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"Good." Softer, pleased. "You're welcome."
Still, a wash and fresh linens don't erase the clear exhaustion from his eyes. As much as he would be happy to stay, it'd probably be better to clear off.
"Should let you sleep, that healing is gonna knock you out for a bit." Levi's starting to feel it, too, after pouring so much energy into him and then all of his bustling about just now. He starts tucking the sheets around Finnick a little more.
"Need anything else?"
Still, a wash and fresh linens don't erase the clear exhaustion from his eyes. As much as he would be happy to stay, it'd probably be better to clear off.
"Should let you sleep, that healing is gonna knock you out for a bit." Levi's starting to feel it, too, after pouring so much energy into him and then all of his bustling about just now. He starts tucking the sheets around Finnick a little more.
"Need anything else?"
"I'm sure," Jean says with a serious look. He won't outright say that Levi is like family to him, but only because it doesn't necessarily need to be said. The whole of the scouts feels like that - or felt. The serious look breaks into a smile shortly after.
"And why not do the whole song and dance? He deserves it, and I don't think we'll end up planning on a big wedding. I think it'd make Dolph too nervous. Something small, though, with the people important to us."
You and Erwin are important to us he is saying.
"And why not do the whole song and dance? He deserves it, and I don't think we'll end up planning on a big wedding. I think it'd make Dolph too nervous. Something small, though, with the people important to us."
You and Erwin are important to us he is saying.
His tone is sweet, not so hard and grim as it usually is, and it makes Finnick smile softly.
At the question, he opens his mouth, then closes it again, trying to decide if the request is worth making.
"... If you have things to do, don't let me keep you, but... I'd like it if you stayed and laid with me for a little while."
He feels bad to ask anything more of Levi when he's already done so much. The ask feels oddly terrifying to make, especially in his vulnerable state. But perhaps Levi needs some rest too- he doesn't seem to sleep much.
At the question, he opens his mouth, then closes it again, trying to decide if the request is worth making.
"... If you have things to do, don't let me keep you, but... I'd like it if you stayed and laid with me for a little while."
He feels bad to ask anything more of Levi when he's already done so much. The ask feels oddly terrifying to make, especially in his vulnerable state. But perhaps Levi needs some rest too- he doesn't seem to sleep much.
He doesn't sleep much, but that's been true for most of his life.
In spite of everything, the request still surprises him a little. It's just a brief moment of faint confusion before his expression softens again, and he swallows a bit.
"No, I don't have anything else right now."
There's a somewhat awkward pause before Levi gets off the bed and goes over to help himself to one of Finnick's clean shirts before methodically stripping out of his shirt and pants - no outside clothes in the bed he just cleaned, after all, especially since he'd also just helped Finnick wash in them.
Finnick will just have to enjoy his bare legs, since any sleeping pants or whatever he might possibly own would be too big anyway. So after neatly folding his own clothing, Levi will finally, carefully, slide in under the blankets in next to him.
In spite of everything, the request still surprises him a little. It's just a brief moment of faint confusion before his expression softens again, and he swallows a bit.
"No, I don't have anything else right now."
There's a somewhat awkward pause before Levi gets off the bed and goes over to help himself to one of Finnick's clean shirts before methodically stripping out of his shirt and pants - no outside clothes in the bed he just cleaned, after all, especially since he'd also just helped Finnick wash in them.
Finnick will just have to enjoy his bare legs, since any sleeping pants or whatever he might possibly own would be too big anyway. So after neatly folding his own clothing, Levi will finally, carefully, slide in under the blankets in next to him.
Levi seems to agree to stay, and it's a relief. He watches with slight confusion as Levi changes. While it's certainly normal to wear more comfortable clothing to bed, the act of wearing Finnick's shirt with no pants seems overly familiar for someone like Levi to do at this point in a relationship. The fact that he's doing it for cleanliness reasons is lost on Finnick. Either way, it's not like he minds. He grins as Levi climbs into bed, both because he's very cute dressed like this, and because Finnick is delighted to share a bed with him. He scooches himself as close as he can.
"Just one more thing, sorry," he murmurs. He lifts his metal arm up from under the blankets, toward Levi.
"Will you take this off for me? There's a button there to release."
It'll be hard to get back on himself later, but he'll either ask Levi or Night Sky to help him. For now, he wants to be comfortable.
"Just one more thing, sorry," he murmurs. He lifts his metal arm up from under the blankets, toward Levi.
"Will you take this off for me? There's a button there to release."
It'll be hard to get back on himself later, but he'll either ask Levi or Night Sky to help him. For now, he wants to be comfortable.
Well, he had brought other clothes, because injuries are messy and he anticipated getting them dirty, but they're not suitable for sleeping. They've also spent time naked in a hot spring together, has napped against Finnick on the beach in plain view of everyone. It's not all that much of a stretch.
This time, Levi arranges himself so Finnick can rest against him, if it's comfortable. He doesn't even blink or comment at the request, but carefully feels for the button and twists to find a safe spot to carefully lay the arm.
As they finally settle, fingers find their way into those blonde curls again, idly combing through.
This time, Levi arranges himself so Finnick can rest against him, if it's comfortable. He doesn't even blink or comment at the request, but carefully feels for the button and twists to find a safe spot to carefully lay the arm.
As they finally settle, fingers find their way into those blonde curls again, idly combing through.
They are like family; Levi would never claim to take the place of a parent, but for the subordinates who have been in his direct care...they're all deeply important to him, and that will never change.
Even if...
He shrugs. "Didn't say not to. Do whatever you both want, that's all." Ceremonies and being the center of attention even just among close people aren't for him, so even if the Labyrinth hadn't basically declared them already married, Levi still wouldn't have done much differently. But he understands that having a celebration of sorts is important to many people...and he does agree - Dolph and Jean deserve to be surrounded by people who love them.
"Thanks, for asking us."
Even if...
He shrugs. "Didn't say not to. Do whatever you both want, that's all." Ceremonies and being the center of attention even just among close people aren't for him, so even if the Labyrinth hadn't basically declared them already married, Levi still wouldn't have done much differently. But he understands that having a celebration of sorts is important to many people...and he does agree - Dolph and Jean deserve to be surrounded by people who love them.
"Thanks, for asking us."
Jean smiles again behind the edge of his tea cup at Levi thanking him.
"You're welcome, Captain. Also, now that you've tried the tarts, I have some ideas for a couple other pastry items for the shop, if you're willing to hear me out..."
"You're welcome, Captain. Also, now that you've tried the tarts, I have some ideas for a couple other pastry items for the shop, if you're willing to hear me out..."
It's so hard to flatter Levi, and maybe that's part of his appeal to Finnick. But right now, he wants to be sure Levi knows he's not just praising him for giving a good orgasm, not just talking out of his ass because of nice brain chemicals. He threads his fingers into Levi's silky hair at his temple, combing it backward, and looks into his grey eyes.
"I mean it."
He seals the statement with a kiss, and then lets Levi get to cleaning up, slouching in relaxation and a hint of sleepiness.
And then Levi's looking at him with perhaps a tiny glint in his eye, and licking his lips. The corner of Finnick's lip draws upward, revealing a dimple.
"Not bad, am I?"
He leans forward, sliding hands under Levi's armpits to lift him up. He gathers the smaller man into his lap. He gazes down at his muscular body, admiring it for a long moment as his fingertips trace the man's collarbone, softly touch a nipple.
"Lovely..." He murmurs, leaning down to kiss his earlobe.
"Would you like it to be your turn?" He breathes against the shell of Levi's ear.
"I mean it."
He seals the statement with a kiss, and then lets Levi get to cleaning up, slouching in relaxation and a hint of sleepiness.
And then Levi's looking at him with perhaps a tiny glint in his eye, and licking his lips. The corner of Finnick's lip draws upward, revealing a dimple.
"Not bad, am I?"
He leans forward, sliding hands under Levi's armpits to lift him up. He gathers the smaller man into his lap. He gazes down at his muscular body, admiring it for a long moment as his fingertips trace the man's collarbone, softly touch a nipple.
"Lovely..." He murmurs, leaning down to kiss his earlobe.
"Would you like it to be your turn?" He breathes against the shell of Levi's ear.
It's just so boyfriend, okay!!!!! And that deeply pleases Finnick.
He sighs with relief as the arm is released and pulled off. With that discomfort out of the way, he rolls on his side to face Levi, draping his real arm over him.
"Thank you. Good night," he murmurs, kissing Levi's forehead and closing his eyes, settling in.
In under a minute, he's out like a light.
He sighs with relief as the arm is released and pulled off. With that discomfort out of the way, he rolls on his side to face Levi, draping his real arm over him.
"Thank you. Good night," he murmurs, kissing Levi's forehead and closing his eyes, settling in.
In under a minute, he's out like a light.
Erwin can't deny the inevitable any longer. He's sick, he's coughing up sakura petals everywhere, and he can't hide it from Levi. He's stayed out as long as he can, but it's getting late and he needs to go home.
He wonders what kind of secret he's going to have to tell to get these flowers to stop.
As he makes his way through the city, he calls up Levi. He leaves the video off, and when he speaks, he sounds like he's trying very hard not to cough.
"Are you feeling all right, Levi?"
Erwin really hopes that he's the only one who caught this. As bad as it's been for him, it would be worse for Levi.
He wonders what kind of secret he's going to have to tell to get these flowers to stop.
As he makes his way through the city, he calls up Levi. He leaves the video off, and when he speaks, he sounds like he's trying very hard not to cough.
"Are you feeling all right, Levi?"
Erwin really hopes that he's the only one who caught this. As bad as it's been for him, it would be worse for Levi.
Edited 2025-02-24 18:26 (UTC)
Although he's been spending quite a lot of time in the new city as well as the tea shop, Levi's elected to stay home for once and give their cottage a thorough refresh. It's still cold as fuck outside, but he's put on an extra layer and cracked a couple windows anyway, to tempt in some fresh air.
He holds the device to his ear with his shoulder, so he can continue drying recently scrubbed mugs that hadn't been used for a while.
Erwin certainly sounds strange, and the unprompted question makes his eyes narrow.
"Fine," he answers, clearly already suspicious. "What's wrong? Constipated again?"
He holds the device to his ear with his shoulder, so he can continue drying recently scrubbed mugs that hadn't been used for a while.
Erwin certainly sounds strange, and the unprompted question makes his eyes narrow.
"Fine," he answers, clearly already suspicious. "What's wrong? Constipated again?"
Later on, Erwin will have to tell Levi about how he and Jean made the executive decision to close the tea shop early when they both started coughing up flowers. What an unsanitary mess.
Erwin should have seen the question about constipation coming, but he did, and it makes him snort some laughter. Unfortunately, that jars the coughing loose, and he has to stop walking to let the spell take its course. It takes about twenty seconds, and he spits out a spray of petals into his hand at the end of it.
"No. Not constipated."
Erwin should have seen the question about constipation coming, but he did, and it makes him snort some laughter. Unfortunately, that jars the coughing loose, and he has to stop walking to let the spell take its course. It takes about twenty seconds, and he spits out a spray of petals into his hand at the end of it.
"No. Not constipated."
Edited (the horrors of html beset me yet again) 2025-02-24 19:16 (UTC)
Very good and smart of you both.
There's a twist in his stomach as soon as Erwin starts coughing - an old, uncontrollable reaction - but Levi forces the feeling down with practice, and abandons his drying, grabbing up the device as he gets up to pace to look out the front window, as though he expected to see Erwin walking up to the door already.
"Get your ass home. Now."
There's a twist in his stomach as soon as Erwin starts coughing - an old, uncontrollable reaction - but Levi forces the feeling down with practice, and abandons his drying, grabbing up the device as he gets up to pace to look out the front window, as though he expected to see Erwin walking up to the door already.
"Get your ass home. Now."
Erwin winces. He was really hoping he'd be able to keep from coughing over this call, and now he's gone and upset Levi. Oh, well... probably better for him to have advance warning, rather than Erwin getting home and immediately spraying flower petals everywhere.
"I'm on my way. I'll be about ten minutes."
He thinks about making an answering poop joke, but it's just not in him today. He doesn't think Levi would be terribly receptive to it either. So Erwin simply keeps the call open as he walks the streets.
"I don't think it's as bad as I sound."
At least he's not coughing up blood and flower petals, like he's seen other people do today.
"I'm on my way. I'll be about ten minutes."
He thinks about making an answering poop joke, but it's just not in him today. He doesn't think Levi would be terribly receptive to it either. So Erwin simply keeps the call open as he walks the streets.
"I don't think it's as bad as I sound."
At least he's not coughing up blood and flower petals, like he's seen other people do today.
"The fact that you're saying that means it's worse." Underneath the flat disbelief, there's a note of distress. In a place that didn't have weird shit happening every other month, he'd count it as just an ordinary cold (which would be Unpleasant but manageable). But after a year and a half in this place, Levi's learned to not assume anything to be ordinary at first blush.
And yes, blood and petals would definitely be worse.
"When did it start? You sounded fine this morning."
Unless Erwin had successfully hidden his off feeling from him early on...
And yes, blood and petals would definitely be worse.
"When did it start? You sounded fine this morning."
Unless Erwin had successfully hidden his off feeling from him early on...
If it was just a cold, Erwin would excuse himself to the couch for the night. He'd bundle up under a load of blankets and coax Burnt Rice to join him, and drink a pot of hot tea with honey before going to sleep. That was usually enough to knock any ordinary illness away.
The flower petals mean this isn't any ordinary illness.
"It started later in the afternoon. Jean had it too, and I helped him get settled before I started home."
Jean was settled a couple of hours ago, but Levi doesn't need to know that. Erwin had held out stubborn hope that sharing secrets with Jean would be enough to cure himself, but he doesn't seem to be so lucky.
"It's, ah... it's not a regular cough." Best to just get it out there. "I'm coughing up flower petals."
The flower petals mean this isn't any ordinary illness.
"It started later in the afternoon. Jean had it too, and I helped him get settled before I started home."
Jean was settled a couple of hours ago, but Levi doesn't need to know that. Erwin had held out stubborn hope that sharing secrets with Jean would be enough to cure himself, but he doesn't seem to be so lucky.
"It's, ah... it's not a regular cough." Best to just get it out there. "I'm coughing up flower petals."
Luckily, Levi had just changed all of the bed linens - both in their room and in Hange's (even though they haven't been here for nearly...a year...it's still their room, in his mind). He's in the process of grabbing an extra thick blanket from the closet when Erwin drops that bomb.
There's a very long pause, as though he's playing that comment over in his head multiple times, trying to work out if he heard right.
After a moment or two:
"You're fucking what?"
There's a very long pause, as though he's playing that comment over in his head multiple times, trying to work out if he heard right.
After a moment or two:
"You're fucking what?"
That is more or less what Erwin expected.
"Flower petals. I'm... ah..." It seems that mentioning the damn things inspired them, and Erwin stops to cough again. It's not as long this time, but more violently, finishing with him retching from deep in his lungs and expelling the petals with a splat onto the wall.
"I'm coughing them up." Erwin straightens and wipes his mouth with a handkerchief. A few stray sakura petals stick to it.
"Flower petals. I'm... ah..." It seems that mentioning the damn things inspired them, and Erwin stops to cough again. It's not as long this time, but more violently, finishing with him retching from deep in his lungs and expelling the petals with a splat onto the wall.
"I'm coughing them up." Erwin straightens and wipes his mouth with a handkerchief. A few stray sakura petals stick to it.
There's some predictably impressive swearing happening on the other end, and the sound of quicker footsteps and rustling as Levi immediately pivots and starts getting ready to leave.
"You sound worse than shit. Where are you, I'm coming to get you before you turn into a fucking tree and get rooted to who the fuck knows where."
"You sound worse than shit. Where are you, I'm coming to get you before you turn into a fucking tree and get rooted to who the fuck knows where."
"No, don't do that. I'm almost home."
He's still over five minutes out, but he'd rather get any stray petals out before getting to the cottage. Levi has seen him laid low and at his worst before, but Erwin isn't crazy about repeating the experience.
"Can you get the kettle going? These petals keep scratching my throat."
He's still over five minutes out, but he'd rather get any stray petals out before getting to the cottage. Levi has seen him laid low and at his worst before, but Erwin isn't crazy about repeating the experience.
"Can you get the kettle going? These petals keep scratching my throat."
He does halt for a moment, worry warring with trust, and in the end (as it often does) trust wins out.
"...fine," he says, sullenly, and abandons his preparations to go back toward the kitchen. "But if you're not here soon I'm coming out anyway. Why didn't you call me when it started?"
"...fine," he says, sullenly, and abandons his preparations to go back toward the kitchen. "But if you're not here soon I'm coming out anyway. Why didn't you call me when it started?"
If Erwin can drag himself back into battle after a titan attack and field amputation, he can handle a cough on the walk home. That's what he's telling himself, anyway. This would be a lot easier if he had Star here to ride.
"I was helping Jean." And he'd thought, foolishly, that trauma-dumping on the kid would make the petals go away. "It eased off a little after talking to him, but then it came back."
He can see the cottage now, and trudges a little faster. "I'm almost there."
"I was helping Jean." And he'd thought, foolishly, that trauma-dumping on the kid would make the petals go away. "It eased off a little after talking to him, but then it came back."
He can see the cottage now, and trudges a little faster. "I'm almost there."
Drastic measures on the battlefield are one thing, Erwin. If your husband is just a call away to come get you, that's another.
Why talking to Jean would help with puking up flower petals, Levi can't begin to puzzle out in the moment, and just assumes maybe Erwin's getting delirious as well.
He's got the kettle going and tea measured out (herbal, with a little honey), and goes to retrieve one of his face coverings from the cupboard. "How's Jean?" Presumably not dead or turned into a plant.
Why talking to Jean would help with puking up flower petals, Levi can't begin to puzzle out in the moment, and just assumes maybe Erwin's getting delirious as well.
He's got the kettle going and tea measured out (herbal, with a little honey), and goes to retrieve one of his face coverings from the cupboard. "How's Jean?" Presumably not dead or turned into a plant.
"He's fine. He stopped coughing and went home." Erwin pauses for a moment to catch his breath, then continues. "Has he ever told you about a cadet named Marco? He apparently died at Trost."
This will all be relevant, he swears. Also, please notice and praise Erwin for taking care of the one of the kids!
Erwin finally drags himself to the cottage door, but he has to stop and cough up another wad of flower petals into the bushes beside the mailbox. At least he managed to do that before coming inside.
Then he shoves the door open and enters the cottage, bringing a gust of cold air in with him.
"I'm home!" he calls, and ends the phone connection.
This will all be relevant, he swears. Also, please notice and praise Erwin for taking care of the one of the kids!
Erwin finally drags himself to the cottage door, but he has to stop and cough up another wad of flower petals into the bushes beside the mailbox. At least he managed to do that before coming inside.
Then he shoves the door open and enters the cottage, bringing a gust of cold air in with him.
"I'm home!" he calls, and ends the phone connection.
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