Naus

Art by Eialuna

Scene from Beyond The Walls

The fresh air helps clear his thoughts. It cools his mind and body, and he no longer feels like breaking someone’s face.

It’s just a matter of time that Erwin comes looking for him. He always does, and he always knows where and when to find him.

It is only another moment before Erwin comes.

“Enjoying your night?”

Levi lets out a sigh in frustration. He doesn't feel like talking, not right now. He can barely put his thoughts together coherently, because none of this makes sense.

“You’ve been here for quite a while,” Erwin says, and he walks to stand beside him. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything is wrong,” Levi blurts out. Something is really wrong with himself tonight, that’s the only way he can explain it. This turmoil that hollows his chest. “This place fucking sucks.”

“It really does,” Erwin sighs, and looks up at the sky. “I ran out of things to talk about already.”

Levi’s still looking at the start when he feels Erwin’s arms against his on the railing.

“But at least it's a beautiful night.”

Levi can't help but huff an anxious laugh.

“You could try dancing for once,” Erwin says, elbowing him playfully, “you know, to blend in.”

“Absolutely not.” Levi sways, pushing Erwin gently, “I can't dance.”

“Everyone can dance, if they really want to.”

“Well, I don’t fucking want to,” Levi grumbles, louder than he intends to.

Erwin turns to him then, his eyebrows furrow. “Why are you so ill-tempered today?”

“I’m not, damn it. Just— fucking finish your business and let’s go back already.”

A grin is slowly building on Erwin’s lips, and Levi shudders, because he knows that grin. It can’t mean anything good. Not for Levi anyway.

Erwin offers Levi a hand, and with a playful smile, he says, “not until you dance at least once.”

Levi clicks his tongue in disapproval, and begins to walk away. “Fuck off, Erwin.”

“Come on, it's easy.” Erwin’s laughing as he chases him. “I’ll show you.”

“Forget it.”

In spite of Levi’s protests, Erwin tugs at his sleeve, drags him away from the railing, and Levi soon finds himself unable to resist his grip.

“I promise you it’s just practice,” Erwin says, and takes Levi’s hand to place it on his own waist. It's warm and firm and thick under Levi’s small hand, even over Erwin’s clothes, and the contact makes his heart race.

“The music marks the tempo of the steps, like this…”

Erwin takes Levi’s hand now, and spins with him around slowly, guiding Levi’s steps. One, two, three, one, two, three. He counts, and Levi follows. Levi’s feet tangle with Erwin’s, who gives much longer strides than him.

“This is stupid,” Levi groans, but he finds himself drawing closer to him with every turn. His grip tightens on Erwin’s waist, and his cheek rests on Erwin’s chest. There it is again, that smell, so particular of him. The air is still warm outside, but the heat of Erwin’s body somehow doesn't bother him. He's even craving for more of it.

It’s Erwin now who holds him by the waist, and Levi’s entire body vibrates at the touch, sending a rush of blood to his groin. He looks up, and Erwin’s watching him closely. His stomach swoops in a strange way.

“You’re doing great.” Erwin smiles, and every bit of anger leaves Levi’s body in an instant.

Erwin’s smile really is like the sun, rising in the middle of the night; exorbitant, impossible. Levi orbits around it, no matter how blinding or overwhelming it is. He draws closer, and closer still, because watching him from a safe distance is no longer enough. He needs to feel him, touch him, even if he burns with him. Anything is better than this agonizing need that’s taken control over him.

“Erwin,” he calls for him, and Erwin tilts his head down slowly, his lips are softly parted, and his breath brushes on Levi’s lips. Erwin’s scent is all over him now, there's no escaping it. It’s driving Levi into insanity.

His hands grip the collar of Erwin’s shirt, he pulls him in as he pushes on his toes, and before he can stop to think about it, his lips are closed on Erwin’s.

There’s a quiet gasp, followed by a sigh of relief, from both. And then, nothing. No sound, no words, no movement.

Levi recoils.

He looks up at Erwin, eyes wide in astonishment. At himself, at his own stupidity, at what he's done. A moment of reasoning flashes before his eyes, and he panics.

Erwin’s staring at him, eyes as wide as his, and Levi shivers as he realizes what he’s done.

“Erwin, I’m—“

Erwin closes his eyes, eyebrows knitted. He turns. Then turns again, runs a hand over his face.

When he looks at Levi again, his eyes are glassy, his nose is flaring, and it’s the scariest face Levi’s seen from him yet. Terror seizes him.

“I’m sorry,” is the only thing Erwin says, loud and clear, then he turns to head back into the ballroom without another word.

The wind carries the merriest melody from inside, where the pairings keep dancing and toasting with champagne glasses in their hands. It lingers in the air for another moment, the tapping of high heels, the loud chattering, the clinking of glasses, while Levi watches Erwin disappear into the crowd.

by YDPFa

No subscription. Just program.

On your computer. You got to use it forever and ever and never had to worry about it going away.

Because it was physically on your computer. As a program. That you actually owned. Not because you got it separately, but because it was a standard inclusion with your computer.

I'm sorry but I'll just never get over it. I remember when companies cared about their products being usable out of the box. I remember when our things belonged to us.

by 虞花