Fear of what was in the letter took over Levi's mind. Hange had had that look on their face; one that only people who were sorry for you wore.

However, his curiosity was aroused, and he couldn't help but want to know what Erwin couldn't say to him in person. Fingers trembling, he opened up the letter, to reveal a few sheets of paper, each filled with Erwin's large, cursive handwriting. He began to read, taking each sentence in at a time.

To my dearest Levi,

There is no easy way to tell you how I feel at the moment. You may have heard this from many people by now, but I'd like to tell you the truth in this letter, directly from me.

You probably think I did this because I didn't want you near me anymore, but that's nothing but a lie. The truth is the complete opposite, in actuality. If I were to have it my way, I'd have you by my side at all times, to know that you were safe. And that's why I don't want you going on any missions anymore. Because I need to know you're safe.

Like I said to you before, I'm a selfish man. I take what I want, and when I see an opportunity to do so, I bite into it and don't let go. That's the type of person I am. Of course, you have experience with that, don't you? I took you from the underground because I wanted your strength. I needed you so that the survey corps could succeed in their missions. That cost you your friends lives, and at the time I didn't care. I only needed you, and those two just dragged you down, was my opinion back then. But in the years I've got to know you, the guilt I felt for their deaths and the effect it had on you tears me apart every day, and I don't even know how to apologise for it.

There are other things to be said about the reasons behind me wanting you here. Yes, I want you safe because you're humanity's best weapon, their sharpest spear. However, I also want you here, safe and alive, because I need you.

These past years have been the happiest and best of my life thanks to you, and for that to be taken away in an instant if you were to die would be a nightmare that I could never recover from. You make things better, Levi. And in all honestly, I think, despite your harsh attitude and your seemingly non-existent emotions, I love you. Cheesy, maybe. You probably think that it's weird, considering where we started, and on what terms. But this world is unpredictable. If I were to suddenly die on the battlefield, I'd like to die knowing you know this.

Unless I decide not to give this to you, or someone finds it and gives it to you first, you probably won't see this for a year or so. I hope I can give it to you personally, and I hope we can make up from our disagreement, now you know the real reason why we argued in the first place. Please forgive me. I wish you a good day.

With love,

Erwin