Erwin frowned. 'I know you do' was not he response he'd expected, especially not from Levi. However, he could tell from his expression that Levi was completely serious. This wasn't a joke.

"Oh? How so?" Erwin asked, playing it cool.

"Hange. They stole that letter you said you'd written and gave it to me." Levi replied nonchalantly. Erwin's stomach dropped.

Damn that Hange. How many times have I told them not to go through my stuff?! That letter was confidential! Did they read it?! Knowing them, of course they did. God damn it! Erwin panicked, his mind overflowing with curses for Hange.

"I know all about the reasons behind keeping me here," Levi continued. "And that you love me. I read it earlier today. However, there's one thing I want to know."

"And that is?" Erwin pushed, beginning to get nervous.

"How long have you loved me for, exactly?"

Erwin slowly sat up and lifted his head up to the sky.

"Since we first sparred." Erwin sighed. Levi could tell that he was telling the truth, even though most of his thoughts were ones of disbelief.

"That long?!"

"I honestly thought it was just admiration for your strength and spirit to get back up, no matter how many times I beat you. Or perhaps it was the way you flew like a free bird across the sky, moving so gracefully as you sliced the nape of any Titan, whether it be a dummy or the real thing. I thought maybe it was my respect for the things you said to soldiers as they took their final breaths. Words I did not expect from you, of all people. Little did I know how wrong I was." He chuckled a bit.

Levi stared at Erwin's face. He looked defeated, as if he knew that Levi was just making small talk to avoid telling him something he didn't want to hear and spare his feelings. Erwin was happy to talk, nonetheless; it felt good to finally reveal the feelings he'd been suppressing for all these years.

"I told you in that letter that the times spent with you were my happiest, and I didn't lie. Your occasional smile brightens my day. When you finally started to trust me, I felt so privileged. I still do to this day, in actually. However, ever since we argued, I haven't seen that smile of yours. It seems I've taken your happiness from you, and I'm sorry for that. If you want, and if that's what it takes to see you happy again, I'll let you come on expeditions from now on." Erwin faced Levi and flashed him another soft smile. He stood up to leave, walking casually away from Levi without waiting for a response. It had dawned on him that the love Erwin had for Levi wouldn't be returned.

"Before you go." Levi said, producing a piece of paper from his suit pocket. He held it out in front of him for Erwin to take. "I had time to write this before I left my room to come here." Levi's face was warm, and as Erwin took the paper from his hands, he tried to hide the fact that he was blushing slightly.

Erwin carefully opened the paper and found it written on untidily, as if it was rushed. He stole a quick glance at Levi, before starting to read.

•=•=•=•

Flashback

Levi sipped at his tea and frowned in distaste. Hange's tea brewing was lamentable; it was always too bitter or too sweet. Not that he wasn't thankful for it at this time. Tea always tasted better when he was nervous. It calmed him down considerably.

He knew he wasn't good with words, whether they be on paper or spoken. Especially in a subject he wasn't fluent in, such as love. However, Levi realised that it would have to come out some way or another.

As the sun began to set and the last rays of light left his room, Levi reached across his desk and grabbed his ink pot, quill and a piece of paper. On it, he scribbled down his feelings. Letters that formed words, words that formed sentences, sentences that formed paragraphs..until everything that needed to be said was written down. After proofreading several times, Levi folded the sheet of paper slowly and tucked it into his pocket as if it was the most fragile thing to exist. He then picked up his teacup and drank the rest of his tea, silently toasting to the hope that this would work.

•=•=•=•

Erwin,

I read your letter. If this thing goes to plan then I'd have told you that by now. Blame Hange. They stole it from your desk.

I'm not that good with words, especially not the types that expresses feelings, but I'll try my best to tell you how I feel.

The truth is, I've had this feeling inside me for a while. It's a warm kind of feeling, and I get it when I'm with you. It started when you'd invite me up onto the roof, and you shared your aspersions with me. It just got warmer and, annoyingly, more persistent as I spent more time with you. According to Hange, this is...what love feels like?

We didn't really get of to a good start when we met, but your kindness has made me trust you implicitly, and something else evidently seems to have grown out of that.

Your haircut is shitty, you're so god damn loud, you always hover around me and make sure I've had at least a few hours of sleep, you're really annoying...I could go on for days. But I've chosen to ignore all of that and follow my heart. To make yet another choice with no regrets.

So yes, Erwin. In response to your letter, I love you too. But I expect to go on any missions I want now. I need to keep you under my watch as well, so you don't die on me. That promise you made to me wasn't just for that day. I want you to uphold it forever.

Love,

Levi.

Erwin's heart soared, and he almost fell off the roof.