The Heart of Humanity

Chapter 20: An Unheeded Warning

A turbulent day had faded to a thankfully quiet night, and Erwin was relieved to feel his headache subsiding. Fenrir wasn't going to report Eva, but he also wasn't talking. Hange had spoken to the medic he saw following the incident and convinced them to label it a training accident. Erwin managed to placate Hange by explaining that Lovof had hired Levi, Eva, and their friends to kill him, but withheld the private information Eva had shared with him. It didn't feel right without her permission, even if she and Hange had become so close.

"Er-Erwin?" He looked up from his desk, surprised to see Eva standing in his bedroom doorway.

"Eva, you need to sleep it off."

"Can you get Levi?" Erwin rose from his desk, catching her when she stumbled and helped her to the couch. Hange had given her a second half-dose of sleep aid so they could clean up the incident in peace.

"If I get your brother, will you promise to rest?" He asked, and she nodded. Erwin sighed gently and pressed a kiss to her forehead before rising.

"I'll be right back." The halls were quiet. Most people at this time would be heading to the bar, to bed or to nightguard duty. The Captain's barracks weren't far from the administration building. When Erwin would step up as Commander, he planned to move all his officials to the same building, minus Hange who he had a special title in mind: Head of Titan Research. The designation he had asked Shadis to grant them more than once. Shadis once again said the same thing he always did, do it when you're Commander. Erwin walked through the building, pausing when he found Levi knocking on Eva's bedroom door.

"She's not there." Levi looked towards him, a less than impressed expression on his face, and Erwin noticed the bruise under his eye from where Eva had punched him.

"She's in my quarters," He continued, feeling a little embarrassed to be so cavalier about it. Levi turned to leave.

"There was an incident, and she's asked for you." Levi stopped, and for a moment Erwin thought he was going to keep walking. Levi's shoulders fell, and he muttered something under his breath before turning back to him.

"Lead the way," He sighed. Levi followed Erwin back to his quarters, his mind racing about why Eva would ask for him while she was still pissed at him. Erwin opened the door once they reached his office, allowing Levi to step in.

"I'll give you some privacy." Levi nodded, closing the door behind him. Eva sat on the couch, her eyes cast down and a familiar tremble in her hands that made him realize why she had called for him. Levi opened the door again, much to Erwin's surprise.

"What is it?"

"I'll be back."

---

Levi returned with tea in hand. Erwin stepped out again, and Levi waited until he heard the door close. Eva looked half asleep, leaning a little too forward with her forehead pressed to her trembling hands. He set the tray on the side of the coffee table and pulled the table out enough to have space to sit in front of Eva.

"C'mere brat." He pulled her forward a little more so that she could rest her forehead on his shoulder. He let her cry, sitting in silence as he glanced around the room for tissues or a handkerchief.

"Erwin said there was an incident." Eva didn't respond immediately, her focus was on mimicking Levi's calm and slow breaths.

"I-I tried to kill Fenrir," She admitted quietly.

"Tried?"

"Erwin and Hange stopped me."

"That explains the sleep aid," He sighed. He helped her sit, handing her his own handkerchief to wipe her face. Levi took a seat next to her on the couch and she slid back, her body slumping into his as she rested her head on his shoulder.