#commandy replied

Erwin glanced up towards the door, setting down the pen in his hand. “Ah Hange, please come in,” A smile creased his lips as he spoke, and he rested his head in the palm of his hand. ”You’re much to kind to me.” 

Erwin’s brows furrowed, eyes taunt towards the small-framed girl before him. Her question fazed through him for a moment, as he silently mouthed the word “eyebrows?” in a silent question, searching for validation. 

He blinked, obviously believing she was delusional. 

Glancing up to meet grey eyes then shifting back down, Erwin payed no heed to the dark haired man across his desk. He busily scrawled across the document before him, disregarding the rather obnoxiously placed Corporal fishing for attention. “Was there something you needed, Levi? I’m very busy.” 

Erwin blinks, a stunned silence and muddled confusion twisting the features on his face. 

"Kirschtein, just what—?" He pauses, musing over the soldier’s face, trying to collect his thoughts. 

"You can’t be santa clause."

Erwin blinked, settling into his chair, his brow furrowing at the question. 

"The most terrifying thing—?" He paused, frowning, resting his head in the palm of his hand. 

"As my time as commander, there has been countless times where I have experienced fear. It’s part of the job, mostly—" Erwin laughed, a small, forced chuckle. 

"It is also part of the job to set aside innate human responses that could influence my decisions. What one person may consider terrifying, I’ve adapted—I’ve learned to set aside fear for the sake of humanity." 

He paused again, head crooning to the side as a dull memory pressed into his mind. 

"I suppose though, if we’re talking specifics, there was a time when I was a young soldier; not yet worth anything to any Corps—I was traveling through wall Sina to deliver some things to the MP." 

Erwin waved his hand dismissively, as if the idea was nothing more then humorous. “A very long and winded tale later, I was grabbed by some men who didn’t quite agree with Survey Corps ideals,” He laughed, short and gruff. “I have some nice looking scars on my waist as a result.”

He paused again, eyes shining bright in careful study of his thoughts. “I’m not afraid of titans, no—I’m more afraid of people. Their ferocity, their anger—it is terrifying, in retrospect. Titans only understand one thing—to consume everything—while a human mind experiences the powerful notion that is fear.”