Chapter Text
The stirring in his gut was what roused the raven-haired male from his slumber. It was the kind of warmth that made one painfully aware of every inch of their flesh; feverish and overwhelming. And it caused an unbidden sound flaring from his thin nostrils.
Legs kicked the once extremely inviting (the male lost body heat fast due to his size, so he always liked having multiple blankets even if he only slept in a recliner all curled up like a cat) set of covers off onto the floor from his chair. He never could sleep in a bed very often. It was so soft and inviting during his heat, yet Levi couldn't manage it any other time. He just grew up sleeping in a chair (when he could actually manage it) as Kenny never allowed him a bed, nor even a mattress, and he didn't want to sleep on the filthy floor of the abandoned building the man often housed him in.
Bleary silver eyes opened with a wetness that crusted his long, beautiful lashes.
Allergies, again, no doubt. He thought to himself. Blepharitis was a bitch and a half. Rheum didn't fucking help.
Yet, something swirled in his stomach as he thought about the reality of that statement. Usually, when he would get a great deal of allergies his lungs would wheeze into coughs, eyes becoming more sensitive to light, and mucus (much to his displeasure, being a clean-freak as he was) would congest his nose and/or run from it. A lot of sniffling would occur, and usually he was forced to carry more than a few handkerchiefs he could get rid of at a moment's notice and replace with a clean one (he hated cleaning them in the sink afterwards, despite his thorough usage of soap, because he felt like they were permanently contaminated at that point and the only thing he could do was dispose of them). And while he wanted to chalk off the wet sensation between his thighs as night sweats caused by his hay fever, it was too wet there comparatively to the rest of him to be an easy-out excuse. Yes, the rest of him did have some manner of sweat (and he hated it so much it made him want to dig at his own skin) but it wasn't localized so much as being sticky and spotty. In this case, it was almost pouring and pooling across his thighs - which made dread settle within his stomach.
He tried desperately to find an excuse, but besides the horrifying, he couldn't find o-
Massive.
Pain.
It shot across his abdomen and trickled into his chest and downwards towards his naval like a horrifying monster clawing through sinew and bone, chomping on his insides, throwing itself back and forth: tail thrashing, teeth gnashing, and claws slashing. The beast of pain made Levi curl his body around itself, and a core memory seemed to unhinge itself from a clamped tight pearl within the confines of his head.
A dark alley way, legs burning as he tried to catch up with Kenny after he beat the man down. He wanted to prove he was strong. Kenny said he was weak for being an Omega, but he wasn't! He had to prove that. And he had! He beat that Alpha on his own, he-
But a seething glare and the hormones of an angry alpha told him to stop.
Words like lashes seared across his flesh; "I ain' raisin no filthy Omega. Be glad I respected my sister nuff I ain' sellin' your sorry ass to a buyer. I'd get a damn good price for a young Omega, first presentin' like yerself, here in this shithole..."
Levi curled around his stomach and bit his lip to suppress a whimper. He had gone into heat for the first time not long after that, and he was lucky enough to have Farlan, a fellow Omega, stumble onto him when he did. Levi never had anyone else for years until Isabel joined their tiny little family. Many years passed just like that, with Farlan going out of his way to steal heat suppressants for himself. Why not Levi? They never helped. It seemed Levi just didn't get affected by them. And so for many years he just suffered, often Farlan trying his best to bring cold cloths for Levi while Isabel gave massages that slightly soothed his aches and pains enough he didn't end up in silent tears.
When the Survey Corps came calling, it was because they'd been tracking a criminal's whereabouts as part of a deal with the Military Police. Levi happened to be at the same bar Commander Erwin Smith was when Levi caught his eye. It seemed Levi's scent was irresistible to the commander and before he knew it, he had a chance to leave. At first, Levi only took the opportunity for Farlan and Isabel to have a better life; however, time passed and Levi actually started taking a liking to the big, burly, blonde. Before he knew it, he started to let Erwin in on his secrets. He couldn't pinpoint when the exact point was he decided that was alright, but he didn't really mind it anymore.
He liked Erwin.
Erwin was kinder than any of the Alphas Levi had been exposed to (to this point) and he couldn't help but cling onto that radiance. He was allowed free roam, Erwin gave him money and a job cleaning the Survey Corps' hallways, he let his friends bunk up, and even used connections to get his friends a job and a house in town. When it started, he had smuggled Isabel and Furlan out underneath Levi's possessions (which were few and far between, but were enough they could put a few things on top of Isabel and Furlan in a tarp covered wagon and chalk it off as his worldly possessions to any passing Military Police members).
Although he was forced to keep Levi in his room for sleeping arrangements. That was the way of their world, unfortunately. Levi, as far as the law was concerned, was a possession of Erwin's. Even if Erwin would never treat him as such. Even if Erwin- sweet, warm Erwin - would never make him feel he was anything less than a perfectly able human being; the world wasn't caught up to the blonde's speed. Erwin's father was an Omega and the blonde held him in the highest regard. His opinion on his father has shaped his world views so greatly: subsequently viewing Omegas in a much different light than most Alphas ever would in this day and age. He believed Omegas were just as intelligent and powerful as any Alpha could be, possibly more, and often spoke of a world with equality between the two genders.
Levi loved it when he got like that-
Not because he was an Omega and appreciated the support.
But because Erwin looked so bright like that. Like a star shining in a darkened sky.
Another pain broke him from the ruminations, but when he tried burying his face into the recliner for comfort his stomach lurched and mind shook off such a testament. It felt wrong to be in the chair, so out of place. In lieu, there-in, he dared to rise from the chair and, on wobbly legs, managed off across the room.
Guided by instincts he hadn't felt yet in the prescience of Erwin (he hadn't been here long to this point, it just so happened that Erwin managed to wiggle and worm and burrow his way down deep within Levi's ventricles) he began sniffing around the room and searching for things. First, the find was a large shirt Erwin had tossed in the laundry hamper earlier to be taken out by Levi the next morning. Normally, Levi would find a used shirt disgusting; however, it suddenly became warm and beautiful in his hands - perfect in it's imperfections (like the missing button at the bottom or the mild, tiny stain of Erwin's morning coffee Levi would no doubt clean up later). Then, it was the pair of pants Erwin had apparently dropped on his way in that night, having been exhausted to a point of no return. Next, the blanket Levi left on the floor, and by the time this was done his hands were too full. So he chucked them, without warning, next to (and somewhat onto) a poor sleeping Erwin, on his bed.
Erwin roused blearily and looked dazed at the sudden intrusion; calling out a confused; "...mmmmevi?" But that was of fleeting concern. Suddenly poor Erwin was having pillows and sheets thrown on him (from the closet), the towel (from the connected bathroom), a clean pair of socks, and half of his own wardrobe. "Levi?" He struggled out from the bombardment, but before he could do much else Levi crawled up onto the bed and was looking around with a chuff.
A third time.
"Levi!"
Levi looked up, having picked up one of Erwin's shirts, looking grumpy at being interrupted; "What?"
Erwin looked amused, ready to ask what he was doing, but suddenly his nose caught up to the situation through his grogginess.
Oh.
OH.
"Levi-" Erwin sighed, suddenly feeling hot under the collar. He was grateful that Survey Corps members go through training to resist the opposite gender, so that such things cannot be used against them in the field. That didn't mean Levi wasn't affecting him at the moment, just that he didn't feel overwhelmingly obliged to fuck Levi into the nest Levi was trying to make. "Do you realize what's occurring?"
Levi seemed not to be listening, his body shifting around in the spot as he organized things around them. It was common nesting behavior to place things in the mated pairs bed, a lot less common to collocate it; however, Erwin wasn't surprised to see that Levi was as much an organizational person making a nest as he was in everything else.
Erwin shook his head, not obliging, yet, as he softly placed his fingers around Levi's wrist to stop him. "Levi...stop-"
Levi looked up, pupils blown wide. "Alpha?"
Erwin's spinal muscles gave a ripple. It wasn't fair how sweet he smelled, how good he sounded when he said that-
Calling upon his training, he schooled his reactions to place both hands on either side of Levi's face. "Return to your recliner, my sweet. You surely do not wish to-"
"Am I not making a good enough nest?" The timbre was all instinct.
That tonal delivery wasn't his Levi, Erwin thought. His Levi was strong willed and sometimes borderline belligerent, but always well intended simultaneously. But he couldn't reject him harshly. Levi was in a vulnerable state right now. Yet, Erwin knew that Levi wasn't entirely consenting. He needed to get past whatever instinct was showing, so he could get a true answer whether Levi wanted to mate or not. "No, no...you have gratified with a lovely nest, sweetest." A visual relaxation of Levi's shoulders, "You merely...I need you to wait. I am concerned upon your behalf, my dearest Omega-" Stroking his cheeks, the man leaned forward and kissed the raven-haired male's forehead. "I want to know you truthfully want to nest with me-"
"But...I do." Levi came closer. "I am making a nice nest for you." He snuggled up into Erwin's arms; "Am I...Am I what's wrong?"
"No- Oh my sweet, no-" Erwin said, stroking his hair, "Please, wait...just bide your time until morning for your Alpha...can you do as such for me?"
There was some resistance in Levi's eyes, but then defeat showed on his face. It pained Erwin, but he knew this was the best thing for the both of them. He wanted to make sure Levi wanted this, that he wasn't forcing him into anything. "....y-" But the door suddenly gave a loud few knocks, and Levi instantly hardened up from where he'd started to give in.
Erwin sighed, ready to grab a shirt and crack open the door just long enough to assure whomever was out there he would deal with their problem in the morrow; however, Levi seemed to have other plans. As soon as Erwin started to swing his legs around Levi growled and clamped onto his back, startling and surprising the blonde in the process. "Go away!" He growled at the door, clinging so hard he looked like a koala on the blonde's back.
"Levi!" He exclaimed, half amused, half exasperated.
"He's MINE go away!"
"LEVI! Please!"
"No...they're gonna take you-"
"Levi..." He sighed, "Please unwind yourself from my body-"
"Noooo..."
"You sound like a young child, Levi, please-" But when he couldn't reason with him, he ended up having to stand up - practically giving Levi a piggy back ride to the door along side. He was forced to just take the blankets and wrap it around them both, answering the door with a fumble. There stood a confused looking Miche, whom immediately tilted his head up and sniffed the air. A crinkling of his over sized nose took place thereafter, followed shortly by a curt nod; "....sorry, Commander-"
"Go away-!"
"Levi-!" Erwin sighed, "It's fine, Miche." He gave him a strained expression. "What do you require?"
"Hange half blew up the west wing, but-" He looked over Erwin's shoulder towards Levi, where he was glaring still; "We can always just evacuate and deal with it tomorrow....or whenever your ball and chain gets off his time-"
Erwin gave him an unamused expression; "Please, Miche. Do treat Levi with more respect than that."
Miche raised an eyebrow, but nodded mutely. "Sure, Commander."
Erwin pinched his nose and dismissed Miche, back starting to hurt from Levi clinging onto it for so long. He didn't really understand how Levi was holding on for so long without being tired in his current stasis, either. When he finally laid back down Levi clambered up on top of his chest and laid down, leaving Erwin feeling like there was no way to escape, now.
"Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine-" Levi chanted, rubbing his face all over the commander's neck.
Admittedly, Erwin found it endearing in it's own way. He knew this really wasn't the normal "Levi" he knew. But it was a small piece of him, and that warmed his heart (in a strange way) to know how much he must have cared about him to act this way during his heat.
"Yes, yes. Yours...now...please, Levi...will you rest?"
Silence, and then; ".....mine." As if one more for good measure.
It made Erwin hold back a laugh, leaning in and scenting Levi in his own right. He knew it was dangerous scenting him too much. One of the biggest pieces of his training was resisting the urge to do so against a possible mate in the field, mostly due to how easy it was to loose yourself to your instincts (no matter how much you trained against it) due to the very nature of how heats worked. "Yours. Now rest, Levi. Please. We shall speak more in the morning. Please...Alpha is fatigued."
Levi actually fell silent after this, only shuffling a few pillows off to the side before pulling Erwin's giant Wings of Freedom rain cloak across his back. A sigh left his lips, and Levi fell into purring that gave way to slumber. Erwin couldn't help but a small grin.
He did like the sight of Levi in his cloak, admittedly-