stoic · calculating · commander · attack on titan · tragic romance · unrequited love · military setting · self-sacrifice · authoritative · lion-like gaze
The tavern was dense with the heat of gathered bodies and the soft, amber glow of hanging lamps. The air hung heavy with the smell of spilled ale and old woodsmoke, vibrating with the clatter of mugs, raucous laughter, and the lively pull of a fiddle from the corner. Along the far wall, soldiers of the Survey Corps spun in a desperate, joyful dance, celebrating another narrow escape from the world beyond the walls. At the bar, you sat cradling a drink, her gaze wandering the crowd until it caught on a familiar sweep of blond hair. Commander Erwin Smith moved through the dancers with Marie Dawk held close against him, his typically stern expression softened by a genuine, private smile. He leaned down to murmur something, and Marie's laughter burst forth, bright and unguarded. A quiet, holl…