Celebrations(Erwin X Levi)

Celebrations

The morning of Levi's thirty-first birthday started with a baby's slobbery hands in his face.

It thrusted him out of sleep and caused him to immediately scrub the slobber off his face. His eyes flew open but it didn't take away the blurriness that came with awakening. Levi leaned up and out of the cocoon of blankets and pillows and squinted through the dim light to see Mikasa propped up with her little, wet hands on his shoulders. He could practically feel the drool seeping through his shirt. He wanted to hate it, but he'd had nine months to get used to this. No point in complaining.

Mikasa's excited chirps brought a tired, albeit annoyed smile on his face. "What're you doing waking me up, huh?" Levi playfully scolded. A hand came to support Mikasa's torso but he found his hands covering his husband's.

Erwin was supporting Mikasa upright, though it was clear the partly-mobile baby could support herself up. He was in subdued Christmas sweater and plaid pajama pants. His hair was unmade and messy and his face was still hazy and drawn with sleep. If anything, that only made him look more adorable. It was the little things about his husband that Levi found charming. Before, way back when they'd begun dating, he'd pick apart the untidy parts of Erwin until there was nothing left to criticize. Now, he lived for moments like this where Erwin appeared looking his most disheveled and unmade. He was the most perfect imperfection.

Mikasa was wearing a plaid Christmas onesie, as well. They'd gotten matching ones this year, much to Levi's initial chagrin. He'd complained they'd look as corny as the Doks. Looking at them now, he hated to admit it was rather cute to see them matching.

Mikasa's morning greeting came out in squawks and chirps as her hands clapped on Levi's face. Her knees buckled and straightened as she began to bounce, supported by Erwin's steady hands. Levi could feel her tiny feet colliding with the bones in his legs. He grunted as he opened his arms and accepted her into an embrace. Erwin let go so Mikasa practically fell forward against her father, rubbing her face against his undershirt. She effectively smeared her slobber and mucus against his skin. Levi felt himself involuntarily cringe but accepted it with chagrin.

He turned his head to cover her cheek in kisses, leaning forward as she flailed back. She was secure in his arms and shrieked again. Levi groaned as he picked his head up, smoothing her disheveled hair off her head. "Thanks, kid. Appreciate the wake-up call."

"Say 'Happy Birthday, Daddy'," cooed Erwin, sitting on the side of the bed and speaking to their baby girl. He was grinning his boyish smile. There were faint smile lines by the corners of his eyes. Levi wondered, sometimes, if Erwin's face would get frozen like that. Not that he would mind at all.

He bounced Mikasa on the tops of his thighs and kissed her cheek again. "Thanks, kiddo. Now give me another hour."

"We've got breakfast ready," Erwin informed, rubbing their daughter's back. "Mikasa cooked all by herself."

"Did she?" Levi's head tilted toward his husband. "Is that why nothing's burning?"

"Huh, funny." Erwin hummed and leaned in to kiss his husband on the mouth. Levi could taste the morning coffee as well as something else. Chocolate? It was nutty, for sure. He swiped his tongue across his lips as they parted. "What is that?"

"We added some chocolate chips." Erwin beamed. "Not too many. And it's the 80% dark you like."

"Thank God," Levi remarked. Mikasa settled on his lap and wrapped her little fingers around the front of her father's undershirt. "Hey, don't stretch that out. No, no."

"No, no!" Mikasa repeated, shaking her head vigorously. That was her new favorite thing; copying her parents. It never failed to make either of them smile, but now Levi had to be careful with swearing in front of her. She would definitely repeat it.