Levi was right: his bed was big enough that Erwin was sure he could get lost in it, piled high with blanket upon blanket. Unlike his home away from home the pillows were thin and there were only two of them, the sheets tucked in neatly at the corners.

The room itself was ruthlessly spartan: the light wood floor beneath his feet was polished to such a bright sheen he could nearly see his face in it. The rug was well-used but unstained and tacked down so that it didn't shift beneath his feet. Even the window on the far wall was spotless, the dark curtains tumbling down to brush against the floor framing a lovely view of a small yard dotted with trees.

Erwin crossed to it, studying the yard to take in the few trees scattered there. A yard large enough for trees in the city. Levi had spared no expense. "Apple and?"

"Pear." Levi answered, joining him at the window. He scrubbed the last of the blood and dirt from his hands with a white cloth, eying the stains with grim satisfaction.

"You were right about the bed." Erwin offered more than the compliment, trusting Levi would take his meaning.

"Want to try it for yourself?" Levi obliged with a hint of a knowing smile.

His smile reopened a cut along the curve of his cheek; the look was so familiar that for a second the years between them vanished. "I don't think either one of us is up for it." Erwin chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Did you sleep last night?"

"Not much." Levi admitted, "But I usually don't. Why? Are you tired, old man?"

"Yes." Erwin bluntly admitted. He was ragged around the edges, adrenaline was no replacement for rest and now that he had taken the bull by the horns his fatigue hit him full force. He made his way to the bed and crumpled onto it, far less seductively than Levi would have liked he was sure. "I usually don't sleep either, but I am not near so sanguine about it as you."

Levi perched next to him, thoughtlessly reaching out to stroke a rough hand down the curve of his shoulder. Erwin resisted the urge to arch into the firm stroke like a cat. He laughed aloud, surprising Levi enough that he drew back and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Between the two of them Levi was unquestionably the cat, and he the lumbering golden retriever Mike had once rudely compared him to when he thought Erwin was out of earshot.

With a sigh Levi pulled away and went back to the business of tending his cuts and bruises, tutting at the stains on his clothes. Erwin didn't bother trying to hide his disappointment.

"You find me at the party, follow me to my club, now you're lounging in my bed like it's yours. What the hell am I supposed to make of you, Erwin Smith?" Levi mused, more to himself than his audience of one.

"This isn't about our future partnership."

Levi snorted.

"Business partnership." Erwin hastily amended in the interest of honesty.

Levi sat again, the breath leaving him in a shuddering sigh. "I can't work with feds. Not even for you."

It was the first time Levi had openly acknowledged that they shared a deeper connection since Erwin had found him the night past. If the stakes weren't so high he would have left it at that and basked in the knowledge that he- that they still had something.

As it was: "Not even if it meant splitting this city between us and taking out the garbage?" Harsh words for a man that had called some of the tycoons at the top friends once. Erwin could see the thought mirrored on Levi's face.

"There are too many now to take on ourselves." Erwin continued, firm and persuasive as only he knew how.

"You've done your part these past couple years to whittle them down." Erwin heard the reluctant admiration in Levi's tone. He might disagree with the method, but there was no denying the results.

"It's barely a drop in the pond. I'm dealing with petty gangsters and rum-runners; our problems are higher than that." Fat cats raking in more money than they knew what to do with while kids found their way to people like Erwin and Levi who could guarantee them a buck or two if not that it was made legitimately. Officers that took money to look the other way from crimes far more serious than a little illicit partying.

The only way to fix it was to tackle the problem from top down, and if he had a man at the bottom taking care of the bottom-feeders Erwin knew he could pull it off a hell of a lot quicker. He also knew it had to be Levi, the only man he trusted enough to do the job without fucking it up and landing in prison.

"You promised me time to think."

"Forgive me." Erwin said, meaning it not a whit. "It sounded like you had already made up your mind. I wanted to press my case, and we weren't exactly of a mind to discuss it yesterday."

Silence fell, broken only by their quiet breaths and the dry scrape of fabric when they shifted uncomfortably. It was an intricate dance they were playing out, Erwin thought wryly and neither one of them had a gift for the subtle grace of it.

Wonder of wonders it was Levi who broke the silence, watching Erwin with eyes that had gradually lost their accusatory squint, the lines on his brow changing from annoyance to frank puzzlement. "I just don't understand why the hell you needed to involve the feds. They'll hang you out to dry as soon as they're done with you."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"That's a load of horseshit. Did your pals the revenuers feed it to you?" Levi grimaced, fingers plucking restlessly at the coverlet. "Is that the line they played while you bought them off? Are you going to try bribing me too?" He continued snidely.

"I considered it, but I was reasonably certain it wouldn't work." Erwin shamelessly admitted.

He caught a sharp breath at the spark of interest that lit Levi's features, "Hm? How would that have gone?"

Not very well for me. Erwin didn't bother hiding a smarmy grin; it was one of Levi's favorite expressions anyway. "About the same. We still would have ended up here."

However Levi had received his business proposition, Erwin hadn't made a secret of wanting a more personal connection. He didn't particularly give a damn if they ended up playing different sides at least insofar as this was concerned. He reached up to free the button Levi was eying considerably, baring the lines of his throat. His weariness ebbed at the kindling spark of lust in Levi's eyes.

"Though with our business concluded, I don't think we would have wasted so much time talking." Straight from the pages of a lurid dime novel, but Levi wasn't listening anyway.

He slid another button loose as he spoke, preening a little as Levi's eyes followed the movement, flicking back and forth between his lips and the slowly revealed skin of his chest. Last night had been rushed; a thrill in its own way, reminiscent of their old times together. Now they had all the time in the world and Erwin intended to enjoy it until reality intruded on their interlude.

"You were the one who taught me patience and a level head were the keys to negotiating." Levi undid the next couple buttons himself, impatience in the tug of his fingertips.

"I waited ten years to approach you with this. We've spent nearly as much time arguing now as we have fucking; is it only my patience wearing thin?"

A sharp breath hissed through Levi's teeth at the profanity; he had always enjoyed watching Erwin, the quintessential gentleman, show just a flash of his edge. Erwin knew it too, damn him. "I thought you were tired."

"I'm waking up."

Good. Levi tugged at the last two buttons of Erwin's shirt a little too enthusiastically, he could practically hear the threads screaming for mercy but fortunately they stubbornly clung to the fabric despite the rough treatment. Always the best for Erwin.

Erwin tugged Levi's shirt from his pants briskly, and for once Levi didn't complain when it ended up on the floor. He kicked his trousers there a few seconds later, uncharacteristically clumsy in his haste. After those ten years one night hadn't been nearly enough to take the edge off their need; ten more years might not be but Levi intended to at least try to make up for lost time.

He caught Erwin's hand when it reached for him, forcing it down to the sheets. "You're still fucking awful at taking orders, but let's try again: stay still."

"Not likely." Erwin muttered under his breath, obviously attempting to bait Levi into hurrying the hell up.

Levi chose to ignore him, straddling Erwin to pin him there. His scars didn't look as vicious in the daylight; most of the had healed well, the ones where Levi had stitched his skin back together with the supplies he had on hand. He clenched his teeth and deliberately swallowed his anger at seeing the rest: the medics had more people to worry about than Levi. Levi had concerned himself with only one.

They had been over this last night; he wasn't going to drag it between them this morning too. Levi leaned down, releasing his grip on Erwin's hand to brace himself against the coverlet instead. Erwin tilted his head back, welcoming a more leisurely kiss than the last few they had enjoyed. Slow and tender, lingering in just the right way.

Boneless and contented, Levi allowed himself to rest and luxuriate in Erwin's body heat for a few minutes more before finally pulling away.

Erwin watched him admiringly as he stretched back to reach for the lube he wasn't about to admit he had dug out last night in the hope Erwin might try to corner him again. Erwin knew it though, Levi could see it in the tilt of his head, the way his brows lifted only slightly in a poor facsimile of surprise.

"Expecting me?"

"Smug always suited you." This time when Erwin tried to sneak an arm around him, tried to sweep him off his feet once more, Levi resisted the urge to give in and rolled with him, twisting quickly and pinning him again. It was worth it to hear Erwin's laughter, rare enough when they had last been together it still sounded hoarse in his throat, like he was just learning the way of it.

"Why the hell should I trust you in business if you won't even do as I say now?"

"I'm still fucking awful at taking orders." Erwin parroted back. He cut off when Levi began to rock against him, building up just enough friction to taunt him. He arched up, biting his lip against a soft gasp of breath. So sensitive; obviously Erwin hadn't been enjoying the same pursuits as Levi, and the temptation to work him up just like this, only to leave him keening and begging for more was a very real temptation.

He couldn't do it though, not when he saw the red flush already gathering in Erwin's cheeks and racing up to his ears. Not when Erwin's eyes fluttered shut for a few precious seconds, testament to how good even this simple stimulation was for him.

Feeling wicked, Levi pressed his mouth to Erwin's ear: "You are so desperate to come and I've barely even touched you yet. How long do you think you'd last? Maybe I should just keep you here, teach you patience."

"I wouldn't mind." Erwin purred, catching Levi off guard and tossing fuel on the proverbial fire.

"Goddammit." One of these days they would take their time, indulge in the foreplay they had promised each other during the last days of the war. It wasn't going to be today though, and tomorrow wasn't looking promising either.

He spilled the oily lube on his good sheets, lips twisting into a grimace of distaste.

"Later." Erwin growled, reading his annoyance. Levi didn't bother responding, both of them groaning with pained relief when he began to push into Erwin, pausing only briefly to catch his breath, taking stock of Erwin's expression.

"Breathe, Erwin."

Miracle of miracles he listened, and Levi had to fight the urge to buck into him.

"Dammit, Levi, I'm not a porcelain doll." Not that Erwin particularly cared for his consideration. His hand caught Levi's short hair, pulling him down for a kiss designed to make him forget whatever inhibitions he had left. Their teeth clacked harshly together when he gave in, arching frantically into Erwin's welcoming heat. It was worth it to feel Erwin's muffled groan, the way he writhed and twisted to get closer still.

Neither one of them were going to last and Levi didn't have it in him to give a damn for his pride.

He swore when his orgasm took him nearly unaware, painful in its intensity. Erwin rutted against him, chasing his own release, completely unconcerned with the dignity that usually surrounded him like a cloak. Levi's hand joined Erwin's when he reached down to take care of himself, stroking quick and firmly, the oil so warm and smooth Erwin barely lasted a few seconds more. Levi watched greedily while he panted and bucked, riding out his climax while it slowly ebbed.

Levi was tempted to press his advantage, just keep playing with Erwin until he begged for mercy. He wondered if he could do it, if he could reduce Erwin Smith to the point of desperate pleading. If any man could it would be he, but Levi knew it would take the sort of patience neither one of them had at the moment, and more energy than he had to spare.

The wave of fatigue was sudden and strong enough to overwhelm all the black coffee he had been downing all night. Nevertheless Levi forced himself up.

Erwin sighed with resignation, hauling his weary bones out of bed and stripping the sheets away from the bed while Levi dug out another set. Between the two of them it was short work, and they nearly had a nasty collision when they collapsed back into it.

"Going to leave it all on the floor?" Erwin teased sleepily.

"Would you like to lay there too?"

Erwin's breath had evened out in sleep before he even finished the sentence. Tired as he was, Levi fought to keep his eyes open. He needed to think, and though he knew it was a bad idea, he intended to do it here, basking in Erwin's warmth.

!

!

!

"I was dead serious about your lap dogs, Erwin."

By the time they woke again it was well into evening. Levi had been awake longer than he; Erwin could smell tobacco smoke on the air and knew Levi had spent the time thinking as much as napping. He leaned back against the pillows, prepared to hear Levi out and slowly but surely chip away at his objections.

He didn't interrupt, pushing his tongue against the roof of his mouth to remind himself to keep it shut no matter the temptation.

"Those sons of bitches want me and mine either dead or rotting in prison and I'm not going to wait for them to put the knife in my back." He glanced at Erwin pointedly, waiting for the inevitable rebuttable that for once did not come. "When you're ready to clean them out come find me again-"

It was too much. Erwin cut in before he could finish the thought, "Again? Whether you work with me or not I don't mean to leave, Levi."

Levi glared, but Erwin could see the edge of concern beneath it. "Then we can share a cell once your new friends find out you're a tax-dodging sodomite."

"If I were dodging taxes I would already be in a cell. I find that so long as the crooks are getting paid, they don't care where the money comes from. It's only when the cash flow stops they begin to make trouble."

"Which is why you're paying your friends under the table."

"Only supplementing their meagre income; it's an incentive to do their jobs." More seriously he added, "I thought you knew me better than to think I would let you take a fall."

"It's inevitable. You've always been a gentleman, Erwin, you're untouchable. The rest of us would hang for petty larceny while you pay a fine for murder."

The silence that fell should have been awkward, but Erwin had lasted out these silences before and he could see the wheels turning behind Levi's eyes.

"What, specifically, do you need from me that your money can't buy anyway?"

"Competence." Erwin said with a hint of asperity. It was the rarest commodity in the city and he hoarded it like gold. "I own a lot of the agents in this city, but even I can't afford to buy everyone. I need more dirt on them than I have and bluntly, I can't afford to dirty my hands publicly if I'm going to take the governor's seat."

"Why not president?" Levi chimed in sarcastically.

"After governor perhaps." He smiled only slightly when Levi stared at him, wide-eyed and plainly unsure whether that was meant to be a joke.

"And there are connections I can't make without raising suspicions." Erwin continued, "As you say, I've always been a gentleman." He twisted the word into a playful mockery. "You grew up here, though. You can move freely where me and mine would be watched. If I can take the businesses and you can take the streets we'll have a monopoly on a major artery of trade. We could leverage just about anyone into anything. Once the amendment is repealed we could even turn most of our illegal businesses legitimate, lobby for the rest."

Never one for small dreams, Erwin watched his ideal future unfold before his eyes. It was only lacking one crucial, decidedly stubborn detail.

"Of course, if you are opposed I will need to be more cautious. It is not a death knell, but I would rather have your help."

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!

How the hell he got himself into these situations was not something Levi had ever bothered questioning before. At a quarter to midnight, drink in hand, shirt buttoned so high he swore he could feel the collar strangling him every time he swallowed, watching Erwin by charm and intimidate his colleagues by turns, Levi was beginning to reevaluate a few of his recent decisions.

First among them agreeing to toss his hat into Erwin's business without a better idea of what his plans entailed. No sooner had he proposed his compromise than Erwin had gleefully tangled him up in a mire of politics he wasn't sure he would ever escape again. Somehow he was drinking decent swill on the good side of town in a nice suit while he waited on the final word from Erwin.

He nearly vaulted the balustrade with relief when Mikasa caught his eye, flashing the precious treasure held beneath her clutch. Risky business cooking books, particularly when one owned a respectable amount of real estate near docks Erwin was vocal about wanting to acquire. He could pass the evidence along to Erwin and be home soon after they rang in the New Year.

Levi clenched his hands to avoid tapping impatiently while he waited. Mikasa didn't dawdle, it was only a handful of minutes between spotting her downstairs and feeling her slide her clutch into his hand. "Hold this a minute?"

"Of course." Easy enough to slide the papers into his suit while she pretended to straighten her dress. It didn't lay quite right on him anymore, but if he had learned one thing from accompanying Erwin to these sorts of parties it was that the malicious old bats would prefer to mock the cut of his suit amongst themselves rather than comment on it.

Erwin could deal with these sharks and his crooked agents; Levi preferred the honest greed of the IRS and smugglers.

He sauntered down the stairs as casually as he could, making for the door and freedom. The handle was within reach when Erwin caught up to him, catching his arm quickly and practically dragging him through the crush to the makeshift bar he had set up.

"Six minutes to the new year. Surely you can spare me that long?" Though his face was stoic, Levi could see Erwin's eyes were laughing at his predicament.

"You said it wouldn't take an hour three hours ago."

"Has it been that long?"

"Yes." Levi hissed, keenly aware of every passing second.

"Four minutes. We should find someplace quieter."

"For what?" It was a wasted question, no sooner had Erwin made his wishes known than Levi spotted their escape. He plucked at Erwin's sleeve, guiding him toward it with a firm hand.

"Three." Erwin murmured, a whisper of mischief in his voice.

A sneaking suspicion took hold of him and Levi redoubled his efforts to cut through the crowd. The last thing he wanted was to watch Erwin explain to his admirers and detractors alike why he was sharing a new year's kiss with another man and known criminal to boot. Though now that he had imagined it, Levi had to concede that if any man could do it his name was Erwin Smith.

"They're going to be wondering where the hell you are."

"I told them I had better company. Two."

The hall closet, Levi whipped the door open with enough force that it shuddered on its hinges and pushed Erwin in unceremoniously.

"One."

"How do you intend to explain the two of us stumbling out of the linen closet at midnight?"

"I wasn't expecting a closet."

"Shit. Are you drunk?"

"I will leave first. Knock once for safe, twice for wait."

"You are drunk."

Between the noise and their conversation, Levi didn't hear the clock chime the hour. The deafening roar outside was all the warning he had before Erwin caught his lips in the sort of kiss designed to be a prelude to sin. Levi caught his lapels, dragging him down to deepen the kiss, tongues meeting and twining for a few precious seconds before Erwin pulled away. The crowd outside might as well have been cheering for them.

"If we're caught-" Levi began, prepared to take the full brunt of whatever hell followed.

"Paris should be lovely in winter." With a wink so quick Levi wasn't sure he had seen it, Erwin stepped out.

A single knock followed; Levi caught his breath and waited a second more before stepping out.

Unfortunately Paris would have to wait.

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Title taken from Rosa Henderson's song "He May be Your Dog (But He's Wearing My Collar)"