EyeBrows⭐️EruRi

Kidwin: So, you’re me in the future?

Erwin: *smiles kindly* That’s right.

Kidwin: What kind of woman will I marry?

Erwin: …

Kidwin: Is she really pretty and nice?

Erwin: *Glances over at Levi*

Erwin: *smiles softly* the person you’ll love will be like your other half. they’ll become you’re most trusted friend. They’ll be loyal, and thoughtful, and kinder than they may seem. They’ll make sure you never miss a meal, even if you forget to eat. And they’ll make sure you never eat alone. And they’ll be the most breathtaking thing you’ve ever seen.

Kidwin: *eyes sparkle*

-

Levi: *Glares*

Kidvi: *Glares*

Levi: *Glare intensifies*

Kidvi: *Flinches*… Damnit.

Levi: *Relaxes* Not Bad.

Kidvi: Really?

Levi: Yeah, *ruffles Kidvi’s hair* just keep practicing.

Kidvi: *nods and glances over at Erwin* Who’s Blondie?

Levi: *watches Erwin softly*

These two break my heart so here I am thinking abt FIRST VS LAST times..

Kneeling: The first time Levi & Erwin talked, Levi was made to kneel in front of Erwin Smith & what Levi felt was humiliation & rage.

Vs the last time they talked, where Levi willingly kneels in front of Erwin but this time it’s out of respect & love.

Tyr was the Norse god of war and justice who alone was brave enough to bind Fenrir but lost his right arm in the jaw of the beast. He was later succeeded by Odin as the God of war.

Odin (old Norse meaning “mind, wit and soul” and old High German “to be insane, to rage”) was the most revered Norse god. He sacrificed his eye to the well of Mimir in exchange for immense knowledge.

Erwin Smith:

Tons has been written. Volumes of posts. It was spelled out so plainly in the anime that I wonder why it’s even a question, yet a quick glance at Reddit’s anime thread tells me the point was missed by many

Erwin’s dream was no less pure or valuable than Armin’s. Both are selfish. Both are “slaves.” Everyone is a slave to something. But Erwin willingly gave his up dream and was at peace with his decision. His look of relief and smile as he thanked Levi said it all. 

Erwin was the best choice for humanity. That’s not open for debate. But on those crates before the suicide ride, Erwin had been set free. Bringing him back would be negating all of that. Worse, Levi would be bringing Erwin back as a monster and devil and Levi couldn’t bear it. In the simplest of terms, the humanity Levi cared most about on that rooftop was Erwin’s. Erwin died a heroic commander,  at peace and freed from the hell of their existence. 

Erwin shows his love through a tender smile that reveals everything and conceals nothing, an expression he reserves only for Levi, the man behind the commander’s mask.  He receives love humbly, and with gratitude, convinced he is the least deserving to be granted such a gift.

Levi’s love lies in unfathomable trust and simple gestures that belie a bone deep devotion he could never put into words.  He receives love awkwardly, but with his own peculiar reverence. Unsure at first what to do with it, unwilling to believe it won’t be snatched away from him, he holds it at arms length, draws it closer, inch by inch, year by year, until it’s the very core of his being.

No, I don’t think this is the only time Erwin broke down in front of Levi, I think it’s very likely it happened before. Erwin was a man with incredible drive and strength of character, but he was still just a man.  We know the weight of guilt that he carried, the responsibility he felt for each and every Survey Corps death, the toll that pursuing his dream of discovering the truth of the world took.  And we know that Erwin and Levi’s canon relationship was based on a deep bond of mutual trust and respect. If Erwin was to reveal his vulnerability to anyone it would be to Levi.  

Maybe he broke down after the awful slaughter of the genocidal expedition to re-take Wall Maria. Maybe he wept when they shared quiet meals together after expeditions outside the walls.  Maybe he confessed his deepest hopes and fears as the candle burned low in their room at night. Maybe he raged, maybe be wept, maybe he clung to Levi like he was his last lifeline in the world.  And through it all, Levi would have been there by his side with his blunt words and fathomless compassion. No matter how Erwin broke, Levi would have been there to reassure him, to lift the burden and share the load, just as he was on that final fateful day in Shiganshina.

Because I do see the idea come up again and again in their discussions, about how Erwin had to hold himself together, that he had to be more than human, to be inspiring, to be The Commander, essentially.

And so it was a tremendous thing, when he breaks that barrier and speaks about what is in his heart with Levi, the sentiment is not baseless, that it would be a frightening thing to Levi, to see the person that is in charge actually not be sure where he’s coming from and whether he’s been doing the right thing. The fear as to how his words would be taken was real.

But Levi rises to the occasion and takes that burden from him, showing his acceptance by acknowledging his work and accomplishments even in light of what he just said and making the choice that was not a choice at all. And with that, Erwin is able to put his Commander role back on again for his final performance.

From Levi’s point of view I think it must have really been a terrible thing in making the decision where he too is pushing to do the right thing but on a personal front it probably doesn’t feel like the right thing. And at the end, Levi makes the decision on Erwin armed with information that only he knows. And somehow I don’t think he’s spilled about it since. In some way I feel like this is a secret that Levi holds sacred between the two of them.