It Started With Cadet Training (Reader/Levi/Erwin/Hange/Mike)

Waste Your Time

"I'm... the Commander."

A hush fell over the table as all eyes landed on Erwin. No one was really sure how to respond, and as you sat there, watching Erwin's expression, you felt your heart sink. He looked distant at best as if this had been forced onto him. A role he did not want. Your fault.

"It's not official until next tomorrow, but the Commander has told me to move my belongings into his room. That it's mine now. I'm not sure I can replace him, he was brilliant and-"

"He was a coward," you cut in, flinching as a wide-eyed Erwin turns to you. "H-he pestered me every day for the last two months on who to promote. I shot him down every time. Erwin, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to force you into this it's-"

"I accepted him. You forced me into nothing. I should be thanking you, (Y/N)-" he reaches forwards, taking the side of your face gently in his hand,- "Because now I can stop watching Mike toss and turn at night, or Hange waking up screaming, or Levi making tea at two in the morning because he can't sleep. Now I can see you four sleep peacefully together, rather than restlessly apart."

There are no words that escape your lips as you stare back at him, they quiver open but no sound escapes as tears build up in the corner of your eyes. Your hand reaches up to rest on the side of his face as his features mimic yours when a shooting pain cuts through your shoulder. You yelp in pain before you can stop yourself.

"(Y/N)!" the four of them shout together at the sound, eyes quickly scanning over your body.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" you protest as Erwin searches your arm for any damage.

"You're bleeding," he states flatly, his hand stopping near your shoulder blade.

"Levi's bleeding too!" you protest, hoping the attention would shift away from you.

"So's Hange and Mike, I can see the way that they restrict their movements," Levi grumbles, setting down his teacup.

"Erwin's no better! He's been holding his head as blood has dripped down his hand this whole time!" Hange points out, the five of you staring at each other, all of you unsure of what to do at this point.

"Cadet! Fetch some medical equipment and have it delivered up to the Commander's quarters," Erwin barks at the nearest Scout who'd been staring at this exchange.

The scout stiffens with a nod before scurrying off as Erwin stands from the bench.

"The rest of you, up. We're getting you cleaned off before someone passes out," he orders, ushering you up as well.

There are a few grumbling protests across the table but with a stern glare, you're all ushered to your feet and out of the mess hall. You feel like a disobedient child as Erwin walks next to you, keeping a hand out in case you fall.

He pushes the doors open to the Captain's showers-the top floor held a communal shower for the captains, near their barracks- you'd never personally used them unless you were alone, you hadn't showered with anyone since you'd been the same rank as the others.

The room is quiet apart from the shuffling of fabric as five wounded soldiers struggle to remove their clothes. There's a curse to your right as Mike's arm hangs uselessly at his side, his other hand fidgeting to unbutton the belts on his pants.

"Let me," you mumble quietly, crouching down to unloop the belts around his legs.

"Thanks," he whispers back quietly as you unloop the thick leather straps, letting them fall down.

"Get my shirt?" you whisper quietly, standing up as the last belt falls to the floor and turning so he can help you out of your shirt.

"Yeah sure," he mumbles, sliding down the fabric down your arms with one hand. "(Y/N), what did you do?"