Chapter Text
“Wait -- my foot goes where?” Petra was still working with Levi on climbing up the pole. The class was technically over but she had asked him for extra clarification while Erwin and the rest of his coworkers looked on. Levi was kneeling under her, beside the pole gingerly moving her ankle and giving her instructions. The red in Petra’s cheeks wasn’t just from the effort of climbing.
The class had gone about as well as Erwin could have predicted. Gelgar had almost crushed his genitals at least twice and at one point Hange had totally lost her grip and fell on her ass. They hadn’t done anything too complicated. Levi had saved climbing for the end but they had already attempted the scissor sit, which Levi had demoed at the start, as well as a forearm spin, knee spin, and a sit spin. These were all basically the same grips and motion just holding the pole with various body parts along with their hands.
Erwin was good at the strength element but found he had little coordination once on the pole. Nanaba, on other hand, was very good; never having to ask for clarification on what was going on. Erwin couldn’t tell if Mike was as ungraceful as he was or if it was Nan distracting him.
“Thank you,” Petra finally let go of the pole and Levi let go of her. “I’m sorry to take up the time.”
“It’s your class time and my job,” Levi answered simply, no annoyance or affection present. Erwin couldn’t blame Petra at all, in some petty way he was a bit envious that it wasn’t weird for her to ask for his help. Levi stood to address the room. “That was pretty good first class. I appreciate how much everyone tried, it's a very different form of dance.” It wasn’t the gushiest complement Erwin had received but it felt more genuine.
“That was so fun,” Hange was still practically vibrating even after all the effort they expelled. “Nan you were incredible! Were you like a ballerina in another life?”
“Uh, thanks but no. I’ve never taken ballet before,” Nanaba avoided any kind of explanation. She was probably regretting her choice to carpool, she looked like she was ready to run out the door. Erwin was going to have to talk to her, if this ‘team building’ thing made any of his employees uncomfortable it was never happening again.
“Oluo, c’mon man put on your shoes,” Gelgar called out to the other man who was staring at the empty pole that Petra had been using. “You’re our ride for fucks sake. Let’s go.” That seemed to shake Oluo from his daydream. He started toward the door, gently rattling the keys in his hand not even bothering to sling an insult at Gelgar.
“The hell is his problem?” Petra asked. Mike and Erwin shared a small look.
“How should I know, if anyone should be in a bad mood it's me. I nearly lost little Gel today.”
“‘Little Gel?’ You are disgusting.”
“The only disgusting thing will be when I hurl in the back seat from Oluo’s road rage. Let’s go before he gets impatient,” Nanaba nudged the other two toward the door.
“Nanaba?” She turned back toward Mike. “I could give you a ride home? I have an extra helmet.” Of course he had an extra helmet with him, Erwin was sure it was for exactly this kind of scenario. He was more surprised he had actually decided to offer.
“That’s sweet but we all parked at the office so I have to pick up my car and they are headed there anyway. I’ll make it alright,” she winked at him and smiled. Mike gave an acknowledging nod, Erwin knew it was a disappointed gesture. “Hey Hange, this was fun. I’ll see you both Monday.” After blowing Nan a theatrical kiss goodbye Hange made her way out too, an exhausted Moblit beside them.
Once his shoes were back on and jacket ready to face the brisk evening, Erwin thought he should at least say goodbye. Levi was wiping down the other poles, preparing for the next class.
“Thank you for the class mister-,” Erwin trailed off, a verbal black space, but he did offer out his hand.
“Ackerman, but Levi would be better.” Levi shook his hand once firm and quick.
“Erwin Smith.”
“You have a very odd class, Erwin.” His name sounded good in Levi’s low voice. Maybe he should have waited to put on his jacket.
“That’s very true, I would like to apologize for how some of us may have acted today. It wasn’t appropriate,” Erwin was still trying to find the perfect punishment for Oluo and Gelgar. “We didn’t know what we would be doing today.” Levi’s brows shot up at that.
“So you all really aren’t the type of the pole?” He asked.
“No, I suppose not. Not that I would know the type if I saw them,” Erwin laughed low in his throat and rubbed an awkward hand on his neck. “Though I don’t think I am one of them.” Levi stared back and clicked his tongue.
“I’m not new to those kinds of comments. Saying what others are thinking isn’t a crime.”
“And knowing what others think tells you exactly how to prove them wrong, at least in my personal experience.” Erwin must have said something right because one corner of Levi’s mouth pulled up slightly.
“Will you be back next week? I wouldn’t if I hadn't agreed to this.” Erwin thought about that. He was really terrible on the pole and the idea of doing anything remotely sexual in front of his staff was uncomfortable, to say the least. Levi’s eyes were intense and Erwin felt trapped in them.
“I’ll have to see how everyone else feels,” Levi nodded and looked away. Erwin would be bold in thinking Levi had almost seemed disappointed for a second.“But I’d like to come back. Not being the type for something isn’t exactly a reason to quit.”
“Do you need a reason to quit?”
“Only a reason to try.” They stared at each other for a long moment, maybe several moments. Eventual shuffling noises and distant voices echoed into the studio from the hallway. “I won’t hold you up any longer. Good luck with your next class. Goodnight Levi.”
“Goodnight Erwin.”
Erwin tried to walk as calmly down the hallway as possible. He knew his back was sweaty; residual from the exercise and fresh from that conversation. He really had just meant to say ‘thank you' and ‘goodbye’ not whatever the hell that was. Erwin was only half paying attention to where he was going, the other parts of his brain still ensnared in grey eyes and wondering if he had forgotten his keys back in the studio.
He bumped into something.
It was actually a someone. A pretty tall someone. Erwin reached out and caught a young woman by the shoulders before she could fall. He hadn’t even really noticed her and the hallways here were pretty narrow in tandem with his broad shoulders. “Excuse me. Are you alright?”
She laughed nervously but nodded her head. He helped make sure she was stable again. She seemed pretty petite in the body to be so tall.
“Oh, no I fell into you! Thank you for catching me. I’m afraid I’m not very good in these yet.” Erwin followed her gaze down to her own feet. She was wearing the tallest and skinniest heels Erwin had ever seen. There were even a few inches stacked under the balls of her feet. Erwin was shocked she was standing at all.
“I don’t blame you,” Erwin laughed a little at the ridiculous accessories. “How could anyone ever do anything in those things.” She laughed with him, letting go of his arms and standing on her own.
“Why else does anyone take one of Levi’s classes?” She asked it ironically as if Erwin should know the answer.
“I’m sorry?”
“Levi Ackerman? Didn’t you just come from the pole dance studio? These shoes are required attire for my class with him. It’s like it doesn’t even phase him, what a monster.” Erwin thought a blood vessel in his brain was going to pop. Levi wore shoes like those? Erwin tried to think back to the cubbies, if he had seen a pair of shoes like that he would remember. The duffle bag.
Erwin couldn’t decide if he badly wanted to conjure up the image or stomp it out of his brain completely. He wasn’t listening anymore but the woman must have noticed his brain break and started walking again. “Thanks for catching me but I really have to go. Have a good night!”
Erwin finally found his way back to the main lobby. There were three other women, standing there all holding shoes similar to the ones the first had worn. They looked at him a little funny but never paused their conversation. The receptionist gave an actual weird look. Erwin knew it was because his class had ended over fifteen minutes ago and everyone else had left. Or he had thought so.
When Erwin stepped outside the sun was starting to set and the cold sidewalk was tinted a pleasant orange. Mike was leaning against the front window of the building. It gave Erwin deja vu from earlier that afternoon.
“Is there a reason you’re out here when you should be headed home?” His voice grabbed Mike's attention.
“Is there a reason you needed to talk to our pole dancing teacher for so long?” They both laughed but Mike didn’t push any further. “I want a burger and a beer.”
“Is that a statement or an invitation?”
“Well, if you don’t join me, maybe I’ll ask one of the pair of boots inside.”
“Ah, so you’re determined to have a platonic evening either way.”
“Unless you seduce me with your new dance moves.” Mike started walking down the street, Erwin jogged to keep up. There was a small pub not too far from here, maybe a five-minute walk. His legs would be cold but it’s nothing a drink and good food wouldn’t fix.
“I can’t believe we actually just had a pole dancing lesson. What is Hange thinking?”
“That it’s good to laugh at yourself,” Mike sniffed in the evening air, “and at each other.”
“I certainly feel like the butt of a joke.”
“But you’re gonna make us go back?” Mike knew him so well it was a little creepy.
“Not if everyone isn’t comfortable. Oluo was pretty upset by the end and Nan looked ready to jump through a window if it meant getting out of there.”
“Nanaba is fine.” Erwin knew Mike believed that or he wouldn’t have stayed either. He’d rather ditch the exercise and get fired by HR before he participated in anything that made Nan upset. “What will you do if everyone isn’t comfortable?”
“I’d have Hange cancel the classes and find something else. Maybe a cooking class like Nile’s department or a game night.”
“That’s not what I meant.” They were about to walk through the front door of Garrison’s Pub when Mike’s comment made Erwin freeze. They looked at each other before Mike pulled open the door and stepped in leaving Erwin outside.
After a quick frazzled breathe, Erwin followed. Mike was settling on a bar stool, Erwin claimed the empty one next to it.
“You should hold the door for your boss.”
“Then fire me.” It was a phrase Mike often threw at him because they both knew he’d never do it. The idea of firing anyone made Erwin feel ill and Mike was completely out of the question. They ordered two disgustingly greasy burgers. Erwin sipped at a pilsner on-tap while Mike took a huge gulp from a dark IPA.
“I’m not sure what I would do,” Erwin admitted. He had been trying to come up with a half-decent answer to Mike’s question but failed.
“You like him.” It wasn’t a question.
“You like Nanaba.”
“But I’ll be seeing Nanaba on Monday.” He shoved a few fries into his mouth. “And if she quits and walks out at 8 am, I’d follow her and beg her not to leave.”
“Why don’t you tell her that then?”
“Because she hasn’t quit.”
“Don’t you want more than a nine-to-five friendship?” Mike nodded sullenly.
“But I don’t want any less either.” Mike was being stupid, he and Nan both were, but Erwin guessed that was part of his point. Erwin wasn’t sure what he wanted from Levi, he had known him for an hour. He was sure that he’d like to know him for another hour at least.
Erwin may not want more than that hour next week, though he suspected he would. Mike was right, he certainly didn’t want less. That was a reason to try.