Shadows of Command-Erwin Smith

chapter-ten (nsfw)

The days following their intimate night together brought an undeniable shift between Reign and Erwin, though they both worked to keep it concealed. Reign, now fully recovered, had thrown herself back into training, pushing her body to regain the strength and stamina she'd lost during her recovery. Her friends noticed the renewed determination, but none of them could suspect the real reason behind it. She wasn't just driven by her role as a soldier anymore—she was driven by something deeper, something that now intertwined with her feelings for Erwin.

Erwin, too, was different. In the privacy of his office, when it was just the two of them, his eyes lingered a little longer on her, his touch soft and lingering when they exchanged documents or shared a fleeting moment of conversation. But in front of others, he was the same stoic Commander, composed and focused on the mission. It was a delicate balancing act—managing their professional duties while keeping the tenderness between them hidden from prying eyes.

Though their interactions remained formal in public, the subtle changes between them were impossible to ignore, at least for Reign. There was an electric charge in the air whenever they were alone together, a spark that ignited whenever their hands accidentally brushed or when Erwin's gaze lingered on her a beat too long. She could feel his eyes on her when they passed each other in the hallways of headquarters, though he would never betray it with a glance or a word.

In those private moments, when the rest of the world disappeared, they shared something unspoken—a bond built on trust, understanding, and the quiet knowledge that they were risking more than just their reputations. Every shared look, every soft touch, carried a weight of unspoken promises, of emotions they couldn't afford to name.

During the quiet hours, when the bustle of the day settled, Erwin would visit Reign in secret. These stolen moments became the lifeline they both needed. They met in the shadows of the courtyard, far from the curious eyes of the other soldiers, or in Erwin's quarters late at night when the world had gone still. The tension of their relationship was ever-present, but in these moments, it was muted by the quiet understanding that no words were needed.

Reign often teased him, her wit a sharp contrast to his measured, composed demeanor. "I swear, you'd probably schedule time to breathe if you could," she remarked one evening, watching him as he pored over his endless stacks of reports.

Erwin looked up from the paper he was reading, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Someone has to keep things running smoothly. Besides, I've gotten quite used to your company in this office."

"Oh, have you?" Reign shot back, crossing her arms as she leaned against his desk. "Is that your way of saying you've come to enjoy having me around?"

His blue eyes softened as they met hers, and for a moment, his commanding presence fell away, leaving only the man behind the title. "Yes," he said simply, his voice low, almost vulnerable. "I have."

There were no grand declarations between them—no need for elaborate words to convey what was already understood. Their connection was built on these quiet moments, the small, tender gestures that spoke louder than anything they could say.

When Reign would hand him documents, their fingers would brush for just a second too long, and Erwin's touch would linger as though he couldn't bear to let go. In those moments, time seemed to slow, and everything outside the walls of that office ceased to matter. It was just them, wrapped in the silent understanding of what they meant to each other, even if neither of them dared to say it aloud.

But as the days wore on, the weight of their unspoken feelings began to take its toll. They were soldiers, after all, and the looming war still hung heavy over their heads. Each day brought new reports of the enemy's advances, new strategies to be discussed, and new burdens to be carried. Erwin, ever the diligent Commander, couldn't afford to let his personal feelings interfere with his duty. And yet, with each passing day, it became harder for him to separate the two.