Erwin sat patiently in his office after a long, hard day of training new recruits. He needed to work on some paperwork and form the formation for the upcoming expedition outside the walls.

Looks like this'll be another long night, Erwin complained to himself. Paperwork was one of the worst parts about helping to manage the survey corps. That and the ever growing pile of corpses he stood on, and the constant and increasing lack of support from not only the government, but the people as well. They were all losing faith. And soon, all of the burden would be placed onto his shoulders.

Erwin sighed and dipped his pen in his ink pot, and began to write. The only things accompanying him was the soft glow of the candles and the scratching of his pen, which was annoying to say the least.

After a few minutes of writing, there was a soft knock on the door to Erwin's office. Puzzled, the squad leader got up slowly and walked even slower towards the door to open it.

Who could it be at this hour? It better not be Hange with another one of their crazy Titan theories.

The door swung open, revealing a short man with a tired face. He was completely dressed in the scout uniform, despite it being 2:14am.

"Levi?" Erwin said in disbelief. "What is the matter?" Levi pushed his way into Erwin's office, and sat down on the couch opposite his desk.

"Couldn't sleep." Came the simple reply. Erwin let it slide that Levi had just barged in and closed the door. He walked to his desk and sat down, staring Levi directly in his steely grey eyes.

"Is it because you're at the scouts?" Erwin asked nicely. He was trying his hardest to understand Levi, though he just seemed to be a sack of mysteries.

"No. I've always had trouble sleeping, even in the underground." Levi confessed. He stared right back into Erwin's ocean blue eyes. They appeared to hold a flame of desire, was all Levi could say about them. Erwin obviously wanted something. Perhaps he had a dream like Kenny. Something to waste his life chasing.

"Nothing much I can do, I'm afraid."

"How about we spar?" Levi suggested suddenly, the light leaving a gleam in his eyes. Erwin took a small, harsh intake of breath at the sight of that look. It was terrifying, but inspiring at the same time.

"You realise the time, right?" Erwin pointed at the clock beside him. The time read 2:28am.

"So what? You scared?" Levi smirked.

This was a chance. A chance to kill him. No one would know if I ended it quick. It won't be hard, Levi thought calmly.

"You know, Levi. It's one thing to barge into a mans office without permission and make yourself at home, but it is taking it way to far by calling the next commander of the scouts a coward." Erwin returned the smirk, sealing the challenge.

•=•=•=•

Once outside, the commander made sure there was enough lanterns lit. He could see the hunger in Levi's eyes for blood. In fact, he knew exactly what Levi wanted: he wanted to kill him here and now.

Sorry, Levi. But that's not going to happen unless you work for it.

"So," Erwin began after lightning all lanterns available in the space they were in. "The rules. You can't wound the other so that they are out of commission. You may, however, cause small injuries by punching, kicking or...perhaps using these." Erwin pulled out two knives from his back pocket, similar to the one Levi had used when they fought in the underground.

Levi looks up at the commander-to-be, shocked.

Does he not realise how stupid he is?! He just sealed his own death sentence! Fuck being out of commission, I'll hurt you so bad you'll be six feet under, Erwin Smith! Levi smiled menacingly on the inside, clutching the knife he had just taken tight.

"I gave you that so you'd have a fair chance. I must warn you, my sparring skills are quite well refined." Erwin explained.

"Your sparring skills are ass. The only reason you won last time was because you caught my friends and I surrendered!" Levi shot back.

"Sometimes sparring isn't just about fighting physically. It may also benefit you to break your opponent's spirit before doing any harm to their body."

Levi took that in. In his mind, that advise meant nothing. He was still going to beat the crap out of Erwin if it was here or sometime in the future. He didn't want nor need the advice of a dead man.

"Are you ready?" Erwin asked. Levi nodded, focusing on where he'd hit first: the right side of the jaw. Considering him being naturally left handed, Erwin would expect him to go for a left hook. This would confuse him. Levi smiled a bit, putting the knife in his pocket for later.

"Begin in 3! 2! 1! GO!" Erwin yelled but stood completely still. Confused, Levi made the first move, feinting a left hook, but changing to a right at the last second.

•=•=•=•

"HUH?!" Levi exclaimed loudly, his face in the dirt.

"It was simple," Erwin smiled, holding Levi's arm tighter and pulling it to behind his back. He was completely defeated.

"You were obviously going for a feint. Your eyes gave it away, when you were staring at the right side of my jaw. So I jumped back slightly at the last second before you threw your punch, and when you did I grabbed your fist with my left hand, grabbed your right arm with my other and, quite simply, threw you behind me. I ran, restrained you and took your weapon. I thought you're sparring skills were better than mine? I seem to recall you saying mine were 'ass', however you're the one in the dirt!" Erwin chuckled, kneeling down beside Levi.

The realisation of defeat hit Levi like a truck. Erwin was way more skilled than predicted, and suddenly the job he was given seemed to slip further out of reach. Rage ran through his veins at the thought.

"Don't worry. I'll always get back up. No matter how rough life is, or how strong my opponent may be, I WILL get up. So, Erwin Smith, you count on that. Now let me go so we can spar again." Levi hissed back, glaring daggers and the man he had sworn to kill.

And that was that. That line, in that moment, was what caused Erwin to slowly fall in love with that seemingly emotionless, unsympathetic, creepy looking little man. But he could tell there was more to him than that. Perhaps he was the complete opposite of what he seemed. Erwin swore to himself then and there that he would be the one to uncover Levi's true self, and what he really was like. He hid his thoughts with a smile, and an outstretched hand to help Levi up.

"Sure."