Silent Love, Silent Pain [Levi x OC]

28. Promotion

In the next few days Levi didn't spend much time with Sophie. She spent the majority of her time in bed, still complaining about her back. Luckily, she allowed him to visit her - to bring her food or something to drink. With every visit there were less of the pills in the bottle that Hange gave her. He hoped that she was using them reasonably. He didn't know how much her back actually hurt to judge.

Those were their only chances for interactions. She was ordered to take a rest until she would fully recover which concluded in her not participating in trainings. He couldn't wait for her to join him in the exercises. Finally, he would be able to be the one to help her with improving her skills and not Erwin. Clearly, he wasn't doing a good enough job if her injury made her unable to join in typical Scouts' activities.

"Levi" he heard how Erwin called for him. He turned to face him. He was standing not so far away, observing how he was practising his slices on the dummies. His eyes were full of admiration and respect, something that made Levi feel awkward and tense. He felt as if Erwin was seeing him as an object, a tool for fight not an actual person. But who cares. He wasn't there for him. Sure, he ended up in the military because of him, but it was his decision to remain in the unit. It was the smartest decision for him to make in order to protect Sophie. Sophie that was now laying in her bed, because Erwin's training wasn't sufficient.

"What do you want?" he asked him bluntly, returning to his activity.

"I'm just checking in" he said casually as he shrugged his arms and went closer.

"Bullshit. You're never coming unless you want something" he called him out which caused a sad smile to appear on Erwin's lips.

Levi was right. They both knew it. Heck, by now it was probably a well-known fact amongst the whole unit. Erwin hated to appear as such person. And yet, he wasn't going to do anything about it. It would require his time and energy and he had far more important things to use them for than just a simple, humane need to be liked. He had to focus all of his strength on the things that needed to be done for the Kingdom rather than wanted by him privately.

"You fought well" Erwin finally said, tip-toeing around the topic which irritated Levi.

"If you want something just say it" he let out an exhausted sigh as he shoved his blades back to the scabbard.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked, avoiding his question again.

"Tsk" he gritted his teeth and his jaw tensed. It was never easy and straightforward with this man. "I entrusted you with Sophie's training" he finally said, giving in as he realised that there was no point in pressuring Erwin to say what he had in mind. He would tell him eventually. "And now she's hurt"

"Hurt but alive" he pointed out and it was hard to come up with a witty response for that. He was right. She was alive and it was all that truly mattered. All the rest of things were not as important. "If you left the military, who knows what would've happened?" he asked the question that was on Levi's mind recently. Once again - Erwin was right. If both of them left and decided to stay somewhere within Wall Maria they could have been dead by now. And even if one was alive he or she could never find out if the other person was still alive. For that one thing he should have been grateful to Erwin.

"We would be fucked," he admitted quietly. Suddenly the look in his eyes was less hostile and that was the moment when Erwin decided to reveal the real reason for his conversation with him. He always waited for the right mood before he dropped the news.

"As you know I was appointed a Section Commander" he said slowly, watching his reaction.

"Want a fucking congratulation note?" he grunted, looking at him with a question in his eyes which caused Erwin to smirk.