Conny stopped the car back at the beach parking lot, and Levi sat there for a long moment, watching the ocean.

Jean and Erwin were out there in the green waves, and Levi's eyebrow arched in surprise. The rich dude didn't bail out, although the conditions at this hour worsened with the rising tide and it got gnarly already.

He watched them as Jean explained something, both sitting on their boards and then Erwin intended to catch a wave, but his attempt was unsuccessful, and he got wiped out instantly. Anyway, the kid seemed to be doing fine as an instructor, and Levi felt the warm feeling of pride growing in his chest.

He changed in his wetsuit fast, warmed up, and entered the water. With several powerful strokes, he reached the spot where Jean was waiting for his student to return to the line-up.

Levi observed Erwin for a moment. The dude was strong, his paddling was steady, he seemed to be relatively agile too.

"How is he doing, Jean?"

"Smooth with the pop-out on the sand, it took us a while in the white water. He is tall and heavy, I don't see him switching from a longboard soon, but he's better than the average."

"Good job, kid," Levi said. His palm dropped to Jean's shoulder in an appreciative gesture, earning him a shy smile from the brat.

"Levi," Erwin said, finally joining them, coughing out the remains of the salty water, "to what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I said I was going to check on you later," Levi answered, "I see you are doing well."

Erwin seated on the board, his height towering over Levi.

"If by well you mean surviving being tumbled in the laundry machine, then yes, it's going well."

Erwin let out an ironic snort, and Levi couldn't deny it had some hidden warmth he found appealing.

"It is harder than I thought it would be, but," Erwin said, catching Levi's eyes, "I can see the appeal."

Levi smirked and broke out the insistent eye contact.

"What you say, kid," Erwin turned to Jean, "still willing to teach me?"

Jean's face lightened but before he opened his mouth Levi cut in.

"Tomorrow it's Sunday, that's cool. But don't get all amped yet, homework first."

"Yes, Levi."

Levi lowered his voice.

"Now let's catch the last one before the high tide, you go first," he said to Jean.

They kept the silence with Erwin, watching the kid surf with experienced grace.

"He is really good, I believe it's all your doing," said Erwin finally, Levi appreciated the praise, but he didn't trust the flattery too much.

"You know, I might seem too upfront about it, but… I was wondering if you want to get a drink or hang out sometime."

Levi shot him a surprised look. The rich dude was not subtle at all. He squinted before answering.

"You are asking me out?! I don't hang out with the rich," he grunted.

He caught a glimpse of Erwin looking disappointed and vulnerable.

"Usually. But let me think about that. Now catch a wave, I want to see what you have learned," he answered with a hiss.

Erwin slowly turned and paddled out. The wave curled behind him. It was a nice and easy one, and Levi held his breath when Erwin's body rose over the water. He was still too slow, but as for the first time, it was decent.

Historia strolled along the courtyard of Southeastward Rose Vineyard and Country Club, on her way from the stables to the employee break room for her lunch break. She checked her phone for the umpteenth time. No calls, no messages. At least no emergency with the kids, or nothing serious that she needed to worry about. They were with Levi, and she trusted him completely. She checked the incoming messages again. No word from Erwin.

When they had met at Kenny's restaurant, he had seemed honest and genuinely interested. And no one had picked up her interest in a very long time. That was disappointing now. And she had gotten her hopes up already. He obviously was not that into her, or at least not treated her seriously. She sighed and put her phone back into her bag.

"Historia, hi!"

Nifa caught up to her, cheeks flushed in a hurry. Her palm clenched at Historia's arm.

"Hi, Nifa! I haven't seen you in ages. How is the work as the office assistant going?" Historia asked, trying to be polite. She wasn't really fond of Nifa, though she couldn't exactly say why.

"Cool, really. Pays way better than the working as a groom," Nifa blabbed out, and Historia tried to ignore that comment, "I also don't need to be here as early and I can go to the beach before. About that, I have just talked—"

"Ymir!" Historia noticed a tall, slim woman in afar and sped towards her. "You are back! How was visiting your family?"

"Krista!" They shared a heartfelt hug. "It was… a long visit. Any news here worth knowing?"

"Sheena is lame, don't book her for any rides. Maria, or Charlotte… or Frieda if you must," Historia said, wishing her favorite horse wouldn't be booked.

"I asked about interesting things, Krista," Ymir responded and Historia blushed, "aha… come spill the beans. We have opened a nice bottle of rosé with Petra. Oh, Nifa," Ymir turned towards their companion who trailed behind them, "come with."

Soon the four of them were sitting on the shaded patio overlooking the club paddock, eating their lunch and drinking a dry flowery rosé. Historia tasted it slowly. This was a rare treat, and she wanted the moment to last.

"So this handsome stranger—" Ymir insisted, and Historia laughed.

"Nothing more than that," she answered, "Erwin walked me to the car, he has my phone number, and nothing happened so far. No call, no text, nada." She sighed.

"Give it time, he is working you up," Ymir laughed, "Don't let him."

"Does it mean you are not banging Levi anymore?" their fourth companion asked, her amber eyes fixed intently on Historia, who was admiring the highlights that rosé created on the crystal of her wine-glass. The warmth crawled on her cheeks after that question.

"That dickhead? Of course, she is, Petra. You would bang him if you could, too," Ymir snorted, and Petra hid her reddening face behind her ginger shoulder-length hair that fell forward when she shook her head.

"That's not like that. It's just convenient for us," said Historia, "I trust him, he is amazing with the kids. And in bed... he is good oof," she added fast, with a giggle.

Nifa watched the three of them talk with her eyes wide open, then she cleared her throat.

"Actually Historia, this is something I was going to ask you…" she paused, "you wouldn't mind if I went out with him, right?"

"Oh Nifa, you mean sleep with him obviously?" Petra's voice broke slightly, and she sounded annoyed.

Historia knew Levi used to treat Petra as his booty call sometimes, but she suspected it hadn't been happening anymore for a couple of months at least. She had never asked Levi about it. It was not her place, anyway. If he had wanted to talk to her, he would have done it.

Now Nifa's cheeks turned slightly pink, but she squinted her eyes before she answered, stressing slowly every word.

"That's none of your business, Petra, but if you must know he has just texted me. He is so..." Nifa trailed off, and Petra furrowed her brows.

Historia took a deep breath, but Ymir was faster, wrapping her arm around Nifa's shoulder and laughed.

"Oh stop that, you won't fight about that short dickhead, will you? He is not treating any of you seriously. Krista bangs him when she is not occupied with handsome strangers. You go and bang him on that date. Petra, you had your fair share, and he obviously got bored. Seriously, get over it already—"

A buzzing noise of the incoming text caught Historia's attention. She dug in her bag, fishing out her phone. The text was short and sweet: Will you meet me at the same place at 8 pm? E. Historia's heartbeat sped up, and the relieved smile lifted the corner of her lips. She didn't hesitate. Sure. See you. XO.

"Earth to Krista!" Ymir's voice barely got through to her.

Levi stretched his arm and casually wrapped it over Nifa's shoulder. They were lying on the hood of his old Ford Explorer parked in the Montauk Lighthouse parking lot, empty at that hour. Above them, moonlight and the Milky Way glimmered over the sky. In front, the iconic lighthouse glistened in the dark. The waves rolled in, crushing over the stony shore.

This was his favorite spot on the entire island. Proved to be pretty effective too.

"If you are cold," he murmured into her ear, the scent of her hair enveloped him, "I can get another blanket."

"I am good," she gasped in response, her face close to his, and Levi wondered again how to describe the color of her eyes. It occurred to him in the end. Whiskey. They looked like a distillate tinted with the golden-brown of a charred oak barrel.

His fingers tightened at her chin, and he made her kiss him. Her mouth gave in easily, surprised, and she melted against him. His lips pressed into hers and his tongue darted inside, exploring. Deep. There was a timid moan growing in Nifa's throat, muffled by his insistence.

Not breaking the kiss, he leaned into her body and his hand slid along her chest. (... if you want a full version find me on ao3)

He rolled into her, positioning himself in between her widespread thighs. Before he lowered his face to kiss her, a sharp tone cut through the air.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, what's now," Levi murmured, reaching out for his phone. He always kept it close in case of an emergency. The kids knew that.

On the other side, Sasha tried to explain something, but her voice was breaking with deep sobs, and sounds coming out of her mouth made little sense. There was also one hell of the yelling in the background.

"What?! Sasha, calm down, I can't understand a thing. Stop whining. What's that fucking noise?"

"It's Eren and Jean… fighting… again," she sniffled loudly, breaking into tears, "they are both bleeding… I think Eren cut his head…"

"Shitty brats! Both of them bleeding?! Whose head is cut?!" he paused, frowning. Sasha was still crying, so he didn't even expect a coherent answer. So much for getting laid. His fingers grazed Nifa's collarbone and her chest heaved under his touch. "Tell Armin to get the first aid kit and try to stop bleeding on Eren's head, you check on Jean."

"Okay…" She sobbed again.

"I am on my way. Have you called Historia?"

"Not yet…"

"Good, I will text her, and Sasha," he said firmly, "you've got this!"

Levi cut off the conversation and buried his head desperately in the warm crook of Nifa's neck. He froze there just for a heartbeat, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume. Shit.

"I need to go," he said, jumping from the Explorer's hood and opening the door in one swift move, "you owe me next time."