Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Happy Birthday, Levi!”  Hange exclaimed as she thrust the box toward the dark haired man sitting beside her.  Levi and his friends, Petra, Mike, Farlan, and Isabel, had met at Hange’s house for a birthday dinner.  They had celebrated Christmas a day early to separate the two events.  “We all pitched in together to buy it.”

“What?  You guys didn’t have to get me anything, let alone something that expensive.  Take it back.”  Levi pushed the prettily wrapped box back to Hange.

“Levi, it’s not that big a deal.  It was perfect for you.  Please at least open it.  If you hate it, then we will see if we can return it.,” Petra said, hazel eyes begging.

“Fine.”  Levi opened the small box.  Inside was a gold cuff bracelet, old, ancient, probably dating back to Ancient Rome.  The clasp was a design of interlocking wings, one made of deep blue enamel and the other mother of pearl.  On the surface of the cuff was an intricate carving of a man, broad and athletic (nude and obviously aroused) laying on a plinth in chains.  Their was some writing along the base of the cuff, but Levi wasn’t able to make it out in the lighting of the dining room and it also needed cleaning.

“Well, you like it, bro?”  Isabel’s green eyes were alight with excitement, almost as if this was her present instead.

“Let me get this straight, you guys spent a small fortune to buy me ancient porn?”

“I told you he wouldn’t like it,” Farlan stated, throwing up his hands in defeat.

“It’s porn?”  Mike asked looking over Levi’s shoulder.

“You didn’t get that when there is a naked guy with a boner?”  Levi turned to Mike with a disbelieving look.

“Hange and Petra found it.  I was just asked if I wanted to pitch in.  This is the first time I’ve seen it.”  Mike shrugged.

“You don’t like it?”  Even Hange looked heartbroken.

“I love it, but it’s too much guys.  This thing predates the Gallic Wars and is priceless.  It’s probably worth more than my apartment.”  Levi couldn’t deny the thrill of having such a beautiful piece of artwork in his hands but the cost...

“Woah, back up jack!  We definitely didn’t pay anywhere near that for it.  Just a couple hundred, promise.  I thought since you just landed that curator job at the museum, that you would like something like that.  Petra agreed, so we hit up everyone for a few bucks.”  Hange’s hurt look from a moment ago was starting to fade back into her usual exuberance.

“Thank you.  It’s really beautiful.”

“And of course the hot, naked man on the front was the deciding factor!”  Petra declared.

“Yeah, because who knows the last time you got laid,” Farlan added.

“Fuck you!”   

“Nah, sorry, Levi, you’ll have to stick to your really expensive porn.”

*****

When Levi got home later that night, and maybe just slightly tipsy, he brought out the bracelet and set it on his desk to study it under the magnifying lamp.  He gently cleaned it with a soft rag and distilled water.  The carving was exquisite.  Never had he seen something with such fine detail from this period.  If he didn’t know better, he would have thought it was stamped, but the crude craftsmanship of the piece itself told of its age.  He studied the man.  He was portrayed in a way that meant that he was beautiful, broad shoulders, thin waist, strong legs.  The chains and altar were confusing however.  Usually depictions of strong men were as gladiators or gods or nobles, but he seemed to be enslaved, sacrificial almost...possibly cursed.  That was unusual.  He again studied the writing along the base.

“An eternity enslaved for the wrong portrayed.  As the moon waxes and wanes, your freedom is gained but for pleasure will be your chains.  What the hell?”  Levi paused, studying the cuff as if it held anymore answers.  He might could Google it?  Doubtful.  “Someone fucked up.”

“You have no idea,” a deep masculine voice from behind stated.  Levi turned with a start.  He lived alone.  There should not be anyone in his apartment.  That's what his mind said, but the reality was staring back at him with startling blue eyes.  

That wasn't the only startling thing about him.  He was a large man, Levi could tell, by the way he lounged across the length of his bed.  His blonde hair was short and parted to the side, almost military in appearance; handsome face with high cheekbones and square jaw that was masculine and beautiful; his body looked to be carved from marble, muscular and defined; and long legs dusted lightly with blonde hair and corded with muscle.  The most startling thing about him was his nakedness and the thick, hard cock that was clearly on display without shame.

“Who the fuck are you?”  Levi demanded, searching his desk for something he could use as a weapon.  This man was a solid wall of muscle, Levi doubted he could take him in hand to hand combat.

“Hariwini, but I believe that it is now pronounced Erwin in your modern tongue.”  The man, Erwin, was amused.  His blue eyes danced with mischief.

“How did you get in here?  What do you want?”  Levi finally found his pocket knife and flipped open.  He grappled for his phone with the other hand, not willing to take his eyes off of the man on his bed.

“You brought me here.  As for what I want, that is irrelevant.  I am here for your pleasure, Master.”  The man crawled down off the bed, amazingly beautiful ass in the air and planted himself on his knees in front of Levi.  “Although, I must say, it is a treat to be in the company of a man this time.  That hasn't happened in centuries,” he purred.

“M-master?  What the hell are you talking about?  What the hell are you doing?”  The man was undoing the buckle on Levi's belt.

“Pleasuring you, Master.  That is why you called me.  Is it now taboo to use my mouth?  Are you a virgin?  If you have not experienced the feeling of a mouth on your arousal, I promise that you will enjoy the experience.  I am quite knowledgeable in oral pleasures.  Even if it has been awhile since I've felt the weight of a cock on my tongue, you will know nothing but pleasure.”  Large beautiful hands quickly tore open Levi's fly.

“Stop!  What do you think you're doing?  I don't know you.  I have no idea what you are talking about.  Leave my dick alone!  I'm calling the cops.  Then, I'm calling Hange, because I'm certain she has something to do with this.  Wait.  Are you a prostitute?”  Levi was trying to knock the man's hands away.

“I don't know what a Hange is, so, no, this Hange has nothing to do with me.  I am not a prostitute, I am your pleasure slave, Master.  I exist only to bring you pleasure.  If you do not desire men, close your eyes and pretend that I am a woman.  A mouth is a mouth, it doesn't make much difference.”  Erwin was able to sneak his hand inside of Levi's underwear and pull out his flaccid cock.  Yes, the man was the most absolutely beautiful thing he had ever seen, but the circumstances had dampened his arousal.

“Don't.  I don't want your blowjob.  I just want to know who you are, how you got here, and how to get rid of you.”

“Blowjob?  Is that what you call it now.  Not a lot of blowing so much as sucking-”

“Would you focus on something other than my dick for a minute.”  Levi ran his hand through his hair as the blonde sat there on his knees in front of him.

“If that is what you desire, Master.”  The man shifted his weight and stood at full height, almost a foot taller than Levi.  “How may I be of service, sir?”

“I want answers.”

“I will try my best to supply them.”  Levi motioned for him to sit down on the chair at the desk.  He didn't want to have to keep looking up at the idiot.

“First, who are you?”

“I already told you.  I am Erwin.  I used to be a Commander of the armies of the Caeroesi tribes.”  Levi's mind tried to compute what the man just said.

“Of Gaul?”

“Yes.  It is my understanding that it has long ago fallen to the Romans.  Then Rome fell as well.  It doesn't matter.  If that is all-”

“You are really going to try to convince me that you're an ancient military commander from Gaul?”

“Whether you believe me or not is of no concern to me.  It has no impact on my service to you.”  Levi growled in frustration.

“You are very single-minded, you know that.  Anyway, how did you get here?”  Levi looked around.  His apartment seemed secure.  No signs of forced entry.

“You brought me here.  You summoned me, did you not?”  Erwin reached around Levi and picked up the cuff.  “I am curious about as to how you came into possession of this.  It is not allowed to be passed on to a man.  Not that I am complaining.  It has been so long since I have laid with a man.  Even though you are small, you seem strong.”

“Hey, no cracks about my height.  Not all of us can be a damn tall ass tree like you.”  Levi took the cuff back from Erwin.  “You said I summoned you.  Do you mean with this?”  Levi looked down at the bracelet and the carving of man was gone.

“Of course.  Do you not know what you hold?”  The look on Levi's face said it all.  Erwin let out an exasperated sigh.  “This gets more difficult every time.  Fine, history lesson.  That is a band of Circe.  Those who possess it will have the pleasure of being in control of their own sex slave for one full phase of the moon.  In other words, you can use me to fulfill your every desire until the next new moon.”

“Sex slave? The carving...it was you?  The inscription said that there was a wrong portrayed.”

“Yes, I made the mistake of finding the land of Aeaea during an attempt to push back the Roman army.  Word of advice, do not rebuke the affections of the sorceress, Circe.  Her punishments are quite brutal.”   Erwin's chuckle was bitter and jaded.

“Rebuke?  She tried to seduce you?”

“Yes, she apparently has quite a sexual appetite.”

“She ugly or something?”

“No, quite the opposite in fact.”  The blonde was looking around the apartment with curiosity.

“Then why didn't you just hit that and go on your merry little way?”  Levi watched as the man stood and started walking around.

“Oh, I already had a lover, Leui.  How do pronounce it now?  Levi, maybe?”  Erwin paused in front of the stereo and hit the power button.  Bullet From A Valentine blared through the speakers.  “Well, music has certainly changed since my last outing.”

“Your lover’s name was Levi?”  The shorter man turned off the stereo.  “So, your lover was a man?”

“Yes, in fact, you look quite similar.  Only he was taller.  Circe was not pleased with my preference for men, so she cursed me to spend an eternity pleasuring women.  You were never supposed to possess that bracelet.  Can't say that I'm complaining.”  Erwin moved on from the stereo to the television.  “You have a moving picture box!  I have missed I Love Lucy .”

“That's it.  This is a monumental joke, and I'm calling Hange.”  Levi finally found his cell phone and watched as Erwin turned on the television and started watching The Real Housewives.

“What in the seven hells is this?  Are they dying?  How do I get rid of them?”  Levi grabbed the remote and turned it to the Food Channel.

“Hange!”  He shouted into the phone as soon as she picked up.  “What the hell have you done?  I'm not amused!”

“Levi, what are talking about?”

“The schizophrenic prostitute you let into my apartment.  Get him out!”

“I have no clue what you are talking about?  How much did you have to drink?”

“Hange, get him out of here!  I'm tired, I want to go to bed, and this joke has gone on long enough!”

“Levi!”

“Don't you ‘Levi’ me!”

“Your name is Levi?”  Levi jumped.  Erwin was standing behind him.  

“Erwin, go watch the Food Channel like a good boy.”

“Erwin? Who's Erwin?  Is he hot?  You know Levi, you don't bring guys home and call me.  You're supposed to have sex first.”

“Hange, just stop.  I'm not amused, please come get him.”  He felt the blonde still behind him, breathing across the back his neck.  The small feathering kisses almost startled him.  It felt good, he would give Erwin that, but the man was clearly off his rocker and Levi refused to enjoy anything remotely sexual with a stranger who had obvious mental issues.

“Levi, I promise I have no clue what you are talking about.”  Levi had enough.  He turned and pushed Erwin off and took a quick picture of the man before sending it to Hange.  The blonde just stared at him in confusion.

“I want you to take a good look at that picture and tell me who he is.”

“Fuck me.  Why are you on the phone with me when you have that in your apartment? Levi, he is fine as hell and you are going to blow it by being on the phone with me. Where did you meet him?”

“Here, in my apartment!  He was just laying on my bed...naked.  God, I have got to find his clothes.  Get him out!”

“But, Master, I do not have clothes.  I have no need of them,” Erwin pouted as Levi pulled away from him.

“Levi, I'm being serious here, are you okay?”

“No!  I'm not okay.  I think he is harmless, but he's definitely a few fries short of a happy meal.”  Levi looked at the man standing in the middle of his bedroom.  He looked as confused as Levi felt.  “What am I supposed to do with him?”

“I'm on my way.”

“Thank you.”

*****

Levi led Erwin into the living area of his apartment, hoping a more open space would help him feel less trapped.  He gave Erwin a blanket to cover his nakedness, and he almost thought the man looked relieved.  

“I assure you that the pacing is not necessary,” Erwin teased as he attempted to stretch out on the couch, but he was to tall so he settled for sitting back up.

“Easy for you to say, but you don't have a strange naked person in your home.”

“I don't have a home at all,” the blonde stated.  Levi started to respond but there was a loud knock then a bang as Hange burst through the door.  Levi was second guessing his decision to give her an extra key to his apartment, while Erwin sat there looking both amused and terrified at the same time.  Hange had that effect on most people.

“So, this is your sexy intruder.  You know, Levi, if someone like this broke in on me, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“I'll make sure to let Petra know that. I'm sure your girlfriend would be pleased to know that it only takes a nice set of abs and a big dick to get you going.”  Levi shut the door and plopped down on the couch beside Erwin.

“So, this is a Hange.  Pleasure to meet you.”  He turned to Levi.  “Is she your lover?  Is that why you will not let me please you, Master.  She can join us, if you so desire.”  Levi's face paled.

“Oh my god!  This guy is a riot!  I wish I had come up with this.”  Hange was practically doubled over with laughter.

“That-that...thing is not my lover.  She has never been, nor will she ever be near my dick in a sexual manner.  I would rather cut it off first.  What in the hell is wrong with you?”  Levi looked at Hange, who did nothing but laugh.  “Maybe I should watch the news.  Maybe one of the mental patients escaped the hospital.  Hange, quit laughing, dammit!  This could be serious!”

“Levi, calm down.  If he was going to kill you, he would have done it by now.”  Hange looked at the two men on the couch and scratched her head.  “Okay, I'm here.  Now what, exactly, were you wanting me to do?”

“Take him back to where you got him.”  Levi waved his hand in a shooing motion.

“I didn't get him from anywhere.  This is the first I've seen him.”  She turned to Erwin.  “Okay, what's your story?”

“Do I really need to go through all that again?  You modern people are so difficult.  You have moving picture boxes and carriages that fly, but you don't believe in curses.”

“He's dedicated to this isn't he?”  Hange whispered to Levi.

“You have no idea,” he responded with a sigh.  “Long story short, he claims to be somehow trapped in that bracelet you got me and I allegedly freed him.  Now I'm stuck with him as a pleasure slave until the next new moon, which is a month from now.”

“Did you look it up?”

“You don't seriously believe that nonsense, do you?  Hange, you're a scientist, nothing about this is logical.”  Levi ran his hands through his hair in exasperation before standing.  He found the cuff sitting on the coffee table and handed it to Hange.  “But look at this...the carving is gone, so I don't know what to believe.”

“Well that explains how you are in possession of it.”  Erwin stood, making sure the blanket was firmly secured around his hips before padding quietly to the kitchen.  “Do you have anything to eat?  I am hungry.”

“Yeah, hold on.”  Levi walked to the kitchen with Hange following behind.  He pulled some leftovers from the refrigerator and popped in the microwave to heat.

“So, what are going to do?  I mean, we could probably call the cops or an ambulance and they would take him for a mental hygiene exam.  He would be, more than likely, admitted when he starts talking about curses and such.”  Hange’s brown eyes were deadly serious for once.  Levi thought about what she had said, and he knew it would be the best course of action, the logical thing to do.  Why did the thought of doing just that sit in his stomach like lead, and make him want to vomit?

“If you think that's best,” he agreed hesitantly as he removed the food from the microwave.

“That is incredible!  How is this possible?”  Erwin studied the appliance as if it held the all the answers to the universe.

“Levi, I don't know what's best.  You're the expert on ancient civilizations.  Is there any possibility that any of this can be true?  Don't think with modern logic, but with what you know about ancient people.”  Hange could see Levi was torn.  She understood.  Mental health facilities were overcrowded and some were less than adequate to handle a number of mental illnesses.

“Yeah, I guess, if I were an ancient Roman I would probably believe that story, but as for being an expert, Dr. Smith in the archives at the museum has far more knowledge about something like this than I am.”  Levi watched as Erwin practically inhaled the food presented to him.

“Well, if you feel safe enough to leave him here overnight, you can talk to Dr. Smith tomorrow when you go into work.  I can swing by Mike's and get him some clothes and drop them off on my way to work in the morning.  Maybe Farlan can peek in on him in the afternoon during his break and bring him lunch.”

“This is crazy.  I'm crazy for even considering this is real.”  Levi watched as Erwin went to the sink and washed his dishes before using the towel hanging on rack to dry them.  

“At least he is house trained,” Hange teased with a nudge.

“So not helping,” Levi growled through clenched teeth.  “Just drop off the clothes in the morning.  I'll take him to work with me.  The museum should keep him occupied for most of the day.  If not, I think Isabel has the day off tomorrow and will be able to pick him up.”

“This is the strangest thing I've ever seen, and that's saying something coming from me,” Hange said throwing an arm around Levi's shoulders.

“Yeah, well this is all your fault anyway for buying that thing, so by default it has to be weird.  Hopefully tomorrow we all won't be locked in padded rooms.”

*****

“Now, Erwin, please try not to act like any of this is new to you.  Try to blend in so you don't get arrested or committed,” Levi explained as they climbed the steps to the museum where he worked.  Last night he parked Erwin on the couch with a remote and I Love Lucy reruns on television.  The man had claimed he wasn't tired, but Levi had found the man asleep on the couch when he got up to get ready for work.  

He slept like the dead and Levi had a hard time waking him, even Hurricane Hange wasn't able to rouse the man.  Levi was slightly concerned that it had taken so long to wake him, and his worry only increased when they went outside and Erwin's complexion was pallid and pasty.  Levi's concerns were pushed aside when Erwin's curiosity got the better of him and he practically vibrated with excitement during the drive to work.

“I'm sorry, Master, it just that so much has changed since the summer of 1952.”  Levi tripped up the steps.

“You have been stuck in that thing since 1952?  65 years?”  Levi looked at the blonde who just shrugged in response.

“Makes no difference to me.  It is a cycle that never ends anyway.  65 years or 5 years, makes no difference.  I live only to serve my Master.  The times in between are just nothingness.  I can’t tell how much time has passed until I am released.  One month of servitude and then back to nothingness.”  That sick feeling in Levi’s stomach was back.  Levi almost hoped that the man was crazy and this was just a far-fetched figment of imagination of a damaged mind.  The alternative was much too depressing to think about.  If all this was true...well, Levi didn’t even want to think about that.

“The museum doesn’t open for another hour, but employees are here to make sure everything is ready.  Stay out of their way, don’t act like an ancient nutcase, and, for the love of god, stop calling me Master.  My name is Levi.”

“Yes, Levi.”  The ebony-haired man was going to pretend that it was the cold air that made him shiver, and not the way his name sounded on Erwin’s lips.  The blonde had said it like a lover, like his name alone was his only source of pleasure.  

They entered the museum and Levi went straight to the archives.  Among the catalogued exhibits and research materials sat an older blonde man with a beard and glasses, nose buried in a book.  Levi made sure that his presence was known as not to startle the poor man.  The man looked up and smiled at Levi as he approached.

“Ah, good morning, Mr. Akerman.  Did you have a pleasant holiday?”

“I did.  Dr. Smith, if you have a minute, I would like to ask you a couple of questions.”

“Yes, of course.”  Levi sat down at the research table and motioned for Erwin to do the same.  He pulled out the cuff and handed it to Dr. Smith.

“What is this?  Oh my, the details...let’s see.  It seems to be authentic, probably slightly before the bronze era.  Ancient Rome I’m guessing, but it could be Greek.  The insignia is still flawless.  How did you come into possession of such a marvelous artifact?”

“It was a birthday present from some friends.  However, there is a lot more that goes with this bracelet.”  Levi watched as the man looked down his nose at the inscription at the bottom.

“A curse?  Most people don’t hang onto things that are believed to be cursed, but you don’t really believe in that do you?”  Dr. Smith peered over his glasses at the two young men sitting across from him.

“Well, normally I would say no, but that was before last night.  See that plinth there.  Last night there was a man chained to that altar and now he is not.  In fact,” Levi took a deep breath, “this idiot here claims that he was the man in chains.”  Dr. Smith’s blue eyes widened in surprise.

“You don’t mean-”

“It is a band of Circe.  I am the one she cursed,” Erwin interrupted.

“Band of Circe...that makes some sense.  See, the name Circe itself means circle, never ending.  This was reflective of her power.  Her magic was eternal, like a circle.  No beginning, no end, so the fact that this artifact is a bracelet only serves to further drive that message home.  As for how valid your companions claims are, well there is really no way of checking.”  Dr. Smith hands the cuff back to Levi and eyes Erwin suspiciously.

“Let’s suspend all rational thought for a hot minute and pretend that this is true.  Is there a way to break the curse?”  Levi turned to Erwin when he heard the man’s sharp intake of air.  “What’s with you.”

“You wish to break the curse?  You want to set me free?”  Levi shrugged.  “No one has ever wanted to do that before.”

“Well, most curses have some sort of loophole, if you will.  Of course I would have to research it.”

“Yes, of course.  Would you please, if you don’t mind.  Erwin might be able to help you find out where to look, since he is more familiar with that timeline.”  Levi suggested.  It would also help him to keep Erwin occupied.

“Erwin?  Is that your name?”  Erwin nodded.  “How ironic.  I had a son named Erwin.  He was in the military.  MIA for several years now.  Say, Erwin, will you help me out by bringing me some books on that last bookshelf over there.  They are the ones in the top right corner bound in green leather.”

“Of course, I will be back in a moment.”  Erwin rose and went in search of the books in questions.

“Levi, if we are still play pretend, have you given any thought as to how you are going to feed him?”  Levi looked at the older man in confusion.

“I’m sure I can manage just fine.  I mean I will have to get a few extra things, and he is not familiar with some more modern convenience foods-”

“That’s not what I meant.  If what you say is true, then mere food isn’t going to sate his appetite.  I assume you have fed him at least a couple of times.  He still looks awfully pale.”

“Yeah, I fed him last night and again this morning.  What are you getting at?”

“If this curse is what I think it might be, you’re not just dealing with your own personal pleasure slave.  Levi, she would have turned him into an incubus.  This means his appetite cannot be sated with food.”  Levi didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or throw something.

“So, you’re telling me that he literally needs sex to survive?”

“Exactly, assuming he can die.  If not, he will definitely suffer until he finds a master that is willing to feed him.”

“You know, this just keeps getting better and better.  Remind me to skip my birthday next year.”

*****

The day seemed to last forever and Levi had wondered if it ever end.  At least he had been able to keep Erwin occupied.  He and Dr. Smith had spent the day researching ways they could possibly break the curse.  He was waiting for the blonde in the front lobby so they could go home.  Levi couldn't explain it, but he almost felt relieved when Erwin walked toward him, even if his complexion looked worse than before and dark circles were starting to form under his blue eyes.

“Hey, you feel okay?”  Levi asked as they fell in step together, walking to Levi's car.

“Mmm?  Oh, I suppose that I may be a little tired.  Nothing to worry yourself about.”  Erwin slid into the car and placed a book on his lap.  It was for research purposes in the archives, and Levi noted the neon pink post-it note sticking out from between the pages.

“How's the research coming?” Levi asked as he entered the vehicle and started it.

“Nothing but dead ends I'm afraid.  However, Dr. Smith assures me that we have not yet exhausted our resources.”  Erwin laid his head against the side window, his warm breaths fogging the cold glass.  His large hand gripped the book tighter as his body shivered from the cold December air.

“The car should heat up soon.”  The silence between them was uncomfortable.  Levi found the moments when Erwin wasn't trying to seduce him were harder to deal with than the seduction itself.  Erwin was different during these times.  Like this moment, gone was confident, wanton libertine, and in his place was quiet, introspective, intelligent man.  Such conflicting personalities left Levi reeling and he was having difficulty reconciling the two in one man.  Would he ever see the real Erwin?

The drive home was quiet and Erwin had fallen asleep.  The radio played in the background, a traffic report.  It was already dark and oncoming headlights washed across Erwin's form, tinting his golden hair white and his pale face gray.  He looked like death and Levi had look away.

Levi was the one who felt ancient as he pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex.  The events of the previous evening and this day had caught up with him and he felt the ache of exhaustion deep within his bones.  He gently shook his companion, and Erwin woke with a groan.

“We’re home,” Levi said softly.

“Leui?”  Erwin called, voice rough with sleep, eyes glazed, obviously not yet awake.

“No, it's Levi, remember.  Come on, it's cold out here and you are too big to carry.”

“Oh, yes, of course.  I apologize.”   Erwin rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand and opened the car door.  The mysterious book was still clutched tightly.  Levi waited until they were inside his apartment before mentioning it.

“Bring some research home?”  Levi pointed at the book.  Erwin held it up and studied it for a moment.

“Not quite.”  He sat down at the kitchen table and opened the book at the place marked by the bright pink paper.  A photograph of a beautifully detailed mosaic was the first thing Levi noticed about the page.  It was of a gladiator, a favorite at the time apparently as he was shown standing victorious, wielding a sword.

“Someone you know?” Levi asked sarcastically.

“He was my lover.  Apparently, after my imprisonment, he became a prisoner of Rome and forced to become a gladiator.”  Erwin caressed the photograph with his fingers.  “He was successful in the ring for many years, but the emperor grew jealous of his fame.  He was torn apart by hungry lions while the spectators just watched, cheering along his death.”

“ Fuck , I'm sorry.”

“Why?  You didn't kill him.  I have known for a long time that he was dead.  I just wish he had spent his last days in peace, an old man.  But it's closure I suppose.  I loved him dearly, and we both have suffered immensely for it.”

“It wasn't because you loved him that you suffered,” Levi reassured.

“Wasn't it?”  Erwin's blue eyes looked dull and pained as he looked at Levi.

“No, jealousy is what caused your suffering.  People in general suck ass, but you just have keep looking until you find the good ones.”

“In theory, I suppose you have a point, but my reality is that it doesn't matter how good or bad a person is, I exist only to serve those who release me - from one bondage to another.”  Erwin slammed the book shut, not wanting to see the picture any longer.  He stood and stumbled, barely catching himself on the table.

“Erwin?”  Levi approached him with concern in his steel gray eyes.

“Sorry, I am a little dizzy.  Probably more tired than I thought.”  Erwin tried to wave him off, but Levi's jaw clenched in determination.

“I know what is going on here.  You're starving, aren't you?”

“Please, Levi, I really don't feel like eating.”  The blonde once again stood upright.  This time, he was able to make it to the sofa before basically falling onto it.

“I'm not talking about food.”  Erwin became deathly still.

“Levi, it's okay.  It's not like I can die.  Please do not concern your-”

“Like hell!  I'm not going to sit back and watch you suffer!”

“And I'm not going to take something that you really don't want to give!”

There it was.  So, the confident seduction act was just that...an act.  He had never given Erwin any indication that he might be interested or attracted to him.  Really, Levi had not given it much thought until Dr. Smith had mentioned it this morning.  Levi had thought about nothing else all day.  Erwin was simply breathtaking, and Levi couldn't imagine not being attracted to him.  He was confused about the situation, didn't want to take advantage, but he wasn't about to deny that he daydreamed a little...well, a lot.  

“Erwin, just take what you need.”  Levi stood in front of him and pulled his sweater off, baring himself to the blonde.

“I can't, I won't.  You have a choice in this.  I will not lay with you because you pity me or feel guilty about the situation.  Please allow me this one dignity, I have so very little of it left.”  Erwin turned his head and closed his eyes, pained.  Levi almost gave in to the blonde’s demands, but the memory of him crawling to Levi on his hands and knees made desire course through his veins.  He straddled Erwin’s legs and lowered himself on the man’s lap, grinding just a little.

“Do you feel that, Erwin?”  Levi whispered in his ear.  “Does that feel like pity to you?”  Levi watched Erwin take a deep, quivering breath and chewed at his bottom lip.  Levi wanted, more than anything, to kiss those lips.  The strength of his own desire took the smaller man by surprise, but he didn't question it, just embraced it.

“Levi, please, don't do this out of obligation…”  Erwin's words ended in a deep, rumbling moan as Levi started nibbling on his neck and continued to grind in his lap. So many scenarios flashed through Levi's head.  This would be the first time Erwin has been with a man since his lover who died centuries ago, and that knowledge made Levi bold.

“Erwin, I have been thinking about this all day, walking around half-hard with the thought of you...how you would feel.”  Levi slid his hands under Erwin's shirt to feel warm skin stretched tight over hard, smooth muscle, muscles that rippled and quivered under his touch.  He was able to coax the shirt over the blonde’s head, displaying that magnificent chest.

“Daydreamed about the sound of your voice.”  The dark haired man pinched at one of Erwin's nipples, making the flesh pebble.  Erwin hissed.

“Levi.”  The syllables of his name were whispered like a prayer, reverent and adoring.

“I fantasized about you would smell.”  Levi buried his face under Erwin's chin and inhaled his scent.  It was spicy, masculine, and clean.  Levi groaned as he felt Erwin's breath hitch and his hips raise just a fraction.

“My lips tingled for your kiss.”  Levi's hands buried in blonde hair as he forced Erwin to look at him.  He had never seen eyes so perfectly blue.  They were no longer dull and dead, but bright and full of fire.  He leaned over Erwin's mouth, warm breaths ghosting across his lips.

“Please, please, Levi,” the man begged, body tensing, struggling to restrain himself, afraid to take what was being offered, not wanting to misunderstand and be left hungry, wanting.

“My mouth watered to get a taste of you.   Erwin.”  All of Levi’s breath was stolen from his lungs as arms as strong and unforgiving as bands of steel wrapped around him tightly, pulling him forward, demanding.  Hands gripped his hair and pulled him down so those soft, warm lips could capture his own.  Erwin easily dominated the kiss, prying Levi’s mouth open and stealing inside, search, tasting, consuming.  It was a kiss of desperation, of longing, of possession.  Levi could only cling to Erwin as the man devoured him, fucking his mouth with his tongue.

“Levi, never...never has anyone…”  Erwin pulled back to allow them to breathe.  He panted for a few moments before diving in again, kissing Levi like he was a starving man.  “Say it again...no one has ever said my name like you.  Please say it again.”

“Erwin,” Levi gasped as kisses trailed down his neck, hot and wet and perfect.  Erwin scraped his nails down Levi’s back until his hands came to rest on the swell of Levi’s ass.

“I want...I want...I haven’t wanted...in a long time,” Erwin panted against Levi’s skin, making Levi shiver.

“Bedroom, Erwin, let’s go to the bedroom.”  Levi punctuated each word with a kiss, dreading the ache of separation, but knowing that a bed would be more comfortable.  

“Yes.  Hold on.”  Levi wrapped his arms around Erwin’s neck and nibbled on his ear as Erwin stood, making sure he could support Levi’s weight as he carried him to the bedroom.  He gently laid Levi on the bed before covering his body, legs intertwining.  The dark-haired man arched his back with a moan enjoying Erwin’s weight pressing him down into the mattress.  They kissed again, hungry for each other’s moans and panting breaths.  Their desire was palpable, a living thing that was controlling their bodies, pushing them closer to each other.

Erwin pushed back, raising to his knees and Levi spread his legs to accommodate him.  He quickly took care of the fastenings of Levi’s pants and pulled them off along with underwear and socks, not willing to wait another moment to see that small, pale body naked and writhing underneath him.  His fingertips blazed a hot, fiery trail up the length of Levi’s legs, ghosted across the sharp angles of his hips, danced across the plains of his chest before, once again, burying in ebony silk and pulling.  Levi’s head was pulled back, exposing the pale, graceful column of his neck.  Erwin kissed and nipped at the bared flesh, travelling lower.  One of Levi’s hands buried in the bedsheets and the other in golden silk.  Teasing, open-mouthed kisses trailed down his chest, saliva cooling on his skin giving him goosebumps.

“Levi, may I use my mouth?  Would you enjoy that?”  Erwin wrapped his long fingers around Levi’s arousal, pumping him slowly, but confidently.  

“Oh god yes!  Erwin, just do something!”  Levi’s back was arched sharply, desperately seeking pleasure from the man above him.  A slight shift in weight was the only warning Levi received before that hot, wet mouth descended on his erection, slowly sucking him in, taking him to the hilt.  “Oh shit,” Levi gasped as Erwin swallowed around his cock, throat tightening around the sensitive head.  The blonde head pulled back, sucking, cheeks hollowing.  He swirled his tongue around the tip, licking up the precome, before sinking down again until his nose touched the dark hair at the base of Levi’s cock.  Erwin held tightly to the man’s hips, encouraging him to thrust up into the the tight circle of his mouth, moaning around the flesh in his mouth every time Levi did so.  Erwin bobbed his head a few times before pulling off completely and looking into piercing gray eyes.

“Fuck my mouth, Levi.  Use me,”  Erwin panted, obviously turned on by the thought of Levi doing just that.  Levi grabbed a fist full of blonde hair and forced Erwin’s mouth back on his cock, pushing him down all the way to the root.  He pulled Erwin up a little before he started thrusting his hips into that waiting mouth.  He groaned at the sight of his erection slipping past red, swollen lips and into that waiting, hungry mouth.  Levi quickly established a rhythm  and looked at Erwin in the eyes as he fucked the man’s mouth without shame, without abandon.

“Erwin, I’m close.  So close,” he whispered breathlessly.  Erwin nodded, encouraging, giving permission, waiting.  Levi’s hips started moving erratically, chasing after his release.  The blonde moaned and the vibrations set Levi off.  He came, gasping for air, not anticipating the intensity of his orgasm.  He spilled down Erwin’s throat and the blonde sucked and licked as him hungrily, milking him dry.  Levi’s body shuddered uncontrollably until came down from his high, trembling in Erwin’s arms.  The larger man held him, stroking his hair until the tremors stopped.  The last thing Levi remembered was Erwin tucking him in the bed and laying beside him before he passed out, world fading to black.

Chapter Text

The camp was easy to locate.  They really hadn’t tried to conceal themselves after all.  All he had to do now was locate the tent of the commander. Get in, kill the target, get out, and get paid.  He didn't like doing business with the Romans, but coin was coin, and that meant food in his belly.

The commander’s tent was a little tricky to sneak into, but he managed to sneak in without being noticed.  The man lay naked on his stomach along the far wall of the tent, fast asleep. He approached, dagger in hand, ready to strike.  His footsteps were measured and even to prevent the slightest of sounds. So concentrated he was on his approach that he didn't feel when his feet got swept out from under him.  He didn't realize he had been discovered until he was flat on his back with a naked Gaul on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

“Roman assassins are getting more beautiful every day.  Though, I believe you are to seduce me before you try to kill me.”  The man had the nerve to laugh at him.

“Are you Hariwini, Commander of this army?”  He spat.

“So I have gained a reputation.  Yes, I am he. So, which Roman noble do you call master?  I would like to watch his lands burn.” Amusement and anger danced in eyes the same color as the sea of his homeland.  Never had he seen eyes that color, nor had he seen hair the same shade of gold as the sun. The Gaul was exotic, unexpectedly beautiful, but he was here for murder, and all men bled red.

“I have no master.  I am a servant only to those with the most coin to offer.  And right now the payment for your head offers the largest bounty.”

“Then it is a shame that it will remain attached to my neck. Tell me, assassin, what would be your fate should you return unsuccessful?”  He tried to struggle out of the Gaul’s iron grip.

“Death, as you very well know.  Boiling me in oil seemed to be the preferred method.”

“Gruesome.  What is your name?”  He snorted in response.  The crushing grip on his wrist became tighter, painful.  “Your name, assassin, or I will call out for my guard and boiling oil will sound positively heavenly in comparison to what Michael will do to you.”

“Leui.”

“Leui.  Now I have a proposition for you...join my army.  Help me push back Roman armies intent on destroying us.  I will not be able to give you riches, but I can provide necessities.  Yield to me. Lend me your strength and skill.”

“What would I get in return, other than necessities?  Abandon my duty for what? A clean bed?”

“How about my bed?  Offer me your loyalty, and I will offer you my devotion.  I will be your lover,” the Gaul whispered in his ear, warm breath giving rise to goosebumps on his flesh.

“What makes you think I want a lover?”  A shift in the weight above him had him biting back a moan.

“Because you have been aroused since I first held you down.”  He couldn't deny it. And when Hariwini started rolling his hips, causing delicious friction against his arousal, he wasn't about to deny it.  “Which do you choose, Leui? I do wish to keep you.”

“Fine.  You have me. Now are you going t take me, or are you all talk?”  

“Take you, Leui?  I’m going to completely devour you.”  The man with hair and skin like the sun and eyes like like the sea proceeded to do just that.

Levi woke a couple hours later with a start.  He was alone and the room was quiet except for the text notification from his phone that woke him.  He heard some voices from the living room and deduced that Erwin must be watching television. He sat up, limbs feeling heavy and relaxed.  He ran a hand through his hair as he reflected on what had happened earlier. Erwin had not been kidding when he said that he was talented. Now Levi wondered how he was supposed to act around the blonde.  Did he have to wait until Erwin was hungry again? Could he initiate at any time? Was this the right thing to do? So many questions…

His phone buzzed again, reminding him of a message that he had not read.  He grabbed his phone and opened the message. It was from Dr. Smith advising him that he sent an email.  He explained it was a lengthy attachment, so it was best viewed on a computer. Curiosity about the email overrode his anxiety of seeing Erwin again, so he got out of bed and put on a pair of pajama pants.  He entered the living room to see Hange and Mike trying to teach Erwin how to play Call of Duty.

“Not that button!  Don’t listen to Hange.  That's the grenade. You're going to blow yourself up.”  Mike was sitting beside Erwin in the floor trying to help him navigate the buttons on the controller while Hange was taking advantage of his ignorance of gaming consoles to steer him wrong.

“What the hell are you doing?”  Levi asked as he turned on his laptop.

“Teaching Erwin how to be a gamer,” Hange stated as she got up and looked over Levi’s shoulder as he opened his email.

“Hange and Mike took me to an indoor market and purchased me some clothing.  I told them that they did not need to do so.” Erwin had his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth as he viciously punched buttons on the controller.

“You what?  When did this happen?”

“While you were asleep, obviously,” Mike stated calmly.

“How are you even involved in any of this?”  Levi started downloading the email attachment.

“Well, I did find it awfully suspicious that you needed to borrow some of my clothes.  I mean, I am over a foot taller and outweigh you by like seventy pounds. So, I was curious.  Hange mentioned that she was coming back this evening to check on you, so I asked if I could tag along.”  He pointed at the screen. “Right there. That’s the checkpoint.”

“More like you kidnapped me!”  Hange yelled. “Hey, that almost looks like Erwin.”  She said laying her head on Levi’s shoulder.

“That’s because it is.”  Levi pushed her face until she moved.

“Anyway, it is winter and he’s here for a month.  He needs more than a couple of my hand-me-downs. We went to that consignment shop a couple of blocks down and got him a few things, like a warm coat and a pair of shoes that actually fit.  I put the clothes in the wash.” Mike stood up as Game Over flashed on the television screen. “Okay, Commander, you died. Time to call it a night.” Mike patted Erwin on the shoulder as he went over to the kitchen counter where Levi and Hange were parked looking at the laptop.

“Hey, Erwin!  You’re famous...well, infamous.”  Hange scratched her head.

“What do you mean?”

“It seems that Dr. Smith found some mentions of you documented by Rome.  You were a wanted man. It says here that many assassins were sent to kill you.”  Erwin smiled at the discovery. “Did your lover happen to be one of those potential assassins?”  Levi asked.

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“I think I dreamed about it.”  Levi yawned and rubbed his eyes.  “Regardless, it's a lead. Maybe we can follow it and find out how to break this curse.  Dr. Smith is contacting one of his colleagues, Keith Shadis. He is in Italy, so maybe he can find something as well.”

“So, it's true.  He really is cursed and not crazy.”  Hange looked almost disappointed. “How did you figure it out?”  Levi blushed.

“Yes, Levi, how did you find out?”  The look on Mike's face as he teased said that he suspected.

“Some secrets are not meant to be revealed,” Erwin said as he joined them.  Levi felt more than his face heat as the man approached. He remembered the taste of his lips, the strength of his hands, the weight of his body.  Erwin's eyes turned dark, predatory, as if he could tell what Levi was thinking.

“Fine, let the scientist die of curiosity,” Hange stated dramatically.

“Curiosity killed the cat, four-eyes.”

“Good thing cats have nine lives,” she countered.

“You're about ready to lose one.  Petra just sent me a text. Something about a date.”  Levi looked at his phone, scrolling through the frantic texts from Petra worried that her girlfriend might be lying dead in a ditch.

“Oh shit! I forgot.  Mike you have to take me to Cafe Maria stat!”  She didn't give the giant man any time to respond before she started pulling him from Levi's apartment.

“I do hope she doesn't get in too much trouble on my account,” Erwin said with a smile as he watched them go.

“Petra's used to it.  This is hardly the first time Hange gets so caught up in something that she forgets what she is supposed to be doing.”  Levi kept reading about Erwin's conquests and battles as told by the Romans. He wasn't painted in a very flattering light.  He was said to be a monster, bloodthirsty, no beating heart in his chest. It was hard to imagine, this gentle giant of a man as bloodthirsty and cruel.

“Most of that is likely true,” Erwin said, pointing at the screen.  “I gave not an inkling of compassion for my enemy.”

“I'm not worried about it.  War isn't exactly the place for warm fuzzies.  It's just interesting to see both sides I guess.”  Levi sighed and closed the laptop. Erwin looked at the machine with curiosity, but almost seemed too embarrassed to ask about it.

“So, tell me, what is your side?”  Levi studied the man, this stranger.  In some ways, being around Erwin caused him great anxiety.  However, there were times that his presence felt familiar, comfortable, like an old shoe.  Then, there was the way he touched him, like a long-time lover. He knew Levi's body, how to stoke the fire within his veins, making him burn and ache and want.  In some ways, Erwin knew Levi better than he knew himself.

“My side?  Too early to tell.”  A blonde eyebrow raised, questioning the truth in his words.  

“Are you hungry?”  Erwin finally asked, changing the subject that was obviously uncomfortable for Levi.  Levi felt desire pool in his stomach immediately. The thought of Erwin feeding again...to have his hands and mouth on his body again.  Levi briefly wondered what had gotten into him. He enjoyed sex, sure, but he never craved it like he was now. Before he could take it or leave it, now, after one blowjob, he felt needy, desperate.

“I guess.  If you are.”  It was almost embarrassing how his voice came out raw with arousal.  Erwin had already turned away, shuffling in the kitchen. The tone of Levi's voice had him turning quickly.

“I was going to offer you a sandwich as Mike had picked some up while we were out, but if you want something a little more carnal , I am more than happy to oblige.”  Levi's stomach growled loudly in response and Erwin laughed.  “Maybe a sandwich first then.”

“What happens now?  Do you have to feed a certain amount of times, several times a day?  Can you feed too much? Do I have to wait until you're hungry before we…”

“Levi, you are thinking about this too hard.  If you want, we will. If you don't, we won't.  It is that simple. I am here for you.” Erwin punctuated his point by putting a sandwich in front of Levi.

“I don't want you to feel like you're fulfilling some duty.  I want you to want-”

“Levi,” Erwin interrupted.  “Make no mistake...I want you.  This is coming from someone whose whole existence is to pleasure others sexually.  The novelty wears off and I don't get to choose who I serve. So, when I told you earlier that I haven't truly wanted someone in a long time, I meant it.”

“Okay.  Did you have a sandwich?”  Levi took a bite out of his as Erwin shuffled around, cleaning up the video games.

“Yes.”  Erwin studied Levi for a moment.  The man was absently eating his sandwich, obviously lost in thought.  “Levi, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I guess I still can’t wrap my head around all this.  I just…” Levi rubbed his hand down his face. “I just hate that you have endured this for centuries...centuries, Erwin!”

“I am aware.  What other choice do I have?”

“I'm going to fix this.  It's not right. No one should have to go through this.  I will do what I can to break this curse.” A shadow of sorrow passed through Erwin's eyes as Levi made his declaration.

“That is very kind of you, Levi.  You are the first who has ever cared enough to know the truth of my existence.  That means a lot to me. But please, do not torture yourself if you cannot find the answer.  Promise me that you will not feel guilty when the curse cannot be broken and this all ends. When this is over, please just forget I even existed.”  Levi stood and walked over to Erwin. The blonde’s eyes flashed with emotion, and he looked away, hiding his vulnerability.

“How?  It’s not like I have this type of experience often.  You are rather unique,” Levi said as he wrapped his arms around Erwin’s waist.  He had attempted to lighten the mood, but his tone held a hint of longing.

Before Erwin could respond, Levi’s front door slammed open, causing the two men to jump apart in surprise.  Hange stormed in, followed by Mike and Petra.

“I thought you had a date.  Why are you here?” Levi asked.

“Petra was outside waiting on me.  Anyway, I had an epiphany!”

“Oh, god, I don’t think I’m awake enough for this,” Levi groaned.

“Hi, I’m Petra,” she introduced herself to Erwin as if she was greeting a business contact and not an ancient warrior-turned-sex-slave.  “Hange was right, you are Levi’s type.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Petra.  I’m Erwin.”

“What do you mean my type?  I don’t have a type,” Levi spat.

“Tall and blonde, that’s your type,” Petra countered.

“If that was the case, I would fuck Mike,” Levi said with a gesture to the man in question.

“No thanks.  I’m kinda into blondes myself, and, well, just friendlier people in general.”  Mike grinned.

“Fuck you,”. Levi growled.

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Are we all going to ignore the fact that I have a brilliant idea?”  Hange interjected.

“YES!”  Mike, Petra, and Levi said in unison.

“Bitches, the whole lot of you,” Hange huffed.

“I would be delighted to hear your plan, Hange,” Erwin consoled.

“Fine, only because it’s you who is asking.”  Hange shot a scathing look to the other three.  “I think we should go back to the antique shop where we purchased the cuff and speak to the owner.  Maybe we can get an idea of where it came from.”

“That’s actually a good idea, shit glasses,” Levi said after a moment to soak in what his friend had suggested.

“You know, you’re a real dick,” Hange muttered.

“Yeah but you love me.”

“You forget, I have been anti-dick since I was thirteen,” Hange reminded.

“Yes, how I can forget.  Poor Moblit Berner, you broke the poor fucker’s heart when you started dating his cousin, Nifa, in high school.”

“Pfft, Moblit is fine.  I just talked to him the other day.”

“Poor bastard, still hanging on,” Mike interjected.

“He is my research assistant!”  Hange attempted to defend herself.

“Can we please quit harassing the Hange and discuss her plan?”  Erwin’s voice came from behind Levi, and was his only warning before the large blonde pressed himself to Levi’s back, wrapping his arms around the smaller man’s waist.  Levi stiffened and blushed, not expecting the intimate contact in front of everyone.

“Aren’t you two just so sweet?”  Petra squealed, snapping a picture with her phone.  “Want me to send it to you?” She asked with a wiggle of phone.

“Actually, I do,” Levi answered, surprising Petra and himself.

“Okay, enough of the sappy, saccharine sweetness...the Hange is plotting,” Hange stated.  “Maybe if we find out who last owned the cuff, maybe we could find out what instructions were given when it was passed to the new owner.”

“Marie Dok,” Erwin spoke quietly.  “The last owner was Marie Dok.”

“Isn’t that who owns the antique store?  I mean, I think it’s her granddaughter who runs it, but I’m pretty sure she’s still alive.”  Petra’s pretty hazel eyes were distant with contemplation.

“Only one way to find out,” Hange announced.  “We shall descend upon the antique store on the morrow and seek answers.  We will not relent until we get what we require!”

“You are an idiot,” Levi deadpanned.

“Count me in!” Petra pounded her fist in her palm.

“Sorry, guys, I can’t tag along, I’m out of town on a job until Friday.”  Mike hardly looked remorseful, nor did he sound disappointed.

“We need to see if Farlan and Isabel want to join in.”

“Hange, don’t you think it’s overkill?  You and Petra make sense because you two picked out the damn thing, but let’s try not to make this weirder than it already is.”

“Fine, no Farlan and Isabel, but you know they will be mad that they were kept out of the loop.”  

“Who are Farlan and Isabel?” Erwin asked in Levi’s ear, whispered words almost like a lover’s caress, sending shivers down his spine.

“Friends, since childhood.”  Levi couldn’t hide his blush brought by Erwin’s proximity, and he could sense three pairs of knowing eyes trained on the telling coloring of his cheeks.

“Well, we will go tomorrow at lunch, so no one has to miss work. We need to go on home.  Let’s leave the two lovebirds alone so they can get some rest.” Petra’s attempt to be clever and nonchalant fell terribly flat.

“God, Petra, just announce it to the neighborhood that Levi is getting laid tonight,” Mike chuckled as he walked to the door.

“What?  You idiots are giving me a headache.  Get out of my apartment,” Levi growled as he started pushing them to the door.

“What does this phrase mean, ‘getting laid?’  I’m still not familiar with your more modern phrasing.”  Erwin’s confusion was almost adorable, but Levi’s ire prevented him from noticing.

“Oh, that means that you two are going to do the nasty,” Hange stated .  Erwin blinked in confusion.

“The horizontal tango,” Mike offered.

“Get naughty,” Petra giggled.

“Bow-chick-a-wow-wow,” Hange sing-songed.

“Bumping uglies,” Mike offered.

“Fucking! Damn it all, they mean we’re going to fuck,” Levi shouted as he opened the door to kick them out.  His upstairs neighbor, Mr. Pixis, just happened to be walking past. The old man smiled.

“Well, Levi, my boy, have fun, but remember to be safe.  Don’t want to get something Comet won’t scrub off, you know.”  The old man’s eyes danced with amusement.

“Yes, of course, I’ll keep it in mind, sir,” Levi said humbly, embarrassment flushing his cheeks.  He waited until he heard the old man’s door shut before turning on his friends. “Thank you for that, you crazy fucks.”

“No need to get mad at us.  You’re the one who was shouting,” Hange pointed out.

“Go away.  Don’t go away mad, just go away.”

“Goodnight, Erwin!”  Petra yelled out Levi’s shoulder.

“Goodnight, Ms. Petra.”

“Don’t keep Levi up too late.  He needs his beauty sleep,” Hange added, earning an elbow to the ribs.

“I’m afraid I cannot make any promises in that regard.  I only exist to please my Master, in whatever way he sees fit, even if it takes all night.”  Erwin’s voice was deep, smoky, and laced with carnal promises that left Levi momentarily stunned and slightly aroused.

“Too much information,” Mike sighed.  “I’m going home before my poor innocent eyes see something that can’t be unseen.”

“Innocent my ass, Zacharias.  Don’t forget that I have walked in on many of your more questionable exploits...like that threesome back in college,” Levi was quick to point out.

“We agreed never to speak of my shameful past,” Mike mock-whispered.

“Shameful?  That was practically a rite of passage in Rome,” said Erwin, nonchalantly.  All four of them looked at the blonde, mouths agape.

“Wow,” Hange muttered.  “He looks so straight-laced, I wouldn’t have guessed he would be the type.”  

Levi stayed silent, not trusting himself to say anything at all.  He didn’t know why, but the knowledge of Erwin’s more deviant sexual exploits bothered him.  His gut twisted with an emotion that he refused to admit was jealousy. He had no claim to the man.  Hell, his ancestors hadn’t even been born when that had happened. He had never been jealous of any of his past partners ex-lovers before.  Erwin would be gone in a month anyway. No, he couldn’t think like that. He had to believe that he would be able to save Erwin.

“Don’t look at me in such a manner.  I am a pleasure slave, bound to the whims of my master.  Romans had a great appetites for many things, including sexual activities.”  Erwin had the presence of mind to blush, and Levi’s jealousy melted into sympathy.

“You know, this has been a riot, but on that slightly depressing note, I really am going home,” Mike stated.  He looked squarely at Erwin. “I know you try to make light of your... situation , but what you have to go through isn’t right.  I don’t care what anyone else says, even you. You can admit that you hate it.  No one here would blame you.”

“Normally I would, but, this time, I find that I am enjoying my captivity...or at least my Master.”

“Yup, really going now.  See you weirdos tomorrow.”  Petra waved and grabbed Hange by the arm before she could say anything, Mike trailing silently behind.  Levi shut and locked the door behind them. (Not that it could keep Hange out as she had a damn key.)

Levi sighed and let his head fall against the door with a soft thud.  His friends were so exhausting. Why were they his friends again? Oh, yeah, he was a nasty little fuck who didn’t play well with others.

“Levi.”  Erwin’s voice was a just a warm, soft breath at the back of his neck.  His name was spoken so softly in adoration that Levi couldn’t be certain that Erwin had said it at all.

“What, Erwin?”

“Look at me.” Levi turned so he could look up at the other man.

“What?  What do you want?” he snapped.

“I want to know what is troubling you.  You have been strangely distant since you woke.”  Concern was evident in those fathomless blue eyes and Levi had to look away.

“I’m sorry if I still have trouble wrapping my head around all of this.  I didn’t ask for any of this!”

“I see.  I knew that I should not have given in to you.  You were against this, and it was foolish of me to believe you had changed your mind.  I may have done many terrible things in my past, but I have never taken an unwilling lover.”  Erwin pushed away from Levi.

“I told you I wanted it and I meant it!  It’s just...never mind.” Levi threw his arms up in frustration.

“You don’t have to deal with me.  You can recite the incantation and I will once again be bound in the bracelet, then you can pass it off to someone else.  You are not bound by its curse, only I am. I didn’t exactly ask for this either.”

“What? Pass you off to someone else?  What the fuck? Hell no.” Levi felt ill at the mere thought.

“Well, obviously you don’t want me here, so just get rid of me.  I do not want to impose on someone who has no desire for me to be around. Find another who would be happy to take your place.”  God, the man was beautiful when he was angry, and Levi couldn’t help but stare.

“Don’t you get it?  It is the thought of you being with anyone else that pisses me off.”

“That is ludicrous, Levi.  You didn’t even know any of those people, didn’t know me at the time.  Only one of them is even still alive.  You know that, in one month’s time, I will be at the mercy of whoever is next in line.  I get no choice in it, but yet this angers you.”

“I know it doesn’t make any sense because I only just met you, but…”

“What?”

“You.  Are. Mine.”

Erwin moved with a quickness that Levi had not expected, and found himself pinned to the door before he could register that the blonde had moved at all.  His breath hitched as his lips were captured in a deep, bruising kiss. He buried his fingers in silken golden hair, pulling the larger man closer as of trying to crawl inside Erwin’s skin.  The blonde moaned into his mouth, causing heat and desire to course through Levi’s veins. Erwin nudged his leg between Levi’s thighs, encouraging Levi to grind against him. Levi rolled his hips and groaned at the delicious pressure against his straining cock.  When the need for air overpowered their passion, they broke their kiss with a smacking of lips.

“Fuck,” Levi panted.

“I’m yours.  I belong to you.  What is it you desire, Levi?  Tell me...show me what pleases you,” Erwin rasped against his lips, almost begging.

“You.  I desire you.  I desire your mouth on my skin, your hands on my body, the weight of your body on mine.”  They kissed again, desperately. “I desire...I desire for you to take me to bed and show me what pleases you, Erwin.”

“ Levi .”  His name almost a whisper as Erwin buried his face into Levi’s hair.  

It was such a simple thing, the two syllables that made up his name.  Erwin somehow shaped it into something new, something erotic. It made Levi feel sexy, wanted.  It made his pulse quicken and his heart race. His name had never sounded so beautiful to him.

“Erwin, come on, I’m sure that we don’t want to do this against the door.”  Levi soon found himself being lifted by his thighs and pressed harder against the door.  With his legs wrapped around Erwin’s waist, he could feel just how aroused the larger man was as their hips aligned oh so perfectly.  Maybe being fucked through the door was a better idea than he originally thought.

“Maybe not tonight, but I’m sure you can agree that we should not completely disregard it as an option in the future.”  Erwin shifted his weight to pull Levi away from the door. “I want to be in a bed the first time I have you.” Then Erwin kissed him like a man dying. Levi wrapped his arms around his neck and held on desperately, trying to press closer still.

‘ Have you, ’ he had said.  Like he was going to eat Levi alive...like he was going to completely possess him.  As if he didn’t already possess him. Levi felt as if Erwin owned him in every way but this.  Levi knew that once he gave in, there was no turning back. He would start yearning for Erwin, needing him.  His body already ached with want of him. After he gave himself over to Erwin, how could he possibly keep himself from being consumed...from surrendering completely?

Levi could only cling to Erwin as the blonde navigated his way through the apartment while trying to kiss Levi.  Erwin stopped a moment in the kitchen to sit Levi on the counter in order to remove their shirts. Levi took a moment to stare at Erwin, all golden skin and muscles.  He slid a hand from Erwin’s shoulder to trace the dips and curves of muscle, to scrape his nails gently over a pebbled nipple, to feel the texture of the light smattering of blonde hair on his chest.  Erwin was a magnificent creature, beautiful in a way that Levi never thought was possible.

“You are stunning, Levi.”  The fire in those blue eyes left no doubt of sincerity of Erwin’s words.

“Erwin, bed,” Levi moaned, and Erwin once again lifted him as if he couldn’t stand the scant distance that separated their bodies.

“Hold on to me,” the blonde teased with a nip to Levi’s chin.  The dark-haired man grinned and wrapped his limbs tightly around the larger man, every part of them touching.  They resumed kissing, Erwin stumbling through the apartment, stopping once to pin Levi to the wall and grind against him as Levi sucked on his tongue.

“Fuck,” Levi breathed.  “I could come like this.  It feels so damn good.”

“We are almost there.”  Erwin kissed him sweetly, softly.  “I can’t wait to see you spread out underneath me as I move inside you.”  Levi shivered at the words whispered softly against his lips.

“Stop talking and do something, damn you,” Levi whined as he was finally lowered to the bed.  Erwin grinned devilishly before stripping Levi of his pants and underwear with a quick jerk, causing his cock the slap against his stomach.

“Does that appease you, Master?”  Oh, fuck, Levi just died a little as every scandalous BDSM fantasy, that he was embarrassed to admit to having, went rushing through his brain and straight to his dick, giving a little twitch.  Erwin’s grin turned into a smile as he watched Levi’s body react to him. The blonde leaned down and kissed him again, lazily, in no apparent rush to do more than kiss. It was slow, opened mouth, sloppy, and the most erotic thing Levi had experienced up to this point in his life.  It set his body aflame and tingled across every nerve in his body. It was too much and not enough, and, god, if Erwin didn’t do something soon he might just die from want.

Then there was a large, strong hand gripping his hair and pulling his head back to make him arch his neck in supplication, like a sacrifice.  He whined as Erwin’s lips left his, but it melted into a hissing breath of pleasure spiked with pain as Erwin bit a sucking kiss to his neck. That was going to leave a mark that would last for several days.  Good thing it was winter and he had an excuse to wear turtlenecks.

Once the blonde was satisfied with the mark he made, he moved on down Levi’s torso, breathing hotly against his skin between kisses.  Levi arched higher trying to get that mouth anywhere and everywhere all at once. There was a nip to his collarbone, a scrape of teeth on his nipple, each touch of lips and tongue on his body more teasing and torturous than the last.  Erwin’s tongue teased around his navel before tasting the strong line of muscle leading to his groin. The blonde then brushed his nose up the underside of Levi’s hard, leaking cock.

“Fuuuck,” he managed to croak out, throat tight with arousal.  Erwin raised up off of him and removed his own pants, Levi absently noting the lack of underwear.  Erwin’s cock stood proudly from a nest of dark blonde curls, and Levi’s mouth watered.

“Do you have oil?”  Levi balked for a moment at the question, until he remembered that the last time Erwin had sex was in 1952 and it had been over two thousand years before that since he had last been with a man.

“The great thing about the modern world, Erwin, is lube.”  Levi pulled an embarrassingly full bottle of lube from his nightstand, and had to check the expiration date.  The blonde eyed the bottle for a moment before taking it from Levi with a shrug.

“It’s thicker than oil,”. Erwin rubbed it between his fingers, getting a for it.  “And cold.”

“Warm it up.  Just...make sure you’re generous with it.  It’s been...awhile.” Erwin raised an eyebrow.  “Okay, maybe not 65 fucking years, but awhile.”

“I didn’t say anything,” The blonde replied with a smirk.

“Of course you didn’t.  You didn’t have to, you smug bastard, your face says it all.”  Erwin opened his mouth to retort. “Just shut-up and fuck me already.”

“Yes, Master.”  The words were teasing, but the tone was pure sin as Erwin whispered across flesh of Levi’s inner thigh.  His breath hitched at the hot feel of Erwin’s tongue licking across the sensitive skin of his balls, then lower across his perineum, then he diverted to nip at the creamy swell of Levi’s ass.

“Damn.”  Levi hardly recognized his own voice as he bucked his hips, trying to get that hot, wet tongue where he wanted it.  Erwin spread his cheeks open with one hand as he blew cool air on his heated skin, still wet from Erwin’s ministrations.  When he felt the first touch of slick fingers at his entrance, he opened his legs wider, begging for some sort of stimulation.

“Please tell me if want to stop,” was Erwin’s only warning before his mouth joined his fingers, tongue helping to work Levi open.

“Oh...oh...fuck.  Damn.” Levi could only tremble as He was taken apart by that devilish mouth.  When one long finger slid into him without effort, Levi grabbed Erwin by the hair and started grinding against the blonde’s face.  Erwin pulled back to gauge Levi’s reaction as a second finger joined the first.

“Am I hurting you?”  Erwin’s voice could barely make it past the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears.  

“No, good, so very good.   Erwin .”  The blonde must have been satisfied with his answer because he resumed fingering Levi open, gently, slowly, oh so deliciously.  He continued to lick and nip at Levi’s entrance, spearing him with the hot tip of his tongue until Levi nearly sobbed with the intensity of the pleasure wrecking his body.  The slightly cool sensation of more lube was Levi’s only warning before a third finger penetrated him. It was slow and tight, but Erwin was patient and waited for Levi’s body to adjust before pushing deeper and crooking his fingers just so.

“Er-er-win...FUCK!”  Levi thought for a moment he was going to come, but Erwin tugged on his balls just enough to keep his orgasm at bay.

“Are you ready for me?”  God, the blonde looked so debauched, hair missed, lips wet and swollen, pupils dilated, face flushed.  He was sex incarnate. Was Levi ready? He was going crazy from waiting so long. He was ready for Erwin long before he met him.  Never had he been so on edge, so needy...so damn horny.

“Yes, fuck.”  Levi’s hands scrambled for purchase on Erwin’s sweat slicked skin, pulling him closer, begging without words.  Erwin slicked his cock and guided himself to Levi’s opening.

“If it hurts, or you change your mind-”

“Erwin, just get inside me already,” Levi growled wrapping his legs around Erwin’s hips.  He squeezed his eyes at the first press of the blunt head of Erwin’s cock. Despite the careful preparation, Levi still tensed, and his body started to protest the intrusion.  Erwin started to back off, but Levi whined and pulled closer the larger man.

“Levi, you have to relax.”  Erwin’s voice was strained.

“I’m trying, but-”

“Let me make you feel good.  I want to pleasure you, Master.”  Erwin tried pressing in again, and Levi’s body relaxed a little, opening enough for the head of Erwin’s cock to slip inside.  Levi couldn’t be sure if the groan that reverberated through the room was his or Erwin’s. Erwin waited a moment to allow Levi adjust before pushing forward a little more, slowly, carefully.  Levi’s nails scraped down Erwin’s back, raising welts and drawing blood. The blonde hissed, but it seemed to be a sound of pleasure rather than pain. And the moment Erwin was fully seated inside of Levi, he dropped his head to Levi’s neck, breathing harshly.

“Move, I need you to move,” Levi rasped from between parched lips.  Erwin felt so big inside him, it was too much, it was pleasure, it was pain, it was...the best fucking thing Levi had ever felt in his life.

“Gods, I never thought I would feel this again.  You feel like heaven and hell. Being inside you is sweet torture, but it is the best thing I have felt in over two thousand years.”  Erwin’s hips began to move slightly, barely picking up a rhythm, still allowing Levi a chance to adjust.

“I’m not going to break.  Erwin, dammit, move.” The blonde growled and snapped his hips, and Levi fell apart.  His body shook with the pleasure of Erwin’s warm, hard body moving above him. They clung to each other as their bodies moved together.  Erwin kissed every part of skin he could reach while Levi panted against his neck. And when Erwin found just the right angle, Levi keened, back arching.  

Next thing Levi knew, he was being lifted off the bed and into Erwin’s lap.  The blonde suckled at his skin, marking his body, and Levi knew he would feel each bruising kiss for days.  He grabbed Erwin’s head and pulled him into a kiss, or the semblance of one. It was all tongues and teeth, sloppy and wet, and Levi couldn’t get enough.  He could taste himself in Erwin’s mouth and the thought of Erwin tasting only him made Levi burn. Their lips separated for only a moment before slamming back together, and Levi could almost swear he could taste the metallic tang of blood.

“Touch yourself, Levi.  Show me...show me how your body likes to be touched.”  

“Yesss,” Levi groaned as he reached down to grip his arousal.  He was leaking precome all over himself and Erwin. He couldn’t remember a time when he had been so desperate for release.  He pumped his cock a few times before his body tensed and he came shouting out Erwin’s name. Erwin pumped a few times before shivering at the feel of Levi’s body tightening around him.

It took a few moments for Levi to come back to himself and realize that Erwin had laid him back down on the bed.  His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. He winced as Erwin pulled out and soon realized that something wasn’t quite right.

“You didn’t…”  He looked down at their bodies.  “You didn’t come?”

“Oh, um, no, I did not.”  Erwin looked half embarrassed.

“Let me-”

“Levi, please don’t worry yourself-”

“But I want you to enjoy-”

“I did.”

“Then let me-”

“It’s fine.”

“Quit interrupting me.  Let me get you off.” Levi went quiet for a moment.  “Unless, you really didn’t enjoy it.”

“No, trust me, that is the least of your worries.”

“Then why?”

“I can’t.”  Erwin stated simply.

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“I mean it is physically impossible for me to do so.  I’m an incubus, I thought you knew that.” As if that explained anything.

“Yes, and…”

“And I’m not quite a full incubus.  If I were a true incubus, I could switch between being an incubus and a succubus.  As a succubus, I could take in a man’s seed and then switch to an incubus and spend myself that way.  I was imprisoned to service women, no need to become a succubus, nor would I have to worry about impregnating my master.  So, therefore, I am incapable of ejaculating.”

“Just when I thought things couldn't get any more fucked up, you drop this bombshell.  We have got to break this curse. Talk about a case of blue-balls.”

“What are blue-balls?”  Levi let out a sigh of resignation.  

“Never mind, Blondie.  Come on, let’s go get cleaned up so we can get some rest for tomorrow.”  Levi, in a surprising show of strength, dragged Erwin from the bed, and he landed on the floor with a thud.

“Why do you do these things to me,” the blonde sighed dramatically from the floor.

“I think you like it,” Levi deadpanned.

“Perhaps, but I think that I just like you.  You are refreshing.”

“God, stop that sappy shit right now.  You know you can get into my pants anytime you want, you don’t have to sweet talk me.”

“Maybe I should test the theory.”  

Their banter lasted all the way through their shower and as they tread back to the bedroom.  Erwin caressed Levi’s hair as he walked past toward the living room.

“You could stay.  In here, with me. If you want,”  Levi offered, not knowing why he felt nervous all of sudden.

“Only if you are comfortable with it.”  Erwin was still trying to figure out what Levi found acceptable about their arrangement and what was crossing a line.

“Yeah, I would like that.”  Erwin only nodded and followed Levi to bed.  They laid stiffly beside one another before, “Fuck it.”  Then Levi rested his head on Erwin’s chest, letting the sound of soft, even breaths coax him to sleep.

Chapter Text

The sun was blistering hot as Leui and Hariwini strolled away from the camp.  They decided to scout ahead a little to determine the position of the Romans. They walked quietly beside one another, sun heating their skin.  Leui couldn’t help but think that Hariwini looked like he belonged with the gods as the bright sun kissed his golden hair and skin, accentuating his muscular form, large and imposing.  Leui licked his lips. The blonde was attractive and how Leui desired him. Yet, they had not lain together since that first night - that was almost a full phase of the moon ago.

They did their scouting in silence, and quickly turned back to return to the camp.  Leui let his gaze linger on his companion, a companion that had promised to be his lover, and had barely delivered.  He felt frustration curl in his stomach as he watched the subtle sway of that firm backside and the movement of muscles under sweat-soaked skin.  He formed a plan.

As soon as they crossed near the shallow of the river, he pushed, and watched as Hariwini fell gracelessly into the water.  The smaller man had to fight the urge to chuckle as Hariwini surfaced, sputtering.

“Why did you do that?”  A mixture of amusement and betrayal danced in crystal blue eyes.

“You smell.  I figured you could use a bath.”  Leui walked to the bank, arms crossed and looking smug.

“Is that so?” the blonde asked.

“It is.”

“Well, in that case.”  Before Leui could react, Hariwini grabbed him by the ankle and pulled him in the water.  Leui glared at the larger man as he came up and spat water in his face.

“You smell just as bad as I do, so I guess you also need to bathe.”  The blonde looked so damn smug as he wiped his face. Well, at least until his feet were swept out from underneath him and he landed on his ass with a splash.

“That’s more like it,” Leui laughed as it was Hariwini’s turn to glare.

“You are unusually vindictive today.  What have I done to earn your ire?” The blonde moved to reach for Leui, who batted his hand away.

“You’re a liar,” the smaller man accused, even as he moved closer.

“How say you?  I am unaware of any instance where I have not been truthful with you.”  The blonde looked up at Leui, standing triumphantly over him, his gaze hot and lingering.

“You are a terrible lover, then.  You haven’t touched me in quite some time,” Leui pouted.

“Yes, I suppose I am lacking in that regard.  I just...I didn’t want you to believe that you had to bed me to stay.  It is your choice. I may have done many terrible things, but I would never take an unwilling lover.”  Hariwini was earnest , Leui could tell by the look in his eyes.

“Tell me,” Leui started as he straddled the blonde’s lap and rolled his hips, the proof of his arousal obvious, and Hariwini moaned.  “Does that feel like I am unwilling to you?”

“ No, actually, it seems you are quite willing,” the blonde said breathlessly, grabbing the smaller man’s hips to press their bodies closer together as his body started to respond in kind.

“Yes, quite.  Now what are you going to do about it?”  A teasing nip of teeth on warm skin.

“I’m going to make you forget everything but how scream my name.”  That was a promise. It was a promise well kept on that riverbank in the hot sun.  Hariwini took Leui apart with his mouth and put him back together with his body. As promised, Leui cried out his lover’s name in ecstasy over and over again, until his breath left him and the shouting turned to reverent whispers as he fell into oblivion.

“Well, someone cleans up nice,” Petra stated as she approached Erwin and Levi, standing outside the antique store waiting for her and Hange.  She had to be referring to Erwin as he did look devastatingly handsome in a dark green peacoat, gray slacks and black boots. The man looked like sex incarnate while naked, but looked like a walking wet dream in well-fitting clothes.

“Hello Petra, how nice to see you again.”  Erwin’s smile was as bright as the sun as he greeted her, and Levi could almost swear the man was glowing.  Amazing what a couple rounds of sex could do for him.

“And Levi, you’re glowing!  Looks like you got laid after all,” Hange said as she came up from behind.

“I’m going to pretend you don’t exist,” Levi deadpanned as he pushed Hange off of him and went into the store.  Erwin followed closely behind with Hange and Petra bringing up the rear. The blonde began going around looking at the various items and commenting to Petra about them.  Levi only listened with half an ear. He was lost in thought as he and Hange walked toward the register and the young, dark-haired girl behind it.

“You okay?  I mean, really?”  Hange inquired before approaching Mina.

“It’s just that I’ve been having these dreams.  Really vivid dreams...about Erwin, before the curse.  It’s so strange. It’s almost as if they’re memories, but that’s impossible because that was almost three-thousand years ago.”

“Maybe it’s just your brain’s way of coping with all this weirdness,” Hange said with shrug.

“Levi!  Look at this.  I haven’t seen one of these in years!”

“Oh lord, I can’t take him anywhere.  I better go see what he’s gotten himself into.”  Levi heard Hange approach Mina as he walked through the aisles toward Erwin and Petra.  Erwin was showing him his multiple finds when…

“Erwin?”  Levi, Petra, and Erwin all turned to see a sophisticated old woman with green eyes looking at Erwin like she had seen a ghost.  “Oh my god. You’re just as beautiful as you were all those years ago.”

“Who?”  Levi asked.

“This is Marie Dok.  She just happened to be in the storage room.  She owns this store,” Hange introduced.

“Marie?  It’s great to see you.”  Erwin was polite but the shock of seeing his former master was evident in his tone.

“You’re such a liar.  Charming, but a liar,” she giggled.  “I look a lot different since we’ve last seen each other.”

“And I’m a lot more clothed.”

“Yes, that is true!  Come on, let’s talk in the back.”  She led the way to a small kitchenette, pouring coffee for the four of them.

“This is more awkward than I thought it would be,” Petra said, sitting down.

“Yes, it is a little awkward.  I never thought I would see Erwin again.  In fact, I had almost convinced myself I imagined the whole experience until I found the bracelet when cleaning out my attic.”  Marie kept staring at Erwin with longing in her eyes, and Levi shifted uncomfortably.

“What made you decide to sell it?”  Hange asked.

“Well, like I said, I wasn’t entirely sure that Erwin wasn’t just a daydream.  I mean, it was so long ago and my mind isn’t what it used to be. Not to mention, I didn’t want the embarrassment of explaining what it was and where it came from.”  Marie blushed. “So, which of you two ladies set him free?”

“I did,” Levi stated, and Marie looked at him confused.

“I don’t understand.  I gave specific instructions that it was only to be sold to a woman.  I was told when I received it that only a woman could possess it.”

“Well, technically, Petra and I purchased the bracelet.  We just gave it away as a present. We were never told that a man couldn’t have it,” Hange explained.

“I see.  I was barely twenty and a newlywed when it was passed to me.  I married my high school sweetheart, Nile, one week before the army shipped him to Korea to fight in the war.  I was living alone in an unfamiliar city, next to an army base, and another military wife gave it to me. She briefly explained what it was and what it was for.  I didn’t believe her at first, but there was no denying the very naked man in my bedroom. I had no intention of...indulging, but I was lonely, and inexperienced.  I wanted to be good for Nile when he came home. Erwin helped teach me, but I never spoke of him afterward. In fact, I was so embarrassed of what I had done, that I hid the bracelet, then forgot about it.”

“Erwin, you ought to be ashamed.  Having sex with a young, virginal newlywed like that,” Petra teased.

“Oh, he was always a perfect gentleman.  He always gave me the choice. And well, you see him.  He is hard to resist.” Erwin blushed at Marie’s words.

“Did anyone ever mention to you about how he was cursed, or maybe a way to break it?”  Levi was getting tired of the way she seemed to pine for Erwin, and the way Erwin reacted to that.

“No.  In fact, you are the first person who has mentioned that it was a curse.”  Marie turned to Erwin. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s fine.  I have long come to terms with it.  Besides, you wouldn’t have resisted anyway.  It’s just my nature.” Levi’s turned his head toward Erwin so quickly that it almost gave him whiplash.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”  Erwin actually looked sheepish.

“I’m an incubus, Levi,” he stated simply, as if it explained everything.

“Yeah, we kinda already established that, but-”

“An incubus depends on sexual energy to live.  It would be remiss for one not to have a way lure in a food source, if you will.  An incubus is considered a predator.” Erwin gave Levi a moment to let that knowledge sink in.

“You mean…”

“You find me charming and irresistible because you are basically enchanted to think that.  Then, the more you give into the enchantment, the more you want. You really don’t want me as much as you think you do.  That is why I was so reluctant to be with you, Master. You were so adamant that you did not want to be a part of such an arrangement.  Spend one day away from me, and you’ll see, your desire will wane.” It looked as if it pained Erwin to admit this, and Levi could almost feel anger rising up in him.  So, they were back to the Master/Servant dynamic were they?

“You said that I was not bound by your curse.  If you are so entrancing, how does your curse not affect me?”  Erwin winced at Levi’s tone.

“I meant that your survival does not depend upon whether or not I service you.  Mine does. You can choose to stop this at anytime. I serve whomever is in possession of the bracelet.  Right now that is you. If you choose to give it to Petra tomorrow, then I would be in her service, and you would be rid of me forever.  While I will admit, the enchantment makes that difficult, it’s not impossible. I have been given away before. You would not be the first.”  Erwin paused for a moment, then turned to Marie. “I apologize, Marie, I have ruined our reunion. I’m happy that you have had a full life. It was good seeing you again, but I’m afraid I need some air.  Please excuse me.” The blonde stood abruptly and left.

“Erwin, wait!”  Petra ran out of store and after Erwin.

“Levi, I think you and Erwin may need to talk.  Or maybe he’s right, you need to distance yourself for a couple of days.”  Hange patted Levi on the shoulder. “He can stay with us if you need the space.”  

“Not happening,” Levi growled.  “I’ve already told him, he is mine.  I don’t give a damn about a fucking curse or supposed razzle-dazzle.  I’m pissed because he thinks that I’m not getting a choice in any of this.  Fuck that.”

“Okay, then, maybe do it for his peace of mind,” Hange suggested.  “Think about it.” Hange left to find her girlfriend.

“I’m sorry to have bothered you, Mrs. Dok,” Levi said as he also stood to leave.

“Levi,” Marie started.  “You’ll find that Erwin is easy to love.  It’s the letting go that’s difficult. And you will have to let him go, neither of you have a choice.”

“I will do everything in my power to make sure that he is freed.  He deserves it. And, if that means I will have to lose him in the long run, so be it.  At least he will be happy and free. Have a good day, Mrs. Dok.” Levi left. It did take him a while, but he finally found his companions sitting in the diner a few blocks down from the antique store.  They were sitting in the back in a corner booth, all huddled together in an attempt to get warm from their walk.

“Hey bitches, thanks for waiting on me,” Levi snarked as he sat beside Petra, as Hange was beside Erwin.  She was explaining the menu to him in detail, offering recommendations and warning him of things best to avoid.

“Well, I just think Erwin needed a minute.  It has to be embarrassing to keep rehashing every little detail of his existence,” Petra said quietly as Erwin and Hange continued to peruse the menu.

“I guess,” Levi sighed, then turned to Erwin.  “Just order a cheeseburger, something quick. I have to be back to work soon.”

“Maybe I should just return to your apartment for the remainder of the afternoon.  I’m not much assistance to Dr. Smith, and I would just be in the way in the museum.”  

“If that’s what you really want.”  Levi swallowed past the lump in this throat. It seemed as Erwin was pulling away, which was ludicrous as they barely knew each other to begin with.  “I’ll call you a cab. Just don’t wander off. I only have the one key on me.” He pulled his apartment key from his keyring and handed it to Erwin.

“Just where, exactly, do you expect I can go?  I know no one else, outside of present company.  I know nothing about your city or modern amenities.  I barely know your language, and you expect I can just...run away?  You are the first person who has let me leave their home, provided me clothes, introduced me to other people.  I’m a dirty little secret, Levi. Something that is supposed to remain hidden. Trust me, I know my boundaries.”  Erwin took the key and put it in his pocket, unaware of how Levi’s heart broke just a little more with each confession that came for his mouth.  Petra bit her lip and looked away. Hange leaned in closer to Erwin’s side. The air remained heavy and silent between them as they ate, and remained that way as Erwin climbed into the cab - alone.  

“I almost wish you never got me that bracelet,” Levi blurted as the cab pulled away.  

“What?”  Petra was incredulous.

“I don’t regret meeting him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”  Levi’s jaw tightened. “I’m afraid of failing him. What if I can’t help him?”

“He will understand, Levi.  He is grateful that you are even trying.  That is why he feels so guilty about what he is.  He can’t control it, but he doesn’t want anything between you to be because he is an incubus.  He wants you to want him, as a man.” Hange was a lot more empathetic than people gave her credit for, Levi realized, and he was grateful for her friendship.

“Thanks Hange.”

“No problem, shrimp.”

And then she had to ruin the moment.

Levi thought about what Erwin had said for the rest of the day.  Had he really been under some sort of charm or spell? Is that why he desired Erwin so much?  It would explain a few things, like his recently increased libido, but that could also be a side-effect to having sex again after a long dry spell.  And, face it, Erwin was great at sex, phenomenal actually.

But being with Erwin was more than sex.  

He was intelligent and kind and witty.  He had more going for him than most of Levi’s former lovers.  Would this desire really fade after being separated from him? Only one way to find out.  He would have to avoid him for an extended period of time. So, Levi decided to work late.

He cleaned out his office, the security station out front, the ticket booth, and the small employee kitchen.  He made his way downstairs to the archives to find Dr. Smith still pouring over ancient texts. He looked up as he heard Levi putter in with his cleaning supplies.

“Working late?” the older man asked as he returned to the book in front of him.

“Not really.  Just killing time, I guess.”  Levi saw no reason to lie to the older man as he put down his supplies and dropped into a chair.

“Cleaning back here is quite an undertaking if you are just wanting to kill time.”  Dr. Smith glanced at Levi over the rims of his glasses. “There’s a reason we shut the museum down for a week every season.”

“I know,” Levi sighed.  “I guess I’m just avoiding going home.”

“Trouble in paradise already?” the man asked with a thoughtful hum.

“Something like that.”  Levi closed his eyes, trying not to sound as annoyed as he felt.  

“Not to pry, but I would think that having a sex slave at your disposal would make life a little more interesting,” Smith said dryly, turning a page.

“One would think.  Except when said sex slave is a self-depreciating idiot who refuses to see reason,” Levi snarked.

“Oh?  I’m sensing that there is more to this story,” Smith prompted.

“Of fucking course.  That asshat thinks that the only reason I’m attracted to him is because he has some way to charm me or some shit.  Fuck that. Has that motherfucker looked in a mirror lately? If I had met him in a bar, I probably would have taken him home.  But try to tell him that! He said that if I avoided him for a day or so that I wouldn’t want him anymore.” Levi stood and started pacing.

“And?”  Smith asked.

“And what?”

“You’ve been away from him for most of the day.  In fact, you were only around him at lunch. Do you feel any differently about him?”

“No.  I still want to go home and-”

“I don’t need details, son,” Smith interrupted and Levi blushed in embarrassment.

“Sorry, it’s just...he’s so...I can’t explain.  He’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in a lover, but it feels like I know him from the depths of my soul.”

“Levi, you’re getting too attached too quickly,” Smith admonished.

“I know,” Levi breathed, running his fingers through his hair.  “And I don’t know why. I’ve never been so quick to be so deeply involved with someone.  I usually keep my distance, but Erwin is different. Hell, maybe I’m just lonely or some shit.”

“Just tread lightly, my boy.  There is a great chance that this will end catastrophically, and I don’t want you hurt.”  Smith’s eyes were full of worry, and Levi felt guilty that he had never realized what a kind person the older man was.  

“I can’t think about that. I have to stay focused on the goal, and I can’t accept failure as an option.  I have to believe I can fix this.”

“Well, first, you need to fix your more immediate problem,” the older man reminded.

“Yeah, that big blonde fucktard pouting at home.”

“Yes, well, your words, not mine.  But have either of you considered the possibility that the ‘charm’ may only work on women.”  Levi blinked. “It’s plausible.  He was cursed to serve only women, so why would he need to charm a man?”

“Well hell.  You’re right.  Now, I just need to go home and convince him of the same thing.”  Levi started to the stairs with determination.

“Glad that we got that figured out.  Good luck!”

*****

Erwin was sitting on the couch reading some random crime novel when Levi returned home.  It was past ten and Levi was exhausted, but he could appreciate how handsome the man was.  This was an undeniable fact. His earlier assessment was correct. Had he seen Erwin in a bar, club - hell, even a grocery store, his head would have turned.  He would have approached the blonde, and, if he had enough liquid courage or was in a proper mood, would have asked for his number. Or at least offered to take him home with him.  Smith’s hypothesis echoed in his mind. It needed to be tested.

“Erwin.”  The blonde raised his head.  “Strip and kneel.”

“I beg your pardon,” the blonde was incredulous.

“I said strip and kneel.  I didn’t stutter.”

“Excuse me, but what the hell is this about?”  Erwin looked absolutely offended.

“You’re my sex slave, right?  So obey your master, shut the fuck up and strip.  I want you naked and on your knees. And be quick about it.”  Erwin’s nostrils flared and his eyes darker in barely controlled indignation.  Yet, he stood gracefully and quickly removed his clothes. Once he was naked, he just as gracefully dropped to his knees.

“How may I serve you, Master .”  Levi fought the urge to smile.  Erwin was absolutely furious. Levi could see his struggle to get in the right headspace.

“You can suck my cock, since you seem to be so good at it.”  Levi wouldn’t make him crawl, he could only take this so far.  He walked over to the blonde and unzipped his pants. Erwin refused to look him in the eye.

“As you wish,” the blonde murmured, tone laced with sarcasm.  He quickly pulled down Levi’s pants and underwear, finding him flaccid.  “Are you no longer aroused by me, Master ?  Have I done something wrong?”

“Yeah, you big, blonde fuck.  You’re supposed to tell me to go fuck myself, that you’re not going to suck shit.”  Erwin looked up then.

“What?”

“I’m showing you that you don’t have me under some voodoo crap that makes me want to ride your dick until I pass out.  This Master/servant shtick just don’t do it for me. I thought long and hard about this, what you said. It just pisses me off.  You are so...fucking...infuriating. Come on, make me feel like I can’t resist you.” Levi crossed his arms and waited.

“I think you have gone completely mad.”  Erwin stood and walked away.

“Not in the way you’re thinking.  Stop it. Just stop.” The blonde turned to look at him, confused.

“Stop what?”

“Acting like this.  I don’t want you because you tricked me into it.  But make no mistake...I do want you. Probably in every way I can have you.  Probably in ways I haven’t even thought about yet. The thing is, I would want you, even if you weren’t like this.  I would want you even if you were some random guy I passed on the street. Dr. Smith thinks that I’m not affected by your hoodoo because I’m a man.  You were never supposed to belong to a man, so what would be the point of making them addicted to you?”

“I don’t know,” Erwin said, thoughtful. Levi felt his gaze on him, and he suddenly was aware of how ridiculous he must look, still standing with his pants around his ankles.  Then, the corner of Erwin’s mouth lifted in amusement. “So, you do admit that I am good with my mouth?”

“What?”  Before Levi’s brain could catch up, Erwin was once again on his knees.

“My first night here, you didn’t believe me when I told you I could pleasure you that way.”  Erwin leaned over and started crawling toward him. Levi felt his body start to respond.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”  He buried his fingers in that silky blonde hair as Erwin breathed hotly against his  cock.

“I think that maybe I’m the one who has become addicted,” Erwin said softly, voice deep with arousal, before swallowing Levi down to the root, stealing the breath from his lungs.  It would be a while before Levi could say anything.

Saturday morning found Levi lounging languidly in bed, Erwin half draped over him, deliciously naked and asleep.  Their legs were entwined and Erwin’s head rested on Levi’s chest. There were faint scratch marks marring the golden skin of the blonde’s back, and Levi felt a tingle all the way to his toes remembering how they got there.  He could feel the ache of the finger-shaped bruises on his hips and sighed in contentment. Last night had been incredible. Erwin was an incredible lover and he had Levi desperate and begging before fucking him thoroughly. His body ached in places that he didn’t know he had, but it was good ache.  He was tempted to wake Erwin up for another round when he heard knocking at his apartment door. He groaned and snuck out of bed, trying not wake Erwin. He quickly slipped on a pair of soft pants and answered the door.

“Levi?  You’re not dressed yet?”  Farlan asked as he pushed past, Isabel not far behind.

“Shit,” Levi cursed.  He forgot that it was Saturday.  The three of them went out for breakfast every Saturday morning.  And he still had not told them about Erwin.

“Someone was out late last night,” Isabel teased, poking at a hickey just below his collarbone.  “Dry spell finally over?”

“Something like that.”  It would do Levi no good to deny anything when the proof was written on his body.  He gave an indifferent shrug.

“Go get dressed, I’m starving,” Farlan encouraged as he rifled through Levi’s refrigerator.  He was buried so far into the thing that he hit his head in surprise at the sound of a deep voice calling Levi’s name.

“God, Levi, is he still here?” Isabel whispered.  “Do you want us to hide?”

“What?  No,” Levi protested.

“What the fuck?”  Farlan choked, and Isabel and Levi turned to see what he was looking at.

“Oh my.  He can’t be real,” Isabel said dreamily.

“Erwin?  What the hell.  Put your damn clothes on.”  

“I apologize.  I didn’t realize you had company,” with that, Erwin turned and went back into the bedroom, unashamed of his nakedness.  Levi had fight back a chuckle, especially when Isabel sighed at the retreating backside.

“Nice ass,” Farlan stated sarcastically.

“I hate to see him go, but love watching him leave,” Isabel agreed.

“How the hell did your grumpy ass land a guy like that?”  Farlan asked.

“Fuck you,” Levi spat.

“I believe that’s my job,” Erwin retorted as he came back into the living area, dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a blue plaid button down that accented the blue of his eyes.  Isabel dramatically fell against the counter, fanning herself.

“He’s so dreamy,” she sighed.

“Don’t encourage them,” Levi scolded Erwin, who just smiled mischievously.

“So...how did you two meet?  Are we interrupting the walk of shame?”  Farlan asked, still studying Erwin closely.

“Walk of shame?  I am unfamiliar with this phrase.”  Erwin looked at Levi for clarification.

“It’s kinda complicated, but not important.  Don’t worry about it?” Levi waved him off.

“Bro, you know I don’t normally comment on the guys you sleep with, and this guy is hot as hell, but he seems a little...off?”  Isabel actually looked concerned.

“He’s just been out of circulation for a little while.”  Levi smiled at the blonde remembering his amazement over the microwave.

“How long is a little while, Levi?”  Farlan asked.

“About 65 years,” with that, Levi walked away, leaving the pair wide-eyed.

“Levi, you have some explaining to do,” Farlan called out to Levi as he walked toward the bedroom.

“And you said I Love Lucy was no longer relevant,” Erwin said.

“Levi!  Explain!” Isabel stomped her foot in exasperation.

“What can I say?  Thanks for my birthday present guys.  He’s really great in bed.” Levi went to get dressed, his friends sputtering behind him.  

“So, now you’re going to try to break this curse?  Not to be a Negative Nancy here, but what if you can’t?”  Farlan asked around a mouthful of pancakes.

“You’re disgusting.  Chew first,” Isabel complained.

“Well, if I can’t figure it out before the next new moon....”

“You can always pass it around to one of us.  That way you too can still be together while trying to figure it out,” Isabel suggested.

“Isabel, I’m not sure-”

“But what if we never figure it out?  There are only so many of us.” Farlan interjected.

“Thank you, asshole, for being so optimistic,” Levi growled.

“If we cannot break the curse, then I’ll be happy that you did all you could,” Erwin said with a sad smile.

“Have you gotten any leads...like at all?” Isabel asked, stabbing her sausage.

“Dr. Smith at the museum has a friend in Italy looking into some leads.  We’re just waiting to see what he finds out.” Levi poked absently at his eggs.  Erwin sat beside him silently, eating his french toast.

“It’s only been a week.  You still have three more to go, right?” was Farlan’s sad attempt at lifting the atmosphere.

“Now you want to be optimistic.  You’re a dick.”

“Keith?  Good to hear from you!”

Pause.

“Are you sure?  I mean, you exhausted every lead?”

Pause.

“I know you know what you’re talking about.  I didn’t mean to imply-”

Pause.

“Yes, of course.  Please send me your research.  Thank you for checking into this for me.”

Pause.

“Yes, yes.  I just was hoping for better news.  I’ll tell him first thing Monday. I’m just not looking forward to breaking the kid’s heart.”  

Chapter Text

“Leui, it is late.  Why are you not sleeping?”  The dark haired man glanced over his shoulder at his lover.

“I feel restless.”  He shivered as the night breeze caressed his naked body.

“Come back to bed.  I’m sure I can find a way to tire you.”  The blonde stood behind him and wrapped his arms around him, pressing their bodies together.

“You are insatiable,” Leui scolded half-heartedly.

“Only with you, my love,” Hariwini laughed softly.  “I miss you when you are not beside me.”

“You are worse than a love-struck maiden,” the smaller man teased as he turned in Hariwini’s arms.

“You have spoiled me,” the blonde stated matter-of-factly.  “But I am concerned about your recent lack of sleep.”

“I keep having this dream.  In this dream you are ripped away from me, and I am powerless to save you.  I feel like it is a premonition. We shouldn’t advance our soldiers. We need to wait or find another route.”

“Leui, it’s just a dream.  We both know that we risk ourselves every time we fight the Romans.  I do what I can to stay safe, but there are no guarantees.” Hariwani stroked Leui’s hair and placed reassuring kisses on his shoulder.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Come back to bed, my love and get some rest.”

******

The Sunday morning dawn brought with it dropping temperatures and snow.  Levi took one look out the window and pulled the covers back over his head.  Erwin turned and nuzzled his face into the fine hairs on the back of his neck.  Levi sighed and snuggled back against the blonde’s warm body.

“I hate winter,” he murmured as the nuzzling turned into soft, sleepy kisses.  

“At least today is a day of rest.”  A kiss on his shoulder. “You can stay in bed.”  More kisses. “And I know of a few things that we can do in bed.”

“Pervert,” Levi deadpanned, even as he leaned his head to give Erwin better access to his neck.

“I told you, I’m addicted to you,” Erwin whispered hotly in his ear before nipping lightly.  Levi hissed at the soft sting of teeth.

“Too much of a good thing, blondie.”  Levi reprimanded even as he trembled at the warm hand gripping his hip.  “I’m hungry. Unlike you...stop that...I need food.”

“Alright, I suppose I can wait,” Erwin chuckled against his shoulder.

“I guess you’ll have to.”  Levi slithered out of Erwin’s grasp and got out of bed.  

“At least I can’t complain about the view,” Erwin teased seductively as he propped his head on his hand, staring unabashedly at a naked Levi.

“Oh yeah?  Well, if you’re enjoying it so much, why don’t you haul your lazy ass out of bed and help me with breakfast,” Levi instructed as he got dressed.

“If I must,” the blonde yawned and stretched as he got out of bed.  He looked out the window and saw the snow coming down. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen the snow.”

“Yeah, and it’s really coming down out there.  We won’t be going anywhere today, at least anywhere that’s not within walking distance.”  Levi leaned against Erwin for a moment as they watched the snow come down, finding comfort in the warmth of taller man’s body.  His very naked body. His very naked, sexy body. He had to pull away.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped.  I really don’t relish going out in the cold anyway.”

“I have an idea.  After breakfast, we’ll make a quick trip down a couple of blocks.”  Levi made the bed and walked toward the kitchen.

“Are you going to tell me what you have planned?”

“Don’t worry about it.  Just know it will keep us entertained for the day.”  Levi turned to Erwin. “And for the love of god, put some damn clothes on!”

*******

“Where are we going?”  Erwin asked as he huddled down in his coat.

“I told you, it’s a surprise.”  Levi paused. “Just don’t act too surprised.”

“I’ll be the pentacle if discretion,” Erwin replied, shivering.

“I’m sure you will.”  Levi’s tone was disbelieving.  “Well, here we are.”

Erwin studied the small darkened windows of the storefront, finding that they provided no clues as to what he would find inside.  The door was solid and black and read ‘Original Sin’ in red letters.  ‘ Must be 18 to Enter,’ was in white underneath.  He opened his mouth to ask, but changed his mind when Levi entered the establishment like he wouldnonchalantly.  He followed quietly.

“Hey!  Levi!”

“Fuck me sideways,” Levi huffed under his breath.  “Eren. Are you even old enough to work here?”

“Fuck you, I’m twenty!”

“You know, you really shouldn’t talk to customers like that,” said a young lady with freckles from behind the counter.

“Shut up, Ymir.  No one asked you,” Eren yelled at the girl, who just shrugged, nonplussed.  

Erwin just took in the scene.  The young boy, Eren, was apparently very hot-headed as his face was starting to turn red as he argued back and forth with his co-worker.  His green eyes were practically glowing in anger. The girl, Ymir, just looked bored. And Levi, well, he looked positively harassed. He took advantage of the fact that the other three were preoccupied to take in his surroundings.  There were shelves full of various liquids of different colors and viscosities, racks of questionable garments, and a wall of…

“Why is it green?”  Erwin walked over the wall of dildos.  “Why would you want one that is multiple shades of green?”

“So, Levi, you know, maybe we could go out-”

“You stupid fucking cunt.  Can’t you see that he is with Levi?  Even I can tell he’s a fine piece of ass, and I don’t even like dick,” Ymir interrupted as she pointed out Erwin to Eren.

“Just because they walked in together, doesn’t mean that they’re together ,” Eren reasoned.

“Oh, I assure you, we are very much together,” Levi spat.  “Erwin has just been out of town for a while.” Levi took the green dildo from Erwin.

“Why green?” the blonde asked again pointing at the camouflage dildo.

“I don’t know,” Levi finally answered.

“I didn’t know there were markets for such things.  Or that there has been so many innovations,” Erwin whispered.

“You have no idea,” Levi said with a wicked little smirk.  Erwin’s pupils dialated at the promise of something carnal in Levi’s gaze.  The dark haired man looked away to study the wall in front of him.

“The Egyptians used dried camel dung,” Erwin said dryly, causing Ymir to choke on her soda, Eren to trip over his own two feet, and Levi to pale in horror.  “What? I didn’t say that I did.”

“That’s just…” Eren started, struggling to find the words.

“Fucking disgusting is what it is,” Ymir finished.  “There’s no way in hell that I would-“

“Nope, not thinking about it,” Eren cut her off.

“They also used gourds filled with bees,” Erwin added.

“What?  Why?” Eren looked ready to pass out.

“I would imagine that the vibration would be...stimulating,” the blonde explained.

“This is just wrong on so many levels,” Levi muttered.  “Erwin, you’re not to open your mouth the remainder of our time here.  You’re killing the mood.”

“Just making conversation,” Erwin said with a shrug.

“Well, don’t.”

“But the Gaul were for more advanced.  They used polished stone and bronze.”

“How do you know this shit?”  Ymir asked.

“He’s an expert in ancient civilizations,” Levi answered before Erwin could open his mouth.  “Now, let me get what we came here for, so we can get home.”

“And what, exactly, did we come here for?”  Erwin couldn’t hide his amusement as Levi blushed all the way to the roots of his hair.

“It’s a surprise,” Levi muttered before stalking off through the store.  “Ymir, come help me.”

“Why Ymir?”  Eren asked.

“Because you need to keep Erwin occupied,” Levi answered, disappearing around an aisle.

“Well…”

“Eren, was it?

“Uh...yeah?”

“Are you not certain?”

“I think I’m going to check in the back for stuff, yeah.”  The boy rushed in the back.

“Where did Eren go?” Levi asked.

“I’m not sure.  Your acquaintances are quite odd.”

“Nah,” Ymir interjected.  “Eren isn’t odd, just can’t take a hint.  I got everything rung up and ready to go.”

“Thanks.  Let’s go, Blondie.  I’ve got plans for you.”

*******

“This is interesting.  You are so shy about sex, I would have not expected that you had such an adventurous streak,” Erwin chuckled as Levi tightened the blindfold and checked the tightness of the ropes that bound the blonde to the bed.

“You have no idea, Blondie.”  Erwin may not have been able to see Levi’s face, but he could hear the smirk in his tone.  He loved this confident side of Levi, and his cock twitched in anticipation.

“Now that you have me at your mercy, what are you going to do with me?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?  Just keep your sandwich clamp shut and enjoy the ride,” Levi ordered.  “Comfortable?”

“Completely,” Erwin answered with a smile.

“If I do anything you don’t like, just tell me to stop,” the smaller man instructed.

“Of course.  Quit stalling, my dear.”

“Smartass.”  Then, with no warning, Levi bit at one of Erwin’s nipples.  The suddenness and heat made Erwin’s back arch and his breath hitch.

“Levi,” he breathed softly, reverently.

“You’re surprisingly sensitive,” Levi said with wonder.  “I realized this morning that I haven’t seduced you, yet.  Then, it got me to thinking, when was the last time you were seduced, Erwin?”

When?  That was a good question.  Before he could even answer, a nip to earlobe.  A pleasurable distraction. Then Levi kissed him long and deep.  He longed to bury his fingers in Levi’s dark, silky hair. His fingers twitched, and Levi smiled against his lips.  He wanted to see that smile. Levi then moved on to pepper light kisses on his neck and clavicle, every now and then, the sharp sting on teeth.  

He hadn’t realized how much he would want to touch and hold and look at his new lover.  Was Levi the first to blindfold him and tie him up? No. But he is the first person in centuries that did it for Erwin’s pleasure and not their own.  

The shock of liquid heat dripping across chest, jerked him from his thoughts.  He hissed, and groaned. It took a few moments for to work through the change in tactics.  The jolt from the heat of the wax was just on the pleasurable side of pain, and it left him wanting.

“Damn,” Erwin panted.  This was definitely something he had not seen coming, both figuratively and literally.

“You good?”

“So good,” Erwin groaned at the shock of cold against the heat of his skin.  Levi traced his nipples with ice, chilling him, but there was still the sting of heat just scant inches away.  Just as his skin was starting to numb from the cold, another drip of molten wax over his chilled skin. His body jerked in pleasurable pain, back arching, hips hitching.

“Holy fuck !  Levi!”  He couldn’t even recognize the sound of his own voice, distorted with need and desperation.  How long had it been since he desperately needed a lover? Not since Leui, that was certain. But Levi, who held his hips down with bruising force just to gently kiss his lips, was proving to be someone he needed more desperately than anything.  And wasn’t that just frightening?

“Erwin?”

“Good, I’m good.”  The blonde hissed as another dribble of hot wax landed just above his belly button.  However, the shock of cold felt afterward was between his legs as Levi gently teased his entrance with a slick finger.  His thighs trembled. “Oh, fuuck.”

“Erwin?  This okay?”  The blonde could only writhe in response.  He was so hard it hurt. “I need you to talk to me.”

“ Deo placere, futuo, ”*

“Um, I’m a little rusty on my conversational Latin, so I will need you to translate.”  There was an undercurrent of amusement in Levi’s voice. Erwin had even realized he had reverted to Latin.

“Levi, please,” he asked, no begged.  Then Levi was pushing in, and it had been lifetimes since he felt the burn of someone stretching him open, and heat and pressure was almost too much.

“Breathe, Erwin.  I’ve got you. That’s it.  Relax for me. I don’t want to hurt you,” Levi cooed in his ear.  He wasn’t going to lie and say it didn’t hurt or feel awkward after so long, but was also incredible and wonderful, and he wanted nothing else but feel Levi slowly working him open.  He arched and pulled against his restraints, trying to get closer, trying get more...anything.

“Damn!”  He growled as another trail of hot wax slid along his thigh, distracting him from a second finger entering his body.  His body felt suspended from reality and all he could was feel the heat of the wax, the burn of the stretch, the pleasure coursing through his body.  

Levi gave him no time to process before nipping the inside of his thigh.  It was another distraction as something colder and smoother than fingers was pushed inside him.  It was curved and pressed wickedly upon his prostate. The unfamiliarity was a little uncomfortable.

“Ready?”  Levi asked, and Erwin was confused but he nodded anyway.  He felt that telling Levi no was an impossibility at this point, not when the man was making his body sing with pleasure he had long forgotten about.  Was he ready? Of course. He was ready for anything Levi had to offer.

At least until Levi turned the vibrator on.

“What...Levi…”. Erwin’s breath stuttered from his chest at the feeling of something vibrating against his prostate.  He had never felt such a sensation. It was so intense that he couldn’t breathe. He turned his head, pressing his face into his arm, chest heaving with an attempt to pull in some air.  He had never experienced such intense pleasure that it verged on painful.

“Oh, shit, sorry!  I didn’t mean to turn it up that high.”  He could vaguely make out Levi stammering and then him shuffling the toy lodged deep inside him.  It took a few seconds, but the vibrations lowered in intensity and he was able to catch a few deep breaths.

“Levi,” he moaned pathetically.  “What is that device?”

“A prostate massager.  Like it?”

“I’m not certain...it’s-“  Erwin shifted. “Oh, oh, fuck .”

“Erwin, I need to know if you want me to stop,” Levi’s voice sounded so far away.  His mind could not comprehend the foreign source of pleasure, but…

“No, no, don’t stop,” he rasped.

“Okay,” Levi said softly before kissing him tenderly.  Erwin whimpered when Levi shifted back. He braced himself for the chill of ice when he heard it tinkling in the glass, but was shocked to feel liquid heat trailing down his hip, close to his groin.  Before he could process the surprise, Levi was sucking his cock into his mouth, cold and full of small slivers of ice. He shivered violently.

Levi swallowed around Erwin as cold water leaked out of his mouth and down the blonde’s shaft.  He bobbed his head, creating a comfortable rhythm and trying to take Erwin deeper. Just when Erwin thought he was adjusting to this onslaught of pleasure, Levi started pulling the wax from Erwin’s skin, making his nerve endings overly sensitized as it was exposed.  The smaller man raked his nails over each patch of freshly exposed skin, causing Erwin to buck his hips, driving him further down Levi’s throat.

“You’re so responsive, baby.  God, I just want to see how much you can take until you’re crying, begging me to let you come,” Levi teased, voice deep and scratchy from sucking Erwin’s cock.

“But, I can’t come.  Oh, gods. I can’t.” Erwin sounded positively frantic, and he was embarrassed by how much he needed Levi.

“I know, I know.  I’m not going to do that to you.”  What he did instead was pump the toy in and out of Erwin’s body, fucking him with it slowly.  “Want me to ride you? Just like this?”

“No.”

“No?”  All motion stopped.  The only thing that could be heard was their panting breaths and the muffled buzz of the vibrator.  “Do you want to st-“

“I want you to fuck me, Levi.”

“Shit.  Okay, I wouldn’t have guessed that, but yeah.”  Levi gently pulled the toy from Erwin’s body, and turned it off.  The small hand on Erwin’s hip trembled.

“Just one request,” Erwin interrupted as he heard the click of cap on the bottle of lube.

“What is it?”  Levi’s voice was doing things to Erwin.

“May we remove the blindfold?  I love the look on your face when you come.”

“You think you deserve it?”  Levi teased, with a hint of laughter.

“I promise I will be so good for you, Master,” Erwin retorted, rolling his hips with a moan.

“So not fair.  You’ve had centuries to practice seduction,” the smaller man pouted, but untied the blindfold anyway.

“Better,” The blonde said, blinking to adjust to the soft afternoon lift filtering through the curtains.  Levi was perched beside his hip, gloriously naked and aroused. He looked beautiful and ethereal in the sunlight, like some sort of mythical god, and Erwin wanted to worship at his alter.  “Much better.”

“What?  What’s with the goofy look on your face?”

“You’re beautiful,” Erwin murmured, surprising himself.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Levi replied with a blush.  He quickly turned away from Erwin, shifting between his spread thighs.

“I mean it.”

“I know, but it’s weird hearing it.”  Levi looked at him, gaze softening as he leaned across Erwin’s body to kiss him.  Levi seemed content to lay against Erwin, kissing him slowly, mapping all the textures of his mouth thoroughly.  Erwin sighed into the kiss, relaxing his body to Levi’s touch. Their cocks pressed together between them, and they bucked against each other slowly, gently, drawing the moment out.  And when the need for air won out against the want of kissing, Erwin whimpered.

“Levi…”

“God, don’t say my name like that.”  Levi squeezed his eyes shut. “I want you so fucking bad.”

“Then take me.”

“I’m going to gag you if you don’t shut up,” the dark-haired man threatened weakly.  Erwin just smiled as Levi started slicking his fingers. When Levi pressed one slick digit inside him, his smile melted as his face went slack with pleasure and he moaned.  It didn’t take long to adjust to the intrusion, and soon a second finger was added. Levi teased around his prostate, sliding in and out, never in any rhythm and it had Erwin panting.  When a third finger was added, he could feel the burn of the stretch and he hissed as Levi pressed in ever so slowly.

“You okay?” Levi asked.  Erwin nodded. “I mean it Erwin.  Don’t let me hurt you.”

“It’s fine, just has been a few centuries.”

“God, why is that such a turn-on?”  Levi worked his fingers in and out of Erwin gently, pushing in further as tense muscles began to relax.  Erwin writhed underneath him, as much as his restraints would allow.

“Levi, I’m ready,” The blonde groaned as Levi teased over his prostate.  He felt the tremor that coursed through Levi’s body. Their eyes met, and Erwin nodded in assurance.  Levi bit his lip, gently pulling his fingers from Erwin, leaving him feeling empty. He watched as Levi slicked his cock and positioned himself.

Erwin took a deep breath when he felt Levi press against him, hot and hard.  His body trembled with anticipation. He hadn’t realized he wanted this so badly. It had been so long since he felt the press of a cock inside his body, the burn of the stretch as he was breached, the fullness as his body adjusted to the intrusion.  It was delicious, and Erwin grieved his ability to orgasm for the first time in centuries.

“Fuck, look at you.  You want it so bad, don’t you?”  Levi’s voice was hoarse and gravely, and Erwin can only close his eyes and grit his teeth as Levi pressed into him slowly.  It was torture. He wanted Levi in him, but he was going so slow .

“I’m not going to break,” he prodded.

“Just because you can’t come, doesn’t mean that I can’t,” Levi growled.  “It’s just...you feel so damn good. Erwin, fuck, watching you take my cock…”

Erwin groaned, loud and low, and it sounded filthy and debauched, but he didn’t care.  Levi had finally bottomed out, thighs pressing against his ass. How he had missed the feeling of letting go, someone else taking control, inside him, filling him.  His entire body hummed with sensation. It was almost more than he could handle.

“Levi, move.  It’s so...I just need you to move,” Erwin puffed out on shaking breaths, wrecked before they had truly started.

“I don’t know.  You’re so tight .  I may not last,” the smaller man warned, even as he started grinding against Erwin, driving his cock deeper.  Erwin pulled harder at the ropes binding him the headboard, muscles bulging at the effort to free himself. He wanted, God’s how he wanted.  He attempted to roll his hips, but Levi held them in an iron grip that was likely to leave bruises.

“It doesn’t matter.  Come on, Levi. I want it,” the blonde ground out between clenched teeth.

His pleas were finally acknowledged as he felt Levi shift.  There was a small experimental thrust of hips, and then a pause.  Levi studied his face intently for a few moments before pulling back and thrusting in again.  Erwin whined pathetically. Levi must have found what he had been looking for in Erwin’s expression, because he started building a rhythm.  It was sweetest of agonies, feeling the drag of Levi’s cock inside his body as he slowly pulled out, just to push back in sharply with a sweet little grinding motion each time their hips met.  And Erwin let out an embarrassing high-pitched yip of surprise when Levi made contact with his prostate.

“There it is,” Levi whispered hotly against his skin, devilish little grin on his lips.  Levi’s hands felt like hot brands as they moved from Erwin’s hips to his back, making him arch in such a way that allowed him to slide deeper, caressing his prostate frequently.  How he wished he could come. Levi’s lips, teeth, and tongue danced across his skin, tugging at his nipples, leaving bruising little bites. His entire body felt as though it was on fire, trembling with the intensity of pleasure he had long forgot was possible.  How he absolutely adored this man.

“Levi.”  The name left his lips like a plea, like a prayer.  Levi’s hips jerked sharply, and Erwin knew he was close.  He could feel the man’s arousal coursing through him, the energy making his body feel electrified.  Levi grunted and moaned as his thrusts became harder and more frantic.

“Oh, fuck, Erwin, ” Levi moaned, burying his face in Erwin’s chest, arms wrapping around him tightly as his orgasm shook his body.  Erwin could feel the rush of warmth inside him, the shiver in Levi’s body, the rush of energy as his own body fed off Levi’s - the only way he could feel sated after sex.  But, for some reason, he felt emotionally raw and vulnerable in away he had not been since Leui. His body was trembling with the intensity of it, and it scared him. He had not been so emotionally connected to another person for so long.  

He watched as Levi slowly came back to himself.  He was so beautiful, with his dark hair mussed, cheeks flushed, lips red and swollen, and gray eyes soft and affectionate.  He could truly love this man. That was the thought that caused panic to rise in his chest. What could ever come of it? Just heartbreak, that Erwin would feel for eternity.  It’s not as if Levi could ever love him back. He was a smart man, one who knew not to get too emotionally invested in Erwin, for he only had just a handful of weeks left before Erwin would once again be bound by terms of his curse.  Levi would move on and forget him, just as the rest of his masters have, but Erwin would live out an eternity with the memory of Levi.

“Are you alright?  You’re trembling.” Levi quickly untied him, and pulled him close.  “Erwin?”

“I’m fine.  Just a little overwhelmed by you.”  Erwin wrapped his arms around Levi and kissed him gently.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” the smaller man teased with a smug grin.

“As well you should.”  The ‘my love’ almost slipped past his lips.  He couldn’t let Levi know how he felt.  He would continue to fall in love with the man holding him, but he wasn’t ever going to tell him.  If he was smart, he would distance himself now, and remind himself this would end in just a few short weeks.  But he didn’t want to. He wanted this one thing for himself. He entire existence was to serve others, but if he had just a few memories of a fantastic month spent with a beautiful, wonderful man, it could almost make this existence bearable.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”  Levi looked at him with concern, eyes lidded and sleepy, brows knotted together.

“After that, how can I be anything but?  Rest now, and then it’s my turn,” said flirtatiously, diverting from the emotion swelling in his chest.

“You’re insatiable,” Levi accused.

“Only for you.  Always for you.”

Chapter Text

Monday morning brought black clouds and freezing rain.  It was dreary, cold,  and damp, and the shrill sound of the alarm clock was just one of the many reasons Levi hated waking.  He blindly swatted at the clock until it stopped the incessant racket and pulled the blankets up just a little higher.

Somehow, during the course of the night, he had curled himself around Erwin’s back, surprisingly becoming the big spoon.  The blonde was still sleeping, breaths soft and even, and Levi couldn’t help but to press closer.  Erwin’s skin was warm and slightly damp where they were pressed together.  Levi buried his face between the blonde’s shoulder blades and breathed deep, the smell of soap, sweat, and something inherently Erwin permeated his senses, and a sense of comfort washed over him.  

Even though he secretly missed the scent of their lovemaking on Erwin’s skin.

He took a deep breath and softly kissed up his lover’s spine, causing Erwin to stir slightly.  His hands mapped over golden skin and defined muscles, giving rise to a contented sigh by the man in his arms.

“I have to get ready for work,” Levi bemoaned as Erwin pulled Levi’s arm around him, linking their fingers together.

“Already?”

“Mmm,” Levi hummed in acknowledgment.  “Why don’t you stay in bed?  No need to go out in this nasty weather.  I’m sure you’re bored with sitting at the museum all day anyway.”

“I suppose it would be nice to not have to go out in the rain,” Erwin agreed.

“Have a lazy day.  I’ll come by and bring you lunch.”

“Levi, you do realize that I don’t actually get hungry, right?  At least not for food.”  Erwin flipped over and pinned Levi under him.  “So, if you come by for lunch, don’t bother bringing me a cheeseburger.”  The grin on Erwin’s face told of his intentions.

“But you eat,” Levi protested weakly as Erwin nibbled on the delicate skin behind his ear.

“It’s nice to feel normal, and eating food helps with that.  Besides, I still enjoy the taste, regardless of whether or not it nourishes.”  Erwin leaned back and studied Levi for a moment before smiling devilishly.  “Or, I could just cover you in warm honey, and have you for lunch.”

“Seriously?  That would be such a mess.”

“Levi, I think you are missing the point,” Erwin grinned.  “I want to get my fill off your pleasure.  I’m sure that when it comes to you, I’ll never be satiated.”

“Regardless, I have to work, and your libido will have to wait.”  Levi leaned up and kissed Erwin, pushing him back gently.

“Mmm, shame,” Erwin murmured against his lips.  “One day I will talk you into staying in bed so I can make love to you all day.”

“You’re killing me,” Levi groaned as Erwin kissed him long and deep.  ‘Make love,’ Erwin had said.  He had never defined sex that way before.  Did he mean it?  Was it a slip of the tongue?  Just a ploy to turn Levi on?

“You are thinking too hard, my lo-...Levi.”  Erwin had his face pressed against Levi’s shoulder.  It was domestic and affectionate, and it made Levi relax in a way he never thought he could.  This man, who had just literally appeared into Levi’s life less than two weeks ago was quickly becoming someone important to Levi.  Instead of scaring him like these feelings usually did, he felt...relief.  He felt as if he finally found something that had been missing all along...complete.

“I have to go or I’ll be late,” he admitted with audible disappointment.

“I’ll be here when you return,” Erwin breathed across his skin, hand stroking down the curve of Levi’s spine in a gentle caress.

“See you then,” Levi kissed the blonde on the head before pulling away slowly to get dressed.  Erwin was stretched out languidly along the bed, cat napping when Levi left.

Levi shook off his coat and umbrella under the outside awning before entering the museum.  He placed his umbrella in the stand as he carefully dried his shoes on the rug just inside the door.  It was a wet, depressing mess outside, and he was grateful for the warmth of the museum as he made his way to his office to hang up his sodden coat.  He wished he had let Erwin talk him into staying in bed.  Being tangled up in long limbs and warm skin was preferable to a cold, wet day.

His office keys jingled loudly in the dimly lit, empty hallway.  He looked up as he approached his office to see a haggard, tired-looking Dr. Smith standing at his door.

“Dr. Smith?”

“Levi, do you have a moment?”

“Yeah, of course.  Come in.”  Levi unlocked the door and entered, stripping his coat and turning on the lights.  “Have a seat.”

“I spoke to Keith Friday evening, about Erwin.”

“Why don’t I like the look on your face?”

“He had a difficult time.  The bracelet is old, older than Erwin…”

“What did Keith say, Smith?”  Levi’s hands clenched into fists, nails biting into the skin of his palms.

“He found the way to break the curse.”

“That’s great news—“

“And we’re over two thousand years too late to do it.”

“Wh-What?”

“The curse could only be broken either by Circe herself, or by the one Erwin betrayed her for.”

“Leui,” Levi answered.

“Yes.  I’m so sorry, Levi.”  The older man truly looked pained by this news.  “I know how much he means to you, and I wish I had better news, for the both of you.”

“No, I appreciate all the work you put into this when you didn’t have to.  I just…”. Levi’s voice hitched.  “I just wish we had better news.  I don’t mean to be rude, but I think I need to be alone for a while.”

“I understand.  Please, just know that I’m here for you.  You’re like a son to me.”

“Thank you...that means a lot to me.”  Levi watched as Dr. Smith walked out of his office, shutting the door gently behind him.  As soon as the door clicked shut, Levi crumpled to his chair.  It hurt.  It hurt more than he thought it would.  He buried his face in his hands and cried in a way that he had not since his mother died.

Erwin felt restless.  Levi had yet to come home.  He had anticipated a lunchtime visit, as they had teased each other about it that morning, but lunchtime came and went with no sign of Levi.  It seemed that dinner would also be spent in solitude.  Maybe staying behind was a mistake.

Erwin paced the living room nervously.  He did not know how to reach any of Levi’s friends to see if they had heard from him.  He had no idea how to get to the museum to see if the smaller man may be working late.  He hated this helplessness.  

 He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Levi’s key turning in the lock.  It was nearing eight o’clock.

“Good, you’re dressed.  Grab your coat,” Levi said, barely even through the door.

“Are we going somewhere?”  Erwin hurried to slip on his shoes and grab his coat.

“Yeah, the movies.  I want to take you to the movies.”  Levi looked pale and distant.

“Why?  You don’t look like you are feeling well.  Maybe we should just stay here so you can lay down--”

“I want to go on a date with you, dammit!”  Levi’s lips thinned into a hard line before he let out a tired breath.  “I just want to be with you in more ways than just sexual...please.”

“Of course, Levi.  I do not know what a date is, but I would love to go with you.”  That made Levi grin slightly, which made Erwin relax just a little.

“Well, then, if we want to make it in time for the next show, we better get going.”  Levi grabbed Erwin by the hand and led him from the apartment.

It was strange the way Levi treated him, like a lover and not a sex slave.  The other masters had always kept him hidden away, not even speaking to him unless they wanted sex.  

And Levi only wanted to take him to the movies.

It was quite an experience for Erwin.  There was popcorn and sugary sweets and sodas.  The place was bustling with other people.  And Levi held his hand through it all, as if they were truly together.  Erwin wanted to weep with happiness.  Yet, Levi still had that hurt look in his eyes.

Levi snuggled against him throughout the movie that he couldn’t keep up with because of references to things he had not experienced, but it was still enjoyable.  Levi tried to explain the movie to him, quietly whispering in his ear, and Erwin couldn’t remember the last time he had so much fun.

“Thank you, Levi.  I really enjoyed the date,” Erwin said with a bright smile as they left the theater.

“It’s not over yet. I still want to take you to dinner.”  Levi tugged on his hand, leading him to the car.

“But isn’t it rather late?”

“Doesn’t matter.  I know the perfect place.  It’s nothing fancy, but the food is good.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Of course I’m sure.  I promised you a date, and I plan on keeping that promise.”

They soon found themselves in the late night market district, squeezed up to a small bar and eating some of the best modern cuisine he had ever tasted.  Levi swore it was good because it was deep fried and so unhealthy, but Erwin didn’t care about healthy.  Levi seemed to be in better spirits and that was all that mattered to Erwin.

“You’re going to make yourself sick,” Levi warned with a grimace as Erwin ate another beignet.

“So good, it’s worth it,” Erwin said around a mouthful of warm pastry.

“But you’re forgetting the best part of the date.”

“What would that be?  You forget, this is my first date.”

“The best part of a good date is the part where I take you home and take you to bed,” Levi said with a sly little grin.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?  Let’s get out of here.”  Erwin pulled Levi to his side and nuzzled into his hair.

They had barely made it through the door before Erwin found himself being pulled into a desperate, hungry kiss that stole his breath and made his heart race.  Levi wasted no time in stripping off his coat while kicking off his shoes.  Erwin took the hint and followed suit.  

Levi’s hands were everywhere, clawing at their clothes, practically tearing them in his haste to remove them.  Erwin was overwhelmed with the strength of his passion, and struggled to keep up.  

“Bedroom.  Now,” Levi growled, nipping Erwin’s bottom lip.

“Feisty,” Erwin moaned at the pained pleasure of Levi’s teeth scraping his flesh.  He grinned before lifting Levi, allowing him to wrap around him, and carrying him to the bedroom.

“On the bed, against the headboard.  I want to ride you.”

“Levi?  Are you okay?  What’s the rush?”

“Just want you,” Levi huffed, reaching for the lube and popping the cap.  

“Want help?”  Erwin asked with a saucy little grin.

“No, you take too long.  I want you in me now.”  Levi slicked his own fingers before hastily sinking two inside his body, groaning at the stretch.  “Fuck, that feels good.”

“Levi,” Erwin panted before diving in and kissing Levi, all teeth and tongue and bruising.  

“Need you.  Need you now,” Levi panted, breaking the kiss and gripping Erwin’s cock.  He stroked him firmly with a hand full off too much lube, but Erwin was too caught up in the moment to care.  Levi straddled his hips, lining up his cock to press against his hastily stretched hole.

“You’re mine,” Levi growled, burying his fingers in Erwin’s hair and tugging his head back to lick into the blonde’s mouth.

“Yours,” Erwin answered with a breathless moan.

“No one else can have you.  I won’t let them.”

“Levi.”  Erwin called his name in desperation as Levi lowered himself on Erwin’s cock, shaking in Erwin’s arms.  

“Mine,” Levi whined as the stretch was almost too much.  “Say it,” he demanded, raking his nails down Erwin’s chest, leaving sting welts in their wake.

“Yours,” Erwin moaned as Levi became fully seated, trembling.

“Again,” Levi ordered, grinding down, getting used to the fullness.

“Yours,” Erwin repeated, grasping Levi’s hips, helping to guide his movements.

“Come on, Erwin.”  Levi flexed his thighs and rose up.  “Make me believe it.”  He lowered himself back down, setting a punishing pace, overwhelming Erwin.

“Yours, oh fuck, yours.  Damn it, Levi.  I’m yours, I’m yours,” Erwin practically sobbed and Levi bounced on his lap.

“Better.”  Levi rolled his hips wickedly and moaned loudly as Erwin hit his prostate.  “Who do you belong to?”

“You, Levi.  Always you.”  Erwin’s hands stroked over Levi’s body, fingers slipping against his damp skin as he clung to him. 

“That’s right.  Mine, you’re fucking mine.  No one, I mean no one, can have you but me.  I don’t care what that bitch, Circe, did.  You’re mine, and she can’t have you.”

“Levi,” Erwin cried as Levi’s movements became erratic and uncoordinated.  “That’s it.  Oh please, Levi.  Come on.  Come for me.  Show me, show me I belong to you.”

“Fuck,” Levi whined as his hips stilled, letting his orgasm wash over him.  He trembled violently in the aftermath, vision going black.

He came to as Erwin was washing him down gently with a damp washcloth.  The blond smiled at him softly and brushed his hair back with his fingertips.

“Welcome back.”

“Mm,” Levi hummed, content, pulling Erwin down into a sweet kiss.

“Now, are you going to tell me what that was about?  You were so worked up.”  

Levi stiffened unconsciously.  He had to tell Erwin.  The man had a right to know.  He bit his lip and looked away.

“Levi?”

“I’m so sorry, Erwin.”

“What do you mean?”  The blond sat back.  “Why are you sorry?”

“I’m not able to break the curse.  We’re too late.  Only Leui could have broken it.  I’m so very sorry.”  Levi could feel the tears welling up again as Erwin pulled him close.

“It’s not...it’s not your fault.”  Erwin tilted Levi’s head back to look at him, his blue eyes suspiciously shiny.  “I’m thrilled with the thought that you cared enough to try.  Please, please don’t cry.  You have given me more in these few days than I have experienced in over a hundred lifetimes.  For that alone I am grateful.”

‘I love you,’ Levi wants to shout, the thought taking him by surprise.  But he can’t say it.  He won’t do that to Erwin.

“I really wanted-“

“I know, and you are a wonderful person for it.  Please, don’t give this another thought.  Just let me treasure what time I have left with you before it ends.  Give me something special to look back on.”  

Levi opened his mouth to protest, but Erwin just kissed him sweetly, and kept kissing him until his body gave into the exhaustion of the day, and he drifted off to sleep, Erwin arms around his body and his taste on his tongue.

“I love you.”

“What are you going on about?”  Leui looked up from the bow he was mending to stare at the man across from him.  “Did you hit your head during that last battle?”

“No,” Hariwini said with a smile.  “I adore you, and thought you should know.”

“I think old age is getting to you, or possibly the heat.”  

“It’s you. You’re going to my head,” Hariwini teased, pulling his smaller lover to him.

“Did you forget I was hired to kill you?”

“No, but maybe you forgot that you decided against it in order to become my lover.”  Hariwini kissed the soft skin behind Leui’s ear.  “I love you.”

“You’re ridiculous.”  Leui pushed Hariwini away.

“You don’t have to say it.  I don’t expect you to feel the same,” Hariwini said with all seriousness 

“You’re a fool,” Leui accused.  “You’re mine.  You will always be mine.  In every lifetime, you will belong to me.”

“So, I suppose you love me?”

“Yes, you fool.  I love you.”

Levi woke slowly with an aching head and a heavy heart.  Erwin’s side of the bed was empty and cold.  He wasn’t sure just when he had started to think of it as Erwin’s side of the bed, but he supposed that he was going to have to get used to sleeping alone eventually, but he wasn’t ready to adjust yet.  

He eased himself from the bed and went in search of painkillers and Erwin.  He found the Tylenol in the bathroom and Erwin on the balcony.  He was standing in the cold in nothing but a thin pair of sleep pants.    He looked as miserable as Levi felt.

“Erwin, come in out of the cold,” Levi requested softly.

“Did I wake you?” the blond asked.

“No, but the bed is cold without you.”  Levi tugged on Erwin’s arm, pulling back into the apartment and leading him to the couch to cover him with a blanket.

“I’m sorry.  I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Erwin, I’m so sorry.  I shouldn’t have gotten your hopes up-“

“No, no, please, don’t think for one moment that I am anything but grateful.”  Erwin caressed his cheek.  “I’m thinking about how much I will miss you.  And I was wondering if you would do me a favor.”

“Yes, of course.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, can we have more dates?  I want to have more happy memories with you while I can.”

“Of course.”  Levi bit his lip to hide it’s trembling.  “Maybe we can go to the ocean and spend our last weekend there. It will be too cold to enjoy the water, but it would still be romantic.”

“Sounds perfect.  Thank you, Levi.”

Levi didn’t want to think about how Erwin’s thank you sounded more like goodbye.

Chapter Text

“Now what?” Petra asked after Levi had broken the news.

“Now nothing.”  Levi met her gaze, then,  “Now I learn to let go.”  Levi looked away.

“There has to be a way to keep you together!  You can’t just give up, Levi!”  Petra urged.

“I’m sorry, Petra, but there is no other option.”

“What if we just kept passing around the cuff-“

“Don’t you think we already thought of that?  Erwin is an incubus.  He feeds off my energy.  Too much time spent together and it would start affecting my health…hell, it could probably kill me.  Erwin has made it very clear that he is not willing to risk my well-being in order for us to be together.”  Levi’s tone made it clear that he and Erwin had that conversation more than once.

“So, that’s it, then?” Petra’s voice warbled with emotion.

“Afraid so.”

Everyone in their group had silently agreed not to discuss the inevitable.  Yet, they all grieved Erwin as if he were dying.

Things changed between Erwin and Levi after realizing that Erwin’s curse was unbreakable.  Levi couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it felt like something within Erwin had changed.  Levi knew on some level that Erwin would be understandably upset, and he fully expected the sadness in his blue eyes, but Erwin seemed to always throw Levi for a loop.  While, yes, Erwin was admittedly disheartened, he had become even more attentive.  Levi had expected distance, but what he received was worship.

“I want to memorize the way your skin feels under my lips,” he had whispered against the sensitive skin of Levi’s inner thigh after giving him the most thorough and intense blow job he had ever experienced.

“I can’t get enough of the way you taste,” was moaned against the plush curve of his ass as Erwin ate him out.

“You feel so good.  I will spend eternity thinking of how good it is to be inside you,” Erwin moaned against his back as he fucked into him from behind.

Every spare moment, every day, Levi was being brought to new heights of unimaginable pleasure, before being kissed so adoringly with a longing Levi could feel in the depths of his soul.

It was devastating.

Yet, it boggled Levi’s mind as to why he let himself get involved so deeply with such a hopelessly fantastical situation.  Levi knew in the back of his mind that this situation was doomed from the beginning.  Even if he had been successful in breaking the curse, there was little to no chance that Erwin would want to remain tied to him after securing freedom from his bondage.  

Still, Levi couldn’t help but to be caught up in the fantasy, caught up in Erwin.  He fell so hopelessly in love in such an unreasonable amount of time, even though he knew that he was going to be heartbroken at the end of it all.  But Levi welcomed the heartbreak because he had the chance to love Erwin, and he couldn’t imagine ever regretting one moment of it.  Even now, as he finalized the arrangements for their trip to the beach, Levi’s heart swelled with love for the man that was laying beside him, fingers lazily tracing the line of his hip.

Erwin looked up at Levi, blue eyes tender and sad.  He smiled fondly and placed a kiss on Levi's hip before continuing his gentle caress.  There was nothing sexual in the way Erwin was touching him, but there was an intimacy in the touch that was more dizzying than any of their sexual encounters.

“We’re all set,” Levi confirmed as he put away his phone.  “We leave in the morning.  We should be there by early afternoon.”

“Thank you, Levi.  I am eternally grateful.”

“I’m the grateful one,” Levi said as he lay down to face Erwin.  He traced the lines of his face with his fingertips.  He only had two more nights with Erwin, so he needed to memorize everything - the slope of his nose, the fullness of his eyebrows, the plushness of his lips, the curve of his chin…every part of Erwin…before he lost him forever.

For when he returned home the day after tomorrow, he would be coming back alone.

“Hariwini!   Damn him.  Where is he?”

“Looking for someone?”  The feminine voice caught Leui off guard.  It was warm, musical, seductive.  It caused a cold chill to dance down his spine.  He turned to see a beautiful woman with fiery hair and golden eyes.  

“Circe,” Leui spat, not sure how he knew at whom he was staring.

“Yes, dear warrior, but I’m afraid you are too late,” the witch scoffed, her laughter carried softly on the wind, sweet and melodious, despite its maliciousness.

“What do you mean, too late?  Too late for what?”

“To save him, of course.  He did put up quite a fight.  I was beginning to get offended by his rebuttals.  You should have heard the way he called out for you…”

“You bitch!  What did you do with him?”  Leui shook with rage.

“I didn’t kill him if that is what you’re implying.  I just made it so that he could never deny me, or any other woman, for eternity.  I have hidden him away where you can never find him.”  Circe’s smile was cruel.

“Let him go.  Or I promise you I will find him.”

“Sorry, mortal, but he’s mine.  But I will make this deal with you.  If you should ever happen to find him, and he still holds love for you, then I will free him, but only if you still love him in return.”

“There will never be a lifetime where I do not love him.  So, prepare yourself, witch.  I will find him, and he will be free.  I swear it.  When that day comes, you better hope you are dead, because I will kill you myself if you’re not.”

Levi’s only answer was one last echoing laugh as Circe disappeared as suddenly as she appeared, leaving no trace of his lover.

Levi woke, screaming.  His body was drenched in sweat and he couldn’t stop shaking.  Erwin startled beside him, concern and worry on his face.

“Levi, are you okay?”

“It was just a dream,” Levi panted, not daring to try and lie to Erwin.  No, he wasn’t okay, and he wasn’t sure if he would ever be again.

“I’m sorry that it’s so damn cold out here, but this is the closest beach,” Levi bemoaned as he hunkered down further into his scarf.

“It’s fine,” Erwin said with a breath of laughter and a sad smile.  “It’s been so long since I’ve seen the ocean that I’d almost forgotten what it looks like.  It may be the last time I get to see it.”

“Erwin…”

“Come here.”  Erwin pulled Levi to him and wrapped the flaps of his coat around Levi as the smaller man nuzzled into his chest.  The cold, salty sea breeze ruffled his hair and chilled his skin, but he felt warm where his lover was pressed against him.

“Levi, I have one more favor to ask,” Erwin said softly, still holding Levi tight.

“What is it?”  Levi tried to pull back and look at Erwin’s face, but he refused to let go.

“Tomorrow, I want you to throw the cuff into the ocean.”

“What?!  Hell no!  You’ll be-“

“I’ll be trapped in that damn thing forever, but at least it will be with the memories of you.  No one else will have the opportunity to use me ever again.”  Erwin, then, pushed Levi back from him so he could look him in the eyes.

“I can’t…” Levi pleaded.

“You can.  Please, Levi, let my last experience of this world be the time we shared together.  I can’t stand the thought of…servicing…someone else after having been with you.”

“Okay, yeah, if that’s what you want,” Levi couldn’t keep the tremble from his voice at the thought of Erwin never being free again.  He could feel the burn in his eyes and at the back of his throat.

“Please don’t be upset.  This will be the closest thing to happiness I can have in such a dire situation.”  Erwin caressed his cheek tenderly with cold fingers.

“I just the thought of you being trapped-“

“And I hate the thought of letting you go, of leaving you.  I would stay with you for an eternity if I could.”    Erwin placed a sweet kiss at the corner of Levi’s mouth, lips frozen but soft.  

“Erwin…” Levi shivered as the gesture stole the air from his lungs.

“Let’s go inside.  You’re freezing.  I’m going to spend the rest of the night trying to warm you up.” Erwin’s tease was half-hearted at best, but neither of them acknowledged it.

“Let’s order room service instead of going out for dinner.  I’m feeling selfish and want you to myself,” Levi suggested, trying to pretend that this wasn’t breaking him.  Erwin just grinned sadly, playing along.

“Perhaps we could take a nap, let you rest.  I want to be making love to you when the sun rises…”

“Yeah, a nap sounds good,” Levi interrupted because he knew.  He knew that when the moonlight faded, so would Erwin.  

Levi’s chest tightened and, for a moment, he thought his heart would give out.  What he wouldn’t give for more time.  How he wished there were more answers.  Hell, he even wished that Leui was able to find Erwin and break the curse.  That way Levi would have never known him, would have never touched him, would have never fallen in love with him. 

Erwin gently took his hand and kissed his cold palm with a soft kiss.  He held Levi’s hand to his chapped lips as he closed his eyes and inhaled the lingering scent of Levi’s cologne and the salty sea air clinging to his skin.  It took Levi’s breath away.  And, when Erwin lowered Levi’s hand, entwining their fingers, Levi could have sworn he saw tears fall from those impossibly blue eyes.  Neither man acknowledged it, and they silently walked back to the hotel.

“Room service will take at least an hour.  They’re a little busy this evening,” Levi said, hanging up the phone.

“Plenty of time for you to nap,” Erwin said with a gentle smile.  He pulled Levi down to the bed beside him, the warmth of his body soaking through Levi’s chilled skin, warming his body, even though his soul felt frozen. 

Levi hadn’t realized how emotionally exhausted he was until the gentle rise and fall of Erwin’s chest under his cheek calmed him.  The strong, steady beating of the man’s heart in his ear soothed him into the first dreamless sleep he had in days.

In fact, he was sleeping so soundly that he was unaware he had fallen asleep until he heard Erwin’s deep voice rumbling in his ear, “Wake up, Levi.  The food has arrived.”

“Erwin?  What-“

“Come now, you need to eat.  You have not eaten much today,” Erwin spoke against his cheek before pressing a kiss into his skin.  Levi opened his eyes to find Erwin leaning over him, gazing at him fondly.

“Smells good,” Levi murmured sleepily, sitting up groggily, almost disoriented from his nap.

Levi yawned and rubbed at his bleary eyes with the heel of his hand, watching Erwin cross the room with just a couple of long strides.  He lifted the cloche from the tray on the desk and remarked, “There is so much food.  I do hope you are hungry.”

“I could eat,” Levi admitted, begrudgingly.  He wasn’t starving by any means, but he hadn’t been able to eat all day, and the beginnings of a headache was making itself known.  So, he got out of bed and approached Erwin from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist.  

He breathed Erwin in, taking in the salt of the sea air lingering on his skin, the clean smell of laundry, and something warm and undeniably masculine underneath.  Levi blinked back the sting of tears in his eyes and forcefully swallowed the lump forming in his throat.  Heaven and Earth - how he loved this man.  Never had he felt such a soul-deep connection to anyone.  

“Come on, you need to eat,” Erwin said softly, turning in Levi’s arms to press a tender kiss in his hair.

“Yeah, okay.”  Levi sat down and stared at the food in front of him, not really seeing what it was.  While he could acknowledge that it smelled amazing, he couldn’t vouch for the taste of it at all.  He barely registered the fact that he was actively eating it because he couldn’t taste anything, it did not satiate him.  He could not muster any satisfaction in it.  He ate because he had to, and he did begrudgingly admit it alleviated the pain in his head, at least a little.

Erwin sat beside him, also picking at the food in front of them.  Erwin didn’t need to eat,  and he looked like he had little desire to do so.  Levi supposed he was trying to distract himself from the melancholy that descended upon them.  It was well into the night, and their reality could no longer be ignored.  Come sunrise, only Levi would remain, and Erwin would be eternally separated from him.  

“I can’t eat anymore,” Levi said softly, pushing his plate away.  In fact, he feared that if he attempted to take another bite, the whole of it would come back up.   He wasn’t full by any means, but his stomach roiled because his mind was in such turmoil.

Erwin covered the food with the shining silver cloche and sighed.  “Okay.  What would you like…“ he started, only to be interrupted by Levi’s -

“Fuck this shit.”

“I’m sorry?”  Erwin was clearly taken aback by Levi’s outburst.

“I’m tired of us acting like this isn’t bothering us.  Like it’s not absolutely killing me.”  Levi’s bottom lip trembled and he drew a shaky breath.  “I’m devastated, and I don’t want to let you go.”

“Alright, then we won’t pretend.”  Erwin gently brushed the hair from Levi’s forehead and placed a soft kiss just above his brow.  “Instead, why don’t you let me make love to you with what time I have left.”  

Levi’s breath hitched with emotion before it was completely taken away by Erwin’s tender kiss.  Erwin’s hands felt warm on his face, holding him gently in place as their lips melded together, tasting and memorizing.  Levi tightly fisted his hands in Erwin’s shirt, afraid to let go.  

“No, no, no,” Levi pleaded urgently in a hushed tone as Erwin ended the kiss.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Erwin whispered against his lips before pulling back to study Levi.  A small, bittersweet smile pulled at Erwin’s lips.  “I’m still here.”

“But-“

“Right now, Levi, I’m still here, and I want to look at you.”  Erwin brushed the hair back from Levi’s face with trembling fingers.

When the other man’s gaze became too much, Levi blushed and breathed out, “Erwin?”

“I utterly adore you,” Erwin sighed ever so fondly.  He leaned over and kissed Levi on the forehead, the tip of his nose, his temple, his chin, and finally his lips.  It is but the softest touch of his lips, barely a whisper, almost like a tickle of butterfly wings.  It left Levi wanting more.

“Erwin, please,” Levi begged, tugging on Erwin, desperate for the taste of his mouth, the heat of his skin, the sound of his pleasure in his ear…

“I love the way you beg for me,” Erwin confessed, voice low and gravelly with arousal.  He gripped a handful of dark hair at the back of Levi’s head and pulled him in for a passionate kiss that promised pleasure beyond Levi’s most illicit dreams.

They broke the kiss, panting, and Erwin whispered, “Undress for me,” against Levi’s kiss-swollen lips.

“Okay,” Levi readily acquiesced, ready to do anything Erwin asked of him.  Erwin backed away and sat on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees.  The hungry way Erwin looked at him made Levi feel like he was about to be eaten alive.  His heart raced.  It made him feel…powerful, beautiful.

He started with his sweater.  He wasn’t sultry or sexy about it, didn’t try to put on a show.  He just pulled it over his head and let it fall from his fingertips to the floor.  Erwin smiled fondly as Levi shook out his hair.  He did take a little more time with his pants, unbuttoning them before slowly, dragging the zipper down one tooth at a time.  He turned his back on Erwin to push them down his legs, bending over playfully.  He could hear Erwin give a breathy chuckle, and it made Levi smile.  He stopped out of his pants and turned to walk toward Erwin on the bed.

“I think I need help with my underwear,” Levi teased.

“Do you, now?” Erwin raised his hands and put them on Levi’s hips, just over the band of his boxer briefs.  

“Uh-huh,” Levi breathed as Erwin’s fingertips traced the elastic band.

“I never understood why you bother with them at all,” Erwin mused before gripping the fabric tight and ripping it in two.  The thin cotton remnants slid down his legs and Levi could only stare.

“The hell?  You just tore my underwear,” Levi said with awe.

“Yes, I did,” Erwin said proudly, one corner of his mouth curling with a sly grin.

“Completely unnecessary,” Levi retorted.

“Maybe.”  Erwin shrugged.

“But so fucking hot,” Levi groaned as he climbed on Erwin’s lap while devouring his mouth in a hungry kiss.  Erwin’s responding laugh turned into a moan as Levi pressed their bodies together and sucked on his tongue.  Erwin wrapped his arms tightly around him, pressing them even closer together, nails scraping against Levi’s skin.  Levi tried to unbutton Erwin’s flannel shirt, buttons popping off in his haste.

“Now who’s destroying clothes unnecessarily?” Erwin panted against Levi’s lips before kissing him again, shrugging his shirt off in the process.  

“Shut up,” Levi chuckled, pushing Erwin on his back.  Erwin tried to reach for him to pull him closer, but Levi grabbed his hands and placed them on the bed.  “They stay there, for now,” he instructed as he busied himself with undoing the fly of Erwin’s pants. 

He made sure to take his sweet time in doing so.  He gently traced the prominent bulge with his fingertips with just enough force to be felt through the stiff denim.  When Erwin bucked slightly to get more pressure, Levi pressed the heel of his hand against him, giving a taste of the friction Erwin desired.  Erwin moaned so beautifully at the promise of more, that Levi couldn’t help but buck his hips to get some relief for his own aching cock, the rough denim creating a delicious sensation that made him shiver.

He finally fumbled the button open, fingers trembling with want and desire, and pulled down the zipper with haste.  Erwin hissed as the cool hotel air caressed him, and Levi snickered at the man’s lack of underwear.  Levi gently pulled Erwin’s cock from his pants, careful to not let it get caught on the open zipper.  Levi caressed the hot, hard flesh in his hand, making the man beneath him writhe in pleasure.

“That’s enough of that,” Erwin breathed, wrapping his arms around Levi and rolling them over, pinning Levi below him.  The two of them awkwardly and urgently pulled at Erwin’s pants, struggling to get them off without losing contact with each other.  Finally, realizing they were fighting a losing battle, Erwin sprung to his feet and quickly kicked off the offending garment, before covering Levi with his body once more.  He pressed his thigh between Levi’s legs as he pressed his mouth to Levi’s to kiss him with unspeakable tenderness that was juxtaposed to their previous desperation.  

Erwin kissed him long and deeply, tasting every corner of his mouth, feeling every texture with his tongue.  Levi could only cling to him, wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing with equal fervor.  He never wanted this moment to end.  He wanted to feel these kisses forever.  The revenant way Erwin was loving him, reminded Levi that this was it…this was their last time expressing what they meant to each other.  Levi couldn’t help the prickle behind his tightly closed eyes, and ignored the unbidden tears as they cascaded into his hair.  Erwin broke the kiss slowly and pulled back with a look of concern.  Levi shook his head, begging Erwin not to acknowledge his pain.  He seemed to understand and just caressed the tracks of Levi’s tears with trembling fingers. 

“Don’t…just…”

“Shh, you don’t have to tell me, Levi,” Erwin whispered.  

Levi lost himself in the feel of Erwin on top of him, all around him, holding him.  He was overwhelmed by how human Erwin was at this moment, more than any other time they were together.  It was in the way his breath hitched, the way he fumbled awkwardly, and in the tremble in his lips against Levi’s skin.  His hands were impatient but gentle as they readied Levi, but there was a clumsiness that he had never shown before as he slid between Levi’s legs. 

Levi was tense and tired, but impatient as he felt Erwin push in.  It burned in a way that they had never allowed before and Levi was thankful for that little bite of pain.  It made the moment real.  He would still feel it in the morning, in the aftermath, as he would wake alone and question the entire experience.  He gasped and winced, but pressed against Erwin, pushing him deeper, closer, and used the sensation as an anchor that kept him tethered when he felt like he was shattering into painful shards.

“God,” Erwin choked, voice thick and watery.  He dropped his head to Levi’s chest and breathed in the scent of his skin.  Levi tried to ignore the way Erwin sniffled and the tickle of his eyelashes fluttering against his skin.  Levi could only trace the lines of Erwin’s back as he gained his composure.  And, when Erwin raised his head, Levi ignored the flushed cheeks and red eyes.  Instead, he pulled Erwin in, kissed him sweetly, and rolled his hips.  Erwin took the hint and started to give in to the pull of their bodies.  

Levi could only hang on as he gazed at his lover, making sure to memorize the exact blue of his eyes, the shades of gold in his hair.  Time after time, Erwin would bring him to the brink of ecstasy to gently coast him away from falling from the edge.  Levi felt as if his entire body was on fire, heaving with the intensity of everything he was feeling.  The air in the room felt too warm and heavy as if he couldn’t breathe.  His skin tingled and ached with every brush of Erwin’s fingers.  He choked on the emotion building in his throat.  It was the most intense pleasure he had ever felt.  It was more painful than it had a right to be.  He was overstimulated and distressed, and he could no longer hold back.

“I love you,” he sobbed against Erwin’s cheek.  “I love you so damn much.”

Erwin squeezed him tighter, shoulders shaking, breath panting.  Levi couldn’t tell if the moisture falling on his shoulder was from the sweat dripping from Erwin’s hair, or if the man actually broke down crying.  However, his pace didn’t slow this time.  Levi chanced a glance at the window and saw the hazy hue of morning and began to panic.

“Erwin,” he warned.

“No.  I don’t want to go this time,” Erwin begged.  “Levi, I-,” Erwin’s breath hitched.  Levi could feel the pressure building, and knew that their time was almost over.  “I love you.  Please know-”

“I know,” Levi keened as Erwin continued.  

“Shit,” Erwin almost sounded panicked, as his pace started to become uneven.  “What…I think…”

“Erwin?”  The sun was starting to come up over the horizon when Levi reached completion, his vision going blinding white before completely blacking out...falling into unconsciousness.

A new day dawned.

Chapter Text

The bright, morning sunlight streaming through the window felt warm on Levi’s skin, despite the damp chill in the air.  He had one leg uncovered and was, regrettably, facing the window, mentally cursing the fact that he neglected to pull the curtains the night before.  His head was pounding, his skin was itchy and sticky, and he was sore in ways he didn’t even want to contemplate.  Wakefulness was slow in coming, but the late morning sun was persistent, despite Levi’s discomfort.  His attempt to hold off consciousness by burying his face in the pillow was thwarted by his phone’s alarm, obtrusively reminding him that he had other obligations that needed attending.

He reached for his phone and turned off the alarm, shocked by the silence of the room.  It was still and cold and it made him realize that the bed next to him was chillingly empty.  He rolled over to look at the other side of the bed, now devoid of any evidence of the man he had shared his bed with for the past few weeks.  His chest ached and felt close to throwing up.  The pain was more unbearable than he imagined it could be, and he wanted nothing more than to lay in that bed and waste away with the scent of Erwin surrounding him.  But he had a promise to keep, and he wouldn’t dare break his last promise to the man he loved.

Slowly, with a breaking heart and a headache that could rival his worst hangover, he pulled himself from the bed, grimacing with distaste at the unpleasantly wet feeling between his legs.  He would definitely have to shower before finding his way to the pier.  He was uncharacteristically dreading the thought of washing the evidence of their love making from his body, despite how disgusting he was.   He gathered some clean clothes from his bag and laid them on the bed before approaching the nightstand.  He had left the cuff there so he could wake up with Erwin near in some way.

“No, oh no, no, no…what?”  Levi panicked when he saw the cuff laying broken in three pieces.  What could have possibly happened to break it?  What would become of Erwin now that it was destroyed?  He grabbed for his phone with shaking fingers, ready to call Hange, or Dr. Smith, or, hell, that old woman Marie, when there was a shuffling heard from inside the adjoining bathroom.  Did someone break in and attempt to rob him?  Were they still there?  Did they break the cuff?

Levi gripped his phone tighter and made for the bathroom, expecting to find some young thug or a desperate tweaker, but instead found…

“Erwin?  But-but how?”  The man in question was sitting on the bathroom floor, naked and shaking, clearly distraught and overwhelmed.  Levi’s chest constricted, overcome by the utter elation he felt to see Erwin still very much there.

“Levi?  I don’t know…I was sure that… deus bone, quid factum est ?”  Erwin’s chest heaved and he started sobbing.  “ Quasi…dic mihi non somnium.”

“I-I don’t understand what you’re saying, but Erwin, how are you still here?”  Then, Levi felt a sense of deja vu so strong that it made him dizzy, causing him to lean against the door jamb.  

“You did it.  I don’t know how, but you did it,” Erwin murmured, clearly in shock, and unable to register Levi’s struggle.  “I woke up, and had to relieve myself…I didn’t want to wake you.  Then it dawned on me…I haven’t had to piss in centuries.  It was morning, and I had to take a piss.”  

The silence that descended between them was deaf but it allowed them to soak in all that was before them.  This was a scenario that they had not planned for, had not dared to hope for, so…how?  Levi remembered what Dr. Smith’s colleague had told him.  Levi remembered each and every…dream…

Wait…

The dreams…but were they really dreams?  It could be…

Or could it?

“It’s because you’re mine,” Levi realized.  “I told that bitch that you were mine and it didn’t matter how many lifetimes it would take…I would find you.  I finally found you.” 

“Levi?  What are you saying?”  Erwin stood and approached Levi, who was finally getting his bearings.

“I remember dreaming it,” he explained.  “Dreaming that I was him, and the way he felt when you were gone.  I think maybe it wasn’t a dream.  Maybe they were memories.”  Levi looked at Erwin then, to gauge what he may have thought of this revelation.  

“So, you’re saying that-“

“Reincarnation, Erwin.  How else would any of this be possible right now?  Leui was the key to unlocking the curse.  I can imagine his soul wouldn’t rest until he saved you.  I know this because it is how I feel.  It’s the only thing that makes any sense.  Our minds may not have realized it, but our souls did.”  

The realization was overwhelming, but irrefutable.  The evidence was standing in front of him, naked, sporting a huge hickey on his neck and scratches on his shoulders.  And, for the first time, Levi both noticed and remembered the faint freckles on Erwin’s nose, the scar on his side where Levi was certain that he had taken a hit with a pilum.  It was almost as if there were two realities in his head, but in both of them he craved Erwin, loved him. Levi loved him in a way that could not be measured except for the unwillingness to allow a curse, the span of centuries, or literal death to separate them.

“What do I do now?”  Erwin sounded almost panicked.  “I never dreamed that I would be free, and now that I am…”

“It’s okay.  We will figure it out.  We have time now.”  Levi wrapped his arms around Erwin as the man’s shaking continued.

“Are you sure?  You kept your promise.  You are no longer obligated…” Erwin’s voice sounded scared.  Levi had heard a lot of emotion from Erwin in the past few weeks, but fear was new.  

“Obligated?”

“I don’t want to pull you down, now that you have a choice,” Erwin said, earnestly.  It was that earnestness that kept Levi from slapping some sense into him.

“You were always my choice, Erwin.  Nothing has changed since daybreak.  I still love you.  No regrets.”  Something in Levi’s tone must have settled Erwin because he pulled Levi tightly to him and his shaking seemed to subside.

“I feel like I am going every way at once.  Everything feels so different.  Except you.  You’re the only thing that feels familiar right now, and I’m afraid that if I let you go, I may shatter to pieces,” Erwin admitted breathily into Levi’s hair.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.  But speaking of shattered…I’m afraid the cuff may be damaged.”

“Good riddance.  I would set fire to it if it could actually burn.”  Levi chuckled at Erwin’s admission.

“We need a shower,” Levi complained, nose wrinkled in disgust.  “We smell.”

“Well, good thing we are in the bathroom, then,” Erwin laughed.

“Come on, let’s get cleaned up, and then we can figure out…well, everything once when we are clean and have some food in our stomachs.”  As if on cue, Erwin’s stomach rumbled loudly.

“I am hungry,” he admitted.

“Well, then, let’s get this show on the road,” Levi announced, pulling away from Erwin to start the shower.

“I don’t-“

“Never mind, Erwin.  You’ll get the hang of idioms eventually,” Levi said with fondness, before pulling Erwin into the barely lukewarm shower.  “Now come here and clean up the mess you made.”

“I apologize about that,” Erwin said with a blush.  “I can honestly say that I was not expecting to…”

Then it dawned on Levi just why he was such a mess.  He flushed from his chest to his ears once he caught on.  He felt Erwin’s second-hand embarrassment, but was oddly turned on at the same time.

“So, you’re saying-“

“First time in centuries.  I think I may have ascended to another plane of existence, before losing consciousness, that is,” Erwin said with such seriousness that Levi couldn’t help but laugh.  “It’s hardly funny.  I thought I was actually dying.”  Erwin was struggling not to grin, biting his lip in an effort not to show his amusement.

“Oh, God, stop.  I can’t breathe,” Levi huffed as he continued to laugh, feeling happier than he could ever remember feeling in his life.  Erwin’s deep chuckle joined his, and he held Levi tight against him as the shower spray finally turned warm.

“No, I’m not letting you out of this bed,” Erwin groaned as Levi’s alarm blared.

“We have to go to work.  Weekend’s over, lover boy,” Levi declared as he extracted himself from Erwin’s limbs and the tangle of blankets.  Levi studied the naked man on his bed, thinking about the first time he saw Erwin lounging there and grinned.

“What are you grinning at?”  Erwin asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“The first time I saw you laying there naked,” Levi admitted and Erwin started crawling off the bed.

“I believe I offered to suck your cock, my love.”  Erwin came to rest at Levi’s feet, hands spreading warmth as they caressed up his legs.

“Yes, you did,” Levi said breathily as Erwin’s lips followed the path of his hands.  He pushed against Erwin’s forehead with his hand and stepped back.  “And I’m going to tell you no this time, too.”

“You’re so cruel,” Erwin pouted as he stood and stretched.

“Not as cruel as Dr. Smith if we’re late,” Levi scolded.

“Maybe for you, but he’s quite lenient with me.”

“That’s nepotism.  It’s not fair that you work as your ‘father’s’ research assistant, Mr. Smith” Levi pouted.

“Well, Mr. Ackerman, you hired me for the position, and I sleep with you, so what does that say about you?”  Erwin’s tease had Levi rolling his eyes and walking away.

“Get dressed, Erwin Smith.  You have a busy day.  Don’t forget Hange is picking you up at lunch so you can enroll at the University.”  Levi’s sight was obscured by the slightly bathroom door, so he missed Erwin’s giddy little smile.

“Thank you, Levi,” Erwin said with such undying devotion that Levi had to poke his head back into the bedroom.

“For what?  You’re the one who took the entrance exam and got accepted.”  

“For…so much…for everything.  I love you.”  Erwin approached Levi and kissed him so sweetly that Levi blushed.

“Love you, too, old man.  Now hurry or we will be late.”  Levi went back into the bathroom and shoved a toothbrush in his mouth.

“Old man?”  Erwin squawked indignantly.

“I mean,” Levi said with the brush still in his mouth before spitting into the sink.  “You are literally ancient.”

“You’re so cruel,” Erwin said with a dramatic swoon.  “You wound me, lover.”

“Knock it off.  I know we said we had all the time in the world, but that’s not during business hours.”  Levi hurriedly dressed and blew a kiss as he walked into the kitchen to start the coffee pot for Erwin.

“All the time in the world,” Erwin whispered to himself.  “I like the sound of that.”