Chapter Text
I've created a Spotify playlist for this story <3
Please don't leave negative comments about weight here, this is a body-positive story and will remain that way.
Comments need approval because of all the hateful ones I've gotten regarding the 'chubby levi' tag.
I want this story to be a comforting place for everyone so keep that shit away, thank u.
“-don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Hange. I can’t magic fucking £400 out of nowhere by tomorrow! And you know what Zeke is like; he’ll fucking evict me if I ask for an extension on the rent again. Sad, lonely fucking cunt.”
The man was pacing the width of the dark, wet pavement as he spoke into his phone, shaking his head and frowning severely at whatever Hange was saying. He had a gorgeous, low voice, soft yet ridged with anger. It was almost inaudible over the rain against the umbrella Erwin was holding, so he stepped a small pace closer.
Erwin listened, perhaps for longer than he should have. Turned partly away from the man to make it less obvious that he was being painfully, shamefully nosey. But he could hardly help himself; for months, he had been trying to find someone just like this man . Beautiful and sharp as a blade, and at his wit's end due to his dire financial situation.
Or, that's how it seemed to Erwin. No one in a comfortable position financially would get so pent up over a mere £400.
Though Erwin supposed £400 wasn't mere for a lot of people, but he made more than twice that much in a day.
One hand in his pocket, the other grasping his wallet, Erwin continued to listen.
“Don’t be stupid. You need it. It’s not like you’re any fucking richer than I am. Jesus fucking christ, Hange. You have to stop offering me shit you don’t even fucking have.”
His fingers played almost frantically with the zipper on his - Erwin could tell from just a glance - very old jacket. It was worn nearly all the way through at his elbows, and there was a mismatched piece of fabric sewn on one of the shoulders. The rain had soaked right through. He looked strikingly similar to a drenched cat.
Trapping the handle of the umbrella between his arm and his side, Erwin took his wallet from his pocket, opening it to flick through the many cards there, pulling out an old business card from some company he vaguely recalled contacting him. With the pen in his shirt pocket, he wrote down his phone number on a blank space, scribbling over the company details to make it more clear.
“It’s the eight month in a fucking row I’ve not had the money, you really expect mister tight-arse fucking Zeke to accept yet another excuse? Hange, he told me last month… ‘let’s not make a habit of this, now, Levi. I can’t keep being so lenient.’ He’ll evict me. No. Hange. Listen to me. He. Will. Evict. Me. I bet that bustard is just dying for a reason to. Fucking cunt. ”
The man - Levi - sighed heavily into the phone and dropped his hand from the zipper in favour of tapping his thigh. Water dripped off his fingers. He huffed and shook his head as Hange spoke.
“Yes, yes. I could crash with you, but your place is fucking tiny and, no offense, an absolute shithole. I would rather lick my own shit than live there. No offense.”
Erwin had to fight off a smile at his less than polite wording.
Levi stopped pacing at the wall of the Tesco they were outside of and said, exasperated, “Where the hell am I gonna live, Hange? It’s all well and good telling Zeke to fuck himself, but I need a fucking place to live! Stop giving me stupid fucking advice…yes…yes, that’s what I said already. I just did check my balance! It’s a big fat you’ve-got-no-money . Oh yeah, let me ask my boss, who hates me with every fibre of his being, to give me a raise of £400 by tomorrow, great fucking idea!” He kicked the wall, yelled, “Shit!” and hung up the phone.
Erwin leafed through the notes in his wallet, counting quickly, and before he could talk himself out of it, approached Levi and said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I couldn’t help overhear your conversation just now.”
Levi glared at him, though he was so short he had to look upwards to meet Erwin’s eyes. The umbrella sheltered his face.
“You fucking what?” He snapped. His eyes were steel.
“In my defense, you were talking rather loudly.”
“Oh, just piss off.” He was looking at his phone - cracked and old - as he spoke, typing something on the wet screen. “I’m having a shit day as it is without some fucking cunt lecturing me on phone call etiquette. Seriously. Piss off.”
“No, no. I’m not here to lecture you on anything,” Erwin said calmly, amused more than anything by Levi’s sharp tongue. “All I meant by it was, I heard your conversation, and I want you to have this.” He held a wad of £20 notes towards him.
Levi stared at it for a long moment before saying, “Are you off your shitting nut?”
“Maybe I am,” Erwin replied. “Either way, I want you to have it.”
Though his expression was hard, Erwin could tell Levi was considering taking the money. And why the hell wouldn’t he?
“In exchange for what?” He asked bitterly. “Gonna make me suck your toes or something minging like that?”
“No.” Erwin chuckled despite himself. “Not at all. I just want you to have it. Is that a sin?”
“I’ll commit a sin on you in a minute.”
“Just take the money and pay your rent.”
Now, Levi’s eyes narrowed; he was still staring at the cash in Erwin’s hand. “Are you serious?” He asked, his tone suddenly much less abrasive. “You’re actually giving me…how much is that?”
“£500.”
“Shit a fucking brick,” he mumbled.
Erwin chuckled again. “Really. Take it. Please.”
Levi’s eyes flickered up to meet Erwin’s. There was a deep line between his brows. His bangs was dripping water down his face like tears. “Fine,” he huffed, as though it was a chore to be given that much money. “Fine. Just to shut you the fuck up.” He snatched the notes from Erwin’s hand and pocketed them hastily, then looked back at Erwin and said, “You’re fucking insane,” before turning and walking away.
Unknown Number: You fucking loser
Unknown Number: You really slipped your number in between the notes, slippery motherfucker
Unknown Number: If that was all a ploy to get my number then well fucking done I hope you’re real proud of yourself Mr blond Nutcase
Erwin: Mr Blond Nutcase is a new one
Erwin: Nice to hear from you. Levi, wasn’t it?
Unknown Number: Fuck off
Unknown Number: Yes it’s Levi. What’s your name, fucking ‘Rich Cunt the 3rd?’
Erwin: Not quite. It’s Erwin
Levi: Erwin huh
Levi: I prefer Rich Cunt the 3rd
Levi: If you tell me now you’re not rich I’m gonna find you and whack you so damn hard you’ll taste your own shit
Erwin: Yes I’m rich. What ever gave it away?
Levi: Jfc piss off you’re not funnt
Levi: Funny*
Erwin: Did you pay your rent on time?
Levi: Yes sir 🙄
Erwin: Good
Levi: First time since I moved there lol
Levi: I’m not saying thanks BTW
Levi: You’ll have to give me more than £500 for a thank you
Erwin: Oh is that right?
Levi: It is right
Erwin: Come for dinner with me on Saturday then?
Levi: Where?
Erwin: Arillios. 7.30?
Levi: Isn’t that one of those rich ass places?
Erwin: I suppose so. Is that a problem?
Levi: For a few reasons, yes
Levi: 1 - no money
Levi: 2 - nothing smart to wear
Levi: 3 - you’re a stranger and maybe you’ll try to kill me in a dark alley afterwards
Levi: 4 - how do you know I’m not straight
Erwin: Are you?
Levi: Pff. No
Erwin: 1 - I’m paying. 2 - what’s your PayPal? 3 - Dark alleys are not my scene. If I was gonna kill you I’d probably do it in a woods somewhere and then throw your body into a lake
Levi: www.PayPal/AckermanLevi.com
Levi: Lakes are so filthy you’d anger my ghost and I’d haunt you until u die. Then when you’re a ghost too I’d piss you off so much you’d be begging to be released
Erwin: Quite the imagination
Erwin: So, I’ll see you on Saturday?
Levi: Yes see you Saturday
Levi: You did not just send me £500 ????
Levi: what tf is that for you absolute nutcase
Erwin: Buy yourself something to wear + keep the rest
Levi: Pff loser
The thing was, Levi was hardly going to turn down a rich man who wanted to give him money. He wasn’t exactly in the position to deny himself extra cash when his landlord was one late payment from evicting him, and some weeks he couldn’t even afford to stock up his fridge.
He knew it was risky, probably outright stupid, to go out to dinner with a man he had met once for less than two minutes in the midst of one of his many almost-panic attacks. But also, said man was handsome beyond the realms of handsomeness, and he had money, and Levi happened to appreciate handsome men and, also, he really, really needed money.
It had been years since he had been clothes shopping properly in a department store where every surface was shiny and every item of clothing was immaculately ironed and hanging so perfectly on its rail. Levi revelled in the experience, picking up more clothes than he’d ever have the time to wear just for the joy of trying them all on with the knowledge that if he liked something, he could just buy it.
Erwin had told him, specifically, to use the £500 to buy himself some clothes. And like hell would Levi have been a fool not to do just that.
He floated around the shop for more than two hours, collecting clothing and accessories like a magpie attracted to shiny things, and when he came to the till to pay, he didn’t even have to think about turning and putting everything back. He just pushed his card into the machine, entered his pin, and took the receipt with a quick, “Thanks.”
On Saturday, he spent a long time deciding just which of his new clothes he’d wear. On the one hand, he wanted to look good enough that Erwin wouldn’t have second thoughts about inviting him out, or worse, decide he wasn’t worth giving anymore money to. But on the other hand, Erwin had given him money and invited him out after seeing him in his tattered coat. So did it matter all that much?
Above all, Levi did not want to stand out in the restaurant or seem out of place with Erwin. From what he had seen of the man in the fleeting encounter, Erwin dressed well. He’d had a trench coat on, the sort that weighed more than a small car, and beneath that Levi had glimpsed a black suit shirt and, strange as it was, a green bolo tie.
And if this really was a date, as Levi assumed - Erwin hadn’t shut him down when he’d mentioned his sexuality -, he needed to look like he was the sort of man Erwin would date, even if he knew he wasn’t.
Afterall, why would a loaded, six foot something man with the most incredible Roman nose Levi had ever seen look twice at someone as average as Levi? Then again, maybe Erwin had a weird hobby of picking up poor young men, sending them £500, and then ghosting them.
Not that he had been ghosted, but it was bound to happen, just like all his previous dates and partners and, to his dismay, most of his friends, too.
Levi was now down to just one close friend, and even Hange seemed to find him irritating beyond words most of the time.
In the end, he chose an outfit that was simple and sleek. A black turtleneck, straight-leg black pants, and a pair of patent shoes with a small platform. He shrugged on a jacket he’d bought - black, again, with silver buttons - and spritzed a new bottle of citrus perfume over his pulse points generously. Levi wasn’t one for wearing cologne, found it too brashly masculine for his taste.
One of the men he’d dated more than a year ago had insisted on him quitting the ‘habit of using women’s shit’, and Levi had blown up at him, spitting insults faster than he could think them up, and…well, that had been the end of that short relationship. Levi was secretly relieved about the end of most of his romantic relationships even if the break-ups made him more hostile to the next man. If the end of barely a few months at most could be called a break-up. Specially since very few of said relationships involved anything sexual.
They were basically temporary friends who Levi happened to find attractive enough to call a date .
He looked at his reflection for a long moment, turning this way and that, before leaving his frankly embarrassing flat to walk to the restaurant, praying the rain would hold off until he was inside.
Erwin was there when Levi arrived, standing outside Arillio’s in an outfit so expensive Levi nearly keeled over and died right there. He was all sharp seams and deep colours, and the emerald of his bolo tie glistened under the streetlight.
“Ah, Levi,” Erwin greeted, a smile gracing his wonderful face. “I'm glad you came. You look lovely.”
“Tch,” muttered Levi. “Sure.”
Erwin opened the door and gestured for Levi to step in first. “You don't sound convinced.”
“Can we sit down? I'm hungry as shit.”
They were shown to a table by a large window, where, once seated, Erwin asked, “Not eaten much lately?”
Levi's eyes narrowed. “Do I look starved to you?” A frown accompanied the words, and he quickly added, “No. Trying to save for rent next month.”
“Landlord not very forgiving?” Though he had noticed the way Levi’s demeanor had shifted for a few seconds, Erwin knew better than to comment on it. Not yet, anyway. Not after they'd met only once before. But he picked up on these things without meaning to, years of his job making it second nature.
“Tch. He's a lousy cunt with no life.” A pause, then, “Do you want me to return the clothes later or what?”
Erwin raised an eyebrow. “I don't follow.”
“You want your money back, right? The shit you sent for these clothes?”
“No.”
“No?”
“If I give you money, it's yours to keep and spend.”
“Why would you do that?”
Erwin smiled and picked up the menu. “I'm sure you can figure that out.”
“Why in hell,” Levi started, holding his own menu in both hands and scowling at it. “Would you choose to give your money to some stranger you saw outside Tesco? And what the fuck is a croquette?”
“It's mashed potato deep fried in bread crumbs. And if you must know, I've been looking for someone to spoil for a while. Never found the right fit until now.”
“Spoil?” Levi peered over the menu at him, brows furrowed. “So, you invited me here to tell me, after one meeting, that you want to be a sugar daddy, and you think I'm the right fit to be, what, your sugar baby?”
“Well, yes.”
“Jesus fucking christ on a bendy bus.”
Erwin just breathed a laugh and turned his attention to the menu. When he glanced at Levi, he was squinting at the paper, brows furrowed.
“Are you constipated?”
“I can't understand half these fucking words.”
Erwin ordered for both of them - when the waiter came, Levi stared at him with his mouth clamped shut - and poured water from the jug into Levi's glass, then his own.
“I'm not gonna get naked for you,” Levi said abruptly. “If you think I'd do that for cash, forget it.”
“I wouldn't expect you to.”
“But you must want something in return?”
“Just your time, Levi. Indulge me, let me get to know you, and I'll give you as much money as you ask for. And more, probably. “
“Who says I even want your money? I can provide for myself, you know.”
“You can say no. I'm not forcing you.”
“Shit.” He huffed and tapped at his glass. “I don't want your money if you pity me or see me as some charity case.”
“Not at all.”
“So why, then?”
“Because you caught my attention the other day and I want to spoil you.”
“Why?”
“Because you're beautiful and interesting and I believe you're worth spoiling.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “I'm not sucking your dick.”
“Nothing sexual has to happen.”
Levi leaned back in his seat, eyes raking over Erwin. “Unless I ask for it, I don't want you to give me shit. No random ‘E.S sent you £500’ bullshit.”
“Absolutely.”
“And I'm not calling you daddy.”
“I don't expect you to.”
“Good.”
Erwin smiled at him, a genuine smile that made Levi look down at his lap.
The food might possibly have been the best thing Levi had ever put in his mouth, though he was reserved with letting Erwin know as such, just said, “It's good.”
But Erwin could tell it was more than just good. The harsh frown Levi had worn since they'd met was softening out as he ate.
They talked about the weather. Or, Erwin commented on it and Levi rolled his eyes, tutted, and told him, “You're a loser.”
Erwin asked what Levi's job was, and he huffed, tapping the table repeatedly, and reluctantly explained he washed dishes in a cafe during the week. “It’s fucking awful,” he said. “I'm good at it, but my boss can't stand me. So. I'm treated like shit.”
“Why doesn't your boss like you?”
Levi continued tapping the table; Erwin noticed he was keeping to a strict rhythm. “He asked me to clean the bathroom one time and I told him I'd rather drink cat piss.”
“Ah.”
“Cleaning bathrooms is not in my job description. So. Tch.”
“Well, then,” Erwin said. “He shouldn't ask you to do it.”
“I bet he missed the urinal and pissed all over the floor and didn't want to clean it himself. Bastard.”
By the end of the evening, with desserts nearly finished, Levi asked boldly, as though he'd been Erwin's sugar baby for months and not hours, “Can I have some money?”
It lit something in Erwin's face and he smiled so fully that Levi again looked down. “How much?”
“For the supermarket,” Levi said. “Maybe £50?”
“£50?”
“Is that…okay?”
“Sure. £50.”
Barely a minute later, Erwin was passing the money into Levi's waiting hand, and Levi took it, blinked, and mumbled, “Huh. It's that simple?”
“Like I said, Levi. Indulge me and I'll give you all the money you ask for. And I've had a wonderful evening with you. You're great company.”
“Tch. Sure.”
Erwin drove Levi home despite his insistence that he could walk. His car was a further indication of how rich he was, all sleek and smooth with seats so comfortable Levi could have curled up and slept there.
“Levi, this is eight miles away,” Erwin exclaimed, looking at the address Levi had typed into the satnav.
“Yeah. So?”
“So you were really going to walk eight miles in the dark wearing all black. That's practically asking to be killed.”
Levi huffed. “It's not that far. And I'm not a kid.”
“You should have said it was so far. I'd have sent you a taxi or picked you up or something.”
“You're not my damn boyfriend,” Levi snapped.
Erwin just sighed and started the engine.
Outside his building, Levi made no move to leave the vehicle, knew his flat would be cold and unwelcoming, much preferred the inside of Erwin's car.
“Are you alright?” Erwin asked as his hesitance drew on.
“Fine. Just - warm in here.”
“Ah.”
Levi undid his seat belt with a click. “So. I guess I'll text you?”
“Please do.”
“And probably see you again. Maybe. If you're lucky.”
Erwin breathed a soft laugh. “I look forward to it, Levi. See you later.”
The first thing Hange did upon hearing that Levi had an actual real life sugar daddy was grab his hand and exclaim, “Why is there no ring?”
Levi scoffed and yanked his hand away. “Jesus, Hange. We had one dinner.”
“You gotta lock him down, shorty! There aren't many men who are handsome, rich, and want to give away their money to lowly dishwashers. What does he want in return anyway? you did tell him about your problem-”
“He doesn't want sex,” Levi said, cutting them off. “So, he doesn't have to know.”
“Are you gonna ask him for next month's rent money? Ooh , he could pay your opticians fees so you can actually get those glasses. You squint so much you'll have crow's feet by thirty. Oh, and how old is he? He's not, like, eighty, is he? Eugh, that'd be pretty gross.”
“Didn't ask. Mid thirties, I guess. I'm not gonna leech off him, Hange. At least, not until I've known him longer. And I was figuring if he mentions my bad sight, then I'll ask. But not unless he says something.”
“Hm, tactical. I like it.”
“Don't tell Zeke. He'll probably try and bang me just for some money.”
“As if I'd tell that idiot.”
Levi: BTW nice car
Erwin: Haha thanks
Erwin: You into cars?
Levi: No but I can appreciate a nice one
Levi: What about me makes you think ‘he’s into cars’???
Levi: I don’t even have a licence lmfao
Erwin: Never like to assume things
Erwin: Because you don’t want to drive or another reason?
Levi: Something like that
Levi: Most things are within walking distance anyway
Erwin: Except Arillio’s
Levi: I walked there just fine thank you very much
Levi: You’re just a hater
Erwin: Far from it, Levi
Levi: So
Levi: I’m not usually this chatty but Hange would kill me if I didn’t keep talking to you
Levi: I think she wants you
Levi: Or maybe your money 💀
Erwin: What do you want?
Levi: Who gives a shit
Erwin: For example, do you want to have dinner at my place, say, next weekend?
Erwin: Working until 8pm weekdays otherwise I’d suggest sooner
Levi: Depends if you can cook
Erwin: I think so but you can be the judge of that
Levi: Alright
Levi: Only bcos I’m curious about your house
Levi: Never been in a rich house before lol
Levi: I might start crying blood like vampires when they go into a church
Erwin: Well, that would look good on you
Erwin: You kind of look like a vampire
Erwin: Any foods you won’t eat?
Levi: Seafood
Levi: Good bcos that’s the look I’m going for
Levi: Glad someone appreciates my efforts
Levi: Where do you even live??
Erwin: You’ll see on Saturday
Levi: You’re so fucking annoying
Levi: Hange wants to know how old u are
Erwin: Oh Hange wants to know 🤨?
Levi: What I said
Erwin: I’m 36
Erwin: You?
Levi: 25
Levi: Shit that kinda makes you more attractive
Levi: That’s totally what Hange said, not me BTW
Erwin: Sureee
Erwin: Tell Hange thanks
Levi: So. Saturday?
Erwin: Does 6 work?? I can pick you up because my place is definitely too far to walk
Erwin: Even for you
Levi: Fine. See you then loser