This one is probably my favorite EruMike Week entry so far. I hope y’all like it just as much as I do! Thank you, @erumikeweek for the wonderful opportunity to write this!
You can also read it here on AO3!
Day 7: Surfer
Summary: In which Erwin has lost the feeling of normalcy, any semblance of balance, and Mike is there to help him find it.
Blue waves turned amber in the light of the setting sun, the waves capturing and reflecting back golden rays, glistening. White sand stretched to the east and west as far as the eye could see, giving off the illusion that it never ended. It tickled Mike's feet as he stood there on the shore, looking out at the figure wading in the calm waters.
The glowing dusk made their skin seem much more tan, their blonde hair blowing every which way in the unrestrained wind. Where Mike's dark blue eyes were trained on the man only a few feet in front of him, watching as the waves licked up his chest and sides, the man's azure gaze lingered on the horizon. Mesmerized.
Mike took a few steps forward, now feeling the sand squish wetly between his toes as he stepped in ankle deep water, taking a deep breath to take in the salty air. He closed his eyes, and could still smell the man's cologne even at this distance. It made him smile.
The memories flooding back like the waves breaking against the shore did not.
He saw the same man standing out in the water, but this time he wasn't still. He reminded Mike of Poseidon as he danced through the waves on his surfboard effortlessly, watching in awe as it seemed the sea contorted to his will. It had been a quiet day, but a great one for surfing, as the noon sun hung high in the sky. Mike was sat on their beach towel, smiling as he turned back to a book he'd brought. It felt as though only minutes went by when it happened.
There was a scream.
Mike's eyes snapped open at the memory of the sound, finding the other man still in front of him, still standing stoic and unchanged. Mostly.
His eyes found the man's left arm, followed it's length from shoulder to fingertips. Then, he tried to trace his right arm, seeing it to end much, much sooner than the other, the long sleeve of his shirt blowing hollowly in the wind. Mike took another deep breath, and this time he could smell the metallic memory of blood.
So much blood.
The man before him turned around in that moment, having heard Mike's heavy intake of breath. His usually bright eyes were hooded, and not in the way the other man was used to seeing. They weren't alight and blown with lust and longing, but dulled by memory and exhaustion. Where there was once confidence, insecurities took it's place.
"Mike."
The way the man said his name brought butterflies to flutter in the pit of his stomach, and commanded his heart to somersault all the way into his throat.
"Yes, Erwin?" he asked once he had gotten control of his tongue, his voice. He watched as Erwin turned towards him completely, could see the stubble growing into a beard along his jaw.
"I don't feel it anymore."
Mike didn't need to ask to know what he was talking about. Balance. Erwin had always been good with balance, and he proved it every time he danced with the waves. He never crashed unless he wanted to. He never lost control or composure. Not until now.
"That's okay." Mike replied honestly, extending his hand out towards him. "I'll help you."
Erwin's eyes lingered for a moment on Mike's hand before taking it, treading out of the knee deep saltwater to stand by his side. When their eyes met once again, there was just the tiniest spark of hope fighting not to be swallowed by the darkness of his thoughts. "Will you still love me as I am?"
Smooth like Tennessee Whiskey, Sweet like Strawberry Wine -Erumike
So, I’m a view minutes after midnight late to post this for day 4 of EruMike week, and I apologize profusely! Work was an ass kicker today, so it took me a little longer to get it done! Oopsies! I’m expecting another late one tomorrow. (Well, later today now.)
Again, thanks @erumikeweek for the amazing prompts! This one was a little harder for me to write, but I still had fun!
If you’d rather, you can also read on AO3! :)
Day 4: Bartender
Summary: From lovers, to broken hearts, to new beginnings. Inspired by and in direct reference to the song Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton.
Erwin didn't know what he was expecting when he stepped through the threshold of Maria's Brewery after being gone for six years. In all honesty, he hadn't been expecting much. Maria's was the oldest bar on the downtown strip, it's legacy standing the test of time for many years without much change, so it surprised him to find the interior completely renovated.
He had remembered it being brighter, more cliche in it's western style than it was now. Loud green walls that had been chipping since the seventies had been painted over with a warm brown, the lights brought down to a much more comfortable, atmospheric dimness. The decor was a bit of the same style that it had used to have been, but with a newer spin to it. Classic meeting modern. It was tasteful and exceedingly impressive. Whoever held ownership of the beloved bar now had a real eye for detail.
Something else that Erwin hadn't been expecting was the sight of a familiar face watching him wide eyed from behind the bar. The man seemed even taller now, but he still had the same shaggy blonde hair and soft blue eyes. The same rugged, handsome face, his beard a tad thicker than before. The vision of this man sent Erwin's heart pounding, a slow ache overwhelming his chest as he approached the bar.
His hands turned clammy, his tongue feeling heavy in his mouth as the guilt of leaving came rushing back with a vengeance. In this moment of reuniting, he only knew one thing to say.
"I'm sorry, Mike."
The words slipped from Erwin's lips before he had time to stop himself. Before he had time to consider numerous other things he could say. Better things. But those two words held the weight the man had been carrying around on his shoulders for a very long time.
"Hello to you too." Mike replied almost dazedly, still stunned at the other's presence. "S'been what? Almost seven years?"
Erwin nodded slowly, taking a seat on one of the tall stools, his fingers thrumming nervously on the counter's surface. He opened his mouth to say something, clamped it shut, and tried again. "I never thought you might work here. How have you been?"
Mike seemed to have found his way out of his shock, shrugging nonchalantly as he busied himself by wiping at a few glasses he had lined up. "I don't just work here. I own the place." He shrugged again. "I've been good. Keeping busy. I wondered if I was ever going to see you or hear from you again. I guess I have my answer."
There it was.
Mike was never the type to show his anger as anything else but passive aggressiveness. He never raised his voice, never called anyone names or got himself into fights. He was level headed and so calm natured. But he was also bitter, and held a grudge closer to his chest than poker cards, and he was showing that rare side of himself right now.
And Erwin deserved every bit of it. He deserved venom and hatred and unforgiveness. He deserved a good punch to the face, but Mike would never do that. Especially not to him.
"Mike..."
"No, don't Mike me, Erwin. Did you seriously come here on a Thursday night not expecting to see me?"
Was it Thursday? Erwin honestly hadn't even thought of what day it was. He hadn't thought about the fact that Thursday night was always Maria's night. Erwin had come here for a drink to try to forget those things. He had only come in attempt to drown out the guilt that was slowly creeping up his throat and stinging the backs of his eyes.
"I didn't realize..." he paused to take a deep breath, and started again. "I just wanted a drink, and what better place to get one than here? I honestly didn't expect to see you, but I'm glad I did. I missed you."
Mike shook his head, his lips pursed as he set the now clean glasses behind the bar. "Don't say that. Not like I'm the one that left." Blue gazes met once again, and Erwin could easily read the pain behind the man he loved so much. "I've been here the whole time. You're the one that walked away."
Erwin's jaw set and he could feel his own anger rising in the pit of his stomach. "I did. To go to college. To earn a degree so I could get a job to support us. Don't act like I'm the only one at fault here, you're the one who didn't want to do the long distance thing."
"We were doing fine--"
"No, we were living by the skin of our teeth. I wanted you to come with me."
Something that Erwin had only seen a hand full of times flashed in Mike's eyes. "You know exactly why I couldn't leave." he stated plainly, teeth gritting and grinding against each other, the friction rattling in Mike's ears. "I thought we were happy."
Hot piercing guilt slammed into Erwin brutally, his heart cracking as if he were made from glass. "We were happy. I was so happy to be with you. You're my everything, that's why--"
"But I'm still not enough." Mike interrupted, his voice as quiet as a breath, but Erwin still heard.
He stood from his seat at the bar, eyes brimming with angry tears. "Outside. Now." Erwin demanded, keeping his voice from cracking as he left no room for argument. Mike didn't wait, calling out to a back room for someone to come watch the bar. The two men went out the back entrance as they had many times, finding themselves in the same alley they would come to for a smoke, Erwin leading the way. Once the door shut, he let loose his tears and spun towards Mike so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. "How fucking dare you, Mike."
"Well is it a lie?" the man argued, scoffing and shaking his head bitterly. "It's not, is it? Face it, Erwin, you left because I just wasn't enough. You wanted something I couldn't give you. You wanted more than I could ever offer. Did you even love me, or was that a lie too?"
Erwin wasted no time in shutting Mike up. His hands gripped the front of his flannel shirt, pushing him against the metal door of Maria's side entrance, and slamming their lips together. His head was reeling at the familiar taste of cigarettes on the taller man's tongue, nearly swooning off his feet at how good the scratchiness of his facial hair felt against his skin. Mike's lips fit against his perfectly, their lips moving together in harmony, tongues dancing like they had never forgotten the song.
They hadn't.
After what felt like only seconds, they pulled away to catch their breaths, panting and staring into each other's eyes longingly. Erwin spoke first, his hands having moved from rumpling his love's shirt to tangling in his shaggy hair. "Don't you dare for one second think that I didn't love you. That I don't still. I left because I wasn't enough. We were in debt, we were weeks away from losing everything. I wanted to give you more, and the only way to do that was to listen to my parents and go to university. I didn't want to leave you, but I had to. Because I loved you, and I still do. That's why I came home."
Mike was left speechless like he was countless times before. It was always in moments like these that he couldn't find the words to express how he felt, so he let his body do the talking. His hands were on Erwin's hips, pulling him in closer once more as he reattached their lips for another kiss. Erwin didn't need him to say anything else. He knew from this kiss that Mike still felt the same exact way.
They found comfort that night in each others arms. Once the bar was closed and the city began to grow quiet, they escaped to the solitude of Mike's apartment, the same apartment they had once shared before their broken hearts departed those six years ago. They danced that night.
They made love that night. As smooth as Tennessee whiskey, and as sweet as strawberry wine.
It’s a little later than I wanted to post it, but my entry for @erumikeweek is finally ready! You can read below the cut, or find it here on AO3!
Day 3: High School
Summary: In which Mike is the shy kid, and Erwin is determined to be his friend.
Mike Zacharias hated the first day of school. It was noisier than all of the other days, wild and hectic, people panickedly pushing and shoving their ways to class as they weren't used to their new schedules and didn't want to be late. The hustle and bustle of the hallways as cramped and infuriating as evening traffic. Not to mention all the teachers were overly enthusiastic and always wanted their students to participate in friendly introductions.
Mike was a shy, quiet kid. He didn't do that shit. It always threw the teachers for a loop when they would call on him, and he would stay silent in his seat, staring down at his desk or out the window like he couldn't bring himself to give a damn.
He really couldn't.
With his reserved nature, Mike didn't have any friends. He didn't mind, he didn't want any. Friends meant trust, and trust wasn't something the new junior was good at freely giving. Friends meant time. He would be the first to admit that he had plenty of it, but friends also meant going out and doing friend things. School was exhausting enough, the social interactions leaving Mike drained and in need of a power nap, so he couldn't really see himself going out to the movies or parties on the weekend.
What was the point anyway?
Movies made high-school and making friends look so easy, so effortless. All you had to do was be fun and pretty, right? Then you could make all the forever friends you wanted, and meet the guy/girl of your dreams. All you had to do was be popular and outgoing and adventurous and high-school would be a breeze! Wrong. Friends were a distraction. The only thing Mike needed to worry about was keeping to himself, getting through his classes, and studying to ace his tests. The rest was bullshit.
At least, that's what his dad told him.
It would be nice to have someone to play Street Fighter with though...
Because of this mentality, Mike came off as the 'bad boy' type. He was honestly far from it. He slunk to the back desks because no one would pay him any mind unless they absolutely had to. He wasn't bored or disinterested, he loved to learn and listened very intently. He had to force himself to do group projects, taking his part of the work and getting it done without doing so much of the group part, but you could bet your sweet ass he wasn't doing the presentation. Reading aloud? Fuck no. Not in front of so many people. What if he misspoke and said something stupid? What if he skipped a line and the whole thing failed to make sense? What if, God forbid, someone asked him to speak up?
Mike had a note excusing him from presentations. It wasn't good for his anxiety, and a panic attack wasn't good for his asthma.
Erwin Smith loved the first day of school. He loved meeting up with his friends and finding out which classes he had with whom, learning his new schedule and mapping out the best and quickest ways to make it to class early, and he absolutely loved student introductions. It helped him figure his peers out early on so picking partners for projects was much easier.
The new sophomore was the perfect student. An overachiever, a ready participant, a fucking boss at giving speeches and presentations. He always claimed the desk dead center of the front, and skyrocketed in his studies to be top of the class. He didn't kiss the ass of his teachers, but he wasn't prone to joining other students in acting out or pulling pranks either.
Erwin was not at all a shy boy. He was quiet during class, but he could be loud if he wanted when he was with his friends. Especially with Hanji during their riveting scientific discussions. He was always ready to be called on when he knew an answer to a question, always ready to step out of his comfort zone and meet new people when he didn't have any of his friends from his usual group in a class with him.
Which is what led him to the tall, blonde kid staring out the window when they had some free time at the end of class. Since it was only the first day, their teacher had only given them an overview of what to expect this year, and an outline of lesson plans to glance over. Instead of making her students stand at the front of the class and introduce themselves, she wanted her students to feel comfortable and mingle amongst themselves for the rest of the period.
Erwin walked up slowly, noticing how the older seemed to tense up when anyone stepped too close, but he didn't let that deter him from approaching. He saw dark blue eyes glance at him quickly, giving him a once over before drawing into himself once again. He realized after a moment that he had seen this boy around, but he didn't even know his name. He reminded him a lot of his friend Levi, who was also prone to sticking to the sides of the hall and the back of his classes. He was shy, Erwin understood that right away, could see it written all over his face like a novel.
That didn't mean that he had to be alone.
"Hi..." Erwin said with a soft smile, keeping his voice low and friendly. The boy glanced at him again, offering a nod in greeting. Where other people may have seen it as rude, Erwin was used to it and didn't mind in the slightest. "I'm Erwin. Do you mind telling me your name?"
Mike felt his heart speed up, the cogs and gears in his brain stuttering and smoking as he tried to think of one good reason this kid, Erwin, was speaking to him. Why was he being so nice? Why did he have to walk over here? Mike was doing fine on his own today, so why did he have to go and ruin it?
But he really hadn't ruined anything yet, had he? He was just introducing himself. He was one boy. Everyone else was in their little groups cackling like hyenas and paying them no mind. He could do this. He could speak up. He could at least tell him his name.
Mike's eyes swept across the room to make sure no one else was listening, and glanced up to meet the most stunning blue eyes he had ever seen in his life. "Mike..."
The younger's face seemed to light up at the sound of his voice, his soft smile turning into a beaming grin at the small success of earning the other's name. "It's really nice to meet you, Mike. I think this is gonna be a good year for us, don't you?"
At the tone in Erwin's voice, the excitement and kindness, and with that beautiful smile gracing an already handsome face, Mike found himself unable to look away. Unable to hide and cave in to his own anxieties. The more he looked into those gorgeous eyes, the more he realized he didn't mind Erwin walking up to him. He didn't mind his presence, or the fact that he was speaking directly to him. He didn't mind his soft voice, or his eyes diving deeply into his own.
He didn't mind the idea of becoming friends with him.
He didn't mind this friendly introduction.
Mike found his own smile, something he hadn't done in a long time. "Yeah, I guess..."
Day 2 of EruMike week! Thanks again, @erumikeweek for the awesome prompts!
You can also read on AO3! :)
Day 2: Reincarnation
Summary: In which Erwin has been reincarnated into the god of the sky, and Mike into the god of the earth.
The sky god swept through his domain of crystal blue and billowy clouds in impatient longing, awaiting the grounding presence of his most favored companion. Erwin was patient in many things. Overseeing that Day and Night carried on just as Nature had intended, watching over the other gods and goddesses to ensure they were doing their duties consistently and efficiently. But this. This waiting was testing that very patience, and Erwin nearly gave up to hunt the individual at fault down in the mortal realm. But he stayed put.
A younger boy who favored in appearance the pacing man almost exactly was sitting atop a feathery wisp of a cloud, feet dangling over the edge as he kicked his legs back and forth. His lips were pulled into a knowing smirk, fully aware of whom they were expecting, eyes shining like the Sun.
"Father, do try to relax. Restlessness does not befit the sky." the boy chuckled, causing the older man to huff indignantly.
"I am calm, Armin. Perhaps it is you who is restless." Erwin shot back, but his words lacked the chastising venom he'd only hoped he could add to his words. He could never fully bring himself to snap at the boy out of meanness. It was only times like these that the sky god's patience began to wear thin, and his temper seemed to run on a short fuse that his words came out with a bitter sting, but to his fortune the keeper of the Sun was more than a little understanding.
The young boy only giggled brightly, waving his hand dismissively as he stood to his feet and began to walk away. "Whatever you say, father. Just try to keep it down when he arrives, won't you?" Armin laughed, and before Erwin had time to retort the boy had disappeared.
Erwin grumbled to himself until he felt a different presence in his domain, turning quickly to see a tall man in white and emerald green making his way over with a small smile on his face. His already shaggy blonde hair was being tousled in the wind, his tan skin glowing golden in the sunlight. Even without the ability to sense other deities, Erwin would have been able to say that this man truly was a god at first glance.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long, my king of the heavens." Mike smirked teasingly, knowing that he had.
Erwin only rolled his vibrant blue eyes, crossing his arms over his chest and cocking out a hip. "You always do, Mike, and it's rather annoying." he gruffed out, not teasing at all. But his bout of sass hadn't put a dent in the other man's smile. Mike felt no guilt for exercising Erwin's patience, not even a little, and that only made his frustrations grow. "I should have slammed the gates when I sensed you, but nooo. I'm the nice one. I make sure Sun shines to keep you warm, that Rain waters your bloody crops, and that Stars make pretty pictures for you to gaze upon when Night comes, and what do you do? You leave me here worried sick and come home two days late! You're a tease, my king of the earth! A bloody fucking tease!"
Thunder boomed and rain began to pour as the sky turned gray, but as he always did, Mike waited. His patience never seemed to wane. He never raised his voice, even when his lover became particularly fussy, and he certainly never took any of Erwin's stormy words to heart as he knew he only said these things because he wanted more Time with him. Today was no different. Mike stood tall and stoic and patient, and when Erwin finished his rant, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to his beloved Sky's lips.
There was something in these kisses that felt so urgent and raw. Something that sparked like memories in both of their minds, something they were so close to grasping but just couldn't put their fingers on. It was like loss, but how could they feel that when they both had gained so much in one another. Knowledge had offered them a deal, promising that her liege Memory would bring back what they had lost, but they had declined. What they had found in each other now was more than enough for the two of them. They didn't need the memories of a past tragedy, a past life, a past love, to love each other now. Mike only needed Erwin, and Erwin only needed Mike.
It was as simple as that.
Mike smiled against Erwin's lips when he felt him relax, his hands sliding down the curve of his back to rest on perfectly sculpted hips. The sky god's arms reached up to wrap around broad shoulders, his fingers tangling in long, windblown hair. They pulled apart after a moment, looking on each other with a sense of fondness that swelled in their chests, hearts beating as one just as quickly as a hummingbird's wings.
"How I've missed you, king of my heart." Erwin whispered as quietly as a breath, feeling that he finally understood what mortals meant when they used the expression 'to be brought back down to earth.'
Mike leaned in to pepper kisses across the contours of his beloved's handsome face, basking in the little sighs that left lovely pink lips. "I've missed you as well, keeper of my soul. Have the nightmares kept you from resting?"
Erwin thought about lying, but one look in his lover's soft blue eyes and he knew he couldn't. The god of earth would find out eventually, when all was quiet and Night arrived. When tangled limbs melted into silk sheets and heavy breaths quieted to whispers. When lightning would make it's electric scars in the blackness of midnight and rain would dampen his domain, Mike would find out of the horrors still plaguing the Sky.
"They have." he answered softly, eyes stuck to the feathery clouds underfoot. "But I think they're starting to ease..."
That was a lie. In fact, they weren't easing at all, but growing far worse. They were always gruesome, bloody, and violent. He watched so many people die in his nightmares, so many of his friends. Living his life in a cage of towering walls, living in fear of lumbering beasts that would be so simple for the deity to dispose of. He hadn't had to watch Mike die, but he had been replaced by an agonizing ache in his chest in some of the dreams. He would wake in the dead of night covered in sweat, heart pounding and chest heaving with every panting breath.
It's one of the many reasons Erwin fussed when the love of his life was late to come home. Because what if this was the dream, and the life he lived without Mike by his side was his reality? He worried, he couldn't help it.
Mike smiled sadly, easily sensing the Sky's emotions as if they were his own. He brought his hand up to graze fingertips against rosy cheeks, coaxing sapphire eyes into meeting his comforting gaze. "My dearest one..."
But Erwin cut him off before he could finish. "Let us not worry with it now. I just want to bring you home and have you all for myself."
Mike couldn't argue with that. The month and two days he had spent away from his love and his home had felt more like an eternity. Without another word, their hands were clasped together and they had suddenly appeared in their chambers, unable to wait a moment longer to find home in the other's embrace.
And so, the Sky and Earth met. Once again creating their holy horizons without another thought of their past, looking on to the future.
So I just realized that when I posted Hit and Run earlier, I never posted the link to AO3! So, if you’d rather read my first entry for EruMike week there, you can find it here! :)
EruMike week starts today, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring some attention to one of my favorite ships! Thank you so much to @erumikeweek for putting together these awesome prompts!
You can also read on AO3 by clicking here! :)
Day 1: Mechanic
Summary: In which Erwin Smith had never been so happy to have gotten in a wreck.
Erwin smoothed down his tie as he sat in the evening traffic, tired and slightly irritable after the grueling day at the law firm. It hadn't been the best of days, and it wasn't quite the worst, just uneventful and slow. It was strange, but it was days like these that were the most exhausting. At least when he was busy he could forget about how tired he was. When there was a pile of paperwork, or a client to see, or a day at court to attend, he could ignore that hollow feeling in his chest that always seemed to expand at the end of his day.
The line of cars in front of him moving at a snail's pace were definitely testing his patience, only giving him more time to think about the empty house he'd be going to.
The thirty-two year old had always told himself that he was content being alone. That he was happy being married to his work, not having to worry about anyone else but himself. But the older he got, the more of his friends that were getting married and having children, made him realize something. He was content.
He wasn't happy.
He wanted to be.
Erwin sighed in annoyance at himself for not being able to control his thoughts, rubbing his tired eyes harshly in attempt to snap himself out of it around the time traffic finally started to move again. He jolted, along with his car, when whoever was behind him got trigger happy on the gas pedal and rear-ended him with such a force that his head slammed into the steering wheel.
The airbag didn't deploy.
Groaning in both pain and aggravation, Erwin pulled over to the side of the road to check the damage on his car. The back fender was crumpled, and both taillights had been busted. To add insult to injury, the bastard who had hit him hadn't hesitated to swiftly drive away from the scene. To say Erwin was livid would be an understatement.
Erwin wasn't some snotty rich man looking to crush those beneath him, he wasn't the least bit stingy or boastful with money. He was confident, which he knew could come off as cocky sometimes, but he never turned his nose up at anyone. He was kind and understanding, patient and charitable. He had never had anything handed to him on a silver platter like everyone who had ever met him thought. He studied hard to get the free ride to law school. He earned his diploma and job through grit and determination. He worked hard for the brand new car now sitting with it's back end bashed on the curbside. He didn't have money to throw around for repairs, and he doubted that his moderately helpful insurance would be able to help much with a hit-and-run accident.
"At least it can't get any worse." he grumbled to himself sarcastically.
But, oh, it could.
Not even a minute after the bitter words had left his lips, thunder boomed overhead and a splash of rain slipped down the back of his neck. Within seconds, it was as if the sky had bottomed out and he was soaked. Erwin quickly got back in his car and searched for his cellphone, coming to the conclusion that finding a tow would be his best bet at getting home quicker. But his pockets, center console, brief case, and even his glove box held no trace of the device.
He must have left it at the office.
Perfect.
Erwin took a deep breath, feeling his temper rise and his hands balling into fists as he decided that yes. Today really was the worst day. He thought maybe turning on the radio would help clear his head, but it was nothing but static. The man almost felt like crying, silently asking himself why. Why him? Why today? Why all at once, all of a sudden?
He jumped when there was a knock on his window.
He looked and saw a young blonde woman with bright blue eyes and an elfish face. He rolled down the window, about to ask if she needed something, but her voice silenced him.
"I was passing by and couldn't help but notice you seem to be in a predicament. Need a lift?" she asked seriously as she nodded at her own vehicle that was pulled over in front of him.
Erwin nearly sobbed in relief when he realized it was a tow truck. "Please. Thank you." he sighed, and grabbed his things before hopping out so the woman could hitch it up onto the back of her truck. Once she was finished, they hopped into the tow's cab and headed back into the city.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly happened?" the still unintroduced woman asked, her brilliant eyes flicking over to Erwin before focusing back on the road.
The man sighed, rubbing at the sore spot on his head where he had hit the steering wheel, noticing that it was already forming into a small knot. "I was stuck in traffic, and I guess someone was a little too eager to get home. They plowed into the back of me and drove off." he explained simply, and before the woman could ask anything more, he continued. "I wasn't able to call the police or for a tow earlier. It seems I left my phone at work, so I was a bit stranded."
The blonde whistled, her eyebrows raising in disbelief. "Some day you've had. Nobody stopped to help? Nobody else came forward as a witness to the accident?"
Erwin shook his head. "I guess people don't want to get out in the rain." he shrugged noncommittally, and when they pulled in to a mechanic's garage he held out his hand to the woman who had been his savior. "Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. I'm Erwin Smith by the way." he said with a cordial smile.
The young woman grinned sheepishly, and gladly shook his hand. "Sorry, that was rude of me. Here I am picking you off the side of the road and you don't even know me. I'm Nanaba, but you can just call me Nan. It's nice to make you're acquaintance, Mr. Smith."
Erwin reciprocated her handshake, and felt himself relaxing at Nanaba's kindness and laid back personality. "Likewise. And just Erwin is fine."
"Alright, 'just' Erwin. Let's get you all sorted out." she chuckled, and motioned for them to head into the garage. Once they were out of the truck, they headed into a small office space where Nanaba began to write a few things down. "Unfortunately, we'll be closing for the night soon, so all we can do for tonight is assess the damage and call you a cab. I've got the day off tomorrow, so I'm leaving all of you're information here for Mike... Ah, speak of the devil!"
Erwin turned and felt heat begin to crawl up the back of his neck. Walking towards them was probably the sexiest man the blonde had ever seen in all his thirty-two years of living. The man previously dubbed as Mike was taller than even Erwin, who stood at an already impressive six foot two, with shaggy, sandy blonde hair and a rugged beard and mustache. His skin was honey-tanned, pulled taut over his well defined muscles, smeared with grease and grime but oh that just seemed to make him all the more attractive. His white tank top showed off his glorious collarbones, (that Erwin couldn't help but imagine nipping and sucking deep purple hickeys onto), a red and black flannel tied around his hips, golden skin of his legs peeking through the holes in his jeans. When he got closer, Erwin could see subtle blue eyes hidden behind his bangs. They weren't as bright as Nanaba's, or his own for that matter, but they were just as beautiful.
It took Erwin a second to realize the man had said something, and a flustered blush rose to his cheeks. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked embarrassingly, hating himself for not keeping his cool. He was Erwin Smith for crying out loud! Erwin Smith never lost his cool!
But there was something unnerving about this man. Something good. Something he liked. It was unnerving in only the best way, and he was determined to find out what.
"I, uh, said it's nice to meet you, Erwin."
Oh shit. Had he really missed Nanaba introducing him? Had he really been that distracted by Mike? No. No, he couldn't. That would mean Erwin was flustered, and he was never flustered. But, just to prove him wrong further, his cheeks seemed to heat up even more.
He cursed himself.
Once he was finally able to respond, he cleared his throat and held out his hand for Mike to shake. "It's nice to meet you as well, Mike. Nanaba was just telling me you'd be the one helping me tomorrow?" he asked almost nervously, cursing himself again as he sorted through his jumbled thoughts and got his shit together.
Mike nodded, the corners of his lips quirking upwards into a half smile as he shook Erwin's hand. "Yes." he said simply, a rumble as low as the thunder outside. Erwin could have swooned at just how deep Mike's voice was, the sound reaching his ears only to make his bones quake. Before the silence could stretch on, or Erwin could humiliate himself further, Nanaba spoke up behind them.
"I was just about to call Erwin a cab, but maybe you could do him a favor and take him home, Mike? That is, if you're comfortable with that?" She directed the last question to Erwin, azure eyes sparkling with a sense of knowingness that made the man uneasy.
He cleared his throat for the second time, straightening his shoulders a little as he found them both staring at him, waiting. "It's fine with me, but you're already helping me so much. I don't want to inconvenience you any further than I already have."
But Mike shook his head, giving a soft chuckle through his nose. "Don't be silly. It's part of our job." he mumbled as he waved the other man over to another part of the garage, an inside parking unit for the employees. Mike brought him to an old style Chevrolet Impala, glossy black with two thin red stripes running down the sides. It was impeccably kept, not a speck of dirt or piece of trash in sight, and he could tell by the look in Mike's eyes that the man was incredibly proud of it. It brought a smile to Erwin's face.
"She's a beauty." he complimented, settling into the passenger's seat comfortably, the awkward tension in the air easing a bit.
Mike's smile was handsome, and Erwin found himself unwilling to look away. "She is. She belonged to my granddad. He bought her brand new back in the day, and she still runs like a dream." Just to prove his point, Mike turned the key in the ignition to have the car rev to life, and waited on Erwin's instruction before taking the turn out of the parking lot.
The ride was quiet, but comfortable. Mike was a man of few words, and that was perfectly fine. Every now and again, Erwin would tell Mike where to turn, but other than that the only thing to fill the silence was the quiet hum of the radio in the background and the steady rumble of the engine. At one point, Mike had asked about the accident and Erwin had explained everything once again, gaining a nod and noncommittal noise from the other man. When they pulled up to their destination, Erwin frowned at the apartment complex, reluctant for a moment to leave.
"I'm going to need you're phone number." Mike had suddenly spoken up, and when Erwin looked over he could have sworn that the taller blonde was blushing. "I mean, to contact you about your car. You know..." he added quietly, still refusing to make eye contact.
Erwin smirked a bit, wondering for a moment if that was really all there was to it. If so, he didn't ask. He only opened his brief case and grabbed his business card and a pen. His work number was already printed on the front, but he wasted no time in scrawling both his land line and cell numbers on the back before handing the card over. "Feel free to call anytime. It doesn't have to be about just the car." If Mike would have been looking at him, he might've winked. But he only opened the door and stepped out into the now clear night air. He paused before shutting the door. "Before I go, do you mind telling me about how much you think this'll cost?"
It was Mike's turn to smirk, Erwin's heart nearly sputtering out of his chest when he finally turned towards him. Those blue eyes weren't so subtle now as they seemed to twinkle like the stars overhead. "I'll tell you what. Buy me a dinner, and I'll give you a discount."
Erwin didn't hesitate. He stole this moment to wink, a bright smile spreading across his cheeks. "Deal."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Title: Homecoming: Chapter One
Rating: Teen (for now)
Warnings: for discussion of torture, war
Summary: The year is 1973. With the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, the US's involvement in the Vietnam War has officially come to an end. Operation Homecoming has been successful in negotiating the release of US soldiers, and a number of POWs are being sent home. Among them is Mike Zacharius. He's overjoyed to be freed, but after his agonizing captivity, he has no shortage of doubts. He's not sure if he's the same man he once was, or what kind of home he'll be coming back to. It's been seven years since he's had any word from his friends and family, and seven years since he last saw the man he loves.
My final fic for Erumike Week! Ah, I finished. This is for Day Eight: Historical AU. This is another story that ended up getting too complicated for me to finish in a timely fashion, so I will be updating it in chapters. It is going to have more characters and pairings, including Levi/Erwin, but Erwin and Levi haven't actually shown up yet.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Title: Epistolary
Rating: general audiences (but there are mentions of character death)
Summary: Erwin is recovering from his injury, and Levi, although absent, ensures that it's Erwin and no one else who sorts through Mike's things. When Erwin discovers a stash of unsent letters written to him, he has to decide whether to accept or silence his friend's last words.
For Day Seven of Erumike Week, Old Bonds. I'm almost done!
