Erwin glanced up at where Mike was strolling toward the bathrooms. Mike's timing was perfect and he arrived right behind Nanaba in the little alcove where the bathrooms were. He was shamelessly staring at Nanaba's ass and that made Erwin smile. Then Nanaba paused. Mike ran right into her small form.

For a second the two of them just looked each other over, the tall and the small, then they both grinned. Erwin shook his head, ginning also.

He took a swig of his beer. It was his fourth or fifth (How many had it been? Had he had that many?) and Erwin was a terrible light-weight for such a big man. His head was swimmy. Yes, he had had that many he was sure. He gestured at the bartender for another. Whatever. They had arrived in Mike's truck and if things turned out like Erwin suspected they would, he'd need to Uber home anyway. His beer arrived and he put down enough money for all of them plus Mike's two Grolsch.

He steeled himself. It was now or never. He glanced over at Berner and the woman with the glasses, they were bent close to one another, talking. Levi was still alone in his booth, gazing out into the dancers, drink in hand0.

"Come on, Smith," Erwin muttered. "Grow some testicular matter."

He grabbed his fresh drink and stood, swaying a bit. Jesus he was a light-weight. He focussed on Levi. He wanted to talk with the man and by golly he was going to do it. He tacked unsteadily in that direction.

Levi's eyes had snapped over to Erwin the moment he stood. What was he doing? He glanced over his shoulder at Hange. She and Berner were still talking and seemed intent.

Erwin was headed right for him.

"Shit." Levi said into his drink. He squared his shoulders. "OK, big boy, you've been staring at me all night. What's this about?" he said to himself and a tense flutter rippled pleasantly through his belly. Maybe …?

"So you got abandoned too?"

Levi looked up. It was Erwin of course. The man thrust out a friendly hand. Levi regarded it gravely.

"Erwin Smith. We met earlier? Where they're filming the movie?"

Levi didn't move.

Erwin Smith slowly lowered his hand.

"Not a hand-shaker, eh?"

Levi took a sip of his drink trying not to visibly vibrate. Fuck, the man was so tall and so fucking gorgeous. "No," he managed.

"May I sit down?"

Levi gestured at Hange's spot. "Help yourself."

Erwin slid into the booth. It was a tight-ish fit. Levi couldn't help but admire his big hands as he settled them on the table. "Am I intruding? Were you on a date with that woman?"

"Non-binary person, and no. They're my best friend. I was playing wingman."

"Me too!" Erwin smiled. "I was running interference for my buddy, Mike. The tall guy."

Levi's eyebrows crept up. He sipped his whisky. "The contractor, yeah, and define 'tall,' asshole."

Erwin looked him up and down and blushed. He scrubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. Taller than me."

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments. Levi working on his whisky, never taking his eyes off of Erwin and Erwin being downright embarrassed.

Levi could've kicked his own ass. Why was he being so shitty? Fuck he was bad at this.

"So," Levi said after a while, "What the hell are you, Mr Clean, doing talking to me? Is it the element of danger?" he drawled.

Erwin blushed even harder. They were a contrasting pair. Erwin was tall, with white-blond hair swept crisply to the side, business casual clothes.

Levi … Levi on the other hand was different. Erwin's gaze swept over him again, hungrily. Levi was small and compact and muscular. He admired his midnight black hair that fell into his grey eyes and let his gaze wander over his tattoos—two complete sleeves disappearing into his tight tshirt and the name 'Kuchel' tattooed tastefully on the left side of his neck. He stared openly and in fascination at the snakebites that glittered silver under his thin lower lip.

"Maybe …" Erwin conceded. He gulped at his beer.

Levi chuckled. "Well, at least you admit it. What are you? Let me guess … lawyer?"

"Just a businessman although I used to practice law. Well spotted."

Levi nodded.

"I know you work on the movie set. What do you do when you're not doing that?"

"Biker thug," Levi said. "Organized crime; theft, kidnapping. That sort of thing.

Erwin almost fell out of the booth.

Levi almost laughed out loud.

"I'm just kidding, dickhead. Actually, since I'm a set director, I spend a lot of downtime planning, sketching, sewing. That sort of shit."

"That's fascinating," Erwin said and he seemed like he really was fascinated.

Hange had been paying so much attention to Moblit that she had completely failed to see Erwin's move. When she finally looked over and noticed the big blond man sitting there she squealed, startling Moblit.

"What?" he asked, looking around. Hange seized his arm in both hands painfully.

"Hey, that's Smith," Moblit said.

"Is that his name? He's a cutie! Oh, I'm so happy!"

"Yeah, Erwin Smith. He owns the Chicago Diner just outside of town. Wait. Why are you happy?"

Hange leaned way in, talking excitedly. "Cuz, just between you and me, Levi needs to get laid. Bad. Is Erwin a nice guy?"

Moblit looked confused. "Laid? Levi's gay?"

"Bi," Hange said.

"Bi?"

"Bi-sexual."

"Bi … sexual?"

Hange sighed, her mood suddenly lower. "He likes boys and girls." They studied Moblit's face for signs of revulsion. They found none but they gave him a minute.

Moblit's head spun.

"I've … I've heard of that. But I don't think Erwin is gay."

Hange's face fell. "Oh." she looked back at Erwin. "Poor Levi."

Moblit frowned, a look very out of place on his handsome features. "Well, wait a minute, wait a minute …I've always heard rumors …" he pondered a bit while Hange watched. "He was married before. He has a son. I guess … I guess he could be bi, too, maybe?"

Hange's smile returned, big. "Hey, I'm proud of you for being so open-minded." She laid a warm hand on his bare forearm.

Moblit blushed at the contact and the praise. "Well, I've always felt that a person is what he is. As long as no one's getting hurt, folks should be able to do what they want, you know?" he shyly put his hand over Hange's on his arm. Hange grinned like a lunatic.

Jean wandered by the booth where Levi and Erwin sat. "You guys good?"

Levi held up his empty glass and gestured at Erwin's "Two more. And could you take this pitcher over to that table?" Jean nodded and grabbed the pitcher of Gimlets to take to Hange.

"So, judging by your accent I'm guessing you're not from here originally?"

Erwin shook his head. "Nope, Chicago. I've been here ten years, though. I consider Ellway to be my home now. You?"

"New York City born and bred. Why did you choose to move south?"

Erwin grew quiet. "My wife passed away. I had a nine-year-old son. We both needed a big break."

Their drinks arrived and Erwin paused to sip at his. Levi bolted back a huge mouthful of his, his gut twisting. A wife. So was Erwin not gay? He'd been getting really mixed signals from the guy. He seemed to like staring at Levi and was nice to talk to but he hadn't made a move. Was it because they were in public? Maybe he was closeted. Or maybe Levi was reading shit all wrong. He sighed very quietly. "I'm so sorry."

Erwin didn't catch the mood shift. He looked like he was re-living the past a bit. He stared into the foam in his beer. "It was quick, out of the blue, really. After that the loneliness in that big old city and the cold and the traffic just took its toll."

"Why such a—pardon me, but—podunk town?" Levi asked, trying desperately to keep the conversation going.

Erwin stared at him then threw back his head and laughed. The edges of Levi's mouth tipped up. He liked that laugh.

"I basically just came to the state and spent a summer with my son just driving around. We fell in love with Ellway instantly. It was big enough and it's so quiet and beautiful. It has an excellent school district with small classes and I knew instantly that I wanted to raise my son here." He shrugged. "You can't tell him from a native, now!"

"What about your law practice?"

"I gave it all up. Built a diner on the outskirts of town—it's on the north end—and never looked back."

Jean reappeared at their table, tray tucked under his arm. "Mr. Smith? Mr. Zacharias said to tell you 'bye'" He pointed.

At the door a grinning Mike waved at Erwin. Nanaba stood petite and beautiful (and a little flushed) at his side.