Author's Note :

HI!

So I'm back with the longer one now. I'm so sorry it took like more than a month for me to update. Both me and Bunny have been busy with a lot of things, so thanks so much for your patience!

I'm not living in United States or even in NY but I did a research to find possible location Erwin's office and their favorite restaurant. Since it was inspired by a real restaurant, you may find which restaurant it was though I made some differences.

And you may want to check my tag for this fic on my Tumblr, I usually post or tag all posts that have inspired me of the fic. Sometimes I tag spoilers too. I also did a FYI post about Erwin's car I mentioned in chapter 1 here.

There will be a very short flashback in the middle of this chapter in italics, so I hope I won't confuse you.

Thank you for all the review so far :D

Chapter 2 : A PROMISE

"Thank you for the chance to collaborate your company. I hope this project will run as smoothly as we've expected. Working with such a large and successful company such as yours has been a big dream for us."

Erwin craned his neck, nodded, and rose up from his seat. He inwardly sighed in relief spending two hours non-stop sitting in a meeting where he could barely keep his eyes open to pay attention.

"Thank you for coming to this meeting. I can see this project going somewhere in the future." Erwin nodded, shook hands with the businessman while showing his perfect close-mouthed smile which practically radiated.

As the business man grabbed his belongings and walked out of the meeting room, Erwin collapsed back in the seat, cracking his back because it was way too stiff from sitting there for two hours. He drank the tall glass of water sitting on the placeholder. Finally it ended well, he thought. Erwin stretched his tie a little as if it could help him easier to breathe, the tie looking a little looser and less constricting.

A fine young woman came into the room. Her blonde hair was brought back into a tight bun, loose layers escaping the bun so it fanned out in the back. Her tall high heels were echoing through the room as they hit the glossy floor. She cleared her throat and got Erwin's attention.

"Excuse me, Sir." Erwin sat up in his seat and turned around to the source of the voice.

"Oh, hello Ms. Leonhardt, what is it?"

"Would you like me to bring lunch to your office?" She offered with typical stoic voice of a scretary asking her boss, there was no swing in her voice as she talked. To-the-point yet compliant, which made her one of the most comfortable secretaries he'd ever had in a while.

Erwin checked his wristwatch before answering her question. The hour hand stayed on the 11 while the minute hand was on 6. "Thank you, Annie, but I am going to go out for lunch today."

He often ate in his office rather that going out for lunch, but it was nice for a change with how busy he was. He would usually ask the office boy or one of the secretaries or whoever was roaming around the place to get him lunch in the office food court, just four levels below his own workspace. Since they remembered what kind of food Erwin disliked, he didn't bother telling them what to get, which he didn't really mind, except the only thing: he didn't want the same thing of previous day. This 'leisure' time of him wasn't very long, only 10-20 minutes, so he had to eat, and then continue working continuously behind his desk or in the boardroom for some meeting. So Levi's invitation for lunch was something he looked forward too.

When Levi had made the lunch, Erwin hadn't really thought much of it, he just accepted. Yet only after the call had ended he remembered that he had a meeting with a client later that day as well. But to his luck, he'd been able to appoint the meeting 30 minutes earlier than its already scheduled time frame, therefore ending on his lunch break, even a little before. Erwin didn't like making others wait for him during a meeting, especially Levi, since he very well knew how Levi hated to wait and the long rant or the punch in the gut he would receive as the consequence, so he really was ok with waiting for Levi instead of the other way around.

As Erwin walked out of the building into the valet parking, he caught his keys the valet boy tossed at him and began to make his way towards his car door. He shoved his hand into his back pocket, fished out what ever cash he could get, not caring to look if the bill was a $5.00 or a $50.00, he just hope the tip he gave to the valet boy wasn't too little.

He slowed his car down, as he got closer to the red light, he checked his wrist watch, I'm still early, no need to rush right now, he thought. He kept his eyes on the traffic lightwhile looking in his rearview mirror to fix his still loose tie. The knot was now untied then he hold the longer part in his right hand placing it in front of the other part to make a new knot. The car behind him honked in sudden before he could finish it, demanding him move since the light had turned green. He let out a tsk out his mouth as the drive behind him intersected into the lane next to him, decided not to bother with finishing his tie anymore; he would probably take it off when he got to the restaurant.

Since the restaurant was only a few blocks away from the office building, he took his time, but still tried to get there before their meeting time. Erwin was so picky in finding a place to eat, since he liked a more calm, refined, and less crowded place. Conversely, Levi preferred a place with a more people, high-end foods, and of course, smoking room. There wasn't anyone who could stop Levi from smoking—people who felt disturbed by the smoke or even the food he had on his plate—, but he never protested if Erwin picked a table in no-smoking room for them.

This restaurant was actually a blend of both their tastes. Located near Broome St. and not too far from business district made this antique restaurant a popular hang out during the rush hour and lunch. Not only did they love the food or the atmosphere of their usual hang out, but Levi absolutely adored the vintage architecture of it as well, darkened bricks, the old dark wood which squeaked beneath his feet as he walked, the furniture made of the warm bronzes, silvers, gold, and decorative low light hanging lamps, that swung around so delicately. It's so artistic like the product designs Levi usually made. Erwin loved its simplicity; a single door as entrance and the large window that covered the front of the restaurant, also the light indie music that filled the place.

When Erwin arrived, the restaurant was almost full. A band consisting of a trumpeter, a contrabass player, and a vocalist were preparing for their performance on the corner of the room, orders were being placed all around, and the light talk around him echoed his ears. Because he had no other choice, Erwin picked the outermost table of the room, which sat by the corner of the huge window next to chalk menu board list which stated a quote and the special they showed outside to attract the attention of those who passed by on the sidewalk.

He raised his watch to check the time again, turned out he arrived earlier than he'd expected. He slid his body on the chair, pulling his right leg so he could rest it onto the other, from this view, he could see when Levi entered the room as well.

A moderate pour of autumn rain fell on the streets of New York, right on the tenth minute of his waiting. Its droplets made polka-dot pattern on the window, water trailing down, the warmth inside creating a glowing fog on the clear glass. He hummed in satisfaction and smiled a bit as sound of the raindrops and the playing contrabass resonated around him. He could hear the rain picking up as he heard the pitter patter of rushing feet outside and the increased yelling of people outside. He looked outside and saw a man was running down the sidewalk which lead to the restaurant while covering his head with a black coat he had. He slowed down as he reached the entrance, opening the door he then folded his soaked coat.

Erwin turned his head towards the inside of the restaurant and instantly realized most of the people were secretly paying attention to the coming man, whom he had been waiting for, including the female vocalist who was singing not far from him (which was not at all obvious). Some of the men inside either didn't blink as they stared or looked at Levi rubbing his hair with his fingers from the corners of their eyes.

Erwin did not know what kind of magnet his friend had. They had been friends for more than seven years but it was still a mystery for his logic. Everywhere they went together, people would glance at him. Yet he never had pointed it out to the smaller man. Only on that moment did he decided to observe Levi, giving him a stare, which was not less sharp as the others was giving. From the very top of his head to the end of his toe then back to head again. Looking for what people seemed to be so interested in his friend for.

Drenched by the rain, Erwin could see drops of water smoothly gliding on his black hair, which was currently clinging to his forehead. His eyebrows linked into one and his nose scrunched up in disgust. He seemed upset—though, he always had that frown on his face—with his shabby look. Erwin could now more clearly see his figure, which made him want to analyze him more. He never realized Levi had quite a small face with sharp nose before, if he were calm, he could seem almost childlike. Almost. His jawline was rounded, yet somehow it seemed so firm thus he had that strong yet mysterious look on his face, yet threatening. His white shirt was now practically transparent, with the rain clinging to his body like a magnet, scoring the muscles of his upper arms and broad chest. With that well toned body, it's no wonder women could not look away from him.

But since Erwin, was Erwin, he wasn't satisfied, still curious why the men in the building were staring.

Slowly, he lingered his eyes down Levi's body. There was a black leather belt encircling his tiny waist. He saw how tight Levi's pants were clinging onto him. He started to wonder how small and strong those legs supported Levi's 5"3' body. Levi lifted his head trying to loom over the heads sitting at tables, removed his coat, and hung it over his arm, his eyes searched for his friend. Corner of his lips lifted a bit when he had found Erwin, sitting on the other corner of the room.

He has such nice thin lips...

"Oi, how is it, time keeper?" he looked down at the chair he had set his coat on and wiped it off with the spare napkin on the table before sitting down, "You don't wanna check if I'm late or not, eh?"

Erwin blinked his eyes back to reality and chucked, "You're not late," he sat up a bit and leaned forward, "I was just early."

Even without turning his attention away from his lunch companion, he could still feel the heavy gaze of the people on Levi which was slightly irritating to him.

But this was different for Levi, the actual object of this intimidation. He acted accordingly and calmly, ignoring the silent stares from people, as if he was not under a spotlight that was currently highlighting him. Erwin hypothesized that it could be the source his magnet. His ignorance made people more interested to him. With the intelligence Levi possessed, Erwin was sure his friend realized his position but he never cared. He just enjoyed it for himself without the need to show it or sometimes acted as if it had annoyed him. That was what made him always look so stoic and relaxed; never seen too happy or too depressed. Everything about Levi was too fair perhaps, as if he found everything to be a bore and people who had not quite understood him would describe this with the word 'cold' and 'unapproachable'.

"By the way," Levi shuffled in his seat, catching Erwin's attention, "thanks."

Somehow it made Erwin escape from his daydreaming. "What for?"

Levi groped around something from his coat's pocket. A lighter and a box of his favorite Marlboro. He took one into his hand and lit it before setting the rest of the pack away. "For choosing this table," he looked out the water covered window as he inhaled the smoke, "you usually choose a table in no-smoking room so I won't be able to smoke. It annoys me, you know-" his head bobbed involuntary, as if he was approving his own words, "-but I don't mind really. So thanks for letting me smoke freely this time."

"Well, I did not think of that. This place was pretty full when I arrived so I did not have any other choice. I was sure you wouldn't want to move to another restaurant, right?"

Levi smiled faintly, "It's not that I do not want to, old man. Last time we tried that, we still ended up walking around for an hour and a half and coming here."

Erwin arched his lips into a smirk, until a waitress walked over and placed two menus on their table.

"Call me when you are ready to order," She told the two with a smile.

"We're going to order now," Erwin said as he eyed his food choice. There's a dragon in his stomach that was ready to rampage if he delayed it.

He carefully watched that waitress as she fished the order note out her pocket. Holding it up away from her face, the pen twirling in her fingers as she awaited their order. Erwin cleared his throat, attempting to get the attention of his friend he knew she was anticipating an order from whom she had been staring since she arrived at their table.

"One mixed meted platter and an ice tea with no ice." Erwin told the waitress with his dashing smile. He looked over at Levi, who grunted at his order.

She quickly written down the orders and turned to Levi, whom she was anticipating for.

"and Iced Bloody Mary martini, and-" Levi flipped through the menu for a while, looking for something interesting to him, which didn't exactly happen so he decided to put it down. "Is there any special menu today?" He asked.

Levi looked at her with his usual stoic expression, "W-we have Norwegian salmon." She stuttered, which Erwin was not surprised.

"I'll take that then."

She nodded and took back the menu books, saying some closing words before she returned to the kitchen to place their orders. Erwin could see her chatting with the waiters from the corner of his eye. Finding how their eyes were locked on Levi, he knew exactly what they were talking about.

"She's new here," assumed Erwin, flat-toned. "She has not used to your presence." He looked out the window and exhaled, his breath making a small fog on the glass.

Levi arched his eyebrow and looked at Erwin. "Is there something wrong with my presence?" He lowered his cigarette from his lips.

"Oh don't act like a fool, when you know what's going on Levi."

Levi scoffed at Erwin and cocked his head to the right. " You are acting like a fool, dickhead. Ordering the exact same thing every time we come here," he sounded quite irritated with Erwin's words, his nose scrunching up as he spoke, "Yeah she's new here, I haven't seen her before. But sure, she will memorize your order soon."

Levi hardly puffed his smoke, he leaned his head on his chair, and crossed his legs. He actually did not like throwing that kind of tone and placement of words to Erwin, but the blond's stiffness and how observant he was annoyed him slightly. He had held it so long and he thought he had to deliver it one at a time. He did not want his annoyance instead become a time bomb that could destroy their friendship.

Erwin took out the CD Levi requested from his black suit pocket then put it on their table, along with a question, "So who is the unlucky person this time?"

Levi straight his back on the chair, and smiled mischievously. He liked when the topic turned out to be about him. "He is a contractor." His long and slender pressing the cigarette into the ashtray. "Not as great as you, of course." He smirked at Erwin, "He's just a project manager and I'm going to accompany him to handle a project in Long Beach this weekend."

Erwin chuckled and hummed in approval, "That playlist is suitable for listening at the beach. And I suppose there will be full moon during this weekend. Good timing, Levi."

Another waitress came to their table to serve both of their drinks, obviously looking at Levi. Levi took the martini and look a sip of it right away.

"You don't look at excited to go this time," Or as excited as Levi could be. Erwin guessed because this time Levi looked surprisingly too relaxed. He usually would beam with interest every time Erwin praised him.

"I do not know, Er. He just seems like he is going to be like every other one." Levi said as he sunk down into his seat.

Erwin was surprised at Levi's words, just now finding out that his friend distinguished and valued his preys before he hurt them. He had supposed Levi had lacked the sense of a typical human being, but he was wrong. "No need to go then." Erwin pointed out.

"I promised him I would go anyways." Levi inhaled deeply, shrugged his shoulders.

"You said, he was a project manager in construction company?" Erwin asked curiously. Levi looked up and nodded. "What company does he work for? I may know him."

"His name is Oluo. He works for your rival, Kent Corp." He paused for a few seconds, trying to recall something. "I don't think he has met you, but he definitely knows your name. He was pretty surprised when I only said Erwin Smith. You are so damn famous."

It sounded wrong to Erwin's ears. He might be famous, but it was only to the community of businessmen and contractors, and his popularity all came from his last name which was still related to Smith's Construction Cooperation, the world's largest construction company. He was not Levi though, who did not need anything but merely standing to get dozens pairs of eyes looking at him.

"I have met him once," Erwin answered, "a few months ago, at the wedding of his boss' son. He was rather friendly, but talked a little too much?" Somehow it did not sound like a question for Levi. Erwin surely had ever met this guy.

"Hmm..." Levi hummed in response.

"You'll be fine then. This isn't the first time and you have memorized the do's and dont's."

His lunch partner did not exactly agree with him, shaking his head deliberately. "The ending may turn out to be the same, but every single of them gives me a different response. There could be a gentlemen, a mama's boy or daddy's favorite princess for all I know," a smile full of satisfaction came on his face before he continue his words, "even I have had someone who could cry a river all night long, and the one who throws everything he could get his hands on when he get mad. I never really do understand," he continued to drink his martini, sloshing it around to mix it a little bit, "and I don't have the do's and dont's to deal with them."

"But you never give up." Erwin casually drank his iced tea. This kind of conversation had been pretty common for them.

"Because I know what should do, Er. I'm able to change according to circumstances, and so can they. We are human, we are dynamic, but we rarely know the circumstances without putting a thought to it." Levi leaned forward on the table, leaning his head on his palm. The conversation was escalating, but he remained as calm as ever. "What's wrong about adventuring huh? Being curious and trying to like each other? After all, everything we get or do in this world is the result of trial-"

"If we've already known what we're looking for, why must we spend our energy on pointless trials?" Erwin cut him off. "The real reason is, that you are still unsure about what you are searching for." Levi, placed his martini down, straightened up, and looked straight at Erwin, looking for more.

Their eyes were locked together for mere seconds, which instead felt like hours. Levi blinked and looked for something else to stare at. A small cough arose from above them, breaking the silence they had made. It turned out their order was ready to be served.

"Fuck you, Erwin Smith", Levi spat before he quickly starting to eat his food, hiding the expression of defeat his mouth was making. It made Erwin smirk as he had beaten Levi at one round of their game.

A knock came from Erwin's office door, raising Erwin eyes, which were glued to reading various reports from each division of his company.

"Come in." Erwin responded.

"Excuse me, Sir. I brought the files you have to sign," Annie replied before entering the room.

The stack of papers she had brought, tucked in her arm made him want to vomit. He wondered to himself how he had survived having faced thousands of those sheets everyday. Erwin was a professional and always did his best to stay focused while on duty, but he seemed a bit off today. Something was bothering him, and he didn't know what.

"Do I have to sign all of them right away? Or are there some of them I can sign later, due to lower priority?" The series of questions had apparently thrown his secretary aback, so he gave more explanation. "I can't go on overtime today, I'm not feeling well."

She nodded and deftly sorted those documents into smaller piles based on their deadlines without questioning his motives. She sorted them into three categories and covered each of them with a sticky note; Today before 5 P.M, tomorrow-9 A.M, and tomorrow-3 P.M. He made a mental note to himself that he would finish them on time.

Annie only replied him with a brief smile and nod, before turning her body to leave the room and Erwin with his work.

He skimmed his eyes over the company reports in his hand. With the various assortments of reports he constantly received, he always was able to conclude that his company was in perfect shape, he wouldn't allow otherwise. Its stock value was even skyrocketing. The files he had to sign that time were not as much as he'd expected, but regardless he continued to read over them twice, to make sure he wouldn't regrets signing something she shouldn't have.

The interval between lunch and his drive back to his penthouse was oddly shorter to him, though in fact he had only had a five hour span of time. Not long after he opened the door, he had already kicked off his shoes into some part of the room, no longer caring, he hastily removed his tie with one hand and threw himself onto his bed. He had never felt this lazy, or weary, even with the hours upon hours of work he hadto do. Today didn't even compare to his usual hectic schedule full of meetings and sitting in his office signing things he didn't really care to think about.

He closed his eyes, covering that part of his face with the back of his left hand, shielding the bright light away from him.

The words Levi had said that afternoon, he had been thinking about them all day, they kept echoing through his mind. Especially the promise he had thrown out his mouth, which he didn't expect to bother him, but surprisingly enough, it did.

Levi poked at the empty plat where his food had peen with his fork. An unhealthy silence had arose from around them so he spoke up bluntly, "You did hear when I said humans were dynamic, didn't you?"

"Mhmm," Erwin replied, nodding his head slowly. He was too busy with his own food.

"But you're not dynamic Erwin."

Erwin was just about to pick up his fork again, but stopped when Levi had said that. Hearing Levi calling his name completely calm and composedly, rather in dejection or when he introduced him to an acquaintance, had startled him. "I meant, dynamic in the sense of changing," added Levi.

"I don't understand." The tall blond was fully clueless and truthful with his words.

"You haven't changed since that time. Not even the slightest bit." Levi chuckled slightly but then crushed the remains of the burning cigarettes he had left in the ashtray, a sign that he was in the mood to talk earnestly. "And it makes me worry a little bit."

Erwin laughed as if there had been something funny about it, but his laughter dimmed down to a chuckle, he knew there was nothing to really laugh about. Instead, he was sick of having this topic in every conversation they had.

"Look, Levi." He stopped there, waited Levi to pay attention to the mess of words he was going to say. "I'm happy that your concerned. I don't lack any single thing in my life, at the moment. Everything is perfectly fine. So there's nothing you really need to worry about, okay?" He showed his famous perfect smile he used to charm the people at the office. A smile that could turn heads, a smile that could practically convince anyone. Except for Levi. Which he knew wouldn't work, but he still did it anyways.

Levi turned his head down, hiding his face from the other man.

"But you can't rely on me forever to invite you to lunch, well unless its for business purposes, but you get what I mean Erwin." he said slowly, a small hoarseness in his voice.

"Or hoping I will always come over to your place to help clean up, teach you new recipe to cook at home-"

Those words kept sliding off his tongue with ease, like he didn't even have to think about it before saying it, as if they were memorized.

"-and fixing your crooked tie..."

Levi rose from his seat and reached out over the round table to Erwin. He barely needed to even kneel down with how tall Erwin was still sitting down. He sighed as he took the tie apart delicately and knotted it again to form to Levi's satisfaction.

"I'm sure I taught you many times how to tie this damn thing. Why can't you still do it? You aren't slow minded, are you, oh God please tell me you aren't?"

Erwin could only turn his face away from Levi, pissed off at how his friend teased him.

"Hmm...Try wearing a bolo tie instead," Levi suggested as he returned to his seat, "it is old-fashioned, but I think you can pull it off. It's easier to wear than the regular tie." He stopped talking, but pointed out before Erwin could speak again.

"But I was serious about my words earlier..."

"If you don't want to be my friend anymore, I understand. I won't change your mind if you think so," replied Erwin carelessly as he continued with food. He chose not to take Levi's words into consideration.

"That's not what I meant, you stupid bastard." Levi's gaze piercing straight into his head.

"Listen, Erwin. You know me." Erwin slowly put his spoon onto the wooden table. This had been testing his patience, but this time it was Levi's turn to ignore that fact. "I never worry about myself or my own problems because I can cope with them on my own. And you know I have no one, no family, and no lover, only you... You're the only reason I can worry, and I mean that." The stare had now softened, not of anger or annoyance he used to give to Erwin. But more longing, remorseful, and hit Erwin hard. "I know you are fucking bored with this shit and so am I. But if you hate it, just put it into consideration maybe? For me?"

Erwin's cerulean eyes widened as he heard those words from Levi. Not expecting all of that to come from him. He wanted to believe that his best friend was joking, but his tone which was far subtler, his overly polite words, and his pleading gray eyes made Erwin unable to lie to himself.

Levi shook his head, throwing around words he has had in his mind, "It's not like I am asking you to go propose to someone straight on or immediately get introduced to your spouse tomorrow. I'm just asking you to try, even the slightest bit. No matter if it fails." Erwin sighed as Levi continued. He opened his mouth again.

"Levi..."

"You've heard the saying 'failure is a delayed success', haven't you?"

There was the checkmate.

Levi took out another cigarette to light it up and enjoy for celebrating this victory. Erwin sighed and looked at him in defeat.

"I will try it."

The look of Levi's eyes were filled with a sense of pride and success, complimenting the small smirk forming on the corner of his lips. It looked so perfect almost enchanting, that Erwin did not want his eyes to look away, but felt something warm creep slowly on his cheeks. "I will save my 'thank you' until I that you have made...progress parse," Levi replied as he blew a smoke ring into Erwin's direction.

Erwin sighed on his own answer to Levi a few hours ago, groaning already slightly regretting his decision. Yet, he couldn't refuse his best friend's request. Not after received that pleading look from him.

He knew Levi cared about him, but he rarely showed it, his ego was bigger than his stature. But this afternoon had been an exception, as if he went inside with no defense, showing Erwin what he wanted to show. He'd said it all loud, without further ado, or care about his ego.

What should I do know?

Erwin sat against the bedpost. He let his right hand supporting his head, which felt heavier he kept thinking of the subject. He stayed in that position for what seemed like hours until he finally got up and trudged over to his desk. He turned on his desktop and sat in his cushioned office chair. He placed his right leg over his left knee, his elbows up on the desk while his palms supported his head. His looked at the blue screen lazily, waiting for his login screen to pop up.

If he wants to play this game, then I'll play.