It was Krista who suggested the Happy Hangover.
Erwin was startled. Krista was a well-to-do kid. What did she know about the run-down bar in a poor neighborhood? Turns out that Levi could have told him the answer; the bar was a popular college dive. Krista had been there many times with various dates.
They drove in Krista's little Honda, parking it in the alley beside the bar.
Erwin unfolded himself from the car and adjusted his clothes nervously.
"This is going to be a crappy date, Krista. I'm really broke."
Krista, wearing a warm gold, fitted dress that accentuated her figure, slapped him on the arm. "I told you not to worry about it! I'm treating. I just got paid, I've got cash."
Erwin was torn between gratefulness and guilt.
"Now turn that frown upside down and let's have a good time." She gave him a roguish grin and took his arm. "Who knows, maybe you'll get laid."
Erwin blushed up to the roots of his hair and let her pull him along.
When they got into the bar it was crowded. It was Saturday night and the place was full of college kids as usual. The crowd was generally affable, conversation swelled and pool balls clicked in the back. Several people recognized Krista and yelled out greetings.
"Let's hang out at the bar for a few. I'm thirsty for some Sex on the Beach!"
Krista guided them to the barstools closest to the pool tables and Erwin glanced at 'his' stool as he passed. He searched for Levi.
Levi didn't notice Erwin for a few minutes, he was busy with drink orders, bar orders, refilling Ymir's shots, and listening to her half-drunken ranting.
"You're full of shit, Ackerman."
"Do we have to go through this every time?"
Ymir knocked back a shot. "You didn't even go to college."
"Neither did you, big mouth."
"I was born in the shadow of the school! All my friends went there! Of course, I'm a Trost fan!"
"And I was born in Sina, the district! This doesn't stand for the school." Levi gestured at the tattoo under his left collarbone.
"But you root for the school."
"When I pay any attention to football."
"Why?"
"The kids from U of T are all assholes."
Levi abruptly startled. It was Erwin walking to the other end of the bar. He'd recognize that tall, blond fucker anywhere. Why wasn't he in his regular seat?
With a sudden pang, he realized that Erwin was not alone. He and some tiny blond girl settled themselves on seats closest to the pool tables.
He didn't know what to do. Was Erwin on a date? And what was with this kid? She looked about sixteen. Levi went to wash his hands.
When he was done and had on fresh gloves he returned to the bar, pulled a couple more beers, and made a Screwdriver. Ymir, who had followed his gaze when Erwin had come in, leaned over the bar. "Hey, Levi? You know those two?"
"I know the guy."
"Who's the girl? She's hot as fuck."
Levi shrugged and refilled her glass.
"What's up your ass? Is the guy your boyfriend or something?"
Levi snorted. He poured Ymir another shot and set it next to the other.
"On the house."
"What's the occasion?"
"I'm tired of talking."
Levi strode away and checked on the other customers. He flicked glances at Erwin and the girl. She laughed at something he said and put her hand on his arm. Levi's stomach twisted. They were on a date. Why did Erwin have to bring her here? He had to admit that they made a gorgeous couple. All that blond hair and perfect golden skin.
Levi was angry. Angry at Erwin, angry at himself. He would never find a partner for himself. Not with his shitty disorder. Not with his shitty attitude. He ached to wash his hands again, scrub them till they bled. Well, too late for that.
After a minute he sighed. He had to go serve them at some point. He walked down the bar.
"Levi!" Erwin seemed genuinely pleased to see him and smiled broadly.
"Erwin. What can I get you two?"
"Sex on the Beach!" Krista said brightly.
Erwin's smile had faded and had been replaced by a frown.
Fuck. He even looks good frowning.
Levi waited, stoney-faced.
"My usual, I guess," Erwin said.
Levi did an about-face and left.
Erwin's mind raced. What was wrong with Levi? He shot a glance at Krista. Was it her? He suddenly regretted ever agreeing to come out, for coming here at all.
Suddenly the stool to Erwin's right was occupied by a tall, slender woman with short brown hair and a smattering of freckles over her nose.
"Hiya! I'm Ymir." She stuck out her hand and Erwin instinctively extended his. Ymir shook like a man. "Who's your cute friend?" She leered at Krista like a wolf.
"Krista," Krista said with a brilliant smile.
"Pleased to meet you, gorgeous."
Erwin suspected he would not be getting laid tonight.
The night crept by.
Erwin stayed passively at the bar while Krista chattered on, getting up frequently to socialize with people she knew (she seemed to know a lot of people), and finally grabbing a pool table and starting a game with Ymir.
Levi stayed far away, minding the bar. He only came back to give Erwin another beer or refresh Ymir's and Krista's drinks. Then he left.
Erwin drank, on Krista's tab, and sadly watched Levi. God, he had messed up. He wished Levi would at least talk to him.
He watched Levi wash his hands and re-glove for the sixth time. He was close now that Erwin was at this end of the bar, closest to the sink. Erwin could call out, get his attention but his heart wasn't in it. He noticed that Levi seemed to be spending more and more time over the sink.
By midnight Erwin was drunk and Ymir and Krista were even worse than him, laughing and leaning on each other. At 12:30 Krista paid her bar tab. She looked at Erwin sheepishly. "Hey, I'm gonna head out, OK? Ymir's gonna call us an Uber." She fished two twenties out of her clutch and put them on the bar. "Here's some more cash for you. Get some more beers."
Erwin held up his hand. "No, you don't have to. I'm good."
"I want to. Have fun, Erwin. Sorry it didn't work out."
"It's OK, Krista. I 'preciate the drinks."
Krista smiled. "Here hold this. I gotta go pee." She handed Erwin her purse.
Erwin watched as she wove her way to the Ladies', Ymir holding her up. Their drunken giggles carried back to him.
Levi was ignoring them, putting Krista's money into the till.
It was ten minutes later when Levi, curious, wandered over with another beer for Erwin. "What happened to your date?"
"That cute blond chick?" It was the guy sitting a few stools down from Erwin. "She and that other girl left a few minutes ago."
"Shit," Levi said but he moved away all the same.
Erwin was swallowing the last of his beer when he realized that Krista's purse sat beside him on her stool.
"Crap," he said. He looked around for Levi. He was washing his hands again.
The bar had gotten much quieter. Most of the crowd was gone. Only the heavy drinkers remained, most dotting the tables scattered around the floor. The barstools were almost all vacant.
Erwin studied Levi's back, admired the snout of the dragon that twisted under his shirt. He didn't want to call out to him and startle him. He grabbed Krista's purse and stood unsteadily.
Carefully holding onto the bar to keep his balance, he slipped in the swinging gate that led back behind the bar. Crossing the space to the sink he aimed for a spot to the left, far enough away from Levi for his comfort.
Levi was hunched over the sink, oblivious to Erwin. When Erwin finally came around enough to actually see what Levi was doing he gasped.
Levi's hands, his beautiful hands, pale and long-fingered and strong, were red and chapped and cracked, not white like the rest of his un-inked skin. They were like wrist length gloves of hurt. Erwin was shocked. As he stared Levi flexed them, grimacing and some of the cracks over his knuckles split and bled. Levi cursed, going to wash yet again.
Erwin's mind raced. Did Levi have some sort of disease?
He watched as the smaller man carefully rinsed the blood off and scrubbed his already damaged hands with soap and a stiff brush. It had to hurt like a son of a bitch.
He searched his mind. He'd seen something like this somewhere, on television or something. Something about obsessive hand washing … It came to him suddenly. It was a mental thing. Levi had a disorder.
Levi had patted his hands dry with a clean towel (now spotted with blood) and was sticking bandaids over the worst cracks. Afterward, he pulled on a fresh pair of nitrile gloves. He turned just in time to see Erwin standing there, staring.
"What's eating you, Stretch?" he snapped.
Erwin put both hands up, palms outward in a placating gesture. "Nothing! Nothing. I was just looking for you." He held up the purse. "The ... young lady left this."
Levi eyeballed the small purse and hesitated. Erwin realized that he didn't want to touch it. "Is … is there anywhere I can put it … or …?"
A relieved look crossed Levi's face and he gestured toward the bar. "Yeah, put it there, under the bar. She'll come back for it." He glared at Erwin. "Now if you would please get out from back here. Customers are not allowed behind the bar."
