AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 19 - SWEET THING by VAN MORRISON

I'm giving you a shorter chapter this week starring Erwin and Armin. This story has given me a lot of opportunities to explore gender identity and stereotypes, and Erwin and Armin, because of their body sizes and their natures, offer unique perspectives. It's important for me to be responsible, appropriate and non-stereotypical, so if you feel that I've not handled any of this in a way that you feel I should, please let me know.

Thank you so much. I love you guys!

SPOTIFY LINK https://open.spotify.com/track/7rPsF218CASDaDEoMkEe03?si=3709b3cf918e4b92

Armin ran his finger over the water droplets that beaded up on Erwin's brown skin. Bright sun lit up their bodies, while they bobbed in Erwin's pool, clinging to an orange float in the deep end. Erwin gazed at him, the boy's cheek resting on his hand, his blue eyes pulling Erwin in. Water pooled around the man's elbows and just below his lips. Every so often, his body folded, and with his legs, lifted Armin out of the water a little, enough to draw a soft giggle from him.

Armin's yellow-blonde hair was pulled back in a half ponytail. His signature lip gloss reflected light in fractals, and his lips were drawn up in a slow smile. He took Erwin's breath away. He could feel Armin's eyes on him, and with that little smile, he knew the boy would speak soon.

"Why don't you ever play solos at the bar?"

The question made him feel like he'd been sucked under the water. His chest constricted. Armin always asked questions that scared the shit out of him, but also created a soft place to land. After a moment of silence, Armin reached out and rubbed his fingers over Erwin's ear. "How come?"

"Levi plays the solos. I'm rhythm."

"I know that, silly." Armin's bob bounced behind him. "Do you not like the solos?"

A frown fluttered across Erwin's forehead, and he chewed on his lip for a moment. "It's just always been that way." He ran his fingers over Armin's arm.

"When he got kicked out for that fight, you played all of the solos and you were really good."

The man's eyes crinkled in a smile. "Thank you."

"Do you realize that you're a great guitarist?" Armin slid up his sunglasses and frog-kicked to keep himself above the float.

"I love to play. It's not important to me whether or not I play the solos."

"Well, have you ever asked him?"

Erwin looked at him for a long moment. He hesitated when he spoke. "Why would I do that?"

Armin growled in frustration and wrapped his tiny legs around Erwin's upper chest, pulling him under. When the man resurfaced, sputtering and wiping water out of his eyes, the boy waited with his chin on his knuckles and a cherub smile on his face. "Let's try this again," he drawled. "If Levi got sick for a weekend, who would play the solos?"

The man's mouth turned down, embattled. "I would, but..."

"Are you afraid of asking him?"

He shook his head slowly. He wasn't afraid of Levi, was he? Erwin wasn't in the habit of asking for anything he needed or wanted. He had always been a "wait and see" kind of guy. "No, of course not."

"Doesn't everyone kind of walk around on eggshells with him?" Armin narrowed his eyes and continued to soothe the man with his fingers over his wrist.

Erwin felt protectiveness flare in his chest. His voice was low and had a bite to it. "Levi's a good guy." He ran a wet palm over his forehead. "He's been good to all of us."