Mike and Levi walked slowly back toward Mike's truck, the tailgate of which kind of served as their temporary office when on-set. As they rounded the back of the truck they both saw a set of keys on the lowered tailgate. Mike picked them up.

"Shit," Mike said suddenly.

"What?"

"These are Erwin's. Erwin left his diner keys. He's going to need those tomorrow."

"So take them by his house," Levi said. "You've got a key don't you?"

"I do but I've got to stay here. There's a shitton of work to do."

Levi chewed his lip. "Can you call Moblit or Nanaba?"

"They're both out of town at a convention."

"So call Erwin and tell him to swing by here after he's closed."

"He's not in town either. He went to Columbia to look at range hoods for the diner. He won't be back until late."

Hange ambled up. "Hey, what's going on? Levi, you ready to go? I'm beat." They yawned hugely as if in demonstration.

"Hange," Mike said, "Will you take Erwin's keys by his house? His house key is on the ring, just put it on the counter."

"Sure!"

"Awesome! Thank you! It's right off the main drag in Evensong. 104 Evensong Drive. Big, pale grey house. Kinda looks like a beach house."

"No problem."

Levi Googled the address while Hange drove. After a short drive they were back in town and turning onto Evensong drive.

The housing development was nice, obviously older and upscale. It lacked the houses being jammed in like sardines. They were all different and spaced out a decent amount so that everyone had a pretty big yard.

Levi hadn't gotten much of a look at the house or the neighborhood when he'd left Erwin's place that first night.

They found Erwin's house, just as Mike had described it, a pale grey place with huge windows. It did look like a beach house, somehow. Levi wondered if he liked the beach as much as he did. He banished that thought from his mind.

Hange pulled into the drive and, without turning the car off, she dropped Erwin's keys into Levi's hand.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"You take them in. I ordered a pizza. I need to go get it."

"Oh, fuck no, Hange! I'm not going in that house!"

"Levi pleeeeease! My pizza will get cold and nasty and you've already been here!"

"Fuck. No. Hange." Levi put the keys on the center console and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Then I'm not leaving," Hange said. They turned off the car.

"Goddamn it, Hans!"

Hange had on their stubborn face. Levi had seen it many times before.

"Fucking take the fucking, shitty keys in and drive us back to the motel!"

"Nope."

"I'll drag your sorry ass out of this car …"

"And do what? Drive back yourself? You can't drive, Levi." Hange crossed their own arms and began humming.

"FUCK!"

Hange ignored him.

"HANS!"

"I'll sit here until Erwin comes home," they said.

Levi punched the dash. It hurt. "FINE. Fuck it! I'll take the fucking keys in!" He snatched the keys up and got out of the car. "You'd better be back in record time!"

"I will!" They started the car and peeled out of the driveway leaving Levi standing on the lawn.

"I should call a fucking Uber anyway and leave them here to wonder."

He mounted the steps and had to search for the house key, cursing under his breath. He finally found it and opened the door.

The house was as he remembered it, very open and airy and relaxed. He crept through the living room and into the kitchen, noting the half-empty bottle of Jack Daniel's on the counter. There were a few dirty dishes in the sink, not many. Curious, he opened the cabinet under the sink. As he suspected, there was a trash bin and a recycling bin that was full of bourbon bottles and beer bottles. Looked like he wasn't the only one who had been drinking. A lot. Just as Mike had said.

Levi felt a pang of guilt, but he shook it off. He had to get the fuck out of here. He dropped the keys on the corner of the counter where they'd be noticeable.

Just as Levi turned to go, the front door lock clicked and it swung open to reveal a handsome young man with long tousled chocolate brown hair. Levi froze like a deer in headlights.

The young man also froze. "Hey. Who are you?"

Small town Southerners Levi thought, exasperated. If he'd come across a stranger in his apartment back in New York he'd already be swinging a bat.

The kid stepped forward, hand out. "I'm Eren. I'm Erwin's son."

"I'm … I'm Levi. I know your … uh, dad." He snatched the keys off of the counter and dangled them. "Just returning his keys."

The kid smiled, tossing down a duffle bag and slinging a backpack off of his shoulder. Both were well-worn

"Cool. Dad leave them at your place?" he asked slyly.

"My place? Hell no, he left them on the movie set. Why in the world would you think he'd be at my place?"

The young man grinned widely. "Well, I was hopin'" and he began humming the stereotypical porno theme.

Levi didn't know what to say. A spot of color appeared high up on each cheekbone.

"No! I don't … how do you even know that I like guys?"

"My dad is gay as fuck, dude. I can tell another gay guy a mile off."

Levi's jaw dropped.

"He was with your mom for 13 years …"

"Fine then, bisexual as fuck. The man likes dick. Who wouldn't?"

Levi was absolutely blindsided. The boy's wide open air was so like Erwin. He already liked the young man. He fumbled a minute. "You're … uh, gay too, I take it?"

"As gay as they come." Eren turned his baseball cap around backward and spread his hands. "Hey, it's just bros being bros."

Levi actually chuckled.

"So how old are you, dude?" Eren asked. "No judgment, of course. You just look like you should be asking me out."

"You angling for some, kid?" Levi asked cheekily.

Eren laughed, a hearty, untamed sound.

"Nah, I'm 34," Levi said.

"Oh, that's no problem. Dad's only 41. He had me when he was about my age."

"That would make you, what? 19?"

"Yup. Just got back from USC. Just here for the week-end, thank god. I really need to get some studying done and the dorms … damn. Am I right?"

"USC? That's a long way away."

Eren laughed again, heartily. "Yeah, a whopping 30 miles. The University of South Carolina, man. You're not from around here are you?"

Levi smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "How could you tell? No, New York City born and raised."

"Cool! So what brings you down here and—hopefully—into my dad's radar?"

"I'm working on the movie they're filming in town."

"Is that what all that crap is? I wondered why traffic was backed up so bad."

The traffic had been about 15 cars. Levi couldn't help but snort.

"Well let me let you get back to it. I know you want to unpack."

Eren ambled toward the kitchen. "Yeah, I want to fuckin' eat first. You want something? Some tea?"

Levi had very early on found out that 'tea' meant very sweet, very cold, iced tea not hot tea.

"No. I gotta get back." Levi belatedly remembered that he should've said 'thank you.' Southerners were big on saying please and thank you. He headed for the door as Eren disappeared into the kitchen. He paused with his hand on the knob. "Thanks anyway."

Eren stuck his head back out. "Anytime. Nice to meet you, Levi."

"Yeah," Levi mumbled and slipped out.

Holy fuck, what was that? Had he just met Erwin's son?

"Where are you Hans?"