[REUNION AFTER AN EXPEDITION]

Erwin was in his commander’s Office...It was a late, dark evening. The warm glow of a lantern flickered against the walls and rain tapped gently on the windowpanes as he sat in his chair, waiting for someone.... Someone named Levi..

Suddenly there was a knock at the door...It was soft—barely audible—but he knew it instantly..He had heard it enough times, in enough places, to recognize the man behind it without needing to ask..

“Come in."

He said, already rising from behind his desk, his heart was thudding once, heavy and sudden. It had been two weeks—fourteen days, too many nights, and far too many “what ifs.”

The door creaked open..

Levi stood there, soaked from the rain, cloak still on, his grey-ish blue eyes sharp even in fatigue. The sight of him, breathing, whole, here—it knocked the air from Erwin's lungs more than any battlefield could..

Neither of them spoke. Words had no place here..Erwin crossed the room in two strides, his arms already reaching for him.. And Levi responded by stepped forward—subtly, purposefully—until his forehead rested against Erwin's chest..

Erwin's arms wrapped around him tightly, instinctively, like muscle memory..He didn’t resist...He never did, not with Erwin..

“Welcome home, Levi.."

He whispered into Levi's jet black hair..