Archive of Our Own

“Are you going to sit in the corner for the rest of the stay?” Erwin asks, trying to elicit some sort of response out of Levi that for once, wasn’t an eyeroll. “Look,” he tries again, “it’s not the hotel’s fault we’re stuck in here. It’s the weather!”

It’s a bit of a lie, but he figures it’s better to avoid the massive elephant in the room in case it tramples him. Levi doesn’t respond.

Erwin goes quiet, conceding a temporary defeat. The silence between them amplifies the whistling wind battering their windows and despite the warmth of the room, he shivers. It’s a constant reminder that what was supposed to be a celebratory work holiday is instead a cold prison.

Levi sighs, and Erwin’s heart beats a little faster. They’ve known each other for long enough that words aren’t always necessary. But it seems that Levi’s almost ready to talk about it.

“You can sleep on the floor.” He says, voice muffled. Levi hasn’t uncurled himself from the ball he folded himself into when they got back to the room. He’s crouched in the corner, folding himself up tightly, refusing to look up from the pillow he’d made of his crossed arms.

Erwin’s keen to get home alive, so he doesn’t laugh at Levi’s endearing child-like position and blunt approach, poking the elephant where he himself was too afraid to.

“Really, Levi? Relegated to the floor?” He sighs. Levi may be ready to discuss, but this is not the ideal outcome.

Levi’s scary when angry. He doesn’t shout, he just glowers and people rush to fix things for him. It’s one of the reasons Levi’s good at his job, his team gets shit done, because no one wants to be in Levi’s bad books. Erwin pities the poor receptionist who had the unfortunate luck of explaining to Levi that, while the hotel would go to the ends of the earth to make the situation right, there were simply no other rooms, meaning he would have to make do.

With the room that they were expected to share. With one large king-sized bed.

Erwin looks at the pink tips of Levi’s ears and sighs.

“I don’t care that you’re gay, Levi.”

He regrets the words as soon as they leave his mouth to hang in the air between them. Levi stiffens and Erwin wants to punch something, someone. Preferably whoever made Levi feel such shame about himself.

Levi’s voice is smaller than he’s ever heard it before.

“But I do,” Levi whispers back.

It breaks Erwin’s heart. It’s been a long time since he’s seen Levi so vulnerable over his sexuality.

Sharing a bed for Erwin isn’t a big deal - he and Mike used to sleep in the same bed when they were on sport trips back in highschool.

While it doesn’t pose a problem for himself, Erwin isn’t stupid enough to be unaware of how the situation might be entirely different for Levi.

They’ve known each other for many years. They originally met at university, a time when Erwin’s back didn’t give him as much trouble and Levi’s frown lines had barely set in. They were assigned rooms on the same floor in the student accommodation. Erwin was studying history as his father wanted, while Levi was on a course for graphic design and 3D modelling. They ended up living together with a couple other friends for their second and third years, after realising that the devil you know is sometimes the safest bet.

Of course, Erwin didn’t hate anyone. He couldn’t say the same for Levi, but at the very least he liked Erwin, and that was all that mattered.

But when one shares a house with another, it’s likely the occupants will learn things that perhaps they would’ve rather… not known. For example, Erwin has known that Levi… has a preference for men for many years. Since that one fateful day when he’d skipped the gym and come home early only to hear some rather incriminating noises coming from Levi’s bedroom.

He had been around the block enough to know that the voice that wasn’t Levi’s was decidedly not a woman’s. Erwin didn’t have an issue with it - in his very humble opinion, Levi did carry the air of someone who really needed to get laid - he’d just rather not have known how amazing his grumpy housemate was in the sack.

They lived together until graduation day and parted ways. Made the promises everyone makes to keep in touch, but never followed through. Levi became an architect, and to his father’s dismay, Erwin never used his history degree, nor did he end up in teaching. But he was very happy to start his new job a few years back and saw a very familiar face welcome him to the workplace. The same company which had just knocked its previous recorded profits out of the park and was clearly hoping that a company-funded holiday would be enough to keep employee morale high enough that they would continue to work drastically below market value.

Unfortunately, this much-anticipated time-off had not gone as planned, and was already off to a rocky start. It would seem that a mix-up in single occupancy rooms and a blizzard would throw a spanner in the works. Well, Erwin was hoping it was a hospitality error that assigned him and Levi one room to share and not that the budget had suddenly been squeezed tighter and those who asked to be roomed alone… were no longer given the choice.

So of course, Levi would be feeling extra awkward, and likely doesn’t want Erwin to feel weird about having to share the same bed. The right thing to do would be to keep assuring him that the situation is fine, and at least try to put Levi’s mind at ease.

“Well, OK. But like I said, Levi… I don’t mind at all.” He wants the circumstances to be different, but Erwin also knows that disagreeing with Levi is easily the best way to get him to dig his heels in.

Levi shifts in place, lifting his head up to look directly at Erwin from across the room with sullen eyes.

“Look, if you’re sure you won’t mind, then you can,” Erwin’s heart lifts at Levi’s words, “but I promise there’ll be no funny business. I ain’t like that.”

Erwin nods, earnestly, “Say no more. It’ll be fine. I would never think that of you. It’s really not a big deal to me.” It’s true: they will be fine. In fact, such an idea hadn’t even crossed Erwin’s mind when he proposed they just deal with it, but of course Levi would worry about the potential HR issues that could stem from this. But… knowing how stubborn Levi is and his compulsion for control over his environment, all Erwin can give him is a smile and an ‘I know.’

The best idea he has is to change the subject, because Erwin’s pretty sure that there’s nothing he can say which will make Levi feel better at the moment. Erwin had flicked through the hotel’s brochure in advance of the trip and noted a sauna that guests could use. Since there was no way they’d be getting any skiing done in this weather, maybe it would help Levi to relax.

Erwin can at least hope.

“Now, I heard there’s a sauna on site, shall we go and get warm?”

“I didn’t bring any swimwear.” Levi grumbles, avoiding his eyes.

Levi usually has such fire and tenacity. Erwin hasn’t seen him this low in a very long time. Travel and foreign situations lead to a lot of stress, and the toll on Levi is more than apparent.

Thankfully, when Erwin had devised his plan to get Levi to relax, (originally, Erwin wanted to name this plan, but the best he could come up with in the moment was Operation: Levi Should Relax, but it didn’t quite have a ring to it) he foresaw this exact eventuality.

“Levi, we’re on the continent. We’re expected to be naked in the sauna. It’ll be fine.”

He sees one angled brow arch. “I don’t do naked.”

“It’s fine, we’ll take towels for our modesty. Besides, if we want to avoid the trauma of seeing any of our coworkers in their birthday suits, we need to go sooner rather than later.”

—

Other coworkers? As if things couldn’t get any worse.

It’s a little unfair for Erwin to say that so casually.He’s so fucking smart. He knows that he just implied that he’s totally fine seeing Levi in the nude. To be honest Levi’s pretty sure they’ve both seen each other naked. The kinda shit that happens when you share a house with someone. You just yell and pretend you didn’t see anything. Levi has spent an endless amount of time trying to forget what Hange looked like underneath their usual baggy attire, because they had no issue with walking around sans clothes.

Levi knows that for all his resistance, if Erwin really wants to go to the sauna with nothing but a towel, Levi will end up going with him and spending the entire time with his legs crossed lest something unfortunate happen. He’s never been able to say no to Erwin before, why would it be any different now?

But… Erwin really had to go and imply that he didn’t want to see other coworkers naked. Which surely means that he does want to see Levi naked?

Actually, he probably didn’t mean it like that at all, it was a bad joke that Levi is now reading way too much into.

It’s why he doesn’t talk much, why they call him a man of few words. It’s not that he doesn’t have a lot to say, it’s more that he spends so much time in his head working out what to say. Not that he has many people he wants to talk to.

It’s why he just nods, quashing the urge to huff and roll his eyes, and follows Erwin until they’re both in a dark, hot room with nothing but a towel across their laps, as close to European as they could get without shrugging off the stiff upper lip.

The wood burns against his legs as he sits down. It feels nice, and it distracts him from the sight of Erwin. It’s not his fault that the man is built like a Greek statue with a Roman nose and just so happens to be right up Levi’s street in terms of type. He leans back, letting his skin slowly stick to the wood. The sauna smells of aromatic coniferous trees with the bite of spicy warm cedarwood, but it’s still hard to let go of the unease permeating his body and mind. The silence settles between them, comfortable as always, as the steam opens their pores, beads of sweat dripping down the length of their bodies from the dry heat.

The last time he was this undressed with another man, the evening had ended with a very different outcome to the one that Erwin is likely envisioning, and Levi would rather not ruin their friendship. Not that anything of the sort would even transpire between him and a straight man.

“Do you think this blizzard will last long?” Erwin breaks the silence, and Levi leans over to pour water over the rocks, the steam buying him time to bail himself out of his own thoughts before he has to answer.

Levi leans back, “It doesn’t show signs of stopping, at least.”

“Did you bring some ‘corn for popping’?”

A joke so bad Levi gives him a pity chuckle.

—

In Erwin’s eyes, nothing has changed. But he can’t shake the feeling that something definitely has. Levi is still the same: short, grumpy, and aloof, with his sunken eyes and bony facial structure. But Erwin’s seeing things in him that are different than before.

He thought Levi seemed a little different when he saw him earlier, and thought little of it. Why would he? Levi is his long-time friend and at a glance, there is no discernable difference that would make him like Levi any less. But now he’s second guessing himself, and maybe this change won’t make him like Levi less. Maybe, it means he likes him more. Features that he’s come to be so familiar with over the years take on a whole new light in the room they’ve been assigned to share, and of all places, here, in the steaming air of the sauna. It’s confusing, and he feels something akin to anxiety pooling in the depths of his stomach. It’s peculiar, but it’s not necessarily uncomfortable…

“Oi. Whatcha starin’ at?” Levi’s voice hangs in the air, heavy. “I got something on my face or what?”

It’s true, he is staring. He hasn’t got the words to say no so he placates Levi with a sharp shake of his head. The cogs in his head are turning, trying to compare how he sees the Levi in front of him, to the Levi he’s known for so long.

Levi’s still grumpy and sour-looking, but Erwin knows that it’s a well-honed defence mechanism to disguise how much he cares about the people closest to him. It manifests in the callous frustration that he shows those who would dare hinder or hurt anyone dear to him. Sunken, all-seeing eyes of a beautiful dark blue–or are they silver? Erwin’s not sure. He's in a daze when their eyes meet, too preoccupied with mapping out those sharp cheekbones and delicate brow, perfectly balanced by his soft jaw. The bow of his lips curves just so. It’s distracting.

Everything is the same - is he the one who’s changed?

A small part of him regrets inviting Levi to the sauna, but if he hadn’t, would he have had the opportunity to notice how the little man he spent the majority of his time with at university, had grown up? Levi’s small, compact, but entirely muscle, so beautifully sculpted. The dehydration from the sauna is doing wonders for his muscle definition. Erwin’s not really sure what to do with this information. He’s used to seeing Levi curled up on the sofa, all cat-like, but tonight he’s perched like a hawk and pride is written in the way he carries himself. As if sensing his eyes on him that moment, Levi looks up and catches him staring, before quickly looking away again. And flighty, just like a bird, Erwin thinks, letting a smirk tug at the corner of his lips– he can imagine that the pink hue of Levi’s ears is due to a blush and not the steam.

Still the same Levi. Still short, but now Erwin can just imagine how he’s the perfect size to fit right underneath–

Erwin’s been into tits his entire life. Not dick. But the air in the sauna is oppressive and heavy and his mind eagerly wonders how flexible Levi is. Would Erwin be able to fold him in half? What noises would he make, if any, as Erwin fucks into him? Would he go cross-eyed at climax, or scrunch his face up in the same way he does when someone has something stupid to say in a meeting?

He can’t work out if he’s light-headed because of the heat or if it’s because all his blood has rushed south. Thank God he let Levi insist on a towel. The strange sensation in his stomach has only intensified, and he’s suddenly realising that what he’s feeling is pleasure, anticipation, or a culmination of both… maybe even lust. He pushes away a small wave of panic settling in his chest and focuses on breathing in the aromatic steam enveloping the cedarwood oasis.

Reasoning with himself that it’ll be better when they’re out of the sauna, he tries to let himself relax. Not that Levi gives him much reprieve without even realising. Erwin is entranced by the flex of his shoulders, skin sweat-slick as he pours water over the coals. He cracks a bad joke, and almost jumps out of his skin when Levi laughs. His skin is pink, and clearly not only because of the heat.

They stay in the hot box until the threat of passing out from dehydration is greater than the inevitable pain and instant regret of stepping back outside into the cold. Erwin - as always - is far more dramatic than Levi, declaring that if he stays in the sauna a moment longer he might well meet his end.

“But,” he says, nudging Levi with his elbow, “if I die here with you, I think I would be OK with that– happier alive, of course!” He adds as Levi glares at him.

“The heat is getting to your brain. Wanna go get a drink?” Levi asks.

“Hm?”

“A drink. My throat is like the Sahara, and you keep yapping about being on death’s door. They got a bar here, don’t they?” Levi stands up, and Erwin has to stop his jaw from dropping.

Holding nothing but a towel over his pelvis, Erwin is blessed with a full view of Levi’s muscular legs, the happy trail that starts at his navel and leads down... Sweat runs down his abs, soaking into where he’s holding the towel. But this view is nothing compared to Levi turning around to hide himself as he re-ties the towel around his waist.

Levi might have thought Erwin didn’t get a peep, but little does he know that now Erwin has his roommate’s perky ass committed to memory.

Erwin’s always liked tits, but he can appreciate a nice peach when he sees one. It’s totally fine. It doesn’t mean anything after all. The heat must really be clouding his brain.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

He stands up, making sure to stretch out fully. Levi’s got the type of humour to call it ‘preening’ but then again he’s also gay and Erwin might kinda-sorta-like-it if Levi started checking him out, nudging their attraction just a little more toward mutual as opposed to one-sided. Besides, it’s pay-back for all he had to endure for the last thirty minutes from Levi merely existing. Even if Levi didn’t realise how much he was affecting Erwin, every single one of his actions is certainly deliberate.

They rinse off the sweat quickly in the spa showers before re-dressing. Erwin has always found Levi’s modesty endearing, choosing to hide in the singular cubicles to change clothes, while he is more than comfortable to change in the open. He burns with a sudden burst of shame at Levi’s desire for privacy now– the heat is beginning to lift from his mind and while he’d love to see if his desire for Levi perpetuates, it’s becoming clearer how inappropriate his thoughts were becoming.

But if his infatuation comes and passes in the span of a fleeting moment, is it really a problem?

It’s certainly not something he lingers on for long, as Levi exits the cubicle, fresh-faced and dressed. His expression is dour, as if he’d not spent the last who-knows-how-long relaxing. His nose is still red from the heat and his hair damp, falling into his eyes a little more obviously than usual.

Erwin has seen Levi like this maybe a hundred times, but this is the first time he feels his heart skip a beat at the view. He’s down bad. Really bad.

He’s not the type for a one-night stand, nor would he risk the friendship they’ve built over almost a decade. But he knows if he doesn’t shoot his shot, he’ll have to hope these feelings pass soon, so he never has to feel the pain of seeing Levi with another man somewhere down the line.

This week away can be nothing but the perfect time, right? He knows he’s rather handsome, he’s been told many times over the years– he’s sure Levi’s even said it at one point. Surely he might stand a chance?

If he doesn’t, hopefully Levi will let him down gently, leaving their friendship– and Erwin’s ego– intact.

—

The hotel they’re staying at is well-insulated, and the cocktail bar in the basement is the perfect combination of dim lights, a burner with a roaring fire, and comfortable seats with blankets for couples to cosy up under.

“I’ll have a gin and tonic,” Levi says to Erwin. Like hell he’s paying for his own drinks, especially after the whole hotel room fiasco. He picks up one of the blankets, holding it up letting the folds drop out before beginning to wrap himself up. The cold has almost undone all the relaxation he managed to find in the sauna. A little grumpy burrito he’ll be instead.

Besides, Erwin’s been looking at him funny all evening and it’s unnerving. Maybe he’s spotted Levi trying to subtly check him out. Afterall, even if you can’t purchase the goods, you can still admire them from afar.

When Erwin returns with the drinks, he doesn’t sit in the chair opposite Levi’s sofa like he assumed. No, instead he sits down right next to him. Now Levi has to turn around in his burrito so he’s not coming across as rude for not looking at him. That’s rude in itself as far as Levi’s concerned.

“You look comfortable,” Erwin remarks, “let me know if you want me to put your drink down on the table.”

Levi narrows his eyes, “You’re being awfully nice, usually you’re far more annoying.”

Erwin laughs. “What do you mean?” His blue eyes sparkle in a way that makes Levi’s heart beat just a little bit faster. “Can’t I be nice to my friends?”

He scoffs, “Oh, so we’re friends now? Not colleagues?”

“Hmm,” Erwin pauses, sipping from his own glass - whiskey - “I guess we’re not friends. Maybe best friends?”

“Fine, whatever.” Levi rolls his eyes, not willing to give Erwin another win despite conceding by backing out of the conversation.

Three drinks later, Levi suddenly notices his thigh is rather warm. During their light conversation and friendly banter they seem to have gotten closer and closer on the sofa. Levi’s stayed put in his little cocoon, and is certainly not the reason for their thighs to be pressed together. His anxiety starts to spike– what is Erwin doing? This isn’t his game, this is risky, this is unfair.

“Levi?” Erwin’s voice is a low murmur, “I’m cold, can I share the blanket with you?”

This is a bad idea, Levi, his mind screams at him. Erwin is a straight man, a work colleague, inappropriate thoughts should be locked tightly away. And although no is his favourite word, it’s simply not in his vocabulary when it comes to Erwin as he mumbles, “Sure, just let me–” He wrangles himself out of the blankets, rearranging them over them both as Erwin moves even closer.

“Thanks, much better.” Erwin’s a furnace.

That fucking liar, he thinks to himself, ‘Cold’ my ass. He clasps his drink tightly between both hands, unsure of where to put them otherwise. He keeps his gaze ahead. This is fine, just two bros sharing warmth. They’ve got a room with one bed to share tonight so he’d better get used to this.

He flinches as he feels Erwin’s arm settle around his shoulders, pulse skyrocketing and no sauna steam to blame for his flushed cheeks.

“Is this okay?” Erwin whispers in his ear.

No, it’s not ‘okay’ at all, Levi’s trousers are uncomfortable, his heart is beating so fast he fears he might pass out and the man whose been the main feature in countless wet dreams is touching him and it’s not ‘okay’ because Levi wants more and lacks all the words he needs to ask.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” He’s not sure if the attempt at disinterest comes through, but Erwin’s not pulling away, instead he’s rubbing his fingers in little circles across Levi’s upper arm.

They settle into silence, Erwin continuing to stroke his arm. It doesn’t feel ‘weird’ or ‘wrong’, though they’ve never sat like this before. The lack of conversation is comforting, not awkward – there wasn’t a lot of conversation in the sauna either. But this feels different and for once, Levi welcomes change, letting himself relax into the half embrace, his head leaning against Erwin’s arm.

He’s almost about to let his eyes close when Erwin shifts, turning his body to face him, and moves a hand over to Levi’s thigh, squeezing softly.

“What are you doing, Erwin?” He says slowly, a challenge creeping into his voice.

Erwin’s hand squeezes his thigh again, “What do you think? Surely you’re not blind to my… advances?”

“Stop fucking around, you straight bastard.”

Erwin chuckles and leans in, his breath ghosting across Levi’s ear, “And if I told you I’m not?”

“Then I’d call you a lying bastard.”

Erwin pulls his hand momentarily to place it on his heart, “My love, you wound me!” He says dryly, the monotone of his voice juxtaposed against his theatrical movements.

That’s enough for Levi, he pulls away, “Don’t call me pet names, you’ve never been into men and I’m not about to be your late college try.”

He goes to get up, to get away from this mockery when Erwin grabs his wrist, blue eyes serious, “Levi. Do you honestly think I have that little respect for you?”

Levi shifts, Erwin’s never lied to him, not once. And he’s had plenty of opportunities to do so. Not that he wants to admit it.

“Do you trust me?” Erwin presses him further, “Do you think I’d be willing to discard our friendship for the sake of an experiment?”

Levi huffs, he knows Erwin could never be so callous. He catches Erwin’s small smile, and knows that he knows it too. His stomach lurches with anxiety - he’d never expected that he’d ever have to contend with the possibility of reciprocated feelings.

“I like you a lot, Levi. I do.” He pauses, Levi can see the nerves getting to him, it makes his words more believable, “You don’t have to say anything, it’s fine if this isn’t reciprocal. But I wanted you to know, that’s all.”

Levi stares at him, “That’s all? Are you shitting me right now, Smith?”

Erwin shuts up abruptly, Levi’s no maiden who needs sweeping off their feet, and if he’s thinking about trying it on with some dudes, then he’s got a few surprises to plan for.

“Alright then, show me what you’ve got, Blondie,” he says, leaning back into Erwin’s embrace.

“W-what?”

Levi rolls his eyes dramatically, “You just confessed your undying love to me, aren’t you gonna kiss me or something? I thought you were the romantic type?” He drawls, unimpressed.

He suppresses a shiver as Erwin’s hand runs up his torso, two fingers under his chin to tilt his face towards him, and then it’s happening.

It’s brief, chaste. Erwin’s lips are soft and he can taste traces of whiskey on his own lips when they pull away. Looking into Erwin’s glassy eyes, he doesn’t feel like fighting anymore.

“Go on then,” he says, softly, “take me to bed, you big oaf.”

—

Six hours ago, Erwin thought he was as straight as the day is long, but now, with Levi pressed up against their bedroom door, pressing kisses into his pale throat, he can’t believe it took him this long to realise what he’d felt all along. Affection mistaken for friendship, affinity mistaken for familiarity.

The comfort he’d always felt with Levi, his desire to impress him, for Levi to look favourably on him. The ease of spending time in each other’s company. The unwavering trust he has in him, and Levi’s reciprocation. He could slap himself. But instead one of his hands is preoccupied in Levi’s hair, the other under the knee of the leg Levi has locked around him, and he has no plans on moving either.

Levi’s fingers splay across his chest. They grasp at him - thin as they are - pinching the cotton of his shirt, bunching it until his fists are pulling Erwin closer. He lets Levi lead, follows him as he tilts their heads to deepen the kiss. Erwin’s not new to kissing, but he’s new to men. Levi’s lips are as soft as any woman’s but his strength and the intensity is foreign, exciting, setting a fire ablaze in his abdomen. He can feel his trousers tighten, keenly aware that there’s no way Levi can’t feel him, and not letting that stop him from rolling his hips forward.

They pull apart, chests heaving. Levi’s pupils are blown wide, cheeks pink as though someone has just given them a rough pinch. Swollen, spit-slicked lips, slightly parted in fervour, and Erwin knows he probably looks just as debauched, but Levi looks almost ethereal in the low lighting of the room.

“You sure you want this?” Erwin asks. There’s no question as to what he wants, but if there’s even a single iota of doubt in Levi’s mind, then that changes everything.

Levi is panting, “You should ask yourself. I’ve always been a fan of cock, and you… have not been.” His eyes narrow, “I already told you, if this is a let’s try and see what happens, we might as well just stop now.”

Erwin strokes the side of Levi’s face with one big hand - it’s impossible for him to just cup Levi’s cheek - brushing stray hairs behind Levi’s ear.

“You’re no one's college-try, you’ve just… taught me something I should’ve learned about myself a long time ago.”

Levi’s eye’s darken, leveraging the material clenched in his hands he yanks Erwin down, their lips meeting once more, and this time Erwin knows that they’re on the same page, and he doesn’t have to hold back anymore. His hands slide from Levi’s face and shoulders, down his back, enjoying the way he arches up into his touch as he stifles a soft moan. Fueled by sound and touch alone, Erwin lifts Levi up as if he weighs nothing. His hands are securely under Levi’s ass, his lithe legs wrapped tightly around his waist.

Erwin carries him over to the bed, and while he’s capable of tossing him, he’s not entirely sure how much of a beating the bed frame can take, and he’s not planning on being a soft, gentle lover, if Levi will allow him to indulge.

“You know how to top a man, Smith?” Levi’s bite is back. It’s a challenge, one Erwin will revel in.

He smirks, “There can’t be too much difference between an ass and a cunt, I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”

Levi rolls his eyes before moving off the bed and over to his bag. Erwin raises an eyebrow as he sifts through his neatly packed belongings before he finds what he’s looking for and tosses it over to Erwin.

“Lube?”

“Yes, dumbass. If by ‘figure it out’ you meant ‘fingering,’ you’re on the money.”

Erwin huffs, trying not to laugh at Levi’s poor attempt at a joke, “No, I mean. You brought lube on a work trip?”

He looks over to the other man, whose ears are no longer tinted red from just their activities, “Well... Of course. After all, I thought I was having a room to myself.” He crosses his arms and glares at Erwin, “Are you telling me you didn’t plan to get yourself off at all during the week away?”

Erwin could laugh at the accusation, but he’s far too aroused, “Well, no, but I figured I would just… in the shower– never mind. I can think of much better ways to get ourselves off that don’t involve our own hands… Shall we?”

Levi shrugs off his shirt, folding it neatly in the air before resting it on the nightstand. He leans back into the pillows, folding his arms as he does.

“Well alright then. Show me what you’ve got, lover boy.” He smirks, “I’m warning you though, your ladies are all curves and soft, I’m made of hard lines. I hope you’re ready.”

Erwin grins, hands flying to his belt, “Harsh edges or not, I’m sure you’ll be just as soft by the end.”

Ignoring Levi’s tut and following his example, Erwin folds his trousers over the end of the bed, before carefully undoing the buttons of his shirt. He’s painfully aware of Levi’s eagle eyes, catching every detail, soaking up each bit of skin that gets revealed with every movement. He’s laid out on the bed, languidly running his hands up and down his torso, stroking and flicking his nipples. They’re beautiful and pink - he admired them earlier, and has seen them many times in the past, but it’s more than a little different now. This is a side of Levi previously kept behind locked doors, and Erwin realises that seeing him like this is a privilege. He’s beautiful, provocative, confident… and by the sound of things, shamelessly seductive behind closed doors.

Down only to his boxers, Erwin feels the bed give way underneath his weight as he crawls up to kneel in between Levi’s legs. He rests his hands on the button of Levi’s trousers, making sure to keep eye contact as he asks, “Is this alright?”

Levi huffs, “It won’t be if you keep taking your time. You wanna fuck or keep pussying around?”

Erwin chuckles, deftly pulling the zipper of his flies, appreciating the help Levi chooses to bestow upon him by lifting his hips and shimmying out of his trousers. Always one for consistency, Erwin folds Levi’s trousers, placing them gently on top of his own. Levi looks like the cat that got the cream. His gaze is dark with anticipation. Erwin would like to think that Levi looks favourably upon him, finally, a man who understands the need for order and routine, perhaps - but he knows only fools have such salacious thoughts.

—

The man looks incredible, looming over him from in between his legs. It gives Levi endless amounts of joy to know that he pulled him. Of course he was worried that Erwin had just had a little too much to drink, but if he’s feeling as sober as Levi is right now, they’re in the clear. Part of him is still in disbelief, wondering if this is just another dream he has yet to wake up from.

Back when they first met, Levi lit a candle for Erwin and despite his best intentions, kept it alight all these years. Levi’s never fallen for someone who didn’t actually turn out to be interested in men, and something in his lust-addled mind told him that Erwin wasn’t going to break the trend. And now, here they are, with Erwin looking down at Levi as if he’s been stranded in the desert for days on end and Levi’s a twelve-course meal. One to be enjoyed, to be savoured.

He allows his fingers to continue to roam his own skin, setting his nerve endings alight. He snatches a peek at Erwin’s own underwear. He can see the man’s cock straining against the fabric, and doesn’t realise he’s licked his lips until the deed’s been done. It’ll split him in two, and it’ll be glorious. Levi finally dips low enough to play with the waistband of his boxer shorts, nimble fingers hooking themselves underneath. He lifts his legs up high and straight - any opportunity to show off his flexibility - before flicking them off. His own cock stands firm and proud, weeping a puddle of precum onto his belly.

Levi swipes a finger through the mess, before bringing it up to his lips and sucking on the digit, eyes trained on Erwin the whole time. He’s happy to show the man what he’s been missing out on all this time. It’s a shame he’ll need a little training, but good things always come to those who are willing to wait. Besides, he’s never been one to shy away from having the upper hand.

“Right,” he gestures to the lube, “you want me to show you how it’s done? Or do you want to skip the tutorial?” He’s already eyed-up Erwin’s fingernails - trimmed and neatly filed, not a speck of dirt trapped under them. They’ll do.

Erwin’s grin is devilish, “Maybe next time I’ll want a refresher, but I definitely learn by doing, not watching.”

“You think there’ll be a next time?” Levi’s eyebrow is raised. He hadn’t considered the possibility of Erwin wanting more after the week is over… and he certainly isn’t against the idea…

He watches as Erwin pops the cap on the lubricant, generously drizzling it across his fingers, making sure they’re coated. “Of course, we have a whole week here together, after all.”

Maybe not, Levi thinks, somewhat disappointed. Well then, he better get as much out of this week as he can.

“Alrighty, start with one,” he murmurs as Erwin spreads the lube across his hole. Body heat has warmed it up so he doesn’t flinch as much as he expects to at the contact. Erwin’s brows are furrowed, the picture of concentration before he slowly presses the first finger in.

It’s been a while and the stretch is more noticeable than he would perhaps like. Levi bears down, willing his body to relax as Erwin gently massages his walls. He stares at the ceiling, knowing that stretching him out enough to accommodate whatever monster Erwin has hiding in his boxers is going to take time and his eye contact is so intense. He’d honestly rather leave his body for a bit and come back once he’s stretched loose, his hole needy and pliant.

Despite his worrying it feels like almost no time has passed before Erwin’s nudging a second digit next to the first, his eyes flickering up to Levi’s - a silent check-in, are we good for another?

“About time, old man,” it’s more of a defence mechanism than anything else. Levi knows a second finger might be a little much, but would rather die than admit any weakness, anything that might indicate he can’t give Erwin what he’s asking for. Levi’ll handle it, he’s had worse.

It’s definitely a lot, but the overall discomfort is giving away to the glorious feeling of being full, and the anticipation of being stuffed by the end of the night starts to build. He arches his back, willing Erwin to push in deeper - to find it. Levi closes his eyes as Erwin hums to himself, before gasping as his cock is enveloped in a warm, wet heat.

Levi’s eyes snap open and down, and what a sight to behold: Erwin’s lips pulled tight around the base of his cock, his eyes watering - serves him right, he probably thought swallowing dick was easy - golden hair dishevelled.

His tongue is lazy, but what Erwin lacks in experience he makes up for in enthusiasm. It’s enough to make the event of a third finger pushing its way in alongside the first two nothing more than a small disturbance that quickly melts into pleasure. Levi lets his hand drift down, threading through flaxen locks, wrapping them around his fingers until he has enough purchase to pull ever so gently. Erwin’s eye contact is less intense when he looks so deliciously vulnerable. He uses his hand to coax Erwin to take him deeper, and when his cock hits the back of his throat, they both moan, the vibrations sending Levi hurtling towards the edge.

Levi pulls him off before a premature climax ruins the night, and sits back to admire the mess. Erwin’s lips: shiny, the slightest bit of drool quickly wiped off on the back of his hand. The cold air of the room against his length is almost painful when juxtapositioned to the warmth of Erwin’s mouth.

“Did it feel good?” His eyes shine, and if Levi didn’t know him better, he’d think that Erwin was acting like a dog wanting attention from its owner. But Erwin’s voice is dark and daring, dripping with honey, with desire.

“You were less annoying with your mouth full,” he snarks back, not wanting to give Erwin the satisfaction but also keenly aware that the guy’s got three fingers in him. Levi’s in no place to bargain right now.

Erwin’s smirk grows, “C’mon, you’re holding back - don’t think I don’t see you biting your lips,” he strokes his swollen cock with a firm grip and chuckles as Levi indeed nips at his lip, “let me hear you, please?”

It does feel good. Maybe it’s just been a long time, or maybe it’s because it’s finally Erwin that’s driving Levi nuts. Another tingling wave of pleasure crashes over him and he can’t hold back the strained sound that escapes his lips. Erwin’s face is one of a man who knows he’s won.

“Just fucking get on with it,” Levi spits, “I don’t want to come on your fucking fingers, I want to come on your fucking cock,” he grumbles.

The speed at which those three fingers pull out has Levi groaning in complaint, but Erwin’s lips are a hair’s breadth away from his before he has time to even think about voicing it. Levi nudges his nose against Erwin’s, desperate to find the right angle to close the gap between them.

“Are you clean?” Erwin asks, voice devoid of all the playful banter it had moments before.

Levi’s always been a man of protection - as if he’d let a dirty cock which could’ve been anywhere inside him. But does he trust Erwin?

“Are you?” Levi replies.

Erwin tuts, “You can’t answer my question with another question, but yes I am; please don’t make me wait any longer, Levi.”

Yes, he trusts Erwin unequivocally

It’s Levi’s turn to smirk, “Good,” he says, “that makes two of us,” he wraps his legs around Erwin’s waist, hugging him tightly.

“Come on then, show me what you’ve got.”

—

It feels like it takes forever for Erwin to line himself up with Levi’s hole, grabbing his asscheeks to spread them wide, pink furl peeking out at him, but suddenly his cockhead is sinking into Levi’s warmth, tight and wet.

“Fuck, Levi,” he breathes, “you feel incredible.”

Tighter than any cunt he’s been in before, encasing him. It’s barely been ten seconds but Erwin’s pretty sure he’s been ruined for sex with anyone else. Who else could be this incredibly tight, yet so welcoming?

Underneath him, Levi whines, brows creasing as he adjusts to Erwin’s size, his body opening up, accepting him in, inch by inch.

Erwin manages to hold himself still, to try and calm the butterflies in his stomach. He tries to distract himself by watching Levi try to get comfortable, his eyes following the trail the blush on his cheeks has painted down his body, the perfect oh of his lips, lips that Erwin hopes to one day see stretched around his cock. He focuses on the pinch of his brows, furrowed in frustration, holding all the tension in one place as Levi battles to release the stress from everywhere else.

Erwin waits with bated breath until the moment when Levi cracks one eye open, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“You okay?” Erwin whispers, keeping as still as possible, ignoring the complaints from his wrists, struggling to hold his weight for so long, so still.

“Yeah,” Levi starts, “don’t let it go to your head but… you’re pretty big, y’know?”

Erwin laughs, the slightest movement causing him to slip deeper, cutting him off short and eliciting a small gasp from Levi.

“Or maybe,” Erwin says, his voice starting to strain, their position doing a number on his self-control, “maybe you’re just really small.”

He pulls out, just a little bit, before pushing himself back into Levi, cutting off any snarky remark the man might have for him. Erwin’s not one to say that sex is life-changing, but it feels pretty fucking euphoric. What he imagines the movies mean when they say what sex should be like.

Levi’s legs tighten around his waist and he takes that as his cue to continue pressing forward. His knees rub against the towel Levi laid underneath them before they started, shit happens, he’d said before settling himself down again. Erwin takes it slow, hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible for his smaller partner - he’d known that the jab would get to him, later on he’ll remember to tell Levi that in his eyes he is the perfect size; Erwin wouldn’t have him any other way, and would love him just as much if he were a different size in another life.

The moan that drips from Levi’s lips as he finally bottoms out is one he’ll be hearing for a long time, hopefully forever; low and sultry, warm and rounded, vibrating through his pale chest, heaving with each breath he takes. It’s not enough to calm the uncertainty bubbling under Erwin’s skin.

“Am I hurting you?” He asks, getting ready to pull out if necessary, they can take a break, maybe try again later, maybe get themselves off other ways.

Levi, however, has no such intention.

“Move, you fucker,” he rasps, and the relief that courses through Erwin is enough that he could laugh at the glare on Levi’s face, but he daren’t risk the wrath of Levi right this second.

“Are you sure?” Just to double check, just to make one hundred percent sure, forgetting that this is certainly not Levi’s first rodeo (though the selfish, covetous part of him desperately wishes it were so). The pressure around his cock is tight and he needs to stave off orgasm for as long as possible, lest Levi be disappointed - he did say he wanted to come on his cock after all.

He pulls out, taking the opportunity to sneak a ring of fingers around the base, clenching tightly before starting a slow, but steady rhythm. The air in Levi’s lungs is pushed out with each thrust, breathy moans filling the room along with Erwin’s own grunts. The angle is good, but Erwin wants to push deeper, to explore as much of Levi’s body as this opportunity will allow him. He pulls one of Levi’s legs from around his waist, snaking it up and over his shoulder, marvelling at his sinewy limbs, the flexibility that allows Erwin to shape him however he desires.

He feels his primal instinct rear its head as their position shifts, his heavy balls slapping against Levi’s ass cheeks each time he fucks into him. He’s suddenly overwhelmed by the need to chase his own release. Their previous, slower pace feels like blazing white, hot agony in comparison to what he wants, what he needs. Levi’s mouth is agape, words tumbling out almost incoherently, please, more, harder, and what he wants, Erwin makes sure to give him.

Levi is whining under him, feebly grabbing at Erwin’s wrists, holding on for dear life, “Fuck… Erwin, harder you big fuck!”

Even in the thick of it, Levi can’t find a compliment for him that doesn’t come with an insult. He picks up the pace, fucking with abandon knowing that Levi can take it, that he wants it as bad as Erwin himself does. There’s little finesse or control, but that can come later, that can come next time.

“You’re gorgeous Levi,” he pants, and Levi keens at the sound of his name, “so fucking perfect, just look at you.”

He’s a mess, they both are. Levi’s eyes are glassy as he drags one hand slowly down to his neglected cock, gently bouncing on his stomach. He’s barely able to wrap his fist around it before Erwin grabs him by the wrist, securing it firmly above his head.

“Oh no,” he growls, “you’ll come when I let you, not when you want to.”

Distantly, he wonders if this is a bit too much for a first time, but the way that Levi sobs in response sets his blood on fire. His mouth opens and shuts quickly, like he can’t find the words, like a fish out of water.

“Please…” he starts, “touch me, Erwin, please!” He struggles against Erwin’s grip. It’s loose, Levi would be more than capable of getting away - if he actually wanted to, of course. But when he begs so prettily, how can Erwin possibly say no?

He pushes himself up, bringing Levi’s other leg above his shoulder, both ankles brushing against Erwin’s ears as he finally grants Levi his one request, and wraps his large hand around his aching cock. Levi gasps, babbling, “More, Erwin, fuck more–” words cut off as Erwin strokes him slowly, dragging his hand up and down, his precome providing a natural lubricant.

Levi’s arms come up to wrap around his neck, pulling him down. The angle deepens and as Erwin brings a hand down to stabilise himself, Levi grabs it, interlacing their fingers together on the bed sheets. A moment of sweetness, tenderness, their fucking becoming a part of their love-making.

“You wanna come?” Erwin whispers into Levi’s ear, “You wanna come for me? On my cock?” He picks up the pace of the hand still stroking his cock as Levi nods furiously at him. His face is flushed, dark eyes glassy and delirious.

“Come on then.”

It’s a few words but they’re enough. Levi shudders underneath him as he comes in Erwin’s hand; messy, lewd, and sticky, some of it dripping down onto his stomach. Erwin desperately wants to fuck him through his orgasm, but seeing Levi come undone in front of him makes him stop and marvel at the sight, and then he’s finally gotten permission - Levi’s come, and now it’s his turn, his own climax takes him almost by surprise as Levi deliberately clenches down around him, milking his cock, forcing a debauched groan from Erwin’s lips.

The room is eerily silent, only their panting and the laughter from down the hall. Shit, they’re still in a fucking hotel, on a fucking work trip, but Erwin’s too tired. He doesn’t want to pull out of Levi, he doesn’t want this moment to end, the dewy heat of their breath, their hands still with intertwined fingers. He wants to hold on to this moment, before reality truly shatters it.

He’s softened and his cock slips out of Levi’s hole. He can feel his own come drip out, eternally glad for Levi’s foresight to lay a towel down – housekeeping would not appreciate them and Erwin couldn’t find a spare set of sheets earlier on. He had been planning to make a make-shift sleeping bag on the floor if Levi would truly not let him share the king-sized bed.

It feels like so long ago, but it can’t have been more than a few hours.

“Oi,” Levi’s voice shakes him out of his daze, “I need a shower, I’m filthy. And don’t get me started on you.”

Erwin rolls off, letting Levi push him away and walk towards their bathroom. His peachy ass is red where Erwin roughly grabbed it, the faint imprint of his fingers lingering. Of course, he’s caught staring as Levi looks over his shoulder at him.

“Well?” He asks, a note of irritation in his voice, “Are you coming?”

Erwin’s never scrambled to get out of bed so eagerly before.

—

Six weeks later and February has finally arrived. Gone are the blue January mornings, the bitterly cold nights. The sun can finally be seen at 5pm when Levi starts to pack up for the day.

The holidays feel like so long ago, a lifetime ago. He longs for his warm bed, soft sheets, clean sheets. Maybe he’ll treat himself to a bath tonight. He figures he deserves some of life’s pleasantries.

He wraps his scarf tighter around himself as he pushes the door to his office building open. Erwin’s waiting at the bottoms of the steps, and he smiles when he sees Levi walk over.

They share a quick, chaste kiss by means of a greeting, before their hands find each other. Erwin’s hands are always so warm, even if he has been outside.

“You weren’t waiting long, were you?” Levi asks, conscious of his habit to work a little late.

Erwin shakes his head as they start walking, “No more than usual. It’s too stuffy in there for me, I don’t know how you do it.”

Levi smiles, “You’ll catch your death out here. Now, where is it you’re taking me?”

“Just a little Italian a few minutes away. I think you’ll enjoy their lasagne.”

Levi hums, it does sound nice. Sounds messy.

“And then after that,” Erwin continues, “I figured I’d walk you home.”

Levi bumps his shoulder into him, “You say that as if you think I’m not going to let you stay over.”

Erwin grins down at him, “Well, I never like to presume when it comes to you, my love, but,” he brandishes the bag in his other hand, “I always like to be prepared. Just in case you’re feeling particularly generous.”

Levi feels the blush rising up on his cheeks as it always seems to do when he’s with Erwin. The pair of them didn’t get a chance to hit the slopes while they were away. Not that they would have wanted to leave their room for anything other than food anyway. By the end of the week, neither of them wanted to give up what they’d found in each other, and now here they are.

It’s certainly made this winter a little warmer, that’s for sure.