Erwin and Levi sat side by side on the couch not talking or looking at each other. Erwin restlessly rearranged his hands and Levi kept his pressed together firmly between his knees. Eren ignored them both.

"Well, Nana's going to fall asleep in the bathroom if she doesn't come out soon," Erwin said.

Levi chewed his lip and stared at the en suite bathroom door. "You wanna walk somewhere?"

Erwin let his breath out in a rush. "I thought you'd never ask."

They stood up simultaneously.

"Eren," Erwin said, "We're …"

"Going for a stroll. I got it." He leered at them.

Erwin rolled his eyes and Levi snorted.

They chose to go down to a rarely used waiting room there on the floor that Eren's room was on. Sure enough it was empty. It was a tiny place, with just five chairs, an end table, a water cooler, and the ubiquitous box of sandpapery tissues one found all over a hospital. The door with its tall, narrow rectangular window, closed behind them with a sigh.

They sat side by side, bumping elbows then awkwardly tucking their arms in.

There was a long silence. A nurse in pink scrubs with teddy bears on them walked by the room. They could see her upper body through the door window.

"That's one of Eren's nurses," Erwin said offhandedly.

"You have them all memorized, you nerd?"

Erwin shrugged and smiled, "After all this time …"

Silence fell again.

"I'm really glad … I mean, I appreciate your coming today." Erwin said. "Eren was thrilled."

Levi shrugged.

"Do you think you might be back … or …?" Erwin began.

"Can I kiss you?" Levi asked abruptly.

"What?"

"Kiss you. Y'know, where we press our lips tog—"

Erwin leaned over and kissed him then, shyly and softly.

It took Levi a few seconds of absolute shock then he threaded the fingers of both hands into Erwin's hair and, dragging his head down, kissed him, hard.

Erwin responded, snaking one arm around Levi's ribs and moaning into his mouth. Levi nipped at his lips and swiped his tongue, demanding entrance. Erwin obliged.

They were turned toward each other now, as close as they could get being in two separate hard wooden chairs. The air conditioning in the ceiling switched on with a hum and startled them into separating. Erwin laughed guiltily and Levi rubbed the back of his neck, smiling slightly.

"Well, this is difficult," Erwin said.

"Yeah. Fucking chairs. I wish we could find an empty room," Levi said, then, hooding his eyes he growled, "I'd fuck you right here on the goddamned floor if I could get away with it."

Erwin sucked in a startled, delighted breath. The thought of having sex with Levi was compelling, to say the least. He cleared his throat several times. "Well, we can't … unfortunately. Should we go back?"

"They'll be waiting like vultures."

"True but those vultures are your friends."

"Tch. Fine."

Levi and Erwin got back to the room and everyone had mysteriously reappeared. Everyone tried not to stare but there were some partially hidden grins.

Levi hunched into himself and hovered next to the door, his cheeks tinged pink, till they all left.

Hange awoke the next morning to an odd sound. She lay in bed a moment and tried to identify it. Finally, she did. It was Levi. He was cleaning the bathroom to within an inch of its life—she could smell the bleach—and humming tunelessly.

Hange sat upright and scratched her mass of hair, all askew and only partly in the hairband because she never bothered to take it out when she slept.

"Levi?"

The humming stopped and he poked his head out. "Good morning!"

Hange stared. "OK, who are you and what have you done with Levi?"

Levi smiled a small smile and got back to cleaning.

Hange stood and stretched and stepped to the bathroom door and looked in. Levi was down on his hands and knees in his cleaning jeans and a white tank top and was assiduously cleaning the seam between the floor and the wall with a brush. The humming had resumed.

Hange retreated and grabbed her phone and cigarettes. Outside it was cooler than it had been—autumn was coming—but still in the high 70s. She lit a cigarette and took a long drag then brought up her text app.

"Hi, sexy, u up?"

[MobyWoby] "Just getting ready to go to work. What's up, cutie?"

"Do u know what's going on w Levi?"

[MobyWoby] "No, what's he doing?"

"Cleaning—no surprise there—and humming."

[MobyWoby] "Levi? Levi is humming?"

"Yeah. It's bizarre. He only evr ubercleans when he's upset or really happy."

[MobyWoby] "Did he seem upset?"

"No. That's the creepy part."

[MobyWoby] "Do you think he and Erwin … ?"

"OMG DO U THINK?! I'll txt you back ltr!"

Hange had just finished her cig and strolled back into the motel room smiling fit to bust. Levi didn't seem to notice. He was sitting on the bed looking through a magazine for set design ideas.

"Say, you wanna get some breakfast?" Hange asked casually.

Levi didn't look up. "Sure."

"We could hit the Chicago …"

"Erwin doesn't serve breakfast," Levi said.

"Well, shit."

Levi looked up. "What?"

"Oh, nothing! I just wanted to try his coffee. Waffle house, then?"

They sat in the crowded Waffle House and perused the menu. Well, Levi did because Hange had it memorized.

Their waitress arrived, shooting a hungry glance at Levi's exposed, tattooed flesh but he ignored her.

"All-star scrambled with hashbrowns and sausage, black coffee," Hange recited.

"Two eggs over easy," Levi said, "and bacon."

"Grits or hashbrowns?" The waitress asked with a winning smile.

"Grits," Levi said.

Hange almost choked on her own tongue.

"And could I get cheese on that?" He finally looked up at the girl, giving her new hope (and a small Levi-patented smile.)

"You're eating grits?!" Hange hissed, leaning over the table after the girl had gone.

"Erwin said they were good."

Hange sat back and grinned fit to split her face. "Oh, Errrrrwinnn, eh?"

Levi actually blushed. "Don't start, Hans."

"My Levi and Erwin … Southern boys at heart."

It was late morning when Hange and Levi were walking back to the motel. They walked on the side of the road, each smoking a post prandial cigarette. The day was getting warmer despite it being autumn.

"So how were the grits?" Hange asked, poking Levi on the arm.

"Taste was not bad, texture was shit. I guess it takes some getting used to." He took a long drag on his cigarette and snatched his arm out of Hange's reach. "Don't poke me, you animal."

They walked a few more yards in silence and turned into the motel parking lot.

"There was this lady," Levi said suddenly, "who lived in our building one time. Her mother was Scottish and she used to make porridge every morning for her kids and shared it with me."

"Porridge?" Hange asked.

"Oatmeal, except it was savory, not sweet. She put salt and loads of real butter in it and it was awesome. I really looked forward to it." He took another drag on his cig. "The grits reminded me of that porridge. I think I could get used to them."

Levi used his key on the door while Hange crushed out their cigarette.

"Pick that butt up," Levi warned.

"Such a bully."

"Smoking is nasty enough without used butts all over."

They passed into the room, relishing the air conditioning. It was hard to believe it was already October. The cicadas were even still around, droning in the distance.

"Say, Levi," Hange said.

Levi frowned. "What? You sound funny."

Hange sat on their bed and played with the fringe on their bedspread. "What would you say to my getting out of here?"

Levi immediately looked alarmed. "What? Leave the movie?"

Hange spread their hands soothingly. "No, silly. Out of here. This motel."

Levi sat on his bed facing them. "Where will you go? Did I do something wrong?"

Hange laughed. "No, dummy! Uhm … Mobes has asked me to stay with him."

Levi's face went through expressions of shock and relief then happiness. "That's wonderful! Of course, go, move in with him!"

"You'll be all alone, though."

"Nah, I'll be OK! Remember when you worked as a bartender in the city? You were never home."

"Are you sure you'll be OK?"

"I'm certain. It's not like I don't see your sorry ass every day."

"Such a charmer. Maybe you could invite Erwin over for drinks or … something." Hange waggled her eyebrows and grinned.

"You pervert. Go do whatever it is that you and Mobes do and leave my sex life out of it!"

Hange giggled and went to fetch her suitcase.