Erwin Smith (11)

Lies, broken promises, and incompetence.

Unnecessary clutter.

That Levi risks more than he should.

And above all: Seeing Levi injured throws him off balance and, deep down, terrifies him.

Strategy, maps, and order.

The smell of old paper and fresh ink.

Discipline done right.

The quiet afternoons where Levi is nearby.

Seeing Levi healthy, awake… and alive.

On quiet days—when there are any—her routine with Levi is simple yet profound:

They have breakfast together, most of the time in silence, comfortably and naturally.

Erwin reviews reports while Levi cleans or sharpens his blades.

They can spend hours in the same room without speaking, and still feel like they are in each other's company.

When Levi sleeps in his office, Erwin covers him with his coat without waking him up.

When Levi is upset, Erwin doesn't pressure him: he just stays close, available, constant, reliable.

Erwin finds peace in Levi's silent presence, and Levi finds stability in Erwin's unwavering patience.

Her voice softens. – His gestures are slower, more careful. – Her gaze loses its rigidity and becomes warm, almost vulnerable.

When he found Levi wounded amidst the smoldering wreckage after the explosion, his usual composure shattered. Fear pierced him like a spear, tempering every movement with desperate urgency. And yet, as he lifted him into his arms, his handling was gentle, almost reverential, as if Levi were the most precious thing on that battlefield.

Erwin not only respects him: He admires him, follows him, takes care of him… and loves him in a way that transcends words.

Erwin is a brilliant strategist, cold when the situation demands it, but deeply human behind his facade of the perfect commander. Calculating, patient, and capable of bearing the weight of impossible decisions without breaking down… at least on the outside.

However, beneath that discipline there exists a tenderness reserved only for Levi. She protects him without being overprotective, trusting in his strength but fearing for his life more than she'd admit. When Levi is involved, her rationality is tinged with an emotional impulse she rarely shows the world.

Erwin Smith commands respect even before he speaks. He is tall, broad-shouldered, and has an impeccable military bearing, possessing a presence so firm it seems to stabilize the world around him. His light blond hair falls neatly to one side, even when the wind of battle tousles it. His intense blue eyes usually convey unwavering determination… except when he looks at Levi, at which point that hardness melts into something far more human.

Her expression, usually serene and analytical, immediately tenses up when Levi is in danger, revealing emotions she doesn't show to anyone else.