Imagine that itâs the 1960âs in New York City. Eren and Levi have known each other their whole lives and theyâve grown up together, now theyâre sharing a small Brooklyn apartment while they try to establish themselves. Eren is an aspiring writer and Levi is a nightclub singer working his way up the ladder, ultimately hoping to find himself among the ranks of Sinatra and Martin.
Levi works a few jobs in addition to his singing gigs, so Eren rarely gets a chance to see him, but he always makes sure to leave his Friday evenings open so that he can attend whatever show Leviâs booked for. He has always loved Leviâs voice and after a long week, itâs exactly what he always needs to wind down and relax. Itâs also one of the few times that he gets to spend with him: they usually have a drink and talk for a few hours after the show finishes, then they walk home together around 2 or 3 AM. He genuinely savors their time together, probably more than he really should.Â
After one particularly stressful week, Eren goes to see Levi perform. Heâs in a horrible mood: his manuscript has been rejected, he misplaced a draft he was working on, he was nearly fired from his job, and someone pick-pocketed him a few days prior and took a nice wad of cash from his pocket. Tired, upset, and irritated, Eren thoroughly enjoys the show but he sits through it with a scowl that Levi canât help but notice. Heâs usually so upbeat during his performances, heâs only seen him angry like this at home.Â
When heâs done with his show, he tries the water with questions about whatâs bothering him, but Eren deflects them and instead makes Levi talk about himself while they drink. Heâs still visibly on edge, so Levi waits until they have a little bit of alcohol in their system and theyâre on their way home to pry.
It takes a little bit of urging, but Eren finally cracks and tells him everything thatâs been bothering him, and Levi listens patiently while he complains. There isnât really much he can say that can make it better so he just offers his sympathy. Eren knows that he isnât a particularly talkative person and he rarely says more than he needs to, so he appreciates the effort regardless of how helpful it really was or wasnât. He does, however, have one request: âWould you mind sing something for me? Anything, really, just one song. Your voice calms me down.â
Levi pauses thoughtfully but nods. Eren is expecting one of his normal set songs, like Fly Me to the Moon or Beyond the Sea, but Levi starts on a note that he isnât familiar with.
When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you liveâŚ
Never one to half-ass anything, Levi suddenly takes Erenâs hand and twirls him around in the middle of the street. Eren doesnât dance, so itâs more of a one-sided swing dance on Leviâs part: he yanks him around by his arms and has him trailing clumsily behind his own refined steps and movements.
Somethingâs gotta giveâŚ
Eren questions the situation at first and apprehensively pleads for Levi to stop, but his requests are turned down with a terse head shake. Thereâs nobody around, Eren notices, and heâs forced to let it go and enjoy himself to the best of his ability.
When an irrepressible smile such as yours
Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
Donât say no because I insistâŚ
Itâs harder to do than heâd thought because heâs having an awful time trying to ensure that he doesnât blush. He shouldnât feel this way about his childhood friend, especially not when said friend is a man, but here he is, and his heart is pounding out of his chest.
Someoneâs gonna be kissedâŚ
Levi pulls Eren in close with an arm wrapped around his back and his other arm extended, hand in hand. There is a pause as they make eye contact. Itâs only a few seconds, but itâs sultry and intense and makes Erenâs breath catch in his throat even though heâs gasping for air. (Who wouldâve thought that dancing was this tolling?)
So, en garde, who knows what the fates have in store
From their vast mysterious skyâŚ
Eren has the strongest urge to kiss him. He doesnât know why, but he has the strongest urge to kiss him. It might be the way that the moon illuminates his face and reflects in his eyes, or perhaps itâs because of how fluid and well-practiced his movements are. No, no, itâs most certainly his voice, velvety and smooth and nostalgic⌠Or is it, perhaps, the way that Erenâs hand fits so well in his? (Does he even hear himself? Oh, this is bad, he has it bad for Levi and this is bad.)
Iâll try hard ignoring those lips I adore
But how long can anyone try?
Levi dips his head in and their faces are enticingly close, so close that Eren can feel the warmth of his breath on his lips. He struggles with himself internally for a few moments: he knows that itâs Leviâs job to be suave, it brings in business and this is surely just a show, heâs had practice and heâs been doing this for years, theyâve been friends for years and friends donât kiss⌠but how much does he really care? No, is it worth risking everything? He shouldnât do this.
Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight it with all of our might
Chances are some heavenly star-spangled night
Youâll find out just as sure as we liveâŚ
Just as he decides against it, Levi raises his hand to cup Erenâs cheek. Eren canât hear anything over the sound of his own racing heart, and everything around him fades out of focus when Levi kisses him. Theyâre soft and his movements are gentle, but thereâs an undertone of hunger that catches Eren off guard. He hates to be presumptuous, but it feels like Levi craved this as much as he did, it feels like Levi spent nights wondering what Eren tasted like and how smooth his skin would be and what itâd feel like to be pressed against his body. On that note, Eren kisses back and wraps his arms around his shoulders. Levi misses his next cue in the song by a few moments in favor of sucking on Erenâs lower lip and then trailing a line of kisses up his jawline to his ear.
âSomethingâs really got to give.â