#traumaticteacups

Your fic had such an impact on my life! A new chapter from you would make my entire week better. I've been following it since day one and I will never forget the feeling I would get when I would see an update. I remember one day I was in such a dark place over the loss of a loved one, and within an hour I got an e-mail saying my fav fic updated and it manages to put a smile on my face. If that isn't impact, I don't know what is! Keep sharing your gift <3

DUDES ARE YOU STILL IN TORONTO?!

I've been noticing that too! I don't get why the new fics are all so toxic. What happened to good old angst and fluff.

Pretty sure this is supposed to be an angsty one but I’m feeling fluff right now. ALSO THIS IS SO LONG OMG HOW DID THAT HAPPEN.

(the tunnel of trees is definitely based off of a road in Michigan, btw.)

34. Before we jump

When they first spotted the large body of water on the horizon, even Levi was naive and excited enough to believe that it might just be the ocean. He should have known that after only a month of travel - and slow travel, at that - they wouldn’t reach the ocean (if it even existed) that quickly. 

After setting up camp, Armin gathers a squad and sets out to explore the coastline, returning a few hours later with the news that it isn’t the ocean that they’ve discovered, but a very, very large lake. 

Still, it’s exciting news, and it’s something different after a month of exploration outside of the walls. And when Armin tells them that there’s something they should see on the other side of the body of water, Levi can’t help but feel a little excited to discover something new for once. Erwin is excited too, he can tell. 

The next morning, they embark on an expedition around the lake - something so small and trivial compared to previous expeditions before the walls fell - and about half an hour into the ride, Levi quickly understands why Armin insisted they see this. Before long, they start an ascent along the coast, the shore becoming smaller and smaller to their right as they begin to ride along cliff faces, the crash of waves and calls of gulls distant, but still very much there. And as they ride, the scenery just gets more and more beautiful. After another fifteen minutes, tall trees with golden leaves begin dotting the landscape ahead of them, and before long, they’re in the middle of a thick forest, a canopy of red and gold and yellow overhead, trees on either side while they follow what looks like a small trail along the cliff side. 

It’s quite possibly the most beautiful sight Levi has ever laid eyes on, and he can’t help the way his jaw drops slightly as they ride along. Thankfully, when he glances Erwin’s way, he has a very similar look on his face. Not even the Commander of the Survey Corps can deny the beauty of this ride.

But even more remarkable is what they come across about twenty minutes later, when Armin steers them off the path and out of the trees, to a clearing. It seems that over the course of their ride, the cliffs have gotten a little less steep. While still a few meters up, they’re definitely smaller, and this area looks different from the rest of their ride as well. Rather than opening up to rest of the large body of water before them, it seems that they’ve ridden up to a small cove, a hidden gem along the coast. Further up, there seems to be a small path that leads down to the shore and the water, but from where they stand now, it’s a straight drop down.

The decision to call it a day and spend the night in the beautiful clearing is unanimous, but what isn’t is some soldiers’ idea to leap off of the cliff face and into the water below. Unsurprisingly, Hange is the first to do so, screaming at the top of her lungs as she dives into the water, and when she emerges unscathed, many others follow her. And to be honest, Levi can’t help but want to join her. 

“Let’s do it,” he murmurs to Erwin, watching as Eren comes back up for another round, soaking wet with wide smile spread across his face. As if he could hear Levi, he calls out to him. 

“Come on Captain!” he says excitedly, “It’s fun!”

“You go on without me,” Erwin says with a shrug, “I’ll help the others set up camp.”

“It’s not even noon,” Levi argues, “Come on, we have time.” He feels like a teenager all of the sudden, itching to leap off of the cliff, but he wants to do so with Erwin. He wants to share this moment with him. They’ve never had the chance to let loose like this, at least not in a long time. 

Erwin sighs, and after a moment, reveals the true reason behind his hesitance. “I don’t even know if I can still swim with one arm,” he confides in Levi, “I’d rather stay up here.”

But Levi isn’t backing down. “I’ll jump with you,” he insists, then, “I’ll hold your hand. Come on.”

And maybe it’s the hand holding comment, maybe it’s because Erwin sees the excitement written all over Levi’s face. Whatever it is, he finally agrees. Before long, Levi is pulling of his boots, his jacket, and even his shirt. They stopped using their maneuver gear shortly after leaving the walls, storing it away for special occasions, and it takes no time at all before Levi is stripped down and helping Erwin out of his clothes. 

He steps forward, batting Erwin’s hand away and finishes unbuttoning his shirt, sliding it slowly off of his shoulders, all while admiring the strength of his upper body. Uncaring if anyone sees him now - because it doesn’t matter anymore - Levi reaches out, running a hand across Erwin’s chest before catching his bolo tie and pulling him down for a kiss. And thankfully, it seems to relax Erwin a little as he dips down to meet the kiss, hand coming to rest at Levi’s hip.

When Levi pulls away, it’s with a small smile, and then he’s tugging Erwin to the edge. 

The drop is big and the cliff is high, but nowhere near as tall as the walls or the trees the they’d frequently find themselves perched in while out on expeditions. It’s nothing to be afraid of, but Levi understands Erwin’s nerves, so he reaches out and takes his hand, shooting him a reassuring smile. 

“I love you,” he says quietly, just loud enough for Erwin to hear, and Erwin squeezes Levi’s hand in return.

“I love you too,” he murmurs.

And then they’re jumping.

The cold water comes as a shock, but it’s refreshing. The second they hit the water, hands firmly clasped like a couple of teenagers, it feels like their first taste of freedom all over again. 

Erwin sputters a little when they reach the surface, but thankfully, he seems to have no problems treading water at Levi’s side, and when they finally lock eyes after emerging from the water, Erwin lets out a loud, carefree laugh. It’s the first time in a long time - and the first time outside of the walls - that Levi has heard Erwin laugh like that, and he can’t help but swim closer, reaching out to brush his wet hair out of his face. 

And then they’re kissing again, in front of their entire squad and remaining members of the Survey Corps. When a few soldiers - mainly Hange, though she’s joined by Jean and Eren - begin cheering and whooping at the sight, Levi simply smiles against Erwin’s lips. 

(funk me up) funk me up inside (i can’t funk up)

traumaticteacups told me about this song back when I was writing Atlantis, and I have to say I didn’t fully appreciate it until just a few days ago when it popped up on my Pandora station again 

“Swallowed by a vicious vengeful sea  Darker days are raining over me In the deepest depths I lost myself I see myself through someone else...”