Erwin and Levi were outside the quaint line of old houses that had been turned into shops and offices. They were headed for Erwin's office.

"Why did you even indulge him?

"He wanted to talk to me."

Erwin was walking so quickly Levi had to almost jog to keep up.

"You're not his dad."

"And I never … slow down! Stop walking away from me!" Erwin came to a halt and glowered at Levi.

"And I never claimed to be."

"He calls you 'Pops'"

"That's on him. I not only didn't suggest it but I actively discouraged it!"

Erwin frowned down at the sidewalk, obviously at least partially mollified, but he kept his aggressive stance. Levi, fists clenched, looked ready to fight as well.

Eren came lounging up the sidewalk. "Hey, Dad, can I get the keys to the Caddy? I left my … What are you two doing? You look angry."

"Don't worry about it, Kid."

"It's not any of your concern, Eren."

Abruptly there were three angry men on the sidewalk as Eren bristled.

"Make it my concern, Dad. What even is this about?"

"Your Dad is angry because I 'overstepped my bounds' and spoke to you about Jean."

Eren's head whipped around. "Is that true Dad?"

"You are MY son. I'm the only one qualified to give you advice!"

"Bullshit! I'm a grown man. I can—and do—get advice from lots of people!"

Hange, who had brought Eren there, trotted up. "What's shakin' everybody?"

"I think I maybe need to go back to a motel," Levi said.

A look flashed in Erwin's eyes almost like fear.

"I'll take an Uber back to the house," Levi muttered.

"Don't be silly," Hange said, "I'll take you both. Eren?"

"Let me finish up here."

Levi grunted and stalked down the sidewalk pulling his cigarettes out of his pocket as he went, Hange trailing him. When they were out of earshot, Eren stepped aggressively close to his father.

"Damn it Dad! I don't know what this shit is about but you'd better apologize right now."

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong. He did."

"No he fucking didn't, Dad! Look, I love you. I'd die for you and I appreciate all the advice you give me but I love Levi, too!" He put both hands on Erwin's arm. "Please, please don't run him off."

The look in Erwin's pale blue eyes was back. "He...he wouldn't actually leave …"

"You know as well as I do how proud and stubborn he is. We're gonna be hard pressed to get him to not move out."

Levi and Hange were leaning on the trunk of Hange's rental car, smoking.

"You ready to go?" Eren asked.

"Did you get what you needed out of your dad's car?"

"I can live without it."

Levi carefully stubbed out his butt and put it back in the pack before he got in the car.

It was a beautiful clear day and cold and Eren, who ran hot, had his window cracked. Levi, who was perpetually cold, shivered but didn't say anything.

"I know you're only joking, right? About the motel?" Hange asked, looking earnestly at him and not where they were going.

"Eyes on the road, shitty glasses!"

Eren turned around in his seat. "You were just kidding, right?"

"I dunno, Kid. This is exactly what your Dad did in the hospital."

"It's not the same! He doesn't mean it! He didn't mean it either time!"

"Then why does it hurt so bad?" Levi said, almost in a whisper.

"Hange," Eren said in a teary voice, "help me."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me think." Hange tapped her lip with one bitten-off fingernail. "Here we have this guy who's preternaturally nice, kind, giving, and calm. Fuck, he doesn't even curse! But he's had two of these rage quits. Why? Eren have you seen this behavior before?"

"The only other time I can remember is when I was in school, before we moved so I was about nine and I had been getting bullied and beat up by these three kids. It was right after Momma died. I came into the principal's office and Dad took one look at my face—all bloody and bruised—and went off!"

Levi's brows climbed toward his hairline. He remembered the hospital; 'went off' was a perfect description.

"I had to wait outside but I swear I think he threw furniture!"

Hange frowned in thought and stopped at a stop light. "I've got it! I've figured it out! It's you Eren. It has to do with you."

The car behind them honked it's horn and Hange realized the light was green.

Eren frowned. "So if it's me, how can we keep it from happening?"

Hange pursed their lips. "We have to convince your dad that … that … hell, I don't know."

They drove in unhappy silence, Eren slouched dejectedly in his seat.

"Helpless," Levi said suddenly.

"What?"

"Helpless. Erwin felt helpless. Helpless to keep you from getting beat up, helpless to keep you from being in the ICU, helpless to give you advice."

"But why does he lash out at you?" Eren asked.

"Because he's there," Hange said, "and he's scared. Scared that he's going to 'lose' you to Levi."

They pulled into the subdivision and Erwin's Cadillac was already in the drive.

"You want us to come with?" Hange asked. "Or at least Eren?"

"No," Levi said, "we need to hash this out on our own."

Levi got out of the car and rolled his shoulders as if he was going into a fist fight. His muscles bunched and smoothed under his tattoos.

Eren suddenly chuckled as Levi went up the walk.

"What?" Hange said

"That 'Levi' attitude. He looks like he's going to rob the place or kick some ass."

Levi shut the front door firmly to give Erwin a heads up that he was in the house. Erwin was pacing from one end of the living room to the other. He stopped when he saw Levi.

For a moment they just stared at each other like gunslingers, then Erwin came at him like a freight train. Levi braced himself for a blow but Erwin threw his arms around him, almost lifting him off the ground.

Should've landed a punch. Stupid to let an opponent Erwin's size get so close ...

But Erwin was still. He wasn't trying to knock Levi down or fight him, he was … hugging him.

"Erwin?"

"I'm so sorry, so sorry!"

Levi patted his back. "Hey, it's OK."

"I was frightened! Frightened that I was losing my little boy but Eren's not a little boy anymore he's a grown man and after Marie I—"

"Hang on, hang on, breathe. Just breathe."

"I don't want you to leave," Erwin sobbed. "Please don't leave me."

Levi rested his head on Erwin's shoulder and rubbed soothing circles into his back. "No one's leaving anybody."