his arm grabbed, pulling him to a sudden halt.
He let out a breath and turned to look behind him, twisting his neck up to meet Erwin's eyes. "What do you want?"
"Are you satisfied? Every soldier and cadet had seen me rushing after you while you deliberately ignored me."
"That's your problem old man. If you knew I was ignoring you, then why did you chase me?"
Erwin let out a breath, letting go of Levi's arm. "Look, Levi. I'm not used to this, you and I, fighting. I'll be honest with you, I couldn't sleep last night because of it. I don't get which part of what I said riled you up. If we could talk it over and explain each other's points, it would be great."
"It's the part where you advocated for those bastards who want me to be part of their fucking program."
"I didn't advocate for them. I only said that it would be a good thing to have more soldiers with your abilities. And I did stress that it's completely up to you, did I not?"
Levi looked down, loosening his death stare. "I guess so." He muttered. He wasn't used to fighting with Erwin too. Now that he thinks of it, half of his night's anger was probably due to that, since it now melted like ice in the sun.
"However, Levi, last night you left before I could tell you the full content of the letter. Two Higher Military officers are coming today from Seena to discuss that matter with you. So you need to be prepared."
Levi felt the sense of discomfort envelop him again. He raised an index towards the blonde. "No. No. I'm not seeing anyone about this. You tell them I refuse."
"I'm sorry, but you have to tell them that yourself." Erwin looked at him regrettably. "These are not MPs. It's the Higher Military, I don't have any authority to disobey their orders."
Glaring at him some more, Levi gritted his teeth. "...When's the fucking meeting?" He asked, grudgingly and with defeat.
Erwin smiled to at least hear his approval, ignoring the bad feeling that look sent him. "It's at 10 am."