-

As for you and Erwin, completely unaware of what was happening outside, you'd both settled onto your seating area in your office.

You were sitting on a single chair with a decorative pillow on your lap like a shield and Erwin was sitting diagonally from you on the edge of your longer couch, with his tall frame, one arm propped up on the armrest, and the other on his knee.

He'd told you there was something he wanted to talk about, that he came here not just to give you those flowers.

But before getting into that, the two of you have taken time to start idly reminiscing together and talking about anything, getting comfortable with each other, leaning slightly towards one another with shared familiarity, leaving that awkwardness behind that stopped you before from having a real and honest conversation.

The seating area in your office was warm with a hue of late morning sunlight pouring in through the blinds, casting soft stripes across the couch cushions and the floor.

"Do you remember when we were in school together? You were so different from how you are now," You said as your lips slowly curved into a fond, yet mischievous smile as you grabbed the pillow on your lap and put it in front of you, clutching it as you remember the kind of person Erwin used to be when he was younger.

He's always been a rule follower, a goody-goody even, that much was true, but there were times where he really wanted to step out of his comfort zone, try new things and it didn't always work out for him.

Erwin chuckled and leaned an arm against the armrest of the couch, leaning closer to you. "Come on, I wasn't that different," He denied as he let out a breath of a laugh as he remembered that, but you clicked your tongue and shrugged, dragging it on. You saw it first-hand, so he can't deny it at all.

You rolled your eyes as your grin grew, pulling your pillow tighter against you. "I beg to differ. You tried to be a rebellious teen and it didn't work out too well for you," You said, raising your hands up in mock defense.

Your words Made Erwin laugh; a low, yet warm sound that filled the space between the two of you with nostalgia.

"Yeah, I wasn't exactly cut out for that kind of lifestyle," He said, admitting that he even he cringes at himself every time he remembers that stage of his life. You leaned forward a little, resting your elbows on your knees, with amusement clear on your face.

"Who knew that same guy would end up proposing to me," You teased gently, voice softening near the end. For a millisecond, you regretted bringing that up, you thought that bringing up the proposal would make the vibe weird again, but you were relieved to see Erwin chuckle at your words, seemingly not weirded out at all by you mentioning it.

"Trust me, I'm still in shock about that myself," He said, not missing a beat. But his gaze did drop for just a second before meeting yours again. It wasn't sad, or self-deprecating, or hinted that he was upset.

It was sincere. Vulnerable, even. You smiled at him, and this time even more thoughtfully. "Well, I've got to hand it to you, Erwin. You've come a long way," You said softly, and the compliment landed with an unexpected weight, but Erwin didn't shy away from it at all.

He nodded as his expression and body language sobered up a little bit. "Thank you, Y/n," He said, but after a beat, he decided to add; "But to be fair, that was middle school. You were still in elementary school. Not sure your judgement counts," He said as he smirked, leaning back on the couch.

You gasped in fake outrage and straightened up, as your eyes narrowed. "Of course it does! That memory's burned into my brain forever," You said and Erwin laughed yet again, with that same soft warmth in his tone as before.

It feels like things were going back to how they were and as if there wasn't anything standing in front of your friendship. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you," He said heartily. And just like that, the room felt lighter than before.

For a second, the weight of your choice were gone, the future and your struggles you had to face, melted into nothing. I was about knowing someone long enough that both of you can laugh about the past and nothing else.

The laughter between you eventually faded and something better eventually took place. It was a softened quiet that allowed the truth to settle when no words were needed to be said.

Erwin sat across from you and he had been refraining from talking about what he came here for in the first place.

He sat with his hands folded loosely in his lap, leaning just slightly forward, the way someone sits when they're about so say when they have something to say that they've been holding onto for a long time.

A couple seconds passed where neither of you said anything, but Erwin was working up the nerve to say what he wanted to. He didn't want to ruin the good thing the two of you had going, but maybe if he worded it differently? He just can't sit on it any longer.

He took a big breath a spoke; "I can't believe you're getting married, Y/n," He said quietly, almost as if it hurt him to say it out loud. Knowing that he may or may not be the person that you get married to. You tensed at the change of conversation, but in a way, you'd be expecting it so you embraced it.

You let out a dry chuckle, in agreement with him. "I can't believe it either," You said, wit your gaze dropping to the flowers yet again, the ones you'd set down on the coffee table after Erwin and you sat down.

"I find it really hard to believe that this has been my life ever since Grisha died. I mean...me? Married? It's insane," You said, but a lot of it you were saying it to yourself as well.

After that, Erwin shifted in his seat. After proposing, and even before that, he was sure he'd made it obvious enough but if he didn't get it out now, he never would and he promised he'd be completely honest and sincere with you.

He didn't want this to be started with lies. He didn't want to mislead you, and as much as he didn't want to drive this conversation in that direction, he needs to start on the right foot.

"Y/n, I..." He trailed off, searching for the right place to begin to talk about this. "I wanted to talk to you about my proposal," He said, and while he saw you tense and straighten up in your seat, you nodded and showed that you were more than ready to listen.

Your eyebrows lightly creased together with worry, from how hard it looks on Erwin to say what he wants to say. You were silent, giving him the space and silence to continue.

"I wanted to assure you that it wasn't on a whim," He continued, keeping firm eye contact with you. "Sure, I'd surprised myself choosing to do it last night, but...I've been sitting with this for a while now," He said and you tilted your head to side slightly.

What did he mean by that? Regardless, you didn't say anything, and you let him continue until he got to his point. "To be honest, when I first heard you'd gone on that blind date with Levi, it-it didn't feel good," He said and your eyes widened a fraction. You blinked and your lips parted. This time, you wanted to say something but nothing came out.

"And then, back at the memorial," He added, as he briefly looked away with shame at the memory. He didn't think he'd ever be saying this to you, but if he didn't make clear now, things would go on and you'd never know about any of it.

"I'm...ashamed to admit I didn't feel good either when you proposed to Levi," He said, keeping a steady pace. He saw the way your face became more and more shocked about what you were hearing but it didn't deter him. He couldn't lie about the way it tugged at his heart seeing you propose to Levi.

So, despite how lost you felt about what you could possibly say to him, before you could possibly say anything in between his confession, he needed to get this out. "I hope you don't see me differently or freak out from what I'm about to say, because I'm not saying this to sway you or anything but...I guess after all of that, I came to terms with what I feel for you. Feelings I didn't realize I had before," He said and you froze. What he feels for you? Does he mean- You blinked a couple more times letting out a shaky breath at what he was telling you.

What could you possibly say to that? Erwin likes you? Like-like you? He said he's been feeling this way a while so had you missed clues he left? Were you that blind? Were you happy about this? You've never seen Erwin in that light.

Geez, it's bomb after bomb dropped on you these past couple of days. You're not sure whether the flutter in your chest was affection or guilt, or maybe even fear that you might be hurting one of the people you care about most. And you don't want that. That's one of the last things you want.

And that's why, all you could say is; "Oh.." You breathed out, the word small, stunned, but also not uncomfortable. You were just- very caught off guard. Seeing and hearing your response, Erwin wasn't hurt or disappointed.

He was prepared for you to react in that way. He knows that it may not have been the best choice to have dropped these news on you after everything, but he thinks that you should genuinely have all the information about where he's coming from so there's nothing left out or unsaid. He was quick to reassure you.

"It's okay, Y/n. Like I said, I didn't come here to pressure you or anything into making a decision, but I thought it was worth mentioning. That's all," He said, scooting closer to the edge of the couch, and closer to you.

After that, you were quick to come to your senses and you shook your head quickly once your voice caught up with your thoughts. "No, no! It's fine, I don't think that. It's just..." You started, but your words slowed as you tried to find a way to tell him what was going on with your head.

If you can't give him an answer right now about the proposal, much less were you going to be able to give him an answer on this. "It's just come as a bit of a surprise," You said, and he nodded quickly and understandingly almost instantly.

He completely got that, he wasn't expecting reciprocation from what he's saying. He just wanted everything to be out in the open, leaving nothing behind, leaving nothing to chance. That's all.

You continued trying to express your thoughts about this, since Erwin was leaving his things out in the open, you suppose you could do it too. You smiled gently and exhaled shakily as you began to fidget with the fabric of your pillow.

"I guess I always considered you my family. I didn't..." You started, but couldn't continue. Even if you knew what you wanted to say, you weren't sure that if you said what was hanging on the tip of your tongue would hurt him.

You looked at Erwin; someone who has been through the earliest parts of your life. Through the comfort, the familiarity and the safety. You don't want to hurt him because your mind was in shambles and you weren't sure of anything.

"I get it. But you know what's good about this? Is that we can be a real family now," He said, and his voice tapered off a little, but then came back softer at the end. A quiet smile flickered at the edge of his lips, and as soon as he said that, you inhaled sharply and his words echoed in your head.

"A...real family," You repeated, and Erwin nodded. The concept of family has been so shattered for you over the years that...hearing it from him felt foreign.

You'd lost your first family so early in your life, and then your second family wasn't welcoming to you at all, and when you lost Grisha, it felt like you'd lost it all. You'd given up on it.

Is that what he was looking for from this? Or is that what he thinks you want to take out of it? "Yeah," Erwin said as his smile became more gentle and reassuring, but it was only making your head spin more than it was before.

"If marriage is what you need to get through this, to get the inheritance, to secure your safety, then we can become a family first. We'll figure out the rest along the way," He said, and you swallowed hard, bobbing your head forward in acknowledgement, but not agreement just yet.

The weight of his sincerity and his words landed in a way you couldn't describe. Everything he was telling you already felt like something else you had to think about, to take into consideration.

Erwin took your silence as his opportunity to conclude. "Look, I can wait as long as you need me to. I've always waited for you, you know that," He said and you remained frozen in place, not knowing where to go from here.

-

While you and Erwin were deep in a vulnerable, heartfelt conversation, Levi was losing his mind in the office kitchen. He stormed into the kitchen like a man possessed, barely registering the clatter of the plastic cup filled with stolen coffee packets as he set it down on the counter.

His jaw was tight, his thoughts louder than anything else around him. Erwin brought you flowers; daisies. Erwin made you laugh. The two of you laughed. What the hell is Levi is supposed to do with that?

He stared blankly at the supplies around him, with his back to the rest of the eating area, eyes scanning for anything he can throw together.

Something. Anything, that might rival what Erwin did just now. But first, Levi needed to drink something. Urgently. His head was in shambles.

But then he noticed something. There was no tea. There's a scarce amount in this office. Of course there wasn't. This office had everything but the one thing he actually needed right now. Fine.

He'd work with what he had. With military precision, Levi worked a warp speed. He grabbed a mug, tore open a packet of instant coffee, dumped it in. Then, he grabbed hot water, sitrred it, then stirred it harder.

He grabbed a handful of ice, dumped it in, took a breath, raised the cup, and finally downed the whole thing in one brutal go as if it was the only thing keeping him standing.

But once the taste and bitterness hit him like a slap to the face, he flinched and his shoulders twitched.

His jaw tightened as he forced it all down. Once he was done with it, he lowered it and the mug hit the counter with a thud, and he leaned on the edge of the counter with both hands, head bowed as he was expecting the aftershock any second now.

He closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. Opened his eyes. Blinked once. Twice. And he already wished he could take the taste out of his tastebuds. "It's revolting," He muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "...but it hits the spot," He said to himself and a long pause that passed after made him realize something. He was losing it.

And all over Erwin bringing some flowers and coming to visit you. Why is this bothering him so much? He can't even answer that question to himself. He felt like an idiot.

And Levi couldn't even continue to stew in his own thoughts because a voice behind him broke his train of thought. "Getting the hang of office life, Mr. Levi?" The voice said, and then, Levi turned around to see Jean sitting at the island, drinking his own cup of coffee, reading through a book.

That's when Levi realized Jean had seen his little meltdown before when he rushed into the kitchen but decided to stay silent this whole time until now.

Levi straightened up, putting his hands in his pockets, trying to move past the moment, acting unfazed by the whole thing and then walked over to lean against the island Jean was sitting at.

He gestured over with a sharp tilt of his head to the coffee area of the kitchen. "Why do you all keep drinking this crap? Is this the only drink you have around here?" He asked genuinely with wonder and confusion in his eyes.

Levi decided to bring up the possibility about bringing more tea into this place, especially if he's spending a lot of time here daily. He can't spend the rest of the agreement drinking that packaged coffee.

Jean shrugged, and the looked down again at his book to continue reading. "I don't know. Sustenance?" He said, and Levi looked at him skeptically. Once Jean went back to reading, your bodyguard started to walk towards him.

He usually didn't just ask anyone for advice, but he needed the thoughts of someone unbiased, neutral that didn't know what was going on with you, him and Erwin, and right now, that was Jean.

He fit that description. After the party he and the others thought of him for, he supposed it's only fair that he starts to come to them even for the smallest of things. "Hey, can I ask you something," Levi asked, before he could regret it.

Jean froze and looked up from his book with wide eyes to see Levi with his hands braced on the table, looking down at him expectantly as if it was the most normal encounter in the world.

Jean paused mid-sip and swallowed the last of his coffee and nodded, very surprised. He never expected Levi to come to him for anything, but if they're coworkers now, part of him think it would've happened eventually.

"Sure," Jean said, glancing up fully from his book with interest. The thing he expected to happen today was for Levi to come to talk to him, let alone ask him anything. Still, he leaned forward a little, ready to listen.

Levi stood on the opposite side of the kitchen island, hands gripping the edge of it that his knuckles were turning white against the surface.

He kept his eyes down, not sure how to go about this exactly, but he'd been thinking about it since the night before when he received that SOS from you that helped him get to you in the first place.

It's been in the back of his mind but it's still been there. Jean noticed Levi's tense posture, like he was asking something that was costing him more than he'd like to admit.

It was easier to ask than to get the ball rolling and get the conversation started. He just couldn't find the words.

He also needed to make sure that Jean wouldn't say a word to anyone about this, especially Connie and Sasha. "Say a word about what I'm about to tell you..." He started, voice and deliberate, making Jean blink in surprise and raise his hands up in defense.

He straightened up in his seat and became a lot more alert all of a sudden. "Woah, take it easy," He said, slowly bringing his book to a close. "I said I'd help," He assured, and Levi looked at him with suspicion but decided to go on with what he wanted to talk about.

A heavy pause quickly fell between them. Levi's jaw flexed, and his fingers began to drum against the counter before letting them go still again.

"What does it mean..." He started, slowly, exhaling through his nose as his eyes turned away from Jean and then fixated on the countertop instead, letting his hair fall over his face.

Jean watched carefully as his face contorted one into one of confusion as he waited expectantly for Levi to finish his sentence. The raven raised one hand expressively as he tried to find the correct words.

"....what does it mean when someone saves another person as their emergency contact?"He asked and Jean's mouth parted in surprise. That wasn't what he expected to hear. He didn't know what he expected to hear but it wasn't that.

He tilted his head and put his forearms on the island, over his book. He thought about it for a second, feeling Levi's eyes burning into him, waiting for an answer desperately.

He studied Levi for a second, the smirk that was slowly taking over his face slowly slipping away. He wasn't just curious. Levi was asking because it was about someone, because he wants to have his thoughts be validated.

"Ah," He said, a small smirk forming on his lips again as what he remembered about this topic came to mind. "You've come to the right place," He said, as if he was the best person Levi could've ever come to for this sort of thing.

Levi looked at Jean in a deadpan, with a sharp and skeptical stare. Jean held up both of his hands as if to say; 'I'm serious here. This is legit'.

Levi closed his eyes and raised a hand back to run it through his hair with exasperation. This was his option right now to get an honest opinion about this, and that was listening to Jean.

Your employee stood up from his seat and put his hands on the counter too, taking a more serious stance in front of Levi to give him advice about this sort of thing. He was glad Connie wasn't here to tease him about it.

"It means that the person trusts you," Jean said, and Levi's eyebrows furrowed as he listened intently. "Like...they really trust you. Not the 'I think you're cool and that's it', kind of trust, but more like 'if something happened to me, I know you'll be there for me and show up' kind of trust," Jean explain and something flourished in Levi's chest, but his chest didn't change.

There was a flicker or glimmer of hope in his eyes. He looked away briefly, but then turned to Jean again. He knows you contacted him because you hoped deep, deep down, that even if you'd been fighting, that he'd show up no matter what.

That you had faith in him, that you trusted him, and wanted him in your life. He didn't need to hear it from you because just the look in your eye whenever the two of you looked at each other last night was enough for him to know that.

But hearing confirmation from someone else was something entirely different. His feelings and thoughts were being validated. It must all be true, then. Right? It gave him hope.

Hope that he didn't have before. You trust him with your life and that means a lot more to Levi than you'll ever know, especially in this predicament.

"Really?" Levi asked after a beat, with his voice becoming a bit softer. It was quieter, even. "You're sure about that?" He added, wanting to know for sure that Jean knew what he was talking about when it came to this. Jean gave a small laugh.

It was soft, but not unkind. Supportive even, because he knows that Levi must be asking because he's in that situation himself. And he already has an idea of who it could be. "Yup. Trust me. I know about this stuff," He said, tapping his finger to his temple and Levi raised an eyebrow at him, suddenly questioning his credibility, but put that aside just as quickly.

"It's a big deal. You don't just put anyone down for that. Most people don't even think about it until they need someone they can really count on," He explained, and Levi hummed lightly. That sounds logical. It makes sense if he puts it like that.

Levi had to control the way a smile was tugging at his lips just at everything Jean was telling him, so much so that he had to turn his head away to hide it. He angled his head just enough to shield his expression. If Jean managed to see it, Levi would never hear the end of it.

"More than anyone?" He asks again, and this time, it was clearer. He needed him to say out loud so he could believe it for real. Jean saw the eagerness in Levi's voice, and he nodded slowly and earnestly.

"Yes. If it's happened to you..." He started, shrugging, with a sure look on his face. "You're in, dude. I'm telling you. That kind of trust doesn't come easy and if you have it, you're lucky," Jean concluded and after that, there was another pause between the two men.

This time, Levi's grip on the counter eased as the he turned around, with his back to Jean and he let a soft smile graze his lips. One that he allowed the butterflies in his stomach to come after.

His shoulders relaxed a fraction, and the storm in his chest from before settled quickly. The flowers, Erwin? It all came down to you.

But then Levi froze. His hope crumbling. Something in his brain clicked. "Hold on," He muttered aloud, turning sharply as he planted a hand on the counter for the balance he desperately needs all of a sudden.

A memory flickered in his head suddenly, one he hadn't paid close attention to until now, last night. On the stairwell.

An epiphany hit fast and dawned on Levi faster than he would've like. If Erwin got there last night and if he arrived in that very same stairwell nearly at the same time; just after Levi had used his powers to transport both of you there, away from danger, after falling from the railing, Levi knows that it wasn't a coincidence.

He didn't give it much thought before how Erwin just casually appeared after Levi took you back to your apartment. It meant something. It meant you must've listed him, too as your emergency contact.

Why is that bothering him so much? Why is it creating a pit in his stomach just thinking about it? His mind spun, all until the point that a hollow and loud thud hit his chest. The warmth in his chest was replaced all of a sudden with something cold and sinking.

He was back to where he was minutes ago.  Levi should've realized it sooner. He should've noticed the way that Erwin had stood on the stairwell on the level below, staring up at you and Levi's arms.

His face contorting into something that resembled something nothing short of heartbreak. Possibly envy, but something deeper. That split-second look of disappointment, sharp, and bare.

With worry and guilt written all over. He looked devastated that he wasn't the one holding you. It was the face of someone who almost made it, and should have.

Levi stood still, hand still braced on the counter. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears, and all at once. That flicker of warmth that he felt, the fragil comfort that he'd taken from Jean's words, turned to ice in a second.

If everything that Jean was saying was true, then what the hell is the case when two people are on that list? For a second, he'd found hope in being your emergency contact, in being the person you think of when you need help.

But as much as Levi doesn't want to give it importance, that hope was slipping away, fractured by his own fear and insecurity. But even through the ravaging storm of thoughts racing through his head, something managed to settle.

Beneath it all, Levi knew he couldn't keep his habit going, of letting himself get carried away by the most miniscule of things and pretending they don't mean anything. You need someone who will be there, reliably, without hesitation.

You needed someone who could keep a promise and mean it with every fiber of their being because they know what's at stake.

He promised you. He promised he wouldn't let you down anymore. He refused to break that. No more stalling. No more spiraling. No more standing still. If Erwin was doing everything he could to show that he could show up for you, then so would Levi.

Even more then he did before. Not because of some petty competition, but because you deserve more than that. You deserve more than just protection. You needed consistency, and Levi couldn't offer that before but he can now.

He needed to step up. Levi will do what he didn't do before. He'll do what he can to do what he promised he'd do for you, no matter what. And right now? He knows exactly what to do first.

Determination started running through his veins like a second heartbeat. Levi is not doing this to prove something to Erwin after the conversation he had with him last night, but simply to keep his word to you.

Levi darted his eyes all over the kitchen to see what he could use, and then his eyes landed on the plastic cup on the coffee station that was still filled to the brim with instant coffee packets.

Levi reached over and grabbed all of them in a handful and with a confident smile, he walked out of the kitchen with stride, head high, all while Jean watched with confusion at what he just witnessed from Levi after what he told him.

Eventually he just shook his head and went back to wherever he was in his book, enjoying what was left in his lunch break. "That guy's gonna snap," He muttered under his breath, flipping another page.

Once he left the kitchen, Levi was walking straight towards to your office, holding up a handful of coffee packets like a bouquet, trying to rival Erwin's, with a hopeful look in his eyes that had anyone looking at him strangely.

But what managed to wipe the smile off Levi's face is turning a corner, looking up and seeing Erwin stop just a couple feet away. Neither men said anything, but Erwin had a nearly subtle yet smug look on his face as his blue eyes darted down to what Levi had in his hands.

Your bodyguard pursed his lips into a line and put the coffee behind his back, seeing that Erwin only found amusement in how he caught Levi.

Heading straight towards your office with something to pass off as a bouquet to you. Erwin chuckled, sounding suave, and took a couple steps closer towards Levi, leaving them just a few feet away.

"We need to talk, Levi. Let's meet on the roof" Erwin said, and Levi froze, his face contorting into one of confusion as his eyebrows knit together. The blond walked past him without another word and then head to the elevator.

Levi looked back after a couple seconds, and saw Erwin get into the elevator, not even sparing him a glance. Once he was gone, all Levi could do was scoff and roll his eyes. He looked down at the handful of coffee packets and decided this could wait.

Somehow being interrupted made him realize how ridiculous it'd be to randomly give you coffee packets out of nowhere. You deserve a real gift.

He could go talk to Erwin now and see what he wanted before staying in the office with you for the rest of the day, or until you needed him to. Either way.

Eventually Levi had made his way up to the terrace of the building, the one that was littered with green The floor was entirely manicured grass, and it was surrounded by trees, bushes, and benches for people to sit on at the far end.

It was meant to be a quiet place. A break from chaos. But for Levi, it was anything but right now. Once Levi opened the door to the terrace, with the door clicking shut behind him as he stepped out.

His sharp eyes scanned the area until his gaze landed on Erwin standing at the far end near the edge, overlooking the skyline. His back was straight, his posture was calm. Too calm.

Levi exhaled through his nose, shoving his hands into his pockets as he began to make his way over. His footsteps crunching lightly against the grass alerted Erwin, and the blond turned around, greeting the raven with a polite bow, and a neutral expression that instantly unsettled and irritated Levi all the same.

That blank look on his face, as if this was some casual and normal greeting. Like they were still equals on an imaginary playing field. It rubbed Levi the wrong way in every possible aspect. He just wanted to get this over with.

Once Levi reached Erwin and stood in front of him, he was the first one to not hesitate to let silence draw on between them for long. He didn't bother with pleasantries. Levi did not want to waste time up here. He wanted Erwin to simply get to the point.

"You want to tell me why you call me up here for no reason?" Levi challenged, his voice dry, sharp, like a blade already drawn and ready for defense.

Erwin raised an eyebrow and gave a faint amused look, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his blazer, and out of pure pettiness, Levi was then quick to take them out after, making Erwin snort in disbelief.

"It wasn't for no reason," Erwin replied coolly, and Levi tilted his head to the side, unimpressed. He wasn't buying that for a second. Did he want to talk about you? About what happened last night?

About this petty feud that he's pretending isn't happening? He'd be happy to settle either right here and now. "Oh? Then what is it? I wouldn't have guessed you came to see me instead of Y/n, did you?" Levi joked, but seeing the deadpan on Erwin's face tells Levi that he wasn't fond of the humor and he didn't find that funny.

Erwin let out a huff and briefly looked out into the skyline. Erwin gave a faint chuckle hearing this.

"Wow, I guess you and Y/n are pretty past formalities, aren't you? You get to address your employer in such an informal way," He said, and Levi narrowed his eyes. Erwin truly didn't know a single about what you and Levi have been through to get to this point. He was completely clueless.

Levi's stare didn't waver as his glare at Erwin deepened. "Guess she didn't tell you that our relationship was personal before it turned professional," Levi said, and that visibly caught Erwin off guard for a split second, but managed to recover as his gaze hardened the more he talked to Levi. He did not know that.

He sighed and took his hands out of his pockets, crossing them over his chest instead, straightening his posture. Despite being outside, the air that hung between the two men became thick and unbearable for anyone else who'd even dared to come into it.

"Levi," He began, slowly and deliberately. "I'm trying understand you. I really am," He continued, but Levi was continuing to get more and more pissed off the more this conversation went on.

Everything Erwin said had a secret meaning behind it that Levi could see right through and it was annoying. "See, I don't think you are," Levi started, voice low and borderline venomous. "You're confused because I turned her down at the memorial. So now that you're trying to get a chance with her, you're trying to paint me as the bad guy for not falling in line, all while you throw a fucking proposal at her to lock her down? You're cinical," Levi said and Erwin looked down briefly, trying to control whatever that was brewing beneath the surface deep inside him.

The blond's jaw tensed, but his tone remained leveled. "You turned her down. And now you're trying to sway her? Proposing? Confusing her? What is that if not playing with her heart? I'm not the bad guy here," Erwin argued, and Levi genuinely wanted to laugh. Was he hearing himself?

He took his hands out of his pockets, and put them on his hips, turning around and taking multiple steps back before he walked back towards Erwin. "Don't get it twisted," Levi snapped. He's tired of being misinterpreted and that his words continue to get twisted.

"What I don't like is marriage. Not Y/n. That's why I rejected her," He said firmly, with full confidence in his words. He wanted to leave things clearly here for Erwin, even if it means he has to spell it out for him. He didn't want a repeat of this later.

Erwin only took that as a challenge. He stepped closer to Levi, inching with his controlled and slow. The air between them was becoming heavier. "Then, stop toying with her. I'm warning you, Levi. You know better than anyone how desperate she is right now to get out the mess she's in and you're taking advantage of her-" Erwin started, but Levi could already tell where he was going with this.

He cut in before the blond in front of him could continue. "And you're not?" He said, nearly growling and sneering his words. "I'm not toying with her. I'd say the same thing to you. I wouldn't do that to her. Why don't you get your story straight and accept you're doing this to fulfill some twisted goal you have?" Levi said as his eyes darkened and his hair moved with the wind.

Erwin had something to say ready to go. "I don't-" He started, but Levi also had something to counter if Erwin tried to deny it.

"You're telling yourself a pretty little story about how you're her knight in shining armor in this. But proposing to someone when they feel cornered and terrified, especially to get what you want, isn't noble. It's manipulation and you know it. She proposed to me because she knows I can protect her, you? You only forced the choice on her and dumped it on her without warning," Levi said and Erwin's chest began to heave with conflict as he started to get worked up and the conversation was beginning to escalate.

Levi only smirked because he knows that Erwin started a fight he can't win here. It was obvious. He can see through that self-justifying facade that's only hurting you.

Erwin is fighting for a place beside you, aside from the one he already has in your life, he's fighting for a chance to protect you and to do more. It's self-fulfilling.

"You say marriage means nothing to you. What made you change your mind from one day to another? What the hell are you doing here? You want her or not?" Erwin countered, crossing a line that was pissing off Levi in ways he couldn't describe. It was like talking to a wall.

Levi didn't move back, in fact, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'm not going to say it again. And don't talk like you know me," He said lowly, not liking someone like Erwin assuming things about him.

He just inserted himself without warning, expecting you accept it. He's furious at Erwin for that, and for how he decided to do things.

Things as they were before were fine when it was just you and Levi against everything else, and now things have gotten more complicated than ever. You shouldn't have to choose, you shouldn't have to go through any more hoops for this.

"Then tell me the truth right here. Accept that you're doing this because you can't stand the idea of her being with someone else. With someone who knows her. This isn't about protecting her or some noble act as her bodyguard, admit it," Erwin said, saying it with a tone that exudes confidence and righteousness but Levi knows he's wrong in every way.

Levi has heard enough, and if Erwin is as smart as you say, he'll figure it out. Erwin is insinuating Levi doesn't know you like he does, and maybe that's true, but these last few days have made Levi felt like he's known you for lifetimes.

Levi began to speak with a voice that was calm and icy all at once. "I'm not playing games," He said, giving up this argument, stepping closer with his eyes narrowing into slits.

"I'm not fooling around here. So get the fuck out of my face and stop wasting my time," He concluded, not willing to waste a single second more up here that he could be spending protecting you like his job entails. This was pointless.

Before the argument can continue to escalate further, Levi suddenly stopped when he heard his earpiece start to emit static, and Hange's voice was heard after.

"Levi. Y/n is heading out," They said, and Levi nearly sighed with relief. The perfect chance to escape this. Levi put his attention back at Erwin, who's blue eyes were glaring at Levi unabashedly.

"Excuse me. I have a job to do," Levi said smugly, turning on his heel and immediately started to head towards the exit of the terrace to go back down.

But as Levi walked further and further away, Erwin realized that he let Levi have the last word. He still had one more thing to say before this encounter was officially over.

"Levi," Erwin called out, and the raven fought back a groan as he slowed down, but still kept his back to him.

Erwin said nothing for a couple seconds, letting the sound of leaves being ruffled, wind scouring the area and brushing past the two men, and the bustling sounds of the city taking over instead while nobody said anything.

Levi was about to leave again until he heard Erwin's voice behind him at last. "Remember your place as her bodyguard, Levi. Don't cross the line," Erwin said and Levi rolled his eyes.

He bit the inside of his tongue and slowly turned his body around one last time to look at the blond in the eye to leave one thing very clear. "I don't think you're one to tell me what line I can't cross," Levi settled, turning away one last time and stepping back into the building.

Erwin was left behind to replay in his head what just happened, all while the city below buzzed with life. It was filling his head with noise that would hopefully be loud enough to help ignore those voices in his head yelling at him a million different things at once.

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I am so sorry- It has been so long since I last updated but that's why I hope I can make up for it with this triple update :,) I had a lot of fun writing them but I also struggled a lot in some parts because I didn't know they came out the way I hoped, that's why i went back and forth on a lot of it.

Not sure if it was my best work at some points lol Balancing this new semester of uni has been a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I think Im finding a good balance! I'll also go back to this chapter for spelling mistakes!

Anyway, as for the chapter, I'm really hoping you guys enjoyed this one, and I can't wait for the next couple chapters because it's finally going to be the wedding! I already have so many ideas i can't wait to write!

If you guys have any thoughts, any opinions, feedback, I always appreciate it and it makes me a better writer so I'd love to hear them! <3 I also mentioned maybe changing the day I update instead of Sunday to adapt to my uni schedule but I'm still mulling it over :,)

Anyways, I don't have anything else to say besides that so, as always, I hope to see you guys next week (hopefully) with another update! I want to stay on track :,) And, as always, I love you all so much and thank you for reading! Have a good week! XO
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