Chapter Text
Levi had been working on his paperwork, trying to use the afternoon to get as much done as possible.
He knew Eren was likely to end up regressing soon, and he wanted to get through the important stuff while he could.
When Erwin knocked on his door, he was reminded that the Commander had been scheduled to arrive that day. He was due for another report on any recent discoveries made regarding the Titans. Still, he had thought he might have more time.
At the mention of something important, Levi could only roll his eyes. Whatever the MPs had come up with this time to put a boulder in their way, Erwin would surely already have an idea of how to deal with it. Why the older always had such a tendency to be dramatic, he would never know.
He heard the door being open, but didn’t bother with looking up. Erwin was used to his behaviour and knew not to take it as disrespectful.
“What’s the matter, Commander?”, he questioned, his mind still half focused on the report he was reading.
“Levi!”
His head shot up.
“Eren!?”
His feet carried him over to the couple in the doorway before he could even think about it. Already, he was reaching out, taking his little into his arms and clutching him to his chest.
He had immediately seen the tear tracks on the boy’s face. And when Eren buried his face in Levi’s neck, he could hear soft sniffles, slowly dying down as the little relaxed.
“I found him outside in the halls. He was quite upset about not finding you, so I offered to bring him here.”
Looking up at the Commander, Levi remembered that he was also in the room. Though the man didn’t seem to mind, simply observing Levi with grey eyes.
“Thank you, Commander. He’s usually always with me when he’s regressed, so when I’m not there, he tends to get upset. I’m glad you found him. He was in the hallways, you said?”
“Quite so. It appeared as though he was already on his way to you but got lost on the way.”
That would certainly explain the state Eren was in when the commander brought him in.
Levi felt a tug on his shirt and turned his attention back to his little.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
A quiet whine was all he got in response.
Seemed like Eren had slipped into his younger headspace. No doubt, the fear of getting lost and then not being able to find Levi had pushed him further than usual. If Eren had already been on his way to Levi, like Erwin had said, then the boy had probably been feeling the need to regress.
Even with how the situation had turned out, Levi was still proud of Eren for trying to go to him for help. His boy had come a long way from the self-conscious little he was at the beginning.
Another whine tore Levi from his musings. He debated what Eren might want from him. Considering his current age, there was no way to get a proper verbal answer, so Levi would have to rely on his experience with him.
“Commander, might I ask you to go to the kitchen and have a bottle prepared for Eren? They know what to do, you would only have to bring it back here.”
Erwin’s eyebrows went up at the sudden request.
“Of course. Will he require anything else?”
“I’ve got it from here. He’s most likely just exhausted and needs a nap. The bottle helps calm him down and rehydrate him from all the crying.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back, then.”, Erwin excused himself and went to go alert the kitchen staff.
With only the two of them left, Levi could now concentrate solely on his little one.
“Okay, Eren, let’s get you settled in something more comfortable, shall we?”
Levi knew he was mostly just holding a one-sided conversation, but he thought it was important to keep Eren aware of what he was doing, even if the younger might not understand everything being said.
With practised ease, Levi chose an outfit for Eren, before gently placing the little on his bed. He made quick work to change the boy, adding a diaper for precaution. He didn’t think Eren was old enough to tell him, should he need to go to the bathroom.
For the finishing touch, he let Eren choose a pair of fluffy socks, and then plopped a light blue pacifier in the little’s mouth.
As soon as he was done, Eren demanded to be put back in Levi’s arms. The caregiver only let out an amused huff and indulged his charge.
His brat was way too cute for his own good.
No. Not his brat.
His baby.
It was undeniable and Levi knew it.
Placing a soft kiss on his little’s head and ruffling his hair, Levi relished in the small giggles he got in return.
Before too long, a quiet knock on the door interrupted their little moment.
“Levi? I’ve got the bottle, may I enter?”
Levi rolled his eyes. Erwin, always the polite person, the complete opposite of someone else he knew.
“Go ahead.”
Erwin entered, the bottle adorned with cute bears and flowers, looking entirely out of place in the commander’s hand. Yet, the man took it with grace, not a hint of embarrassment on his face as he held it out to Levi.
“Thanks.”
Levi made his way back over to his bed, getting comfortable against the headboard, with Eren settled on his chest.
He swiftly exchanged the pacifier for the bottle, making sure the little didn’t have enough time to get fussy.
Once he was certain Eren was happily settled, Levi turned to the other occupant of the room.
Erwin had taken the time to sit on one of the chairs at Levi’s desk, giving the pair room, not wanting to intrude.
He merely watched quietly as Levi took care of his little, carefully holding the bottle so that the boy wouldn’t choke. Never before had he seen the captain this soft. Even with all the rumors he’d heard, it was entirely different to see it in person.
Levi cleared his throat, making Erwin’s eyes meet his own.
“I feel I should thank you again, commander. As you’ve no doubt realised, Eren regresses quite young and there’s no telling what would’ve happened if you hadn’t found him. So, thank you. For taking care of him and bringing him to me. It means more than you might realise."
This entire day was quite unusual. First, Erwin finds himself confronted with a regressed titan shifter, and now he gets to see this whole other emotional and vulnerable side of Levi that he had never dreamt of seeing.
He had some trouble wrapping his head around it all.
For now, he merely inclined his head in answer.
“It was no trouble, at all. He was simply someone who needed help. I’m sure anyone would have done the same.”
Levi only stared at him with a blank calculating look.
“Hm.”
That seemed to be that.
“Now then, what was it you came to see me for, Commander?”
Erwin took the change of topic as the hint that it was and began asking Levi about any noteworthy reports.
During their conversation, Levi sometimes glanced down to check on Eren. The whole time, the little was content to lay there with his caregiver, not showing an ounce of discomfort at the talk between the two men.
At some point, his grip on Levi’s shirt loosened, and his breathing evened out. His chest rising with the slow and steady fall of his breaths.
Levi took the time to carefully remove the bottle and slip the pacifier back into the little’s mouth. Eren hummed quietly and gently sucked on the pacifier before settling again.
As though nothing happened, Levi turned back to Erwin and resumed their conversation.
Erwin might have never been able to imagine Levi as a real caregiver before, but now that he saw him with Eren, so soft and careful to make sure the younger was at ease? This pair was, without question, made for eachother.
Levi, who he managed to calm his little down, seconds after he got him in his arms.
And Eren, who finally tore down the walls Levi had built around his heart. Helping him finally relax and let himself care about something, again. The genuine smile he brought to his caregiver’s face, whenever he looked at him.
Yes, Erwin was glad these two had found each other. If only to make the world seem a little brighter with all the darkness threatening to overwhelm them all.