Levi POV
Kneeling in front of the throne again Levi wondered why the fuck he was serving that asshole of a king again.
"We should organize a ball. Maybe that will get that dumb child to come back.", said asshole was brooding right then and there.
Erwin and he exchanged a look only the two of them could read. Not that Levi tried to hide his boredom from anyone in the room. Even the king had adjusted to his stoic mimic by now.
"Your Majesty, we have looked everywhere for your son. In every corner of every noble family that lives in Eldia. None of them had a son with any resemblance to you or your late wife, the Queen."
The man on the throne put one leg over the other, propping his chin up on his fist and exhaled angrily.
"Why is it that hard to find some stupid brat? How incapable are you all that you can't even do this one thing for me?"
Even Erwin was surprised by the king's hard words, regarding his son.
Until then he had always kept the act of the loving father up. The one who had sent his son away to protect him in case the Crown Prince died.
How didn't he know where his son was when he was the one who sent him away for his protection?
"He is alive somewhere; of that I am sure. His mother took him with her when she fled the palace ten years ago. They must have settled down somewhere by now."
"Why was there any need for them to flee from the palace?"
Something in this whole story was wrong. There were so many pieces missing, so many lies and mysteries. What didn't the old man want to tell them?
"Somehow we have to get a hold of him. He can't hide forever."
"What would the prince be hiding from?", Levi asked bluntly, hearing the warning hiss of Eyebrows but didn't react to it. "We have to get him back to protect him, right? To get back the heir to the throne so Eldia won't be in danger?"
The king seemed to be dumbfounded at his bluntness and it took him quite a while to form a legit answer.
"Of course. We wouldn't want him to get in danger. He is surely hiding from all those enemies in Marley and too afraid to come home.", he pressed the words out, clenching his fists. If looks could kill Levi wouldn't have been dead but definitely in some pain.
"Then why not use the yearly anniversary of your coronation? Make it a ceremony for the prince to come home."
If he's as much of a bastard as his brother was, he should feel great among those fucking monkeys, praising him without any reason. Without him doing anything to deserve it.
As simple as his idea was, the king seemed to think it over, pondering over his words with a thoughtful expression on his face. Levi could do with a distraction from the silence.
"Then it is set.", the king finally decided and clapped his hands together. "We will celebrate my coronation and the arrival of my son at the same time."
Levi would have grinned in relief when they were finally allowed to leave. Only Erwin's stern gaze held him back. And the fact that just didn't do grinning.
- - -
Erwin POV
If Levi were any less of his friend he would forbid him from ever going to another meeting with him and not just because of his lose mouth but also because he could see the anger forming in his stormy eyes whenever the king talked about his son like he was nothing more but important cargo.
"Don't tell me you didn't want to storm out of that throne room too, Eyebrows.", his subordinate currently growled at him and he was right.
Listening to the king talk was like poison. Rotting the souls of those who were already lost to the paradise he promised them.
"It's not about what I want or what I don't want, Levi.", he answered him as calm as ever, coming to a halt in front of one of the windows from where he could easily take a look at the gardens. At the moment the sun had shown it's dazzling face but was hidden enough to prevent an instant sunburn if one were to be outside.
Levi huffed something Erwin couldn't understand.
Not because he wasn't listening to his subordinate and friend anymore.
But because something outside the palace caught his eye.
A lithe body, moving around in the heat. A bare back was presented to Erwin and his breath caught in his throat. The body turned around, heaving something from the ground and Erwin saw small, nearly unseeable muscles flexing.
His shirt was bound around his small waist, a knot holding it in place.
Blond hair tied back revealed a pair of energetic eyes, blue as crystal-clear water. A small mouth formed a broad grin and the boy laughed out loud, no chance to hide it behind his occupied hands.
Fuck.
"Did a cat piss on your clothes or what the fuck's your problem, Eyebrows?" Levi's cursing got him out of his trance and he softly shook his head, averting his gaze forcefully from the beautiful human being out there, seducing him without knowledge.
Levi followed his eyes and Erwin could have sworn he saw how his own widened at what he saw. Surprised by his reaction Erwin once again took a look at the scene and was astonished to see a second young man coming to a stand next to Armin.
His chest and back were just as naked as Armin's and he surprised both of them with unsuspected muscles.
He put his hands on his hips, nodding to something Armin had said and shoved his hair out of his face, shaking his head so his mane could fall freely over his back.
Erwin swallowed and did his best to look away when suddenly Armin turned his head just right and saw them, gaping at the half-naked boys. Even from here he could see how the face of the servant flushed.
"Let's go.", Levi croaked and Erwin would have teased him if he could open up his mouth to say something. His subordinate hurried away; his steps strangely loud as he departed.
Erwin wanted to follow him. He really did.
But then Armin propped one tanned arm up on his waist and winked at him. Erwin shook his head and looked again but the servant was already preoccupied with something in the garden.
I must have imagined it...
(I must admit, I never planned for this fic to contain so much ArminxErwin buuuuuttt no regrets there. I think I have written out 26 chapters so far of this fic and I can promise you that the Ereri stuff won't stay away for too long.
So Grisha finally let his anger show. Do you think Levi will carry out his every order when Eren finally shows himself? Or do you think Eren will stay hidden, playing in the background?
What would you do in his stead? Would you forgive Grisha? Would you even want the throne?)