Erwin x Reader (one shot)

The Commander's Bedroom

It was another summer day, the blazing sun relentless against your exposed skin during the Survey Corps combat training.

Sweat beaded along your forehead before trailing down your temples.

Plop. Plop.

The droplets cooled your overheated arms as they fell, the only reprieve you'd get today.

Your stance stayed guarded despite the strain building in your muscles, your chest tight from sparring with Captain Levi.

He had been wearing you down, slowly.

And he knew it.

You crossed your arms, bracing just in time to deflect his kick, but your limbs felt heavy as iron, dropping too soon. The impact was solid, his boot unforgiving. You stumbled back, muscles protesting as you caught yourself on your rear foot.

There was the slightest shift in his mouth, something that might have been amusement, but it vanished before you could place it as he moved in for the kill.

You barely had time to shift your weight to the balls of your feet before he closed the distance.

So fast. Always too fast.

In the next breath, you were on the ground. The impact knocked the air from your chest, your lungs stuttering uselessly as you struggled to inhale. A groan slipped out.
"Argh—"

"Too slow." Levi's voice was flat, already disinterested.

You lifted a hand to shield your eyes from the sun, your chest rising unevenly as you tried to recover, half-expecting him to help you up.

He didn't.

Instead, a shadow fell over you.

"Good work, Levi."

The commanding voice of Erwin Smith reached your ears.

Awesome. The Scouts Commander had a front-row seat to you getting your ass handed to you.

You pushed yourself up, only to pause when his hand extended into your line of sight. Your gaze lifted until your eyes caught his.

Up close, they were striking—mostly pale blue, but the light revealed the different shades threaded through them.

Your gaze lingered, tracing the crisp white shirt stretched across broad shoulders, the controlled rise and fall of his chest, his posture effortless and refined. You should have clasped his hand. You should have snapped to attention and saluted.

But your attention dipped lower, following the lines of him without permission.

Something coiled low in your navel as heat crept up your neck, and it had nothing to do with the sun. Your tongue swiped across your dry lips before you could think better of it.

"Captain L/N." Erwin spoke lowly—a warning in his deep, authoritative tone.

Heat burned at the tips of your ears as your gaze dropped to the ground. You prayed Levi wasn't paying attention—prayed he hadn't noticed the way your thoughts had strayed so openly.

Your hands tightened slightly as Erwin pulled you fully to your feet with ease, his grip warm, your fingers twitching, acutely aware of the contact—of the roughness of his hand against yours. His hold remained a moment longer than necessary. Not enough to draw attention, but enough for you to feel it.

When you dared to glance up again, his expression gave nothing away. His eyes lingered before his attention shifted to Levi.

"Thank you, Commander Erwin." You gave a small nod, wondering if those extra seconds of attention were real or something your mind had imagined.