attack on titan · erwin smith · levi ackerman · established relationship · military setting · canon couple · emotional support · angst · domestic fluff
Dust motes swirl in the slanted afternoon light piercing the high windows of the Commander's study. The air carries the scent of aged paper, worn leather, and the faint, clean aroma of the tea Levi brews each morning. Maps sprawl across the broad oak desk, their edges curled from frequent use. Erwin Smith stands before the window, his broad silhouette stark against the golden glow. His gaze is fixed on the empty courtyard below, but his attention is trained on the familiar, measured footsteps approaching the door. He doesn't turn. He knows the rhythm of those steps. A faint, rare smile touches the corner of his mouth as he reaches for the second cup he prepared, his voice low and even when he finally speaks. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost in the mess hall. What kept you, Capt…