Chapter Text
The sun was just starting to drop below the horizon, the sky lit up beautifully, colors dancing over the intermittent clouds. Erwin was grateful the master bedroom faced west, because while he could appreciate the spectacle of sunset, he would have been less pleased with the morning light shining into his quarters. Not that he often slept late, but when it did happen the cool darkness of dawn was a blessing. He sat at the dark wooden table on his balcony, paperwork spread out in front of him, a lamp burning to supplement the waning light of evening. Erwin had an office he could be working in, but most of the servants were hesitant to enter his room without an express invitation, and he didn’t want to be disturbed right then. Not when he was so close to finishing his duties.
Levi was, of course, an exception. He wasn’t a servant, exactly, but he that didn’t stop him from ruling the household with an iron fist. Working at the Smith estate was a blessing and a curse, both eagerly sought after and feared by maids and serving girls alike. They knew they could seek employment without fearing the usual unwanted attentions many were often subjected to by their masters. There were no wandering hands in the Smith household. No debauched stares, no suggestive whispers, no threats of violence if they didn’t stay quiet and behave. They need not worry about their chamber door opening in the dark of night, or being shoved into a shadowy corner with their skirts rucked up as they fought down tears. The three masters of the house were nothing if not respectful of the women who worked for them, and compared to the other estates nearby it was a haven.
But it was not without costs. Levi was in charge of the help, and it did not take long for new servants to figure out he was more frightening than Master Smith by a mile, at least when it came to their duties. Every room was kept spotless, not a speck of dust allowed even in those vacant bedrooms that never saw use. The kitchen was immaculate, the baths always sparkling bright, the laundry pressed to perfection. There was no dirt, no clutter. No streaks on the glassware, no cobwebs in the corners, no footprints lingering in the entryways.
The servants knew they wouldn’t be fired, or flogged, or hurt in any way. Levi’s mouth was a weapon in its own right, though, and it only took a few tongue lashings for them to figure out exactly how clean was good enough for the man’s exacting standards. Erwin told him to go easy on them sometimes, but he never listened, and Erwin always shook his head and fought down a smile.
Erwin was shaken from his reverie when the door that led to the balcony opened and Levi emerged with fresh pot of tea, along with a tray bearing a trio of cups and a pile of baked goods. He poured Erwin some tea, then filled his own cup, leaving the third on the tray next to the pastries that neither one of them had any interest in eating.
They weren’t meant for them anyway. The cooks knew better. Levi sat with one chair between Erwin and himself, sipping his tea and eying Erwin meaningfully. After a few moments Erwin stacked his papers up with a resigned sigh, because this was Levi telling him without words that he was done for the day, and he knew better than to argue.
Arguing with Levi was always fruitless, and Erwin had long since given up trying. He drank deeply from his cup, watching with half a smile as Levi did the same, then let his gaze flit out over the grounds spread out below them.
“And where is the young Master?” Erwin asked, already fairly certain of the answer. Levi followed his stare out towards the horizon, a smirk somewhere hidden just beneath his mouth.
“Still out riding, I presume.” It was just the two of them, and Erwin did not feel the need to rein in his words.
“His horse, or the stable boy?” Levi snorted, grinning widely and giving a shrug.
“Not sure. Both, probably.”
Their question was answered when Eren burst through the doors, still in his riding clothes with a crop in hand. His white pants clung to him in a way that was almost unfair, tucked into black boots that reached just under his knees. The loose fitting cream colored shirt he wore was unbuttoned more than strictly necessary, and wrinkled enough to suggest he’d shed it at some point over the course of the afternoon and not been too worried about where it landed. Eren’s suspenders hung free from his belt, the straps dangling carelessly down over his thighs. His long hair was a mess, and it was fairly obvious how it had gotten that way, at least to Levi and Erwin.
They’d tangled it just like that themselves enough times to recognize the signs. He’d set out earlier in the day with a ponytail, and Levi would be willing to bet he could find the leather tie discarded somewhere in the stables where it had been absently tugged out. Eren’s cheeks were still flushed pink, mouth bright red, a little purple bruise visible just beneath his collar. Lips swollen, eyes dancing, and Erwin spared a moment of sympathy for Jean.
Maybe he should send word to the stable master and give the poor boy the day off tomorrow.
Erwin noticed Levi’s stare lingering on the riding crop Eren held, pupils blown wide in those steely eyes, lip worried between his teeth. He knew just what Levi was thinking, and the first stirrings of heat began coiling in Erwin’s stomach.
Eren didn’t use a crop when he went horseback riding.
The young Master collapsed into the seat between them, throwing one of his legs over Erwin’s lap and leaning into Levi with a smile. He rested his elbow on the back of Levi’s chair, toying with Levi’s dark hair casually. As though it wasn’t intimate, and affectionate, and totally out of place on the balcony of Erwin’s room where anyone could see. Eren set the crop down on the table in front of him, the leather tip pointed deliberately towards Levi, before picking up a cookie from the tray and taking a bite of it. He addressed Erwin, though his attention was mostly on Levi, eyes eating him alive.
“All done with work for the day, Master Smith?”
“I’m finished. And Levi’s seen to the servants. You missed dinner again, though it seems you were tending to other… appetites.” Eren smiled wider, looking at Erwin with bright green eyes that held no trace of shame.
Never had. Never would, and Erwin was grateful for it. Shame would be out of place on Eren. Clothes that didn’t quite fit him, sitting strangely on his bones.
“I’ll have Sasha bring a tray to my room before I retire. My appetites are…” He trailed off and turned back towards Levi, who was watching him like a mouse watched a cat, with wariness and the knowledge of just how sharp Eren’s teeth were. Eren nosed briefly into Levis cheek, pulling back before he had time to complain. “Not quite sated. Perhaps we can all call it an early night. Before the ghosts of the manor come out to play.”
Eren was waiting for an answer from Levi, discarding what was left of his sweet in favor of running a hand up Levi’s thigh. The man shuddered almost imperceptibly, but Erwin had been picking out those little shivers for a long time, and Levi couldn’t hide it from him. Levi stood up, shaking off Eren’s hand in the process and picking up the riding crop from the table.
“I’ll put this where it belongs and have Petra tidy up out here. Give me those papers, I’ll return them to your office before I bathe.” Levi took the sheaf of paperwork from Erwin’s fingers, pinning a chastising look on Eren before continuing. “You need to clean up too, young Master. You smell of horse.” Levi smirked, letting his eyes crawl unrepentantly over Eren’s form. “And of stable boy.”
Levi left without another word, but none were necessary. He’d told Eren to wash up, and considering the way Levi had been eyeing that riding crop, the man had been practically pleading. Eren glanced back over at Erwin, brows raised.
“And you, Master Smith?” Erwin didn’t try to hide his expressions the way Levi did, and he let his smile go wicked and predatory.
“I hope the new girl isn’t too troubled by spirits.”
The moaning that sometimes echoed through the halls at night wasn’t that of the dead, and Eren took his leave of Erwin with lingering touch to his hand. He looked hungry, and not for the food that Sasha would be leaving in his room.
Maybe Erwin should give Levi tomorrow off, too. It was only fair.