Erwin solved a particularly delicate problem (A woman's husband was flirting with an 18-year-old college student behind her back and Erwin had artfully redirected the college girl out of the lobby and into the lounge. The wife had tipped him $50.) and decided that he would take the bus to the bar. He'd enjoy a few drinks, unwind, and get to look at Levi if he was working.
He took the bus there—it stopped right outside the bar—and the wind hit him along with a spattering of rain as he got out. He hurried into the bar. It was dim and warm and bustling inside, just what he needed. He crossed to the bar and commandeered the stool he'd had before.
Levi had an odd reaction when he saw Erwin. He was glad. He had actually been looking forward to seeing the man again.
"Budweiser?"
"If you please." Erwin grinned and pulled the 50 out of his pocket with a flourish. "I'm flush tonight."
"Turning tricks?"
"What?! No!"
Levi made a noise that might have been a laugh. "Well, you're certainly handsome enough to do it."
Where had that come from?
Both Erwin and Levi blushed at the same time and Levi busied himself wiping down the beer taps.
"I got it as a tip at work," Erwin explained, still red-faced at the compliment.
"Where do you work?"
"The Empire hotel."
"Ohh, fancy."
"Don't let the job fool you. I'm as poor as they come. I'm even going to lose my apartment I'm afraid." Erwin sipped at his beer.
"Sorry to hear that. I'm in a similar boat."
"Did they raise your rent too?"
"Nope. I just make shit for money and I have a lot of bills."
"Yeah? That sucks."
"Yeah. My mom died and I have a shit-ton of medical bills from when she was sick."
Levi paused. He'd just told a stranger that. What the fuck?
"Oh, Levi, I'm really sorry."
Without thinking, Erwin put his hand over Levi's gloved one where it rested on the bar top. There was a brief hesitation where both men looked at their joined hands—Levi in horror and Erwin in sick realization. They both snatched their hands back simultaneously.
"I'm sorry!" Erwin said, "I forgot …I didn't mean …"
"S'OK. I'll be right back."
Levi walked quickly to the sink. His hand seemed to burn where Erwin had touched it. It had felt good but wrong at the same time. He felt a sudden revulsion for himself, for how he was.
Erwin watched concernedly as Levi repeated the routine he'd seen him do the last time he was here; strip his gloves, wash his hands vigorously, re-glove. He went immediately to other customers after he'd finished and Erwin wondered if he'd really messed up badly. He gulped at his beer and watched Levi anxiously.
Eventually, Levi made his way back to Erwin. The truth was that he wanted to talk to the man, enjoyed his company.
"Sorry about that." Levi began, "I have a thing about touching people."
"I understand," Erwin said hurriedly. Levi took his glass. Erwin noticed that he did another odd thing; he got a clean glass for every refill, dumping the 'dirty' one into the sink. Maybe that was why he wore the gloves? To protect his hands from the wash water?
Levi put Erwin's beer on the bar and stood awkwardly.
"Your tattoos are beautiful," Erwin said. Levi wore a plain white undershirt, the thin straps showing off his powerful shoulders, and the ink stood out on his pale skin.
"Thanks. I've had them a while."
"'Kuchel'?"
"My mom." Levi wiped at the bar, eyes downcast. He had the most amazingly thick black eyelashes.
Erwin searched for something to say but came up empty. What he really wanted to say was "You're as beautiful as your tattoos and if I was brave enough and had any money I'd ask you out, comfort you, help you forget the pain for a while."
Erwin finished his second beer and gestured for another. His head was beginning to buzz from the quick alcohol intake.
"It was cancer." Levi blurted.
"Jeez, I'm sorry."
"It wasn't quick."
Erwin shook his head sadly as Levi set his third beer down.
"Say, this may sound cheesy but can I buy you a drink?"
What may have been a smile tugged at the corners of Levi's mouth. "You trying to pick me up? I thought you weren't on the game."
Erwin blushed again, redder this time.
"I'm just pulling your leg, Erwin," Levi said, "You mind if I go for the good stuff? I'll pay the difference."
"Go for it," Erwin said expansively, "and I'll cover it. This fifty isn't gonna spend itself." He grinned.
Levi crossed to the liquor and got down a rocks glass. He poured himself two fingers of Knob Creek single barrel and returned.
"Is that good?"
"The best we have. I usually do shots of Jack but this is good for sipping." He pinched up the fifty and crossed to the register. When he got back with the change, Erwin very much suspected that he'd not charged him for the difference. They drank in silence, Levi leaving occasionally to tend to other customers.
By the time Levi set beer number four in front of him, Erwin was feeling pretty good, all warm inside and content. And why not? He was sitting comfortably in this cozy bar, surrounded by the gentle murmur of people, relaxing, and talking to this blindingly gorgeous man.
"Are you married?" Erwin asked suddenly.
"Married? Me? Fuck no! I couldn't afford a wife or husband."
Wait. What? 'Husband'?
Levi was bi just like him it sounded like. Erwin couldn't help grinning.
"Wouldn't it help with your money problems?"
Levi eyeballed him. "Are you suggesting I become a golddigger?"
"Why not? You're handsome enough to do it."
Levi made that little noise again, like he was trying not to laugh.
"Tch. Too short, too bad-tempered."
"You don't strike me as bad-tempered."
"You callin' me short?"
Erwin laughed. "You are a little on the vertically-challenged side."
"And what are you, you titan? Six feet?"
Erwin coyly sipped his beer. "Six-two."
"Fuck me."
It took all of Erwin's willpower not to say "If you insist."
Erwin ended up staying past midnight and Levi had to walk him outside and pour him onto the bus. Erwin looked owlishly at Levi's hand on his arm. "I'm sorr...sorry. About the touching."
Levi, surprisingly found that he didn't mind it so much. He shrugged. "It's mostly people's hands. Up you go now. Watch your step. You remember where you live?"
Erwin nodded. "Hey, Levi?"
"Yeah?"
"See you soon?"
"You know where I work, Stretch. Now go get some sleep."
Levi was waiting for the water to boil for his tea and his ramen and talking to Rose.
"I met a guy at work," he said. "God, that sounded corny. Not like that. I mean I just met him and we talked."
Rose had been very uncharacteristically clingy since he'd gotten home. Now she did something he'd never had her do; she came and bumped against his leg, purring. He bent absently and stroked her bulging side.
"He's really fucking good looking too and I don't think he knows it. Seriously. Six-two, broad shoulders, narrow hips and this pale blond hair. And his eyes! Oh my god, they're like blue blue. Like yours."
The kettle boiled and Levi turned to pour the water into his teapot and onto his ramen. He'd treated himself to not one but two packages of ramen. He'd sparred at the gym that morning and he was bone tired and aching and fucking starving. The water poured, he looked down at Rose who was sort of kneading in the air and staring up at him with her mismatched eyes.
"What's up with you today? Did you get lonely while papa was at work?"
Levi never ate in front of the TV. He'd have had a heart attack if he'd spilled his food or gotten crumbs on his couch. He always sat at his tiny table. Rose sat beside his chair, staring up at him avidly. He gave her a noodle and she ate it delicately.
Later that night Levi laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't get Erwin out of his mind. What was it about that guy? Maybe it was his personality, the opposite of his. Erwin was cheerful and polite and agreeable. Levi had never met such a nice man.
His hand strayed under the covers and he palmed his cock. It immediately stirred. Jesus, was he about to jerk off to the image of some guy he'd met at the bar? A guy he knew nothing about?
What the hell was wrong with him? He'd never score a nice guy like Erwin. Why was he putting himself through this? Here he was jerking off again. Hell, he hadn't been laid since … Jesus, how long had it been? Since before his mom got sick.
He glanced towards the door (which he triple checked every night to make sure it was locked.) Rose's basket was there, in the same spot that her temporary drawer had been when he first brought her home. He had deliberately left it there because the couch hid her from view of the bed. He didn't want his cat-daughter watching him jerk off.
He was fully hard now, incredibly hard, and already leaking pre-cum. He snagged the lube off of the bedside table with his free hand and dribbled some onto himself, shivering at the cold sensation.
He started a slow stroke. He wanted this session to last. He pictured Erwin and, perversely, his hands. They were so big. And the palms looked soft, not calloused like his own. He imagined one of them on his cock and shivered again. The thought of a person touching his cock with their bare hands was terrifying but intriguing.
He couldn't remember what it felt like.
Erwin's hand would be soft, and warm, and clean. Levi's own hand sped up without his permission.
After a minute Levi had a brisk rhythm going and grunted (softly) in time with his strokes. He was imagining what Erwin looked like under his clothes. He was a soft guy, not fat, but soft and broad with nice juicy thighs. Levi wondered if Erwin had that same golden hair everywhere, like on those thighs. Levi would like to run his hands over it, feel the soft springy hairs, bury his face in them and inhale deeply.
His hand flew now and made the beautifully obscene schlick sound of sex.
"Oh, fuck, Erwin. Fuck! That feels good." He murmured into the empty room. He imagined the man's sweet smile, just for him, that jawline, those lips … Fuck he was close.
"Yeah, Erwin, just like that. Keep going," he breathed.
He was going to come. He could feel it, that excruciating/incredible knot in his groin. He was panting now, a thin sheen of sweat covering his chest and face. He grabbed his pillow and bit down on the corner hard enough to hurt his teeth and came with a muffled cry.
For several long moments, he just lay on the bed, gasping, before he heaved himself up with a groan and walked unsteadily to the bathroom to shower. What a fucking loser he was.
When he was clean and the sheets had been changed, he checked on Rose. She was curled up (as well as she could in her condition) and asleep. He quadruple checked the door and went to bed.
