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Levi grumbled to himself as he followed Isabel and Furlan into the bar. ‘Scouts,’ as it had been named, was the only thing the two of them talked about the past week. And the week before. And the one before that. All they ever seemed to talk about as of late was that damned bar, specifically this one event offered weekly called ‘line dancing.’
“You have to try it!” Isabel had cried, gripping his hand.
“It’s not that bad,” Furlan had agreed with a nod.
Right away, Levi was hit by a blast of obnoxiously loud music playing some overrated pop song. He really should’ve brought his ear plugs. There was a faint smell of alcohol too, and the hum of chatter from various attendees. The bar itself had one main hub with tables for people to sit. Sectioned off areas for quieter gatherings outlined the main portion while there were large rooms reserved for events and private parties. Plants, comfy cushions, and various games were situated around to bring atmosphere. So far, Levi’s favorite part was the lighting, which was not too overbearing thankfully.
“Come on Levi!” Isabel screeched, grabbing his hand and yanking him with her. Of course, it didn’t take long for Levi to spot their destination: a large, brightly lit room, with tens of people crowded on the dance floor. The music had gotten even louder and more obnoxious while the half-drunk crowd danced in a strangely coordinated way. They’d kick their feet, throw their arms up in the air, and spin their bodies like oddly controlled puppets. Why did he ever agree to this?
A loud shrieking from Isabel nearly burst his eardrums, and the red head disappeared into the crowd, Furlan at her heels. The song, which Levi could only guess was some annoying pop tune, was quite fast-paced for either of them to fully keep up with. Maybe it was the effort that counted? Either way, Levi wouldn’t be joining. From his corner he’d carved out for himself, he watched the crowd with silent eyes. There was, surprisingly, a strange pattern to all of this madness. The dancers who were less coordinated or unsure clung to the outside of the dance floor as to not disrupt the fluidity of the inner circles. The closer you got to the center, the more fluid and coordinated you were. He sighed as he finally spotted Isabel and Furlan attempting to do the dance; their footwork was all wrong, but their hearts were in the right place. But what did he know?
Levi’s eyes scanned the rest of the crowd, noting any particularly talented or wildly out of place individuals. He saw two young men, one with an ashy brown mullet, the other with a grey buzzcut, throwing extra spins on every single turn they made. Lord, Levi was getting dizzy just looking at them. The boy with the buzzcut almost bumped into the man with the mullet, making him laugh. There was a girl to their left in a jean jacket and white and yellow cocktail dress. She had long, dark hair and heavy eyebags. Her movements were clean and fluid, but clearly lacked the energy of the boys next to her. Off in another corner, Levi noticed a girl with short dark hair smile blissfully while dancing with another dark-haired man. Their blonde friend was waving from a chair.
So many people, but none that was worth anything to Levi. Yawning, he shifted his weight from one foot to another and groaned when he felt the right stick slightly to the floor. Lord, this place couldn’t even be bothered to clean their floors? He just wanted to be back in his cozy bed, tucked under the covers. It was well past his usual tea time or bedtime hours. Checking his watch, he yawned again. It read ‘8pm.’ It was only 8pm??? He mumbled something under his breath and turned his attention back to the dance floor. Where’d those two go? Under this lightning, everyone started blending together. Eventually, he spotted two red pigtails.
The song changed again to something more country; it wasn’t awful, Levi supposed. That was when two other people caught his eyes. A person with an eye patch and brown hair half up, wearing a short-sleeved white button-down was dragging a blonde-haired man behind them to the dance floor. The blonde-haired man was laughing, his lips curled upwards in a giant smile. Levi’s eyes froze on the man. His outfit was too crisp, too clean, too perfect: a long-sleeved black button-down, the right sleeve curiously limp, a belt and silver buckle, jeans, and a pair of brown cowboy boots to match. A green handkerchief was half tucked in one of his right pockets.
Then, he began to dance and Levi’s whole world came to a stop.
Unlike the other dancers, this man’s movements were graceful and elegant.
“Someone pour me up a double shot of whiskey.”
His feet glided over the floor as if he had wings.
“They know me and Jack Daniels got a history.”
His grin was huge, and his whole body relaxed with the flow of the music.
“There's a party downtown near Fifth Street”
When he turned to the next wall, he was directly facing Levi. Two striking blue eyes met his stormy grey one’s. Levi’s heart began to pound.
“Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy.”
The man, along with the rest of the crowd, swayed their hips back and forth before starting the dance again.
His eyes remained locked on the man for the rest of the song. It was mesmerizing, watching the man move so cleanly across the dance floor. His perfectly styled blonde hair also remained completely intact much to Levi’s amusement. The song switched to another country tune and the man easily picked up the tune, his friend with the eyepatch similarly joining him. How did he know all the steps with such ease? The footwork was much faster than the previous song. The rest of the crowd seemed to fall away as Levi continued to stare at the man, who danced like nobody was watching him.
What was even the name of the song? The lyrics seemed to blend together the more Levi continued to watch the man. The dancers all spun in a circle, clapping their hands. The man didn’t clap his, but nevertheless spun with the beat.
“HI LEVI!!!” Two hands wrapped around him and pulled him into a hug with an excited yank. Every hair on the back of his neck stood on end. “Woah big brother, I wasn’t trying to scare you!” Isabel quickly let go, a sheepish look on her face. “Sorry,” she added. Levi took a deep breath. He hadn’t even noticed her approaching him. He was looking at the man and… his eyes locked in again, watching the man spin in his direction. Blue eyes briefly landed on his. The man grinned, and Levi’s breath left his body. Good Lord, he was so handsome.
A finger poked his cheek, and he heard giggling. “Who’re you blushing at???” Isabel teased. Her gaze followed his. “Is it the tall blonde one? Levi! Tell me!”
“Please,” Levi sighed, gently nudging Isabel off of his shoulder. “A guy like that probably isn’t even into men. All the ladies will be at his feet.”
He heard a huff from her as she crossed her arms. “You say that, but you don’t even know. I’ll introduce you!”
“You know him? Levi asked. His eyebrow quirked at her statement.
Isabel fiddled with her fingers. “Well, Furlan does know of him. But many people make friends here! Come on! It won’t be that bad.” Suddenly, a new song came on and she quickly ran back off the dance with a squeal. So much for introductions. He was never good at those anyway.
Levi rolled his eyes. How much did he want to bet that the man wasn’t interested or had a girlfriend? The way he looked and with his grace on the dance floor, women would be lined up around the block just to even talk to him. At least, that’s what was going through Levi’s mind. He watched the man dance to the music, shuffling and kicking his feet with ease. How did he make it look so effortless? True, this was Levi’s first night, but he’d never imagine line dancing to have this much footwork.
“Right now (take it off)
Right now (take it off)”
The man began to loosen his button-down shirt. What a convenient time given the lyrics.
“Right now (take it off)
Oh-oh-ooh-oh”
Levi’s eyes were fixed on the man as he began to pull off the shirt, revealing what appeared to be another shirt underneath.
“Right now (take it off)”
A dark shirt began to emerge.
“Right now (take it off)”
The right arm was freed, revealing to Levi the cause of the strange, limp sleeve from earlier. There was no arm. Everything from just below the right shoulder was gone. Was it an accident? What had caused such an injury? Perhaps he was born that way. It was rude to stare, though, and Levi looked away briefly. It was the man’s personal business, and it would be impolite to ask.
“Right now (take it off)”
When his gaze returned, Levi’s jaw nearly dropped open. The man had tugged the shirt almost fully off, revealing the tight-fitted black tee underneath. It outlined his abs too perfectly.
“(Everybody take it off)!”
The button-down was tossed aside, and his left arm was exposed. Butterflies flitted through Levi’s stomach. The man was not just handsome or had perfectly styled hair, he was also ripped on top of it. There was no freaking way that man didn’t have a girlfriend. Last time Levi had seen a man that attractive had been in a stupid TV show. His Uncle Kenny warned him, though, that fantasy was just fantasy and that he’d never have a chance in the real world.
The man whooped loudly, tossed his shirt to the side, and continued to dance to the song, much to Levi’s enjoyment.
“There's a place downtown where the freaks all come around
It's a hole in the wall, it's a dirty free-for-all
And they turn me on when they take it off
When they take it off, everybody take it off”
“There's a place I know if you're lookin' for a show
Where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor
And they turn me on when they take it off
When they take it off, everybody take it off!”
The song finished and the crowd laughed and cheered, some people remaining on the dance floor for the next song, while others dissipated off to the sides. The song that started almost immediately after had a shockingly quick tempo, featuring a quick spin and wall changes that made Levi’s eyes go dizzy. Something about a train? Levi didn’t know, the lyrics were too fast. Yet the man moved like it was nothing. When he turned around to kick his legs, he made direct eye contact with Levi again. Levi didn’t move, feeling his entire face heat up.
This was a bad idea; he should’ve never come along to Isabel and Furlan’s stupid outing. This was their thing, that they did together, as friends. This was not meant for Levi nor was it something he was super interested in. He only came because it would mean a lot to make them happy, regardless of what his personal opinion was. Thankfully, the song quickly came to an end and the man left the dance floor, going off with his friend.
Levi wasted no time heading towards the bathroom. He read his watch again: a little past 8:30. Had he been watching his man for over half an hour? He splashed some cool water on his face, trying to clear the flush that was very noticeable by now. That was where Furlan found him. “Oi Levi, we’re missing you out there. Everything ok?”
No, of course he was not ok. “I’m fine, Furlan,” Levi replied through gritted teeth. “It’s too hot out there and it smells like sweat. I could use some air.”
“Um… you know…” Furlan began nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “This is the bathroom, right?”
“Yeah, I do. Give me a minute, won’t you? Isabel’s probably looking for you.”
“She’s too busy dancing right now. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Levi’s eyebrows rose. Worried? What did Furlan have to worry about right now? “Shouldn’t you be busy dancing with her? I can take care of myself.”
Furlan sighed, not appreciating Levi’s stubbornness while avoiding the question. “I know you were staring at that blonde man. I know you were,” he revealed. “Isabel told me before the next song started.”
“Damn, my cover is blown.” “I was looking at everyone, not just him.”
“I’m not that stupid, Levi. You were watching him, weren’t you?” Furlan turned to lean against the skin, elbows propped up. “That’s Erwin Smith, the darling of Scouts. Everyone either loves him, hates him, or wants to be him.”
“Why would they hate a guy who can dance well?” Levi asked. “Erwin Smith, that’s your name.”
“’Cause he gets everyone’s attention, for better or for worse. He practically owns the place.” Furlan turned towards Levi. “I know that look in your eye, Levi.” He leaned in closer. “You think he’s hot, don’t you? I won’t judge if you do.” A splash of water was sent his way. “Hey! Levi! The heck?!”
“A man like that definitely has a girlfriend,” Levi groaned. Furlan did not know what he was talking about. Erwin Smith was definitely not into men and he definitely had a girlfriend waiting for him either at home or on the dance floor.
“And how would you know that? Are you a mind reader?” Furlan sighed again.
“I’m just speaking the facts,” Levi said. Did Furlan not understand what he was saying? Erwin Smith, with his perfectly styled hair, and his perfectly crisp outfit, would not be into Levi nor any other guy who crossed his path. “If you say so,” Furlan replied, his hands up in surrender. “Levi… maybe just say hello, at least? A new friend wouldn’t hurt.” Yeah right, a new friend who gave Levi butterflies every time he interacted with him sounded like a great idea.
Eventually, after what felt like eternity, Levi left the bathroom and took the first open seat. At least he could keep an eye on his friends. “Is this seat taken?” A deep voice interrupted Levi’s thought. “No,” he grumbled, not bother to glance up at the speaker. A sudden scrape of the chair next to him alerted Levi that the newcomer had pulled up next to him. He snuck a glance, and his heart began to beat furiously. A tall blonde man, with blue eyes, perfect hair and outfit, and a very muscular physique took the seat next to him.
What was he going to say?
What would he do?
Should he even say anything? He could just say hi and move on.
The man chuckled at his obvious fluster. “Noticed you watching over in the corner there earlier.” The man put on a wickedly charming grin and stuck out his left hand. “I’m Erwin, by the way.”
Levi was stunned for words. There was no way this was happening. “Focus Levi, it’s rude to make someone wait!” “L-Levi,” he managed, shaking the man’s hand with a strong, firm grip. Erwin’s hand felt warm in his and Levi’s face flushed even harder.
“I’ve never seen you here before,” Erwin continued. “First time?”
“Was it that obvious?” Levi replied. Of course, Erwin would know it was his first time; he looked and felt so out of place here.
“I come here every week with my friends. I’ve gotten to know most people around here, including your friends.” He nodded his head over towards Isabel and Furlan. “Over there,” he pointed to the person with the eyepatch and brown hair, “is my friend Hange. They often come here with me. And that man right there,” he gestured to a brown-haired man next to Hange, “is their boyfriend, Moblit.” Levi followed his hand, nodding towards the two people he’d seen dancing with Erwin earlier. “Have you ever danced before?” Erwin asked.
“It’s not really my thing,” Levi admitted. “My friends dragged me here against my will.” To his surprise, Erwin laughed, not in a mocking way but a genuine one. “What’s so funny Blondie?” he grumbled.
Erwin’s award-winning grin returned. “Blondie’s a new one,” he chuckled. “Most people who come here for the first time are very eager to dance. You’ve been watching me the whole time, yet you’ve remained in your corner.”
“Yeah, well not everyone is as much a social butterfly as you seem to be. Do you do this to everyone who catches your eye?”
“Not usually, only the really interesting looking people.”
Levi felt his cheeks heat up even more. So, this Erwin Smith found him interesting now, did he? “What about me is so interesting to you? Surely, there are far more engaging people than me.”
“You’re engaging me now, aren’t you?”
Levi pursed his lips. He walked right into that one. “Look Blondie, I just came here for those two, nothing else. Besides, don’t you have a girlfriend or something?”
Erwin raised an eyebrow at that statement. “Surprisingly, no. I did a long time ago, but there are things more worth talking about than my past relationships. It’s not every day you meet a handsome, mysterious stranger.” He leaned forward, a grin on his face.
Was this man flirting with him??? There was no way that this was happening. “I appreciate the sentiments, but aren’t your friends waiting for you or something? Why waste time talking to me?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Erwin replied. “You’ve been watching me the whole night. Figured I get an opportunity to speak with the mysterious stranger.”
“Now, you have,” Levi grumbled. Erwin had to be messing with him. Sooner or later, the man would do something that would humiliate Levi in front of all of these people. Even if he was insanely attractive, Levi would never admit it to a man he just met.
The blonde tilted his head curiously, as if he were putting two and two together. There was something going on behind those blue eyes that Levi couldn’t quite place. “You think I’m messing with you, don’t you?” Erwin finally said. His tone changed to a more serious one. “Forgive me for being the way I am; I’ve been told I come across too strongly sometimes. I truly did not mean to offend you.”
The sincerity in his tone did not go unnoticed by Levi. “I’m not good with these types of conversations, if I’m being honest,” he sighed. “I didn’t even expect to come here tonight.” Erwin stayed silent, letting Levi have his moment to collect himself. Under his breath, he whispered, “you think I’m handsome? But didn’t you just say…?”
“It was a long time ago,” Erwin reminded him. “I guess you could say I am a man of many interests.”
“Haven’t found the right person, though, is that it?” Levi asked, feeling himself relax more.
“The answer is a bit more complicated than that, I’d say,” Erwin admitted. There were layers to this topic, Levi figured. Whatever the reason, it was personal to Erwin and not something to pry about right now. “What about yourself?” Erwin continued, looking at Levi. “Are you a taken man?”
“Please, Blondie.” Levi rolled his eyes. “Wouldn’t be staring at you like that if I was.”
The grin on Erwin’s face softened. “Dancing here has brought me a lot of joy… and a lot of attention. But I normally don’t pay much mind to it. You’re the first person I’ve talked to who hasn’t spent the wholetime swooning over me. Enough about me, though, tell me about yourself, Levi.”
“Aren’t you missing the dances?” Levi asked. He wasn’t that interesting of a person nor the most experienced conversation partner. Doing whatever dance was on right now surely was a better alternative.
“Oh, you mean like this?” Erwin got up and effortlessly picked up the dance. Levi tried not to laugh or stare as the blonde moved in a circular motion while shaking and swaying his hips. He even did a few chest bumps. After a few seconds, he sat back down. “There we go; dance completed.” He said it like it was nothing. Levi’s jaw dropped open once more. “How long have you been doing this?” Erwin shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve been dancing here for about 2 years? But in general, it’s something I’ve done for the past 10 years. It’s a hobby I took up before my accident.”
An accident… Levi’s gaze lingered momentarily on the space where Erwin’s arm should’ve been. “It’s rude to stare,” he told himself, meeting Erwin’s gaze again. “What is it about dancing you like so much? It looks so… complicated.”
“It can be,” Erwin agreed, nodding to the dance floor. “But there’s something about moving my body that brings me both a lot of happiness and peace. It’s gotten me through a lot of life’s trials. Now, tell me a bit about you, Levi!”
“I own a tea shop, that’s about it. I don’t know,” he sighed. “I like tea, a good book, and taking walks… nothing too fancy or interesting.”
“That sounds quite lovely actually,” Erwin mused. “Having a cup of tea while reading a book in nature… I do like the sound of that.”
“You do?” Was this man real? Levi had only ever been on dates with men who’d rather go out and party all night long.
“I love it,” Erwin confirmed.
“What about you?” Levi asked. “What do you do when you’re not here?”
“I’m a history teacher!” Erwin grinned. “I teach high schoolers.”
Now, it was Levi’s turn to raise his eyebrows. This man was a history teacher? He took a moment to look Erwin up and down. “Oh really,” he replied. “What got you into history?” Levi tried to imagine Erwin sitting at a desk, wearing a pullover vest, explaining some topic at length while dozens of eyes stared at him with interest or plain boredom.
“My father,” Erwin said. “He was also a teacher and I’ve been told I take a lot from him.” His eyes got distant for a moment, returning back to Levi just as fast. “He taught history just as I do now.”
“I don’t I would’ve guessed that you’re a teacher Blondie,” Levi told him.
Erwin leaned forward. “Oh, what did you think I did for a living,” he asked in a teasing voice. His blue eyes twinkled with intrigue and Levi ducked his face to avoid the blush creeping across his cheeks.
“I don’t know; I just met you,” he retorted. “Teacher wouldn’t have been my first guess. Famous dancer? You’re a real charmer, you know?” A freaking teacher… if Levi saw this guy again, he’d have to pester him about what he wore to class. This man was either wearing some fancy suit he’d picked from his perfectly arranged closet or he wore the cheesiest sweater vest known to man.
“Tell me more,” Erwin teased. “I’ve been told I’m quite charming.”
“By who? Yourself in the mirror?”
Erwin laughed, making Levi’s stomach fill with more butterflies. “You just said so yourself,” he chuckled. “Oh, and I hear things around.” Erwin knew Levi was flustered; there was no hiding it. “What do folks say about you, Levi?”
“Take a guess.”
“Hmm, ok. Handsome, mysterious stranger who is very alluring?”
That was being generous in Levi’s opinion. Most people avoided him entirely or picked on him for his height amongst other things. Obviously, Erwin was being nice about it since he only just met him. No way this man would stick around if he got to know Levi more. Most people didn’t. “Sure Blondie,” he sighed, “we can go with that.” A lot of people found him to be too much of a downer for their taste. It was always ‘you really are a mood killer’ or ‘see you later, Levi’ (they never saw him later).
Someone like Erwin, with his fancy outfit and fancy degree, would probably end up leaving real quick in favor of more excitement.
“I’m serious, you know?” Erwin said. “We’ve only been talking for a couple of minutes yet I think you’re quite interesting.”
“Really?” Levi asked, slightly incredulous. “What makes you say that?”
“For starters, as I said earlier, you’re the first person who doesn’t gush over me.”
“I’ve been staring at you all night.”
“Staring yes but squealing and fighting for my attention no. Secondly, I am very much enjoying our conversation. You enjoy the simpler things in life; something that most people sadly do not.”
Levi perked up a bit at Erwin’s words. So, this incredibly handsome, talented man did see something in him after all. The two continued to talk for several more minutes, with Erwin telling Levi more about his dancing. As it turned out, line dancing was something Erwin was a lot newer to, having discovered his love for it when he first came to Scouts. The bar had been newly opened and wanted to introduce something that would keep business booming. His friend Hange had been the one to tell him about it and he picked it up with relative ease. Over time, more and more people joined. Levi told Erwin more about his tea business, when he first opened the shop, and what he recommended. “I’ve been trying to find a good flavor,” Erwin explained. “But I’m afraid I’m no expert.” The man sat back contently as Levi told him about the various types of tea and what he preferred for each occasion. Internally, Levi was growing giddy; nobody had indulged his interests for too long before, nobody except Isabel or Furlan, but they were the obvious exceptions.
At some point Erwin’s friends came over. He greeted them with a wave. “Who’s this handsome fellow?” Hange asked, pulling up a seat next to Erwin, getting a better view of Levi. “Oh, Erwin,” they teased. Levi swore he could see Erwin’s face turn red, yet the man didn’t turn his face away. “What’s your name?” Hange continued, practically beaming.
“Levi,” he replied, shaking their hand. “Pleasure to meet you!” Hange chirped, giving Levi’s hand a firm shake (it felt more like a yank, but Levi didn’t say anything). “This is my boyfriend Moblit!” They pointed to the man standing behind them.
“We just met,” Erwin gently butted in before Hange could ask a tirade of questions. “Levi and I were just chatting.”
“Erwin’s always been keeping an eye out for a handsome man to come his way,” Hange whispered to Levi.
“Hange…” Erwin mumbled, ducking his head. Levi, however, raised an eyebrow. He never expected a man as confident and perfect looking as Erwin Smith to get flustered like this.
Suddenly, the DJ’s voice crackled over the loudspeakers. “Guys, gals, and all my pals here tonight, we’ve had some great dancing here tonight. Now, it’s time for the El Paso!! Grab a partner and get on over here!” Hange made a loud noise and grabbed Moblit to the dance floor. From the corner of his eye, Levi could see Furlan and Isabel carefully following along with the people ahead of them. Their movements were a bit clunky, but it was part of the charm.
“Hey, Levi,” Erwin began, a bit of a sheepish look in his eyes. “I know we just met and you’ve said this is not really your thing, but would you like to dance with me?”
Levi froze for a moment. Erwin wanted to dance with him??? He fiddled with his fingers, eyes darting everywhere, and heart pounding. He didn’t even know how! He’d just embarrass Erwin in front of everyone. “You don’t want to do this,” he replied after a moment. “You’d probably be better off dancing with someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“And miss this opportunity with the handsome stranger who’s been watching me all night? Come on!” Erwin got up and held out his hand. “Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve done this dance.” Levi looked up at Erwin, then at his outstretched hand. If he did have a partner, then Erwin surely would’ve asked them first. Levi could say no and just go back to his corner. Or, he could take this possibly once a lifetime opportunity. “Ok, Erwin,” he said, clasping Erwin’s hand.
He held his breath as the blonde led him to the dance floor. “Alright,” Erwin began positioning himself behind Levi. “Hold my hand like this.” He gripped Levi’s left hand. Their obvious height difference was quite noticeable, but neither Erwin nor Levi seemed to mind. “And well, since my right hand decided it was better off without me… I’ll let you decide what’s easier.” Levi picked up Erwin’s nervousness. Maybe there was a deeper reason behind Erwin’s comment about not doing this dance. “Give me a moment,” Levi replied. Their height difference was going to be the biggest issue here; had Levi been taller, than maybe this would’ve worked out a tad better. “You know, Erwin, you can still lead me with one arm. We can figure out the rest as we go along.”
Erwin nodded in agreement. “The footwork is the most important part anyway.”
“Just don’t let me trip over your giant feet and you have yourself a dance partner.”
“As if I would let that happen!” The blonde barked out a laugh.
“Never say never, Blondie. You forget I’ve never done this before.”
Erwin rolled his eyes. “Please, I bet you’re a natural!”
“If you say so.”
The pair adjusted themselves so they’d be comfortable dancing. Then, they slipped into the circle with ease. After a few seconds, Levi felt the pent-up tension in his body begin to dissipate; he felt himself begin to relax with the flow of the music and let Erwin lead him through the spins and sways of the dance. The footwork wasn’t awful, but certainly took some time to get a feeling for. He simply watched the pair in front of him and did his best to mimic them. Across the circle, he briefly caught a glimpse of Isabel and Furlan. Their eyes met his and Levi felt his cheeks heating up. They beamed widely and giggled amongst themselves. He was never going to hear the end of this when he got home, was he?
Behind him, Erwin was incredibly gentle and graceful. His hand was warm in Levi’s grasp and easily led him along. When he spun Levi, it was neither too slow nor too fast. Eventually, the dance came to an end, and the pair found themselves off to the side, smiling.
“I thought you didn’t dance,” Erwin told him with a smile.
“I don’t,” Levi replied. “This was a lucky fluke.”
“I certainly enjoyed the experience. How about yourself?”
“I-,” Levi paused. He met Erwin’s gaze and gave him a sincere smile. “I liked that very much.” Dancing with Erwin was unlike anything he’d ever experienced; it was graceful, pleasant, calm, fun… all things Levi did enjoy. “Thank you, Erwin, truly,” he said. “I had a lot of fun dancing with you.”
“Levi,” Erwin started, his voice cracking from nerves. “Will I see you next week? I would really like to see you again.”
“Yes, Erwin,” Levi replied almost instantly, a blush creeping up his cheeks again. His heart pounded at Erwin’s huge smile. Those blue eyes wouldn’t stop twinkling when he looked at him.
“Next week sounds perfect.”