Chapter Text
Armin is prepared for many things this weekend. His boss grabbing his hand as they walk to greet an ex colleague at the business workshop is not one of them. Armin’s heart skips a beat. “Levi, what—“
“Just play along,” Levi whispers under his breath. “Please.”
Armin doesn’t know what he’s supposed to play along with, but there’s no time to think as Erwin Smith greets them with a blinding smile—until his gaze drops to their linked hands and his jaw tenses visibly.
Oh. So, Erwin Smith, huh? Armin raises an eyebrow as he peers at his boss from the side. Didn’t think your type would be so… tall. Do you have a size kink or does he?
“Good to see you, Levi,” Erwin says and kisses Levi’s check left and right before he regains his elegant posture that seems to come so naturally to him. Armin has never met Erwin in person, but he’s been in countless Zoom meetings with him over the last couple of months. So, his impressive height and physical presence comes as a surprise.
“Erwin,” Levi says impassively, but the grip on Armin’s hand tightens. And oh? Does his boss get sweaty palms when he’s anxious? Armin tries to suppress a smile.
“I didn’t know you were coming, otherwise I would have booked you into our lunch with CEO Shadis today,” Erwin says and smiles effortlessly. Only then does he shift his attention to Armin. “And you must be Armin Arlert—It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. After all, I was very curious about the person who filled in for me at HQ.”
“Likewise,” Armin says, but doesn’t let go of Levi’s hand to shake Erwins. “I’ll spare you the discomfort of having to shake my sweaty hand,” he says. No apologies, like Levi taught him.
Levi squeezes his hand. A thank you or a good job, Armin can’t quite tell.
Erwin’s giving Armin a once-over as a result and Armin feels naked under his cutting gaze. He doesn’t have a good feeling about this. Erwin manages to be hostile with an elegant smile, somehow.
“Seems like you didn’t just fill my spot professionally,” Erwin remarks. “Didn’t know Levi was into twinks.” Armin needs a second to process this, but once he does, he can’t believe this guy’s nerve. He glances at Levi, fully prepared to hear one of his sharp comebacks—but Levi remains quiet and grinds his teeth. Armin’s brows knot and his muscles tense. He opens his mouth to respond. “What Levi is—“
“If you’ll excuse me,” Erwin interrupts, just like that. “I just saw Keith walk in.” Erwin waves to someone in the distance before he walks away. Levi lets go of Armin’s hand the second Erwin is out of sight, rubbing his palm dry on his pants.
Armin is still processing what just happened. He’s not sure how to address the giant elephant in the room. He settles for a simple, “boss?”
“I need a drink,” Levi says and only grazes Armin’s eyes for a split-second. “What are you drinking?”
Armin smiles and shakes his head. He knows then that he’s not gonna get an answer. “Whatever is fine.”
As Levi heads off to the bar, Armin regards his hand and wonders if he really just held hands with his boss or if he’s imagined it. But the tingly sensation in the pit of his stomach is proof enough. As well as a physical reminder of the lingering crush he's had since his job interview.
They’re on the rooftop balcony just after sunset. Levi drinks a glass of Pinot gris while Armin sips on a Rosé. They share a comfortable silence they’ve grown used to—when it’s just the two of them in the office, that is.
Levi’s quietness is a quality Armin appreciates greatly about his boss, especially as the world seems to get louder with every passing day. It’s rare to find someone who’s comfortable with the quiet. Not just comfortable, who seeks it out. Armin can only assume that his own quietness is one of the reasons why Levi picked him over more qualified candidates to fill the empty position. In his short time at the company, Armin has become familiar with Levi’s strengths. His ability to function under pressure and pursue his agenda unapologetically—while not pressuring Armin into the same kind of behavior. Levi leads by example. And Armin has grown a lot from the shy graduate he was just months ago.
He’s also come to know his weaknesses—his way of giving feedback is often blunt and not always constructive. But Armin noticed that since he joined their team, it’s gotten better. He can tell Levi is making an effort. And the team is more motivated for it.
“I can hear you think,” Levi says as he stares off into the darkening horizon, purple-black and vague as it hints at the ambiguity that such nights hold.
Armin’s lips curl into a smile. “Do I hear a complaint, boss?”
“Hardly,” Levi says and turns around, leaning on the stainless steel railing. “As long as you keep your questions to yourself.”
“Questions?”
“About earlier.”
Oh, that. Armin bites his lip. “I wasn’t going to bring it up.”
“Good.” Levi peers at him and Armin feels his cheeks glow in response. “'Cause you’re not getting any answers.” He places his glass on the white linen of a party table and reaches for his pack of cigarettes. It’s his emergency pack, holding only one. He slots it between his lips.
“Oh no,” Armin says and snatches it away, just as he is about to light it. “You’re not starting again. Not under my watch.”
“The fuck?” Levi complains and tries to reach for the cigarette but Armin extends his arm over the railing, as far as he can.
“Come closer and I’ll drop it,” he warns and raises an eyebrow. An empty threat.
Levi sees right through him. “The heck you will.” He stretches to reach it and, focused on the cigarette, comes so close that Armin lets out an audible gasp and drops the cigarette accidentally. Levi turns his head, catching Armin’s wide eyes and parted lips. With only inches between them, his boss's brows knot and his gaze skips back and forth between Armin’s eyes and mouth.
There’s a moment.
Every single nerve-ending in Armin’s body tingles as Levi’s gaze locks in on his lips. He inches closer. Armin’s heart threatens to burst out of his chest and his face is blazing-hot. When Armin feels a warm breath on his lips, his eyes flutter closed.
“There you are!”
Levi moves away immediately as Keith Shadis approaches them, visually tipsy and holding a petite blonde who’s clinging to his arm like an expensive watch.
"Erwin mentioned you'd be roaming around here, somewhere."
Heart beating at triple speed and trying to get his breath under control, Armin can't tell you a single thing about the conversation that ensues.
Armin’s never seen Levi tipsy before. It’s not a surprise why—he gets chatty. It’s quite adorable and so unexpected for his usual composed self. He’s tipsy, but he can walk on his own, and Armin’s thankful for it as they’re heading towards their hotel rooms.
“He knows how to charm people... and he just wanted to get a rise out of me. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Especially because I was hesitant to date him in the first place,” Levi says. Armin hums. “He’s just so… tall.”
Armin suppresses a snort.
“What?” Levi says, almost looking offended.
“Nothing, boss,” Armin says. “I was just surprised he’s your type, that’s all.”
“He’s not,” Levi says as they reach their adjacent rooms. He leans on the hotel room door and takes out his card. “He’s so not my type. He's awfully persistent until he gets what he wants. He’s—“
The card fails to open the door. Armin wonders if he should tell him, but then... he really wants to hear where this is going. Is it wrong to let him talk?
“—he's not like you. He takes himself too seriously and can’t take a fucking—why doesn’t this work?” Levi says and huffs in frustration as he drags the card through the slot a second time.
Not like you.
Butterflies surge in Armin’s stomach and he can barely focus. He desperately wishes to have that moment back from earlier. Wants to know whether Levi would have—
“Damn. I’ll have to complain at the reception,” Levi mutters before he starts heading down the hallway again.
“Wait, Levi!” Armin reaches for his wrist. Levi stops in his tracks and turns to face him with a frown. Armin holds up his own room key. “Let’s try this one, shall we?” He smiles and opens the door to his room without any problem.
“Oh, would you look at that,” Levi says and walks in. Armin follows hesitantly but stays by the door. He's unsure of whether it'd be a good idea to swap rooms with Levi, who takes a look around and realizes—
“It’s your room.”
He turns around to Armin, who still holds the door open, as if he didn't want to commit to entering.
“Yep,” Armin says and smiles.
And then, out of nowhere, Levi returns the smile. And Armin melts as he struggles to comprehend how pretty Levi looks, barely registering the door falling shut behind him. Levi takes one, two, three strands towards him.
“Hey, Armin?”
Armin’s heart drums in his throat. He swallows. “Yeah?”
Levi raises a hand to cradle his face. Armin’s skin burns like fire underneath his cool hand.
“Thanks for not letting me smoke.”
Armin wants to answer but his breath catches in his throat, and there’s that moment again and this time it’s no accident when Levi closes the distance and—stops inches before Armin’s lips.
“I’m your boss,” he whispers from a warm breath that smells like booze and frosted berries.
Armin nudges Levi’s nose with his, wants to close that distance so badly. “We’re also a bit drunk,” he adds.
Logically, Armin knows he should pull away. This is not an ideal situation with both of them tipsy and following their impulses—but those piercing gunmetal eyes keep railing him in.
“This is a bad idea, isn’t it?” Levi’s voice is raw and deep, thumb brushing over Armin’s lips. Armin shudders. He’s intoxicated by Levi’s depth and his colors that are warm and cool at the same time, and the way smells like he’s just showered.
“Yeah,” Armin confirms breathlessly, licking over his lips. “But I don’t care. I want this.”
“You do?” Levi asks as his other hand settles on Armin’s waist, making his knees weak.
“Just kiss me, already,” Armin begs. He swears he sees Levi smirk before he tastes wild berries and rum—and a hint of smoke.