Ardis meets with them on the way there and Erwin can feel the growl in his own throat that she wants to unleash at the politician’s wolverine daemon. She won’t though.
They leave hours later with a new title and new responsibilities. Erwin knows that he has to shape up if he’s to command the scouting legion effectively and his mind starts whirling up plans. He has no more time to track down black cats and traverse the city for beer.
*
“The commander died out there,” someone says, turning away and spitting on the floor. “Good riddance. Wasting tax payer’s money, that lot.”
Levi rolls his eyes and starts walking off. Kiva is quick to follow, darting into the shadows to snap at a mouse. She misses, but returns to Levi with a spring in her step all the same.
“He was at the head of the column, you know.” She says as she jumps onto Levi’s shoulder. “One of the fuckers from the capitol took him off.”
Levi knows what is hinting and he places a hand over her mouth. He doesn’t care, not really, and yet he can’t deny what he’d felt when he’d seen Erwin fronting the scouting legion.
They hadn’t even meant to be in that part of town when the legion had returned. Levi had received a tip off about a wealthy family moving and had started to move through the town to stake the place out. He’d been passing through when the bells had sounded and come face to face with the scouting legion.
The legion had looked utterly defeated. Not surprising now Levi know that they lost their commander in the field and the words that are offered when the corps return, but only one of them had looked straight ahead. Erwin had fronted them proudly, head up and back straight. He’d become a beacon for them and Levi had been moved by it, though he can’t explain why.
“He’s the kind of man you’d follow,” Kiva whispers in his ear, the traitorous creature. Levi swats at her and she jump from his shoulder with a laugh. They’ve arrived at their home and Levi enters with a grimace.
“I fucking hate this place,” he says to himself, sitting on the bed. He’s been thinking a lot the past few days, thoughts focusing on Erwin Smith and what he’d suggested.
He wants to join the scouting legion. After seeing Erwin and his men (because there is no way the king can let a man like Erwin free of his position – Erwin was born to lead the scouting legion), Levi knows he has so much to offer, so much potential and so much of himself to give. He doesn’t have a hero complex or any notion that he’s going to single-handedly save humanity, but if he can stand by Erwin’s side and prove that he can do anything, the poor boy from the shitty slums, then he’s gained something humanity never had.
He’ll be free.
Despite her earlier comments, Kiva seems agitated as they walk towards the stately building. Levi has been informed that this is where he will find the newly instated 13th commander of the scouting legion. He walks into the building with his shoulders squared and his daemon on his shoulders, eyes narrowed. He has plans to talk to only one man in this building and he dares anyone to try to stop him.
“I wondered when you would come,” Erwin says as Levi strides into the room. His daemon is in front of his desk, standing up with fur bristled. She’s uncomfortable and so is Kiva, but she’s not stupid enough to hurt his daemon.
“Congratulations on your promotion,” Levi says. His voice is monotonous and Erwin raises an eyebrow ever so slightly, leaning back in his chair and abandoning the paper before him.
“I’m joining the scouting legion,” Levi says. He doesn’t see the point of beating around the bush and sets his weight more onto one leg. Erwin doesn’t look surprise, simply nods and pulls a sheet of paper out from a stack on his desk.
“Ardis, let our guest take a seat,” Erwin says and the white dog moves. Her fur has settled and there’s less anger and more curiosity in her eyes now.
“I need you to fill this out,” Erwin says, but pauses before he hands it over. “If you can, that is.” His daemon twitches at the lack of tact, something that Kiva copies.
“Not all slum people are illiterate,” Levi mumbles, frowning. He’s always had difficulty keeping up with writing, but his reading skills are fine and his handwriting legible. He completes the form the best he can, unable to fill in where he lives – as if the slums have proper names people from the outside can use to locate places – and contact details.
“I didn’t mean to offend,” Erwin says, voice soft as he takes the paper back. The room is silent for a moment and Levi fights the urge to tense up. He runs his hands through Kiva’s fur instead, twisting around his fingers.
“Would you like to live with me,” Erwin says and Levi’s eyes widen in shock. Kiva sits upright and her back arches.
“Excuse me?” Levi retorts, shooting a look to the dog. She seems relaxed, lying down at the side of the desk with her eyes looking at them lazily.
“Would you like to live with me,” Erwin repeats, though it’s hardly a question. Levi knows that Erwin knows the answer and Levi smiles slightly, tilting his head back. He’s always been a perfectionist and Levi knows that Erwin is one of the best in the scouting legion. If he can learn from him then he will begin his path to being free and with a decent roof over his head.
He cannot see any reason to say no and Kiva agrees, though she’s not too fond of the idea of sharing her space with the dog.
“I’ll clean the room while I wait for you,” Levi says, wrinkling his nose as he looks around properly. It’s not too bad, but dust covers most surfaces save the desk and the floor could use a good scrub.
Erwin just smiles and shares a look with his daemon, as if they’ve discovered a missing piece of a puzzle.
*
Tbc
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 2/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-10 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooooh nice! Eagerly looking forward to seeing where things go from here!
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 2/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-11 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
OP: another lovely chapter! I especially loved Mike having a bear daemon as well as the line "The image of a little bird screaming before vanishing into golden dust is still burning behind his eyes". Can't wait to see where things go from here!
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 2/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-12 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
Wonderful work, anon, I can't wait to see what happens!
Thank you so much for writing for this prompt. <33
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 2/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-12 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
ooh anon thank you for a wonderful update, can't wait to see more
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 2/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-12 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Omgosh, more please!
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[Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 3/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-13 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you again for the kind comments! I’m glad you’re still enjoying. I’ll try to update quicker this time.
*
Erwin can feel Ardis’ nervousness and knows it mirrors his own. Perhaps nervousness is the wrong term though, but there is certainly something swirling in his gut as he walks through the halls of the scouting legion’s building. It is the only building they have inside the walls and yet it strangely empty. People and their daemons are always passing through the doors here, some hardly have time to settle before their time is up.
He should live with the other trainees, Ardis says silently to him and Erwin tilts his head. They round a corner, slight footsteps the only sign of Levi following them.
All rooms have been allocated. We have a surplus of trainees looking to join the military police. Word has sprung up it’s a cushy job with lots of benefits. Erwin hides a grimace. People take stock of rumours and ignore the truth far too often. The military police are as corrupt as can be.
Ardis flattens her ears and looks up at him, clearly unhappy. Erwin ignores her, she has a tendency to be the more melodramatic of the two of them, and turns down another corridor. It’s silent in this part of the building and their footsteps are amplified.
“The commander’s quarters are attached to a small office,” Erwin says pleasantly, not bothering to see if Levi is listening. He’s not doing this because he knows Levi is interested, but he’s easing him in, letting Levi know what he’ll be dealing with. Erwin suspects Levi was involved in shady businesses back in the slums and he knows that he’ll need to adjust to this new environment.
Plus, out of the corner of his eye, Erwin can see his daemon flick her tail nervously. It’s not unusual for a trainee to be nervous when entering, but Levi isn’t just another trainee. He’s already decided to join the survey corps and his mind is set.
“We’ll have to share a room, but there’s enough space. Two beds are already installed.” There’s more than enough room in his rooms, which Erwin thinks is bullshit when he doesn’t need it. The money spent on pointless rooms could be used to fill stomachs, but Erwin knows there’s no way to protest that. A civil war would be pointless.
“There won’t be much privacy, but if you’re to join the scouting legion, your life will be in my hands regardless.” He feels Levi’s eyes on his shoulders and Ardis looks up at him, feeling the warmth in her chest as it spreads through Erwin’s.
“It’s not like I’m expecting this to be a fucking masquerade ball,” Levi mutters and his cat daemon jumps from his shoulders.
They arrive at Erwin’s quarters and he unlocks the door, noting how Ardis hangs back a fraction so she’s closer to the cat. Erwin feels the curiosity in her chest and knows that, despite appearances, she’s as curious about the cat as he is about Levi.
“The training commander will be out on the training field tomorrow. I’ll speak to him about your training then.” Erwin looks at Levi’s empty hands. “I would say you should unpack, but it seems like there’s nothing there.”
Levi simply fixes him a stare and Erwin turns away, not fussed. Levi is his own man and Erwin will never crush that.
“I never said thank you for cleaning my office,” he says instead and notes the jerk of Levi’s head with interest. A ‘thank you’ was probably rare for a slum dweller and Erwin made a mental note to thank him when he deserved it.
There’s a silence, but it’s strangely comfortable. Levi moves to the bed by the window and Erwin does nothing to stop him, despite the fact that was the bed he’d been sleeping on for the past few days. If it makes Levi comfortable then he’ll happily change beds.
Ardis isn’t so complacent, however, but she yawns in annoyance instead and hops up onto the other bed.
“How far can you separate?” she snaps and Erwin shoots her a surprised look. Ardis isn’t usually one to talk to other people, especially when she didn’t particularly like them. It wasn’t exactly common for daemons to talk to other people anyway.
The cat hisses and Levi reaches out to calm her. His eyes are narrowed at Ardis and Erwin tilts his chin up, sizing Levi for who he is. It is so easy to assume Levi is a weak boy from the slums, but Erwin can see the ruthless man underneath. It’s why he had wanted Levi.
“Far enough for us,” the cat says. “Training will be easy enough.”
There is a lot of confidence in her words and Ardis lowers her head, relaxing.
“Good,” she mutters, closing her eyes. She’d been testing them, that Levi and his daemon’s relationship was as strong as could be. The fact it had been the cat and not Levi who answered had satisfied Ardis.
“Dinner will be soon,” Erwin says, moving to the drawers. He has some old uniforms in here, from past occupants, that haven’t been moved and thinks there might be something in Levi’s size. It would have to do until he was fitted properly tomorrow.
Levi takes the clothes with a grunt, not even bothering to turn his back as he changed. His hands began to tug at his top when Erwin spoke.
“I have a shower,” he says. Both Levi and his daemon look up, eyes wide. “You can use it as much as you want. All I ask is that you be considerate when using the heated water.”
The words are hardly out of his mouth before Levi has scooped the clothes up in his arms and is bolting through the door Erwin had gestured at. The cat is standing where Levi left her, eyes darting to look at Ardis, but she turns tail and follows Levi, the sound of running water starting a moment later.
“Perhaps things will be a lot smoother than I’d anticipated,” Erwin commented to Ardis as she jumped from the bed, padding over to his side. She shakes her head and sighs.
“He might not have table manners,” she says, though the words are said humorously. They know enough about Levi now to see that, despite his living conditions, he is a man who has made sure not to have a weakness. While he may not pass at court – few people do, including nobles – Levi was educated and had undertaken gruelling training by himself. Not just anyone could train to be apart from their daemon, it took a certain mindset.
Erwin moves to the small office, the room they first entered. It’s on the opposite side of the bedroom to the bathroom so he doesn’t notice that Levi is done until he stands rigid at the side of the desk. His hair is wet, but gleaming, and there doesn’t seem to be a speck of dust on him anywhere.
He scrubs up well, Ardis comments with a wolfish grin and Erwin fights the urge to frown.
“Are you ready to eat?” Erwin asks and he doesn’t even have to hear the words to see the hunger on Levi’s face. He’s likely to have been starving for most of his life and trained himself to eat as often as possible. Hopefully he would be able to control himself in the canteen, but Erwin can stop him if need be.
“Yes, sir,” Levi says and Erwin jolts at the title. Ardis shoots a glance at Levi and ducks her head, tail dipping slightly.
“There’s no need to address me like that,” Erwin says. He accepts formal address from his soldiers, but Levi is Levi. He isn’t bound to authority in the same way that the others are and to hear the word ‘sir’ slip from his lips is wrong. He isn’t training Levi to cage him behind authority’s walls.
“Just Erwin is fine,” he affirms and the cat tilts her head, stepping towards Ardis.
Standing from the desk, Erwin rakes his eyes over the papers he’s spread on the table. A review of his plans to bring in people from the streets to the training corps and his third trial of a formation the legion could use to track and avoid titans when outside the walls. It’s still too early to work properly, but everything has its early days.
“Her name is Kiva,” Levi says quietly and Erwin stills for a moment. He knows what Levi means and smiles at the cat daemon.
“Thank you, Levi and Kiva,” he says, striding from the room with Ardis at his side.
Levi’s footsteps fall heavier this time, less street child and more soldier for humanity.
*
It’s not even his first full day and Levi is already learning. He’s learnt that Erwin tends to chew on the tip of his pen when he’s looking over documents and that his daemon kicks her left hind-leg slightly when lying down and annoyed. Levi has also learnt that Erwin Smith isn’t like anyone else he’s ever met before and Kiva is equally as confused by them.
The canteen is full with official looking men and women. Levi notices the lines on their faces and he smudges under their eyes and wonders if this is what lies in store for Erwin.
“Commander,” people greet them, bowing their head slightly to Erwin and passing by Levi with a curious glance. Of course they’re fucking curious, Levi’s in clothes that don’t quite fit him and trailing the commander of the scouting legion like a daemon.
Kiva jumps up onto his shoulder, fear spiking through her chest, and Levi sees why. A huge bear is walking towards them, grunting as if it is a terrible effort. It’s not alone though and Levi relaxes a little as a man steps out from behind the bear to talk to Erwin.
“A new recruit?” he says, inhaling sharply. The bear follows suit and the man steps into Levi’s circle of personal space, inhaling again.
“Mike,” Erwin says, his voice low and warning. It sends chills down Levi’s spine and Kiva’s tail twitches slightly, a purr rumbling in her chest.
“You smell of ice and smoke,” Mike says, darting a look in Erwin’s direction before walking off, as if he hadn’t just sniffed Levi like his daemon.
“Mike is…” Erwin’s mouth twists and Ardis huffs, clearly amused by the entire affair. “Individual,” is the word Erwin goes for, leading them to the kitchen, and Levi tells Kiva that he can think of a few better words to describe the nose-man.
They are given large bowls of stew. It’s thick and full of meat and vegetables, as far cry from the watery slop Levi has been living off. He can see where the scouting legion gets their strength and Kiva darts around his feet, the embodiment of his elation. Proper food, proper beds, a proper life.
“I want more people like you to join,” Erwin says suddenly, dipping his spoon into his stew from across the table. Someone on Levi’s bench gets up and he shifts it closer to the table, not certain he’s heard correctly. Kiva jumps onto the bench too, peering over to stare at Ardis where she lays on the floor, eyes closed yet as alert as ever.
“More people like me,” Levi says flatly. Erwin isn’t some bloody hero who thinks he can clean up humanity’s waste, is he?
The thought must show on his face for Erwin gives a grim version of a smile.
“Most of the people in the slums die early anyway. I need people to build numbers, people who won’t be expensive to convince.” Levi notices Ardis open an eye to stare at Kiva. “I’m under no illusion I’m sending people to their deaths, but I can give a few unfortunate ones a decent meal before they die.”
Erwin doesn’t bullshit and Levi loves that about him. Back in the slums there was always someone trying to backstab or hide a hidden agenda. It’s not that Erwin doesn’t care, but he knows that caring is pointless. He has a job to do and if that means sending people off to be sacrificed?
“Am I a trial run?” Levi says, meeting Erwin’s piercing eyes with unwavering determination. He would offer his life to this man, but he was going to meet him halfway.
Erwin shakes his head and Ardis sits up, staring at Kiva. Levi can feel Kiva’s emotions in his chest, but he ignores them. He isn’t completely sure how his daemon feels about Erwin’s daemon – or how he feels about Erwin – but he isn’t sure he likes where their emotions are heading.
“There will never be anyone like you,” Erwin says and Levi looks away, shoving the next spoonful of stew into his mouth.
They let their daemons express what they refuse to see and Kiva shoots glances towards Ardis throughout dinner. Levi doesn’t know why Erwin makes him feel simultaneously comforted and a fish out of water, but he does.
That night, Levi stays up as long as he can to listen to three sets of breaths, clinging to the night to reassure himself this isn’t a dream, that he really is here in Erwin’s room with Kiva.
*
Tbc
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Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 3/? (Anonymous) - 2013-09-13 03:52 (UTC) - Expand
Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 3/? (Anonymous) - 2013-09-13 06:03 (UTC) - Expand
Re: [Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 3/? (Anonymous) - 2013-09-13 22:56 (UTC) - Expand
[Erwin/Levi] Cedarwood 4/?
(Anonymous)
2013-09-18 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the kind comments! And I see the scouting legion working like witches, yes! Not all daemons would be able to accompany them outside the walls and the harsh training they go through allows them to reduce the risk of their daemons dying or distraction when outside the walls.
*
“I understand your concerns,” Erwin says curtly, staring down at the training officer. “But there really is no need to at least deny him a test.”
The training officer twists his mouth and Erwin straightens. Ardis is staring at the man’s stout daemon, a dog that seems completely enamoured with them. Erwin often uses daemons to judge people and to get what he wants. Daemons are more expressive of true emotions.
“It’s not really-“ the man begins to say and Ardis slides down to lie on the floor, yawning. The man shoots her a look and then to his daemon – whose rump is squirming on the floor, tail desperate to wag in excitement – and he sighs.
“Of course, Commander,” he says with a smile. “I can get him a test, nothing more though. Anything else has to be off his own back.”
Erwin nods curtly, satisfied with the answer. He leaves the pair, business never over, to place an order with the gear section. Trainees are given their own bindings, which are only replaced if need be. Most don’t get the chance to be replaced and the gear is taken apart and treated to be made new.
The tailors are magicians. Erwin knows they’ll have Levi’s equipment ready for the following day and he passes the head tailor a sheet of paper with all the measurements. Levi will be fitted properly tomorrow, today they have other plans.
“It’s been a while since we saw Shadis,” Ardis says and Erwin gives a tight smile. Ardis enjoys the company of Shadis’ vulture daemon, just as Erwin enjoys Shadis’.
From the blank stare Keith Shadis gives him, Erwin knows that he’s already heard the news. His daemon wastes no time in swooping down to greet Ardis and she pecks Ardis playfully, hovering in the air as Ardis snaps back in delight. Their actions gain a few looks from the trainees under Shadis’ tutelage, but they say nothing and keep their heads down.
“Your recruits are just as scared of you as usual,” Erwin says with a smile and Shadis grunts. To anyone who doesn’t know him, it seems rude, but they’ve known each other for years and Erwin earned Shadis’ respect years ago.
“Marley,” Shadis calls and his daemon looks over. “We’ll be in my office.”
The daemons make no effort to follow them as they cross the training ground to a small shack that hosts Shadis’ office. It’s sparse, paperwork organised neatly and completed, a far cry from the state of Erwin’s office. Then again, there’s a lot more for Erwin to do for he has big plans for their division.
“I heard you’ve taken someone under your wing personally,” Shadis begins, pouring them both a drink of water from the jug on his desk. “An insult that you didn’t even consult me,” he mutters and Erwin smiles softly.
“He has a lot of potential,” Erwin says. “But I merely planted the tiniest of seeds. He’s here of his own ambition and has nothing else to turn to”
“A street rat, I heard,” Shadis interjects, sipping his drink and casting a look outside. They’re both standing and he sits, shaking his head as he watches Marley dive down to gently tug at Ardis’ ears.
“Numbers need to be brought up to a certain amount,” Erwin replies, taking his own seat. His drink is untouched and a droplet of liquid rolls down the side of the glass, flattening when it hits the wooden desk.
“You’ve already managed to convince someone to let him onto a trial programme. It’s not conventional to let someone join outside of normal recruiting time, but if he’s as good as you seem to think, it could work. He wouldn’t be the first to enter training late.” Shadis takes another sip and jerks his arm slightly.
“Ardis seems to have gotten a lot stronger and faster,” he comments and Erwin simply nods.
“You don’t know all of our tricks,” Erwin says and Shadis gives a dry bark of a laugh. “I wanted you to see Levi tomorrow. If he passes, I want him taken for training right away. He’s living with me at the moment and I expect the arrangement is unchangeable, but I’m to be summoned soon.”
While Erwin hasn’t heard anything specific, he knows he’ll be up for review soon, only if just to see how he’s settled as a commander. He also wants to take another expedition out of the walls to try his formation. He knows there are things that need sorting out with it, but he’ll never be able to smooth it out unless he sees how it fails in action.
“You want me to watch him?” Shadis says, face unchanged yet eyes staring at Erwin in almost disbelief. Erwin resists the urge to laugh; as if he’d ask Shadis for something like that.
“He’s not a child and can easily take care of himself. I don’t want you to watch him, I want you to teach him.” Erwin sits back in his chair. “I want you to tell me what you think of him.”
Shadis’ eyebrow does rise at that and he narrows his eyes, looking Erwin up and down.
“You have plans for this street rat, don’t you?” he says and Erwin stands. He has nothing to say and knows Shadis doesn’t want an answer. Erwin doesn’t particularly have plans anyway, but there is something with Levi that he still cannot put his finger on.
Ardis doesn’t come to his side as he walks away, but Erwin doesn’t mind. He meets her a minute or so later and she trots up to him happily, glad to have been able to play fight with someone and relax. Training is hard for daemons and it is so rare that she gets to explore outside the walls.
“Marley said she’s heard there’s a few disturbances in parliament. Counsellors getting in a fuss because of the religious cult and talk of a few people being rounded up for causing a disturbance.” She licks her lips. “Apparently some people don’t believe titans exist anymore and that we’re safe as can be.”
She doesn’t say it, but Erwin already knows what she could add on. When it comes down to it, everything is about money. People easily forget about things unless it is money and they have forgotten the threat the titans pose and are constantly complaining about their tax money going to waste.
Ardis’ tail suddenly bristles and her ears flatten slightly. It’s a reaction Erwin has come to recognise and, sure enough, Levi’s daemon is standing before them in the open. Kiva doesn’t move, but she doesn’t look happy to be close to them.
“We’ve had enough,” she announced, staring at Erwin. He doesn’t show his surprise, but it is unusual for a daemon to talk to another human, especially this daemon. “We’re sick of following your nose-man around the property and chatting shit.”
Ardis growls at the insult, but Erwin calms her with a look. She huffs and takes to staring at Kiva instead, tilting her head.
“Where’s your human?” she says and Kiva flicks her tail as she walks off, ignoring the question in favour for leading them. Erwin follows without a word, though his annoyance shows in the way Ardis holds herself, body stiff with teeth bared.
No one approaches them as they enter the main building and Mike’s daemon grunts when she sees them, shifting her weight in uneasiness. Levi hasn’t been the easiest company then, Erwin knows.
Kiva returns to her human, dark fur wrapping around his shoulders as Levi stares at Erwin. Aside from a cursory glance though, Erwin passes his attention over Levi and greets Mike. They exchange pleasantries, more to piss Levi off than anything, and it isn’t long before Mika and Burcu are vanishing around a corner.
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