Chapter Text
The flight from London to Paris-Charles de Gaulle took about as long as the trip from the airport to the vacation apartment that Levi had picked out for them in advance. „Centrally located yet quiet, tucked away in a courtyard in the Latin Quarter,“ Levi had read aloud during the flight. Erwin had gifted the trip to his longtime best friend a few months earlier as a birthday present, because unlike Erwin, who worked internationally in the financial world, Levi rarely left London.
“Bigger than I expected,” Levi remarked after he’d managed to unlock the ancient wooden door leading into their vacation apartment. Fortunately, they’d decided to travel here in the spring and not in the winter, because the gap under the apartment door looked wide enough that not only cold air but also Erwin’s entire hand could have fit through it. “A generous 26 square meters.”
The layout, however, was peculiar. In the middle of the room, away from any wall, stood a narrow double bed facing an antique-looking wooden wardrobe. The open bathroom was separated only by a wall with a recessed frosted-glass pane. So from the bed, you could comfortably observe the silhouette of whoever was currently in the shower.
“The toilet’s over here,” Levi just announced. He opened a door that Erwin had actually assumed led to a storage closet. Behind it, however, was a tiny bathroom stall.
What preoccupied Erwin´s thoughts even more, though, was the single bed in the middle of the room. There was no sign of a pull-out sofa anywhere to be found. “Levi… there’s only one bed.”
Not that Erwin had anything against sharing a bed with his best friend – quite the opposite. Erwin has had a crush on Levi for a long, looong time. And on this trip, Erwin had decided, he would confess his feelings to Levi. It was supposed to be a romantic, perfect moment, just as Levi - whose life had so far left little room for romance - deserved.
“I didn’t pay attention to that when I booked it,” replied the dark-haired man with a shrug, looking entirely unbothered. “I was just looking for an apartment with sleeping arrangements for two people that wasn’t as damn overpriced as everything else in this city. Do you mind that much?”
“No, no, it’ll be fine,” Erwin replied hastily. He set down his luggage and decided he didn’t trust the old wardrobe - or any animal inhabitants that might be living inside it - enough. He’d rather live out of his suitcase for a few days.
Levi was already busy testing out the bed. Finally, he settled on the left side. Although the trip hadn’t been long, he looked exhausted; Erwin resolved to spoil his crush rotten on this vacation. Erwin had gone through so many months-long stretches of grueling work during which he’d neglected his friendship with Levi. Levi had never complained, but always remained loyal to Erwin.
While Levi was getting comfortable, Erwin had to make a quick trip to the toilet. He was immediately faced with another problem: when he sat on the toilet, his legs were so long that the door to the tiny stall wouldn’t close. Was this vacation rental meant only for kids (or people Levi’s size)?!
Erwin cursed, but no matter how far apart he spread his legs, his knees still jutted out farther than the closed door would allow. “The door won’t close,” he grumbled.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to watch you pee,” came the reply from the bed, and Erwin was sure he could hear a trace of a laugh in Levi’s voice.
Somehow, Erwin’s mood had been ruined by this annoying incident, so he accompanied Levi with little enthusiasm when Levi wanted to make use of the early evening hours to explore the surrounding area. After they had walked through the beautiful historic district of Paris for a few minutes, however, Erwin’s mood improved somewhat.
Beside him, Levi was practically craning his neck to admire the facades of the magnificent old buildings. And at every street corner, there seemed to be a new famous building. From a distance, they could even admire the Eiffel Tower in the soft evening light. Erwin had also brought a Paris guidebook with him from London. The little booklet not only listed the most important - and less important - sights in Europe’s most crowded city, but also contained a chapter titled “Romantic Spots in Paris.” It was precisely that chapter that Erwin had studied carefully before departure in order to find the best place and time to confess his feelings to Levi.
“We should go get some crêpes,” Levi said at that moment, snapping the taller man out of his thoughts. “We haven’t eaten anything since noon while we were waiting at the terminal.”
“I didn’t think you’d be into crêpes. You usually turn your nose up at all sweets.” Erwin pointed to his travel guide. “It says here that you normally order a crêpe with a savory filling and one with a sweet filling for dessert.”
“Then I’ll just let you eat my dessert crêpe. You can eat for two anyway,” Levi replied teasingly. He’d been making this joke ever since they’d been in school together and Erwin had discovered weight training. Unlike Levi, who by some supernatural means or another always seemed to maintain the perfect balance between muscle and fat, Erwin had to eat a lot and train hard to keep from turning into a walking beanpole.
They continued their leisurely stroll. Erwin had buried his nose in his travel guide again. Maybe there was a romantic spot nearby? But before he’d even managed to find the Latin Quarter in his guidebook, Levi had already grabbed him by the arm and ushered him into a crêperie.
“A table for two, please,” Levi said in French. At least, that’s what Erwin thought Levi had said, since he himself didn’t speak French.
It looked like today wasn’t going to be the day for romantic spots in Paris. Erwin would have preferred to get the confession over with quickly so the two men could spend a romantic vacation in Paris in peace. On the other hand… what if Levi didn’t return his feelings? Then the atmosphere would be very awkward for the rest of the vacation. And on top of that, they’d have to share a bed.
“What are you thinking about so intently?” Levi asked once more, interrupting Erwin’s constantly racing thoughts. “Aren’t we on vacation to enjoy Paris in peace?”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Erwin tried to force a smile, even though his heart was beating so fast it felt like he had to sprint away from a lion at any second. Levi knew him so well. Tonight they’d take it easy. And tomorrow.... yes, tomorrow there would be a chance to talk about romantic things.
Later that night, the bed turned out to be much narrower than Erwin had first assumed. After they turned off the light, Erwin was painfully aware of Levi’s presence beside him. And since the smaller man had always suffered from insomnia, as Erwin knew, Levi tossed and turned incessantly.
Erwin had to tense up, stiff as a board, to avoid accidentally getting too close to Levi in his sleep. Yet he was spellbound by Levi’s soft breathing, the warmth of his body right next to Erwin’s, and his masculine, unmistakably clean scent. This, in turn, meant he got little sleep himself, making the night seem to drag on forever.
Consequently, the mood was grim the next morning when it was time to get ready for the day. Levi grumbled to himself while Erwin checked the weather forecast. So far, perfect weather had been predicted for their entire trip. Scheduling their trip for spring had been one of his better ideas.
“I need a coffee before we board the subway,” Erwin muttered as they left the tiny apartment.
“I figured as much. We missed the sunrise in Montmartre anyway, so we might as well take our time. It’s still a long way off until sunset.”
Erwin was used to London prices but even so, paying nearly eight euros for a cup of cappuccino seemed absurd to him. Levi settled for a cup of tea (which was at least a little less expensive), while Erwin picked up a few French pastries for a quick breakfast.
Even though Paris was only slightly less hectic than London, he already felt more relaxed. It was probably due to the good company. Levi might be grumpy and hide his tiredness behind a pair of sunglasses, but Erwin was grateful for every minute he could spend with his crush. Because of Erwin’s stressful job, there had been periods in his life when he hadn’t been able to see Levi for months on end. And yet Levi had always waited patiently and stuck it out - Erwin hardly deserved such a loyal friend.
According to Erwin’s guide, there were supposed to be quite a few romantic spots in Montmartre. The perfect opportunity for a romantic confession of his deepest feelings.
The trip to Montmartre, however, turned out to be less than pleasant. They left the well-kept and clean city center by subway but just a few stops out, the cityscape changed radically. The buildings were covered in more graffiti than actual paint, trash littered the gutters, and the crowd looked like the kind of people from whom you could buy counterfeit watches at best and harder drugs at worst.
Fortunately, Erwin was accompanied by the man with what was probably the most menacing glare in all of France. Levi had put away his sunglasses and shot such a menacing glare at anyone who dared to look at them for more than a second that no one dared to come within a few meters of them. In this way, they made their way through the neighborhood toward the hill atop which the Montmartre district was perched.
“There has to be a cable car somewhere around here,” Erwin told his friend after a quick glance at the guidebook.
They walked around the park which was surrounded by residential buildings and scattered cafés until they spotted a sign for the cable car. Erwin thought there were suspiciously few people here for such a tourist attraction.
“Looks like we’re out of luck.” Levi pointed to a sign - written entirely in French but at least printed in bright warning colors - in front of the deserted entrance to the cable car. “Closed today for repairs.”
“Should we come back another day?”
“And walk all the way up here again? No, we’ll take the stairs.”
From below, the stairway hadn’t appeared to be this long but even Levi was out of breath as they climbed the steps to the highest point in Paris.
“How many fucking steps does this mountain have?!” he cursed, though he sounded thoroughly out of breath.
“About 237 steps,” Erwin read from his guidebook, his face also red from the exertion. At least the way back from here would be all downhill.
Once they reached the top, the two men found themselves on a spacious plaza in front of Montmartre’s most famous landmark: the Sacré-Cœur Basilica which towered high above the city like the crown of Paris. At the sight of the impressive church the exertions of the climb seemed to vanish. And they apparently weren’t the only ones feeling that way; numerous tourists were busy taking pictures of either the basilica or the view down over the city. Even Levi, usually so cynical, seemed to be at a loss for words.
For a few minutes, the two men simply stood silently at the railing, observing the city like two kings benevolently surveying their people. But as lunchtime approached and all the tourists were out and about, the square grew increasingly crowded, to the point where the cramped conditions were becoming oppressive.
“Let’s explore the artists’ quarter of Montmartre before we get crushed up here,” Erwin suggested. A painfully long line of visitors had formed in front of the basilica’s entrance, making it nearly impossible to cross the square. In the historic-looking alleys of Montmartre, however, the flow of visitors was more evenly distributed, making the neighborhood a pleasant place to linger. Levi clearly had little interest in the art on display because whenever Erwin stopped to glance at a storefront window or at art for sale, Levi would stand there impatiently, arms crossed, tapping his foot.
Erwin, however, didn’t let it rattle him. He’d been looking forward to this vacation for so long, and up here in Montmartre there were quite a few romantic spots, so Erwin figured he had a good chance to confess today.
Their walk eventually led them to the nearby Church of Saint Pierre de Montmartre. Directly across the street they found an extremely inviting restaurant. Levi reacted quickly as always and secured a table for two - just vacated by another couple five seconds ago - with an excellent view of Saint Pierre. The church was actually open to visitors but at that moment only a small group of people dressed in dark clothing was gathered in the small, fenced-off forecourt.
“This is one of the oldest churches in Paris,” Erwin read from his guidebook. And one of the most romantic spots in Paris. Erwin could only confirm that impression. Relaxed, they sat in the gentle spring sunshine and admired this ancient and majestic structure. When a waiter hurried past, Erwin ordered a cheese platter for two and two glasses of wine which Levi commented on with an amused roll of the eyes.
He had put his sunglasses back on and for the first time since their arrival in Paris seemed truly relaxed. Once again, Erwin was struck by the wondrous realization of just how handsome Levi was. With his dark, though not quite black hair, his pale skin that provided a striking contrast, his athletic yet elegant figure, his small nose, his soft-looking cheeks, his well-formed lips…
The moment had come. “Levi,” Erwin said so gently that the other man promptly pushed up his sunglasses and turned his head toward him. Their eyes met for a few long seconds.
“I’ve been in love with you for so long. Could you imagine going on a proper date with me?” Erwin had wanted to say, but before his tongue could even form the first syllable, a brass band suddenly began blaring in front of Saint Pierre’s. Torn from the moment, the two men turned toward the church. A hearse led the way and a crowd of people dressed in dark clothing followed it, accompanied by the sound of trombones. This also explained why no visitors had streamed into the church – the gathering had been a funeral!
Embarrassed at having stared so openly at the funeral procession, the two men looked away. The somber procession continued for several minutes before the sounds of the brass band finally faded into the distance. But by then the romantic mood had vanished for good.
Levi seemed to have forgotten that Erwin had wanted to say something to him and to make matters worse, the waiter brought wine and cheese just then, so Erwin didn’t try again. There were many romantic spots in Montmartre; another opportunity would surely present itself later that day.
Just a few steps away from the church, about 100 artists had set up their little stalls. Here the tourists could have a portrait painted in just about every style imaginable - an activity that had been on Erwin’s wish list ever since he’d read about it in his guidebook.
It took half an hour to choose an artist whose style he liked, and then another half hour to have his portrait painted. Meanwhile, Levi had been exploring the area on his own and had just returned when the portrait was finished.
“What’s that?” Levi grumbled as he glanced at the picture over Erwin’s shoulder. The sleepless night seemed to make him even grumpier than he usually was.
“Don’t you like it? I think he captured my features quite well.”
“But not your nose!” Levi tapped directly on the paper, much to the annoyance of the older gentleman who had created the work. “Your nose is so distinctive. He made it too small and somehow… smoothed it out. I don’t know. It would have turned out better if he’d just drawn your nose the way it actually is.”
For some reason, Levi seemed upset that the nose didn’t look quite the same as it did in real life. Erwin, however, was satisfied with the portrait so he carefully rolled up the painting and stowed it away safely for transport.
The line in front of Sacré-Cœur hadn’t gotten any shorter but the two men queued up anyway. After a quick bag check for safety, they entered the basilica along with a wave of other tourists. Stylistically, this building differed significantly from typical European churches which was likely due to the fact that it was a newer structure than the ancient cathedrals.
“There are pelicans all over the murals here. What does a pelican have to do with a church?” Levi whispered as they walked around in the reverent silence of the basilica.
Erwin’s guide was able to answer this question as well. “There’s apparently an old myth that pelicans would rather tear out their own hearts and feed them to their chicks than let the chicks starve. They’re thus considered a symbol of selflessness and sacrifice for the weak. Of course, these are just made-up stories; such behavior has never actually been observed in a pelican.”
It was impossible to tell from Levi’s expression what he thought of this story. In any case, Erwin didn’t want to disrupt the sacred atmosphere inside the basilica nor Levi’s contemplative thoughts with a declaration of love. Later up in the church tower the opportunity would present itself, he figured.
But Erwin was wrong about that, too; thanks to the outstanding view over the entire city, the Sacré-Cœur tower was completely overrun with people. No chance of creating a romantic atmosphere here.
On the way back to their Airbnb, Erwin felt increasingly desperate. The longer he put off his confession, the more awkward the situation would become. Levi, sitting next to him on the subway, had his eyes closed as if he were asleep but Erwin knew that the smaller man would never be able to relax enough in public to fall asleep, not even after the sleepless night they’d just had.
Just as the subway began to move again, Erwin’s gaze fell on an advertisement in the subway station. A romantic dinner cruise on the Seine? That sounded like the perfect moment for a declaration of love! Before they had even reached their final stop Erwin had reserved a table for two for tomorrow evening.
Without needing to mention it, both men were ready to go to bed early that night. Just a few minutes after he’d turned off the light, Erwin thought he heard the smaller man next to him snoring very softly.
Erwin dared to roll onto his side and gaze at Levi in the moonlight. His crush had his back turned to Erwin, his black hair sprawling across the white pillow. Without warning, Levi shifted in his sleep and pressed his butt - with remarkable accuracy for someone asleep - right into Erwin’s crotch.
Good heavens! Erwin quickly put distance between their two bodies, nearly falling out of bed in the process. No, no - it would be absolutely terrible if some mishap happened to him here in bed with Levi before he had a chance to confess his feelings to him.
And so the second night was also a rather restless one for Erwin.