"Good." Erwin holds him more tightly, an inevitable feedback loop of clutching one another close until it's hard to breathe, as though they could force their hearts to physically meld together. He has an almost irresistible urge to just pluck Levi from the ground and hold him that way, as though the only safe place is really in his arms, lest he float away or be sucked down into the earth.

"...good," he repeats, more softly this time, exhaling. Levi has always made good on his word, on his promises, to the best of his ability. Erwin has no reason to doubt him. Especially not now.

As he has done a few times before, now, he presses his face into dark hair, inhaling the wonderfully familiar scent, letting it soothe him. Erwin lingers on this feeling - how perfect Levi fits against him, both arms wound about his smaller frame. How he's longed to do precisely this, and so many other things that require two full arms and two full hands. To just hold him.

Also as before, he leaves a surreptitious kiss at the crown of Levi's head, ignoring any possible complaints in his body at his stooped position. Maybe it's because it isn't real, but it seems like it's easier to stay folded around the smaller man for much longer than before.

He adds softly, more humorous than anything: "If you don't, I will have to be very cross with you."