-Epilogue-

From the moment Levi next laid eyes on his husband, he knew something in him had broken.

It wasn 't the physical wounds, though those were obvious and jarring, one eye swollen half-shut, chin black with bruises. It was the weight in his voice, his shoulders, the corners of his mouth.

'I think we need to ask your opinion, Commander, ' Levi said aloud, using the formal title he had never used in a military setting.

You 're still in charge. You 're still the one I choose to follow. You are valued.

Erwin 's lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were distant.

Levi found himself reluctant to leave Erwin 's side during the battle against Rod Reiss. It wasn 't right for a man so recently injured to be right back in the thick of battle.