An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Summary: Erwin and Levi are enjoying a relaxing vacation in a tropical paradise when Erwin strains his back. Luckily, his former-masseuse husband knows exactly how to take care of his Old Man.
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Sun, sand, and salt- lying out on a blanket by the ocean was harder work that Erwin had expected, and by afternoon he was ready for a little bit of privacy and shade. It’s not that his vacation was going poorly- just the opposite, in fact. So far it was perfect. He’d scuba dived the reefs with Levi on Monday, taken a tour into the jungles to wander through ruins and giant stone ziggurats on Tuesday, and was thoroughly enjoying the day they’d set aside to tan and read on the beach. But the sun always took more out of him than he expected- in a good way- and by noon he felt deliciously warm and lazy.
“I’m going up to the balcony,” he told Levi, rolling over and standing.
“Good idea. I could use a shower,” Levi responded, lifting his sunglasses an inch above his eyes to look up at Erwin. “Been sweating like a pig, and I’m covered in sea salt,” he grumbled, idly fingering the damp ends of the ponytail pulling dark strands up and back above his undercut. “Jesus, there’s even salt in my hair. I don’t know how you do it- lying out here all day. I’ve can barely take 30 minutes.”
“Ah, practice,” Erwin chuckled, remembering the whole morning of his husband’s restless back and forth- from jumping into the ocean and paddling around to trotting back up the beach and laying down on his towel just to repeat the cycle again as soon as he started getting too hot. “A good book also helps,” he added, bending down to collect his paperback and sunscreen before shaking the sand from his towel and stuffing them all into his backpack. “You really need to learn to relax, Levi,” he said as he straightened, stopping midway to a loud – CRACK –
“Oh- Ah!- geez,” he complained, feeling something shift in his spine, accompanied by a nauseating seize in his muscles. They tightened all at once, spasming painfully as his jaw clenched shut. “What? What’s going on?” he wondered through gritted teeth, hand pressed to his lower back. As he tried to straighten it flared- sharp pain shooting to the base of his neck. “What- is this?” he groaned, panting through the discomfort, as Levi scrambled to his feet...