After that moment, captain and commander spent many years of tranquility together.

Their first two years together consisted mostly of rushed date nights under the stars on the rooftop of the scout base. While Erwin was getting ready (he'd take forever), Levi, being the small and agile thing he was, would break into the kitchen and steal some food unnoticed. Then, they'd both meet in Erwin's office and climb to the roof, sharing food and drink, and laughing about their most embarrassing memories, or random things that brightened up their days. Something to take their minds off of the hell they lived in.

If they chose not to stay up particularly late or the weather was so bad that they couldn't go up into the roof, they'd spend their date nights in Erwin's room, talking amongst the dim light of the lit candles about their days. When winter would roll around, they would stay wrapped in the warmth of Erwin's bed, and the warmth of each other. Erwin found Levi falling asleep the most relaxing thing in the world; he'd stay up whilst he slept, and would watch Levi's little chest rise and fall with each intake of breath. He would tenderly play with Levi's hair, but made sure he didn't wake him up. These moments were the ones that Erwin lived for, and the ones he'd cherish forever.

Expeditions came and went. Erwin and Levi stuck by each other for a long time during these missions. They were practically unbeatable in battle, especially since they both knew each other's weaknesses and strengths. When it came to killing titans, that was Levi's speciality. Erwin's job was to distract them, and very occasionally be forced to go for the kill.

Long, lonely nights still followed when they had set up base outside the walls. Levi and Erwin would still find themselves in each other's company atop the rooftops or turrets of these buildings, and would still share stories until the sun came up.

On occasions when Erwin would ride out on missions alone, or visit the capitol for important meetings, Levi would stop him from showing affection by clasping his hand over Erwin's mouth as he was about to lean in for a kiss. The blonde would give Levi a confused look.

"What's this? Don't want a goodbye?" He would whine, causing Levi to grow annoyed and a tiny bit flustered, but he never said a word. The only thing he'd do was take his right hand, kiss his middle and index fingers, and plant them on Erwin's green bolo tie as a sign of good luck, and a reminder of the promise they had made.

Erwin had decided at some point that being so clingy to Levi and constantly wanting him by his side wasn't such a good idea, especially since Levi didn't want their relationship out in the open. The sort of behaviour he was showing towards Levi at this moment in time would cause suspicion to arouse within the troops, so the best solution Erwin could come up with was giving Levi the choice of picking and choosing his own squad.

The news shocked Levi at first, of course, and after many protests by Erwin telling him that he couldn't be apart of this new squad, Levi chose the four of the most promising looking new scouts: Petra Ral, Eld Gin, Oulo Bozado and Gunther Schultz.

The four reminded him of his old friends. Levi often thought about what Isabel and Farlan would think of his relationship with Erwin; what it had started out as and what it had become. The 'dream' he had had a few years ago now still haunts him to this day, as do their deaths.

•=•=•=•

And then, after many peaceful nights and days, months and years, that peace was broken by the fall of Shiganshina, and subsequently the fall of Wall Maria. Levi and Erwin were both constantly rushed off their feet, What with the scouts's reputation getting worse by the day, as well as the lack of support from the government to supply the refugees from Wall Maria. They both fought their battles, and hardly saw each other for around a year.

Arguments would constantly break out once they started frequently seeing each other again. From insults to physical fights, the two were drifting further away. Even though they'd always make up, their relationship seemed to be on the rocks.

Until Erwin found hope again. His dream could come true, with the assistance of the Titan shifter Eren Yeager. Thanks to that flame of desire and determination reignited inside of Erwin, the days and nights went back to how they used to be. Both Levi and Erwin enjoyed that very much.

Their relationship was constantly pushed to its boundaries. Yeager seemed to always cause trouble, whether it be the amount of pressure he put on Levi to look after him, or the fact that the battle to reclaim him from the threat of abduction cost Erwin his right arm. Whatever the case, the promise the two men had made to always return alive to the other was under constant strain, and it only got worse over time. Yet their individual and combined strength as a team and a couple made that factor seem like it wasn't a threat at all. Their love for each other also grew over time, and never broke.

They were both enjoying this beautiful game called love. But everyone knows that once you start playing a game, it eventually has to end.