Chapter Text
Beginning
Erwin had been talking about children ever since they got married. He had always wanted a son, Levi knew, but the short man was less than eager.
“Children are filthy.” He claimed, every time Erwin brought it up.
Then one day Hange called.
“He’s only three, Erwin. I swear he’s an angel.” She pleaded over the phone, “Will you at least see him? There’s no one else I can ask.” Having a friend in social services had its ups and downs. Like when she called in the middle of the night to talk them into adopting some kid who had lost his parents in a house fire.
“I don’t want to see him.” Levi grunted.
“We promised.” His husband smiled, “Now behave.”
Hange was not hard to spot where she sat in the small café, balancing a boy on her lap.
The child’s blond hair was cut just beneath his chin, a fringe covering most of his forehead. His limbs were terribly thin. Levi took one look at the three-year-old before rushing to swoop him out of Hange’s grasp.
“Not even a hello?” she smiled nervously. Levi glared at her, carrying the child on his hip.
“He’s skin and bone, you four-eyed madwoman, haven’t you been feeding him properly?”
He was almost shouting. Erwin managed a quiet hello before his husband continued:
“I swear to god he’s pale as a fucking ghost! Look at him, for fuck’s sake!”
The little boy clutched Levi’s shirt, and looked up at him with wide eyes. Levi’s grip around him tightened. Erwin couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
“You can’t even take care of yourself, figures you wouldn’t be able to care of a fucking kid. You shouldn’t be allowed to be a social worker you piece of-“
“His name is Armin.” Hange said.